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Hi Dionna, Thanks! :biggrin: I just reached 100 lbs during this past week. I didn't start a new thread bc I am also almost in ONEderland (only 3 lbs to go!!), so maybe I will Celebrate both at the same time. I did take some new pictures and posted them to the before/after picture thread. I also have some new pics on my blog.

Lol yeah in terms of taste muscle milk taste great but my doc doesn't recommend them bc they are too high in calories and too high in carb...premiere is the only drink that taste good to me from what's nutritionally best for us...those other healthy shakes r just horrible! Yuckkkkk lol

I cant seem to get my.protein in...and I highly doubt I eat or drink even 500 calories a day. Nothing but milk now seems to bother me but I need protein ideas bc the shakes are hard.for me to get down. I eat and drink very slowly and after a few bites there comes the gurgles ...annoying

Okay thanks. I had been taking them together and saw that last night and I was like well crap I hope it ain't all of them bc I've been doing it

Another option I haven't heard yet is ordering them online. I ordered my effexor from india for the year I was off work on disability. Not the cheapest option, but may be cheaper than local pharmacy. I know for me, going off my meds means disaster. weaning or not. I would shut off my cable and internet before i went without. I think the county or city clinics are a fabulous resource. Some ppl won't use them bc they're ashamed. Don't be one of those people. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. If you had cancer, you wouldnt wean off your cancer meds...you would find a way! I hope you find a way.

How long was it before you could sleep in bed comfortable? I am 2 days post op and first night home, seems like I will be in the recliner tonight bc the bed hurts me too much.

My Dr and I talked about 3 types. Roux en Y but he said I didnt have acid reflux so I didnt need that, the sleeve w duodenal switch and just the sleeve. I chose the sleeve w the duodenal switch bc i would lose more weight and get off my prescriptions. But i guess the nurse misunderstood and scheduled me for the Sleeve on Dec 2nd. If I want the sleeve w the switch i would have to wait til Jan and start my deductible all over? What do I do?

Yes it's great being able to bend overand tie my shoes without coming up red in the face, feeling my bones I haven't felt in so many years and not being so self conscience when my husband throws his arm over my waist...bc now I have one. My ladies even look better not having to compete with my tummy It's an awesome feeling.

I have noticed a change in my clothes. Put on a pair of jeans I haven't worn in 2 years! That being said, I would LOVE to see that scale go down...at least a little! I saw the nurse today and she said the stall was normal, but she suspects mine is due to not getting enough Protein. I knew she would say that, lol. I am going to do much better from today on bc she said just getting in 30g more of protein a day will help me see the scale go down. Thanks for the encouragement!

Iwood I was banded at TLBC and whole heartedly recommend Dr. Yau. There are a few great clinics in Canada but one of the outstanding features of TLBC is they have local support and distant support (I live in BC). You will be introduced to the TLBC support groups and they are a very friendly bunch. One of them met me at the clinic for my first fill. They also have a nutrionist/chef called Jill. She gives excellent advice. Good luck in your journey. Doddie

Hi my name is Pam Im 38 yo this Jan. (2013) I am needing some new friends Im a newbie just started on here I also have a page on facebook that I just started called MY WEIGHTLOSS ADVENTURE please like it I really need more likes on it....... anyways Im just starting Im on mnth 2 week 1 of my 6 mnth diet then its a 14 day preop diet so probley abt Juneish.......Im looking forward to haveing the SLEEVE surgery I cant wait...Its real hard for me to lose weight by myself.....I started out weighing 260 lbs and now I weigh 244 lbs so thats a little loss they want me to lose 1 lb per wk=4lbs per mnthx6 mnths =24lbs before surgery I really hope I can do this bc I really do need the surgery I cant lose 100 lbs or more without it even if its just close to 100 lbs I should be happier......(My profile picture is the same on here and facebook)......

who supports YOU? i am blessed to have a hub who is a support system for me...at home....but the support comes from me to myself... i actually am supporting myself...to do better...eat better, exercise and believe in myself enough to give a crap.. i do not make excuses..i own it.. when i first started the forum, i was soooo worried people would not like me...and that was up until recently also..and now its like who cares..... who i am is who i am..i am direct..i am up front and i dont like to read BS.....either do it....do it right or shut up already.. dont eat a entire pizza and then post did i hurt the band and did i do wrong?? YOU know as well as i do, what is (better food choices) for you.. do not go off the doctor advised path and be surprised later when (shock/horror) sits in if the scale goes back up or an issue arises... i believe we are all given directions/suggestions on how to use the band properly....i was giving hand outs...i read alot on line.....this is major surgery after all...and i was scared to f**king death... the dr i had pulled no punches.....he said WLS would help me......but unless i started to exercise...eat better it would not work in the long run...he stressed patient compliance is a huge part of the program. i can sit here and list who in my past, what has hurt me and i can go on and on and on and then so on but right here/right now, it is me making that choice to make myself well... overeating in private (so no one would see) still got me super morbid obese...i stopped supporting myself..i stopped caring....i had to get to that point where enough was enough.....are you there yet? this is a process....i read post after post of those who stop trying after surgery because they had wls and bam, its gonna fix it all......and then they are saddened and writing what am i doing wrong.....how about ask yourself what are you doing right? support begins with the person looking back at yourself in the mirror....support YOURSELF that is truly all you need. although other people's support helps/matters

I very rarely eat meat. If I choose to eat meat, it has to be organic, and grass fed. I obtain my most protein from green vegetables. I can eat a plate full of raw leafy veggies, but if I eat a piece of meat, I am full and I can not get enough vital nutrients my body needs from green vegetables. I do not recommend this for everyone, but it works for me. My blood/lab stats show this is the right way for me. Mmmmmm, just reading the ingredients of the Moo Goo Gai Pan is making my mouth water!!! Sounds like a dinner date, or some good take out food for today for me and hubby.

We have Anthem BC/BS here at work, and my friend just got approved because her BMI was at least 40. She had no other problems. However, I have to be a self-pay because mine was not 40, ;-( Close, but no cigar! I feel like it would be worth your $85.00 to go and find out. Chances are good you will be approved.

What to do????? I want to make an appointment with the surgeon for a consult which is out of pocket..$85.00-ok I can handle that. The problem is, my insurance co- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Sheild will not tell me what is required to be approved. Without their coverage I can not have this done. I hate to waste the time and money if I don't qualify to begin with. Don't I have the right to know ahead of time if I have a chance of being covered? Anyone else run into this problem??

I have BC/BS NJ PLUS which is the state employee plan, if any plan would deny it I would think the government one would and they approved me with NO problems. In fact it only took about 1 week to get approval. I had a BMI of 51 at surgery time and had no co-morbidities. Plus I didn't have any out of pocket other than a $10 co-pay. If you have a referral from your Primary Care Doctor the consultation I would think should be covered as well. Good luck

So im just waking up from my egd and there is a lady next to.me getting the same thing for pre op she has lap band and regrets it and really wants the sleeve makes me thankful for my doctor talking me out of lap band i imo there are risks with everything but this lady is having major issues and her insurance may not approve the sleeve bc she's already had lap band im sad for her bc she desperately wants to change it!!

Hello I am fairly new to this forum. I joined about about three weeks ago in search of more information about the VSG and about Dr. Aceves and I have found that and much more. The people on here are very supportive of one another and provide great incite on the vsg experience. Let me tell you a little bit about me. Im a 23 yo nurse that resides in florida. I have been overweight since elementary school. Throughout my whole life I allowed my weight to hinder me in so many aspects of my life. When I eventually went off to college, the situation only got worse. I ate junk food on a regular basis and was very sedentary, with the exception of work and school. I stayed home all day. I went from 280lbs to 365lbs within the span of two years. I was finally fed up with my self and my self esteem took a dive too. My epiphany moment happened when I was looking through my camera and I realized that there were barely any pictures of me on there and the ones that were there I was disgusted with. So finallly I decided to do something about it. In January of 2008, I started my weight loss journey. I changed my eating habits and started to excercise. Surprisingly I lost 120lb through diet and exercise alone that year. But this last year has been much different. I can lose weight but I have a hard time keeping it off and staying motivated. My main problem is once I start eating, I can't stop until Im full. Over the past year I have losed and gained the same 10 pounds. And I am tired of it. 233 pounds has been my lowest weight and I am currently 265lbs. I have come to far to come back to 365 lbs. Im ready for a change so I have scheduled my surgery with Dr. Aceves for August 1st.

I am trying to keep my carbs under 40 a day but that leaves me with no Fiber. Anyone subtracting fiber from carbs to get net carbs instead? I can't even eat a Quest bar bc it takes up all my carbs... But it's so much fiber. Nut isn't available right now so I'll just take the group consensus on this! Thoughts? Thanks

Impressive!! But can I urge caution without being a wet blanket? I did the same thing pre op...but I froze them in ice cube trays in One ounce portions and then moved to ziplock bags. Now almost 8 months later I still have most of those cubes in my freezer bc my tastes changes so much. Plus I froze WAY more than I could eat during my purée phase even if my tastes didn't change. So just don't get too far ahead of yourself! And don't spend too much $$ stockpiling. A little bit is plenty, you won't be feeling too bad for too long, especially by the time you are at purées!

Does your program require a pre-op diet. I was 414 when I applied and 412 DOS. I didn't have a pre-op diet of any kind. I have Keystone 65 (a BC/BS in Philadelphia). Post op wasn't hard because at first your aren't hungry and my program didn't keep us on any stage too long. It was challenging, but not hard. Lose skin depends on genetics, age, race and exercise. So far I don't seem to have any but I think I may end up with some on my thighs. I work out 4 -6 days a week and wear compression yoga pants. I also keep my skin hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and moisturizing well. I figure once I hit goal, I'll look at things and decide if I need plastic or not. In the meantime I am doing as much as I can to not need it, but there are no guarantees.

I don't see where you can find what you want to ask bc there are a million posts with a million answers. So why not make a new one that is subjected to yourself! Basically don't be snotty just bc you see a repeat and I think if you do then your in the wrong tab! Bc I look at this daily and I don't see repeats by different people usually it's the same post from days ago bc someone new posted on it... Also drinking and smoking should always be a no it's not good for y'all in the long run Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello fellow canadian! I know how you feel! I am patiently waiting for my scope now(which takes forever here in BC) and am hoping to have the surgery in september Good luck with your journey!

I'm wondering if anyone else is having to complete the following checklist from their PCM with Tricare Prime? I'm actually Tricare overseas Prime Remote. I just spent the entire AM on the phone trying to explain that this is not the requirements per the Tricare Manual Chapter 4 Section 13.2. After I couldn't get a clear explanation on how they came up with this checklist through International SOS (3rd party used by Tricare Prime overseas for referrals) I spoke with the regional Tricare office in Germany. I was informed they came up with this checklist so "not just anyone" could get the surgery. I was then informed I could just go to the PCM and have them submit a letter addressing my Hx of attempts, comorbid Dx and etc. But was informed approval was on a case by case basis and if denied could appeal. (Duh Rolling eyes) So aggravated that the requirements are not the same across the board for Tricare Prime. I'm 5'1 and approx 198lbs with sleep apnea. I'm aware that b/c I'm not 100lbs overweight according to Metlife charts I will be denied although my BMI is and has been above 35 with the comorbidity for >5 years. I have tried every diet known to man as I'm sure you all did too. I loose the weight but it never stays off. We have been overseas now for 6 years but I don't have the documentation they are requesting in my medical record b/c we are remote (not at a MTF) and these diets are not covered by Tricare therefore paid for out of pocket. I also recently read in the Fed Recorder that the requirements will change from the Metlife Chart to BMI on 3-16-2011. Anyone else aware of this and have spoken with Tricare in regards to the change. Right now I'm afraid that I've stirred the pot too much and will be denied just for demanding where they came up with this checklist. If anyone has a better contact through Tricare I'd love the name and number. Any advice is appreciated. Wish me luck. I plan on seeing a PCM on the 16th of March and keeping my fingers crossed. Step 1: Patient Review (All items must be checked by the PCM and applicable to the patient) Documented morbid obesity for 5 years. Meets definition; body weight is 100 pounds over ideal weight for height and bone structure, according to the most current Metropolitan Life Table, and such weight is in association with severe medical conditions known to have higher mortality rates in association with morbid obesity; or, the body weight is 200% or more of ideal weight for height and bone structure. List any co-morbid conditions: ________________________________________________________________________________ DEROS date at least 12 months from the anticipated surgical date. Date of DEROS: _____________ Participation in a documented nutrition/exercise program for a cumulative total of 6 months with documented ability to lose 10- 15 lbs within the last two years. (Patient‘s inability to comply with a diet and exercise regimen prior to surgery indicates poor compliance and an increased risk of adverse outcomes) Comprehensive evaluation and review of significant medical or psychiatric history by their Primary Care Manager (PCM), surgeon or mental health professional/counselor indicating good candidacy, readiness for bariatric surgery, and confirmation of positive family support system. Education regarding the need for lifelong follow up. The patient has been advised that TRICARE policy does not cover breast lifts, thigh and arm reduction, and that a panniculectomy must be deemed medically necessary to be covered by TRICARE. Step 2: Post-operative Management Primary Care Manager must acknowledge capability to provide appropriate post operative medical management to include: (all items must be checked in order to be considered for approval): Dietary Counseling Mental Health assessment or referral Laboratory assessment plan for possible nutritional deficiency _________________________________ __________________________

Before my surgery, I always wondered what if would feel like to lose 100 lbs or more. It was such a surreal thought, one I couldnt fathom even in my wildest dreams. It seemed like a dream that would just stay that way - a dream - my very own fantasy. I struggled to get to my 100 lb loss. My weight loss was going great when I reached my 75 lbs mark, then it all went backward. This was my 5 months post surgery. This is when my appetite really kicked back in and I always knew I could eat more than your average Sleevester. I had a goal to reach 100 lbs by Thanksgiving - well that didnt work, even tho I had plenty of time to do it in...so then I moved the goal to Christmas...still didnt make it. I think I finally reached it in Jan of 2009. So, now its been 13 months since my surgery and Ive lost 111 lbs....in one way, Im totally thrilled with that, but on the other hand, Im really angry that I havent lost more...why am I angry, bc Ive done it to myself by continuing to eat the wrong things which has made me go up and down in weight.. One good thing Ive realized is that I do know how to maintain...which is not what I want to yet...but at least I know how to do it.. For the past few weeks, Ive steadily lost about a lb a week, sometimes more, sometimes less...but on average, about a lb/week. Im not giving up. Im not even halfway to my goal. As my ticker indicates, I have 137 lbs to go to reach my goal of 150 lbs. Even at that, I wont be "skinny" but I will feel like a million bux!