TinyTink

costco also has a smoked pulled pork in the meat section that is delicious. It has a yummy smoky flavor. No sauce added so it was a great choice to keep carbs down.

$500 deposit locked in my rate through BariatricPal. You can make payments but you need to be paid before surgery. There was a slight increase if a credit card was used. Good luck.

I borrowed from my retirement savings. Instant approval, instant loan, and I pay my plan back. To me it feels like "free". Kind of!

People make choices, then they need to move on. Tomorrow is a new day. Get back down to business in the morning and follow your team recommendations for Protein and fluids.

You can do this!! We're all rootin' for ya!

I like making baby quiches in silicone cupcake liners. You can mix and match any veggies and cheese to your hearts content. They are very portable and quick to reheat in the microwave. Yummy!

You might want to try adding a splash of sugar-free Torani syrup to your shake if it's allowed. I went a little nuts and bought eight different flavors but now I'm quick to add a little almond, peppermint, raspberry, etc to "spice" up my shakes.

I love the name Chantal. That was the name I chose for myself in French class way back in high school. I enjoyed your story. You are doing a fabulous job!! Best of luck on your surgery.

Whoo hoo!! Onederland!! Congratulations...and happy birthday.

If you're only consuming liquids, your body doesn't have much to work with to form solid stool. It's normal. Just make sure you drink enough so you don't get dehydrated.

Your digestive system and renal system don't cross paths. Definitely time to call the doctor.

Have you considered Mexico? I borrowed from my 403b to pay for my surgery. Obviously its instant approval and I pay myself back.

I'm just going to say it's my new hair cut!

Great post. I read every word. So how's your butt?

Excellent. I'm happy you're moving forward.

You've got this!!

Some favor mag citrate ice cold, and others prefer it room temperature. Most patients get it down easiest using a straw. If you have to drink two bottles you will be spending lots of quality time in the bathroom. Grab a magazine ahead of time. Good luck with your procedure!!

I love pickles. Love them! To me they are not a garnish but a side dish. I know that my tastes may change after surgery but where exactly do my beloved pickles come in? They are one of my favorite grabs when I want something crunchy or briney or puckery. I will also tuck a sandwich slice into a low carb tortilla with some turkey and vege cream cheese. Who is still loving pickles and when could you tolerate them? Thanks so much!!

Many bariatric patients have it because of high blood pressure. The heart is a muscle, and when it has to work harder to pump the blood, the muscle gets bigger. This enlargement is called hypertrophy. It can lead to bigger problems like heart failure, but many patients with LVH have surgery. The amount of blood your heart pumps at a time is the ejection fraction (EF) and this information would have been obtained from your echo. Anything over 55% is usually deemed to be normal. As long as your function is normal you should be good to go, especially since your procedure will help remedy more issues than weight alone. Good luck to you!!

Thanks to everyone for their input! I appreciate it very much.

Sounds like you're doing everything you need for success!

Mine seems more muscle/tendon related. It hurts the most just above the knee. I sure hope it goes away for all of us!

Totally awesome. It's always exciting to hear success stories.

My procedure with Dr. Altamirano through BariatricPal includes two years of nutritionist help. Great package!

So how are things going now? I'm still preop, down about 30 pounds and for the last week I can barely get to a standing position off the couch because of knee pain. I limp for a bit before I loosen up once I start to walk. Just wondering if this is a fluke or if you're having trouble again. I've been working tons of overtime so its not an exercise thing as an issue for me at this point.