SnohoGal98296

No decaf tea? Hmmm.... did they say why no decaf? Maybe because it would be a temptation to sweeten it ( assuming full sugar? ) No controls on what type of sugar free sweetener?

I am consulting with Dr Landerholm on Thursday, May I ask are you selfpay? If you are, do you know if they use BLIS or a similar self pay complication insurance policy?

Don't be sorry, this is exactly what was on my mind and what I was hoping we could share! Excellent post!

I just found this one... http://www.julianbakery.com/paleo-product/paleo-protein-egg-whites-1-75lbs-chocolate-1-carb/ Paelo Protein with Egg White Protein and sweetened by Stevia, so far I have only seen the 1.75 jug though...$49.99

I work in Everett! There are a lot of Seattle area folks here, and definitely a group of Snohomish folk! Sno - homies unite! LOL

Chi's seeds absorb liquid and turn gelatin-ish, I know of a recipe to make "pudding" by mixing milk and chia seeds with flavoring (fruit, chocolate, etc.) and letting it sit until it firms. I bet they are recommending it because this Gelatin might make someone feel full, I would think this isn't good for avoiding sleeve stretch. That being said, Women's World is not the best diet advice, they always have different diets each month and some make crazy claims like " lose 60 lbs from your belly!", it just seems like they are trying take advantage of prople who want lose weight. Maybe contacting your nut to discuss your current weight loss effort would be helpful?

In my consult with my surgeon I asked about the bougie size she uses, she explained that the size of the bougie doesn't neccesarily equal the size of the sleeve. Other factors affect the size, like your surgeon cutting directly against the bougie or a set distance from it, or the surgeon, with your stomach in his hands so to speak, sees something that makes him shape it differently, etc. Buy she did say that most sleeves are within a certaiin accepted range and the expectation is around 3 to 4 ounces immediately following surgery, if I remember correctly So my understanding is yes, the sizes can different based upon the surgeon and the patient. But you should ask your surgeon.

I have been wanting to try a pre-op diet before I have even scheduled the surgery (I have my second consult this week). I think I will try yours - maybe we can check in next week?

Hi Everyone, I go by SnohoGal98296 - I have been visiting and posting for a few months now. At first I was lurking to learn about your experiences and your pre and post surgery successes and failures. I also wanted to learn if you had the same experience as I have and if those experiences helped lead you to weight loss surgery. I did this research to determine if WLS was for me - and through this site, my outside research of specific surgeons and my own family who have made the leap for themselves and are very happy, I have made the decision to get weight loss surgery, specifically the sleeve. I am just in the process of determining which bariatric surgical center at which I will spend my hard earned money. I am self-pay, well employed and well insured, but with a WLS exclusion. As this is a huge investment for me I have closely examined specific reasons why I want this procedure. Below is my list (I apologize in advance for any TMIs :-D): I have tried nearly every diet on the planet - I am 45 years old and first realized I was overweight when I was about 10 years old. Here is a list of diets I have tried over the past 35 years: Lowfat / Nonfat liquid VLC diet (I snuck my Dad's Optifast in the 6th grade) Jenny Craig Weight Watchers Acupuncture Hypnosis Grocery Diet (Lean Cuisine, etc) Starbucks Diet Subway Diet Atkins South Beach Medically Supervised Optifast Medically Supervised High Protein / Low Carb (I was most successful here) Here are my physical observations since my last diet and regain, I don't make this list to complain but to remind me why I need to be proactive for my health, in no particular order: I am 5'6", I started my last diet at 275lbs, I lost around 50lbs. and was feeling pretty darn good about being in the 220's. I thought I could lose more and keep the weight off and did for almost a year, unfortunately the diet was too hard to maintain and I ended up gaining back the 50lbs. plus another 20lbs. Actually I am fluctuating between 295 and 298. At my first surgical consult their scale, fully clothed in the afternoon, said 302lbs. I have finally eclipsed the largest size of my favorite work slacks - Lee "khaki" style slacks. Their largest size is 24W. I wear 24W in other brands but not in Lee anymore. I have been on two business trips since October and on both occasions I had to ask for seat belt extenders, (funnily enough on the USA based airlines but not on the Japan based airline). When I bend over to tie my shoes I feel starved for oxygen, I often need to prop my foot up to reach. I am unable to wear my favorite pair of boots anymore, my calves won't fit anymore - and they are men's boots. I have resorted to fastening my bra before I put it on because my arms don't bend that way anymore. I have a few creases in different areas of my body that get raw and irritated if I get sweaty. I have had to have prescription yeast infection treatments for these areas. Needless to say I hate to sweat now, in fact it makes me itch. I barely fit in my son's car and the seat belt is fully extended when I fasten it. It is close in my car - but I have few inches there yet. Some public restrooms stalls are too small for me, I have to use the handicap stall to have the space to reach, if you know what I mean (sorry TMI). At a recent meeting at work, the chair I was sitting in broke, snapped underneath me with a loud crack and I barely caught myself before tumbling over backwards, and I yelped! My only relief from complete embarrassment? A normal size guy broke his chair too, a short while after mine did. When I go to bed at night, I have to sleep with 2 or more pillows because I can't lay on my back without my own neck flesh choking me, I also need the pillows to sleep on my side due to my body is larger than one pillows width from the mattress surface. I have borderline high blood pressure. I do not have type II diabetes, although my surgical consult reminded it hasn't been tested in a couple of years. Climbing the single flight of stairs at my work, walking between buildings, or trying to keep up with my family while we are on walks causes me to be out of breath. Walking or standing for more than 20 or 30 mins makes my feet and back hurt so badly that I have to sit down. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year was excruciating. Doing normal housework is now a workout. My hips brush the armrests of my office chair, not too small yet, but close. There is a woman at work who had to have facilities order her an XL chair and everyone knows about it. Regarding my family - My husband is truly supportive, he backs me 100%. My 17 year old son wonders why I can't diet and exercise more. My daughter really hasn't weighed in - I believe she supports me. I have a cousin who weighed over 440lbs. when she got the lap band, she got down to 300lbs and all weight loss stopped. After her band failed (i.e. broke internally, she didn't regain very much) she got a revision to RNY and has begun loosing again. Her son just got banded this year and has lost over 150lbs. and just got engaged. I feel comfortable within my own family with this decision. Regarding work - I have told my Boss and she supports my decision but I will only tell my coworkers on a person by person basis. Some will understand and support others just don't need to know. So these are some of the reasons why I have decided to get weight loss surgery, what are some of your reasons?

Regarding telling your work, you are under no obligation to tell them anything more than "I am having a medical procedure that requires X weeks of recovery, thank you for your concern and kindness but I would rather not discuss the details" if they give you any trouble, have a Doctor write you a note, with no specifics, just the medical procedure with X weeks off. I am a office type person so I am having surgery on a Thurs, and not coming back till the next Monday. A total of 8 work days off.

Oh 2muchfun, I was thinking of you yesterday! I have to say, that while I wanted the Seahawks to win, I would never have wished a piece of "near shut out cheesecake" on you, that is just cruel and unusual punishment! Hopefully it was cheesecake flavored greek yogurt?

Jen, I can hear your mantra (like how I decided that for you?-because it rings true) in my head and I want adopt it. "food is not Love. Food is fuel" You should put it in your signature! ( if its not there already, sorry can't see signatures on the mobile app.)

C_stuff, Hugs back at ya, this is a big move and meaningful for a lot of us. Thank you for saying that my post helped you, and here I was trying to help myself! LOL Welcome to the fray, the more you post the more you get out of it. There's a lot to learn from both other newbies and the wise old timers! Warmest Regards, SnohoGal98296

Yay Russell Wilson and Super Bowl Champion Seahawks!! [ATTACH]41036[/ATTACH]

Amazing game! Go Hawks!

It went very well, I have liked since I attended their free seminar last year. I have an appointment this week with PSBC to cover all the bases, then I will be able to make my decision. I should know by Friday who I will go with :-D

Happy Super Bowl Day Everyone!! Go Seahawks!!

Funny! We are such Starbucks/Coffee snobs up here, it is all about the proper lingo, I have seen people shamed for not ordering "correctly". Glad to hear it is not like that everywhere! They can be so literal I am certain they would add both if I didn't clarify. They would probably think, oh she likes double sweet, but not the extra calories :-D

That order needs to say " no classic" or "no syrup" to ensure they don't add their simple syrup which is a sugar Water syrup. Sorry, I'm from the Seattle area, we take our Starbucks lingo very seriously up here ;-D For example: Venti Iced Passion Tea No Classic Light Ice (or no ice) Hope that helps :-D

Ditto on the herbal tea, I love Tazo Passion too Try warm broth savory instead of sweet I too can barely tolerate any Water flavorings like crystal light or Mio full strength, have you tried to mix it heavy on the water and light on the mix? I am prep the above are just what i prefer personally :-D

- Husband - I'm behind you 100 percent - Son (17yrs) - Why can't you lose weight by dieting and exercise? - Daughter (20yrs) - okay - Mother - I think that's the right choice - Sister - I know someone who knows someone who knows five people who have died from that! - Cousin - who's already had WLS twice, Welcome to the club! - Boss - Just let me know how I can help So a mixture!

Thanks Katie, I do worry about him, but I think you are right :-D

Thanks Lil Red!

I hear ya on the "spent thousands of dollars" thought, I was thinking this while driving home last night, I bet I have paid the equivalent cost of weight loss surgery in all of my past dieting!

RJ, Does caster oil have an odor?