Bucky0126

MN Governor said he isn't shutting down elective surgeries, I hope that even of he did, it wouldn't be for a week or 2 with my surgery 2 weeks from today. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the insight! The typical walk by the pantry happens every night at about 8:00, so last night I went with some sweet flavored water and chicken broth. This morning I am filling up on coffee and protein shakes!

TatiannaL....I just started my 2 week liquid protein diet yesterday and I went to GNC to get the details on whats best. They have "Prolific Isolate" which is sugar free and meets all of the criteria for what is needed for the shakes. It's a little spendy, $60 for 2.5 lbs. But, it mixes great and the taste is the best I've traied in my limited times taking protein shakes. Good luck to you!

My surgery date is 12/2/20 (if COVID doesn't shut it down). I started my 2 week liquid diet today as I know it'll take a day or two to get used to no solids. I bought a top rated protein shake jug, so I am hoping all goes well. Chicken broth will help, but I'm a late night snacker watching TV...it's going to test my will power for sure.

How was the protein shake only liquid diet for people? My surgery is 12/02/20 (if COVID doesn't cancel it). I started my liquid diet at lunch today, any tips or hurdles that I need to get over? How much weight did you lose during this 2 week process?

I am a veteran and use the VA for all of my medical and primary care. During some clinic visits this fall, I suggested to my doctor that I might be interested in getting Bariatric surgery. She gave me some reading literature and suggested I do some homework prior to making any requests formally. In my 12/26/19 visit, I asked her to make my request official and we started me on the journey. For you fellow Veterans out there, the VA supports weight loss surgery basically as potential long term health for the veteran as well as potential cost savings associated with your health long term. My process started with getting an appointment referral from my doctor to get an appointment to meet with the Move Program Coordinator and ultimately withe a Move Dietitian and Nutritionist. From there, you must participate in the Move Program for 3 months (easy) and they sent me home with a scale and blood pressure cuff to monitor. The unit has built in wifi and sends your daily weight and blood pressure to the Move Coordinator daily. Ultimately, you must lose approximately 10% of your body weight (or at least show the ability to lose weight) and graduate from the Move program. To help my process, I was prescribed a weight loss supplement, multi vitamin and Saxenda (injection weight loss medicine). Basically all are to help stimulate your appetite loss, it works! I weighed in this morning (1/21/20) and after 25 days, I am down 15.5 lbs from 351 lbs. My goal weight loss prior to surgery is 35 lbs and am I am on track to graduate the Move program on 3/26/20. After you graduate the program, your Move Team will then present your case to the Surgery Team (assuming you meet the criteria, graduate and lose the preliminary weight). Once approved, you just need to get on the schedule for surgery. I am not sure what that process entails yet, but I was told to plan on surgery between mid April to mid May. I will continue to update this process, but I wanted to assure Veterans that we too can get this surgery done within the VA.

I am now 10 days into the full 3mg dose. The side effects, if any, have been minimal for me. I have had some general sour stomach, other than that, not much negative from it. My appetite has decreased substantially, but my late night cravings for a sweet snack have not left completely. With the medicine, I've also started the intermittent fasting, not eating anything until 10AM. Once I eat my lunch, I am ready to eat dinner at 6PM and typically the late night cookie or jello cup goes down. Overall I feel good having dropped 26 lbs in 6 weeks, but most of the loss came in the first 4 weeks with the new medicine and reduction in alcohol. I'm still having a glass of wine or two, but not the daily 2-4 drinks prior to the new year. Overall, I like the appetite suppressant....yet it's the lifestyle change that has me wanting more.

Good morning, I'm new to the forum and so far have just read the messages, rather than jump in and post. I started my journey for surgery on 12/26/19 through the local Veteran's Affairs clinic. My primary care provider had experience by prescribing Saxenda to patients and I was quickly approved for it. Today was day 3 of the prescription and I am still at the smallest dose of .6 mg on my way in 4 weeks to the full 3 mg dose. In the VA, you have to be in the move program for at least 3 months and then the primary care team (along with the nutritionists) present your case to the bariatric surgery team. I am scheduled to have my case presented on April 3rd and hoping for surgery in the next 30 days following. In the interim, I am on Saxenda (injection med) to help facilitate the weight loss process as they have stated many times that the more weight you lsoe pre-surgery, the better chances for success. I started the process (I am 6 feet tall) at 351 lbs and weigh in daily through my VA assigned scale. Today I am at 337 lbs, which means -14 lbs since 12/26. Ultimately, the process is working and I am excited to get through 2020 with a successful surgery and lifestyle change! New Jason in 2020 & 2021!!!

I am almost 3 weeks into Saxenda and Sunday I will go from 1.8 to 2.4 mg dose, so one more week until the full 3.0 dosage. I have had zero side effects from the medicine and want to just ramp up to 3.0 but I assume there is a reason to keep the dose on the ramp up, rather than the full. I'm -20 lbs in the first month and I couldn't be any happier! -20 in 2020!!

Tamarita - thanks for sharing your story! I sure hope my process doesn't take that long, don't lose hope or the drive to get it done. 14 months in the process will all be worth it once you get the surgery and lose the weight. The upside is a longer and healthier life. As for me, I just spoke with my Move coordinator and they meet with the surgery team on the 1st Friday of each month and I am on the schedule to be presented April 3rd and with already losing 50% of the pre surgery goal, I would assume to be on track by then as well. My coordinator said we would then be put on the list to schedule the surgery, which could be anywhere between 2-6 weeks (depending on availability). I'm anxiously awaiting April 3rd!!!

oh, ok...I get it and will keep that in mind as I am about 4 months from surgery.

Your surgery date says 1/16/2020, yet you said exercise has helped post surgery. from 6 days ago????

Thanks for the snapshot, I haven't really thought about what to expect other than the weight loss and changes I will need to make post op. This gives me a good idea what to look forward to. keep going!

Thank you for saying that, I always appreciate it. You just had your surgery last week? How are you feeling and what kind of diet do they have you on? Tell me what the first 5 days are like...

I increased my Saxenda injection to the 1.2 mg for week 2 yesterday. For anyone starting Saxenda, I recommend starting it on a Saturday or Sunday as the increase can give you a worn down feeling as your body adjusts to the increase. The only side effect so far has been a feeling of a sour stomach and loss of appetite (that one's good). I weighed in this morning at 325.5 lbs, so nearly -16 lbs in 1 week of Saxenda and 3-1/2 weeks of intermittent fasting, portion control and carb reduction (just trying to avoid major carb intake). I feel good, but haven't noticed any weight loss in the mirror....yet. Thanks for the positive vibes and comments, I'm trying!