winning_by_losing

I'd recommend asking, rather than getting surprised. I got lucky and only 10% (somewhere around 1500) of the estimated out of pocket was due before surgery. The remainder was billed a couple of weeks after. Since many insurance companies consider this an elective procedure, many times it isn't affected by the annual out-of-pocket limits. Of course my insurance is one of those, so I ended up paying more out-of-pocket AFTER their coverage than most people I've spoken with who have been completely self pay.

As Smiley suggested this could be lactose intolerance. Have you tried any that are not made with milk? Something like Isopure? Another thought: How much of those shakes are you trying to drink at once? In my program I wasn't able to move onto Protein shakes until week 2 or 3, but even then it was something like 4oz (liquid) for a meal.

There are quite a few folks on here from CO, but all of the ones I know are up here in the northern part. Not sure what part of the Springs you're in, but I know there are support groups that meet up at SkyRidge. A decent haul from the Springs, but possibly worth it if you were on the north side.

My apologies. When I responded it was from the General Forum, as I don't venture into other surgery forums for specifically this reason.

Edited to prevent misinformation.

Absolutely right. It seems we all have our kryptonite and it changes for everyone. I know my program stressed avoiding fats, sugars and carbs. Other than an early issue with ketchup I've had no other issues as I've followed those suggestions religiously. Some day i may get brave and try some fruits or other natural sugar foods but i know I'll avoid those fats and simple carbs as long as humanly possible. Don't let all our our stories worry you. You'll find some things that don't work and hopefully many more that do. I'd recommend trying new potentially risky things when you know you'll be home though just in case.

I think it really depends on the people who you're around as far as when they may or may not notice your progress. I know my family and coworkers didn't notice enough to say anything until I'd dropped a ton of weight. But those in my support groups noticed each and every meeting as they didn't see me daily, so the change wasn't gradual to them. And then when I visited some of the remote offices I hadn't been to in a while, they all REALLY noticed.

I've only been in maintenance mode for a little over 2 weeks, so I don't have much personal experience YET... That said, there are some longer-term vets in each of the different support groups I go to and I've latched on to a few key pieces of knowledge they've shared. The first one was to give yourself a "do not exceed" number. Whether it is 3 pounds, 5 pounds etc... so you don't feel like you're constantly watching every ounce on the scale and can truly allow yourself some freedom. If, however, you start to approach that limit that you've set, you know you really have to buckle down. Time to reflect on the recent food choices, exercise regimen etc... and make any corrections you need. The second is to remember that just because we're at the goal does not mean anything we've learned or practiced up to this point stops. Those same healthy food options, the same need for protein/water/exercise etc... will remain forever. So even though we may feel/look/weigh like we want, the journey (AKA the struggle) never truly ends. I'm hoping to hear some other great tips and tricks too, as I have that same fear you mentioned and never want to go back.

This one. http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-59765-Speed-Blender/dp/B003NQE8B0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1412876187&sr=8-6&keywords=stick+blender

I can't comment on how to avoid the questions, as I tend to tell anyone who will listen. However - if I were in that situation I think I'd try to opt for things like chili. I know for sure that the chili from Chili's is really good and quite meaty. Then you can eat almost the full "meal" and avoid any questions you may not want to answer.

I'd recommend taking a look more at a stick blender than a food processor. That worked much better for me when talking about pureeing Soups etc...

Completely agree with Ginger's response above. This is no longer a "low carb diet" but is a new way of life. I recently transitioned to maintenance mode after I hit my goal and avoiding sugar, fat and carbs is just my life now. Other than the small amount of carbs I get in my veggies I avoid them all like the plague as I know breads, Pasta, rice etc... were a huge contributor to my previous way of life which I intend never to go back to.

I'm big on the ready-to-drink options as I leave so early each morning that I'm sure I'd forget an ingredient (or the whole thing entirely) if I were trying to make my own every morning. That said - my fave is the strawberry flavored Premier Protein (30 grams of protein from the 11oz carton). When I travel I frequently stop at a Vitamin Shoppe and pick up Pure Protein (35g of protein from 11oz can). I prefer the banana or Cookies & Cream flavors in those. I've tried all other RTD options that I've found in any of the local stores and none of them come close. They either have decent protein and taste terrible, taste OK and have minimal protein or a few that just don't keep me feeling full for longer than a couple of hours.

To be honest, I wish this would have happened to me. After the topic of what we all paid out of pocket came up in a support group meeting a month or two ago, I found out that even with my insurance coverage, my out-of-pocket cost was close to double that of what the self-pay folks were paying. Worst part is - one of them went through my same surgeon and paid $9,000 less than I did. Bottom line - I'd start calling around and doing some investigation before getting too frustrated. You may find out that this is a blessing in disguise and you'll end up paying less in the long run.

Funny enough, I was actually hoping for this to happen. I wanted the excuse to shave my head (yeah, I know it is different for a guy), but sadly all it did was change texture for a couple of months. From everything I've read the only hope to keep it from happening is to make sure you always get all of your Protein in. The lack of it, combined with the trauma to our bodies is what causes the hair issues. But like chriss mentioned, most people I've spoken to at support groups and most of the posts I've read state that it went back to normal about 6-7 months after it starts.

Just a heads up - if anyone is interested in the GENEPRO, if you contact them on their website they'll mail you a sample for free. Just like carol, I didn't believe it was going to actually be flavorless, so I didn't want to drop the $$$ on a test. Luckily the sample came and amazed me. I mix it with cold Water and use some water enhancers to make it whatever flavor I want to.

Caffeine seems to be a sort of gray area still as far as I can tell. Within my bariatric program one of the nutritionists says we should never have it again because it increases the risk of ulcers with our new smaller stomachs. The other says small amounts would be fine and she isn't as concerned about potential ulcers. Since all of my pre-surgery classes were with the first nutritionist, it was continually pounded into my head that we can no longer have caffeine, so personally I've avoided it (actually been over a year now since I've had anything caffeinated.

In my program they recommend we not try salad until 6 months after surgery. I didn't wait quite that long and tried a little at around 5 months. It didn't cause me any issues at that time and I've had salads a few times since with no troubles. At 2 months out I wouldn't have dreamed of trying salad, but I've also tried to be extremely strict about following all of the guidelines they set out in my program.

Sorry. Your profile next to all of your posts shows you had the sleeve so I just assumed. Regardless, do your best to take it slow, but I wouldn't sweat it.

I run into similar issues whenever I visit India or Singapore. Since I've yet to see GNC or Vitamin Shoppe overseas, I am usually forced to bring everything with me. That is where the Protein bars come in super handy. I'm a huge fan of the Quest bars as they have 20+ grams of protein, very little sugar and very few total carbs. They work as a full meal and are quite easy to pack in my luggage (plus a couple in my carry-on). I also always keep a small bag of almonds with me just in case, but watch out as they're really high in calories (though they are good on the protein). Beyond that, lunchmeat is a big go-to wherever I am. It is found easily, gives a few options for variety and supplies the protein I need. In the airports, I look for meaty chili. It is usually pretty high in protein and cost effective as well as you typically don't have to pay for a full meal, just a cup of Soup. If you're traveling domestically, I'd recommend checking for a GNC or Vitamin Shoppe in the city you're going to. It may prevent you from having to pack everything and you could replenish your supply mid-trip.

Wow. That looks like they just edited and republished the same article from 2012 that I posted above. They even link to that article mentioning it as "a recent study".

I really think they consider it almost a compliment and that they're trying to help us. Think of it this way - say you work with a lady who has a disease that caused her to lose her hair. You may never have known, but then one weekend she goes out and gets a new wig. You then see her Monday morning and most genuine people (those who notice) may say something like "oh I love what you've done with your hair". She may then go back to her office and think you were extremely rude for thinking you had the right to comment on her hair. Now of course that is a bit extreme for an example, but shows how something we see as innocent may not be taken the same way by someone suffering (like us with weight).