nenes78

11 months since surgery. Pics are from day before surgery on 3/6/18 and from 2/14/19

My Nutritionist recommends no mare than 15 grams of added sugar per day.

Also these are good in a bind as well. Nice thing about these are most have good protein and shelf life, no fridge needed. I keep a few at work as well. that way I'm never out of something, Hormel COMPLEATS. These are a bit high in sodium so watch out. I can usually only eat half. I get them for about $2-3 at Walmart.

If I do frozen (I keep a few at work) I use the Healthy Choice Cafe steamers, Simply steamers, and Power-Bowls. My Nutritionist likes the ones with low sodium and low added sugars. I can't even finish a bowl so the nutrition info will be less. My favorite is the Homestyle Chicken and Potatoes or Chicken Vegetable Stir-fry , I usually eat the Protein & veggies first and leave most of the starch behind. Check them out Cafe Steamers, Simply Steamers and Power-bowls.

Thanks @J San. The gym and working out has been a big help to me. I also still food log everything I eat, including the 2 Hershey’s kisses I had yesterday. Glad to hear your getting back on track.

It’s been 11 months since surgery. What a roller coaster it’s been.

For me it was being able to keep up with the Scouts in my Son's Troop. I was always the caboose of backpacking trips and Hikes. Other times I'd stay behind at base camp because it would be to much. Now my only issue is the meal planning for camp.

@jrmolina2006 is right. I took 2 1/2 weeks. I would have liked more, I was cleared for 6 weeks but my work only piles up while I'm gone. I have a desk job so no strenuous movement, but that early on you are at very low calories and by the end of the day I was fizzled out. I would suggest taking as much as you can get to rest and heal. The first week I pretty much walked and slept, with small meals in between. Good luck

Correct and every Kaiser region has different requirements for Options. I have LA Area and the Options classes are 12 weeks. Of those 12 you can only miss 2 and they must be made up. These classes also have weekly exercise and food logs which also are to be turned in. If you do not complete them you will not "pass the class". Again each Kaiser region is different on their requirements. Also for weight loss during the program they will take into account Kaiser documented weight loss prior to the classes. I had lost almost 7lbs in the 2 weeks between my PCP giving the green light for Options and my first weigh in on week one.

payments are what your copay is. For example I had to pay for specialist office visits each time I saw the bariatric team. Options class had no copay. For the surgery I only paid the overnight hospital stay copay. Surgery is not approved until the surgeon clears you after completing the program. My time line was as follows: Cleared by PCP for Options Bariatric program (Socal is 12 weeks) 9-1-17 Orientation for Options program 9-6-17 Start Options 9-14-17 get tests and visits with Bariatric doctors, EKG, Psych eval if needed during Options Completed Options on12/7/17 Cleared to meet with Surgeon by Options Doctor on 12/13/17 Met Surgeon on 1/8/19 scheduled surgery with surgeon staff after meeting weight loss goal from surgeon (besides the Options weight loss) Pre Op visit with surgeon 2/23/18 Surgery with overnight hospital stay 3/7/19 Followup surgery visit 3/16/19 cleared by surgeon to return to work 3/20/18 Hope that helps

There's a guy in my support group who is a little over 8 years out, he had the sleeve. He said one night "Years after surgery we will eat foods we were told not to, but I don't do it every day. I have pizza once in a while. Now a eat once slice, before surgery I ate a large pie to myself. Now I order medium and it'll feed me a few days". It make sense and he's right there are days we will eat and it's okay. This guy is 8 years out and has had 20lbs max regain, currently 8lbs higher than his lowest weight. He says if the lbs start to creep up he goes back to the introducing hard foods stage and food logs again.

I have Kaiser and am very happy with the Bariatric program. I know each regional Kaiser is a bit different. I did like and think that the Options program is great before the surgery. Even though it is a long process (rumor is they are shortening it), it is very helpful and prepares you for what is to come. The best part has been the after surgery support group which consists of weekly meetings with a behaviorist and dietitian alternating weeks. I go weekly as it has helped me after surgery and be successful but I do see people drop in and out as they please. A great change is they have now made it free. I like the groups because there are people in it that are almost 8 years out and attend regularly so they have great advice on life after surgery. I had surgery 11 months ago today, and am very happy with Kaiser and their program. Please feel free to ask questions or message me.

Changes start happening right away. Physical changes I really started to notice around 3 months. Everyone else saw them before i felt I did. Then again we are our own harshest judge.

You know how we all say I wish i was xx year old but with the knowledge I have now. Seriously its been that way for me. I fell like I'm 20 again. The wife definitely has noticed it.

Frustr8 is right. I take photos weekly in just underwear. Front and side. You are early out by the 3rd month it’ll be a change but not drastic by month 4/5 you’ll definitely notice. Here Is me at surgery day then at 3,6 & 9 moths and the far right was a week ago.

i use itrackbites. The only thing is they have recently gone the way of a subscription. Luckily I purchased my addons a while ago. But I love the app. https://itrackbites.com/

looking good. What's funny is even people close to me telling me they don't remember me being "THAT" big.

I had popcorn at the movies the other night with my wife. It went down easily. She actually asked how is it I could have so much popcorn but then eat a few bites of chicken and i'm full. I told her its probably the popcorn consistency vs the meat. I now know I need to keep that popcorn monster in check.

Here is the wiki on it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neomycin/polymyxin_B/bacitracin

Congrats Matt Z. I'm looking forward to getting there as well

Here is her instagram. Its not all Bariatric, but she does tell us to adapt per our requirements and portions https://www.instagram.com/nutritune/

I feel you there. It took me a bit to get out of the habit of going into the Big & Tall section.

I weigh daily. As stated above, it keeps me accountable. I only log Mondays though.

I have Kaiser as well and have been very happy with the program. I am waiting for my one year visit in March. I do go to the weekly support meetings, which are great, and I also am the guest speaker for Options class for the past 2 months.