Babbs

My claim was submitted, and I was approved 48 hours later. It was pretty easy once the lady at the surgeons office finally submitted it.

Almost everyone experiences it. I had a 6 week stall at 6 months out. I think you need to increase your calories, especially if you are working out. This is what worked for me: I increased calories from 800 to 900-1000. I increased my Protein from 60-70 grams to 80 I increased my carbs a little from under 50 to 70-80 to match my protein grams. You will need to make sure you are tracking everything and not winging it so you know exactly where you stand on those every day. Good luck!

We've all heard them, and owe nobody an explanation about our own medical decisions. If you choose to tell people, you're opening yourself up to uneducated, ignorant comments about WLS. You can either start a conversation educating them about WLS, or ignore them and move on. Opinions, assholes, yada yada yada. Everyone's got one.

I'd lost 51 pounds at 6 months out. But I started with a lower BMI and frankly have the metabolism of a koala bear. I've seen some that have lost 75-100 at 6 months out. They either started with higher BMI's, or are men. That's why it's just SO HARD to guess how much you may or may not lose. But you've certainly done amazing so far! Also, expect a stall really soon. You're right in that window. Expect your weight loss to slow down a little after the first stall, too.

I concur with this. I have found I'm much more confident, much more outgoing, and more social than I was before. Now don't get me wrong, I was no shrinking violet before, but I think along with the other things I'm projecting, the biggest one is happiness. People respond positively to happy people.

Yup. I've lost 9 additional pounds after my year surgiversary without doing anything different over the course of a few months. I've been maintaining this weight for about 4 months now, but I think I could lose more if I really worked at it, but I'm good at 141-142.

Yeah, I agree with the above. Have some blood work done to rule out anything physically wrong first. Good luck!

As someone who has an overweight daughter and obese son (both grown), here's my advice: Say nothing and just lead by example. Both my kids know they are overweight, as did I. I was ready to do something about it when I myself was damn good and ready, not because someone else told me I needed to. Pointing it out does nothing but make the other person feel even worse about their weight. Imagine if someone took you aside and said "We need to talk about your muffin top". No. Just...no. Accept them for who they are.

First off, you don't have a pouch. Bypass patients have pouches. Second, 50 pounds in 6 months is perfectly respectable. And going off plan once in a while happens. If you're following your plan 95% of the other times, eating off plan shouldn't be a huge deal. Do you move more than before? Are you tracking Protein, carbs and calories closely? Are you staying hydrated? If you are in fact unhappy with your progress, then make sure you're doing the above to ensure the best results possible.

I'm assuming you're pre op? Yes, I've lost 45 pounds before on phentermine. As soon as I stopped it, I gained it back. It's definitely effective, but not for long term use. The extra energy it gives you at first sure is nice My husband calls it legal speed.

You're losing at a pace of 3.5 pounds a week. That's not slow. It's completely on track unless you started with a much higher BMI. You're doing fine. I had lost less at that point. The day I stopped comparing my losses to others was a turning point for me. It helped me stay more focused on what I could do, not what others were doing. As long as I was losing (whether it was inches or pounds) it was a win in my book! I'm at almost 95 pounds lost now and maintaining. It took me about 15 months, but none of that matters anymore. You'll get there, too. Control what you can, let go of what you can't.

My doc didn't require a pre op diet, either. I lost almost 95 pounds in about 14 months and have been in maintenence for about 4 months. Took me a little longer to lose it than others, but I lost it!

I've found if I'm following my plan 90-95% of the time, it will work. That's the system to follow. Just stay the course aside from the little detours that happen. Consistency is definitely they key!

Learning that it really isn't as simple as calories in/calories out has been the weirdest thing during this whole process.

I liked the idea of not having things re routed, so I felt the sleeve was best for me. I am also a terrible pill taker, and I know with the bypass it's of utmost importance to take your vitamins for the rest of your life ( important with the sleeve, too, but even more so with the bypass because of malabsorbtion). I do suffer from GERD, so the bypass may have been more ideal, but I'm very happy with the sleeve. My husband had RNY 10 years ago, so I was pretty educated about the bypass, but had to learn all about the sleeve to make my final decision

1. If you have a strong relationship, it may change, but in a good way. Believe me when I tell you, after being married for 27 years, change in a relationship is normal and natural. The key is how both of you adapt to it. 2. I told everyone. When strangers find out I've lost 95 pounds, if I don't feel like telling them, I simply say I eat less, cut most carbs and sugar, and excersise more. Which is true 3. I carried most of my weight in my stomach along with having 2 very large babies, so my tummy area is pretty rough. Went from a 44DDD to a 36C, so they point to the floor. I don't regret this surgery for a second. A little loose skin never killed anyone. Being morbidly obese will. 4. You won't be bald. Most hair loss is not even noticeable to other people besides you and your hairdresser. Keep doing what you're doing to hopefully minimize it. I stated losing at around 4 months and continued until about 10 months. At 18 months out, it's growing back well. The texture has changed, but it looks healthy now. 5. 2-3 weeks seems to be the norm to return to work with active jobs. I am a Realtor, and I was showing houses a week after surgery. But that's not hard, lol. The fatigue will probably be the worse part going back. 6. Worst part of recovery was the reflux I personally experienced post surgery. Not everyone does, but I did. I was kept on liquids for 6 weeks straight post op. Otherwise it was a fairly easy recovery. The best part? Feeling like I'm in my 30's when i'm actually in my late 40's. Wearing a size 6. Not taking medications anymore to control obesity related diseases. food not having total control over me anymore. Looking better than I have in years. Having more energy. Should I go on??

With all due respect, because you know I adore you, but you can't be f*cking serious with this post? You're advocating for someone with an obvious psychological issue to lie to a professional to just get their way? You of all people should know that this surgery isn't for the faint of heart, and especially someone with problems with anxiety and OCD?

I have a love/hate relationship with excersise. I do it, but I love to hate it. I look at it as one of the things I just have to do now. After 18 months, it's as natural as bathing or brushing my teeth. It's just all part of my self care. I may not love it, but it's got to be done. Kind of like doing laundry.

I had bunion surgery July 29th, and they scheduled my sleeve surgery August 22. I couldn't believe they scheduled it so soon after that! I was still wearing a soft cast right up to surgery. Let the surgeon know, but I'm sure it shouldn't delay things at all. Good luck with your upcoming surgery!

There's a reason for these clearances. To make sure you're ready physically and psychologically for the surgery. Try to get your OCD and anxiety disorder under control, whether with medication or therapy and ask to be evaluated again to prove to them that you can handle the difficult psychological aspects that come with the surgery. Look at it as a great opportunity to take control of your emotional health as well as your physical health. Prove to them you can do this!

Yes, @@Inner Surfer Girl, it struck me how young she was, too. I even commented to my husband about it. How does someone get to over 700 pounds in 27 short years? It really makes you wonder about her endocrine system, also. She really seemed like she was ready to make a change. She seemed like a sweet soul, and I wish her well. Her son was absolutely adorable!

@@VSGAnn2014 said it best. Mindful and disciplined is probably a better word than obsessed. To lose all of our excess weight and keep it off, we have to be. I was one who used to say that I didn't want to have to "diet" the rest of my life and that's why I had the surgery, and I was right. I'm not dieting, just being more mindful of what's going into my mouth. I think the biggest change has been the way I look at food now. Food is not the enemy, but my attitude towards it can be.

Wow, what a great article! Thanks for bringing Orthorexia Nervosa to people's attention. I've seen the behavior in people before, but never knew it as an actual disorder.

Your GP is a moron. How's that for encouragement?

You should find that guy now and put him in a choke hold with your muscles. But really, that story makes me sad. I've been through something similar.