TheRealMeIsHere!

You still have the ability to choose to eat slower with smaller bites.

Each insurance company is different. @fruitandveggies is correct on the basic criteria for most. On the insurance company site, search for criteria for panniculectomy. Once I did that, I printed and took to my pain management doctor who wrote a referral that touched on all necessary criteria. Once you print it, take it to whatever doctor(s) that have been treating issues caused by your pannis. I also included a letter from me, stating how much weight I lost, how exercise is crucial to maintenance, the co-morbidities that were resolved with weight loss as well as how the pannis impedes me. Best of luck!

Check with your surgeon, but usually 6 weeks post op you are cleared to do anything

Aim to be in that 20%, no reason that you can't do it if 20% of people do, so can you!! For me, it says that at 18 months, 20% of people reached 174. In under 12 months I reached 115 lbs & have maintained 122 lbs for almost 5 years.

ABSOLUTELY you can!

@bogglesauce you can do anything that you put your mind to. What others achieve has nothing to do with what you can do. Surgery is a tool only, how you use it is up to you. Little by little you will need to change your relationship with food. Eat to live not live to eat. Follow the program, exercise, no flour, sugar, bread, pasta, rice or potatoes. Protein 1st, non-starchy veggies second. Non calorie liquids only, stopping 1/2 hr before & after meals. Eat when truly hungry, stop at 1st sign of full. While I treat myself occasionally, this is now my life and I never feel deprived of anything. A helpful mindset that I heard is to tell yourself/others, "I don't eat that" rather than "I can't eat that" A simple thing, but very empowering. Pre-surgery, I didn't weigh much less than you. Was 275 the last time I weighed myself, so was probably closer to 300. Got to 115, been maintaining 122 for almost 4 years.

There are more reliable places to look for reviews. https://www.healthgrades.com/ is one. If you search there are others as well, where you can check their statistics, complaints, deaths, etc....

Great idea! That should make a huge difference. With me, carbs make me hungry & crave more carbs. First week or so may be tough as your body detoxes, but you got this!! Another thing that helps me is fat. I was doing low carb, low fat, high protein. Maintenance was a very thin tightrope, until I began to allow some fats in my diet. I stay full & satisfied longer which in turn makes me eat less in the long run and have fewer to no cravings. It's all about finding your perfect balance for you.

Glad you had no complications! After my TT/Abdominoplasty I went from a 00/0 to a size 4 for several months. It's just swelling, be patient and wear compression garments. The longer you wear compression the better the final result. Once I had the drains out I bought firm compression waist nippers at WM & Amazon (bodysuits as well, but I'm sure that won't be comfortable for a guy, lol!!)

Had the sleeve, January 2012. In less than a year, I went from 275 -115. I now stay, comfortably, at 122 +/- a pound once in a while. Maintenance was scary and hard to find my perfect balance. Was a thin tightrope for a while. Only regret? That it wasn't an option in my teens so I could've lived my life instead of hiding, sitting on the couch, eating, watching TV and being alone. I've been working at living my life from now on! Great advice & insight @monalyssa33

Agree 100%!!, skin removal after weight loss is more considered reconstructive rather than cosmetic. And exercise will not tighten over stretched skin caused by obesity.

Not specific to Disney. But I never had a problem sticking to my program when eating out. Appetizers became a meal. Shrimp cocktail is perfect. Aim for things like lean protein, chicken breast, fish, filet mignon, etc....and a small side salad without cheese or croutons and the dressing on the side. Just dunk your fork before each bite. Ask that things be prepared with little to no oil/butter/fat. Sauces on the side & dunk your fork before stabbing the food. You will get the taste of the sauce with few calories. No potato, pasta, rice, bread, etc.... If you can peruse menus online beforehand, there may be helpful nutritional info. It's best to stick with whole protein as opposed to ground meat. Some places I've seen the turkey burger with FAR higher calories than a beef burger. Both options would be too high in fat. If you see a sandwich that you want to try, ask that they leave off the bread and put it on a bed of lettuce. Stick with the no liquid 1/2 hour before/after eating. If people at your table are OK with no basket of bread/butter, that's a help. Stay away from things breaded, fried, sauced, etc.... I still do all these things at almost 6 years out...... And.....have a wonderful time!!!

A lot depends on your starting weight. The less you weigh the slower you will lose. This is the time to let your new "tool" help you learn healthier habits. Just keep following the program, walk as much as you can, no carbs, high protein, lots of calorie free liquids and no liquids within a 1/2 hr before/after eating (or drinking a protein shake) It may feel slow now but when you look back, you will be amazed!

@Redmaxx Could you get up earlier? What I do is get up, put on work out clothes, drink my coffee & work out. It's a great start to the day and gives me so much more energy than even my coffee! Without my coffee, i don't notice a difference. Without my workout, however, I feel sluggish and foggy.

@James Marusek I envy that you are physically able and have the opportunity to do so much physical labor! I would MUCH rather that than exercise! Although I do love my AM walks

I was swollen for a long while. Several months in size 4 instead of 00/0. Then gradually back into my 00/0's. Took at least 6-9 months to be back in my normal size.

I had a lot of swelling and for several months wore size 4 instead of my usual size 0. slowly I was able to ease back down to 0.

100% agree. Just stick to your program. Trying to meet goals that may/may not be realistic for you can be detrimental and may cause you stress as each person is different. Set your own goals instead. Things like I will work out 4X a week for x # of minutes/hours, I will choose ______ to eat rather than _____, I will be able to do _______( something that your weight prevented in the past), etc.....

Did the doctor see you at this point or were you less swollen? You really need to call and be seen again. Hope you feel better!

As others have mentioned, dense protein is better than shakes & you do need more calories, that should jumpstart things. Weird thing I found out about me, is that fat helps!! I mostly eat just protein for meals, I don't count weigh, measure or calories, I just eat slow until I'm full. Letting my sleeve do what it's supposed to. Snacks are non-starchy veggies. VERY rare tastes of bread, flour, rice, sugar, starchy veggies, potatoes or pasta. In the summer there's this AMAZING BBQ place that I go to often. Well up to this point maintenance was like a very thin tightrope. I began to notice that on days where I allowed myself some fats (working towards healthier fats like avocado) I was full longer, so ate less, and my weight dropped to a more comfortable weight to maintain. It's beginning to be easier. I tell you that because maybe adding some healthy fats each day will give you a boost.

@mewoobie congrats! You go girl!!

The people who don't reach goal are not changing bad habits. If one focuses on lean, dense protein first, then non-starchy veggies, no 'white' carbs and only fruit on rare occasions, calorie free liquids, stopping at the 1st sign of full, no liquids 1/2 hr before/after eating and regular exercise, it works. Very difficult to eat too much that way. Took years of trial & error, because maintenance is harder than losing. focusing on the basics from the beginning makes it so much easier! I did find, as well, that eating fat helps me lose/maintain and veggies WITH my protein, somehow makes it a slider. Go figure, but hey, it works! I stay full/satisfied longer with far fewer cravings, also. I don't even count calories. It's not easy, but if one stops just one bad habit at a time, it's more manageable.

I'm glad that there are no complications. I guess just patience and time. Before you know it, you'll feel good as new!

Depends on the person and how they change their relationship with food, their discipline in working out and how well they stick to the program. For me, NOT accurate at all! Less than a year after gastric sleeve I went from almost 300 lbs to 115. Been maintaining 120 +/- 2 lbs for over 4 1/2 years. That link says that I'd only get to 180 lbs, lol!

I am not able to take anti-inflammatories due to very severe ulcerative colitis which they now think is crohn's instead. I'm glad that your doctor is seeing you tomorrow. At the very least it will be peace of mind that all is OK.