Soon2bSleeved12/2019

Your surgeons office can provide you with a list

You failed to realize that you maintained your 50lbs loss for 6 years.
Big achievement. Congratulations💙

I wanted to give an update! I cut hours at work ad submitted pay stubs to be covered by 10/1 and they made an error on their end in our family size, so i had to resubmit some information to be re-processed. So after two VERY VERY long months, I was finally approved for medicaid coverage starting on 11/1! Durring these two months i paid out of pocket for my weigh-ins ($90 a pop). All I have left to do is see my nutritionist one more time and have my endoscopy done & we'll be ready to submit paperwork! It's been frustrating but worth it!

This post is really for the folks who are considering the sleeve, wondering if it will "work" for them, if they should take the leap...
This post is for the folks who just returned home from surgery or are several weeks out..the people who are starting to feel discouraged...didn't realize it would be so "hard".
And, this post is for the folks that have a bit to go before they reach that goal they set thinking the weight they REALLY want to be is unattainable!
First, the sleeve alone will not "work" for you unless you are willing to WORK with it! It's a tool not a cure. And, yes, it is often hard, especially in the beginning when you are creating new, successful solutions to combat old habits that got you where you used to be stuck. But, the very best things in life come from pushing through the hard moments. If you give up before you get to the top of the mountain, you don't get to enjoy the beautiful view. Trust me, it's spectacular when you get here. DO NOT GIVE UP!
Now, about that goal weight...if you are anything like me, you've lost and gained so many times you've become used to failure. You almost expect it. So maybe you set your goal weight at a number that seemed pretty reasonable. Attainable, even, right? And, perhaps, you told yourself that if you got anywhere near it, you'd be happy because, for goodness sake, it's soooo much better than where you started! It's a definite win! I did that. I let my pre-sleeve experience shape my goal. But that wasn't the number I truly wanted. Initially, I just didn't believe that I could ever get back to my teenage and 20's modeling weight. I mean, I'm a woman in my 50's! That could never happen, right?! So, I shot for 5 pounds over the top of the weight chart for my height.
Guess what happened as I was working my way down the scale, working my program, building strong/healthy eating habits, changing my relationship with food? I hit that goal! Then I shattered it! Then I continued on, logging every morsel of food I put in my body, every darn day!
I'm not even a full year out of surgery. But by working with my sleeve and using this tool to it's fullest potential, I weigh LESS than I did as a slim teenager! I'm 2 sizes smaller than my busiest period as a model in my 20's!
This tool requires sacrifice. But, you are only sacrificing the things that were dragging your body down in the first place. In fact, I look at it as finally showing ourselves the respect we've deserved all along.
You are so worth it. You absolutely deserve be healthy. Life is so much easier mentally and physically when you shed the weight that you are carrying.
It becomes easier every single day! Then the months fly by and it becomes routine. All of a sudden you realize your whole life is brighter, healthier, EASIER!
I put everything into getting where I am right now. I truly believe if you give it everything, the sleeve will give you your life back!
You absolutely deserve this! You are absolutely worth this! Don't let anyone make you feel/think differently!!!!
PS....Log everything every day! That's a game changer. Load an app (I use LOSEIT). Log everything. Never stop logging!
Love to all!

I am just starting my journey. I haven't made up my mind if I am going to do the surgery. I'm leaning towards the gastric sleeve. This whole journey scares me but I know I have to do something or my health is going to get worst. I know I have to live a healthier lifestyle. I haven't told most of my family and a few friends. I'm a little worried about what they may say. I know I need support to make it through this journey. I know I can do this
My next appointment is next week and I will be seeing the nutrition and exercise person.
Sent from my LG-US998 using BariatricPal mobile app

Fu*k! I'm eighteen months and take in on average this week about 1000cals per day. I'd be exhausted too with that schedule! Do you really walk 10mi per day? Do you really go to the gym 4 days per week? Do you really do elliptical on top of that? Do you also do yoga and stretching and your doctor thinks you aren't DOING ENOUGH? For reals? That's total insanity!
You're getting in 500cals or less per day. I gotta call BS. No wonder your tired. The real question is, how are you not dead?

You need to up your Protein hon. Exhaustion at this time is normal, but you do need to eat more and advance your diet as you tolerate. Try going to mushies or even thicker cream Soups. Blended veggie soups work great at this time of year. ((hugs)) I wouldn't bother working out until you can get your diet and sleep taken care of. They are way more important to long term health. And if exhaustion continues, see the doc. They need to do blood work to see if you are low in anything.

I refuse to go back to where I was. I feel 100% better.
That is my motivation.

I cannot “like” this post enough times! 💕💕💕💕

Sorry you are experiencing your reality. But I don't share your reality.
My team over the 6 months leading up to the surgery prepared me FULLY. And I did my due-diligence to learn what I needed to do to take responsibility for my mood, emotions, and well being. I did this by research, reading and talking with many, many, many people here and on other sites to help me deal with expectations.
I was not blindsided by one single thing--including how tough it is in the first few days. My team warned me about the temporary buyers' remorse many patients seem to experience. They did not expect my recovery to be difficult. In fact, they told me I was over-dramatizing the expectations--that it would be so so so easy. It was. I kept questioning if I really had surgery.
Actually the ONLY thing I wasn't prepared for was for how frickin' dickin' easy it was to recover from this surgery. But I also worked my a*s off pre-surgery for 6 months getting rid of habits, breaking up with foods that had their hold on me, and was low carb, caffeine free, booze free, stimulant free...so recovery was not also a time of detoxing.
I never once had any regret. I just felt this ENORMOUS feeling of gratitude to have the opportunity to reclaim my life and get rid of the pain and suffering from being diseased and super MO.

looks like he/she joined, posted the above right after joining, and then has never been back. Might be a troll.

OP - Honestly, and this might not go over well here, but please leave this forum if you're going to continue to be this negative. Go get help from your surgeon, your nutritionist and your psychologist (and I hope you had one as part of this process because it seems like you need one).
I had surgery 2 weeks ago. I had no nausea and never vomited. It means nothing. I couldn't fathom eating such fatty Soup (not to mention the volume) or a breadstick (!?!) 1 week out.

You are going to hurt yourself or kill yourself Stop
Ok I am blunt and going to tell you my view - Sure others will jump in also but don't take it personally, we are all here to help, Not criticize
You were not ready for surgery and you were not prepared!! You have head games going on and I find it freakin amazing you can eat a bread stick. You need a routing a healthy lifestyle, Eating out is no way on any post surgery plan for anyone, You need to stop, Get on a plan and be careful, You can cause serious damage right now. Start reading the post op and make a plan.
WTF i have seen this a few times what kind of doctor does this surgery without these patients being ready for the post op and what it takes? If you dont mind is this surgery out of the USA

I can drink Water normal. I have been able to since a few days post op. I dont chug it but I dont sip either. I can only eat 4 ounces of food but 4 is uncomfortable so I keep it around 3. Are you on a liquid only diet at this stage? I've noticed some are released to soft foods after a week. I had 2 weeks of liquid diet. I was definitely told no bread of any kind when I was released to soft foods. You must remember this surgery is only a tool to help you keep from overeating. It does not stop you from making bad food choices or keep you from falling into the same old habits. The hard work of discipline, following the diet, and doctor's orders has to come from you. If not, this surgery will not help you and you could cause yourself a serious medical emergency. Best of luck.

Forget weight watchers you need to back to your doctor and your dietician, talk things out, work on a plan to get you back on track
You also need to get back on the program, one week out I would have thought you would be on liquids only? solid food at this this may do damage to your new stomach and could cause you health complications.

your nerves were cut during surgery and will take a few weeks to heal. You WILL feel restriction as soon as you start healing up and move on to solid foods. You are literally risking your life by doing things like eating breadsticks only one week after surgery. PLEASE follow your surgeon's plan.

Girl you’re going to hurt yourself. You need to focus on sticking to your surgeon’s plan for slowly moving through liquids, purées, etc. A whole breadstick one week post op is crazy.
Did your doctor clear the elliptical? You have a ton of internal work that you may not feel but it’s there and your body is healing. Don’t go too hard right now, walking is great.
Why are you pushing your boundaries? You literally have done nearly all the things they told you not to do within your first week!
ETA - you said you didn’t have nausea or vomiting as if you were expecting it. Not everyone does have it, you can’t bank on that deterring you from overeating.

Omg I am the same way. Totally obsessing! I just found this site last week after my first appt with my surgeon. I have to do 6 month nutrition appts and my first one is this Friday. My surgeon said I can have surgery end of December. I have been reading everywhere. Still learning how to use this site. Overload of information but so grateful to have it in one place where real people can share their different experiences.

Hi ALL!
I haven't posted in some time due to life has been crazy busy in a good way. It has been 2 years since my surgery! When I finally got to my 200lb mark (after 1 year which was 81 pounds down ) the doctors & staff were ecstatic and they were comfortable with that progress and me maintaining that weight. Well, I wasn't settling for that goal because I had/have my own personal goals.
In 2018 I had to have emergency gall bladder removal which caused me to tweak my diet even more. I was determined to get to my "first" goal weight of 150lbs. I am happy to say I only have 18 more pounds to go!
What do I do? I continue to follow a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise. I work out about 5 days a week and I am a black card member at Planet Fitness. I still follow the drink wait 15 mins to eat or eat wait 30 mins to drink rule. I call it the 15/30. Some think weight loss surgery is one's way of a "quick fix", well, I'm here to tell anyone that statement is far from the truth because I have worked hard over the past 2 years to get to this point and I will continue to grind at it until I reach my 1st goal weight of 150lbs and will strive to reach my ultimate weight of 130. I know I can do it and if I fall somewhere in the middle between the two well then, I guess I will just Celebrate that too.

When I initially met with the surgeon I told him I will do the work and meet my goal. He said, "Everyone says that initially and most don't follow through". I said that day that I will prove him wrong. When I went back later after surgery I brought that conversation back up to him and I told him to not make general statements to me because my mindset and determination is mine and no one else's. He apologizes and told me that I was right. ( I don't entertain negative statements nor allow others to make negative comments concerning my health & wellness. I don't allow negativity nor negative energy in my space. It doesn't matter who it is they have to go)

What people say and feel about your journey means nothing. What are you determined to do to reach your goals?
I now have to go buy new workout clothes because my Under-Armor "stretch" pants that were tight are beginning to sag! lol In just this past 3 weeks I have lost 7lbs. I was stuck in the 70s for a long time. If you find yourself stuck don't despair, kick up the workouts and tighten up on those extra carbs and your body will eventually respond.
Continue to do the work and you will see the results. Never give up on yourself, your health, nor all the possibilities your future holds besides, your life does depend on it.
I hope this has encouraged someone and if you are considering surgery, I hope this will give you insight on the possibilities ahead.

Many Blessings,
Michele

I dont seriously dont want to pay my utility bills but I have to... So autopay. Set a timer/alarm and adult hard.
Good Luck 💙

Ok. It is devastating. ((hugs)). So grieve for a few hours, then get on top of it. Find out the offices that your insurance covers that are IOQ. Call their office and schedule an appointment this month (do NOT let 30 days lapse from the date of your last RD appointment), so that the clock keeps ticking in you moving the ball toward the goal line.
Explain to the new doc's office that you have had probs with insurance and your present program not being an IOQ and you don't want to start all over! See if they can help slip you in. Then make sure you get your complete medical records from the bariatric surgeon, the RD, the psych, the sleep study, the EGD and take it to the new doc.
I would think they'd want to fast track you in their office cuz you are Ca-CHING! Ready to give em the money without the 3-6 month hassle of earning it up front.

Put rolls of quarters in your pockets, or ankle weights under boot cut jeans.

Here's a trophy🏆 for you, my Bari-Brother, you said it right and now you are becoming the person you knew you could be- I salute you- and may you and your Lady have a Beautiful 👶Baby together!

I just wanted to post this, because I see a lot of people posting about how much its changed their life for the better or worse.

My entire life I was bullied mercilessly. My brothers, my sisters, adults, and even still today. And it never mattered how hard I tried to lose weight, it never seemed to end. People seem to think ANY version of being pudgy, fat, obese, whatever they want to call you, is unacceptable. They think because they are thin, they are above you. But they don't know the emotional struggles we face every single day! Finding something to wear that doesn't make me look bigger than I already am, but also will be comfortable. Getting our of breath just to tie my shoes, etc.
My best friend used to call me 'Fat F***' on a daily basis because he thought he was motivating me. But little did he know ever time he did that to me, I would eat my emotions away. Then I met my wife, now the mother of my child (Due in October 2019) who also had the VSG done and lost over 130lbs. She encouraged me to diet and lose a little weight before meeting the surgeon. I did that, and I had every single appointment needed for the surgery in 1 month and had the surgery two weeks later!
Now when I see my bullies, their comments are 'You weigh less than me, i need to work out more!' or 'Great job! you're doing awesome!' but then I get the occasional 'You did the easy thing' but they're morons and do not understand how much work goes into it.
Bariatric surgery not only saved my life, but took away my depression, my emptiness, my lack of friends, my heartache for companionship, and everything in between. The road over the last year has been incredibly hard with some bumps along the way but i've made it! If you are thinking about having this done and are reluctant to do it because 'you don't think you can' - thats a crock of s*** because I did it. I am a person with little to no will power and I give into everything. Bariatric surgery is a MIND game, you have to force yourself to do it and turn it into a habit. the doctors and nutritionists WILL help you, you cannot be afraid to ask questions.
Anyway, sorry for the long story, I just want people to understand that every story is different but we can all triumph if we put our minds to it! I hope this is some encouragement needed for someone out there.
Share your story! what was hardest for you? What kind of things did you take for granted now or before your surgery?

I’d call your insurance company and ask them what is the specific requirement, mine only submitted my starting weight