emily_0192010

Hi Smile!! Congrats on the weight loss that is awesome! I haven't been sleeved yet but hopefully within the next couple of months! I am in Jacksonville, so not terribly far from you.

Well, the shakes are either 2 or 4 carbs (depending on which one) and I don't have them very often (i've had 3 in the last 2 weeks). I also would not be able to stomach tuna without some mayo, and since it has no carbs I didn't see the problem. The thing I worry about cutting cheese down is what will I do for Calcium? I used to eat cheese and yogurt at least once a day, plus some milk. I've cut all of that out except the carb free cheeses. I know some veggies have lots of calcium in them but there is only so much brocolli I can eat. Also, we can't afford to do all meat and all fresh veggies so I'm stuck with frozen for now. I guess I did make it sound like I skip breakfast. The only time I skip is when I sleep in (like until 10) and then I have my lunch. The whole thing is very confusing. My NUT, who I am doing my PSWL with told me it was fine if I skip breakfast but they are adamant about no snacking. They also believe that everyone who is overweight is carb addicted. When I told her I am not an emotional eater she looked at me like I told her I was from Pluto's seventh moon's space station. I see her again on Tuesday so I am definitely going to talk to her more then.

Wow! 100 pounds in four months is amazing! I honestly don't think I will ever be able to do the amount of exercise you do but I am glad that it seems to be working for you!

Sounds awesome! I can't wait to have that problem! My mom and I (we are both getting sleeved) are already looking forward to how much cheaper our grocery bill is going to be!

My daily food ... Breakfast is normally eggs, or an EAS low carb shake, or I sometimes skip this (mainly because I stay up late and sleep in). lunch is tuna salad, egg salad, or grilled chicken w/cheese. (salads are homemade, just a little mayo mixed in) dinner is normally some sort of meat (normally chicken) mixed with some sort of veggie and cheese. I'm not allowed to snack, so three meals a day. If I didn't have breakfast I will sometimes have what I call my "fake chocolate moose". It is a scoop of coolwhip (2 carbs) mixed with some cocoa powder (less than 1 carb). I don't know if it makes a difference but it did take me a long time to get through "carb withdrawal"... could this just be my body getting used to it?

I was wondering about this myself... I am "insulin resistant", so not quite diabetic and I am having a difficult losing. I am pre-sleeve and am working on my PSWL. I think I am going to ask on Tuesday if this can interfere with weight loss.

I have to admit that I had to google the shimmy shimmy shake... but it looks like fun lol! Congrats! I can't wait to be where you are!

Wow! It seems like a lot of new "20's"!! Congrats on the weight loss everyone!! I can't wait to be sleeved! I have two more months of PSWL and then they submit my paperwork to my insurance so hopefully it wont be too much longer!

Have you ever heard of carecredit? It is like a credit card that can be used only for healthcare/vet fees. We are using that to pay the difference after insurance. It wouldn't help with the entire cost but if you used that it could help lessen the amount that you would need to take out on a loan. We don't have good credit either and we were still approved. Also, I believe that the surgeons office/doctors office can negotiate with carecredit directly to increase the amount you were approved for if you aren't initially approved for enough. I think it is definitely something you should look into. It might be what you need to have the surgery and deplete yourselves at the same time. Good luck and I hope everything works out well for you!

I'm a little confused... are you looking to have the sleeve, or the "vertical banded gastroplasty" they are very different procedures. I believe you are most likely interested in the sleeve "vSg" not "vBg". Most places won't do vBg because it has a very high complication rate and low weight loss results. If it is the sleeve you are interested in I would call back and ask again.

Two of my "can't wait to be able to do" goals could be considered a little odd. At the fair that comes through my town about once a year they have this "ride" I guess you could call it that I have wanted to go on for years. My sister calls it "the giant jumpy thingy", and I wish I had a better name for it. Pretty much you step into a harness and you are suspended between two bungee-cord-like ropes. Once you are up it is like being on an extreme trampoline... you start jumping and can go ridiculously high and do flips and such. My second is rather extreme... I want to learn how to hang-glide. I have always loved flying and I think it would be an amazing experience.

It is posts like this that help me keep on going! I can't wait to be where you are! Congrats!

I am so glad to hear that she is doing better! I bet you can't wait to take her home after all of the struggles she (and you!) have been through! Chin up! It is almost over

I'm worried about this too!! My plan is to exercise as much as I reasonably can and use lotion to help with any stretch marks. My surgeon told me that having muscle tone helps keep the skin taut because it gives the skin something "to hold onto" as you lose weight. Also, I want to exercise because as of right now I can carry around 140 pounds at a time! 180 if I am piggy-backing my sister! I don't want to lose that strength as I lose my weight. Also, cross our fingers that because we are young our skin still have the natural elasticity to shrink with us! Congrats Amber on your weight loss so far!!!

That must have felt amazing Conrats!! The majority of my friends and family are at least 1000 miles away from me and I cannot wait to see them again after I have lost my weight. I am not a huge picture person so it will be a big surprise to all of them! I can't wait to see their reactions!

You can definitely do it within the states In google, search "bariatric center of excellence" and where you are. Then from there find a surgeon you are interested in. I did it quickly and this place came up first http://www.nationalbariatrics.com/ I'm not sure where that is around you though. Good luck

Wow that is awesome to have around. It makes it very clear what to look out for. Thanks for posting this

I have never really been a tea fan before but that sounds very yummy. I have recently discovered powerade zero.. no carbs, no cals and it tastes pretty good! Plus it's a sports drink so it has electrolytes and some vitamins in it.

That is awesome I plan on saying just about the same thing: high protein, low carb and portion control Congrats on the 29 that is great!

I am so glad that everything is going well for you I also wanted to mention that I *loved* your "little sleevie wonder"... i might just call mine that as well Keep losing!

I was told that when asking my PCP to write it it could even be as simple as writing it down on a script... but I have Aetna and they seem to approve pretty easily.

Thank you for sharing I love how you kept track of the good and bad of each day.. .i think I might do something similar once I am that stage. I was shocked at how different your "diet" was compared to what is expected with my surgeon. Where I go they have a "no-carb" policy. You are allowed a max of 30 per day, but that is only for things that you can't avoid or to make your food palatable.. like if you eat something that has milk in the ingredients. In my mind I want to eat as you do... eat a variety just keep it smart. It is crazy how different every surgeon seems to be!! I am glad that you are doing well and are enjoying life

Well for low-carb you can make "cheese" chips. I haven't made them myself (yet!) but you place little piles of cheese (cheddar and parm seem popular) on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them until they are melty, pull them out and let them cook and voila! Carb free chips. If you use the side of a cup or something round and "mold" the cheese around them while they cool you can make little taco shaped chips as well. I think you can make them with low fat or fat free cheese as well.