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Hey guys im a little more than three weeks post-op VSG and my 2-4 week post-op diet plan soft foods, including different types of fish (salmon trout, halibut, flounder etc.). But they never specified whether mahi mahi was ok to have so im just curious if anybody has advice as to whether it's flaky enough or too tough to to have at this point. And if so fill me in on some delicious recipes [emoji39] never knew fish tasted so good until now! So mahi mahi is new to me Sent from my Pixel 3 using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m in CT. I have BCBS as well. They approved my surgery with no problems. I had to have a drug screen, do three nutritionist visits and pass a psych evaluation. I have sleep apnea and high blood pressure as co morbidities as well. Hopefully you will have a similar result!

I just found this site which I'm grateful for. My Surgery date is July 26th. 2nd week of pre surgery diet..scales not moving much but sticking to diet. Good luck to all I appreciate reading everyone's experiences

I also have BCBS. I contacted them to make sure that the hospital and procedure were covered and they were. I went through the six month process and all the testing and I was approved by the hospital and given a surgery date. Right before the two week pre-op diet started, I was told BCBS would not accept my claim. It turns out the hospital was not a "Blue Distinction Center" and so they could not approve bariatric surgery there. Only Blue Distinction Centers can do bariatric surgeries. I wish they had explained it to me to begin with! I went to a different hospital (only one of two Blue Distinction Centers in the state of NM) and I have just finished their three month program and I am waiting to see if my claim is accepted. Wish me luck!!

Hi I'm new here I have never been on an social media's...so this is also new to me. My surgery is Tuesday July 26th. Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself

I use Baritastic because I like that it's tailored specifically to bariatric patients. It let's you add vitamin reminders, protein shake reminders, and focus on protein, carbs, sugar, and fat. I've used MFP, Sparkpeople, and other tracking apps, but they can get overwhelming when trying to put in specific nutrition goals. I also like that Baritastic is free. I've found the app on my own, and only been using for about 3 weeks but I do like it.

I have jumped through all the hoops required by my insurance company (BCBS IL) and have my last nutritionist appointment the first week in August. They'll submit to insurance that day. I'm trying to stay positive and optimistic but the closer we get to submitting the more anxiety I have about not getting approved. I'm curious to hear if anyone has gone through this whole process, did all of the requirements, and was still denied? Did you appeal? Self-pay?

Here is my considered reaction to the people who say, "You can't do keto once you have the surgery" "Says who?" I am a firm believer that in the days and weeks after the surgery, you need to listen to your surgeon and be conservative with what foods you try -- you don't want to cause any complications. But the further you get from surgery, the more you have to find a healthy routine that works for you. Now, post-surgery keto probably wouldn't look exactly like pre-surgery keto. The fats you can tolerate will be different. Your protein goals would be more important than your macros. It would be a process of trial and error. It may turn into a dirty/lazy keto diet (that's what my wife does. She eats whatever she wants as long as her net carbs stay below 20 per day). Your current way of eating like a bird and working out like an athlete isn't doing you any good. You are stuck in stalls because your metabolism is trying to account for not getting enough calories while you are burning like crazy.

I can totally relate to a lot of this. I was 48 when I had surgery 2 years ago and did not look my age. I have also lost over 200 pounds. Now I definitely look my age or older and I don't recognize myself sometimes. I did not have wrinkles before and now I do. That bugs me. But I just try to remind myself why I did this, and it was to get my life and health back. I do have energy now, so I'm lucky there. I probably have a more relaxed eating approach than a lot of people. I do not believe in good or bad foods. I have no forbidden foods. I pretty much eat what I want. Luckily, even before I did this, I preferred healthy foods like veggies and did not like things like fast food or fried food. I am proof you can be fat on healthy food. Too much of a good thing is still too much. I have "junk" like ice cream when I want it. Like, I am not a chocolate person except during PMS, and then it's like I NEED it and I have some. I just keep my portions of everything much more reasonable now. I do track food just to make sure I get my protein and keep my carbs reasonable but I'm not completely militant either. It certainly can be exhausting tracking everything, but I can't promise that I track every single taste. I just make sure to track all my meals and snacks. For 2 years, this has worked for me. I have eaten this way the whole time. If something changes, I will adjust, but for now it's working. I just started maintenance so we will see how that goes. I am lucky that I don't work at the moment. I am an RN, but when my son was born I stayed home with him (11.5 years ago! [emoji15]) and I've been planning to go back but something always happened to keep me home. I really do plan to get another job soon. I know what you mean about work t extra hard as a fat person. I always felt like I wanted people to see that I wasn't lazy just because I was fat, because all fat people aren't lazy! It will be nice not having to worry about that when I go back. I became a nurse in 1997, and I was fat the whole time I worked, so that will be a first. I do live in fear every day of gaining all my weight back, but I hope that if I keep eating like I'm eating I will be OK. That is all I can do. When I look at all the loose skin, it can be discouraging sometimes. It's really bad on my arms and legs, but I know how hard I have worked to lose weight and even if I didn't have a weight problem, skin does tend to sag as you get older, and I am going to be 51 in 2 weeks. I would love to have it all removed, but it's just not in the budget right now since I paid out of pocket for my surgery. Maybe it will be when I get a job, but I refuse to be ashamed of my body. I'm proud that it carried me through being so morbidly obese for so long and it's still here carrying me. It has put up with a lot of stress and it has been strong for all of it. I'm definitely weaker than I was but I'm working on strength training now. I know I'm rambling here but I just want to say you're not alone in your feelings. You have accomplished so much. Just try to remember that! Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

For me, the pre-op diet was the absolute worst. Think about it...you have the larger stomach, you have all of your hunger hormone, and you're only giving yourself liquids. It's BRUTAL (I had to do all liquids for 2 weeks, so I get it). You've already done 9 days, so you're more than halfway there!!! You got this

Man, I feel you on the stalls. I've been in one for the last 10 days and it's driving me nuts. I'm a week away from 3 months post op and I've about had it.

If it's not the Florida rain...it's the Florida heat. Gotta take advantage of those 2 months where it's actually decent. Lol. Don't fret too much on the stall. Just a little hurdle along the process. You'll get over it. 😃

3 months post op. Been in a stall now for a couple weeks. July 6th was at 256lb and currently at 254lb. So only 2lb lost in 2 weeks. Been wanting to ride my bicycle to work to get in some workout time but man this florida rain has been insane lately lol.

I'm not in your area but I have lost 80+ previously with Kayla Itsines 12 week body guide you can look up on Pinterest and easy-to-alter workouts to your needs. It was all at home and with very little equipment. She also has a sweat app (a $20 monthly subscription). I never used the meal guide just restricted my calories and I was in the best shape of my adult life I had ever been in. Most people feel like you have to join a gym to get the results you want. My ex-husband tried doing my workouts with me (initially laughed and was trying to get me to join his gym) and couldn't keep up. After he took back all the unkind words he had to say prior. I'm not saying gym memberships & trainers are a waste but sometimes they just aren't in the budget.

I got the Realize band back in 2010 found out was pregnant 2 weeks later! I have reflux worse now than before surgery. That is my only issue until the past 3 weeks. I have had a pain that seems to be where my band is...mine holds 10 CC's and I have been in my sweet spot for the past 3 years (I think I have 7.5/8cc's in) My husband says I am cranky, can't sleep well so I am finally going to take some fluid out Aug 3rd. I still have trouble eating slow, chewing alot, drink with all my meals. and still sometimes eat to soon before bed time! With that being said I have a stabbing/every few minute headache as we speak from coughing ALL night....does anyone ever experience this problem????

Hi! Thanks for the check-in. I'm doing great, too, Starting weight was 277 and current weight is 205. I have been this 205 number (give or take) for a couple weeks now but I feel great. I'm a rock star in the gym and I'm really seeing my body whip into a nice shape. I am struggling with water, too, and my hunger has come back more than it had been previously. I am getting about 64 oz of water most days but I know it should still be more than that. My hair has been falling out, so there's that. It sucks but thankfully I had a lot to start. When I work out hard the scale doesn't move but I know my body composition is changing and that means my clothes fit and look great on my body. I had been 160lbs and extremely fit in 2019 - so this is a snap back for me. I have had no issues - smooth sailing so far! Cheers

I am a little over 3 years post op now. The past year I put no effort in to maintain or monitor and only this week got back on the scale for the first time and the results are what you would expect. I gained back 40lbs. The biggest difference in year 2 vs year 3 is the return of hunger. The sleeve prevents me from overeating at meals but it will not stop grazing and if you eat calorie dense highly processed foods you will not get restriction. This is a frustrating setback and I have no one to blame but myself. The honeymoon doesnt last forever and when it does wear off you will have a battle if you did not form good habits.

I made it. My dietician said that if I needed to, I could eat plain vegetables. And that is what saved me during week 2 of the prep-op diet. I ate A LOT of steamed broccoli with salt and spinach with the lightest Italian dressing I could find. It saved me. I lost 10 pounds over the two weeks and I’ve lost another 10 since surgery. My surgery went great. You can do it!!!!!

I was a week past op yesterday. Still another week of liquids. Goo#for you exercising. I'm walking, which is about it, but a major accomplishment for me.

Good luck today @Kakinse ! Hope everyone post op is doing well! One week post op for me today and I'm back to work as of this morning. I am just working from my home office today but I'll be commuting into Seattle tomorrow. Still have the remnants of gas pain at the top of a deep breath but it's manageable. No pain meds except Tylenol for the past 2 days, and I removed my JP drain tube (under nurse instruction) myself on Monday. That was the weirdest experience! Full liquids until Saturday, then pureed food for a week for me. I'm looking forward to chewing something but that's more mental than hunger. Seems I've been fortunate with the (lack of) hunger hormone. I have my post op appointment via telemed this afternoon and I'm hoping to be able to get on the Peloton for a few minutes at a time starting today. Cay

All - Thanks for the great responses. It gives me faith in this forum that I can ask a question and get real answers, without worrying about the negative crap and the shaming you might get in a Facebook group or other forums I have been in. Today is my last day of my "Week 1 Clear Liquid" stage so I wait till tomorrow to choose a few items from my "Week 2 Full Liquid" stage. I'm still a week away from oatmeal and bananas. The clear liquid week, as sucky as it has been, did allow me to lose 10 lbs so far. So I'll call it a win.

Everyone is 100% right! You are doing great! I just came out of my first stall so I can totally empathize with feeling like you're failing. Like everyone said, stay the course- this will end and you'll get back to losing weight. You're body just needs to restart. Stay as far away from the scale as you can for the next week or 2.

Things are still going good. My diet is open to all foods. The biggest challenge this week was my water. I need to limit my water 30 minutes before and after I eat. Very challenging. It has impacted my overall water intake. My goal is 120oz per day. I have very few food limitations at this time but still limit my red meat intake. I’ve had a few once’s of steak but that’s about it. I’ve been eating a lot of seafood. Pre Surgery Weight = 336 Surgery weight = 330 Current Weight 304.2 The weight loss has certainly slowed up but I still haven’t been completely stalled. My goal this week is to increase my water intake. Good luck everyone. If you’re on the fence about different procedures, I recommend you look at ESG. IMO a very easy procedure.

AGREED! My dietician is the exact same. He made and posted a video in our support group a few weeks ago about this exact thing. No one is going to successfully live off of chicken and broccoli forever. The point is to learn moderation. He went on to talk about a patient that is 4 years post op and has maintained her weightloss and eats a regular ice cream sandwich every weekend for a treat. Because she does it once a week and has 1 rather than every day or having multiples. I still have the occasional treat but on a drastically lessor scale than before surgery. I don't use sugar free condiments because I barely use them anyway. You have to find what works for you, and the chicken and broccoli diet does not work for me. I have lost 100+ lbs multiple times this way, always gaining it back. I am committed to a normal healthy diet which includes everything and some things in moderation. Learning and maintaining portion sizes and continuing success. Good luck to us all!

The pre-op diet is absolutely the worst bit. No one enjoys it, but it's thankfully brief, even though it doesn't feel like it in that first week! Bear in mind that you're likely going through some manner of food withdrawal, which always hits the emotions. Anxiety is also normal before any surgery, even when it's not your first time - but as Catwoman said, you'll be fine! This is a safe surgery and you'll be in good hands. There's a whole team in the theatre with you dedicated to keeping you safe. Echoing Arabesque's recommendation of getting a bariatric therapist to talk to. Managing this now will help you post surgery. The first couple of months can also be challenging, especially for folks with emotional attachments to food.