I am in a program called Fresh Start Bariatrics part of Riverside Methodist Hospital. It is an amazing program. The doctor who runs the program is Doctor Myers. He is an amazing doctor and so is the program.

I started in February with an all day visit, I had a full blood workup, I met with a dietician, a psychatrist, and had a full physical. Afterwards they set any appointments for you that the doctor may have asked for during your physical, like a stress test. Then you meet with the dietician once a month while keeping a journal of everything you eat and the time. They start getting you ready for post surgery. You cut out the caffine, soda, and start with no drinking 30 mins before and after eating. It was a great tool to get your mind ready.

One of the great things they do is deal with the insurance company. I never once had to speak to anyone.

Then once you are approved, you go for another all day visit one week from your surgery. There you meet with the nurse and do all of your prelim consent forms, then get a greater understanding of how your next 3 months are going to go. You get your pre-surgery food and some of your post surgery food. You then find out why the pre-surgery food is so important. For the 6 days prior to surgery, you have to drink a chicken broth and shakes that they give you. It shrinks your liver prior to surgery.

Then after surgery, they provide these protein drinks for you to make sure you get enough while on your different phases. We have 5 phases and they are mapped out in our binder. They are a little stricter than most of the ones I have seen. Each come with recipes and daily meal plans. It is a huge help.

The program includes 3 more visits with the dietician, as well as a 12 week membership to the fitness club at the hospital.

It is amazing.

I move to phase 3 next week and can not wait.

what are you eating on you phase three?

Thanks for reviewing your surgeon and his practice with us Brad. It sounds like you are in an excellent program.

Brad it sounds as if this is a very organized program. I like that. Takes allot of the "guess work" out of it. Will be interested to follow your progress. Keep us posted. Good luck.

It sounds like you are doing great. You are so lucky to have such a good program close to you.

Did your insurance cover the program?

Well, I just went to my 3 wk post op visit yesterday. I have lost 39 pounds since my visit 1 wk before surgery. I also started phase 3 yesterday. Basically anything I want as long as it is pureed. I can have normal mashed potatoes now and normal cottage cheese. Last night for dinner I had chilli pureed over mashed potatoes. It was a perfect time to change to phase 3 i was getting bored with my food. I can also have scrammbled eggs, 3 egg whites and 1 yoke, with cheese and they dont have to be pureed. I just need to make sure they are very moist.

My insurance did cover this. Which was a shock to all.

Be careful with the eggs - they don't seem to go down as easily as I thought they would and others have posted the same thing -

congrats on the weight loss- that is awesome!:lol0: