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I have acid reflux and doctor recommended gastric bypass. I wanted a sleeve bc they don't mess that much with my stomach but bypass fits me best Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I tend to go more for yoga pants (fitted around thigh, looser from knee down) but I have some jogging (& danskin too) that I'll wear at the gym. All black (lol IS there another color???) with a long tshirt. I've gotten most of mine at target & kmart but my old navy ones are nice, too. My gym wouldn't notice sweat pants at all, but i personally won't wear them bc they are so heavy & itchy. 347*294/284/135 (*347HW/294SSW) | (twitter) @Mwrarr | mwrarr.wordpress.com

So I have 6.4 CC in my band right now and I was doing ok I didn't feel any restrictions then I got sick and all of a sudden I could hardly keep hot water down! So I went on a liquid diet for 4 weeks and dropped 25 lbs but now I'm worried if I should get unfills BC for some reason I can only drink hot liquids nothing cold and I can't really eat anything! If I'm lucky I can eat a few crackers but if I try eating anything else I will throw it all up! Help has anyone been through this before?

I was worried too and I'm only supposed to have 2 oz and I'm 8 weeks out...but I asked my surgeon bc I seem to be able to gulp without even thinking and was worried I was messing everything up, he said nope this is normal bc your tummy is a sleeve and especially depending on how vertical the portion is that remains it may nearly go straight through you! No worries! My bet is if you are in mushies or when you can start adding some dense proteins you will be full must faster! I still am barely able to finish two oz, so for example I am supposed to have 4TBSP of food(yes 2oz) so last night I had 2TBSP Taco Ground Beef(heated) then topped it with 2 TBSP Cottage Cheese, so all protein and I had to stop with one to two small bites left. If it was Greek yogurt it woulda gone down super easy. Hope that helps some!

Hi Suzanne! The seminar is in Ashburn Va, and I will jsut cut and paste the info here. It's sponsored by Obesity help (dot) com another GREAT resource. 2008 - Ashburn, VA ObesityHelp Event ObesityHelp Regional Conference Quick Links: Purchase Tickets Topic List Schedule Sponsors 0.5 km0.5 mi Data ©Navteq,TeleAtlas ©2006 Yahoo! Inc. When: May 3, 2008, All day. Where: Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun 44610 Waxpool Road Ashburn, VA Hotel Website 1-800-EMBASSY Lodging: Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun 44610 Waxpool Road Ashburn, VA Hotel Website 1-800-EMBASSY About the area: The newly built Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun, VA hotel is located only three miles from the Washington Dulles International Airport, near the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Ashburn Ice House, Old Dominion Brewing Company, Dulles Indoor Sportsplex, Dulles Town Center, Washington Redskins Park and the corporate headquarters of AOL, Verizon Business, Airbus and Orbital Sciences. This full-service upscale all-suite hotel is just minutes from the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Reston Town Center and Tysons Corner. Guests of the Embassy Suites Dulles - North/Loudoun, VA hotel stay in spacious two-room suites and receive a complimentary cooked-to-order Breakfast and a nightly manager's reception. Wireless and high-speed Internet access is available in all guest suites and public areas of the Embassy Suites hotel (daily surcharge applies). The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to and from the Washington Dulles International Airport. Announcements: HOTEL RESERVATIONS To make your reservations, please call 1-800-EMBASSY and give them the code "OBH". Room rates are $109 per night and prices are valid on the nights of May 2-4. Reservations must be made by April 11th, 2008. For ease, you can CLICK HERE to reserve your room! Event Host Jackie Thodos is a Gastric bypass post-op, ObesityHelp Support Group Leader and co-founder of Obesity Freedom. Since her surgery, she has been very committed to the bariatric community, and helps people succeed everyday in her successful support group in Fredericksburg, VA and beyond. A Motivational speaker, Certified Back on Track facilitator and Life Coach, Jackie has inspired audiences large and small on transforming your life through weight loss surgery. Jackie combines her true passion for coaching fellow weight loss surgery patients with years of event organization and staff development. Her latest book, Idle Hands = Active Mouth: A Grazer's Journey to Weight Loss Success, will be available in early 2009. Jackie lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with her husband and son, her greatest supporters. For more information on Jackie, visit Bringing Freedom from the Restrictions Associated with Obesity. Schedule: General Schedule for Saturday7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Vendor Setup Time8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Registration and Time to visit with the Vendors8:45 AM - 9:00 AM Opening statements and introductions9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Dr. Mitchel Krieger9:55 AM - 10:40 AM Dr. Andrew Goldberg10:50 AM - 11:35 AM Dr. Denis Halmi & Dr.Daniel Tran11:35 AM - 12:15 PM Break - Visit the Vendors12:15 PM - 1:15 PM lunch & Schedule Update1:30 PM - 2:15 PM Guest Speaker - Heidi Ecker2:25 PM - 3:10 PM Jeremy Gentles, BS, CSCS3:20 PM - 4:05 PM Speaker 4 - TBA4:15 PM - 5:00 PM Closing Statements and Prize Giveaways Speakers / Topics Special Guest Speaker - Heidi Ecker - from ABC's Extreme Makeover "Laugh it Off: Tales of a 100 Pound Weight Loss" -from ABC Extreme Makeover Cast Member Heidi Ecker Join Heidi as she takes you for a speedwalk on her awesome journey as an always-overweight 270 pound 32 year old woman who one day decides to transform her life by eating healthy and exercising and loses over 100 pounds and six feet of fat in less than a year! Heidi will take you on a hilarious review of five a.m. curtain calls at the gym, eating enough eggs to lay one, and being so sore from working out just sitting on the toilet felt like competing in the Iron Man! You won't want to miss this exciting review of how she exchanged Washington's scales of justice for the scales at the gym going from a size 24 to a size 4, a story ABC believed in so much she was then selected for an Extreme Makeover that aired last year. She's launched a website community to bring her vision to others in the battle against obesity. Her website, Heidi Hype - Heidi Ecker, is where America is laughing together and losing together! Dr. Mitchel Krieger, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Krieger is a plastic surgeon specializing in the art of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. He prides himself on the excellent care he and his staff provide their patients. A former military surgeon, Dr. Krieger completed surgical training in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. He brings nearly 20 years worth of experience in treating bariatric patients. Dr. Krieger offers a full range of cosmetic surgery services with an emphasis on plastic surgery for post bariatric weight loss patients. He is a skilled surgeon sensitive to the needs of patients who have lost considerable weight. He is currently co-authoring a new book on plastic surgery following massive weight loss. It is expected to be released this summer. Providing body recontouring surgery options to patients who have recently undergone bariatric procedures, he is able to help people more fully enjoy their new, slimmed-down bodies. His involvement with Fair Oaks Hospital has given Dr. Krieger unique experience to help optimize your surgical results. Adroit in a wide array of available procedures for patients, Dr. Krieger readily consults with patients to bring them the latest techniques suitable to their needs and desires. He looks forward to the opportunity to meet with you. Dr. Krieger's presentation will include: -Mid and Lower Body Recontouring After Weight Loss -Bodylift and Thighlift Surgery -Answers to common questions related to recovery afer plastic surgery Dr. Krieger will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference. Dr. Andrew Goldberg, Plastic Surgeon Dr. Goldberg is an accomplished cosmetic surgeon trained in both aesthetic and complex reconstructive surgical procedures. Washington Checkbook and Northern Virginia magazines along with multiple other groups have consistently listed him as a Top Physician. He is fervent in his belief that plastic surgery can improve one's self-esteem and confidence. He hopes you will give him the opportunity to help you reach your goals. Dr. Goldberg's cosmetic surgery practice covers a broad range - from facelift, breast enhancement, and body contouring to laser and minimally invasive procedures. His colleagues trust of his experience and knowledge are evident by his position as the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at FairOaks Hospital and by his membership on the Board of the Medical Society of Virginia. Dr. Goldberg's Presentation will include: -Breast/Arms/Facial Rejuvenation After Weight Loss -Answers to common questions regarding plastic surgery Dr. Goldberg will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference. Dr. Denis Halmi, Bariatric Surgeon Denis J. Halmi, M.D., F.A.C.S. is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is designated as a Center of Excellence Surgeon by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Dr. Halmi has performed over 1,500 gastric bypass surgeries and over 150 laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands. He is one of the pioneers in the field of weight loss surgery with more than 15 years of experience in treating overweight patients. He is well known nationally and internationally for his clinical and scientific work; he has contributed numerous research papers in this area. Dr Halmi regularly attends professional meetings as a speaker on the surgical treatment of obesity. Dr. Halmi has special interest in long term weight management after bariatric surgery and in minimally invasive revisional weight loss surgery utilizing the latest technologies. Currently, Dr. Halmi is the Medical Director of the Virginia Weight Loss Surgery Center – a multi-specialty medical center dedicated to provide physician supervised services in weight loss, diet education, exercise, behavior modification and plastic and cosmetic surgery. He is also the Medical Director of the Weight Loss Surgery Center at Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, Virginia, a designated Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery. Dr. Halmi will be providing private, one-on-one consultations during the conference. Registration for the spots are limited and will be available the morning of the conference. Dr. Daniel Tran, Bariatric Surgeon Daniel D. Tran, MD, FACS Bariatric Surgeon, is a board certified general surgeon who completed his residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. He received subspecialty training in trauma and surgical critical care medicine at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Tran has special interest and expertise in minimally invasive weight loss surgery. Prior to relocating to Virginia, Dr. Tran was the medical director of the Bridgeport-Yale New Haven Health Weight Loss Surgery Center in Connecticut. He has performed over 300 laparoscopic gastric bypasses and over 200 laparoscopic gastric bands. Dr. Tran has special interest in the latest surgical technologies: endoluminal surgery and robotic assisted surgery. Dr. Tran is designated as a Center of Excellence Surgeon by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Dr Tran is the Director of Bariatric Surgery at the Virginia Weight Loss Surgery Center performing a high volume of laparoscopic weight loss surgery procedures. Topics being presented: -Key factors of success in long term weight loss after bariatric surgery -Long term side effects/risks of different weight loss procedures -Latest surgical options if all else fail (weight regain, complications) Jeremy Gentles, Fitness Expert Jeremy Gentles, CSCS, is ObesityHelp's staff health and fitness expert. Jeremy studied Exercise Science at East Tennessee State University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). In his presentation, Jeremy will arm you with the knowledge to safely participate in a self-guided exercise program to assist you in achieving long-term success after weight loss surgery. He'll offer solutions for overcoming a multitude of obstacles that can get in the way of enjoy a full, active life. By helping you understand the why's and how's of exercise, Jeremy will empower you to knock down those obstacles, allowing you to become healthier through exercise. Come explore the benefits of having a healthy focus and learn how to properly and safely implement a weight/resistance training program. It's your journey....Train for it! I know the registration was getting close to being full, i registered for two spots, but am not sure if my friend will be there or not, so once i find out, if you are interested in going I can give you one of my slots.

I work with mainly men (only 4 other women out of 80 employees!) and they are so funny about how to comment! I had one tell me the other day that my pants were baggy. I'll take it! lol Several have commented about being able to tell I've lost but I think it's bc I've been really open about the surgery. I think a lot of people notice, but aren't comfortable commenting bc they don't want to offend in some way.

Hi Caroline, I am a Canuck, too. I live in Victoria, BC and I am going to have surgery by Dr. Ortiz in May. I'd be happy to help you any way that I can. Cheers, Laura

What absolute BS. I'm in recovery, been clean almost 6 years and I told my surgeon this right off. He congratulated me! Said that was an accomplishment and good for me. The dietician did suggest that I have extra support after the surgery but to deny someone for drug use 40 years ago is crazy. OP, good for you! Some of these prices for evals are ridiculous. There is always a better deal to be found and glad you got one.

when i started this journey my tops were sized 2-3x and bottoms 4-5x or 26+. Having lost 186 bs to date As much as I am thrilled to now be wearing M /10-12 tops and L / 14 bottoms... I am so tired of buying new clothes. LOL Seriously... its like every time I put something on I bought a month ago its loose on me! I know...what a problem huh? But actually I am looking forward to getting this last 30 lbs off so I can buy somethng other than disposible clothing!

broth decaf unsweet tea italian ice I strained a lot of soups and still got the flavor. not sure if u can have yogurt but smoothies are good just watch ur sugars carbs etc. . . and if u haven't tried milk go slow bc I instantly developed a lactose intolerance to it and sat on the toilet for nearly 8 hours.. i so wish I were joking. Also, watch movies from dvd and not tv.. food porn can kill u..

I have BC BS also. They took their sweet ass time for my approval. It got to be 4 weeks into it, and I started called everyday. They explained to me, everytime the doctor sends info to them, they have 14 days to decide. It starts over every time the doc sends in info, or the pre auth nurse needs info. I wasso frsutrated I was starting to get depressed. I started calling to much the reps knew my voice. I explained to one, I don't want to be a pain in the ass, but I am worried about my health, if I am on the fastball, you all should be too. Everyday that goes by, more money is spent on my conditions that this surgery could improve. I found a rep who went through all my records and started calling me, within a week I wa approved. You have to keep some pressure on the insurance companies. Just be nice everytime you call in, but follow up, follow up, follow up!!!!

Most women who really need to indulge more will tell you that they believe they ought to be indulging less. What’s this about? If you are like most busy women with too much on their plates, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to practice indulging—really indulging. Interestingly, most women who really need to indulge more will tell you that they believe they ought to be indulging less. What’s this about? Let’s get really clear about what indulging is. From my perspective, to indulge means to allow yourself to experience something really wonderful. Indulging comes from a place of compassion and kindness and respect. It’s a gift, freely given. Indulging means to allow yourself to enjoy fully. It means to thoroughly experience something and soak up and savor the experience. An indulgence is not a candy bar from the vending machine that you shove into your mouth while driving to your next appointment. It’s your favorite food on a beautiful plate in a setting where you can truly savor it. Indulging isn’t just about food, but it’s something that feeds our senses in a wonderful way. You might indulge in a bubble bath or a foot massage or a solitary walk in the woods. Your indulgence might be your favorite CD played in your car or fresh flowers on your desk or a glass of red wine enjoyed on your deck. Indulging is a full-body-use-all-your-senses experience. It fills you up, brings you joy, refuels you and adds color to your life. Indulging feeds your soul and is a necessary ingredient for thriving. Your inner champion, or what you may think of as your “best self” absolutely purrs when she is indulged. So why does indulging have such a bad rap? Why do so many women think that indulging is selfish or nonproductive or just plain wrong? I’d like to bust some myths about indulging, and while I’m at it, let me remind you that many bad habits such as overeating, procrastination, and spending too much time online or “not doing” what you really need to do, happen because you aren’t indulging enough. When your spirit and soul aren’t being fed, you will grasp at straws (or potato chips or chocolate chip cookies) to try to make up for it. When you don’t allow yourself to truly indulge, you will find yourself reaching for poor substitutes that might help you feel better temporarily, but that don’t make anything better in the big picture. Here are some more truths about indulging: 1. Indulging is not about greed or sloth. Indulging isn’t about excess. It’s about allowing yourself something wonderful or special and allowing yourself to really experience and savor it–without guilt or shame. It’s not eating the whole box of cookies or bingeing on clothes at the mall. It’s about allowing yourself just the right amount of what you really crave and fully enjoying the experience. Indulging is not about gulping, it’s a melts-in-your-mouth experience. 2. Indulging is not laziness. Indulging is a way of feeding an important part of yourself and adding dimension to your life. Some women worry that if they start to indulge they’ll “lose control.” The truth is, when you really allow yourself to indulge, you tend to be more satisfied with less. 3. Indulging does not have to be earned or “deserved.” Some women believe that they haven’t “worked hard enough” or “accomplished enough” to indulge. When you don’t allow yourself this kind of self-care, it’s easy to become caught in a cycle of working harder and harder and feeling more and more behind and burnt out. Again, indulging yourself is a way of refueling. It actually enhances your productivity. 4. Indulging does not decrease your productivity or make you fat. I’ve already addressed this, but this is such a common myth, it’s important to restate. Allowing yourself truly indulgent experiences, ones where you are completely present and savoring the moment, satisfies you. Real indulgences don’t leave you hungry and craving more—they rejuvenate you and fuel you to be your best. What does leave you primed for a binge of food or laziness is the feeling that your special treat is forbidden or undeserved. The message that you are never going to be allowed to rest or feel like “enough” or eat chocolate again will almost certainly create a craving for the forbidden that can be almost impossible to resist. My challenge to you: Start indulging. Make a list of things that you experience as special treats. Keep it somewhere where you can add to it as new ideas occur to you. Begin scheduling these into your life on a regular basis and enjoy.

Yep! Mine is starting to fall out like crazy. I see some bald spots. I'm heading to my hairdresser right now. Not sure what I'm going to do yet. I'm blonde w long shoulder length hair. Might just chop it all off bcs these long strands all over the place are really annoying.

Hello and I'll pray for the strength u will need to get threw this! Question: I've yet to go threw thus bc I have the class on June 13th, so I'm wondering, I realize its liquid but will they not let you chew sf gum while on it, its not like ur gonna swallow it, I hope:)

I'm not sure about BC/BS WNY, I have federal BC/BS. Your policy should have it in writing what they require. I made my appointment with a surgeon and they submitted it for pre-approval or whatever BC calls it and I was denied. I then had to appeal which I did with letters from me as well as letters of support from every one of my doctors, GYN, GP, Gastro, Pediatrist, and the surgeon. I was approved on my second go-around. Time from first submission to approval, about 2 months. Good luck to you!

I don't have a Ga plan, but I have Blue Choice from BC/BS in Maryland. They took 4 weeks from submission of paperwork to approval. I had to do a 6 month supervised diet prior to submission, so you could say they took 7 months, but I had very little out of pocket expense, though they don't pay for fills once you are out of the 90 day post surgery period. All in all, after reading some of the nightmares posted here, my approval process wasn't bad at all. I even used an out of network dietician and psych evaluator (paid them myself), since they were on the team that was doing my surgery. I feel for those getting an insurance runaround.

So I originally started looking into the surgeons in Mexico because of price. However, I could jump through hoops and get 60% paid after my deductible and end up close to the same price. But I have found that none of the top local surgeons have the experience of the popular Mexican Docs. Even Dr Elias Ortiz, who is fairly new, has performed more sleeve surgeries than most. It seems like the US docs are still caught up with lap band. I'm going to Mexico for surgery on Nov.13th and I am more confident BC of this.... hope I'm right!

thyroid issues, possible pnuemonia......gosh girl, you need to take care of yourself....seems you have alot of issues and not just using straws and eating tuna from subway please if you are for real, take care of yourself and follow the dr's orders to the letter. i dont want newbies or prebies to think of this or any WLS as a joke. none of the LBT friends/members on here are rude or trying to be mean. just really tired of dealing with BS trolls and people who make sh** up. hope you are feeling better.

It's so much fun to read about everyone's success stories here. I remember puting on a pair of dress slacks that fit just perfect and within about 5 hours they would be so baggy on me! I remember finding my gold ring on the floor bc it fell off my finger. Now I'm waiting for my smaller gold ring to fall off my finger and it just won't. It goes from really loose to fitting snug by morning wth? Theses are a daily tributes. LOL

I forgot to mention, I guess I was one of the lucky ones bcs, I did not exp. any gas pains...or bloating..I had incisional pain for about 2-3days. On the 4th day took pain med once and now completely off.im walkin around real well. But I do get tired...exhausted..

I posted the first time u told us ur story, nd it still saddens me that ur still blaming urself for her decision. As one posted, she wudve left eventually bc love: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-13. Please read this verse now, nd if this is NOT what she offered to you, then PLEASE, find a way to heal. God has told us how to love nd whom to love and if its not balanced, no matter how many years uve been together, u will not last bc its not possible. You can only be who u r, nd expect the same from the one u choose to love nd be loved by. You can NOT force som1 to Love u the way u love them but u can CHOOSE to find the one whose willing to give it their all. You sound like a giver, one who gave most in the relationship, so tell me Long, y not start giving to urself? Giving urself time to heal, time to grieve, time to live a healthy life, time to love who u r nd what u have to offer. Y give her the power over your circumstance, y give her ur tears, y give her the satisfaction of hurting you nd not apologizing for it, why? Please read that verse and forgive urself for not giving to urself. It's ok to be sad but take that feeling and go to the gym, do somthn healthy, take some kickboxing, just use it to re energize urself. You can not change the fact that u had this surgery, you can change HOW U LET THIS CHALLENGE manage you! U had part of ur body removed to make a better you and it wasn't ur HEART, its still there and beating nd waiting for u to let it heal and move on to what God has in this life for you...the best, nd trust me, she's out there. But give God the glory nd pray that He'll help heal you from this, He will, nd I'll pray for you as well. Dee Dee P.s. just curious, were u always overweight in the tens yrs w her? If so, perhaps u spent that ten years thinking how some1 cud b w u at that size nd perhaps she made u feel like she was doing u a favor being w u. That being Said, if that's the case, it stands to reason y u feel so guilty about the surgery nd blaming urself for her meanness. It's like emotional abuse, nd it takes time to heal. A person n an abusive relationship, altho knowing its wrong, has a hard time thinking they are worthy of greater love bc the abuser suppressed them so much. So now u have to learn to rethink that u are worthy, whether big or smaller, you are worthy. Don't b afraid to let the new you shine on the outside too, ull be surprised at how happy ull b. Again, get some prof help to help u peel it bck, and get to the root like another said. you can do this.

Ask about endometrial ablation. This basically burns the endometrium and stops the bleeding. Estrogen is stored in fat cells and being on double dose BC pills at 45 coupled with obesity makes you VERY at risk for blood clots (been there... NOT fun).

Men! They Just don't think! I am so lucky, my dh has been very considerate to me. He opens doors, ask me where I want to go eat. Gets things for me. I feel so blessed right now. Of course he's not perfect and I know that. Iliana` sit down with your boyfriend and tell him what you need. Don't get up and get him things, he can do that for himself. If he is being inconsiderate about places to eat, tell him to take you home, that he's being rude and you won't except that treatment. You are going through alot and need to take care of yourself. He should be treating you like a princess bc he's so lucky to have you.

Hi everyone, I'm excited, nervous and completely fed up with being overweight. I started the process last week with a surgical consultation and will be going for an endoscopy next week. I'm glad to see I'm not alone. Debby

So no luck yet, I called the office and the manager that deals with insurance is out today and I'm sooo tempted to call the insurance company myself but I don't want to sabotage anything and I'm sure the doctors office has experience with this stuff. @@lolarose13 I have CDPHP which is a local insurance to upstate NY it's actually a really good plan but apparently my high blood pressure is not medically refractory hypertension bc I only take one medication. Pcos isn't a qualifying co morbidity for my plan which is unfortunate bc I blame that and my endometriosis on having a metabolic disease which I think contributes to my weight and my inability to lose and keep it off (well that and all the Desserts I eat, I'm definitely not one to blame all my weight issues on other things, my poor eating habits contribute I'm sure!! Lol)! Sounds like you have a fighting chance though depending on your insurance requirements, I wish you luck!!