kerrysway

Surgery date: Nov. 5, 2012 Surgery weight: 330 lbs Current weight: 220 lbs Was in size 26 & 28 pants and 4x tops, now in size 18 pants and 1x tops. All comorbidities resolved-----diabetes, high B.P., high cholesterol, & sleep apnea. Would like to lose another 70-90 lbs. Best thing I've ever done for myself.

Hi all. My hubby came home one day last week with a pumpkin spice latte from McDonalds and was raving about it. It smelled really good but I don't like coffee so that got me thinking about trying to come up with a pumpkin Protein shake. I've been playing around with it for about a week and have finally found just the right pumpkin pie taste, and it's quite good if I do say so myself. I thought I'd share the recipe with my fellow sleevers. Add to blender: 1 cup (8oz) skim milk 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, I use unjury 3 tablespoons canned solid pack pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix) pumpkin pie spice to taste Blend well on high for a minute or two. Add: 2 teaspoons Jello instant sugar free vanilla pudding mix----this helps to thicken the mixture and makes it a more shake- like consistency. Blend on high for another minute or two, pour and ENJOY! Makes about 12 oz once fully blended. I actually drink my shake in the morning on the way to work but I mix the first 4 ingredients in the blender as directed the night before, refrigerate overnight, and then in the morning I add in the pudding mix, blend for a minute or two, and off I go. And this recipe is easily tweaked to suit your own taste buds----you could use a different type of milk, fresh pumpkin puree instead of canned, more or less pumpkin pie spice (or different spices altogether), other additions, etc. During my experimental trials I made a couple shakes with Torani sugar free Pumpkin Pie syrup added to the recipe and that was good too. Just play around with the recipe until you come up with what tastes great to you.

How thoughtful of him, what a nice guy. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you!! And as you're munching on a carrot stick, wishing it were cake, just remember that nothing tastes as good as being healthy and thinner feels!! Enjoy your special day.

Whatever kind of Protein shake you were drinking in your first few weeks post-op, if you tolerated them well, would be a good one to try first. Otherwise there are many, many kinds available on the market both, pre-made and powders to mix your own. You'd just have to try some different ones until you find something you can tolerate. Isopure is a good idea too, would probably be about the same amount of calories as the average shake and of course lots of protein. That all being said, as time passes for you and your stomach relaxes a bit and allows you to take in more food, it is a good idea to try to get as many of your daily calories from whole foods rather than liquids.

It sounds like you have no trouble with fluids, what about adding in a protein shake or two throughout your day? I would think that would be an easier way to get some more calories (and protein too) into your day rather than trying to force feed yourself more food.

If made following the recipe as written, there are about 210 calories. Of course if you alter the recipe that would change the calorie count as well.

My surgery date & weight were 11/5/12 & 330lbs, I'm 5' 4", I'm down to 222lbs today. Even though I have a ways to go yet, I already feel like a new person. So thankful for this second chance at a healthier, longer life.

I'm a pumpkin junkie too!! And since I started this journey 11 months ago, I NEVER would have thought I'd ever utter the words "quite good" and "protein shake" in the same sentence. I've gotten used to and can tolerate the Unjury chocolate splendor as well as the Premier chocolate shakes and consider them the lesser of all evils, but these pumpkin shakes actually make me feel like I'm having a delicious treat.

Hi, Nov. 5, 2012 here, surgery day weight was 330. I've lost 107 pounds and almost 50 inches so far. I'd like to lose another 70-90 pounds, so I've got a ways to go yet and I know it will take quite a while as my weight loss has slowed considerably. I've been losing about 6-10 pounds/month the last few months--slow but steady-- and I'm OK with that. I can honestly say this surgery was the best thing I've ever done for myself and it definitely has saved me from an early grave. I am off all the meds I was taking for diabetes, high B.P., & high cholesterol and the greatest gift this surgery has given me is that my diabetes has been resolved. My body is no longer sore & achy in general and I'm not tired all the time. I have so much more energy & ambition and have been participating in activities that I haven't done in 15-20 years. The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner, I wasted so many years being fat & unhealthy and letting life pass me by.

I had to pay $1000 one month prior to surgery, this was my portion of the surgeon's fee as required by my insurance. I knew I would have to pay this so it didn't come as a surprise to me. Perhaps this is what is going on in your situation as well? I would get the surgeon's office to clarify exactly what that $1000 is for and, depending on what they tell you, maybe contact the insurance to see if any of the things included in that $1000 would be a covered benefit. If you get a "YES" to anything, I would then demand that the surgeon's office submit those charges to the insurance for consideration, it's no skin off their nose to click a few buttons to submit a claim. You'll probably still have to pay the $$ up front but if anything does get paid you would be entitled to a refund. Same goes for the NUT & Psych. visits. Good luck.

Yes, Yes, Yes, very much so!! It only stands to reason that since your stomach has been reduced to such a tiny size and can only hold just so much that after a few sips or bites you're full. Moreso in the beginning of course, as your stomach relaxes a bit somewhere between 3 & 6 months you're able to eat a little more before feeling full, but mind you we're talking just a few more bites.

Straight from the mouths of babes. I love it. You must be doing something right, keep up the good work. I had one the other day myself. I was at my PCP's office for my yearly physical and had been flat on my back in the stirrups. She told me I could sit up and I actually did it ON MY OWN and pretty easily too. Prior to my sleeve I always needed her to give me a pull because otherwise I was just like a turtle on my shell with my arms and legs flailing in vain trying to find some momentum to get myself upright. I'm sure it was a sight.

I'll be 7 months post-op this Wednesday, 6/5, and I've lost 92 pounds so far. I'm 5'4" and my surgery day weight was 330 lbs, I'd like to lose another 80-100 lbs.

Hi all. I just received my 6 month post-op bloodwork results. My hemoglobin A1C is down from 8 pre-op to 5.6!!! I was in disbelief when the doctor told me. I was expecting it to be good, maybe in the 6's but was just floored to hear 5.6. I was down to just Metformin since the surgery and he took me off that now too. He said my diabetes has fully reversed itself and that I no longer have to classify myself as a diabetic. I am so thrilled with this, I just had to share my good news.

I'm looking forward to many, many things but to name just a few............being more active and healthy in general, feeling confident in anything I wear, being the object of admiring glances from men, and not having to shop in the plus size sections any more.

Isn't it a good feeling? You're looking great, keep it up!!

I am just over 5 months out and down 82 pounds. I still have quite a bit to go but am very happy with my progress to date and my only regret is that I didn't have the sleeve done sooner. Good luck to you.

I looked like a giant pear on steroids with tree trunks for legs and tiny little arms. 70 pounds later I'm still a pear but one that's a little more pleasant to look at in the mirror.

I'm 5'4", weighed 330 the day of my surgery, was wearing size 28 pants and 4x tops at the time. Was sleeved Nov. 5th. As of today I weigh 260 and am wearing size 20 pants, 1x & 2x tops. My goal is to end up somewhere in the range of 120 - 140 pounds.

I too have a high deductible plan combined with an HSA account. My deductible is $4000.00, which I met throughout the year leading up to my surgery for pre-op requirements---doc. visits, lab work, sleep study, etc. Then when my surgery rolled around I had to pay $1,000.00 of my surgeon's fee but everything else was covered at 100%. Basically I guess you could say that I had to pay a total of $5000.00 out of pocket for my surgery, and that's a lot of money, but I feel very fortunate that that's all I had to pay considering the total charges billed out for everything related to my surgery were just over $29,000. Granted the insurance company knocked those charges down to just under $20,000 through contractual adjustments, but that's still a pretty hefty amount. At 3 months out and 61 pounds down, I can say without hesitation that it was definitely the best $5000.00 I've ever spent.

I was sleeved on Nov. 5th, my surgery day weight was 330lbs. I've lost 43 pounds so far and have had a couple stalls along the way but considering that I haven't done a lick of exercise yet, I'm quite pleased with my progress to date. I am starting water fitness and Zumba classes next week so I imagine that will only help the cause. I'm thankful every day for the easy, uneventful recovery I've had and am simply amazed at how much better I feel already with just this minimal weight loss. My knees almost feel normal, my body is not as sore in general, and I'm not drop-dead tired by dinnertime like I used to be. I wouldn't say I'm overly energetic yet but I do have a lot more energy than I did pre-surgery. Having this surgery was the best decision I've ever made.

Nov. 5th here too. I'm a little nervous just because of the fear of the unknown I suppose. I mean, you can read all about it and talk to people who've had it done but you really don't know just how it's going to affect YOU until it's been done. Mostly though I'm just excited and ready to get it over with so the healing can begin and I can start dropping this weight and actually participate in life again. I've wasted too many years being unhealthy and consequently have missed out on a lot of things in life but NO MORE!

Hi all. I'm being sleeved on Monday 11/5 and am on my pre-op diet. It's going fine and after reading that so many people are allowed only liquids for the entire two weeks, I consider myself lucky that my diet consists of actual food. Granted I had to buy it all from the surgeon's office and it's all high Protein, low carb, & low fat food, but I haven't tried one thing that I don't like yet and really haven't felt hungry either so I feel very fortunate indeed. Anyway, per NUT, I'm not supposed to have any carbonated beverages or caffeine but she didn't say why. Does anybody out there knows the rationale behind that? I'd LOVE to have a Diet Coke. Thanks for any insight you can offer.

WOW!! You look fabulous and I agree that you do look younger. You can be proud of your achievements and I look forward to seeing your further transformation as you continue along this great journey. Thanks for sharing with us.

I too am completely horrified at everything you've had to endure, I'm so sorry. I am in the pre-op process with surgery currently projected for mid-late September. I am in SouthWest Michigan too and upon reading that that's where you are, a feeling of dread swept over me, worried that maybe I've set myself up with the same surgeon/hospital you were with. I'd really be grateful to you if you would reveal who you went to. Please do keep us informed of how you're doing, I sincerely pray for you that you have overcome the worst of it and will gradually improve with each passing day.