HipHopDiva

Ok, so I went through all the months of nutrition classes, blood work, stress test, EKG, and x-rays. I am revising from the sleeve to the bypass because of really bad acid reflux and a hiatal hernia. After Aetna kept giving me trouble I was losing all hope of getting approved. Yes, after all the work I did they said my appeal was DENIED! However, I received a letter in the mail on Friday that ordered Aetna to approve my surgery within 72 hours. Medicare had stepped in and said basically that Aetna is my fiduciary in the medical insurance and they are responsible for keeping me healthy. Due to the fact that bypass is proven to stop reflux Medicare overturned their decision and I am now on my way to getting a surgery date. I am praying that above all other things the bypass is good for that it just relieves my acid reflux and helps me loose another few pounds. I had my sleeve June of 2016 and I'm still doing good. I've gained about 25 lbs. back so I hope it helps me lose and I'm positive it will, but haha to Aetna and don't let these insurance companies dictate what happens with you're health. Stay vigilant and keep pressing forward to your weight loss goals. Thanks for listening.
Sent from my SM-J337P using BariatricPal mobile app

Hang in there! I am also 7 months out and able to eat a lot more now - but I have really upped my exercise and that has helped.
The other thing that you can try now that you can get in enough nutrition is Intermittant Fasting. It is a very powerful too. It helps control your caloric intake, but also lowers your insulin secretion which promotes fat burning. Several ways to do it.
1) Limit the hours you eat in a day to a specific number, Many do a 16:8, which means fasting 16 hour and doing all your eating (normal healthy foods and amounts) in an 8 hour window. Other so 18:6 or even 20:4. Basically you skip a morning Breakfast and eat say, from noon to 6 or 8 pm. That's it. You can tweak the times any way you like. After a couple of days, it becomes very easy. Changing the TIMING of the food can be just as effective as the TYPE of food you eat.
2) 5:2. This is where you eat normally for 5 days a week, and choose 2 days to eat only 500 calories. Some also do ADIF (alternate day intermittant fasting) which is where you eat normally every other day, alternating with maybe 500 cal on the other days. This really helped my break a stall and plunge down to my goal weight.
3) Longer fasts. Some do a 24 hour fast each week. Basically you eat dinner and then skip breakfast and lunch the next day. Not hard, actually. You can also advance to a 48 - 72 hour fast once a month or so. A little harder, but very do able and really helps you understand what true hunger feels like and that the sensation is quite transient and passes quickly. Really helps with impulsive eating.
These are all tools you can use and pull out at any time to take yourself to a new level or break a stall. They are very effective and studies are showing some pretty amazing health benefits, especially with longevity/prevention of fraility, mental acuity/prevention of senility, inflammation, cancer treatments, and immune system health. Fasting helps the body rid itself of senescent cells (the "zombie" cells) - cells that get old, but won't die and take over other cells, reset metabolism, and burn off fat by depleting the muscles and liver of glycogen which causes the body to then turn to fat stores.

Best: being healthy, happy and in a good place mentally (no more depression meds)
Worst: it’s not a cake walk. It takes work. I run, I workout with a trainer, I take my vitamins/supplements, i measure/weigh my food....surgery is not a “fix” It’s a tool. You can sabotage it if you choose to. You have to make yourself accountable

Congrats on your surgery date. October 14th, right?
The best things about WLS ?
Getting my health and life back. Overcoming my old behaviors/reasons for obesity and making peace with the person I was in the past. Finding my true self again and discovering that I’m an adrenaline junkie.
Worst or hardest part?
Weight loss is work. It took time to learn the basics, get past food stages and stalls. I had a gain my third year and worked it back down. I can’t say it was negative. Just part of the process. I’m fortunate, my pain was well managed. I bounced back from surgery quickly. No complications and maintaining five years out.

CONGRATULATIONS!! Those 6 weeks will go by soooo fast!! BRAVO to you for the 30 pounds lose already - AWESOMENESS! Keep us posted going forward. SO EXCITED FOR YOU ; )

@jaytissle55
great attitude!!☺️
this journey isn't always easy, but the rewards are great!!
keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier,longer life!!
kathy
congrats

@shanshan you are not alone love. I have learned to just get up & take my meds as I remember. I was told to set a timer. Once I start back to work, I will be somewhat back on schedule because I take my first chewable as soon as I get up (by my night stand). I have a bag of meds at work with a sticky listing times to take my next chewable right by my computer so I have to see it. I hope these suggestions help ; )

@GreenTealael you are so inspiring & very positive even during medical difficulties! You look amazing and ALWAYS post what we need to hear/see instead of what we think we need as newbies. I am very grateful you are so active on this site because you are a valuable vet member ; ) ENJOY YOUR TRIP LOVE!

MANY ❤ MANY ❤ MANY ❤ THANKS

@GreenTealael you are so inspiring & very positive even during medical difficulties! You look amazing and ALWAYS post what we need to hear/see instead of what we think we need as newbies. I am very grateful you are so active on this site because you are a valuable vet member ; ) ENJOY YOUR TRIP LOVE!

@shanshan you are not alone love. I have learned to just get up & take my meds as I remember. I was told to set a timer. Once I start back to work, I will be somewhat back on schedule because I take my first chewable as soon as I get up (by my night stand). I have a bag of meds at work with a sticky listing times to take my next chewable right by my computer so I have to see it. I hope these suggestions help ; )

Hi!
Could you try a beep timer on your phone, or a watch, to help remember? I use one on my phone and it helps keep me on track when I am super busy and am most likely to forget. I also use a med organizer like this one below so, at a glance, I can see what I have/haven't taken that day. I can take each individual day with me if I am going to be out too without any trouble. You will come up with a system that works best for you- Good luck!
CLICK HERE

@GreenTealael you are so inspiring & very positive even during medical difficulties! You look amazing and ALWAYS post what we need to hear/see instead of what we think we need as newbies. I am very grateful you are so active on this site because you are a valuable vet member ; ) ENJOY YOUR TRIP LOVE!

So I'm having trouble taking my Vitamins. Sometimes I totally forget and when i do remember I'll tell myself to take it later then never do. My surgery is coming up and I'm scared because if I'm having trouble two preop how am I going to take all those vitamins postop. If you have nothing helpful to say or rude comments don't bother comment on my post. Thanks for reading.
Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

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22 MONTHS POST VSG/ 2 MONTHS POST RNY CONVERSION
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❤❤❤❤❤ weight unknown: on a trip ❤❤❤❤❤
I suspect my weight is in the 150s still as I can see/feel it in my skin but i will not be near a scale for at least another week. Not worried about it.
Updates:
Developed a stricture and had a dilatation to fix it. No big deal 👏
Cannot eat mechanically separated poultry (turkey sausage, chicken deli meat, etc) my body rejects it.
Mostly maintaining despite conversion/complications 🙌
Life is basically back to normal so... Selfies and food pics (boring because variety was halted for bit)

BRAVO!!!!

Thank you so much for taking out time to school us on the overwhelming possibilities we have to be successful on this journey! Your words of encouragement mean so very much to us!! Thank you & CONGRATS!

Thank you so much for taking out time to school us on the overwhelming possibilities we have to be successful on this journey! Your words of encouragement mean so very much to us!! Thank you & CONGRATS!

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

Congrats on your evolution!

Thank you so much for coming back here and giving those of us who are not as far out this encouragement, it makes me want to keep on, keepin on. I have incorporated an aggressive exercise schedule into my routine and I have yet to have a stall since doing so. Also, I only weigh myself about once every 2 weeks, which also helps, I think.
Again, your words of encouragement are appreciated and not lost on us, congratulations on the success!!!

Good morning,
I intend to try this ricotta bake recipe using high Protein crab meat Friday! The video was amazing - she put shrimp on top but I will leave that off for now. View attachment.

Wow, good for you! You certainly do recovery quickly!! I had surgery August 27th and still trying to get adjusted to what's giving me gas/gas pain in my chest, waiting for my incision to heal and be able to walk a block without feeling weak. I ride a bus downtown to work, walk 3 blocks to my job and work 10 hour days. I would not make it going back before my follow-up appointment with surgeon. I definitely need to be on at least soft foods for a little more energy to get through the day for the ride home : (

I feel your pain. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED! This too shall pass. Focus on other things as mentioned above - YOU WILL BE APPROVED! You will be in my prayers for a speedy approval - meet you on the other side : )

For all you wine drinkers - just saw this new ad for low sugar/low carbs brand of alcohol & with very good review! Go to website to see all the varieties! You best believe someone is ALWAYS creating healthier versions of cheers ; )