2goldengirl

Not sure whether it's available at your local grocery, but we get Turkey Store Italian -seasoned ground turkey and have used it in place of Italian sausage for years.

Another thing to be aware of is that some people have big differences in taste in the first weeks postop. Sometimes something that really sang preop tastes different - and icky - postop. If you love to cook, one thing you can definitely do is make some homemade broths. I did myself a big batch of chicken broth over the weekend, and I'm roasting beef bones this weekend for beef broth. You'll always use those. make flavorful broths, and you puree's will make the angels sing Unflavored Protein powder can be added to broths at serving time - just keep the temperature under about 140 or so, so they don't get all clumpy and nasty.

The sooner you remove yourself from abuse, the sooner you begin to heal. It IS that simple. Abused parties commonly imagine barriers to escaping abuse that can seem practically trivial when viewed from the perspective of life after some healing happens. Self esteem issues don't get better by staying with an abuser. Making positive changes in your life that empower you, rather than belittle you, does. Every small step you take to care for yourself, to respect yourself, to treat yourself with kindness, helps you in the long run. Good luck to you!

I agree, 800 calories seems too low for your activity level. I'd try adding a couple hundred calories and make sure you get a rest day in there at least once a week. Doing too much can hinder you just as much as doing too little.

You've gotten a lot of good input here, especially about how others see you. It takes us time to learn to see ourselves smaller - but there is a byproduct for those around us, too. They see a very dramatic change, and their eyes are used to seeing us supersized. What weight is what is right for you, not anybody else. It isn't about BMI or weight charts or anything else - it's the weight you feel strong and healthy and confident with. Let that be your yardstick, not other people's opinions.

It's normal to be scared. It's normal for your brain to be all over the place. Don't let that stop you from doing the most positive thing you feel you can do for your long term health. You don't want your son to grow up with a parent disabled by obesity. No matter how "well you carry it", You are carrying the weight of another adult human being on a body designed to carry ONE human being. the wear and tear on your bones, joints, and internal organs is real, whether you feel it at 27 or not. Family and friends who object to the surgery generally do so because they're scared. How scared are they of you getting disabled due to your overweight? You have the chance to reclaim your health and run and play with your son as he grows and model for him how to live a healthy, active life. You have the opportunity to reclaim your health so that you and your wife can live long and healthily enough to run and play with your grandchildren. Could you lose 150# without surgery? Possibly. Statistically, it isn't likely. Realistically, keeping your focus long enough to lose that amount without the assistance of the sleeve is an extreme challenge. Hoping to both lose that amount and keep it off is something all of us here likely wish we could have done. History has proven that we can't, that's why we're here. Don't let your fears hold you back. Isn't that what you want to teach your son?

It isn't the Health Plan that's your problem, it's the Medical Group or IPA that you're in. I'm confused when you talk about "my clinic" and "the doctor". which is which? Your medical group/IPA handles your day to day authorizations, Health Net just pays some of the claims and writes the policies. I changed surgeons because the first one had an office staff that was chronically disorganized. You can do the same. I don't know which surgeons are in-network for you unless I know which medical group you're with. HN B & G has contracts with the Mercy hospitals in Sacramento. Here is a link to their bariatric surgery info: http://www.dignityhealth.org/sacramento/services/surgical-services/bariatric-surgery/bariatric-surgeons Dr's Eslami, Shadle, Gatschet, and Machado all have privileges at both hospitals and are part of their program. I think they all have their own offices and staff. There are two different ways for you to see a surgeon: ask your PCP for a referral, or your PCP requesting an authorization. An authorization shouldn't be required for referral to an in-network surgeon, but in the case of bariatric surgeons, it often is. You need to go through your PCP to get the ball rolling, that's just the way it works. I know Dr. Eslami wants all his patients to have completed all health plan requirements before he sees patients for an initial consult. Your health plan isn't making the decision about your surgery, but your medical group/IPA have to use the health plan criteria in making their decision. Dr. Eslami expects PCP's to order necessary preop testing ahead of time so all that is done before he sees patients initially. His office communicates directly with the PCP's to get this done. I used to work with clients out in the Central Valley, many of who surgeries done by Dr. Eslami, so I'm most familiar with his practice. I hope this helps!

Unless you have other addiction issues, I would really encourage you not to worry about addiction. You are on narcotic pain medication for such a short time postop that there is no danger of addiction, unless you have other addiction issues and it's a trigger for you. The physical side of addiction takes much longer than the handful of days you are likely to want something stronger than plain tylenol. Many postops don't take any narcotics once they get home at all.

Once you really cut back on the carbs, you are MUCH less hungry than before. I'm easing in to my final two weeks but cutting down on both carbs and calories gradually. I have a few social events between now and my surgery, and I've already formulated a plan for those (focus on protein and veggies). I'm also counting on those days to boost my total calories, so my body isn't used to the same thing every day.

My stepdaughter is in her mid-twenties. When she was in HS, she became underweight - she feels stress as nausea and it did a number on her in those days. She now weighs 50 lbs. more than she did then and says (in much the same way she insisted that her weight was "fine" when she was younger) that she's happy with her curves. Both her parents are overweight and she has those genes. She's probably 20-25 lbs. more than would be ideal for her. The only thing I've focused on with her is wearing clothes that fit. I bought her some work pants and a couple shirts for working in the scene shop that really fit and that she can move and handle tools in. She nearly cried. Clothes made for looking cute just don't cut it for stooping, squatting, lugging sheets of plywood, and wrangling flats. I lay on the compliments when she looks nice, and keep my mouth shut when she doesn't. She knows I'm having surgery, and why. She's totally supportive. She comes to me for advice about fitness, as neither her mom nor her mom's wife are so inclined. If she asks about food/nutrition/weight, I'm there for her, but as a stepparent, I have to tred even more carefully than a parent.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Your post is both moving and thought-provoking.

Honestly, with a physically demanding job, I'd say more like 4-6 weeks, especially because of the lifting and twisting. What you'll need to do postop is work on your endurance for standing all day after you're cleared to lift.

How about something like a nice hot bowl of chicken broth? You could fancy it up by floating a lemon slice in it, or throw in a dash of hot sauce. So much of clear and full liquids are both cold and sweet, something hot might be a nice change of pace.

I'm still preop, but I'm trying something right now (well, it's on the stove right now). I'm cooking a heap of veggies in some homemade chicken stock with a can of diced tomatoes thrown in. I basically threw in things from the freezer (green beans, shredded zucchini) and stuff from the veggie drawer: kale, a bit of cauliflower, carrots, some cabbage, a couple potatoes, an onion, a leek, parsley. There's about 6 quarts of soup that I'll blend smooth, then add a bit of pesto for seasoning. If we like it (and I have when a friend made it), then I will have something that I can eat at any stage, really - depending on how thin I make it. I can add plain protein powder to it, husband doesn't have to, and we can both get our veggies.

Back from my second visit with the surgeon after RD, psychology evals, visits with gastroenterologist and pulmonologist, upper GI X-ray, EGD, and sleep study. Surgery is scheduled for March 10, woot!

This definitely sounds like reflux. Get thee to a gastroenterologist, pronto.

I think you're best off looking for an RD that works with a hospital that does bariatric surgery. But there is a lot you can do on your own, with help from the folks here. If you aren't tracking your intake in something like Sparkpeople or My Fitness Pal, I really recommend it. You will see at a glance what your calories and nutrients are. If you aren't tracking your activity, do that as well. A general rule of thumb is to shoot for a bare minimum of 60 gm Protein and 64 oz. of Fluid each day. Many people do more than this. My particular program focuses on protein first, veggies second, and fruit or other complex carbs last when you're at the stage you're in. Your new stomach has healed, the swelling from surgery is long gone, and this period is when you are likeliest to notice both the restriction that the sleeve provides, and to develop long-term habits that will mean long term success. Those habits include eating the fuel your body needs in appropriate amounts, eating to satisfaction, rather than fullness, and making exercise a part of your life. Like @@Babbs said, nobody is perfect 100% of the time. I'm betting that if you track the things you eat on your "off" days, it's much less than you think. It can take some trial and error to find your "sweet spot" - the place where you eat enough that you feel good and have enough energy for activity, and little enough that your weight loss continues. As your weight loss continues, it's normal for it to slow down as you near your goal. That's because you require fewer calories to maintain a body that weights 50-100 lbs less than it did. Many people find that they increase their activity over time, because they find a new enjoyment in activity without the burden of many extra pounds and the wear and tear on their joints from carrying them around.

This is why there needs to be a distinction made between "nutritionist" and "Registered Dietician". Anyone can call themselves a "nutritionist". A Registered Dietician often has a Master's Degree and and believe me, they know their stuff - though like anyone else, they have their particular points of view. Here is a link to the requirements to become a Registered Dietician: http://www.eatrightacend.org/ACEND/content.aspx?id=6442485467

First, you've lost 50 lbs. That's a huge achievement! You've lost nearly 10 lbs a month, which is fantastic. Own that! Second, the fatigue could be a number of things. Are you tracking your food intake? Are you tracking your fatigue? If you are, do you notice any patterns there? How many calories a day are you getting in? Sometimes fatigue can be not enough intake as well as a Vitamin issue. It can also be a sign of dehydration. Or, if you've been on medication for your blood pressure, after a 50-lb loss, your medication may need to be reduced. If you can give us more information, we can do more to help you.

I went through menopause ten years ago without any symptoms. Never had a hot flash. My estrogen level is practically a negative number, so my weight obviously isn't helping me there.

changing your routine is a great idea, and that's what you did. Your body got a bit more fuel and a chance to recover from your workouts. Moving forward, you might try adding another hundred calories to your day, and taking an extra rest day every other week or so. Dong too much can be as hard on your success as too little.

I think learning to see ourselves differently is a huge part of our process, and that also means seeing others differently as a byproduct. It isn't uncommon, for example, for someone recovering from addiction to alcohol to see anyone who drinks at all as an addict. That kind of oversimplification often doesn't last, it's part of the process. I agree that judging others isn't wise or helpful. We don't know the stories or struggles of others, and I don't feel sorry for other, either. That puts me in a place of presuming at least part of their story. The person I see at the grocery story who looks 100 lbs overweight and barely able to walk may in fact have lost 100 lbs and be walking today where they couldn't before. It's all too easy to think of ourselves as superior because we're making positive changes in our lives, y'know?

My surgeon does a preop questionnaire that is a prescreening tool for undiagnosed sleep apnea. I was at the low end of likely, but she insisted I have a sleep study anyhow. I was completely skeptical, because I don't snore, never have. I met with the specialist for the results yesterday. Yup. Sleep apnea. "Severe" during REM sleep. Waiting to hear from the vendor about a CPAP. So the blessing in this is that once I have it (and get used to it), I ought to see an increase in my energy level, which should also translate to improved postop healing. And my surgeon totally knows what she's talking about. Good to know!

I promise, it will get better. You may find that warm liquids go down easier than cold ones. Try some warm broth if Water isn't working for you right now, SF popsicles can also help. I promise, each day will get better!

Your surgeon will probably want a duodenoscopy (EGD) and an upper GI X-ray. I had to see a gastroenterologist for the EGD. Your surgeon may want a final set of blood work and a preop clearance from your primary doctor within 30 days of your surgery. Good luck!