SalOdyssey

Congratulations!!!!⭐! Thank you!!

Fellow Italian here, I totally understand what you're saying. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Atkins Lift Protein drinks are great for me. 16.9 ounce, 90 calories, and 20 grams of protein. Comes in 3 flavors, berry, Lemon, Orange. A 4-pack runs about 5 bucks USD. I either use them everyday, or just on days where I know I'll be short on protein from food sources.

Call your surgeons to see what they recommend. For me a stool softener was allowed. Remember you're not consuming much, and I've read people waiting 7+ days for the first bowel movement.

If you're craving a Pasta there are a lot of alternatives, but generally it is a stay away from item. As for string cheese, my plan allowed it in the mushy phase if I recall correctly.

For me and my situation is semi-unique in that I was dieting and exercising for 2+ years before I had VSG. In the time before VSG I lost 254 pounds on my own. What I can tell you is the first 4-8 weeks were the hardest as my body adjusted to a high Protein, low carb lifestyle, no juices or soda. The cravings were HORRIBLE!! I swear the devil was living in my head telling me to eat junk, but I fought it off. If I got hungry, I would make a vegetable or drown the hunger with large sums of Water, or even have a small pieces of fruit, or other healthy snack. For me now 13 weeks post-op, the cravings haven't really been that bad. Sure there have been some, I wish I could have that moments, but for the most part the cravings have been very tame for me since my weight loss odyssey start some 32 months ago. I'm now down a total of 311 pounds. The holidays may be a struggle, but just take it day by day. It should get easier. #YouGotThis!!

I just want to say Congrats! You keep up the great progress! Thank you!!

Good plan. That's essentially what I'm doing. I'm doing my consults now, to give me an idea of a game-plan when the time is right, which my surgeons are saying is around 280. With the removal of the excess skin, they expect me to fall between 200-225, which is my goal weight territory. I, like you only want to do these surgeries once.

Sadly, no. My medical team and office coordinators have looked into it and 95% of the procedures I need are not covered. And the one that may be covered, the plastic surgeons I've been in touch with don't bill this insurance, but rather give me a packet with all the info, pictures, and notes, and give it to me to submit for possible reimbursement. Then it would be up to me to chase down the funds from the insurance company. So the bulk of these procedures are on me to finance somehow.

Thank you!!

That is amazing! I'm worried about loose skin myself. My highest weight was 540 and I am currently at 400 4 months out. How long did it take you to get to your current weight? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I started my weight loss odyssey in early 2014, had successful VSG in July 2016, and am 379 as of weigh in this past Saturday. October 11th is will be 32 months.

Thank you!!

Thank you!! I've emailed countless shows, Dr. Phil, Oz, The Doctors, Skin Tight, Ellen, and more media groups, and reporters that I've lost count.

Maybe start a Gofundme and post here. I know I would donate, and a little here and friends, and friends sharing it can help. That's a lot loss, good for you. @Ginsin007 http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/378851-help-me-excess-skin/ Thank you!

Hello all, Some of you have followed my story for a while, well I am at a point now where the excess skin is truly becoming a problem. I had a couple of plastic surgery consults, and it is estimated I have anywhere from 65-80 pounds of total excess skin. All the plastic surgeons agree, I won't have to wait the 6 months from reaching goal weight since my skin will not retract much due to my high starting weight. I started my weight loss at 688+ pounds, and weighed in this past Saturday at 379 pounds. The plastic surgeons are all pretty much in agreement that surgeries could start in the 280-290s. My goal is to be between 200-225 once all is said and done. This is where I need your help, I've created a Youtube video about my skin, and set up a Go Fund Me account to help raise the 100K I will need to get the 3-5 surgeries done to ride me of the excess skin. At my current pace of losing, that could be as early as March/April of 2017. I have reached out to the media and various TV shows, and its been radio silence. I started raising the funds now, because I anticipate it taking some time. Sadly insurance does not cover this for me. I ask this simply, if you can donate, please do. If you cannot donate, please share the 2 links I will post below to your social media accounts and help me share my story. Whatever method you chose, THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! If you do share it on FB, Instagram, or Twitter please tag me @Salodyssey. Would like to acknowledge you for doing so. Thank you BP!! Youtube: https://youtu.be/ 2I01aVFMgPA (just remove the space between the / and 2 Go Fund Me: http://www.gofundme.com/SalOdyssey

Nice job!!

Thank you!!

As someone who started at a high start weight (688), I have a lot of excess skin. I am currently 379, and plastic surgeon says he can start skin removal at 280, and get my in my goal weight range of 200-225. He estimates about 65-80 pounds of skin in totality. Now if only I could find 100K somewhere.... Best of luck to you @staceface.

It's all about CYA, Cover Your A**, from the Drs and hospitals point of view.

Thank you!! As a guy who started in the mid 400s. I'm trying to see if my pace is good. So surgery was 7-6-16. Here are my stats based on each Saturday weigh in; 7/9: -8.2 7/16: -9.0 7/23: -2.8 7/30: +0.2 8/6: -5.2 8/13: -4.4 8/20: -3.2 8/27: -4.4 9/3: -0.4 9/10: -4.6 9/17: -4.0 9/24: -0.8 Just wish there was some consistency. My calories are around 900-1200 daily. Carbs, less than 50g daily. Just thought I see some more 5 pound loss weeks in there. Surgeon follow up on Monday, going to see what he says about maybe improving these weekly numbers. Thank you!!

Guys what was your average weekly loss?

Anyone in the Tampa/St. Pete area?

Salodyssey. Requested, OP.

Not related to this post, but I just wanted to say: Wow! Congrats on how very far you've come. That's amazing! Thank you!!

As someone who started at 688, and who is now 387 as of last Saturday, the excess skin has really become an annoyance post-op. Nothing I can do about it now though. It will hopefully be addressed in the future.