NLWC.Christa

I bring home 1/2 to 2/3 of everything I order out. I could feed the neighborhood on my leftovers! A lot of restaurants have "light" or "heart healthy" or "low carb" sections on their menu, and that is the first place I look. Well, if there is no shrimp cocktail on the appetizer menu. I love that Red Lobster will let you order the "add on" order of crab legs without actually "adding" it on to another entree and I almost always choose some sort of egg dish at places that serve breakfast all day. I'm a big fan of the veggie omelet with salsa. I tend to stay away from beef items. They sit heavy in my sleeve and can be too tough when reheated. But chicken and fish items always work well for me. My family loves to eat out, so I've gotten good at breaking down a menu item into what I can/can't, should/shouldn't eat and ordering only what I want. I used to get annoyed at people who made special requests when they ordered, but now I'm one of those people. I've yet to run into a server or a cook, who was anything less than accommodating.

Double check with your doctor and./or dietitian, but I think as long as it is blended to a smooth consistency, it would be okay.

Anthem, as a whole, covers the sleeve as of November 18, 2010. They follow the Wellpoint utilization management guidelines for their medical policy on bariatric surgery. General requirements are: :: BMI over 40 OR :: BMI between 35 and 39.9 with additional co-morbid conditions (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascualar disease, severe cardiopulmonary disease) :: History of non-surgical weight reduction attempts :: Psych consult :: Medical Clearance :: Pre- and Post-op Diet and Nutrition Counseling :: Ongoing follow-up and support/education/counseling resources That said, every plan is different and some employers/plans may specifically exclude bariatric surgery as a whole or my put additional requirements in place. It is always best to call the number on the back of your insurance card and ask specific questions and ask for a copy of the medical policy (it is usually available online). I've worked mostly with Anthem Ohio and Anthem Kentucky, and the predetermination/pre-certification process is fairly painless as long as your doctor submits the required information. I think their predetermination process takes a week or less, but don't quote me on that.

A few weeks ago, while trolling for recipes, I found a Bariatric-friendly Broccoli Soup recipe that is prepared in a crock pot. I bought all of the ingredients and lost the recipe somewhere between the store and my house. *sadface* All I remember is that it calls for three pounds of broccoli, some garlic powder and cheddar cheese...and that it cooks in 2.5 hours. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I'd be so grateful for a link. Thanks!

I didn't have much, if any, pain after surgery. Of course, I was pretty doped up the whole evening following my procedure. The morning after, when they removed my catheter and the pain pump, I felt a stinging little "tugging" sensation at the center incision, but that's it. I don't recall asking for pain meds after that. Nausea meds, yes. Pain meds, not so much. I also didn't take any pain medication after I got home...at least, not until three months later when I burned my hand and thought I would die. But that's another story entirely. I've never had children, so I can't make any comparisons there...but I remember being amazed that I had so little pain. I still am.

Next week I'll be five months post-op and I feel like I've done pretty well, but I know that I can do better. For the new year, I've decided to blog, at least once a week. So, I thought I'd share the link with you. If anyone has a blog you'd like me to link, feel free to leave it in the comments here or there and I'll be happy to add you. http://transitionalinvariance.wordpress.com/

Can you make your own flavors or does it come with flavor packs? I've considered getting one as I eat a lot of yogurt! I'd love to know more about how it works.

HI! I think you should be able to click on the link to the RSS feed if you use a feed reader. I use google reader to keep up with the blogs I follow. Do you mind if I add your site to my blog roll?

Definitely get a second opinion, because if you are already doubting the person you would trust with your life, then you should look for someone else. But, gallstones don't actually resolve with the sleeve. In fact, they can get worse. Rapid weight loss, whether it be sleeve, band or RNY, can actually lead to the formation of gallstones and many patients take Actigall, or something similar, to prevent the formation of gallstones following weight loss surgery. Some insurance companies do allow for a prophylactic gallbladder removal at the time of WLS for this very reason. My acid reflux did get worse right after surgery, but is all but resolved now. I did consider RNY first. My insurance did not allow for the sleeve at the time and I knew the band would not be right for me. I was ready for bypass...right up until BCBS made the sleeve available. I will say this, every surgery has its risks and every surgery has a margin for failure to achieve and sustain weight loss. How well you do is up to you. You can minimize the risks by following your doctor's guidelines. You can maximize the surgery's success by following your doctor's guidelines. That said, I dearly love my sleeve, but if that option had not become available at the 11th hour, I would be posting on the RNY boards right now. Best of luck to you!

I think most programs have a fee in place for administrative, educational and support costs. All of the intangibles that make the overhead for a bariatric clinic higher than that of a general surgery practice.

I made the Ricotta Bake Cups from the Eggface blog: http://transitionali....wordpress.com/ And they were so good! Perfect for taking to our New Year's Eve get-together. I can see making these and storing them in the freezer, then having one or two for a pizza-like dinner on the fly.

I'm another one who retains water when I stop drinking enough. Also, when I'm not getting my water in, the downward movement on the scale comes to a screeching halt. I was hospitalized for dehydration two weeks after surgery, and let me tell you, I have never felt so ill. I do NOT want to go through that again. So, I'll keep drinking as much water as I can simply because I feel better when I do. Another point I always try to remind myself of, many times thirst can mask itself as hunger. So when I start to feel like I need to nibble, I grab some water or some other beverage and any craving or twinge of hunger I was experiencing vanishes.

I have an android phone and an iPod. I use the Calorie Counter app from fatsecret.com. I especially like that it lets me save my food logs as pdf files so that I can easily print or email them to my dietician. I also really like their recipe builder and that it remembers my frequently eaten foods.

I'm four months out and just started eating cereal with milk on occasion. I try to get at least 10-15 grams of protein at breakfast, and cereal just didn't fit with that plan until now. I eat Kashi Go Lean which has 13 grams of protein per cup (though I usually only have 1/2-2/3 cup at a time with the same amount of skim milk). I let it sit for a few minutes so it is not so crunchy. It is also good when added to non-fat, vanilla or plain greek yogurt.

My sleeve gurgles a lot. Particularly the first time I drink after a meal. I know that it is not hunger pains, so I just chalk it up to one of the anomolies of the sleeve and the liquid gurgling through whatever food is left in my stomach. My sleeve is so "chatty" sometimes, that I finally had to give her a name. Suzy definitely has a personality all her own!

I prefer greek yogurt for the thicker consistency and higher Protein content. I sometimes buy the individual containers of caramel flavor (but it is higher in carbs than some people are allowed - my dietician doesn't have a carb limit, its all about eating protein first). Lately, though, I've been buying the larger tub of the vanilla, fewer carbs than the other flavors and I mix in some Kashi Go Lean Cereal for a little crunch and a few extra grams of protein. There is also an Athenos brand at WalMart that has a little side cup of fruit. It is more tangy in flavor than the oikos, and I mix in about half the fruit for a little sweetness. I've tried the Carbmasters yogurt and it is too thin and bland for me now that I've developed a taste for greek yogurt.

Count Me In! I've been spending some time on my eliptical, going to Water aerobics twice a week and doing some Zumba at home. Still, I'm lacking motivation in a major way. Saturday, I started with a personal trainer and will meet with her once per week, and I signed up for a gym membership and my plan is to go at least 3x per week. Since I won't make it to water aerobics tonight, I'm going to commit to doing Zumba for at least 30 minutes and then I'll spend some time on the elliptical while i catch up on my TV shows. Let's Go!

Here's another version of this recipe, with a little less heat and a little more sweet: 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar Twin ¼ teaspoon dried coriander ½ teaspoon dried sage ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 1/8 teaspoon nsa chili powder 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle (or favorite flavor) 1 lb. ground turkey breast or the leanest ground beef ½ teaspoon imitation maple flavoring Combine all dry ingredients together in small bowl. Make sure the aroma is what you want. Adjust to your tastes. In large bowl, using hands, mix the ground turkey and the maple flavoring well. Add the dry seasonings and continue to mix well. Form into patties, links, balls, or leave as loose crumbles. Grill in George Foreman Grill or in Skillet. Serving suggestion for Sausage Scrambled eggs... 3 egg whites, 1 oz. sausage, scramble in skillet. Makes two (2 oz) servings of Protein.

Years ago I tried that one diet that is supposed to makeover your body in six weeks. Needless to say, years later, I'm still making over my body. While digging through my old recipe file, I found this one. It was one of my favorite Breakfast foods. * 1 lb ground turkey breast * ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper * 1 teaspoon thyme * ½ teaspoon rosemary * ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg * 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper * 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes * ½ teaspoon garlic powder * 1 packet Splenda * ½ teaspoon maple flavor * 1 clove garlic, minced * 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon (4 teaspoons) unsweetened applesauce Combine all ingredients. Chill at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Form eight 2 oz patties. Cook over medium heat until thoroughly cooked, about 3 minutes per side. DO NOT OVERCOOK. I've also tried baking them in the oven on a stoneware pan, but I found I liked a combination of the two. I'd brown them a little bit and then finish them off in the oven. They freeze really well. According to the recipe builder at fatsecret.com: cals: 80kcal | fat: 3.58g | carbs: 0.96g | prot: 11.10g

I'm wondering if you could take the Ricotta bake recipe from this site, roll it up in the wonton wrappers, top with marinara and bake... Could be like Manicotti Florentine. I may have to try this!

How do you feel about chocolate milk? When I have a sweet craving, I pick up a bottle of 100 Calorie Nesquik Chocolate Milk from the local convenience store. Ice cold, sweet and creamy...8 grams of protein. It completely satisfies my craving and with the low-ish calories and good protein count, I don't feel guilty.

Is this the recipe you're looking for? http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/4310-cloud-bread-cinnamon-raisin-nut-pastrylow-carb/

What are your favorite no-gym-required exercises for Inner Thighs? Any ideas for getting the flab off of this trouble spot? Thanks!

Oh Wow! You know, I think I might actually have the old "Thigh Master" in my storage room! I'll have to look. Tiffy, that exercise sounds like it would be great for the obliques as well. Unless I'm reading wrong and you only take your legs/knees off the floor and not your hips.

Tiff - You've mentioned your "standing sit ups" a couple of times, could you please remind us again how to do them? Thanks! PS I adore Hip Hop Abs...and Zumba!