Bryn

in my personal and professional opinion, toning shoes are not good for the gait, balance and stability of your body. it's not a natural way of walking nor do they help tone much of anything i mean, would you work out in heels or wear them all the time? because it's almost the same effect. i've treated many people who wear these shoes then come to physical therapy because all of a sudden their hips hurt, or they have low back pain. i ask them what shoes they're wearing, and they bring in the skecher shape-ups they give you more momentum which can cause you to lose balance, increases range of motion at ankle which isn't necessarily a good thing if you want a good walking shoe for everyday getting around, i recommend getting fitted for a Brooks brand shoe. and if you have problems with your feet, ankles, hips or knees, get fitted by an orthotist; generally custom shoe stores have an orthotist in-house.

I have Aetna insurance but all plans/policies are different. And I had the sleeve surgery, but I have seen Aetna approve LapBand patients with a BMI of less than 40. I would review their obesity bulletin policy or call a rep from the insurance company. they'll email you with a list of the requirements. Also, don't be discouraged just because the policy says something and you don't fit that requirement or your doctor doesn't. sometimes insurance companies oversee things or they let something slide etc. some insurance companies are very forgiving and will accept one thing over another. good luck to you on this journey. it's an exciting one!

I'm 9 weeks out and haven't had a full blown salad, but have had bites of lettuce here and there. felt fine.

i'm pretty sure that's fraud i know if you bring up some type of pain, doctors will suggest trying a NSAID. is it doable, of course, is it right, no. do other people do it, yep; every day

I wouldn't mind paying $500 for the anesthesiologist rate, I got hit with a bill for $4,100 from the anesthesiologist. on the bill it says that the insurance company did not respond, whatever that means. I'm calling them up and asking them to resubmit. i find it absurd that the surgeons office nor the insurance company wouldn't follow up with this prior to surgery. I got hit with 2 bills grand totaling $10,000. If I wanted to pay $10,000, I would have paid out of pocket fight it if you can, have them resubmit it. do whatever you can.

only thing that i can think that would be beneficial is packing a protein rich lunch for short times. you fill up faster on less in a short amount of time. when i know i'm going to be busy throughout the day, i generally make a naked taco: grilled chicken fajita strips (generally two), pinto beans, taco sauce, sour cream, cheese and salsa or guacamole i put it all in a container, heat up and eat. sometimes i can't even finish it all. but i'm literally stuffed after eating it and it doesn't take me more than 12 minutes to eat i guess.

if you're eating the sandwhich, maybe it's the bread that's making you sick? i'm not sure many sleevers can't tolerate bread after surgery. are you getting sick on everything else you eat?

they can't make you do anything, but i brought mine (as they told me to) and they didn't even put it on me

walk right away, also did isometric and light strengthening on my own. Started going to gym and doing cardio at 4 weeks, started free weights at 5 weeks out with just 10 lbs. After six weeks, I was free to lift whatever I could handle

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy vertical is because of the way the cut was made and the direction that your new tummy takes now

I think I've always stayed under 30g of carbs since surgery. Ironically, I don't even really count them all the time; just happens to be. B: eggs/bacon or Protein shake S: cheese, beef/turkey jerky, yogurt or almonds L: turkey/cheese, chicken tortilla Soup, chili, quiche or fish D: Half of chicken taco, fish or chicken S: frozen banana, vitamuffin, jerky, cheese or protein shake It could be because I'm not really eating side dishes either. I just focus on protein now that i'm 6 weeks out everything i eat is under 700 calories or under 800 on work out days. but i do buy low carb foods (tortillas, crackers, yogurt, etc)

for me, I have to constantly remind myself to drink as soon as i get up when i wake, and I keep a Water bottle with me all the time. i no longer wait 30 mins prior to eating. it's maybe 10-15 mins. but i do wait about 45 mins after i eat to drink so i stay full longer. now it's almost an hour. i never sip during meals. i can get in my water. not that i'm almost 6 weeks out, i am physically able to take bigger sips. not gulps, but bigger sips w/o feeling a lump in the chest feeling. definitely use your phone alarm to set the times. get your liquids in via a popsicle. you can make crystal light popsicles. that way you feel as if you're eating something, but also getting in your liquid. i always keep a water bottle next to my bed as well, because if i happen to wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason (mainly to pee), i can take a few sips; and it's there for me as soon as i wake up to start my day good luck to you! it will get better. at this stage it's highly important to get your fluids in; just remember that

your surgery is the day after my birthday!! just that alone I know you will be a-ok! i think all WLS folks have these worries and questions. i will keep you in my thoughts and think nothing but well wishes. good luck dear!!!

my drain tube was removed morning after surgery while in the hospital

That sounds scary post-op. 14 days out i could feel my restriction but everyone else is different I suppose. Pick yourself upmand start over. If you know younger going outbforthe day, pack stuff for you to eat.

i think that's fantastic! I just wish my bf would sign up at my gym. he's put on weight and i'm not a happy camper, but he always changes the subject

Like the previous posters stated, I would just eat a high Protein snack. since upping my protein and a few calories, i've started losing again

congrats on your surgery!

I think imam going through it now. Now that I see myself in a different light, I think I settled with my bf because I was fat. He has also become distant so it may not last. It may be a relief for mento leave. We'll see. If he doesnt shape up I will walk. Now that I am becoming healthier I would like for him to as well. But he isn't taking that step

Spent 36 hours in the hospital. Could have been released sooner but I Was having chest pains. Docs ran a bunch of tests, nothing. Only lo and behold it was gas pains like they said lol. I thought I was dying!!!

Well, for me it was end of summer in 2010 and I had just come back from my beach vacation with the bf. I put on my bathing suite thinking i looked decent, and he thought i was gorgeous (as always ) anyhow, when we got back home and i looked at our pics from the vacation, there were very few of me, and the ones that were of me, i was mortified!!!!!!! I had no idea what i looked like. my perception of me was skewed. I thought I was smaller than what I appeared. It was weird because during that summer, i lost maybe 15 lbs, started the gym etc. and i got nowhere. I also wanted to be able to have kids and be healthy when i had them in the future. I kept struggling with my PCP on me losing weight and we were both at a stand still when i went to visit her, first asking her about lapband. she said she had many patients who had WLS (all kinds) and i was shocked as to why she never mentioned WLS to me before but she told me she wanted that decision to be brought up by me, not by an influence on her. she saw me lose/gain/lose/gain and she truly thought i could lose it on my own as well. but she also saw me gain it back and then some. she also told me i was quite healthy to be morbidly obese; at that time i had my high bp controlled, no diabetes and mild sleep apnea and all my labs were on point. no high cholesterol etc. but she was happy when i mentioned it and she said, "yea, maybe it's time we took that road" and here i am today, having chose the sleeve and i could not be happier. it's weird because i haven't been back to visit my PCP since feb 2011. she knows the date i had my surgery and my family sees her as well so they mentioned me to her and she's happy. i can't wait to see her! but now i look forward to my future, hell, I look forward to everyday lol. everyday i find something more i like about myself. i finally have control of my food. before surgery i would go to 7-11 and not think twice about picking up a soda, ice cream bar and a bag of chips and have that as my lunch. WTF was I thinking??!! I can easily go into mcdonalds for my sister or mom and not feel a craving to order anything for myself. it's no longer appealing to me. i look at a soda and realize, it may taste good, but then i come to the realization that i just want flavor. so i reach in my purse to get a packet of crystal light and put it in my Water and i'm satisfied. only regret in my life til this day, is that i did not get WLS sooner. Although i am 25, i wish at 20 i had discovered this. I don't know how different my life would have been in this span of 5 years but i'm happy no so that's what matters. I would do this 10x again in a heart beat. I am so lucky to not have any complications after the surgery

i haven't had a sonic cream slushie, but i have made a slushie type Protein drink i added vanilla Protein powder, whatever flavor crystal light packet you want ( i used orange for a creamsicle flavor), crushed ice and Water. i put it in a blender all together and it was soo good. like a creamsicle. it lasted me a while too.

I got the laptop lunch bento box that eggface recommended on her site. i absolutely love it and it's easier to use.

I made these and the pumpkin taste is insanely strong. i didn't even use the full amount of the recommended pumpkin. it's tolerable, but i made a batch to take to work to share with co-workers, and i could never take them because i don't think folks would like them