anonbaribabe

Thanks so much for keeping us updated! I loved reading through all of your updates and appreciate that you posted about your good days and bad days 🙂 You're doing a great job!

My surgeon doesn't allow his patients to use Premier since it's a concentrate protein, but before I knew this I tried almost all of their flavors and wasn't a fan of any of them—I don't like the aftertaste. I really like Bariatric Eating's Inspire—it's whey protein isolate, they have a lot of flavors, and it doesn't have a powdery texture/aftertaste.

This has crossed my mind, but I hadn't put much thought into it. I might ask my surgeon when I see him in a couple of weeks.

This is one of the reasons my dietician told me not to drink while/directly after eating. Also, not all surgeons ban straws. My surgeon allows straws a couple months after surgery.

I know it's easy to feel like everyone is watching you when you're doing something out of your comfort zone, but honestly, no one is watching you when you're at the gym. They're more focused on what they're doing than what you're doing or what you look like. Start with something you feel comfortable doing, like walking on the treadmill. Someone else mentioned this, as well, but go during your gym's quiet times. My gym is very quiet on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

I don't have to do a liquid diet either; I'm so glad! My doctor only requires it for patient's over a certain BMI. My pre-op diet includes lean protein, veggies, and protein shakes.

I was going to say this, too. On the top of my approval letter it listed a surgery date that they submitted, but it's not my actual surgery date. After I was approved, I asked if they could tell me when the next date available was and they said they couldn't give me that info until I was actually scheduled. Simone, maybe this is also a rule your scheduler goes by? I got my call today—surgery is January 8!

My doctor's office told me this as well; that insurance providers are busier around this time of year. My surgery was submitted in mid-November and I was approved in four days (I have BCBS). I was expecting two weeks, which is what I was told was the average. I hope that you hear back sooner than that!

My surgery is next month and my surgeon told me that a majority of his patients go back to work after two weeks.

My surgery is the following day! 🙂

Yes, I finally have a date! January 8!

congrats! happy to hear that you're feeling well!

Have you tried any protein powders instead of RTD protein? I'm not a fan of RTD drinks; they taste super artificial and have a bad after taste to me. For me, powders have a better taste.

I assume that you've shared your reflux issues with your doctor, so what has he said about this? I've heard of some doctors who won't perform the sleeve on patients with acid reflux issues, so I'm surprised that your doctor didn't recommend bypass based on what you've described. It seems like bypass may be a better fit. If I remember correctly, bypass can actually help with reflux issues (whereas the sleeve can potentially exacerbate these issues). Whichever way you go, I don't think you're a baby for wanting to hold off and do more research

Starvation mode is a myth. A stall doesn't necessarily mean that you're not losing weight, it means that it's not showing up on the scale yet, which can be the cause of numerous factors (water retention, for example). Do you take measurements? Are you losing inches even though you aren't losing weight? It's also important to make sure that your 1500 calories is really 1500 calories. It's easy to overestimate how much you're eating if you're not weighing/measuring it. Same with exercise—are you burning as many calories as you think you are? Your body will adjust to exercise and eventually you will burn fewer calories from the same workout over time. More info about "starvation mode:" https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/

I'm also waiting on a surgery date. I've been approved and my file has been passed off to the nurse who does scheduling. I also have to attend another pre-op appointment where they will check that I have purchased the correct type of protein (isolate and under certain number of sugar and carbs) and vitamins. I'll get the dates of this appointment and my surgery date at the same time (the appointment will be scheduled two weeks before surgery). I asked how long it would be before I heard back about a date since I've been approved and was told that it would probably be a week.

This 100%! This works for me almost every time I have a migraine. For me, it works best if I use super hot water and super cold water. It's also kind of draining so I can usually sleep after, which also helps me get rid of a migraine.

Happy for all of you with upcoming December dates! I'm waiting to to get a date and hoping it's in December!

So sorry that this has happened to you! I'm waiting for a surgery date right now and can't imagine how upset you are. I'm in your area and having my surgery done at Saint Luke's. Overall, it's been a good experience. If you decide to switch, I highly recommend them.

This is what I was going to say. If you go with self-pay you won't be charged the same as what the hospital bills an insurance provider. I'm using insurance, but there are several centers in my area that work with self-pay patients and prices range from $9,500-$12,000. Good luck on your search!

Congrats on your weight loss! Are you hitting your protein goals? If so, I recommend checking with your nutritionist before adding any supplements into your diet.

After my last weigh-in I called my doctor's office to make sure that paperwork was submitted (good thing I did because she actually forgot to do it! 😑). After that, I called my insurance provider and asked them to let me know when they had received it—since she had already dropped the ball once I wanted to make sure that she sent it when she said she had. It took a few days for the paperwork to appear in their system (which they said was normal). Once they received it in their system, I was approved the next day. Overall, it only took four days for my paperwork to be sent in and received before I was approved.

I second much of what Orchids has said. As far as the two week liquid diet, it does seem to be the norm; but certainly isn't a requirement. There are many different types of pre-op diets (all liquid, lean protein + veggies, etc.) and some surgeons don't require one at all. Good luck with your surgery!

I ordered some unflavored protein recently and haven't received it yet, but when I do I'm planning to use it to make protein jello and pudding. I've also made pancakes in the past with a banana and 1-2 eggs and think that it would be an easy addition to that recipe.

Great job, you look great! Super inspiring