The Candidate

Excellent videos. Thanks for sharing!

It's too easy to get caught up in the numbers at the beginning. Try putting your scale away for awhile or only weigh once a week. Good luck!

I personally like Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate vitamins.

Every insurance is different of course, and you'd have to confirm with yours, but I know with mine, and many others, they went by your beginning BMI, and encouraged us to lose as much weight as possible throughout the program, as it demonstrated that we were serious about making permanent changes to our lifestyle. I started the process with a 45 BMI, no comorbidities, and ended with a 39 BMI, and still had no issue getting approval. I hope you have the same outcome. Good luck!

Good luck on the start of your liquid diet leading up to a whole new life!

Good luck with your diet and I hope you get some help from your NUT!

Looking good!

The outside changes are plainly evident, plus you have other people constantly affirming them with compliments. The inside changes are tougher to ferret out sometimes, as they're uniquely personal. Give it time. You're like a chameleon right now, in a constant mode of transformation. You don't recognize yourself in the mirror so it's no wonder you're questioning who you are. It'll get better.

I agree with @@byebyedarkpassenger distraction is the key. Good luck and never forget how close you are to changing your life for the better. YouTube videos of bariatric successes are also inspirational. And if you want a good laugh check out clusie's stuff. ????

Thank you and you might be right about the dedicated bariatric center. Kaiser does contract out here in San Diego. That's something I never considered. ???? And I did get my date, 07/29. Almost there! Couldn't be happier!

You look great Athena!

I like this one for the unflavored protein powder.

Man that's a double header bummer! Hope you're feeling better.

I know you said you didn't need a response and I'm not going to try and tell you that everything is going to be fine. Just wanted to say I hope things get better. I really do.

Keeping a good thought for your big day! Congrats!

@@Chrystee I'm with you on that one! And my left foot is looking like prime real estate right about now. ????

I would take advantage of the friends and family and make arrangements. You can always change your mind later and just go home, but this way you're covered. Good luck!

That was such a powerful post. It's so amazing what you've accomplished and how much your life has turned around for the better. Congrats!

You look great! That is definitely remarkable progress. Congrats!

I have gone through a plethora of emotions along the way, getting to approval, with surgery now less than two weeks away, but I can honestly say that guilt has never been one of them. Probably the biggest emotion for me has been gratitude. I'm grateful that the surgery exists, that it's been perfected along the way, that I have a choice of procedures, that my insurance covers it, that I can take a full six weeks off of work to heal and adjust, that I've been given a second chance, that I have the full support of family and friends, that I chose to surround myself with the people I know will give me the encouragement I need, that I found this forum, that I made so many new friends going through the exact same process! The list is endless! I don't listen to the naysayers. I personally choose to believe that a lot of that stigma comes from those who have never been fat, obese fat, not 10 or 20 pounds fat, and so have no idea of how much it negatively affects every aspect of our lives and limits our future. Plus I myself had no idea what the surgery was all about until I dove in and researched and took the classes etc. A lot of them are just uneducated on the subject and choose to stay that way. Sometimes in life you have to take a leap because doing nothing, or simply repeating what hasn't worked before is just not acceptable anymore. I'm ready to leap!

Love that @@Inner Surfer Girl

That is a stellar NSV! Congrats all around!

I'm still pre op so can't answer your question from experience. But I do know it was there in the paperwork I signed, about agreeing to the possibility of having to switch procedures once they get in there, along with the possibility of having to remove my gallbladder (which I kind of hope they do - one stop shopping and all ????) If it happened, for me anyway, as far as the procedure switch, I think I'd be fine with it. But there would definitely be a period of mental adjustment once I woke up. Excellent question!

Congrats on your big achievement!

The only property that is truly mine in life is my body, which is like no other on this earth. I have no right to belittle someone else for their individual choices regarding their personal property. And even with that, if I do ever feel the need to offer advice that might be difficult to share with someone else, I always try and deliver it with as much respect and care that I would want someone else to use with me. I'm a big believer in Karma! Besides I don't want to waste another minute feeling bad if I can help it. I try to fill my day with as much laughter as possible. It's hard to mount your high horse when you're doubled over in giggles! ????