Vinasu

So many people have such a negative view of surgery, but for all of us it comes down to quality of life. And your post is the perfect example of that! You are amazing! Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

1. What are/were your biggest challenges during the weight loss process? (insurance, medication, surgery, maintenance etc) Cost. There were a lot of hidden costs o didn't even know about until after surgery, even though I had been provided with what was supposedly a complete list of costs and coverage. I feel like I was taken advantage of. Now, I have to pay thousands to the anesthesiologist, which was never discussed. 2. What would you like to have different to solve the problems that you need to face? And why? (new weight loss medication, new surgery approaches, more support groups, new insurance plan etc.) I want more transparent pricing in the US health care system. I want doctors who are better trained to deal with obese patients. One orthopedist told me the pain in my knee was because I was fat. I told him I knew something was very wrong. When I went for a second opinion, turns out I had torn my PCL. 3. How much money do you spend for weight loss every year? (food, exercise, support groups, medications etc) My doctor, fortunately, has me on cheap supplements, about $15/month. I also pay $80/month for Tae Kwon Do. I think food is a wash. I buy more expensive foods for myself, but eat so much less. 4. How did you learn about the surgery/medications that you had/used/are using? Internet. I followed different support groups online. I read evidenced-based research. Google (and Google Scholar) is my friend. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I lost 28 pounds my first two months. It's totally normal. People who lose astonishing amounts of weight to begin with are normally very high BMI. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I told four people: mom, sister, brother, and husband. My husband was great. He said he knew how unhappy my weight made me, and he just wanted me to happy. Brother said he didn't approve, but it's my life, my body. Then he never brought it up again. Mom had an employee who had RNY, lost 200 lbs, ended up a size 16 and suffers from anemia. Mom said, 'Don't do it! You'll still be fat, and you'll be sick on top of it!" But she dropped it and never brought it up again. Sister, though, really hurt me. She was furious. She refused to even speak with me for two months after surgery, and to this day our relationship isn't the same. She makes mean comments to me, excludes me, and avoids me. She used to be my best friend. I wouldn't change anything about getting the surgery, though. I am so much happier, even with losing that relationship. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I'm down 70 pounds...2/3 of my weight until goal. I wear a size 12--smaller than I was in high school. And this week I got my yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. I also added a profile picture to LinkedIn which I was always too embarrassed to do before. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

My NUT and surgeon both say to remain at 800 calories until maintenance. I had RNY. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Since May, I've gone from a size 22 to a size 12. I follow my eating plan pretty rigidly, and I do Tae Kwon Do four times a week. It's a great combination of flexibility, strength, and balance. Plus, I get to hit things. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Another WoW player here. Fire mage. This is the best XP in a loong time. I am also completely obsessed with clothes. There are so many beautiful things I could never have worn six months ago, so I have been window shopping like crazy (Microsoft Windows, that is). I'm allowing myself one great new piece a month, but I'm taking tremendous pleasure in choosing that piece. I am supplementing with thrift store finds, though. I needed something a bit warmer and found a like- new Marmot jacket for $8. I'm wearing it every day, but it's going to be too big before the season is over. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

There are some frozen meals I take to work all the time in case of food emergency. Try Lean Cuisine Sweet Sriracha--180 calories and 15g of Protein. Or get Healthy Choice Honey Balsamic chicken. It's 210 calories and 14g protein. Their Beef Merlot is 180 calories and 15g protein. Even if you can't cook, you can still stock up on meals at work. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

My info meeting was March 11. Surgery was August 10. I had a mandatory three-month weight loss period. It felt so slow when I was going through the process, but looking back, it was a whirlwind. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I waited to get rid of stuff. ..but I've been going down a size every 4-6 weeks, so it's not a long wait. I did buy a few things in smaller sizes because of insane sales. But for the most part, I've ended up going to my favorite thrift store about once a week to supplement my wardrobe. I'm not the kind of person who wears the giant clothes until they fall off. Buying the smaller sizes gives me such a boost, and looking good really keeps me on track. That having been said, you don't need the summer clothes, but I'd hold on to them until after surgery. It's not unheard of four things to come up at the last minute. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I found a trainer that specializes in obese and geriatric patients. She's amazing. She works everyone so hard, but accommodates every person's limitations. I've graduated to her regular boot camp now. See if you have a trainer like that near you. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

My 11-year-old daughter has juvenile migraines, and her neurologist told us to give her a Protein shake every morning. She doesn't like eating Breakfast, and her Dr. said that lack of protein and low calories can trigger the headaches. As long as she drinks her shakes and gets enough sleep, the headaches are controllable. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I can actually handle much, much spicier foods now. I crave it. I've been eating a ton of Korean and Thai foods. I think I eat so little, and I miss flavor, so I crank it up to 10 when I can. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

@@Vinasu what surgery did you have, the sleeve or the bypass?I'm thinking i might try to do something like that. My surgery will be sometime in december. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I had the bypass. I was really fortunate that I was otherwise healthy and heal quickly, and I had no complications. I'm now 70 pounds down, I look and feel great, and no one at all has assumed I had WLS. I'm not ashamed of it; I'd tell if asked, but my office is very much focused on weight and appearance (I work in media), and all discussions center around Crossfit and what everyone is eating. I do not want to be the center of discussions for months or years. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

The only people I told are the ones I live with...and I wouldn't have told them if I had a choice. I only took two days off work (Wednesday surgery day, the day after, Fridays are work- from- home for the entire office, back on Monday), so no one at all suspected I had surgery of any kind. They just see me watching what I eat and exercising. I hate discussing my private life with anyone not involved in it, so for me silence has been golden. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Dr said as soon as I was off narcotics. Well, I never had to take my Oxy at home, so I drove on day 4 when I was just dying to get out of the house. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Mine wasn't covered either. Ended up being about $150 for the initial consult, and $100 for over- the- phone follow up appointments. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Beef and jicama. They both come right back up again. I pretty much live on seafood. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I practicality live on Premier Protein. My nutritionist gave me several samples pre-surgery, and I buy them by the case at Costco. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

It's the only place I don't sag. ???? Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

My Dr. Suggested walking only for the first six weeks to help prevent hernias. Now, I do Tae Kwon Do four days a week, and I love it. There's something awesome about kicking the crap out of a target with a well- placed roundhouse kick...then punching it when it's down. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I feel you. At three months out, I throw up about once a week. I took a single bite of a hamburger patty and immediately ran to the bathroom. Some days nothing sits well, other days everything does. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

It will get better. Get your depression treated right away. You can't take care of yourself if you aren't in the mental state to do so. Then, start by logging everything you eat on myfitnesspal.com. That will help you figure out where your biggest issues are. You're going to be fine. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I had surgery on Wednesday and was back at work on Monday. It depends on how strenuous your job is, whether you have complications, how healthy you were before surgery, and just plain luck of the draw. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App