Hello everyone! I am Finally Fit in Florida and this is my first post. My first visit with my surgeon was June 20th. I have visited the psychiatrist, nutritionist, and had a liver/gallbladder ultrasound. On Friday, I was given my surgery date: August 7th. :-) I have been reading anything I can get my hands on (including this site) and I have been ordering my Protein shakes and Vitamins. My insurance does not cover bariatric procedures, so it looks like I will be having it done in conjunction with another procedure and paying for the bariatric portion myself.

Although I am new to the journey, I am not new to the battle of the bulge. :-) I am 42 and have fought my weight since my early 20's. I am a chronic yo-yo dieter - extremely committed during the diets and successful at losing the weight, but the minute I stop the diet or pills, I gain the weight right back. I start my exercise program and vitamins/biotin tomorrow and my liquid diet on July 30th.

I want to take a minute and introduce myself. Thank you to all of you for the information that I have found thus far and for the support that I know you will provide me. I am thankful to have so many people with whom I can share this journey of transformation.

Congrats on your decision to take control of your health. I wish you all the best on this exciting journey!

Welcome to the best ol' support group on the net. Read this site thoroughly and you'll find the answer to just about any question you can think of.

Wishing you all the best on your journey to a new and healthier life.

Hi & welcome!

I'm fairly new too. Truthfully, I've been anonymously visiting this site for two months before officially registering. We are almost at the same stage in this process. I visit the psychologist tomorrow. No surgery date, my surgeon says poss September but I'm hoping October.

I can't say enough good things about this site. Most people are extremely supportive. I recently ordered a few books on Amazon to help me along this journey,( can't be too informed). Good luck and keep us posted!

Hello to you, too, Kathy! Like you, I have been stalking the board and reading books. The Big Book on the GS is EXCELLENT!

Welcome newbies, this site is fantastic for most your questions. Good luck.

Same here for me. I have just started the process. I ordered the "big book" and probably read every post on this site! I have my first meeting with a surgeon on 7/21. I have Type 2 Diabetes and really bad sleep apnea, so my insurance is waiting on my surgeon visit to make a determination. I am determined to lose this weight and live healthy. What was the time table for others between surgeon/psych/nutrition visits before surgery? My insurance does not require a "losing period", but do most surgeons? Thanks for the support!!

Same here for me. I have just started the process. I ordered the "big book" and probably read every post on this site! I have my first meeting with a surgeon on 7/21. I have Type 2 Diabetes and really bad sleep apnea, so my insurance is waiting on my surgeon visit to make a determination. I am determined to lose this weight and live healthy. What was the time table for others between surgeon/psych/nutrition visits before surgery? My insurance does not require a "losing period", but do most surgeons? Thanks for the support!!

Oops on the above, not that techy.

@@Sandra, I saw my surgeon the 1st week of June. Also saw the nutritionist the same day as well as an exercise physiologist . Since then, I started on several of the preoperative testing. Saw the psychologist yesterday.. This Friday, I see the surgeon for my second visit as well as the nutritionist. & exercise physiologist.

Thankfully, my insurance indicated that I am approved ( i'm assuming my BMI had something to do with that). However, I have to complete my preoperative test, if all goes well, I'll get my date. At my first visit the surgeon said it should take approximately three months before surgery. But, I noticed in reading the post on the site, insurance requirements vary.

Good luck Sandra, hopefully it will go quickly for you.