nj8988

My first step was to know this document forwards and backwards. Cigna Bariatric Surgery requirements mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Yea that's crazy, you look about 8 years younger too.

This spurred me to do research and I came across this, very interesting; Lyle McDonald explains it this way: In general, it's true that metabolic rate tends to drop more with more excessive caloric deficits… But here's the thing: in no study I've ever seen has the drop in metabolic rate been sufficient to completely offset the caloric deficit. That is, say that cutting your calories by 50% per day leads to a reduction in the metabolic rate of 10%. Starvation mode you say. Well, yes. But you still have a 40% daily deficit. More reading; http://www.myfitness...mode-myth-again Now, let’s look at another aspect. The folks at Cambridge University in England did a study to determine the different effects starvation had on lean people versus obese people. The study can be found here: http://www.unu.edu/u...od2/UID07E/uid0 7e11.htm. Let’s just cut to the chase with this study. Does starvation mode slow down the metabolism? No and Yes. In the first 2 days of starvation, there is a small absolute increase in basic metabolic rate relative to values obtained from overnight fasting. Overnight fasting is what every one of us does during our sleeping hours. So it is not true that going below recommended calories for one day is going to slow down your metabolism -- quite the contrary, it may speed it up just a little. Of course, this is just limited to the first few days. After that, studies in fact support that “starvation mode” slows down metabolism. Does Starvation mode cause our bodies to catabilize (devour our muscles and other lean mass)? Yes and No. Lean individuals lost great amounts of fat-free, lean tissue during starvation, but obese individuals lost much more fat tissue. The loss of lean mass is not as critical to the obese person simply because an obese person has more lean mass than a person of the same age and height but normal weight. Here we get to a basic idea that makes sense – fat storage – the same way animals build up bulk to rely on during the winter, obese people have fat stores they can use (to a limited extent) in times of need. This means that the effects of a semi-starvation diet upon a normal weight individual are of course much more devastating than the effects on someone who is obese.

If this could be proven, it would change EVERYTHING. I do very well with very restrictive diets (less than 600 calories), but have trouble with 1000-1800 calorie diets, for some reason the less I eat the less hungry I am. I wish research could be done on the true effect on calorie intake metabolism.

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I was told only the surgeons fees would have to be paid upfront (20% of $4,500), and that the hospital fees could be paid later.

Gallbladder surgery hands down. Doctor recommended not eating "normally" for 3-4 weeks.

I had the 2nd visit (w/ Dr. Pirello), and after speaking with him, I felt so incredibly comfortable with the idea of the surgery. He has confidence in what he is doing, and as a guy, is able to relate with some of the challenges with food. Also gave me realistic expectations when dealing with the approval of the insurance company (Cigna). You can tell he isn't someone who does the job for the paycheck.

I am very similar. Absolutely no one will know until I actually have had moderate success. I plan to tell my employer I am having my gallbladder taken out. When it is obvious that something happened, I intend to only tell friends of mine who are in similar situations (morbid obesity) in order to educate them and give them hope that it is not permanent. Question for you guys though, when you dieted, did you also keep that a secret? I often did diets with the aforementioned friends, and my biggest requirement was that they not share the fact I was dieting with anyone. Seems like a lot of people are just willing to put that information out there, and I always seemed very withholding when it came to discussing food, eating habits, etc unless it came to discussing with a professional (Nutritionist, surgeon, PCP, etc). Did you all treat dieting the same way?

I am in Charlotte, and will also be using Dr. Pirello in Sep/Oct, how was everything?

82 lbs is a BFD, just keep heading in the right direction.

Charlotte, having it at Presbyterian Matthews

Well done, you look like a completely different person.

Unflavored protein in sugar free Jello, and don't chew.

I tried the 4 hour body diet back in February, and had pretty decent success with it. One of the key elements is something called a pAGG stack, which is Policosanol, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Green Tea Extract and Garlic. You take a pill 3 times during the day (before each meal) and then one at night without the Policosanol. You take it 6 days a week, then off one, then continue. Every 8 weeks you take a week off. Anyways, it really seemed to work for me, and was wondering if anyone used it to supplement their sleeve and new way of eating. Thanks! More on pAGG http://www.fourhourbodycouple.com/2011/02/02/what-is-the-pagg-stack/

I don't plan on telling anyone other than maybe 1 or 2 friends who also are obese, just so they know there is something the can help them. When people ask, I do plan on saying "I just eat less now", because in reality, that is the true reason the weight comes off. Making the stomach smaller does not make you lose any weight, its eating less (because the stomach is smaller) that actually causes it. I feel the only true "cheating" or "Easy way out" would be one of the procedures that does not restrict eating, but bypasses most of the small intestine requiring high calorie intake in order to avoid nutritional deficiency.

I tried it, and it just tasted like orange juice with a little grit to it. If you'd rather not taste it, I would get unflavored whey, and put it in jello. Swallow the jello without chewing it too much if the texture of whey gets to you. That is what I plan on doing the first 2 weeks after surgery.

I think it's all about how you spin the situation. I look at doing this at a young age (25) is so much more beneficial than if i waited 10 or 20 years. So much life left to live, and this increases the quality of it exponentially. I've always felt if I could just get down to a normal weight, that I would have absolutely no problem maintaining it. I honestly have no worries about gaining it back once I lose it.

Hey Cait, I am Nick. I am 25 and definitely shooting towards getting surgery in September. I am just ready to get started actually living life, and cannot wait. Never loved food, but did love feeling full, and can't wait to have a smaller stomach to fill up.