awesome62

My dietician has recommended Slim Fast 2X a day, and Premeir Protein Shake 3X a day for the preop. Originally she wanted me to use Medifast but I've had it before and I don't like the aftertaste. What are the ingredients to your shakes? They sound good.

Wish you the best...prayers

I had knee problems last year and went to our public pool and walked in the water for about 20 minutes. The water was above my waist and I was able to walk pain free. It really helped! The other idea I had was using a small pedal machine. It looks like the pedals of a bike but you can sit in an chair. I didn't need it because I was so successful with the pool. I had to get over the "I'm too big to be seen in public in a swimming suit." but it worked out well.

Becky! Wow...I'm very impressed that you figured out how to do it on your own if he should bail. That takes a strong person. Keep your eye on the prize! You're awesome!

Sounds like you have a good perspective. I think you're being supportive and will be able to read her emotions. Hopefully through the support group she will recognize and accept the different ways people experience this weight loss. Having an emotional attachment to food makes it difficult so she's lucky to have you by her side. PS. Its never too late to begin with technology. I hooked my mom up at 70 and trained her from long distance whenever she had problems. Forums like this might motivate her to give the internet a try. Fingers crossed for you and your family

I took BCBS about 10 days and then my surgery was scheduled immediately. Fingers crossed for you

June 22nd in Downers Grove, Illinois I too am excited, nervous, scared....What if I fail? to There's no way I can fail...I'd be an idiot not to lose a ton of wait....to OMG what have I signed up for

Ironic...I live in Aurora and have surgery on June 22nd. Who is your surgeon? I'm using Rosen and Mikhail from LifeWeigh Bariatric in Oakbrook. Surgery is at Good Sam.

I was surprised that is took about 2 weeks to get the insurance OK. My GP had called the insurance before I began with the bariatric doctor and had is ok'd. After I had all my test results it was about 2 weeks. @DelongH you do have quite a bit going! Good luck with the move and the end of the year!

Yep...nervous! I was having nightmares but now before I go to sleep I think about what I will feel like once I've lost the weight. Sounds hokey (sp?) but it works.

The doctors and staff at the bariatric center tell me I can return to work after 2 weeks but can't go on vacation. This sounds a little crazy to me. If I can go and work with 26 wild 7 year olds at 2 weeks, I'm wondering why I can't go and veg in a resort in Florida. I have an appointment tomorrow to discuss this with my doc. Any ideas?

@Minnie20...at my last visit they were tyring to give me an August date for my surgery to avoid the vacation. I kept telling the office manager that I worked with 7 year olds and wasn't sure that 2 weeks was enough. I really want an early June date. I don't think they understand how active we are in the classroom, especially at the beginning of the year. I also pointed out that it was rather silly for me to have surgery at the end of summer when I had all summer to recover. The doc agreed and wanted to schedule earlier but the office manager wasn't so sure. They must have made a deal because I got a call for June a few days later. Yeah!!!! PS: The office manager is awesome and was only trying to get us to follow procedure. I'm so glad she made an exception in my case. I'm bringing her flowers from my garden this afternoon.

It is the distance that concerns them as well. The good part is that we have a time share kind of condo. With my diabetes I can't stand the heat so I usually hang out at the pool during the day and go see the fireworks at night. If he says no today then my family will go and I will stay home. The upside is we won't need a dog sitter or anyone to water the gardens....

After being humilated at a teacher's inservice I decided something had to be done. In February we were supposed to work on the federal government's Common Core Curriculum when the planners of the inservice thought it would be clever to play with those words and work on our 'cores.' So we were asked to do pilates to start the session off. Well, once I'm on the ground, it isn't easy or pretty to get up again. A week later, I began the journey to WLS. It seems I've been trying to lose weight my whole life. I was a stick until about 4th grade. Ever since, I've been compared to all of my very athletic and thin siblings and relatives. I even had an uncle call me to congratulate me on the birth of my daughter who weighed 9 pounds. He ended the call with, "Have you lost any weight?" My reply was...9 pounds. In addition to wanting to be able to move, look and feel good, and reverse my diabetes, I need to be healthy for my children. I have a 20 year old who is an amazing athlete and an adorable 11 year old. Both are often embarassed of my size. They rarely say anything but I've seen and heard comments from others. I want to be able to do things with them and have the energy to keep up with them. I want to be active even into my 80's and 90's! So here we go!

At my school we team, so about a month after my first visit I told my teammates. I've been working with the same 2 ladies for almost 20 years. Another teacher overheard a phone conversation and asked if I was OK because it was about an EKG. So the topic came up at lunch a few times and now other teachers know. I told my principal at a breakfast we both attended and last week she wished me luck on my back surgery. (She was close! nough said) I had to tell my secretary as I needed so many subs for all of the tests I had to complete. I haven't made a formal announcement but many know. At first I didn't want it to get out because....What if I failed again? Honestly that is still a worry....

My date is June 22nd and it looks like they might take my gall bladder as well. fingers crossed

My date is June 22nd which happens to be my wedding anniversary. Prayers and fingers crossed for everyone.

I too am new. My surgery is scheduled for June 22nd. The bumps I've run into so far is with the psych exam. It was hard to find a psych that had an appointment open. They were booked out for weeks. Unfortunately I didn't realize how important that eval was. Plus my insurance BCBS Illinois requires 2 sessions 10 days apart. I wasn't able to schedule a surgery until that was finished and submitted to my insurance. i began this journey in March and wanted to have it end of May beginning of June. I'm a teacher and would then have the whole summer to recover. I left the psych at the end. Rats...so if that is a requirement start working on it now. Plus I did not have to have physical proof of all the diets I've attempted. Dates and names were sufficient. I too worried about the BMI. My doctor explained that dipping below the 40 is not a problem once you've started the journey because it shows you are adopting healthy behaviors. Fingers crossed!