alwaysvegas

Congratulations on your journey! You sound so excited and you should be! I wouldn't recommend comparing what other people have lost during a specific period of time because we're all different. If you perceive yourself as losing "more slowly" than others, you might be discouraged. Generally speaking, people who start at higher BMIs will lose more/faster than those with lower BMIs, but there are so many variables in the equation for each person. Also, many people seem to lose more/faster in the beginning and it slows as they approach their goal weight. However, others have started off very slowly. I've heard that an overall average is about 10lbs/month in the long run and you will hear wildly different rates from people. Again, doesn't mean you're doing it "wrong" if you don't lose at any given rate. As long as you maintain a balance with eating and exercise, your weight will come off and you will be delighted at the new you! And congratulate yourself for all your accomplishments on the way to your goal weight. Best of luck to you!

At the end of my 3-month supervised diet, the surgery was scheduled for almost 1.5 months later! It seemed like forever and I was a bit upset at first. But the date did give me more time to work on my lifestyle changes before surgery, which I think helped alot. Best of luck on your surgery!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! It feels like such a long time coming (and it was) and alot of work to get there (and it was), but I knew it would all be worth it (and it IS)!!! Best of luck and keep us updated!

1. Would do it again. I wish I could've had it done 20 years ago. 2. What surprised me is how little food I need to attain health. I also was surprised at how wonderful it feels to be full on a healthy quantity of food.

My first major stall also started at three weeks (as did many others) and lasted almost a month. The weight loss always starts again, so don't get discouraged. Just remember you're on the right path toward health!

I completely agree with @VSGAnn2014...solid Proteins (fish, poultry, tofu) make me feel much more full for much longer than anything else, including liquid proteins. Calorie counts don't seem to matter much, but I'm sticking to low-carb, lower-fat options until I reach my goal weight and my nutritionist agrees to change my eating goals.

@@gmacy You are being much too hard on yourself and not letting yourself feel good for all you've accomplished so far. You are doing SO well! Changing our lifestyles can be very challenging and bring about alot of emotions. If you've ever read the stages of loss...you can go through any or all of them. These stages do not apply to losing a loved one, they can apply to any loss in our lives. I know it's not easy, but try to focus on the positives. Every day it will get better, you will continue to lose weight, and it's not a race to see how fast you can lose the weight. The goal is to make changes that we can adhere to for a long, healthy life. Best of luck on your journey!

Yes, I was weighed the day of surgery and 6 bajillion tests after surgery. It really was a wonderful experience with so many tests to ensure I was recovering well. It felt very safe.

2.5 days in the hospital and 2 weeks off work. I had surgery on a Monday and felt fantastic by that Friday...still a bit sore, but good energy and got alot of walking in. I did tend to nap quite a bit and took it easy overall. A wonderful recovery overall.

You made the right choice for you, absolutely! I think everyone should be mentally prepared for this surgery and for the lifestyle changes. But that is so much easier said than done. Better to have changed your mind now than after surgery. Hang in there, keep posting, and schedule the surgery if/when you're ready!

@@JerseyJules Wow, you so eloquently stated so much of what I felt just before surgery! Looking back, I have no regrets and I now have so much more to look forward to. Best of luck on a flawless surgery, quick recovery, and a long healthy life! Let us know how everything goes when you can!

Power pudding! Sugar free/fat free Jello pudding + Protein powder + greek yogurt (or cottage cheese) + unsweetened almond milk. Sometimes I add sugar free Torani syrup for a twist on flavor. Like today I had: chocolate pudding + Sugar Free Torani Almond Roca flavor + 1/2 scoop chocolate Protein Powder + greek yogurt + unsweetened almond milk. I blend using an immersion blender. I eat half in the morning and half in the evening.

Many people have enjoyed the unjury Protein. They even have a chicken flavor that I found enjoyable. http://www.unjury.com/

Warmest congratulations! It's amazing how much the weight limited our lives, isn't it? Here's to your continued success!

The fear before surgery that we have is that we will still not have the control to choose not to eat unhealthy foods in large quantities. Remember the operative word is choose. You will still be able to eat anything you want down the road, you will just have a bumper rail against overeating and the removal of the physical craving. The rest is still on us, just as it was before surgery. Yes, it's scary. Most of us (if not all) have tried and failed over and over to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But don't think about 'giving up' foods. You're simply choosing not to eat them or in much smaller quantities. As you become more and more successful in your weight loss, your confidence will skyrocket as you realize that you are in control of what you eat and how much. I can tell those who are pre-op that my physical cravings are still almost nil and I am truly satisfied eating 4-4.5 ounces of food. I thought I would regret not being able to woof down 4 cups of food in a meal, but nope. I'm perfectly satisfied and I actually savor the taste even more now. All foods I've eaten still taste great and I don't enjoy the taste any less than I did before surgery, but now the need to eat is greatly diminished. As I'm approaching my goal weight and even after almost 130 lbs of weight loss, I'm nervous I'll begin adding back in more calorie-dense food and suddenly start packing the weight back on. It's still going to be a lifelong battle of sorts, but now we're armed better! Best of luck on your journey!

I was so excited on my surgery day that I was bouncing up and down on the gurney in the pre-op (before that awesome sedative anyway). My friend who brought me to the hospital asked, "You do realize you're having a surgery, right?" A decision I'll never regret almost 130 lbs and 10 pant sizes later! Best of luck on your surgery! Keep us updated if you can!

I have not had problems with any foods, but most people I've spoken to (and also those that stated in this thread) is that our tolerance generally gets better and better. Most people say that after roughly a year they can eat any food they want without upset. So don't get discouraged! It'll get better and better!

I do have a few more wrinkles, but at least now I have a much better chance of living to see old age!

You'll still be able to eat all the food you love post-surgery, just smaller quantities. The sleeve is just a tool, however. I'd recommend taking your pre-op time to start incorporating healthy eating habits. It will help start your weight loss, build your confidence, and make the transition to the pre-op and post-op eating plans a much easier change. Best of luck on your journey!

@@LightlyMyDarling People are giving some great comments and we all have great intentions here, but if you are asking questions about what you can survive on...as in live vs die...you need to talk to your surgeon and nutritionist and not rely on a message board to give you answers to life and death questions. Our doctors customize our plans on an individual basis and our health is monitored on a regular basis, so please do not rely on our well-intended responses on what will and will not kill you. The purpose of the surgery and the nutritional plan pre- and post-surgery is to help you reach a healthy weight that you can maintain for a longer life. Please don't think this is meant to be a russian roulette how-little-can-I-eat starvation plan. That's not what the sleeve is about. I urge you to consult with your doctors on this issue. Best of luck on your journey!

I can still handle the spiciest of foods and love them all. My palate did not change at all for the negative, but now I love tofu and cottage cheese and I couldn't stand either much before. However, some people do have intolerance to certain foods for a short time and for some people it's permanent. But the vast majority of people I've talked to in support groups and on the board seem to tolerate everything they did before surgery, but in much smaller quantities of course. Most surgeons/nutritionists do not recommend carbonated beverages because the carbonation causes an upset stomach for many people. Many people suggest that the carbonation will stretch out your stomach and there's alot of debate on whether that's true. I've read more that it's really the discomfort from the carbonated gas in the small pouch. You'd burp out the gas before causing permanent stretching. Either way, I have not tried anything carbonated because I've had no desire to do so. Most everything post-op is "as tolerated" and if you can tolerate it, then generally not to worry. You should still plan for healthy lifestyle just as you would without the sleeve. Overall, you should always follow your surgeon's directives and not take them as suggestions unless they are given as such.

Hi @@Moneen! Anxiety is normal before surgery. Once you're done with surgery and on your way to recovery, you'll wonder what you were so worried about. But keep your eye on the prize! All you have to do is relax, take a nap, and you're in the hands of a skilled surgeon in a fine hospital. Just be sure to follow your surgeon's directives. The recovery can be so fast that you may be tempted to do too much to fast. But it's a major surgery and you should allow ample time for your body to recover. So hang in there! @@shellyd88 said it all so perfectly! Take the time to prepare mentally for your new life and new eating. It's all a hugely positive experience and you're going to be forever grateful for making the choice to sleeve, but as you know it's a tool and keep reading the materials your surgeon's office gave you. That was like my sleeve bible for months before and after surgery. I still refer to the literature several times a week. Best of luck on your surgery and let us know how everything goes!

Did your surgeon not provide a plan or a nutritionist to help you plan your post-op eating plan? I ask because doctors/nutritionists vary quite a bit in what they recommend. @@roundisashape gives a really great plan. But if your doctor/nutritionist did not give you a specific plan, you can do a web search of "gastric sleeve eating phases" and you'll come up with many medical websites so you can see the different recommendations. I'm just concerned that your surgeon would perform a surgery and not give you a list of foods to eat that he/she wants for their plan. This is the link to my surgeon's plan. You can see the different phases and recommended foods and eating times: http://www.360bariatrics.com/360-process/bariatric-diets/

As @@CountryGirl5584 said, the procedure took 15 minutes. I was given Propofol and went out like a light. When I woke up I felt a bit dizzy, but I got up and walked around and I was fine after less than 10 minutes. The medical center did require that someone drive me to/from the medical center, but I was fine all day after that. The doctor went over my results (pictures included!) and explained everything. No pain or anything...total breeze. Best of luck to you!

Hi and welcome to the board! It's best to check your insurance company's requirements for weight loss surgery approval. Assuming I googled your insurance correctly, here are the requirements for Anthem: http://www.anthem.com/medicalpolicies/policies/mp_pw_a053317.htm