Domika03

For some reason people tend to use way too many abbreviations. This causes exclusion and confusion. So here is a list of abbreviations that are commonly used in this forum.
Abbreviations ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliopancreatic Diversion (Scopinaro procedure) btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y s/f or sf = sugar free smh = shaking my head, scratching my head sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition u = You VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = Vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight or :-) = ☺ = smiley face or :-( = ☹ = sad face

McDonald's sales have been dropping for months now and I'm pretty sure I'm responsible. Lol

Yet another great meeting tonight as we welcomed new friends to our group! I truly enjoy how everyone helps & supports each another regardless of the surgery we've had.
Tonight's meeting continues to prove while each of us has a slightly different experience with our surgery (what works for one person may or may not work for another), we share a common goal for a healthier lifestyle!

Thanks to everyone that attended tonight's meeting!!!
It was a great meeting, and we all enjoyed seeing everyone's before & after pictures. It's a work in progress & a lifelong journey. Thank you for sharing your stories!
A special welcome to our newest member, Sherri, 437andfalling. We're happy to be a part of your journey & look forward to seeing you again on Dec 1st.

I'm about 4 months post-sleeve (revision from band). For me, it depends on the restaurant. I definitely check the menu online first to see if there is some sort of lean Protein that I can order. I try to pick 2 things so I'm prepared in case I need a back up plan, LOL .
I stay away from breads, rices & pastas as main dishes, and focus on good Proteins. My eating habits are quite different even now with the sleeve than what it was like with the band. But, I will allow myself a bite / nibble of something (yummy dessert) here & there as a treat.

A friend from work wanted to go eat pizza for lunch. I know, seriously? So obv I could not eat that. But I thought about it and said I will find something to eat there...and I did!
A meatball hero parmigiana, hold the bread. I asked for it it be given to me in a to go plate and ate 1.5 meatballs slowly and enjoyed it thoroughly. I packed up the rest and will be eating it tomorrow for lunch.

Offended? No. But, it does make me feel uncomfortable. I understand I'm much thinner than what I used to be (245 to 135), but I am by NO means skinny!

We sure are. 6:00PM at the Broomfield Public Library.
Tonight's meeting we're sharing Before/After photos and talking about our struggles and triumphs.

I am a little over four months postop. I have lost 78.1 pounds. Before the surgery I was 274 pounds now I am 195.1. I can't even explain how awesome I feel getting out of the 200s I started off 315 pounds in October of last year. I lost weight to 274 preop andnow I am 195.1!!! I have been dying to see the numbers under 200 I went through about a month of no weight-loss I was up and down 5 pounds all month. Finally I have again lost weight and is continually going down I am in a size 12 are used to be a size 24. I am just so excited this is happening I can't even believe it I just wanted to share with you guys because I feel so proud of myself! I'm gonna post up
Some before and afters )   

Of course you are! But know that there are many people who had to figure out another way, like changing insurance or self-pay, etc. The main thing is you have decided to do something about your health and your future. You deserve to get the assistance you need so don't give up!

Since you first started looking into weight loss surgery, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the importance of Protein. You need at least 60 to 80 grams a day for the following reasons:
It’s a filling nutrient that helps you lose weight by decreasing hunger. It’s an essential nutrient for healthy skin, hair, nails, hormones, and enzymes. It helps stop you from losing too much muscle while you lose body fat.

Almost everyone needs protein supplements right after weight loss surgery. Protein Shakes and powders give you the protein you need when you’re not allowed to eat solid foods. But which types should you choose? And should you keep using them when you’re eating solid foods and surgery is long behind you?
Protein for the liquid Phase of the Post Weight Loss Surgery Diet Progression
After a day or two of sticking to Clear Liquids, you progress to a full liquid diet. You can be on this diet for a few days, if you’re a lap-band patient, or a couple of weeks, if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Protein sources include the following. Non-fat milk, with 90 calories and 8 grams of protein per 8 ounces. Non-fat milk powder, with 100 calories and 10 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar Protein Powder, with 110 calories and 25 grams of protein per ounce. Low-sugar protein shakes, with 100 or more calories and 15 or more grams of protein per 8 ounces. Without supplementing your diet with protein shakes and powders, you’re not going to be able to hit your 60 to 80 grams of protein.
Protein Powders and Shakes in the pureed Foods Phase
This phase is really a transition phase. You’re adding foods back into your diet, but aren’t yet ready to eat chewy, sticky, crunchy, or other solid foods. Protein foods include the following.
Non-fat cottage cheese, with 12 grams of protein per half-cup. Non-fat ricotta cheese, with 5 grams of protein per half-cup. Egg whites, with 4 grams of protein per extra-large white. Non-fat Greek or regular yogurt, with 8 to 14 grams of protein per container. During this phase, your surgeon will probably have you start to decrease your use of protein shakes and powders, but will probably recommend keeping them in your diet to help you get to 60 to 80 grams of protein per day. You might need one or two shakes a day, plus powder in foods such as oatmeal, yogurt, or pureed potatoes.
Be Wary of Protein Supplements in the Long-Term
Protein shakes and powders can be convenient, but they’re not your best bet for long-term weight loss. As you progress from pureed foods to semi-solid and then solid foods, your surgeon will probably recommend that you stop drinking shakes and focus instead on solid sources of protein.
They’re more substantial and satisfying than liquid shakes. They take longer to eat than drinking shakes. They’re easier to fit into a real-life eating plan. You won’t be “drinking your calories.” They have more natural nutrients than processed shakes and powders. Most weight loss surgery patients can get enough protein just by choosing one or two high-protein foods for each meal. You’ll get 60 to 80 grams with the following foods.
Breakfast: 2 scrambled egg whites with ½ light English muffin and some fruit. Lunch: ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese and a green salad with 3 ounces of canned light tuna. Dinner: 3 ounces of chicken breast and steamed spinach. snack 1: 1 low-fat cheese stick. Snack 2: 1 6-ounce container of plain low-fat yogurt and ½ cup carrot sticks. When Protein Supplements Are Okay
Still, some weight loss surgery patients may still need protein shakes and powders in the long term. That’s often the case for vertical sleeve patients if your sleeve fills up too quickly to allow you to eat enough solid protein throughout the day. Talk to your surgeon to find out whether you should still use shakes and powders. Your surgeon might suggest that you include one or two protein shakes a day as Snacks or mix protein powder into your yogurt, cereal or other foods.
Protein supplements can still come in handy even if you’re able to meet your protein requirements on your daily weight loss surgery diet. If your routine gets interrupted, you might come up short. Consider the protein you can miss if you need to change your regular plans for a meal or snack.
10 grams of protein if you run out the door without grabbing your yogurt in the morning. 22 grams of protein if you forget to pack your tuna for lunch. 26 grams of protein if you’re stuck in a meeting instead of cooking your chicken dinner at home. When you’re stuck in the car or too busy to plan ahead, protein shakes can be lifesavers. On vacation, you can take protein powder with you so you’re always sure to have a source when you need it. You could also try Unjury Protein’d Cheese Sauce on steamed vegetables for an extra 21 grams of protein.
Read the Nutrition Facts Panel to Find Protein Content
The food and Drug Administration lets food manufacturers call a food “a good source of” protein if it has at least 5 grams of protein. If a serving has at least 10 grams of protein, a food can be labeled “high,” “rich in,” or “an excellent source of” protein. That doesn’t do you much good if you’re trying to find a shake or powder with at least 15 to 20 grams of protein per serving.
Don’t rely on a claim on the front of the label when you’re looking for a protein supplement. You could end up with a “high-protein” shake with only 10 grams of protein! Instead, check the nutrition facts panel to see how many grams of protein the food or shake has per serving.
Check the Label for Calories and Sugar
Protein shakes and powders can be high in calories and sugar. A bottle of Special K Protein has only 10 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 18 grams of sugar. A Pure Protein Frosty chocolate Shake has 15 grams of protein, but 190 calories and 25 grams of sugar. A can of Boost High Protein Drink has 15 grams of protein, 240 calories and 27 grams of sugars.
No matter which stage of your weight loss surgery diet you’re on, you can’t afford to eat too many calories or too much sugar. The only way to protect yourself is to read the labels.
Protein supplements can be great choices for boosting your intake to 60 to 80 grams a day. Shakes and powders can get you through the liquid and pureed foods stages of the post-surgery diet progression, and they can have a place in your diet even when you reach your long-term weight loss surgery diet plan. Just make sure not to overuse them if your surgeon is concerned, and to choose low-sugar options.

On Wednesday, ABC’s “The View” included a tactless segment for weight loss surgery patients. In it, Rosie O’Donnell said that she disagreed with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s choice to get the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (lap-band), calling it an “inefficient” way to lose weight.


Ms. O’Donnell herself is a gastric sleeve patient who had struggled with her weight throughout her professional life. She got the procedure done in July of 2013, and has since lost about 50 pounds.
Upsetting Effects of Ms. O’Donnell’s Words
Ms. O’Donnell not only insulted Governor Christie, but also every lap-band patient. She stated outright that the lap-band has a 50 percent rate of removal, and is an inefficient way to lose weight. She strongly implied that anyone who gets the lap-band chooses to do so because they haven’t done enough research.
This kind of divisiveness between weight loss surgery patients is harmful to everyone who is affected by obesity. Weight loss surgery can literally save lives and give people back their quality of life. It can be the only way to lose weight for many people. The only way to improve weight loss surgery outcomes and acceptance is to provide a unified front. When someone like Ms. O’Donnell bashes lap-band surgery, it only adds to the public’s general misconception of weight loss surgery as a foolish choice.
The Lap-Band Is a Good Choice for Many
The gastric sleeve is the right choice for some weight loss surgery patients, and it may have been the right choice for Ms. O’Donnell. For other patients, the lap-band is the right choice – and, in contrast to Ms. O’Donnell’s accusations, they can arrive at that decision after careful research. They may be hesitant to permanently remove most of the stomach, as in the gastric sleeve, and may value the ability to adjust their bands.
There’s no shortage of evidence that the lap-band can work. In fact, it may even be working for Governor Christie! He will not publicly discuss specific numbers, but he’s clearly lost weight since getting the lap-band in February of 2013. Rumor has it he’s down 85 pounds, but he hasn’t confirmed this amount.
A Better Choice of Words
Ms. O’Donnell is certainly entitled to her opinion, but it doesn’t seem necessary for an influential celebrity to insult all lap-band patients in front of millions of viewers on national television.
She could easily have praised the gastric sleeve and all that it has done for her without bashing the lap-band.
She could have discussed why she chose the sleeve over the lap-band and gastric bypass.
She could have praised Governor Christie for his weight loss without insulting his choice of weight loss surgery.

How Can “The View” Make Amends?
“The View” could have handled the situation a little differently. The show could have done something as simple as asking Ms. O’Donnell for evidence for her claims. For example, where did she learn that half of all lap-bands are removed? That flies in the face of what patients learn from their surgeons, who spend years studying the lap-band and other types of weight loss surgery.
There’s still time to make amends and show weight loss surgery patients some respect. “The View” could dedicate a segment of a future show to discussing weight loss surgery more accurately. Any number of bariatric surgeons and allied health professionals could serve as credible guests in an informative interview.
Make Your Voice Heard!
What you think matters to Hollywood celebrities and TV shows. Their success depends on your approval and continued support. If you want to weigh in on how you feel about Ms. O’Donnell’s insensitive comment about the lap-band, why not tell her and “The View” what you’re thinking? You can tweet them at @Rosie and @theviewTV to explain how hurtful her words were. They’re on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RosieODonnellOfficial and https://www.facebook.com/TheView.
Ms. O’Donnell may benefit from learning that the lap-band is a good choice for some weight loss surgery patients, and “The View” may learn that the show needs to take responsibility for presenting a more accurate picture of this – and any other – sensitive topic.

The pain and not being able to sleep on your side is normal. I forced myself to gradually tilt to the side over a period of days and it made it easier. Surround yourself with pillows, prop up your belly and put one behind your back. It helps a lot! I also created a bed wedge out of pillows and a blanket over them (think one sided pyramid) so I could sleep reclined in bed. Every day I'd take one pillow out until I was sleeping flat.
As far as the hunger goes, they remove the gland that produces the hunger hormone during surgery, so you won't feel true hunger for a long time. If you do find yourself feeling hungry, the usual culprit is excess stomach acid, so make sure you are taking your acid reducer. If it gets really bad you can take two at a time.
Tip: the longer you stay away from refined sugars and grains the longer your hunger cues will stay away, which is a good thing! Sugars and grains cause blood sugar spikes and drops that can mimic true hunger, causing you to eat more than you should.

So I've been waiting for this for a while, but now I can say that I have lost more than I weigh! I've literally lost MYSELF!!
Weight: 138.6
Weight Lost: 139.8
Sweet!!

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hope your surgery went well. I can relate to the therapist click. I had to go to one to get surgery and she was a nut case herself. Tried to sign me up for 6 months of therapy and exercise instructions. Said she could help me lose my weight with her therapy and exercise routines. DUH! Been there, done that.

grateful for my good health, being fit, not as flabby as I feared, NO celulite, thin legs, still have big boobs, I'm 10 pounds from goal, 100 lbs lost since my heaviest recorded weight, I'm active, I wore a 2 piece for the first time in almost 20 yrs this summer, almost flat belly, and the most important results... no more high blood pressure, no more border-line suger diabetes, no more shots in my back to stop chronic back pain from herniated disc, My biggest surprise other than my success of finally being successful at weightloss and how well I eat and work at staying alert on my eating habits is that after I lost alot of my hair post surgery... it came back curly!!!which I love. No REGRETS, I am happy with my choice but understand that it is a personal one... and it takes commitment. This is not a sure thing and I respect my little stomach and though... I guess I've changed on the outside I hope that I am still the same on the inside. Thank you for allowing me to brag a bit...I hope others will share their 1 + year out stories too.

Please join us at our next BP support meeting:
Date: Monday, Oct 6th
Starts: 6pm
Location: Broomfield Public Library,
3 Community Park Rd, Broomfield, Colorado 80020 A DIFFERENT KIND OF SHOW & TELL

There are so many high Protein drinks / Snacks out there, but buying them without knowing what they taste like, can get costly. Someone came up with a great idea for our next meeting.

Bring your favorite go-to Breakfast or lunch Protein Drink / snack to our next meeting. We will serve drinks in shot glasses & Snacks cut up into bite size pieces in napkins, so everyone can taste them! Bring enough so that at least 10 people can try them. Remember, they will be cut up into small bite size pieces and/or poured into shot size cups so it doesn't have to be a huge amount

Looking forward to another great meeting!!!

Stand down from panic...It happens to a lot of us. There are a lot of different theories about why we lose our hair...some say it's the anesthesia, some say rapid loss, malnutrition, etc.
My doc says this: hair is optional to your body. When it need to work on other things like recovering from surgery, healing itself, etc., it stops taking care of the hair.
I started losing at 3 months and it continued thru 6 months. Some days it was horrifying what came out. I can remember looking at my hair covered hands in the shower thinking "Is there any left on my head?" Looking down at the floor after fixing my hair brought tears to my eyes as it appeared there was a small animal on the floor, but it was just my hair.
My doc OK'd me to use Biotin and Folic Acid - this is for regrowth, not stopping the shedding. I also used a product called Toppik. Go to their website - it works exactly like the video shows. It may seem expensive, however, I am just nearing the end of my first mid-sized bottle, so you don't use much, it should last you for months and months.
I'm 10 months out and I can see tiny little hairs growing all over my head. I wear it as a badge of honor!

On average you should lose about a pound or two a week. That is a healthy weight loss average. There will be times when the weight doesn't budge, but stick to you diet and exercise workouts! Don't fret over daily variations. A lot of the weight you lost was probably retained water--there are a lot of calories in a pound of fat! It takes time. Don't be discouraged, we've all gone through this. It can be very emotional.

So for 18 days you lost 1.8 pounds A DAY!
Then your body probably said : "WHOA--wait a minute here!"
Take it one day at a time and do what you are supposed to do and your body will likely begin loosing again.
You didn't gain all your weight in 18 days did you?
It still takes time to lose it even with weight loss surgery.
Blessings,
Kathleen

The Ethicon Online MARS Course is LIVE! I took part in the initial MARS course and found it quite fascinating. Anyone that has an interest in Obesity and Bariatrics should take this free online course.

Gentle reminder for those that might be interested:
The Kaiser bariatric support meeting (open to anyone) will be held tomorrow night, Wednesday (the 17th) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette (off of 287). It starts at 4:30pm.
The next BP support meeting will be held on Monday, Oct 6th at the Broomfield Library, 3 Community Park Rd, Broomfield, CO 80023. It starts at 6pm.
I'll send another reminder as the time gets closer as we're going to try something different at the next meeting

Gentle reminder for those that might be interested:
The Kaiser bariatric support meeting (open to anyone) will be held tomorrow night, Wednesday (the 17th) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette (off of 287). It starts at 4:30pm.
The next BP support meeting will be held on Monday, Oct 6th at the Broomfield Library, 3 Community Park Rd, Broomfield, CO 80023. It starts at 6pm.
I'll send another reminder as the time gets closer as we're going to try something different at the next meeting

I agree with the other posters here. You don't have control over the work load, so stay focused & do what you can do as best as you can.
Do NOT let this miserable person have control over your emotions. This journey is already quite trying at times. Only YOU can control how you feel / react (90% is what happens to us. 10% is how we react). You can never be at fault as long as you do the best that you can & stay calm. Certainly not worth getting stressed / sick over.
Focus on your personal health, and what you need to do to stay healthy. Go prepared with meals or drinks so they're available to you when you need them. Returning to work is a bit exhausting, but don't over do it & do what you can.
Also focus on what sounds like an amazing goal, in being able to stop working soon. Do a mental count down if that helps. You can smile each time this miserable person says something to try to annoy you, knowing that you'll be out of there in X amount of time.
Take care. It'll all work out in the end!!!