AZhiker

I would suggest two videos for anyone remotely interested in WFPB lifestyle. "The Game Changers" and "Forks over Knives" are the two that piqued my interest initially. They just made sense. Michael Greger was the medical consultant for "The Game Changers." I have really liked his books, "How not to Die" and "How not to Diet." They are practical and all evidence based. My favorite cook books so far and the magazines that are put out by Forks over Knives. The recipes are really pretty good, no artificial ingredients, and nothing so exotic that I can't make most of them right from what I have in my panty. The Forks over Knives website has some great recipes, as well. My family (all carnivores) actually like most of what I throw at them! The "How not to Die Cookbook" is also good. I am having so much fun with new recipes and new ways to prepare food.

Yes, I have some loose skin, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I am 64 years old and I lost all my weight in 7 months and looked pretty saggy, but it has actually tightened up in the past 5 months. I lived in continual pain before surgery. I cannot remember a minute that I did not have back, knee, hip, and foot pain. I already had one knee replacement and was becoming more immobile from pain in the un-operated knee. It was due to be done very soon. Since losing the first 50 pounds, I have had NO PAIN! NONE! My un-operated knee has actually expanded in the joint space, whereas before it was bone on bone. I walk, hike, swim, and bike with no pain. I also got the doctor's blessing to discontinue my C-PAP, as my extreme sleep apnea is GONE, as is my asthma, GERD, and high blood pressure. My blood sugar, HDL and triglycerides and all normal now. I didn't get any fungal infections in my skin folds last summer! My thighs don't rub together now, so no chaffing when I wear a dress. I can ride my mule, get off the floor by myself, and keep up with my grand kids. I could go on and on and on about how my life has changed since WLS. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. A little loose skin? Really? Who cares? Not me. I have my life and health back and loose skin is such a small price to pay for all I have gained. People tell me all the time how good I look, and that I look younger, even with loose skin.

No JP drain, no catheter. My meds were in liquid form. I take calcium citrate in a capsule form - not a big tablet.

No, I don't strain - just stir/shake and drink. It is my new bedtime ritual - warm golden milk.

I enjoy food more now. I really like finding new recipes, cooking, them, and trying them out on the family. Before surgery, I just gulped down whatever there was. Now I have to be much more mindful when I eat, and very intentional in my food choices. When you have to plan out your meals, knowing that your volume is restricted, it only makes sense to fix the most delicious and nutritionally dense foods to enjoy,

I use tumeric, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, black cumin, and ginger every day. But the biggest anti-inflammatory cure is getting the weight off. Fat is inflammatory, and the joints will always hurt when there is extra weight on them. Since surgery, I have not used any NSAIDs at all. My joint pain is zero. Here is a really nice recipe for GOLDEN MILK. It's good hot or cold, or even added to coffee or tea for a chai latte. 2 cups milk (I use plant based milk - like Ripple) 2 TBS Agave nectar or maple syrup. (I cut this in half and the drink is still sweet) 1 tsp tumeric 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp cloves 1/4 tsp ginger 1/2 half tsp vanilla 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (Helps the tumeric to absorb) Each half cup serving has 2 gm fat, 8 carbs, 4 protein, 55 calories. If you cut the syrup in half, each 1/2 cup then has 4 carbs and 31 calories.

Start my talking to them. If it were ME, I'd probably say something like, "How much caffeine I allowed to have after surgery?" And "What kinds of problems could I have with caffeine after surgery?" Kind of innocent like. Then if they said "none" they will have to answer why they required you to use a product that they knew was detrimental to your success. I think I might also have the recorder going. (I dont know about Ohio, but in AZ conversations can be recorded without two person consent.) It might just come in handy if the situation turns into a "he said, she said" thing. I'm pretty certain that physicians are not allowed kickbacks from products or services, and this kind of smacks of that. My surgeon gave me a list of the supplements I needed to take - vitamins and protein shakes/powders. They had them in the office, but they gave me a comparison list of at least a dozen acceptable protein shakes and I chose for myself which brand I would use.

Love this! So true.

Every time you fail there is a lesson to learn - new insights into behavior, figuring out ways to avoid temptation, learning how to redirect emotional eating, etc. Failure means there is still work to do and you can use this as an opportunity to grow and learn from the mistake. For example, the 2nd time I got sick after eating drive through french fries (after long bike rides), I figured out that I was craving salt and needed to rethink my hydration strategy. I found an electrolyte replacement that works well and I never crave salt anymore. Another example - sometimes I am sorely tempted by treats at work - especially when there is just a little bit of something left. I have "finished it off" more than a few times. Now, rather than eat "my share" I now throw it in the garbage bin (when no one is looking, of course). It is a strategy that I have pre-planned to change my thought pattern. Another example - Sometmes I am really hungry when I leave work, and can chow down on unhealthy choices the minute I get home. Now I always have a protein shake in the car to drink so I am not ravenous when I walk in the door. Mistakes and failures are the fertile soil in which success springs up! Never feel guilty for slipping - just turn it into a positive learning experience. Think about what triggered you to eat the chocolate. Were you emotional about something? Were you hungry or tired? Where did it happen and what was the circumstance? Is it something you had a home or were you elsewhere? Were you alone or with someone? Once you figure out what triggered the behavior, you can make a plan to ensure success next time. Remember that any one of us can fall into the pit, given a moment of weakness combined with temptation. We have to set up guard rails that either 1) keep us strong (like having a protein shake in the car) or 2) keep us back from the edge of temptation (not having chocolate in the house).

What really surprises me sometimes is that my hand will go out automatically to grab a bite of something that I haven't had in over a year - like an oreo cookie (which I can't eat anyway due to gluten intolerance) or a piece of candy. I catch myself and think, "What in the world was that all about?" Like some weird alien neuro pathway suddenly activated in my brain. It sort of scares me, because I realize how vulnerable I really am to old habits that can pop up unexpectedly and blind side me.

It's all very strange, isn't it? I used to be the biggest one at work and now I am the second smallest. I also feel both uncomfortable and excited when people make statements about my new size. I want to look around to see who they are talking about! What I am finding to be more awkward, however, is how heavy people relate to me now. Those who knew me before NEVER say anything and sometimes avoid me. Heavy people who did not know me before make the assumption that I cannot relate to them. When weight comes up, like during an exam, they act like I am an outsider to their condition, while in fact I probably understand it even better than they do, themselves. I can tell you for sure and for certain, there is a mental condition that accompanies obesity. Shame, guilt, depression, low self esteem, blaming others, making excuses ("Obesity runs in my family," "I'm not as fat as THAT person," for example), and continually comparing one's size with others, becomes a lifestyle and a mindset. Just because we lose the weight, doesn't mean we automatically lose the mindset. That seems to take even more work than simply sticking to the post -op diet. After one year, I feel like I am now just beginning to do the real work of weight loss, which is the head work. It's rather surreal feeling sometimes - like I landed on a different planet and have to learn to navigate the new world. I added up all my macros for today. I haven't been counting calories lately, as I am eating as much as I can just to maintain. But the numbers were informative. Looks like I am packing in 1800-2000 calories a day, 70 gm of protein and 60 gm of fiber. It seems like an insane amount of food - another surreal experience to get used to. Before surgery I could easily gain weight on 1200 - 1500 calories. Now I have to eat at least that much just to maintain, and hundreds more when I work out.

I am a year out and maintaining now for 5 months, However, I am finding it very challenging to maintain when I step up my exercise. I am training toward my 2nd triathlon, a rim-to-rim Grand Canyon hike, and a 100 mile bike race. I still have a lot of restriction and it is impossible for me to eat enough volume to keep my weight up. I saw a nutritionist yesterday and she encouraged more concentrated foods like more nuts/seeds, nut butters, and dried fruit. It is still very much an experiential process. I am committed to whole foods - nothing processed or artificial, so I cannot and will not rely on cheap, non nutrient carb fillers. I eat an extraordinary amount of carbs in the form of whole grains, starchy vegetables, fruits, and legumes. And I have to basically eat all day long to get in enough calories. This is not the way I want to eat, but it is what it is. I am eating all healthy foods - it just takes a LOT of them. I feel your pain. I guess if I wanted to gain an extra 10 or 15 pounds, I would add some protein bars during the daily food count.

It's going to take a couple of months for the tissues to heal. You have to live in the moment - one day at a time. You can't be worrying about future events that have never happened yet. Keep bringing yourself back to a mindful state of enjoying each day, as it unfolds. If you are consumed by future worries you will never be able to enjoy the day you have now,

I am 1 year post op and have been at goal for 5 months. I have pretty much accepted my new body shape and size now, but it sure took a while. I found myself comparing my size to others at work who wore the same size scrubs - small. They looked so tiny and I had to realize that I did, too, if I was wearing the same size. I still find myself with self doubt and insecurity in public, however. It is as if I still feel like the fattest girl in the room. I know I am not that girl anymore, but I still lack confidence. It will take more time to change that aspect of the mental damage done by decades of obesity.

I cannot tell you how many things were not resolved until I went to the office in person. It's like until they actually see a face, they put you on the back burner. First of all, my surgery got denied because the doc office didn't send the psych eval in. They said they didn;t have it. But I HAD A COPY of the report which I gave them in person. So I went again in person and gave it to them again, and guess what? They checked their computer and found it had been there all along! Then there are the bills, bills bills - that didn't get coded or submitted properly. They sit on someone's desk until I go down in person, and then it suddenly gets resolved with a couple of phone calls while I wait! I've saved at least $1500 in bills. Then there are lab reports I request but never get until I show up in person. It really is ridiculous. I used to worry about them black balling me, but that hasn't happened. I try to be nice, but firm. If I have to be the "squeaky wheel," then so be it. It is a 90 minute round trip for me, which is a pain, but I have learned that I must advocate on my own behalf to get what I need (like resolving bills before they get turned over to a collection agency and ruin my good credit score.) I need to have my year labs drawn, but don't dare until they fix the coding mess with my 6 month lab bill. Sheesh! It takes persistance, but I know I have to take care of all my own follow up and not depend on them to do it. ***** KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING! All your reports, labs, evals, etc.*******

Each day will get better. Try warm broth.

When I have issues that never seem to resolve with phone calls or messages, I drive to the office and sit there until I can talk to someone who will give me answers. Somehow things seem to get resolved a lot faster when there is a polite face-to-face conversation.

I think you will know in 10-15 years if your nutrition is OK. It's going to be different for everyone. I was told that I would take vitamins for the rest of my life.

Today is my 1 year surgiversery! Down 110 - 113 pounds! So happy with my new life and all the new adventures. I will try to figure out how to post a picture.

Yup, turkey neck here, too. BUT.... it actually does get better. I noticed it was less saggy after about 6 months, but it was very noticeable in the first few weeks/months.

Start adding healthy carbs - sweet potato, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, nut butters. I eat an unbelievable amount of carbs now that I am trying to maintain and keep up with exercise. But I make sure they are nutritionally dense and that I am getting all my protein and vegetables/fruits.

https://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/blue-cross-blue-shield-tennessee-weight-loss-surgery.html I think you will find the info here. It says "Most recent attempt was within 2 years of request for surgery." This is documented by your doctor. As long as you have attempted to lose weight within the past two years, you will be fine. My doctor simply documented my attempts - Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Atkins, South Beach, starvation, Over Eaters Annonymous, etc.

Just google "BCBS of TN weight loss surgery" and you will get all the info. The documented weight history can be any time you were weighed at a doctor's office. And I;m not even sure they won't simply take your PCP's word for it.

I also have BCBS of TN. You can have a BMI of 35 as long as there are comorbidities. For me, it was sleep apnea. Go on their web site and look up the requirements, There are 3 pages. One for the psych to fill out, one for the surgeon, and one for the PCP. There is a 6 month supervised weight loss requirement with the PCP. My PCP was wonderful. SHe documented everything that was required - previous attempts at weight loss, current plan - like using smaller plates and all other efforts. She documented everything for 6 months, (you cannot miss a month or you start all over), and even though I did not lose a lot during that time, there was no problem getting me qualified. I dont thing BCBS even cares if you actually lose much - you have to lose a little bit, but if the documentation shows that you are making a good effort and still cannot lose 10% of your body weight, you quality. The wording is tricky. That is why you must print it out and read it over and over until you understand all the ins and outs of it. Now, here is something to remember. BCBS will indeed pay for the surgery, pre op labs, and all that is associated with the surgery. HOWEVER< after the surgery, they don't pay for anything. So follow up appts, lab work, etc are not covered......... IF they are coded as "bariatric, obesity, overweight", etc. Labs need to be coded as "malabsorption, iron deficiency, chronic inflammation, etc - anything EXCEPT something that refers to the surgery or obesity. I got a bill for almost $1000 for my 6 month labs! I am having the office recode and resubmit. Just read everything carefully and make sure your PCP is on your side and has experience in getting these surgeries approved.

I already had one knee replacement in my 50's and the next one was soon to come. My mobility was greatly restricted because of pain. I was using Aleve twice a day. Since surgery, I have not used an NSAID. My pain is GONE. Even the joint space in my bad knee has expanded and I have no pain at all. I had low back pain 24/7. No back pain now at all. It's quite amazing and feels like a miracle. Since surgery,I have completed a 52 mile bike race, am working toward my 2nd triathlon, and training for a rim-to-rim (24 miles in one day) Grand Canyon hike later in the year.