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style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! I hope you’re having a wonderful summer and making good progress towards your weight loss and health goals! As our country and the world have been hit in recent weeks by devastating news of senseless deaths, it can be hard to stay focused on the “little things” in life – like health and weight loss. But you can do your best by staying strong and dedicating yourself with even more commitment to achieving your goals. Hopefully this newsletter can help a little; here’s what you’ll find. Got a Buddy? Your Key to Better Weight Loss Getting More from BariatricPal Let The BariatricPal Store Make Weight Loss Easier After you go through the newsletter, we hope you will login to the BariatricPal forums to catch up on all the discussions. Thanks for all of your support, and Happy Independence Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Got a Buddy? Your Key to Better Weight Loss A weight loss surgery buddy can do wonders for your weight loss. You can motivate each other to stick to the diet, to exercise, and to stay strong in the face of the criticism and judgement that often comes with weight loss surgery. Face to Face Friendship Someone you see regularly can help hold you accountable with your WLS diet, and you can do the same for them. It doesn’t need to be a WLS patient if you can find someone else who’s losing weight and just wants the same things you do: weight loss and a healthier life. Some good possibilities are a work colleague or a friend who is ready to commit to weight loss and healthy living. Working Out Together A workout buddy can be just what you need if you’re not always eager to get out the door for your workout. It’s a lot harder to shut off your alarm clock and go back to sleep if you know you have a friend waiting for you at 5:00 a.m. It can be a buddy for gym workouts, walks in the neighborhood, or any other workout you want to do. Find an Online Buddy A virtual friend can be just as good for weight loss as an in-person friend. Where can you find a friend? Logon to BariatricPal, of course! Be sure to introduce yourself if you haven’t already, and let everyone know that you’re looking for a weight loss surgery buddy. You may want someone with a surgery date near yours, or maybe you’re looking for a WLS veteran. Just see who responds to your post! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. unjury and Opurity BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Getting More from BariatricPal BariatricPal is here for you to help you through your WLS journey. From our supportive and informative forums to our online store with bariatric food, Snacks, and supplements, we’re doing what we can to help you reach your weight loss and health goals. Better Boarding: Please Promote a Courteous Environment! BariatricPal is unique because of our friendly and supportive environment. We believe that everyone has the right to post their questions, doubts, and opinions without fear of being ridiculed or put down. Recently, a few members have been violating our zero-tolerance policy for rudeness. This must stop, and you can help make sure it does. First, you can help by reporting any posts that violate our Forum Rules. You can report anonymously, so there is no fear of retribution. You can also help promote an encouraging environment by making sure you are a positive influence. Answer other posters with respect. If you are unable to respond respectfully to a poster, please just refrain from answering. Thanks to the vast majority of you who make sure to maintain a positive environment on the forums! Saving Money at The BariatricPal Store What’s better than getting great-tasting bariatric foods and Vitamins delivered to your door? How about knowing you’re getting the best price on them? The BariatricPal Store guarantees the lowest prices anywhere online with our price matching program. To save even more, we have a special offer for new customers, too! Save 15% on your first order just by using coupon code ILUVBP16 at checkout! Let The BariatricPal Store Make Weight Loss Easier Staying strong on the weight loss surgery diet is tough, but it’s a lot easier when you have the bariatric foods you need on hand. When your low-calorie, high-protein drinks and foods are at your fingertips, you’re more likely to get the filling protein you need without diving desperately for junk food. And when your vitamins are formulated for your needs and they’re easy to take, you’re more likely to stay nourished as you lose weight. The BariatricPal Store has the weight loss surgery essentials that can make your job easier. Here are a few of our most popular products this summer. Summer Refreshment: Protein Fruit Drinks On a hot summer’s day, a fruit smoothie can sound awfully tempting. Don’t do it – at least, not from a smoothie shop! You can wind up with close to 1,000 calories and over 100 grams of sugar. BariatricPal fruit smoothies are the smarter choice to satisfy that sweet tooth and refresh yourself. They have the fruit flavors you love, such as pineapple, mango, strawberry, and lemon raspberry iced tea, but without the sugar and calories of regular smoothies. Each low-carb serving has about 10 to 15 grams of protein and 80 to 100 calories. Hottest Items – Vitamin Patches Our vitamin patches are flying off the shelves, and for good reason. You don’t have to swallow pills when you have a convenient topical patch to get your vitamins and minerals. Just wear each patch for 8 hours a day to get the nutrients you need. Pick the individual patches you want, or take a look at our Patch Packs for Lap-Band, Gastric Sleeve, and Gastric Bypass patients. Don’t forget to browse through our Patch Packs Plus section to pick up extra nutrients for specific benefits. Snacks for a Day Trip Heading off to the beach? Planning a weekend getaway? Pack a few high-protein snacks so you know you’re set. Protein bars are a great go-to, since they’re convenient and come in all kinds of great-tasting flavors including chocolate, Peanut Butter, caramel, and lemon. Bars aren’t your only choices, though. You can try pretzels, chips, and even a box of cereal! These may not sound like good candidates for your WLS diet, but they are! They’re all packed with protein, low in carbs, and in single serving packs to make portion control a no brainer on the road. Thanks for reading the newsletter and for your continued support of BariatricPal. Enjoy your summer, and know that you’re always welcome at BariatricPal to share your questions, advice, encouragement, and concerns about weight loss surgery! · Unsubscribe from all BariatricPal E-Mail.

I have been on the pre-op diet for 3 weeks and only lost 10 lbs is this normal or should I be losing more? My advocate told me I needed to lose 10 lbs prior surgery or the Dr. want do the surgery and I have done that but I was hoping for more. I am on the border and hoping I can go down more and not up, which would delay my surgery.

I did the pre-op diet but compared to others mine was pretty easy...but not easy for me!! 3 shakes per day, with 2 lean/healthy meals per day. A lot of restrictions and stuff, but I lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks. My friends/family that did not approve of the surgery were so quick to say see - if you just change your diet you will lose weight without the surgery. But the pre-op diet and post-op diet are not diets that you can live by...it's preparation/healing. Because trust if I could do this on my own, I wouldn't have spend $15K of my own money to have the surgery! If anything the pre-op diet encouraged me and I was able to see that I have the power to do anything I want...and the surgery is helping me get to where I want and need to be. So stay positive and good luck!!!

I finally made it under 200!! It's been 10 years since I've seen a 1 in the front of my weight. Never thought I would be there again. So thankful I decided to go through the surgery. My HW was 247.4 I lost 10 before surgery which was on 1/31/17. So I am currently down a total of 48lbs!!

I am almost 4 years out and I lost my weight very fast!! I lost 132#'s in 6 months. Because I had stricturres and needed 5 endoscopes with 4 dialations with a ballon. It started right after my RNY, I got to where I couldn't even hold down water. This started in Nov of 2013 with my last endo dialation on Jan of 2015. Strictures are like scar tissue that closes your opening so nothing gets in or it takes a long time to go down. It felt like the food or water would sit on the top of my pouch and then went down slowly. Only to make me vomit it all back up. So I developed a Food Adversion, because I was so afraid to eat. I lived on Oatmeal, Baby Bell cheese and Cheeto's!! Which my Dr knew about the whole time. I was told that if I had to eat whatever it took to nourish my body. But up side of this is I am great!! I have finally been able to branch out at what I can eat beleive me. LOL Not one Counselor knew what to do. The one I went here in my town didn't have a clue of what to do with me. Finally, I called my Surgeon who set me up with a Bariatric Counselor. But I didn't like her anwsers. She wanted me to eat every 1/2 hour that I was awake. She had me buy BOOST High Calorie junk!! I was so frustrated!! I told my hubby that I just traded one eating disorder for another. Now for the good stuff here are my stats: HW 249 (this time I had lost down from 285's) SW 232 LW 117 CW 125'#. So I have maintained my 124# loss for 3 and 1/2 years. I really don't know if my quick weight was a probem with my skin issues or if it is my age because I had lost 135#'s during one of my ups and down dieting. I didn't have any skin issue then but I was 52 and very very sick at that time. I have had a Panni done in Sept of 2015. They removed 10 plus pounds off my lower stomach. Now thats another story. LOL Sorry that I wrote a book. I just have lots to say!! You should meet me in real life. My hubby threatened to buy a Chastity belt for my mouth. LOL When we were first married. LOL Those memories just pop up sometimes. Any how have a great Sunday. Congraulations on your journey. Look forward t following it.

I started mushy foods on 10/21 .. I could only take a few spoonfuls and I was done... now I can get the full 4oz in but it takes me longer than 30 mins. Does that mean my tummy is stretched out a bit? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thank you and are very sorry for the troubles u are having . I work with the state of maryland so I dont think the employer will be the problem . I didn't use them to have my lap band put on . I have been going to a diet doctor for 2 years now never lost over 10 lbs and I also have my proof of my gym memember ship so I am hoping that will help and my bmi is 44 so I hope it works in my favor

Hey I've started a LBT group so that we can all easily keep in touch while we go on this crazy ride together. [/b] http://www.lapbandtalk.com/groups/november-2010-bandsters.html[/s] Join up and come on in! Good Luck to everyone who had or is having their surgery this month. We are brave - doing it all during the holiday season. Have a great day EDIT. With the site upgrade - they've deleted the group. Here's our best chance. Please add to your favorites to keep in touch http://www.lapbandtalk.com/forum/2468-november-10-bandsters/

I make "breakfast cookies" that are a mix of oatmeal, almond butter, egg, banana and dried fruit that work well for me before a run. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and I notice a huge difference if I don't eat a balance of carbs/fats/protein before I run. This is the basic recipe I follow, although I change it a lot: http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/06/18/breakfast-cookies/ I sub 1/2 the almond butter for 1 egg. I use a homemade date/dried fig puree (soak them over night then puree) for the apple butter and most of the maple syrup (I still use 2 tbls of real maple sryup). We like them with dried wild blueberries, flax and hemp hearts. I also make them WAY smaller then the recipe calls for. I think it says it makes 10, and I usually get about 20.

I had that thought run through my head about a week before surgery. (Although I was 43, no kids, etc.) As I'm sure others have mentioned, look at the long term health benefits of getting to a healthy weight. Right NOW you don't have health issues, but what about in 5-10 years? What if you don't lose the baby weight and gain more? My only regret with the surgery is that I didn't have it sooner.

My surgeon requires 10 days on south beach diet. Wouldn't hurt to do something.

So I had my surgery last Wednesday (7/10/18). I've been able to keep everything down and I'm not nauseous but when ever I drink just the littlest bit of something the top of my stomach hurts and it feels stuck in my chest. Does anybody else have this problemand if so do you have solutions? I'm going to the doctors Thursday but my doctor doesn't have the best bed side manners so I thought I might just check here first. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

To come back to topic I think these 60% EWL after 5 years or so are pretty much common after some decades of WLS. I don't know how many people really get to a normal or near-normal weight and maintain it after 10 years or so. I don't know many people IRL who had WLS. One had lap band as well and gained it all back. Another one got to a normal weight and gained part of it back. Another one got lap band and revision to bypass and after looking at a picture of her a few months ago she gained at least most of it back. About the people on the boards who vanish - who knows? After all I vanished from the boards for years and years before a revision got me back to one. When it comes to weight and regain and the like I think too many people are asking the wrong question. Usually the question is: "What are these people doing to get to a and maintain a normal weight?" I personally think the question should be: "What enables these people to do the necessary things to get to a and maintain a normal weight?"

I'm in month 5 of my 6 month "waiting period" before my surgeon submits my paperwork to insurance. I'm hopeful to have RNYGB in early 2019 if all goes well. I've heard that success is considered losing 50% of your excess weight. However, I am about 120 lbs overweight and would really like to lose 100 lbs or more. Am I dreaming? Or is that attainable? I am 5' 3" and weigh about 233. I exercise daily for a minimum of 30 minutes and have every intention of sticking with the exercise, water, and nutrition plan. I just feel like I will be disappointed to only lose 60 lbs! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

The surgery went great I was told. When I woke after surgery there was not too much pain but I was highly nauseous and could not wake up. This has been going on all day so I have only been out of bed twice to use the restroom. It's 10 pm now and I am waking longer and the nausea has subsided some. No eat or drink till the morning though. Which is fine because I am not hungry anyway. Will keep you all posted!

I used to suffer from sinus and upper respiratory problems *constantly*, as did my youngest son. Then, about 15 years ago, I discovered that eucalyptus essential oil kills airborn bacteria. So I bought one of those little potpourri crocks...looks like a crockpot but only holds about 1 cup of Water. I put half a cup of water in it and about 10 drops of eucalyptus oil and the water warms up just enough to give off the aroma but not enough to burn off the oil quickly. I also put some straight oil into a mister bottle (you can get them in the hair care aisle at the supermarket) and when I change the bedsheets, I mist the mattress pad and the pillows. I do this in the morning so by night it just smells fresh. The purpose is to kill dust mites (yep it does that too) but the bonus is that the smell will go through the whole house and kill airborne bacteria. I'll put about 1 Tbs in the rinse water when I wash the sheets to do the same thing (kill dust mites). I can't remember the last time anyone in our home had a sinus or respiratory problem. Oh, and my son and I are both asthmatics and don't have a problem with the aroma from the oil. Since you already have a sinus infection, you might try putting a few drops of the oil in a bowl of warm water (warm enough to give off steam (but don't boil the water!), put a towel over your head and the bowl and breathe in the vapors through your nose...assuming you can. Most places charge an arm and a leg for this stuff, but you can get a 16 oz bottle at Rainbowmeadow.com for about $14. Last time I priced this at a health food store, they wanted $8 for a little 1/2 oz bottle.

I'm 10 weeks out and have been experiencing this for 2-3 weeks now. The only thing I enjoy consuming is coffee. Getting my Water and Protein in is difficult and I rarely come close to my goals.

I'm about 10 weeks out, and I'm still eating lots of greek yogurt, chicken breast, and Protein bars, and a daily Protein shake. I have eaten nuts a few times but they don't seem to sit well with me. I've also tried salads, and that was a terrible mistake. I'm SO tired of the SAME things every day. I do not like any kind of fish/seafood, so chicken it is, I guess. Even though I can eat more, I'm still not getting in the required amount of protein. I'm seriously struggling and need any advice or suggestions you may have!

I'm almost 10 weeks post op. At about 4 weeks i started going to the gym 1-2 times a week. Then I incresed it to 3 days a week by 6 weeks. By week 8 I was up to 4 days a week and last week I worked out 6 days. I come in and stretch for about 5-10 min I start with an ab machine and do about 3 sets of 10. then I do 30 min of cardio. Treadmill, elliptical, bike, arc whatever I choose. I may do one machine for 30min or 2 for 15 min. Then I do machines. I rotate and mix and match body parts like ab day or abs and arms or glutes etc. I may do 3 sets of 15 on a weight that i can handle with effort. Every since I've been doing that (increasing my workouts ) I've noticed steady movement on the scale. Some days i just do stretching and 30 min cardio. Some days I just do weights. I'm starting to really get into it and I have to remind myself not to overdo it. Sent from my SM-G900P using the BariatricPal App

I did both. I would do a cardio warm up for 10 minutes before my aerobic drumming class then I'd do 20-30 minutes of weights after. I need to get back to doing that. I lost 40# in 6 months pre-surgery but the gym membership is pretty steep. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Just an FYI... I see lots of posts on here about eating popcorn. DON"T DO IT!!! I ate it once about 6 months post surgery with no problems. 2nd time round though... Popcorn 1: Heather 0. I'm at 2 cc's in a 10 cc band and can't swallow my own saliva. I had a barium swallow x ray today that shows the band has not slipped and there is no dilation of the pouch. It also showed, however, that i'm not getting much of anything through the band. I'm having the last two cc's removed Monday and have been put back on a liquids only diet. Good news is the weight is dropping quickly, bad news is, I can't sustain life like this very long. May even have to have an IV put in tonight to get me through the weekend. Just don't do it! Please.

So you only want to lose 10 to 25 pounds?

I'm three days away from per op diet. I just had all my approvals from insurance thur financing. Everything is ago. One more thing 10 day blood work. Still haven't talk to NUT yet or Surgeon. However, I'll be going under the HH plan.

i meant fill! i physically couldnot eat more than that. (i could but i am working on not getting stuffed just satisfied. PLUS i dont want to PB!) at 3/4 cup i am satisfied! i was thinking i wanted 1/2 cup restriction. TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT!!!! i am pretty satisfied with where i am right now! i had the 'bad fill' 11-19 it wasnt bad the syrenge popped out and they lost some of the saline leaving me with 2.8 instead of 3.4. i have since had 2 fills and it was determined i have no leak just the freaky fill. i now have 3.6 and am FINALLY THERE!!!! you could do connect the dots where my port is though! (i WISH my dr would do fills under fluoro)