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Oh wow! That’s great. To be honest I used to have BCBS when I was pregnant and they royally messed up my claims so I am very hesitant of getting them again but I do wish for a smooth process! How did you know what their criteria was? Was it through your job that you had to figure that out or did you call BCBS and just let them know your plan name?? I’m trying to get a criteria and no one can give me specifics - they said they have to wait until I select the policy… but I have three insurance company options, I want to know BEFORE I choose, you know? Thank you for the information. This whole process is crazy haha

Was hitting up my local dispensary and next door was a vitamin shop so i popped in and found these. 32 grams of protein and zero carbs, sugar. Taste like blue raspberry. Also had a bunch of different protein shakes that i have not seen before. Decided to get one to try out.

Yay!! Having someone go through this at the same time will be awesome. Do you have to do a liquid diet too? It seems so close and yet so far away Lol no my pre op diet starts on the 5th . I’m so thankful it’s more of a low carb diet. I can still eat meat and certain veggies. What about you do you have to do liquid? At one point they scheduled my surgery for this month and I was noooo I need time lol. Right now I’m just slowly stocking up on protein shakes and whatnot. Have you gotten a lot of supplies yet?

I start the pre-op diet tomorrow for 2 weeks, surgery Sept 1st. Pre-op diet -2-3 protein shakes a day and 1 meal of 3 oz lean protein, 2 cups cooked or raw specific veggies and 1 cup fresh specific fruit (optional). I am so excited! Never thought I would say that about a diet!

Hello everyone, I am located in the Netherlands and will be having my Gastric Sleeve surgery on October 17th in Turkey at Grand Medical. I'm choosing to go to Turkey because I am below the 40 BMI required for insurance coverage in the Netherlands. Due to this reason, I must pay out of pocket and the medical tourism world is quite high quality in Turkey- same procedures- a quarter of the cost. My costs are below 3000 euros including my 5 days stay at the hospital and my transport to and from the airport- flights are not included- but are fairly affordable if flying from Europe. Their track record is phenomenal for the sleeve and their patient experience passes with flying colors. I'm choosing to have this surgery as a lower BMI patient due to my family history of obesity over 40 and the fact that I have tried every diet, lifestyle change, even personal training and nothing has worked!!! I have gained muscle and stalled after 5 kg.. The one time i lost weight on keto, I gained it right back within 1.5 years. I'm looking forward to this new life and the new options it will afford me, not to mention having my confidence back. If anyone is located in Europe- (western/Northern and UK) is a huge plus and has had the surgery or is having it soon, tell me you experiences and lets keep in touch! I'd love to be able to share information about what shakes youre using, vitamins, foods youve found etc as many of the items mentioned by our U.S based members arent available to us. I'm also interested in hearing if anyone else has had their surgery in Turkey as I know its quite a popular destination for weight loss surgeries and plastic surgeries.

September 7th! Starting pre OP diet in a week. If you haven't introduced yourself to eating less and protein shakes I def recommend you do. I've replaced 2 meals with shakes and jello and it's tough! Sent from my SM-G781U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Before my surgery, my surgeon said “if you do anything….lift weights.” I lost weight so easily I didn’t think I “needed” to workout. My strict diet was going enough! However….I wish I had known WHY my surgeon said that. He didn’t finish the though….”lift weights because….your metabolism will dramatically slow down to a crawl to ‘preserve energy’ and your weight loss could slow - or stop, or being to regain - after a year or year and a half.” Lifting weights and eating your protein could preserve lean tissue loss and help preserve your metabolism. I’m 7 years post op. I gain weight SO easily. I can eat 1/3 of the calories I used to when binging before WLS and gain weight. My metabolism has slowed so much. I no longer have the same restriction as I had immediately after VSG surgery. It’s a struggle to lose re-gain. I wish I had focused on preserving (or gaining!) lean muscle while losing fat.

That statistic, besides being an average, reflects bounce back weight gain which is pretty common, general diet complacency where after a couple of years we let things slide a bit, adjustments to the way you eat to better complement your lifestyle, general health, changes to medication, etc. It’s not the highest amount of weight you may lose but where you MAY end up at the three years point. It’s the same stat that says the a average weight loss at three years for sleeve is about 65% of the weight you have to lose. The most I lost was 43.8kgs (141%) . Then I settled at around 42kg (135%). Now at three years it’s 40 (129% - damn HRT & I had to up my protein intake.) Yes, my gain is minimal & I lost a lot more then the stats suggested but others do experience less loss & greater gains. Treat averages (stats) & BMIs for that matter as a guide only not a hard & fast rule. They just give you a bit of an idea of what might happen.

I like jello … but the artificial sweeteners kill me. First the taste, then digestively. I wish I could find something without aspartame. Erythritol doesn’t seem to bother me as much - but I’m not finding popcicles made with that. The simply delish is the best of the jellos I have found - but pricy. I have some of their pudding to try - when I’m allowed to have it. Once I’m allowed purred fruits, I will make some protein fruit popcicles and gelatin “jello” - but that’s not until week 2 for me. 

Hi all, looks like I’m late to the party but my surgery is scheduled for Aug 24th. I started my liquid diet last Wednesday so on day six. It consists of 4 Ensure High Protein shakes for a daily total of 640 cal… hard to believe I can consume so little and still not be hungry but that’s a good thing. Still, can’t wait for surgery day to get here. I’m lucky as my wife had the surgery in 2015 and is an awesome role model and source of info and support!

My date is similar, and I know that I am not going to be able to do pureed meats... so Protein shakes it is. Luckily I found a company with some really different flavors.

I bought one of those protein laden broths from a Bariatric company. They aren’t bad and since they would something warm you might not mind having that. It has 20gms of protein. I hope you start feeling better soon!

Gotta love Amazon try before you buy option for a situation like that.

Try adding flavorless protein to the broth. I use Iso Pure.

Thankyou for your reply , I will ask at my appointment how long the waiting list is , I wish I could afford to self pay I have really looked at options to self fund but unfortunately I just can't do it

Aug 11th here. I honestly don't even know how to feel right now. I finally got past the nausea and was able to get my fluids in yesterday, so I guess that is my first NSV. I'm not hungry at all though. So trying to get my protein in today may be a challenge. I also had my gallbladder taken out. So my pain on the right side is something else at times. Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

it's not super common, but then again, it's not UNcommon. I've had bouts with it, and I know a few others who have as well. I was told to eat something every 3-4 hours - preferably a protein, but if I have a carb, then be sure to pair it with a protein. Seems to have worked. Although it sounds like you may have a more severe case, or there's something else going on. I'm glad they're sending you for testing. I hope everything is OK...

Hi Shannon, I live in Pennsylvania, and I am scheduled for surgery Tuesday (16th)… I’m 48 and have similar goals as you. While I’m not a veteran, I have friends who are 7-15 years out and I grilled them about several of these things so I will share my experience this far and some of theirs. Let me just say there are tons of people who will help with their experience also… and one of the things I learned from this board is everyone is different. (I love this app and the people on here - they are so awesome!) 1) I have IBS (largely well managed) and dealt with constipation after my c-sections as well. The high protein pre-op diet made that flair up for me. In addition to water (I struggle with that) and hitting my other liquid goals, I add miralax once or twice a day (depending on my needs) to help keep things moving. Also moving around - walk, walk walk… even puttering around the house. Moving helps keep things moving. At the first sign of things not cooperating I take an approved laxative by my program. That’s my last resort (because that is never fun) but I know my body and I know when it’s necessary - so if I catch things early enough a partial dose (I prefer liquid to pills) is usually enough to keep things productive. 2) I have digestive issues with artificial sweeteners. So I like Sodastreams water enhancers (Bubly) zero calories, zero carbs. But lately I’ve enjoyed my zero water filter enough to not bother with the flavor. I can easily work 3 20 oz bottles of water (some days 4 or 5). Keep in mind I’m pre op… but I’m hoping that post surgery I will be able to get back into that habit after surgery, because I too have kidney stones and am eager to avoid that. Right after surgery they all warned me I won’t make my goals most likely - but to do my best. With time it will come. Broth and bouillon have been helpful in hitting (and exceeding) my goals. So I will use those to work towards my daily goals. 3) Depending on your surgery - will depend on the long term possible side effects, one of the reasons I’m having sleeve (shorter potential list). However my surgeon balanced it by saying the potential side effects of not doing it the surgery or taking other steps to loose weight (prolonged joint deterioration, effects of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiac disease, elevated risk of cancers and although I’m not diabetic - eventually I’m likely to be, liver disease, etc) are equal or greater. On balance the surgery is a toll that helps me improve more than it risks in my case. 4. Hormones can be real - hunger, menstrual, general emotional. I was told that some women who stopped menstruating, would start again… (also warned to watch out for later in life babies), some women who have fertility issues, see a reversal… weight loss - especially large amounts, can result in an estrogen release (hormone swings). There’s no guarantee of if my hunger hormone will be gone - or how long. Everyone is different in that area. My hubby and I had a talk of what to possibly expect after (throw back to postpartum depression). Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I have Virtual appointment already scheduled with my therapist for the week following surgery and recurring every two weeks after (with the options to call if I need to see sooner and ability to cancel if I need to rest and not up to it as long as I check in). I’ve been seeing him for a while now to adjust to life after a car accident. I also have my pcp follow up scheduled and my endocrinologist scheduled within a few weeks after my surgery so I will have those check-Ins to help with anything non-surgical that might pop up. I have some help lined up (kids, husband and one friend I told what I was doing) just in case I need a little extra help right after. However the rest of my family (siblings, parents, extended family and others) know only that I’m getting a hernia repair and that I started working with a nutritionist pre-op and will continue post op due to some other health issues … which is not untrue, just not the whole truth. I’m taking care of me first for the pre-op and the post-op recovery. I’m hoping by doing that, I can reduce my stress and help manage any of the hormone fluctuations that MIGHT pop up and well as focus on meeting my nutritional and water goals. I hope this helps!

My program gave me several options to choose from. I ended up choosing 2 Flintstone complete a day for a multivitamin (the target or Walmart brands were approved as ok). I went with that because I knew I could tolerate it, their price and they are easily available. (That was one of 4 options they gave me). I asked about patches - they said no to those. I also take ez-melts B complex. I take two other vitamins beyond their program requirements, but I always have (including a prescription vitamin D). They won’t have me add any other vitamins until they do my labs at my follow up, including calcium. They said most people get enough calcium in their diets - so I might not need to take that one.

Oh no, I'm on regular food now, just figuring out what sits right with me now. It's a frustrating matter of trial and error, but I'll get through it. I tried all sorts of protein powders and they tasted gross to me. On a great note, I've dropped 4 clothing sizes, aches and pains have gone away and my pre-diabetes has reversed, so my struggles are worth it.

Clear liquid diet day 1-3, then day 4-14 a full liquid diet. Day 14-35 a pureed diet. After Day 35 and on, solid foods with 80 to 100g protein (I consume about 65g though), 7-13 servings vegetables/fruits.

I use Mama Sita's tamarind soup base powder packet to make this Vegetable Sinigang and daikon is perfect in it. Roasted eggplant slices and okra go well in it too. I had read that the number one soup recipe in the world voted by the International Food Database Taste Atlas was Sinigang so I started back then. It's usually a pork, beef or fish Sinigang but I just make a vegetable version and then add the protein of my choice when I have a bowl of it.

Oh ok just was curious. Also I plan on ordering my vitamins today trying to find my best option but I’m leaning towards the barimelts, because the idea of 8 pills is too much lol ! How are you feeling about your surgery? I have so many emotions going on .

When you don't want to eat a meal, how about trying a tiny pack of jerky, or simply a protein yogurt. This is what I do. That way I get to my protein goal. You need to kick start your appetite

Hello, I got my surgery on August 2nd, and wow it’s been a crazy experience. I have not been able to keep much down. Pre op I was doing great with protein premier but now I’m not I throw it up. I tried Isopure and it taste so bad to me. I was given the okay to start on puréed foods but I can’t keep it down without having a feeling that I’m choking. Trying to keep water down has been horrible I could barley get in 16 OZ. The worst part is that I’m about to hit my two week post op mark on Tuesday and I’m still not doing well. It’s really mentally draining.