kmoore

That's great! My 25th year anniversary is in October this year...I will probably be 1-2 months post op by then Congrats on such wonderful accomplishments!

That is AWESOME! Congrats

Myfitnesspal.com is excellent for food journaling. A lot of us here use it. There is a smartphone app for it as well, so it is so easy to enter things on the go too To make sure you are getting the right amount of protein, it would be a good idea for you to use something like this that calculates it for you. 15lbs down in 15 days is great though...breathe

I was wondering if that might be an issue. Greedy indeed. Glad I have found a PCP that is in it for the patient care and not money.

The stomach is definitely the best place for these. Pinch up a bit of fat, and swiftly puncture, making sure the needle is all of the way in (until you can't see any part of the needle out of the skin). Going slow hurts! Then depress the med into the skin. The needle will most likely be a teeny, tiny 27 gauge...piece of cake

Wow! I cannot imagine not having a supportive PCP in this! Though, at one time, I had a PCP that was indifferent about a lot of things. Mine now told me several months ago that he thought I would be a great surgical candidate even before I was convinced that I wanted the surgery I hope yours is cooperative, Christine.

So I completed my 6 month managed care (insurance required), passed with the exercise physiologist, passed with psych today...I see the doc on Thursday and the NUT one more time on the 17th. Should be a date soon!

You said your friend is 4 months out and 79 lbs down...and used an exclamation point, so you must be thinking she is doing better than you. BUT, 79 lbs divided by 4 months is 19.75lbs/month average. You have lost 18 lbs in 2 weeks Everybody's journey is their own. I think you are doing great!

My deductible counts towards my out-of-pocket maximum. My deductible is $1650.00 and out-of-pocket max is $2500.00. Once I reached my deductible, about 2 months ago, I now only have about $800 left on my out-of-pocket max...which is payed 85/15%.

So glad they were able to find and remove the tumor. Keeping you and your family in my prayers.

Mine is straight and gray...does that mean I could be a curly blond

You can not only see your fantastic outside transformation, but you seem to exude confidence in the latter pic! Great job!

Good points, milkD. I had to see an exercise physiologist too that I paid out of pocket...wasn't even billed to insurance, as that is a non covered expense. However, with 6 months medical management, by the time my surgery date arrives, sometime in the next 2 months, I will be within $300 of meeting my out of pocket maximum of $2500

Normally the hospital bills separately...however, if the doc routinely uses the OR's, I'm sure they could contract with the hospital to pay them certain fees out of what they are paid. I work at a family practice, so we don't deal with the hospital end, but I have seen insurance payments...they do gouge doctors a bit. Money makes the world go 'round, right lol

Insurance vs self pay is, to me, a no brainer. If you already know your insurance covers this particular wls, then the out of pocket cost should be somewhere between $1500.00 and $3000.00, depending on surgeon, hospital and physical location in this country. Self pay, $12,000-15,000. Although I would have liked to not have had to do the 6 month insurance required medical management, and been able to get the surgery done exactly when I wanted it done, those 6 months gave SO much time to get myself mentally prepared for the entire lifestyle change we all must make post surgery. I have also spread out the purchases of things I know I will want...small scale to carry in my purse to weigh foods when I am not home with my kitchen scale, a kick butt blender, several wls cookbooks, certain kitchen utensils I didn't have but will need...and TONS of research in reading here too I've also tried several recipes I have found to see if I like them enough to try for post op Every person is different, and each journey is different. Each person needs to do what is best for them. On a side note, doctor offices have to charge quite a bit more for insurance pay patients, otherwise no doctor could afford to practice. It's amazing how little an insurance payment is to the doctor. Aside from paying employees, there is that pesky malpractice insurance they have to pay, hospital fees if they work through the hospital, and so on... Self pay is ALL for the doctor! So, while as self pay, the doctor receives $13,000.00 (all for them), they have to charge 40-50% more for insurance pay just to make $13,000.00 Just a little food for thought

Carbonation can possibly stretch it a bit too. The gases that are produced can cause the stomach to swell, thus leading to stretching.

Congrats on your date That is great that your parents are able to care for your kids while you re-coop. Hope everything goes smoothly.

When my time comes, I think I will hear a Japanese Steakhouse calling my name

Joined MFP 5 days ago. My name there is kimberlynmoore.

I know everyone here probably has their own fav Protein Drink...mine is Chike brand. I use skim milk, 1 scoop Very vanilla, 1 scoop chocolate, 1 cup mixed frozen fruit and about 3 tablespoons of Chobani Vanilla Yogurt. Blend for a yummy smoothie

LOL...also have seen "lose" instead of "loss". So really, there are 3 interchangeable words 1- LOSE... You lose weight. 2- LOOSE...Your pants are now loose. 3- LOSS... Sometimes you have hair loss after you have weight loss surgery.

Those ideas are good...I was told it would be "full liquids", not just clear for the pre-op and then also after the clear stage on the post-op. I have seen where thinned oatmeal is a choice for this...is that true?

I think some of the best goals are the one's made realistically. Then, when you hit that target, make a new one...and on and on and on! Congrats on being "obese" 124lbs lost is absolutely awesome! Like others have already said, once you reach that goal, make another. Maybe to be below 220lbs by a certain date? The small goals we make and accomplish are what make us strong enough to keep making goals YOU GO GIRL! KEEP IT UP!