Maisey

You will begin to feel it as you move to more solid foods. For now, don't go over the amounts your program recommends.

I do it electronically on Lose It. I think everyone has their favorite app or method.

What matters is what your policy with the insurance company covers, not the company in general.
For example, for years my insurance company covered weight management services and surgery in many policies. However, policies negotiated between my employer and the insurance company specifically excluded it. Therefore, even if a doctor affiliated with the insurance company recommended surgery, it would not be covered for me.
Seeing how you are already getting conflicting information, I would make sure you get everything in writing going forward.

What matters is what your policy with the insurance company covers, not the company in general.
For example, for years my insurance company covered weight management services and surgery in many policies. However, policies negotiated between my employer and the insurance company specifically excluded it. Therefore, even if a doctor affiliated with the insurance company recommended surgery, it would not be covered for me.
Seeing how you are already getting conflicting information, I would make sure you get everything in writing going forward.

You will begin to feel it as you move to more solid foods. For now, don't go over the amounts your program recommends.

You will begin to feel it as you move to more solid foods. For now, don't go over the amounts your program recommends.

I do it electronically on Lose It. I think everyone has their favorite app or method.

I tried a salad a about 6 weeks.
Things to keep in mind: Don't let salad fill you up and take the place of needed Protein. Chew VERY well. Lettuce isn't something we're used to chewing.

If I’m eating something with a higher carb content like bread I measure by calories and macros because how much I can physically eat is often different than how much I can eat to stay in maintenance or weightloss mode.

For those on the fence about surgery…it’s been a wild and crazy year, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Thank you to everyone here for the motivation and tips. I still have 20-30 lbs to go but man am I proud of my progress. From a 22 to a 10!

Today I took out my size 12 jeans and some of them fit. I am officially out of plus size and Into NORMAL sizes. Woo hoo!!

Things I bought or had and still use: Good blender. I still have a shake every morning. I use Fairlife skim milk, a scoop of powder and blend with ice. I love the frothy consistency. Cheap food scale, measuring spoons, measuring cups: I weight or measure everything. Smaller sized plastic containers: What I take for lunch is now smaller. Scale.
Things I never used: 2 oz. disposable containers. Blender/shaker cup.
Get enough Protein shakes/powder and Vitamins to get you through your immediate recovery but don't over do it. You may find your tastes change or you need different things.

I started my journey to weight loss in 2019 at 389 pounds. Had my surgery January 23, 2020 at 321 pounds and today February 14, 2021 I finally hit ONEderland! I weighed myself this morning and after a 26 day stall I lost two pounds and weighed in today at 199.6! Never thought I'd get here to be honest, but I'm incredibly happy! For anyone starting their journey at over 300 pounds, it's possible to reach ONEderland, no matter how impossible it may seem! I just wanted to share that.

56 y/o. RNY 12/14/20. Down 115 lbs.

I am in the midst of a cross-country move so missed posting about my two year anniversary a couple days ago. I had a VSG in Seattle on 8/12/2019. My starting weight was 286, today I’m 140. Although I lost my excess weight, I gained so much in the process. I am happy, healthy, and active. My only regret is not doing this sooner. I’m off all medication and no longer have sleep apnea. My blood pressure and resting heart rate are that of an athlete. I’ve never felt better in my adult life. I had plastic surgery in January to remove the excess skin and I’m so glad that I did that as part of this process. I still weigh myself daily and track all of my intake. I have a little more wiggle room now for a treat now & then, but in general eat a pretty healthy diet making sure to get in my Protein and fluids every day.

Interesting article - Thank you.

I think for many people obesity CAN and DOES affect income. I have to ask "why" though in many cases. Is it because we were perceived as "fat and lazy" or is it because others do? Let's face it - When you're obese, you often DON'T have the energy or stamina to keep up with someone else who's fit. The other side of that, when you're obese in the workforce, you may try harder so that you're recognized for your work vs. your size.

As someone who fell into both of the above categories. I have been successful at work over the years by proving that I could take on just about anything thrown at me. On the other hand, I know there are opportunities that I've missed because of my weight/size. For a period of time, I thought I would like to be on the demo team at work, but self-realized that wasn't a possibility because: 1 - I'm not sure I could physically keep up with other team members, and 2 - I would have looked like &#*% in the "uniform" (everyone matched on demo days). Honestly, I never even applied for the position. Alternately, I proved myself elsewhere and I have risen in the company to a senior management position. Perhaps it would have been sooner had I been thin? I really don't know. Now, as a normal sized person, I do see more opportunities at work, but I believe that's MY confidence rather than what some would perceive as discrimination.

One thing I think that happens is that in life, many people are beat up for being overweight and lack self-esteem. They use weight as an excuse to be disappointed rather than just going for it. When I say "excuse", please don't take that as an insult. So many overweight people have food issues because of crappy lives and it's the one thing they CAN control. It's a vicious circle and in no way meant as criticism. I was lucky - I have an amazing and supportive family so my issue was simply that I love food - It wasn't a coping mechanism. I feel like that is the reason my income wasn't directly assoicated with my weight.

So today, for the first time in over 20 years, I am below 200 pounds. I am still astonished at my results in such a short amount of time. In mid-April, I weighed 285 pounds. Every joint in my body hurt and I had high blood pressure and slept with a C-pap machine. I had surgery on 5/18/21, and today, almost 3 full months later, I weigh 198.6 pounds. I haven't used or needed my C-pap for the past several weeks, my blood pressure and heart rate readings are on the low side and I have so much energy. I really wish the best for everyone on this forum and hope you're all one day as satisfied as I am with your results. This has been a total life-changer. God Bless all!

I was just going to ask about this. I was part of a Zoom follow-up meeting yesterday where we were reminded that we can absorb 20-30g of Protein at a time. Was anyone told differently?

I was 275 pounds in 2012. I was overweight, unhealthy, pre-diabetic. I did the Sleeve in Tijuana. My goal was to get down to 200. This morning, I was 193.8. I got the weight off, and have kept it off for 9 years. It works! If you consider it and treat it as a life change, it works. For 9 years, I have done my Protein Shakes twice a day. I do not eat carbs....I work out. I get full, I stop eating. I am 61 and my doc says I have the bloodwork of a man in his 30s. The first picture was a month before surgery. July 2012. The second picture was recent. April 2021.

I am officially overweight with a BMI of 29.8! Started at a BMI of 53 at my HW and 46 at SW.

Just wanted to give an update on how my experience went. I always found it helpful to hear other posters experiences.
Surgery was Monday, 8/9. Arrival time was noon. I was scheduled for 1:30 but they didn't take me in until 2:30ish. I had a large hiatal hernia that was repaired so between that and the bypass it took almost the full 4 hours. I barely remember recovery. I heard them talking about putting a catheter in but I didn't feel it. (Side note: During this process I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Never any symptoms. I hate the mask and haven't really slept well since I got it. I usually use the full mask but the nose mask just seemed easier to take. I always feel like I can't catch my breath if I open my mouth with the nose mask on. Hospital insisted I bring it). So apparently I felt like I couldn't catch a good breath (gas pushing against my diaphragm.) Then I heard my husband telling them to take the cpap off (which they had hooked up with oxygen somehow) and that was much much better. By the time I got to my room it was after 8 p.m. Thank\fully they let my husband and son wait so they could see I was ok. My mouth was horribly dry. I was able to take in some Water fairly easily. They gave me pain meds in my IV, but I hardly got any sleep. I'd fall asleep, wake up and it was 15 minutes later. Longest night EVER!!! Plus when I was sleeping, they'd come in for vitals.
I kept telling them I needed to walk (because I read that in the instructions a million times). I finally got up and walked around the room a little around 2 a.m. (?)
Tuesday Day 2: In the morning with the shift change, things started to move along. I got some broth for Breakfast and some Jello and water. I was able to sip pretty easily. Actually I had to remind myself not to just gulp. My husband showed up and we walked a bunch of times. I was really paranoid about not walking. I also had a drain and the catheter. I talked to the day nurse and she removed the catheter, which made me feel better. Doc showed up and said she'd discharge me. They removed the drain (not bad but not a ton of fun - more discomfort than pain). I went home, took some pain meds and slept for a few hours. Just really tired all day. Sleeping was hard. I'm not a back sleeper. Most pain when getting in and out of bed.
Wednesday Day 3: Had jello for breakfast. Again..pain mostly when moving. (up and down from sitting or laying in bed) and coughing. As expected. Took more oxy and slept. I'm not 100% sure it helps with pain but it does help me sleep. I got some dissolvable Tylenol. Kind of like pixie sticks. So that helps. I was taking them in between.
Thursday Day 4: Kind of a rough night last night. Fell asleep but woke up a few hours later uncomfortable. shoulders hurt and I was making myself paranoid about everything. So I dozed for a while longer, thought about ordering a binder off Amazon and how long it would take to get here. I had two "wicks" in one of my incisions that I was allowed to remove today. I was also able to take a shower (it was 48 hours after surgery but since my surgery was so late I just waited until this morning). That made a huge difference. I'm on to full Protein today instead of clear so that's something! I have to figure out the sleep thing still. Not sure I can do anything about the pain when sitting/standing.
Hope this helps someone a little.

I am officially overweight with a BMI of 29.8! Started at a BMI of 53 at my HW and 46 at SW.

That's so awesome!! Congratulations! 😊

Congratulations! Makes it all worth it!! 👏

Everything that @JDLane is accurate.
Are you not working with a surgeon/team/or program?