Diana_in_Philly

The first few months after surgery are hard. Do you want to live to see your kids get married? Have grandchildren? PLay with grandchildren? Then buck up, buttercup. Put on your big girl panties and go see a therapist to talk about your food issues. You clearly have them. I'm almost 3 years out and 150 pounds down. (I've stopped updating my ticker - it's a pain in the a$$.) I fence at a national level and am ranked 23rd among women age 50-59 in the United States. I started fencing after I lost the weight. I understand the need to vent in a safe place, but you need to get your head in the right place. Because if your head isn't in the right place, nothing is going to work. This is only a tool. Not a magic bullet.

So, I was told in my 30s I needed my knees replaced. I did a lot of damage with athletics as a teen. By my 50s, I was bone on bone in both knees. After my surgery, my pain has improved significantly. Understand that if you have arthritis in your knees, being sedentary is making it worse. Movement is the best way to manage arthritic joints, but it's a fine line of being able to move without pain. I'm now down about 150 pounds and almost 3 years post surgery. I fence on a national level and am ranked 23 among women 50-59 in my weapon in the US. I do Olympic weight lifting. I work with my orthopedic surgeon and an osteopathic manipulative medicine specialist to increase my mobility and control my pain. I'm hoping to put off replacement until my late 60s. (I'm 57 now.) Keep in mind that every pound of weight on your body feels like 5-7 pounds of force on your knees. So each pound that comes off will help. But get moving - in the pool if you have to at this point.

Same here - bigger problem for me now, though. A couple of weeks ago was getting ready to go to a function with my husband and I saw a dress hanging on my bedroom door through the mirror on my dresser as I was doing my makeup. And my first thought was - gosh, that's a small dress, I wonder whose it is. Then I realized it was mine. I mean I knew it was mine - I had purchased it. But I don't see myself as the size 6-8 that I am now. I still see the size 24 in some ways when I look in the mirror. It's been almost 3 years since my surgery. Hoping I come to grips with this soon.

FWIW, before a surgery ( not my VSG) a few years ago, my EKG came back wonky. Had to go to the cardiologist. Turns out, first person put the leads in the wrong places for someone with big boobs (I was about a 42H or I at the time) and if the tech puts the leads in the wrong place it comes up as long QT syndrome. I was fine and we had a really good laugh about it.

So, I'm about 2 years out. I've lost about 150 pounds. I work out almost every day, including fencing (as in en garde). I am in my mid 50s and menopausal. So let's combine someone who used to be hot all the time and sweating, lost a ton of weight and is now cold (as in I wear jackets everywhere and hoodies are my best friends) in multiple layers of fencing gear and working out vigorously for 2 hours. I soak through all my clothes. So you will still have times when you sweat but it will be because you are exerting yourself. These days, I sweat at the gym. Otherwise, I'm under layers and blankets even if its 80 degrees out.

First things first - if you wake up thirsty - you are thirsty. DRINK FIRST. You can eat later. Your body is trying to tell you something and you are ignoring it. Are you getting enough fluids in? If you were dehydrated, the answer to that is likely no absent an imbalance in your system. I understand the temperature issue - when I was first sleeved, I went through that as well. I found this after a quick search on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/asobu-Flavor-Stainless-Infuser-Classy/dp/B07F5ZJ9JD/ref=asc_df_B07F5ZJ9JD/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309830947124&hvpos=1o13&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7765904790629826689&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007306&hvtargid=pla-582081574514&psc=1 You seem to be about a month or six weeks out from surgery. Are you allowed anything beyond puree's on your plan at this point? I loved Shelly's Ricotta Bake at that stage (still love it.) But there are some great recipes here. http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html I'm 2 years out but still start some days with a protein shake because it works for my schedule trying to get out of the house quickly in the morning. I do love both eggs and yogurt so I ate a lot of those during purees. What about tuna or chicken salad? Refried beans? Ricotta or cottage cheese? Creamed soups? Give us an idea of what you are allowed on your plan and we may be able to be more specific with help for you.

Assuming you still aren't on any blood thinners post-surgery (since your surgery was in December), I hear you! My guess is it is because we have less fat "cushioning" things. Let's make it worse - I'm a fencer - as in en garde. I spend 5-6 hours a week having people poke me with sharp objects - The mammogram tech asked me last year if I was safe at home. I started taking a potassium supplement which has helped a bit - the bruises are smaller and don't last as long now.

Just as an FYI - when I'm fencing at a National Competition (like a did 2 weeks ago) I will burn somewhere around 3000 calories in that day. All bets are off. I just eat whatever my body craves on those days and make sure I have plenty of things to nibble between bouts so I don't pass out. I also probably regularly drink 100 ounces of water a day - I can easily go well over a gallon when I compete (the gear is hot and heavy.) A normal 2.5 hours of practice for me when I'm fencing is about 1500 calories burned. I should probably eat more than I do but I'm afraid of the damn carbs (because that's what got me in trouble in the first place).

Step one - review your policy - look at the documents - either they were given to you in paper or are avaialble on line - that will outline what is covered and what is not. Since you did not get them to commit in writing in the first instance, you can't rely on that. If the policy website/paper copy says covered demand a denial of coverage letter so you can appeal. Talk to the insurance coordinator at your surgeon's office - they have done this more than once before and maybe she/he can help you. If you are coverage is provided as an employee, you may be covered by a Federal Statute called ERISA which gives you specific rights regarding appeals of denials and the requirement that they put the denial in writing. Secondary insurance will likely not cover it at this point. Changing jobs will only help if you get a job with a company whose insurer covers bariatrics and many don't. Call your human resources department and ask them for copies of the paperwork for your plan.

5'3" 152 pound woman here who is down about 150 pounds. I do Olympic lifting to support my fencing (I fence foil and saber). I lift 3-4 times a week for about an hour with a trainer. I deadlift 240, Backsquat 235, and have horrible upper body stregnth. I can clean and jerk about 80 pounds - shooting for that 100 pound mark. I have mental issues with my ****** and I'm only at about 65 pounds. Just started bench pressing and can go 75 pounds for about 40-50 reps. When I'm not lifting, I'm fencing 2-3 hours a day. I eat about 1500 - 1800 calories a day with 125g protein and 113g carbs. Adding the carbs back in was essential for me to build muscle - I was cannibalizing muscle with my lifting because I wasn't getting enough carbs in. I found a sports registered dietitian in my area (she was covered by my insurance - even better) and had experience with bariatric patients. She helped me refine my numbers. I use BCAA when I'm lifting and lots of electrolyte replacement stuff - e.g. nuun or Ucann Hydrate. I had my resting metabolism checked after surgery to find that my resting metabolic rate is about 967 - so that's 1100 calories if I'm sitting on my butt all day. Best of luck!

I was 55 when I had my VSG. I'm now 57. I've lost about 150 and am a nationally ranked athlete in my sport. I haven't had plastics yet, but I have met with a surgeon and am planning to have a panni with tummy tuck (which my insurance will cover) and breast reduction/lift (the reduction will be covered as well). I'd love to have my arms done, but I'm a bit scared of the recovery time on it and the impact on my sport. I'm trying to figure out when to do stuff because having it done will require some time off work and I still have one kid in college and one on the way there.

Don't panic. Sometimes things just get charted wrong. For some reason, at one point, my allergists office had that I was allergic to peanuts. Never have been. So, don't panic. Your doc will write the letter. If they deny, he can request a peer-to-peer review which would require the carrier to provide a teleconference for him with a bariatric surgeon of their choice to review the file and make a determinations. Peer-to-peer usually overturn the initial denial.

Every team is different. I was given a cup of coffee (not decaf - regular) in my post op liquid meal tray day after surgery. Been drinking my blessed coffee ever since. PS Love Torani syrups - they are great to spice up shakes.

You don't provide any stats, but I have Harvard Pilgrim. Please go to their web site and take a good look at the requirements (you don't say where you are BMI wise) - this is from their site: The following age-specific criteria are met: i. Adults: Medical record documentation confirms EITHER a or b below: a.Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more; OR b.BMI above 35 and ANY of the following high-risk comorbid conditions confirmed by a PCP and/or a specialist: • Type II Diabetes, with documentation of diabetes diagnosis consistent with the American Diabetic Association (diagnosis must be confirmed by an endocrinologist or primary care physician/provider) • Documented confirmation of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) within the last 12 months • Coronary artery disease • Significant obesity-related cardiopulmonary conditions (e.g., Hypoventilation Syndrome, Cardiomyopathy, Pulmonary Hypertension) • Pseudotumor cerebri (diagnosis confirmed, and treatment plan supported by neurologist) • Pickwickian Syndrome • Severe, weight-bearing back or joint disease evaluated by an orthopedic or neurosurgeon • Severe arthropathy of spine and/or weight-bearing joints (when obesity prohibits appropriate surgical management of joint dysfunction treatable but for the obesity; (diagnosis must be confirmed by an orthopedic surgeon) • Continued hypertension requiring pharmacological treatment (i.e. blood pressure 140 mmHg systolic and/or 90 mmHg diastolic, despite use of 3 anti-hypertensive agents of different classes, unless contraindicated • Obesity induced cardiomyopathy (diagnosis must be confirmed by a cardiologist) • Obesity-related hypoventilation (diagnosis must be confirmed by a pulmonologist) The medical conditions need not be immediately life-threatening, but must be of sufficient severity as to pose considerable short-or long-term risk to function and/or survival, and must not be trivial or easily controlled with non-invasive intervention (e.g., medication). Consideration of the risk-benefit for each individual patient must be used to determine that surgery is the best option for treatment for the individual patient, and no contraindications to bariatric surgery may exist.. Of all the carriers - they are the fastest to deal with approvals and do not have a 6 month waiting period. It would seem from what you say that you fit into one of the two I bolded. My BMI was over 40, so I was pretty clear-cut.

I just cut my meal in half or thirds to start and get a to-go box. Or I order an appetizer as a meal.

I hate cardio, too. Always have. One way I get myself to do it is to only allow myself to watch certain things (e.g. on iPad, etc.) when doing cardio. That's how I watched the whole Breaking Bad series. Your mileage may vary. I don't do dedicated cardio any more - but I do fence (as in en garde) for about 3 hours twice a week. Of that at least 1 hour each of the two nights is devoted to conditioning and footwork - which is cardio disguised as fencing.

My only regret was waiting until I was 55 to have the surgery. I was over 300 pounds in 2015 and now sit around 150 (depending on the day and phase of the moon). I fence foil competitively and am ranked 24th among women aged 50-59 in the US. I can do so much more. I only regret waiting to do it. Best of luck.

So, not to be snarky, but how has losing weight without surgery been working for you so far in life? I'm assuming, since you are considering surgery, your BMI is over 35. You don't have any stats, so we don't know age, weight, etc. My guess is if you are considering surgery, dieting has not worked over the years for you. I was 56 when I had surgery in 2016. I have lost about 150 pounds. I am in the best physical shape I've been in during my lifetime except when I was a nationally ranked athlete in my teens. And at age 57, I'm in the top 25 in women in my sport in the the US. The surgery works. Yes, there is always the chance of complications. But what are the complications you are facing now - high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis, inability to move freely, inability to buy clothes, etc. 99% of making this surgery work is getting your head in the right place. Sounds like you need to spend some time working through that.

My stomach did similar things straight out - i could not tolerate plain water, but if I was drinking flavored water - mixed with crystal light or other no-cal flavor, I could get it down. Everyday, temperature was an issue. Some days had to be room temp. Some days had to be cold. Had to keep trying for a while. Keep mixing it up. It will pass as your stomach heals.

Try different brands of protein - some people tolerate some better than others - sometimes its the taste, sometimes the ingredients. If s/he wants you to have 60g of protein drinks a day, it probably doesn't matter what protein drink you are using, but check with the office.

Mat based pilates - there are plenty of YouTube videos and DVDs. Or you could take a reformer based pilates classes. Crunches are a waste of time. They don't do anything. Bridges work your butt not your waist. Planks will help. I do mat and reformer based pilates for at least an hour each a week along with other things. You can shape those muscles, but some of it is likely extra skin and fat that isn't going anywhere unless you have plastics.

Are you sure my mother didn't rise from the grave to become your mother-in-law? She was always on my case and even those of people she didn't know - I remember sitting with her when she was in the hospital once and she was complaining that she thought Rachel Ray was getting "tubby!"

Has your medical team cleared you to lift more than 10 pounds? (That was my initial restriction after surgery.) I was cleared to lift as tolerated at my 2 week post op visit. Start slow and go with lower weights than you were lifting pre-surgery to give your body some time to adjust.

At 22 days a bar probably wouldn't be a good idea. There are lots of types of protein powders - collagen based, vegan, plant, whey - not all protein is whey. Try collagen or vegan proteins they may sit better with you.

I felt it was kinda rude too, especially since the surgery question was the first words out of her mouth instead of saying she noticed I lost weight or anything like that. And my response would have been: Did you have sex last night? Oh, wait you don't want to answer that personal a question? Really, why did you ask me a similarly personal question. Turn on heel. Walk away. People are generally stupid and assume they are entitled to personal information. It is your job to remind them they are not. I had surgery 3 years ago. to this day, only my husband, my two teen daughters and my best friend know. I used that response fairly often in my first year after surgery. I didn't tell my office other than to say I had to have an abdominal surgical procedure and would be out for a week or two.