bikrchk

Tried them and didn't care for them. I DO like Simple 7 Quinoa chips though.

Well.. I used to test "introvert" INTJ and now I test "extrovert" ENTJ. I like to think I was more outgoing all along, that girl was just being smothered by a fat girl! I just have a lot more confidence and care a lot less about what others think now.

I had to go through a 6 month dr assisted diet for insurance, psych, support groups and nutrition visit BEFORE I could even be submitted to insurance. After that, the rest of process (1st consult, insurance approval, EGD, pre-op testing) took about 5 weeks. Worth it? My liquid diet was only 5 days, so it wasn't that bad. Absofrigginlutely! 95 pounds gone along with all the health problems and meds I had to take for the health problems caused by my obesity. I'd do it again in a HEARTBEAT!

My insurance and surgeon required it. They're checking for things like, do you have the commitment to make the necessary changes to be successful, are you doing this for your health or someone else? Tendencies to transfer food addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, etc, suicidal thoughts, etc. They want to make sure you understand it's not a "quick fix" but a lifetime commitment. Not a big deal at all. Several paper\pencil tests and an hour interview. Mine didn't require anything post op and I've not felt like I needed therapy, (though I was prepared for that if I felt like I needed it.)

I had been treated for asthma for like 10 years prior to surgery. When they did my EGD and found evidence of GERD along with a hernia they sent me to a pulmonologist who confirmed it. Not asthma, chronic coughing from GERD. Put me on a ppi and it cleared up immediately. The first month after surgery it was way worse. I raised the head of my bed which helped and they doubled the PPI. Much better! Then with healing and weight loss much MUCH better! I still take the ppi but no symptoms anymore.

It took a while for me to tolerate everything well but as long as I stuck to the schedule for advancing my diet, I had few problems. Rice was probably the thing that took the longest. Seems like it likes to float, but I was back on sushi rolls within 6 months. Fruit skins, seeds, bread, pasta.. all of it is fine in small quantities for me. The exception might be carbonation, (there's a reason we're told to avoid it)! and if I go WAY over on sugar. Goes down okay, but tries to get out rapidly with intense cramping. One cookie serving is okay, more and I'm gonna seed a seat belt for the potty! I've learned it's just not worth the binge. Kind of a gift really. It's a great deterrent.

I was told they're fine in limited amounts, particularly if you're on a PPI anyway. Had the same question this week about a prednisone pack I needed to finish kicking this respiratory crud I've been carrying around for 6 weeks. Fine with a PPI. I can tell you the the prednisone is kicking my a$$. I don't remember it being an issue pre-op when I'd take one of these things but now, gotta take it with food and it's got me wired, tummy making loud noises, (no pain) and itchy. Weird. But no coughing so I'm trying to muscle thru it. I take aleve or advil only on occasion if Tylenol isn't getting the job done.

Wow. Where'd you take orientation, the local grade school? Seems like orientation should be all about the folks in the room absorbing information rather than whining about what the professionals are trying to teach them. Compliant losers are SUCCESSFUL losers! Let those folks be a horrible warning. YOU be a good example!

AM 1 multivit 1 d3 1 b12 1 omeprazole 1 Biotin 1 fishoil 1 probiotic noonish 1 Iron bed 1 time release calcium 1 multivit 1 fishoil 1 omeprazole I count 12 including the PPI so yea, it's right up there! it's important to note, some do not mix. Iron should be taken alone (or with Vitamin C) for maximum absorption.

I'm not a metabolic expert, but, the only thing I'd worry about is will the 600-800 calories per day that works for you today still be enough to keep you satisfied (plus a few cal added on for maintenance) in, say, 2 years? If your hunger returns it may be hard to maintain if you've established a "happy place" under 1000 calories. I got the same speech at the doc's at my 1 month follow up and took the advice to add snacks and shoot for 1000-1200. For me, it was good advice because as the weight came off and my confidence grew, I started going out more which lead to more calories. I don't eat out all the time, but when I do, I know it's a "high" day. It's been fine. I maintain well these days on about 1300 calories. I don't count anymore. I just eat what I like in small quantities. Not sure I wouldn't be struggling not to gain now if I hadn't taken that early advice. Every week I get on the scale I'm SHOCKED when I happily bounce around within my maintenance zone. How can this be when it feels like I eat ALL the freaking time? LOL... I don't care, I'll TAKE it!

Could be age related "shift", could be the fact that you're just in different shape from working out now or form working out then. Could also have something to do with vanity sizing. I know if you pick up a 10 year old garment in a size 8 it fits like today's 6 in women's clothes. One thing I did notice was that things kinda continued to shift for a good 5 months after I hit goal. The scale wasn't moving much, but clothing fit different and my face got a bit thinner. Hoping I'm done with all that now!

I applaud you for wanting to get healthy. I was right around 36-37 BMI when I started and have seen miraculous health benefits with the loss of 90+ pounds. The hubs sounds like a toxic control freak. Sounds like he doesn't want you to lose weight for your health. He wants you to do it for him and for vanity and do it HIS way. If you think that your losing weight will "fix" the relationship, I'm guessing it won't. Don't do this for vanity alone or for anyone other than yourself. I agree with the "get some outside help" advice. I wouldn't go behind his back but if you choose to do it without his support, that's YOUR decision. I'm not clear on whether you don't "have" insurance or whether you can't utilize it without his knowledge\approval as he's the working party. If this is something you're committed to, and his insurance isn't an option, you can self pay with the money you say you have or get a job with its own insurance and go that route. Just an FYI, I happen to work for a hospital with a baritaric program and though surgery was not on my radar when I took this job, the hospital benefit (they covered my employee portion after insurance) is a benefit you can't buy! I really didn't have much out of pocket at all. In any case, you need to be prepared for the fact that WLS can test good relationships and ruin already struggling relationships even when both parties want it in the beginning. Change can be hard. Good luck in your decision. I hope you get it worked out.

Appeal. I don't get clinics that will actually schedule a procedure without insurance approval if the patient is not self-pay. I had to have my 6 month diet, 2 support meetings, nut and psych DONE before they would even see me for consult so that the paperwork could be submitted that day. EGD and pre-op testing came after approval, then when they knew I was a good candidate, THEN they scheduled surgery. It's so not right to dangle this is front of a hopeful patient and the yank it away at the last minute!

Could be but you didn't actually dump it, did you? The cramping part is miserable. Probably a little too rich too early. Happened to me early on more than it does now at 1.5 yrs out, but if I overdo it on something too rich or particularly on sugar I'm in for several hours of pain in the bathroom. One frosted sugar cookie is okay but several over the course of the day oh SO not worth it! You will probably get much more tolerant as time passes and you heal. I look at the sugar sensitivity as a gift now and a strong deterrent not to binge. It's all good as long as I keep it in moderation.

My BMI when I started the 6 month Dr monitored diet was 36. If I'd lost a point, I'd have not qualified even with 10 years of Hi BP (on 3 meds and only partly controlled), Hi cholesterol, asthma and being pre-diabetic. In my attempt to "not" lose, I gained about 7 pounds, (the statin they put me on then could have contributed to some of that). Anyway, it didn't matter for my insurance. All they wanted was the hoop to be jumped through, not results and my PCP knew exactly why I wasn't losing. Lost the 7 (and then some) I'd gained in the month pre-op AFTER I was approved, for livershrink and another 80 or so after surgery. No more meds, no more asthma, no more hi bp, cholesterol or sugars.

I had all my paperwork, 6 month diet, nut, psych in a pile the day of my consult and approval took less than 2 weeks so insurance wasn't really a large part of my timeline. It depends on your hospital, but it took about 4 weeks to schedule and complete the EGD, pre-anesthesia testing\blood work, etc and get scheduled in the OR. My surgeon also had a "lose 10 before surgery to shrink your liver" rule, so I needed the 4 weeks to get it off.

Sounds like you're working it perfectly... eating slow and small portions. I honestly never had trouble with anything unless I ate too fast or over eat.

Surgery October 2013 at age 47 Height 5'6" HW 235 CW 243 Goal range 135-145 hit about 10 months ago

You CAN. It's one of the trade offs when we decide to let them cut out our stomach to get healthy. Drink your protein and know that at least part of what you're feeling is due to all the crap (hormones and toxins stored in your fat cells) that is rapidly leaving your body. That part will pass. Keep an eye on the prize of your health. You need to heal before you're ready to eat even soft foods. You'll get there. Hangry is a really good word for it!

I didn't have gas pain, never used the gasex I packed. What I used... chapstick, tooth brush, cushy sox with treads (they'll probably give you some, but mine are SOFT), robe, (but you can do the backwards 2nd gown), yoga pants, (wore in and home and put on to walk. Phone and charger. What I didn't have that I wished I did- EARPLUGS. My room mate was a nightmare. Up all night on the potty chair watching Golden Girls turned up loud. I finally had to ask the nurse to bring her some headphones. I was only there one night so it was over pretty quickly thankfully!

Yes. I could have written this post myself a couple of years ago! The 6 month professionally assisted diet is a requirement for most of us unfortunately. (Myself included). You'd think a lifetime of documented obesity and an armload of prescriptions that are only half controlling weight related issues would be enough for them! Some insurance companies are relaxing that requirement, but not all are on board. :-( BUT... The good news is, IT IS WORTH THE WAIT! So jump through their hoops and use the time to educate yourself. Take off what weight you can in the 6 months so you're as healthy as possible for surgery. Wean yourself off soda\caffeine NOW, (that alone took me 6 months). Hang in there!

I had hunger return about month 3 too, but it's much more manageable than it was before. I'm over a year and 1/2 out, approaching a year in maintenance, wear a size 4, and I'm still terrified I'll gain weight. I still weigh just once per week and am shocked each week I maintain in my goal range. Occasionally I'm up a bit and have to reign it back in, but it's A LOT easier to recover now. I log my intake for a week and that's typically all it takes to return to my zone. Just follow your plan and don't let it freak you out.

I worked up to 1000 calories per day with 80+g of protein by about the 6 week mark and kept it between 1000-1200 for the duration of my loss phase, (95ish pounds by about month 10). I exercised regularly, but not a gym rat. 5x per week about 1 hr on a stationary bike at home.

Quest bars and almonds.

So your SIL disagrees with your decision. SO WHAT? Does it change anything for you? Does it diminish your success in anyway? Don't give her the power to make you embarrassed! You took control of your health the best way you knew how. Nothing in the world to be embarrassed about, taking advantage of the tools available to us to get healthy! So your SIL disagrees with your decision. SO WHAT? Does it change anything for you? Does it diminish your success in anyway? Don't give her the power to make you embarrassed! You took control of your health the best way you knew how. Nothing in the world to be embarrassed about, taking advantage of the tools available to us to get healthy!