Beachsprite

I've not started mine yet but I've done them before in my previous weight loss attempts. I've actually got a three week pre op diet which I'm not looking forward too it seems longer than everyone else's on here :\ my preop is the optifast intensive phase so 3 shakes and 2 cups of non starch veg.

While i will ask my dietitian about this when I next see her (surgery day!!) I am in the process of testing out Protein shakes I have a number of samples I'm working through before I commit to bulk buying (I'm not in the states or Europe so product suggestions don't really mean anything to me sadly!) Anyway they all say they can be made with milk or Water, water is disgusting but i could tolerate some flavors. With skim/trim/lowest fat milk (named differently depending on where you are from) some actually taste quite nice however I'm aware of the extra 80-100 cals that adds per glass (+12 grams of carbs and + 8 grams of protein). What is it best to do - add water and not add the extra cals or add low fat milk and have extra carbs and protein?? i'm really unsure I'm asking this here as you will all know and it will help me make my choice on what flavors to order and have ready for when i get home from surgery. Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone I’m 1.5 weeks away from my pre-op diet and I’m wondering is how should I do eating wise for this next 1.5 weeks? Should I start phasing things out like drinking calories, cutting chocolate, having a Protein shake for Breakfast etc, or do/did people find it easier to have their pre-op diet start date as a line in the sand, so eat whatever until then and have a fresh start on that date?? I’m just not sure what approach to take – thanks for your advice.

Have they scanned your gallbladder fir stones... sound like how I was when I had them and it was getting blocked up yet weirdly blood tests didn't show overly concerning liver results. Felt the pain up my right back / shoukder right up into my neck.

Get your thyroid checked out. On 1200 most ppl would lose weight even slowly unless very very short.

Sorry no answer. I want to know this too I'm pre op and all my life I have drank a glass or two if water with every meal I think this will be a harder habit to give up than carbs... and I live carbs lol

I'm also in the 5'4" camp my goal is 68kg which I think is 149lb give or take which is at the lower end of overweight. But I was around that size my late teens early twentys n rocked those curves lol but three kids n wls they might be saggier ones

I got pregnant two weeks after musing a depo shot. But I sm freakishly fertile for a larger lady lol. So be careful. I used a none hormonal copper iud before but bleed constantly for over a year but I here the low hormone doss iud is pretty good. I'm back on depo but I'm due for next shot week of surgery so will give it a miss. I like it because I don't get periods at all on it which is great but I also get a massive pimple outbreak a month after each shot n really retain water. Sigh. Each method comes with it ups and downs. Yet to find the perfect one.

New Zealand - Middle Earth

Hi i am August 18th. I really wanted July too but it was the first available slot for my surgery. I swear time is slowing down!

Damn sorry lots of spelling errors in bed on phone. Also I meant above shoulder not ears lol I like to tie my hair back when going through bad hair loss

I have not had surgery but have had the same type if hair loss a number times via post birth via quick weight loss and by hyperthyroidism. With the weight loss one basically your body thinks it's staving so it stops giving unnecessary functions like hair and nails less energy so my hair lost starts about 8-12 weeks after weight loss starts and lasts as long as dramatic weightliss go s on for once I start eating normally again a few months later hair loss stops. Ice manged diets like optima st fir several months before so less than 800cal a day it triggers similar hair loss as wls. Also shock from surgery can cause a short term loss. Also hormonal contraception changes can cause it. It's horrible. You will most likely thin out a lot on the sides above ears but you won't go bold. Get an above the ear hair cut and keep it there for a year or two if you feel like it's not looking great. Thus allows you to style it with volume using thickning shampoo etc. Dry shampoo spray us good too. Also you will get regrowth and you'll notice little sticky out its all over as the new growth cones in down the track then when that hair about catches up with the main length go for gold on growing it out I have fine hair to start with so dreading going this this for the third time in 18 months! But yeah you won't go bold. Also brushing and washing hair won't make it worse as the event which told hair to stop growing and fall out happened months before. N waiting to brush it wash longer makes the truma all he worse as it could be days worth. Anyway you are not alone. Just tie it back and one day in a few weeks or months you'll notice oh I'm am not looking as much hair anymore!

don't feel too bad, i'm 5 3 and i have to lose about 20kg so in pounds about 40lb, before people notice. Especially if you see someone frequently it's hard to notice. It's like the growing up of a young child - a parent won't notice it day to day but looking back a year or two at photos and thinking wow i can't believe they were that little/ looked like that just last year! Also I know some people are sensitive at telling someone oh you look good you've lost weight - as I know people have said that to be before and i'm like err no i haven't in fact i think i just added 10lb over the last month or two! I'm sure many people have had that happen as well. it will happen at some point and when it does it will feel great!

For me I have 3 things planned to eat for my last day pre post-opp diet, a small curry and naan bread for lunch, a nice roast pork dinner with all the trimmings and some good old chocolate. How about you? what did you have or planning to have on your your last day before your pre-op diet?

Hi all, thought i'd start a topic around clothes I've got a heap of questions feel free to pick and choose and discuss! How did/do you mange your clothes through the shrinking phrase? Did you ever go on a shopping spree only to find a few months later it was all too big and it was a waste of money? Or did you just by a few essentials on the way down? Did your style change? or did it stay the same and you are still not sure how to dress your new shape? If you were at a normal healthy weight at some point in your adult life did you keep those clothes and can you wear them now? Or has your sense of style totally changed form then? Do you find yourself wanting to show more skin than you used or still just as conservative (if you ever were ) For me I'm at the start of the journey, but I've lost significant weight before, I wear clothes that suit my rather large figure but aren't my sense of style at all, I can't wait to reach a near healthy weight and dress in clothes I actually like. I plan to just kind of dress who I am on the way down, Don't want to waste too much money over the next 6-8 months on anything but a couple of pair of work pants and tops to get me through.

are you me?? lol My surgeon told me that most of his patients make an appointment with a surgeon (often 4-8 weeks wait to get in over here) and a few weeks later cancel as they have one last crack at loosing weight most people lose a fair bit 20+lbs then put it all back on quickly and then make the commitment to surgery. And yup I was one of them!

EXCITING! I'm maybe a few weeks behind you, just had the pre op appointment and scheduled surgery, but just submitted the insurance paperwork for approval - i have everything crossed i can be in the same position as you in the next few weeks!

Hi everyone, I know each practice is different and the initial appointment for some would be done with a nurse, but for me the initial appointment for assessment etc is done with the surgeon himself. The appointment it's self is 45 mins long and by the end of it i will either get a decline or set a surgery date. If i get approved in this appointment I will then proceed with dietitian appointment and possibly a psych appointment and another follow up with the surgeon etc My initial make-it or break-it appointment is on Wednesday, and I'm just so nervous i'm going to blow it as i'm borderline on the acceptance criteria, can anyone give me any hints or tips whats involved normally?

I have a major issue with soggy food i can't eat things like rice pudding or porridge, cottage cheese etc but I can handle soup thankfully - weird eh? Just letting you know your not the only one with texture issues!

I worry about this too, I have a 1 year old, a 4 year old and a 6 year old, and the 4 and 6 year old are fairly big for their age and rough boys that love to jump on mummy for a hug :| While I do work full time and can't have more than 2 weeks max off I do worry about the evenings and weekends. My family live overseas no no sure what i'm going to do for support and my husband already works 6 days a week it's putting a lot of pressure on him also. Still not sure how i'm going to tackle this. Would love to hear from others who survived without getting injured with young kiddies!

Hi team (hopefully!) August! I'm hoping for August, I see my Surgeon on Wednesday and IF I get approved by him we will set a date there and then his PA has indicated August is a possibility, however there is still hoops to jump through such as insurance after that (mine have a 10 day turn around of decision and only fund 40% but I need that or no go and i also have to get hold of the rest of the money from Savings overseas) and also a couple of Dietatition appointments etc. I am so freaking nervous about 1) being accepted and approved by surgeon - then if that's ok 2 ) the horrible weight for the insurance company to approve or not :| not sure my nerves can stand the waits! (I'm on the borderline for criteria) Anyway I just have to keep on hoping it will happen for me and I can be an August Sleever with all! All the best for everyone's journeys!

Hi I don't have my first surgeon appointment until next week (June 17th) but after speaking with his assistant she said he will if he approves me for surgery he will set a date there and then and given his current seclude will be August or September. I then have to wait after I see the surgeon to see if my insurance company will pay out as they have to have a letter of recommendation from him to assess 10 working days and they will only pay about 35-40% of the overall cost - but still i need that or the whole thing is a no go! I really hope I can join you either in this group or August, I guess I will know more in the coming weeks - but the waiting is absolute torture!

I am still on the waiting game, and I am not overly hopeful of getting approved but reading positive posts like this gives me hope! Excited for you!

Thank you both, hmm OK i do have a few of the less serious issues on that list, i will raise them with my Surgeon when I have my appointment and see if here in New Zealand they will aid my case, I guess now it's just the waiting game!

Hi All, I'm in New Zealand, and have yo-yo dieted for many years always ending up with a bmi of around 40 and up and down by about 5 BMI points. The only reason I've not applied for a sleeve previously is for financial reasons (I've done copious research over the years!), although I've desperately wanted it. I've suddenly got some money I can use towards the surgery but I need the additional part payment from my insurance company (they only offer a max of under half the total cost). It's all I can think about despite being busy with work and young children, I have my appointment with the surgeon on the 17th of June, so hurdle number 1 is him thinking i'm suitable (my bmi is only boarder-line at 39/40 with no co-morbidites guess i'll have to eat a big Breakfast before my appointment lol) and then if he thinks i am a candidate he write a letter of recommendation to my insurance company and they have told me it takes up to 10 working days to assess - that being hurdle number two. I know many of you have been through this, but i get generalized anxiety as it and I'm just so nervous and would be absolutely gutted if I get a no at either point - I will feel hopeless and stuck on a never ending round of bad yo-yo dieting getting bigger each time I just can't stand not knowing, how do you all handle the hoops we have to jump to through and the worry/anxiety of being turned down especially if you are only borderline qualifying under their criteria? Any tips or hope of others who've already been there done that would be much appreciated!