StacyS

Congrats!! Yeah, I have BCBS-Fed and they only took 3 days! They're pretty good about getting the approvals out quick!! I'm so happy for you!! Good luck on your journey! Keep us posted!!

Yes, I was extremely surprised my doctor didnt "catch" it, but why would he if he wasnt looking for it, right?! I did read on here that they usually do a blood test or something before surgery to see if there's traces of nicotine in your system, but the only blood work I had done was 3days before surgery.... So, IDK. I'm either lucky or unlucky, depending on who's looking at it. LOL.

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle to get approved! But let me just remind you of something... What doesn't kill us will only make us stronger!! And I can see, this HAS made you stronger already! And, KARMA IS A b***h!!! That chic will get what is coming to her!!! Just watch! Please keep us all posted on your journey!

Please.... no bashing, my head is already hung! I'm a smoker and haven't stopped. I smoked the day of surgery and the day I got home. In fact, I'm still smoking. My insurance required me to be smoke free for no less than 6 months prior to surgery so when the doctors asked if I smoked I always said no. I know it was wrong for me to lie, but I didnt have the will power to quit and really dont see myself quitting just yet. I know I will eventually, but not right now. I have had NO complications post-op regarding my stomach not healing or anything crazy like that. In fact, I am completely normal and am on soft foods and am not having any issues. Please, dont take this as encouragement to continue smoking, not by any means! If you can quit... then quit!!! I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in.

Congrats Rootman!!!! So happy for you!! Keep up the good work!!! And thanks for all your support through my journey!

Wow!!! check you out!! OMG, you're looking fabulous!! Check out those arms! I sure can't wait til my arms look that good!!! So very happy for you sweetie!! Keep rockin your sleeve!!!

Call them with all your questions!! That's what I did. I wanted to make sure I had all my bases covered. They were really nice and never got annoyed with me...lol

I have BCBS-Fed n Ca and I was approved on the first try!!! It took only 3days for them to approve me with a BMI of 41.7

I know that I cannot compare myself to anyone and that we vary on our weight loss journeys but I'm at a total loss and need some serious help here!! I'm 6 weeks out and am not losing any weight!! I lost the majority of the 25lbs the first two weeks post-op, then stalled... I drank Magnesium Citrate to help speed along the process, thinking the stall was due to a "back up", which seemed to work at first. I lost an additional 4lbs and that was 2 wks ago!! Now, again NOTHING!! I'm not even down a dress size yet! I'm getting so effin frustrated and have no idea what is going on!! I'm getting in all my Water, I get in over 80g of Protein a day, and limit the carbs to 30g a day too... but nothing seems to be working! No, I havent started exercising yet cuz I barely get enough calories in to increase activity yet. I may get 600-800 in. I've tried to increase my food intake but I'm still on mushies and am having a hard enough time getting all the requirements in, let alone increasing food. This is what I ate yesterday: BF: Bariatric Hot chocolate Nonfat plain greek yogurt w/half a banana SN: Pure Protein shake String cheese L: Refried Beans w/shredded pork from last nights dinner (about 3oz) SN: nectar Protein Drink (2 servings) Laughing Cow cheese wedge D: 2oz of tuna w/Mayo Please, please.... if anyone can help figure out what I might be doing wrong or how to speed up my weight loss I would be forever grateful!!

I use myfitnesspal.com and it also has an app I use on my phone!!

Yeah, I refuse to weigh everyday. I'm waiting til monday to see what the week has brought for me!! Lets hope I'm down something and the stall has broken!!

That's so weird.... I was ALWAYS cold pre-surgery!! I slept with a down blanket year round, always wore sweat-shirts and rarely broke a sweat! I've been sleeved for about 6 wks now and havent really noticed a difference! I still sleep with my comforter and wear sweat-shirts in the evening.... I've only lost about 25lbs so far, so I guess after I start losing more weight I'll start to get super cold now???? Should I bring a sweat-shirt jacket to keep at the office, just in case???

Class of '94 here!!! I'm 35 and had my VSG on 4/25/11... I was an MTVaholic! I loved Madonna's videos and Devo's too. I swear, they really need to change their name to Reality TV now, since they NEVER play videos anymore! I have to watch Fuse in order to see music or VH1's Pop-Up Video! (I love that show! On VH1-2 now). ((shhhhh....dont tell anyone but I dont like Jersey Shore but I LOVE Jerseylicious!))

OMG, that is such a fantastic idea!!!! I cant stand when my food gets cold so I just throw the rest out! This is a brilliant idea Sugarland!!!! I think I might have to run out and get me one before Monday (for work)! Thank you so much!!!

Are you counting your carbs/calories/proteins at all? I see what you've eaten and the fruit and the wheat thins are lots of carbs. I would recommend journaling to see a trend in what you're eating vs how much you're losing. You're only a month out and are able to eat 1/2 of a Subway sandwich? Wow. I'm 6wks out and am still on Mushies until next week. I am able to eat soft meats and deli slices but havent (and dont want to) try bread yet. Too many carbs and scared it might get stuck.

Keeping a journal of food is not that hard. I mean, how is she gonna know that you actually only ate what you wrote down? I'm not encouraging you to "cheat" but is it required that you lose a certain amount of weight before you are approved for surgery? If not, I wouldn't torture myself until I have to. I was really lucky and only had to do a 3 day pre-op diet of Clear liquids and that was extremely hard! But let me tell you, I had a lot of "Last Suppers" before surgery. Again, what I say is just a thought and I want to make it perfectly clear that I'm not encouraging you to lie to your nutritionist. I'm just thinking out loud.... LOL

I'm 6wks out and took my 4yr old to see Kunfu Panda 2 on monday and guess what I ate? Yep, some popcorn!!! Mind you I only had a lil, but I didn't die!!! And, I didn't get sick or uncomfortable at all. I did drink it down with a few sips of water. You see, I'm still on mushies and just couldn't resist a little popcorn. I didn't get full or anything cuz I only had a small amount so I'm sure at 9wks you'll be fine. And popcorn is a healthy snack w/out the butter!!!

I'm rather surprised that you have a full month of mushies.... I was 2 wks mushies and then 2 wks soft foods (which I'm on now). But a full month? wow, that's harsh!

I made a turkey roll up with deli meat today, and I'm not soft foods.... I rolled up a slice of turkey lunch meat with a slice of pepper jack cheese and some diced green chilis. Put it in a hot greased pan and "grill" on all sides til the cheese melts!! It's delicious! I was only able to eat a few bites but took the rest for lunch today w/a side of guacamole I made this weekend. yummmm

It is so annoying, isn't it? I just made a delicious turkey roll up (deli meat) with pepper jack cheese n jalapenos grilled to perfection and three lil bites n I'm stuffed! I cut it in half and am taking it to work for lunch.... Crazy how we wanna eat it all as if we were never sleeved!! D'oh!! Lmao!!!

Wow!!! Not only are you thinner but you look so much younger!!!!! Congrats! Keep up the good work!