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My, my! It's getting so real for me now! A week from tomorrow will be the beginning of my liquid diet! Although I seem to be getting some early practice in due to this stupid tooth! AGH. I'm in the middle of a root canal -- I started to tell the dentist just to pull it, but I didn't want a gaping hole in my mouth weeks before the big surgery. So I have to put up with the pain until my dentist finishes. I have to see him 3 more times in 2 weeks until he can cap it. Last week, I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and the freezer; next weekend I plan to remove all food from the refrig except for what I can have during the liquid phase. I also have to get my place in order before my sis gets here. I had wanted the surgery in January, but I believe in the divine order of things. Things got held up until my primary doctor returned from vacay because the Bari center didn't accept her clearance statement, so she had to redo it. By the time the Bari center was able to catch up with me (late January), I decided to wait until March until my sis could get here and I wasn't trying to have surgery during the retrograde. As it turns out, the surgery will be 2 days before my birthday, as divinely ordered (at least in my mind anyway); it will be a renewal, a reset, a reorder to my life. Nevermind my babbling... I plan to use this thread as my public journey all the way.

I am still debating on the water bottle vs hydration pack. They say the hydration pack is inconvenient to refill along the way since you have to remove items from your pack to get to it. It seems most people take a smart water disposable water bottle and refill it, because the disposable water bottles are so light and easy to replace if you want a new clean one. A few take their own water bottle from home. Last time I did that, the water bottle weighted too much ditched it for disposable water bottles. My current pack that I THINK I am going to take has an external hydration pack pocket, so that makes it easier to access to refill. It seems like most people carry no more than 1L at a time, although I might want more for those long stretches without water source. I might carry a 1.5L hydration pack... or I might carry 1-2 smart water bottles and clip them to the front straps of my pack for easy access. Another option is one big smart water bottle with a hydration hose. Amazon has some for water bottles. I do NOT want to have to reach into my backpack pocket to get to the water bottle. They are usually easy to get out... but often need assistance or to remove the pack to put them away. Too much hassle. And the more I think about it, I think I might be able to physically drink the most water if I do have the hydration pack with hose. Funny, such a little decision takes a lot of thought! My bariatric multi is one big vitamin with everything in it including the Iron. It also has calcium, but I am supposed to also take 2 calcium nitrate chews daily at times that I do not take the multi. I just got my lab work back. Everything is pretty normal nutrition wise, and I am already not consistent with taking my vitamins. I take my bariatric at least 50% of the time. My nutritionist is great and had a lot of great tips that would be extremely helpful for most bariatric patients turned athletes/outdoor enthusiasts... but she obviously isn't familiar with a thru hike. Her suggestion was to bring ALL of my supplements from home with me, I had to explain.... I will be carrying EVERYTHING on my back, all day, every day, for 7 weeks (The hike and travel afterwards). I considered shipping from home to a mid-point location, but I decided against that for logistical reasons. Via Francegina is on my bucket list, assuming I like the Camino as much as I think I will! There is also a system of trails at the top of the Alps where you hike lodging to lodging... once I am in good physical shape and my heart muscle is stronger, that is on my bucket list too! I also want to do the Appalachian Trail, but can only hike up to 7 weeks at a time, so that would take me several summers to complete. And I am intimidated by having to carry my tent/food in my pack. I think it will be much harder to support my healthy diet when I need to carry so much crap food that doesn't go bad and will be enough calories to support a wilderness thru hike.

The very first time I felt the full impact of my weight loss was when I began to have A LOT more energy for tasks and activities I had long dropped because of fatigue. Walking long distances became pleasurable again and I encouraged others (mostly my thin & lazy teen kids) to join me. I believe it was around 190lbs (down ~60lbs) Next was when my super attractive Surgical PA said he wasn't worried about me or my progress, I was at the proper weight for my frame and I looked *amazing*. I could tell he really meant it by the way he gushed over my results. That was around 160lbs (down 90lbs) Another time, I was waiting in my surgeon's office about to discuss revision (from VSG to RNY to solve a few complications) and a prospective patient kept staring. Hard. He eventually asked me if i was waiting with/for someone and I told him no just my surgeon. I thought he was trying to *pick me up* but in fact he was confused that I needed to see a surgeon & was a WLS patient because i didn't look like it. (I've heard these types of comments several times) Two final events sealed the deal for me: My Bariatric surgeon and I decided revision to RNY was the best course of action for me but he DID NOT want me to lose anymore weight. He was adamant that I was at the right size and was already small enough at 155lbs & 5'3". (The revision went well and I'm maintaining in the 150s as promised.) Finally, I had Plastic surgery. At the Preop workup, I was discussing my plan with the surgeon. I wanted a Mommy Makeover- breast augmentation, Tummy Tuck and Brazilian Butt Lift. I wanted lipo on my back to transfer fat to my buttocks. He informed me that there wasn't much fat to lipo and it was excess skin that needed to be removed (instead I would need skin removal - a back lift and *maybe* after we could lipo my inner thighs for fat grafting.) He manually lifted the skin to prove it. I was shocked because I thought for certain it was excess fat but apparently I have thicker skin in certain areas. ****************************************** I took the long way round just to say that there were many incremental (progress) points that help me view myself differently/adequately and not just one defining Aha! moment. For sure outside validation played it's role and luckily I became receptive to complements instead of misanthropic because of society's new level of interaction with me (nicer, more welcoming) However, I'm unsure if I would have ever believed anyone's comments if I didn't begin to feel & see the change on my own first. Being kind, loving and accepting myself at every single stage of weight loss, instead of just at goal, really helped me. Good Luck ❤

If you have an iPhone there’s an app if you go to the Apple store and type in bariatric different apps will pull up and one of them is a bariatric pantry basically and you can buy all of your bariatric needs from there. That’s where I’ve been getting all my protein powder including my plain protein. Walmart also sells a really good plant-based protein that is non-flavored

Curious on what information your husband’s family used to formulate their group “assumption” of WLS being dangerous and a waste of time/money; are members of his family in the medical profession? Print this and hand it out to his family at the event your attending tomorrow: https://asmbs.org/resources/studies-weigh-in-on-safety-and-effectiveness-of-newer-bariatric-and-metabolic-surgery-procedure

Yes, I’ve hiked both the Great Divide Trail and the West Coast Trail in Canada, the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, and the Via Francigena in France and Italy. Of course, I had a full-size stomach on those journeys. Do you plan on carrying water bottles, or will you be using a hydration pack? Water isn’t light, so I’m still trying to determine how much I’ll need to carry between refills before buying a pack specifically for this hike. I am fairly athletic and have a pack that I currently use on long cycling trips, but at 2 litres it might be too heavy (4.4lbs) for me to carry on foot. I use a bariatric-specific multi-vitamin that is complete including iron, so will only need to carry 35 of those in addition to 70 calcium citrate mini-tabs purchased specifically for this trip (800 mg of calcium citrate plus 800 IU of vitamin D3 per tab, brand is “Rainbow Light”). I see a WLS nutritionist who is also an expert in bariathlete nutrition, and as I move closer to the departure date, I’ll be asking her for Camino-specific advice. I would be happy to post her suggestions here, though keep in mind they will be specific to plant-based whole foods eaters.

I was told by my bariatric practitioner that UNTOASTED bread an get gummy, ball up in your pouch, and cause trouble. Toasting the bread makes it more crumbly thus making it easier to make it’s journey through the narrow passage. I was allowed 1/2 slice of toast when I transitioned to a general diet, about 7 weeks post-op.

I went to a bariatric surgeon who insisted that I go on a high protein, low carb, low fat diet. It sounds helpful, but realistically, I'm a pescetarian who relies on fish, beans, nuts, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cottage cheese for my protein. When I told him I eat fish, he basically said that's good and gave me the impression that I'd have to rely on fish for my protein needs. I would get sick of fish if having to eat it two or three times a day. And he said no protein shakes or any food that's squishy or liquidy. That rules out protein shakes, yogurt, and cottage cheese. And beans are ruled out because they contain carbohydrates. Nuts are ruled out because they're high in fat. I was very discouraged after talking to him. How have you changed your eating habits? Which eating plan do you follow now?

I thought I wanted gastric sleeve for WLS. My main reason was my concern about malabsorption at my age. I have multiple co-morbidities associated with my obesity. Now I am considering gastric bypass instead. Of course, I will make final decision with my surgeon. "Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Versus Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy to Treat Morbid Obesity-Related Comorbidities: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26661105 "a total of 18,455 patients, enrolled in 62 recent studies, were included in this meta-analysis. Patients receiving LRYGB had a significantly higher percentage of excess weight loss and better resolution of hypertension, dyslipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and arthritis compared with those receiving LSG. LRYGB and LSG showed similar effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus and sleep apnea." Found a journal article "Biological effects of bariatric surgery on obesity-related comorbidities" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3569476/ DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE "A landmark paper by Pories and colleagues demonstrated that of 141 patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), all but 2 became euglycemic within 10 days after RYGB. Longer follow-up demonstrated that over 8 years, 83% of patients with preoperative T2DM and 99% of those with IGT were able to maintain normal levels of plasma glucose, HgA1C and insulin." OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA "Most patients (62%) had residual disease. In fact, only 25% of patients in the 6 studies that reported individual patient data (representing 23% of all patients in the meta-analysis) were able to reach an AHI consistent with OSA resolution ( DYSLIPIDEMIA Hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly improved across all surgical procedures at 2 year follow-up. The percentage of patients whose conditions improved was typically 70% or higher, with maximum improvements in hyperlipidemia in the BPD-DS (91%) and RYGB groups (96.9%). HYPERTENSION "The percentages of patients in the total population whose hypertension resolved or improved were 61.7% and 78.5%, respectively." Only those who did not regain weight maintained lower blood pressure after two years. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

spend a lot of time on this and/or other bariatric sites to learn as much as you can. I hung out on these sites for a few months beforehand and felt really prepared when I finally went in for surgery. as for what to take to the hospital, not much. You'll be in a hospital gown and those non-slip socks, and you'll be sleeping a lot of the time. Maybe just your phone and something to read. And wear baggy clothes - they'll be easier to get on and off and to go home in. pain is all across the board. Some of us have none at all, some have a lot. But I've been hanging out on these boards for over five years, and I would say most of us have little to no pain with this surgery.

So the last couple weeks have been crazy.... i had my consult appointment which was about 2 hours and it went quite well with only one hiccup. There was some discrepancy between what the insurance told the surgery center and what I was told by the insurance. I called the insurance 4 different times and got one person twice and I was assured the information I was given was correct. So here goes, the insurance told the doctors office that I needed 4 months of nutrition appointment and follow ups. The insurance told me only one month. So, my nurse who is the bariatric “Navigator” said after my second appointment which is on March 11, with the nutritionist she will submit the Pre-Authorization form the insurance sent me and if they sign off on it we are good to go. I had a cardiologist appointment last week also and was scheduled for a echo stress test which I had yesterday and passed easily. 😃👍🏼. Saw the Cardiologist right after and he gave me the green light for surgery. I have my Psychology appointment at 1:30 today. I will report back in when I have more information. Nina

@Doodle210 if you consider Mexico, you might want to add Dr. Illan to your research. Dr. Selim Jalil Illan has been assigned as a Master Surgeon and Surgeon of Excellence. This means that he achieved both Mexican and US standards of quality, safety and care for his patients. He is also a fellow in the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) Feel free to contact me for more information michelle@hospitalbc.com 619-202-4405. https://drjalil.com/ https://hospitalbc.com/

You've identified a critical issue and reached out, but I'm sorry to say that unfortunately this is not a venue that can provide the knowledgeable, meaningful, consequential long-term advice and support that you may well need. If you read bariatric boards and blogs, you'll quickly realize that the keys to overcoming disordered eating and successfully losing and maintaining over the long term are committing to changing behaviours and developing new emotional coping strategies. I'm not talking about knitting and calligraphy. If you have an eating disorder, you won't be able to do this without professional help. Seeing a therapist regularly over the long term, reaching out to whatever mental health support programs you may have available, reading self-help and addiction books, actively engaging with self-help workbooks each day, and joining a professional online addiction food recovery program are all options that will likely need to be used in combination. If you put the time and effort into getting help to address your inner demons and learn how to make different choices, then you will have a successful outcome. If you are not able to do this, then you likely will not. Surgery only takes an hour, but for some it takes a lifetime of mental health support to achieve and maintain weight loss. Sometimes it may take hundreds of hours of introspection, therapy, and mental health support to be able to change the behaviours that lead to obesity. Surgery will help you lose weight, but it doesn't keep you from gaining it all back. A person could have 20 weight loss surgeries and still end up being obese. For many obese people, myself included, the real reasons behind becoming obese have absolutely nothing to do with how much - or how little - they can eat. Please reach out to your team and let them know that you're struggling. They're there to support you, and they have access to both internal and local community resources that can help you work through this. And please don't stop talking about how you're doing here - it may not be much help, but connection is better than isolation. In the meantime, here are a few books that address the mental health aspects of disordered eating to get started with: Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery by Cynthia L. Alexander Bariatric Mindset Success: Live Your Best Life and Keep The Weight Off After Weight Loss Surgery by Kristin Lloyd The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Weight Management: A Step-by-Step Program by Michele Laliberte Overcoming Binge Eating, Second Edition: The Proven Program to Learn Why You Binge and How You Can Stop by Christopher G. Fairburn The Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating by Carolyn Coker Ross

Thank you! And those three months will fly by, and you'll be losing that weight before you know it! That would be AMAZING! This is the first time in 15 years I've been under 300, but it'd be 20 years since I was under 200! I've been a big girl for as long as I can remember. I'd be nice to feel comfortable with my weight for once! I got excited every time I lost twenty pounds lol, but getting under 300 just seemed so far away... This time last year I was 389 pounds. That was one of the things that made me look into weight loss surgery. I didn't want to reach 400 pounds. By the time I had my first doc appointment with the bariatric doc I was 385. Now I'm 298. That's a HUGE thing for me! I'm very much looking forward to my weight being smaller and smaller! Thank you! I wish you the best of luck as well! Everyone has been warning me that the weight will come off slower in the second or third month so I'm expecting that and perhaps I'll avoid my scale lol so I won't stress about it! I just was anxious to see if I was finally under 300 because I was soooo close at my doctor's appointment last week! I hope you're own journey is going well and I wish you the best of luck!

I had started this post and abandoned it out of, I don’t know, fear? Of putting it out there? Or maybe just knowing it is too long and wordy. And I thought should I try again? I came back to try again and to my surprise it was still there. So I will bore anyone whom decides to read it to tears. And add in some new information. My surgery was April 29th 2019, I also had my gallbladder removed due to chronic inflammation. I guess nothing was quite normal due to lifelong chronic illness. I had two other pelvic surgeries before and after my RNY. It’s likely my surgery and subsequent pneumonia shortly after ended up revealing a existing condition that was slowly but steadily getting worse. My chronic conditions muddies the waters when it comes to any possible issues with my RNY. I had an early one year follow up at Cleveland Clinic, at nine months. There are four follow up appointments but they got smashed closer together due to some issues along the way. It’s confusing sometimes and exhausting. I’m working hard at it, I am grateful for the tool this offered me that I would not have had otherwise to combat metabolic disorders and inability to exercise. Even though recovery was complicated and revealed a lot of issues and some things have gotten worse along the way. On my second follow up the doctor wanted a Upper GI fluoroscopy and endoscopy for stricture, it was severe stricture so I doubt one dilation was enough. And didn’t abate the symptoms. By the third follow up I was needing to deal with my gastroenterologist wanting to do a colonoscopy that was postponed from before my surgery. It had been scheduled but then my gastric bypass surgery ended up scheduled first. My bariatric surgeon said that my gastroenterologist could do the endoscopy since I was having the colonoscopy. I won’t repeat the story. But I was pissed since it was never discussed that he would do a dilation. Only check the status of the stricture and ulcers. If possible dilation were on the table it should have been discussed. I followed up with the gastroenterologist physician assistant. She glazed over all the problems with the procedure. Downplayed my symptoms like dark sticky stool (sorry tmi) which indicates blood. And other issues. And continued pain. I brought up sharp stabbing pain and spasms in my chest on the left side under my rib area, and some crushing pain, was suggested to see a cardiologist even though she didn’t think it was anything to worry about (still waiting to get an appointment) I do need to do this no matter what due to other issues anyway. she stopped the proton pump inhibitor medication since according to the dr. there were no ulcers and it contradicts my medication for muscle spasms (makes it not work) and I need that. Just carafate as needed. at this early one year appointment he called me a star patient (no one has ever said that about me before) and was surprised at how much weight I’d lost in nine months. He asked if I was still losing and how fast. I still need to lose a few lbs for my height he seemed to imply I should stop. (Was he concerned? I couldn’t tell, I can’t read people) But yet I never got to see my nutritionist even though I was supposed to. The appointment was muddled and confused even though I gave him my written notes with questions he didn’t answer some of them. And I was too exhausted from the long wait (my surgeon wasn’t available to see me personally) I brought up the endoscopy, the pain. That I cannot take proton pump inhibitors. Discussed concerns about the remnant stomach. My history of ulcers in that portion of stomach and small intestine. He referred me to see another gastroenterologist in the hospital and then have a different kind of test/ procedure called a double balloon enteroscopy. Has anyone here had a procedure like this? I’m a little upset that they expect me to see the new doctor first before they will schedule the enteroscopy leaving me in pain. And it’s very difficult to travel to the clinic . i wanted to discuss another issue and get referral for a neurologist in Cleveland clinic but he didn’t acknowledge that at all. i asked the nurse and asked him about referral for plastic surgery for skin removal and any possible coverage if there are skin issues involved. They implied that my insurance would cover it in Florida due to skin issues. well I did find out that A. I’d have to go through the process of seeing another gastroenterologist prior to having this double balloon enteroscopy. It’s hard traveling to Cleveland Clinic. And B. They lied about the plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. They accept no insurance at all. My thighs are so bad that just trying to shave my legs and I have to catch 22 if I don’t it’s irritates my skin. But I shaved my legs and my thighs especially the one leg was downright bloody. The skin is just so horrendous. has anyone used BariatricPal MX Hospital and used their financing? I am getting close to goal (the doctor thinks I’m at goal probably) and want to start looking into the possibility of thigh skin removal, tummy tuck at the least ... I’m grateful to finally have lost weight but being bony as heck in some areas and all the loose skin and chub in some areas especially where my skin is bloody raw just doesn’t feel good at all. And I wonder if the tummy tuck would help my core strength whereas I cannot strengthen it through exercise? (Due to my chronic illness) on a side note. Someone important to my mother went to see my surgeon regarding gastric bypass surgery. My surgeon is such a great guy. So I referred her boyfriend to him he needs to lose weight for knee replacement surgery and his health. I just worry her boyfriend will not be serious about it. It upsets me when people have the opportunity and choice to get healthy and they make the choice not to do it. He has diabetes, high blood pressure and needs knee replacement surgery. He could be healthy if he made the choice to do it. I have never had the choice. Even surgery can’t fix me. It helped give me a tool to fight my weight but can’t cure lifelong chronic illness and disability. He tends to question and judge what I eat or don’t eat or what I do. But my situation is very different than the norm. I want to be supportive but I see him making terrible food choices and not being willing to change even small habits. Like eating a lot of bad carbs. I’ve been there myself in the past. So,I, not judgmental. A sugar carb addict will find lots of reasons to justify what they eat. But also needs to admit the addiction and break free of it. I just wonder, Do I try to help, or do I step aside and not get involved? I just went to my pcp for throat pain and need thyroid ultrasound and tests. And at some point need to address some issues. Like inability to drink without dysphasia of liquids. I know it’s neurological but have no diagnosis. My pcp thinks even with a diagnosis nothing can be done. But as it gets worse I can barely drink enough water ... ive rambled enough and I’m hoping my long message is not a mistake. If you have read this far. Thank you. Any opinion/advice on the skin removal surgery is appreciated (Mexico) as well as the double balloon enteroscopy.

30 days post op Now past the 4 week mark - I really notice a difference! Feeling mostly "back to normal" and will continue to wear the compression garments another 4 weeks to total 8. I am thrilled with the results! Assessed current wardrobe today and seem to be settling nicely into XS/S tops, size 8 dress and 6/8 slacks in petites. Most interim clothing will need to be donated. Other basics go back to seamstress. Appetite, bowels and water intake have returned to normal. Do not wish to loose anymore weight. Looking forward to moving into spring as the new stabilized me after an intense 16 months of bariatric research, planning, scheduling, gastric sleeve, nutritional and lifestyle adjustments and lastly, plastics. It's all good. So very thankful for the opportunity to have halted the obesity cycle.

A list of resources for pre- and post-surgery bariatric patients interested in a whole food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle. Let's build up this list into a comprehensive resource, and keep it updated. Please add your own tested-and-approved recommendations. Processed Foods and Ultra-Processed Foodstuffs Nutrition Database An open source (read: imperfect but continually evolving), collaborative, global food products database (there's also an app) that anyone can use to make better food choices. Assigns all processed foods a Nutri-Score grade from A to E in terms of nutritional quality, and ranks processed and ultra-processed foodstuffs by NOVA group levels (1 for minimally processed up to 4 for ultra-processed): https://world.openfoodfacts.org/ Plant-Based Nutrition Studies Cornell University Distance (entirely online) Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies: www.nutritionstudies.org Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Guide (the basics): https://nutritionstudies.org/whole-food-plant-based-diet-guide/ Plant-Based Sports Nutrition: Expert Fueling Strategies for Training, Recovery, and Performance by D. Enette Larson-Meyer The Healthspan Solution by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Plant-Based Nutrition by Julieanna Hever and Ray Cronise Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T. (plant-based dietitian) website: www.plantbaseddietitian.com Plant-Based Nutrition Books Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease: The Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven, Nutrition-Based Cure by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr. M.D. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger M.D. How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss by Michael Greger M.D. Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession with Meat Is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It by Garth Davis M.D. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell M.D. Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell The Campbell Plan by T. Colin Campbell The China Study Solution: The Simple Way to Lose Weight and Reverse Illness, Using a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet by Thomas Campbell Healthy Eating, Healthy World: Unleashing the Power of Plant-Based Nutrition by J. Morris Hicks Eat for Life: The Breakthrough Nutrient-Rich Program for Longevity, Disease Reversal, and Sustained Weight Loss by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Dieting: How to Live for Life by Joel Fuhrman M.D. The End of Heart Disease: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Fasting and Eating for Health: A Medical Doctor's Program for Conquering Disease by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Nutritarian Handbook & ANDI Food Scoring Guide by Joel Fuhrman M.D. Your Body in Balance: The New Science of Food, Hormones, and Health by Neal Barnard M.D. Power Foods for the Brain by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D. Foods That Cause You to Lose Weight by Neal Barnard M.D Breaking the Food Seduction by Neal Barnard M.D The Blue Zones, Second Edition: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest by Dan Buettner Plant-Based Nutrition Cookbooks Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moscowitz and Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Terry Hope Romero All cookbooks by Isa Chandra Moscowitz Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier No Meat Athlete Cookbook by Matt Frazier Plant Strong by Rip Esselstyn Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn The Plant-Power Way by Rich Roll The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Ann Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn The Plant Based Diet for Beginners by Gabriel Miller The PlantPure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The PlantPure Kitchen Cookbook by Kim Campbell and T. Colin Campbell The Get Healthy, Go Vegan Cookbook by Neal Barnard The China Study Cookbook by Leanne Campbell Eat to Live Cookbooks by Joel Fuhrman The Buddhist Chef by Jean-Philippe Cyr My New Roots Cookbooks by Sarah Britton Oh She Glows Cookbooks by Angela Liddon Minimalist Baker’s Cookbooks by Dana Shultz Love Real Food by Kathryne Taylor The First Mess Cookbook by Laura Wright Forks Over Knives Flavor by Darshana Thacker The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner Vegan 100 by Gaz Oakley Clean Food by Terry Walters How Not To Die Cookbook Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbooks China Study Cookbooks Forks Over Knives Cookbooks Thug Kitchen Cookbooks Plant-Based Whole Food Cooking Blogs (recipes) www.nomeatathlete.com www.loveandlemons.com www.mynewroots.org www.ohsheglows.com www.thefirstmess.com www.veganricha.com www.plantstrong.com www.minimalistbaker.com www.halfbakedharvest.com www.veganyackattack.com www.dreenaburton.com www.thugkitchen.com www.theppk.com www.deliciouslyella.com

Not for bariatric. surgery, but I had a surgery about 8 years ago and was out for a month. When people asked, that I didnt want to tell, I gave outrageous stories like I had to be separated from my conjoined twin, or my goldfish had surgery so I had to take care of her. People got the picture real fast

Yep, that's about right. It's insane how individual the requirements are. My personal insurance is through the school district but mandated by the state. I pay about $100 per month for just myself to be covered for medical, to the tune of $1200 off my paychecks each year. I didn't cover the family, as we are all covered by my husband's union insurance as well. He pays a percentage per hour, but it's paid by his employer over his hourly wage, so we never have seen it on his paycheck, so it never feels like an expense to us since it's negotiated and run by the union. My insurance deductible is $200 per year. My husband's insurance deductible is $200 per year. Anything I'm billed goes first to my insurance, which pays 85% (leaving me responsible for 15%) and then to my husband's, which would have paid 80% so they cover the remaining 15% then put the leftover 65% they would have paid into a health savings account for me if I lose my other insurance. So basically once I meet those deductibles, I'm covered for 100% of medical charges. Up in the air are the co-pays my insurance has ($75 for Emergency visits and $200 for In-patient hospital, which are normally due at time of service). My husband's insurance doesn't have any co-pays upfront, so if I have to pay those things, I might have to submit reimbursements for those fees, such as when I'm admitted to the hospital for my VSG surgery. The upside, neither of my insurances have any requirements for weight loss programs for bariatric surgery if I meet the BMI/comorbidity levels and they have very similar plans for what is allowed versus not allowed for coverage.

I don't know how old you are, but there are a lot of us in our 50s and 60s who have had the surgery. I've been hanging out on bariatric internet forums since before I had surgery five years ago. The only person I've ever heard of who was supposedly "too old" for surgery was 78...and for all I know, he may have had other health issues as well that factored into that.

I’m in a lot of Bariatric groups and there have been several who have gone through an in-network surgeon and have been denied and had to start over because they didn’t use an IOQ. I would call Aetna just to be clear in what their requirements are. Mine will only pay 70% if I don’t use and IOQ and I would have to do the 6 month nutrition. I know it’s clear as mud lol but you definitely want to know ahead of time!

You won't be able to do a bariatric diet as after surgery you can only get about 500 to 600 calories per day which is waaaaay to low with a normal stomach. I just did a reduced calorie diet using MyFitnessPal to track everything I ate. I started out with 2400 calories per day suggested by MFP to lose two pounds per week in July of 2019. After about a month I dropped down to about 2000 calories per day and was able stick to that. By November I was able to go to 1600 to 1800 calories per day. I did have days where I had a ton, I went to Vegas in September and took a break, but I got back after it when I got back home. I also started exercising 4 to 5 days a week. That also helped. Working on good habits prior to surgery will help you after surgery. So do what you can and build off of that.

the bariatric surgeon will recommend something....he/she may be fine with DS. It's just that it seems that most people who have DS are 300+ lbs (and some way over that). But I did know one lighter-weight person who had it, so who knows...

I checked on Aetna's siteand Advent Health Celebration is not an IOQ, but the surgeon is in network for me and listed under their in network bariatric surgeons. The only hospital that is on the list has one particular surgeon that 2 of my coworkers (very large employer) have been to and both have said while the surgeon is ok, the office staff is terrible. Both recommended I go elsewhere. My plan covers the whole Advent Health System.

I have friends who have had the Sleeve and they have been very successful. One friend who had the bypass had lost 100 lbs. but did not maintain due to lack of motivation and stopped going to the gym. I know I had done it before without surgery but I also realize that I'm a little older at this point. I thought it would be silly for me at this point to consider surgery but I need to do something to improve my health. Does anyone recommend a specific diet at this time? Has anyone started a bariatric surgery diet before their actual surgery and how long before?