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if you're avoiding bread for carb reasons, then I don't think toasting it is going to make any difference. I didn't eat bread at all during the weight loss phase, since I was following a moderately low carb diet (not ultra low carb like a lot of bariatric patients do). I do eat bread occasionally now that I'm in maintenance - but then thing to keep in mind is that it's not terribly nutritious, and it takes up valuable space in our tiny stomachs. You're usually better off filling the space with protein and nutrient-dense things like vegetables.

Hi! Thank you for the reply ❤️. I got tested for sleep apnea, doesn’t have it. I won’t lie I was really hoping that was the issue just so things can get solved! But, here we are lol. I’ve also called the bariatric clinic (I figured that would be smart lol) & made them aware of the issue. On top of that, I’ll be discussing the issue with my primary today. I will also try the PB in my shakes! Hopefully it helps me out! I’ll keep you posted!

Hey Anxious_mumma, I hope you are well. You will be just fine. I used to work on a Bariatric unit in the hospital as a nurse before I gained weight. It is such a routine and brief surgery. You have a higher risk of passing away from being overweight than from weight loss surgery. The best thing you can do for your daughter is be healthy and alive for her as long as you can. Show her that if you try really hard to do something (like losing weight) that you are not afraid to get help to make sure you reach your goals. Teach her how to love herself by loving yourself. That is what real love is.

My boyfriend of 7 years (who I live with) is not excited about the idea of me thinking of bariatric surgery. I had my first consultation appointment and my bf and I have been talking about what I learned, etc. Now as an upfront, I just turned 40 and have been struggling with my weight since my mid 20s. I am currently at my highest weight of 275 lb (5' 6.5") with a bmi of 43. I have just been prescribed blood pressure meds (my bp has consistently been 177/90 for 6 months!) AND cholesteral meds. I have yoyo dieted for years. YES, I could exercise more (or at all) but I do eat pretty healthy. My bf is a great support in my life and I love him very much. He does NOT want me to get this surgery and suggested that neither of us have FULLY "committed" to a diet and exercise plan since we have been together (he only "needs" to loose 10 lbs to hit his goal weight)....therefore, he thinks we should work out together 3 times a week for 6 months to a year along with a severe calorie counting regimin (which we have done) and overall healthy diet (which we do mostly on, sometimes off) before I even consider this surgery. I am DEVASTATED. I told him "my body my choice" and although I know he will support me if I decide on the surgery....I can't help but feel like he is putting off my health and hapiness by another year. I dont think these changes will move the scale that much, certainly not ENOUGH....and he thinks I don't have the behaviors in place now to maintain the diet needed post op to make this work. HELP. I need advice. I am not convinced surgery is right but I am 80-90% sure it is and may be the only option to saving my life.

My sister took 2 weeks off from her bypass surgery (office job, but had 2 little kids under 10 at home). My old boss took 4 weeks (teacher). Neither had robotic surgery which research said costs more but is supposed to be less painful with potentially faster recovery. I work in elementary special ed, and I'm taking just shy of 2 weeks (Mar 26-Apr 7) going back on a half day/non-instruction planning day Apr. 8th to see how I feel. I might take the rest of that week off for an extra 4 days if I'm healing slow. My clinic paperwork says patients will generally be able to swallow any med under the size of a pinkie nail after surgery. Pill powder (or crushed pills) can be put in thin liquid or applesauce. They recommend one a day bariatric fusion multivitamins but to take them x2 a day. The nutritionist said to either get the chewable or to open up the capsule and put it in a spoon of food/fluid. I have a splitter already but a pill crusher might be handy.

I've tried multiple weightloss strategies also. Even went to the weightloss management clinic at the hospital I'm have surgery at. My primary doctor is with Jefferson Hospital and my surgery is through that same hospitals bariatric center. I've done phentermine, topiramate, saxenda... thru it all I would lose maybe 20lbs and gain it + more back. This battle has been going on for years and it's time for this portion to end. The next stage is battle food addiction and get back to the active me. Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

Thanks for all your input everyone, I will take it all into consideration going forward. I will also look into finding a nutritionist that understands vegetarianism and bariatric surgery to make things a bit easier. Thank you!

Initially I didn't really tell anyone. I wanted to be secretive in the beginning and I was... but that has slowly changed. So... I first started talking with a co-worker about it. She had it done 4 years ago (I was September 2019). I got a lot of support initially from her. I waited to tell my husband until I NEEDED him to know. Why/When did I need him to know? After my first appointments with my surgeon and nutritionist and I had to tell him because I was leaving the country for 5 weeks and I needed him to help me schedule some appointments for pre-surgery testing. He did NOT want me to have surgery. He made that very clear. But I insisted I was doing it, so he begrudgingly (sort of) helped me make appointments. He still tried to talk me out of surgery until the DAY OF surgery. He was scared I would die or something. But... he was also the one who took care of me in the hospital. Now he is proud of me for getting my health back. My daugther: I told her a few days before I had the surgery, only because she lives with me and she needed to know why I would spend the night in the hospital and then not go to work for a while. She is 16. She thinks it was stupid I had the surgery, but she doesn't give me much flak about it. My sons: I waited until a month after surgery to tell them, only when 1 was coming home for a visit. Both boys were surprised I did it, but they didn't really say anything bad about it. My younger son is still trying to just figure out what my new diet is lol. Co-workers: I ended up telling a couple before surgery and I knew they would be supportive. Otherwise, I was keeping it a secret initially. I still have not told the rest of my family (parents/siblings etc). I have no plans to tell anyone else. I did end up eventually telling everyone in my main office building and a few in other buildings that I work with... very selective with people outside my building. I will tell you, I was shocked at how interested and how supportive almost everyone has been! I get the most judgement from my own immediate family, but even that hasn't been unbearable or anything. My husband's reaction was out of fear for my health and safety. My daughter, just because she is 16 and judgmental of everything (mom and dad are ALWAYS an embarrassment stage). The only negative reaction I got from others was from someone who is much bigger than I was, who needs something like this much more than I did. And really... other than whatever she said in the first minutes after learning that I had surgery.... she has simply not talked to me much since. And that is OK with me. She isn't ready to face having surgery herself, so I won't talk about mine unless she asks. And she won't. And that is OK. If she changes her mind, I will share my experience. So... all in all... I am now happy to share with the people I am willing to share with. And the rest? If they figure it out, fine. If they don't, that is great too! I will tell you also, I have another co-worker who has asked a ton of questions and is now in the beginning stages of considering surgery for herself. I am so glad she knows she can come to me for support/guidance and I am happy to help her and anyone else thinking about going through the process. Hope this helps! Edited to add... my PCP was the one who referred me to my bariatric surgeon. She was great about it. My Sleep Apnea doc didn't really say much. My OBGYN didn't care either way (But when I asked for more IV fluids for a procedure shortly after my VSG, he was happy to order them). Haven't seen my cardiologist since I decided to have surgery, but he wanted me to lose weight. If he isn't supportive or gives me a hard time about it, I would probably just switch docs. But I like this guy and I think he will be happy my weight is down.

I have UHC Choice Plus and have just chosen my surgeon and started scheduling the various appointments required, thus starting that six month insurance clock. From everything I have researched and been told by the Bariatric Center, BadWolfGirl is correct. I have had the same information and instructions. I must meet monthly for Weight Management Classes where we weigh in and can't gain any weight and try to lose, do a Psych eval, get a cardiac release from my Cardiologist, meet several times with a Nutritionist (I can't remember how many, but may pay for some extras, because I am f-ing serious about this), get some records from my Pulmonologist re: sleep apnea/ my biPap, i am having a lapband removed and revised to RNY, so I may have a couple extra requirements - that is not 100% set, yet. I haven't had to deal with Optum yet. My Bariatric Center has been around for years here in Houston and I have confidence in them. I hope that confidence is not misplaced. It's a good size practice in a large city in the Houston Medical Center, so they had better know! So, I have not been told that I need to document my weight other than the six month period - I could if they just need a number recorded annually from a doctor. I have never had any issues with UHC in the past for other things, so don't anticipate any going forward. The worst that has happened is that UHC has cut ties with a large hospital system in Houston and half of my doctors are employed through that system. Sigh. Both called the other's bluff and unless they come to terms in a couple months, I need some new docs. Surgeon is fully covered, thank God.

Hi first of all vegan sausage is VERY high in fat. Try eating veggies or tofu. Check out Dr V bariatric surgeon on iTunes. He is a surgeon who’s patients eat vegan.

So I have UHC but through a different company obviously. I worked with a Bariatric Center of Excellence where I live. I need 6 months of consecutive doctor visits where I was weighed and we discussed my weight and health concerns. for me, this was not difficult because I was suffering from severe stomach issues, including gastroparesis, which is why I was recommended for the surgery in the first place. I had also had consecutive visits with a endocrinologist for my PCOS. They did not require the 6 months to be from the date of, but could also be backtracked. In your case since you may not have this history, you may need to start from the beginning. But 6 months is not bad and it goes very quickly trust me. UHC also required three consecutive months of visiting with the nutritionist. This can be done in tandem I believe with the 6 months of doctor visits. You need to show that you can change your habits and lose weight during this time with the nutritionist. they also require that you meet with a psychologist to evaluate if you're mentally healthy enough for this surgery and the life changes it will bring. I did have to deal with Optum as well on their side, and never had an issue. I had to speak with a nurse for a few months and she would keep up on where I was, let me know where the process was on their end, and they did some follow-up post surgery. I really had no problem with them at all. They were very nice. All in all my process was very smooth, I had no issues getting approved, and it went quickly. I am not sure if part of that was because of how well the bariatric center was run, but I am very pleased with both United healthcare and my center. I did have to pay some out of pocket for vitamins and some hospital copay, but it was under $500. I hope this answers your question as best as I can, I realize that the insurance coverage may be different depending on the company and the program. But if you have any other questions let me know. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Hi! I’m new to the forums. I am hoping to have WLS this year. Somewhat ironically, I work in Prior Authorizations for a health insurance company, so I’m very familiar with what it means to require auth. However, every company is a bit different. I’m a newlywed and my husband added me to his policy. This was planned as my previous coverage was not as good, and his plan covers bariatric surgery whereas mine did not. So we now have UHC Choice through T-Mobile. I have checked the coverage requirement thoroughly and have a couple concerns: A. They require a 5 year weight history. However my coverage before this has been fairly bare minimum. So I mostly only went to the doctor if absolutely needed. And the eye doctor, who does not weigh. How strict are they on having a five year history? Do I only need a couple weigh ins throughout that time? Or multiple a year etc? Also will they accept photo documentation or a written statement? I mostly gave up on getting help from my PCP’s previously as they’d tell me I “wasn’t trying hard enough” whenever I failed to lose weight. But I just established care with a great PCP in order to get everything checked out/ruled out prior to asking for a referral and recommendation for the surgery. B. I know when I’m ready for a consult etc. I will need to go through UHC Bariatric Resource Services through Optum. What is it like working with them? Do they actually help and guide you as if they’d like for you to get approved? thank you in advance! just to note: My BMI is over 40, and has been at least over 35 my entire adult life. I have attempted weight loss with phentermine multiple times, as well as keto, weight watchers, and CICO. I have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, exertions dyspnea, chronic back problems, and chronic muscle tension. I am active and I do watch what I eat, just fail to lose significant weight. When taking weight loss medications I lose up to 20 lbs, but then regain as soon as I go off the med even when sustaining my same lifestyle.

Thanks for the advice! In this case, I didn’t care about the stall. I was more so concerned about losing 17 lbs in one week and being 6 months post-op. Us bariatric patients are a strange group. It seems like lose or not, we’re always finding reasons to worry. LOL! I’m just gonna go with what the scale says and not stress about it. Thanks again!!

The bottom line is that this is a life long journey with a very short window of "quick" weight loss. And you only have one golden shot at it. Because revisions are not usually as "easy-ish" as the first time. So you do you, Boo. But I think for you to be so categoricaly mis-aligned with your doc/RD that it's going to make your journey difficult and the sad thing is you will likely give up going to your check-ups etc. Which could spell disaster for you long term and regain in your future. So like, why have it at all? Or why have it with them. There are docs/centers who espouse a WFPD for all their surgical patients. Look one of them up and make the transition now. I will also tell you that I DO have a bias. I am pro-low carb and pro-lower healthy fat for the quickest losses and maintenance is done by adding healthy fats rather than adding protein or more fast acting carbs. I would have never gotten to my goal nor been maintaining had I been eating the grains and lots of fruit. I wouldn't. I have too many metabolic strikes against me. And not that it can't be done, but I think the life of a vegan or vegetarian WLS patient is very hard. The ones I know of in real life have either not gotten to goal ever or they have suffered big time regain. But I do know of a couple of women here who are very successful following a WFPD. But, they are also endurance athletes and as such, they're as much outliers as I am... I encourage you to look at other bariatric teams who are more closely aligned with your belief system. Studies show that long term success is directly linked to after care by a team of bari pros.

Hi all, (VGS) I wanted to get some outside opinions. Firstly, I will say I am following what my dietician has directed. They want me to do a 3 month supervised diet which is fine, but they want me to cut out almost all carbs. I understand that getting the high protein is important and I agree. But my main concern is their opinion on things like brown rice, oatmeal, bananas and telling me not to eat ANY of it (even in small amounts).I feel like after surgery I would definitely try re-introducing some of those foods in small amounts because I believe they are healthy. I can tell my bariatric center is one of the ones that struggles to understand vegetarianism in detail, as everyone there pushes the protein and meat being easier (but no one has actually told me to eat meat or anything). It just seems strange to me that 3 whole months before surgery they only want me eating protein sources and vegetables,low carb fruits and no grains or anything at all. I have seen other surgeons in various places suggest different restrictions on diets and not all of them ban all carbs. I am at 38bmi and I don’t need to lose much before the surgery so it isn’t like, a rapid weight loss diet or anything pre-surgery. They sort of act like any carbs aren’t good for you. I understand immediately after surgery protein is top priority so getting in any carbs would be pretty difficult. It’s more-so that before and after permanently they are kind of saying to ban grains and things like that. But I know there are people eating a vegan diet etc and we’re able to re-introduce small amounts of carbs just fine. I am completely willing to cut down on carbs a lot, but has anyone else run into this experience ? My goal is to figure out a diet that works for me as a lifestyle and provides me with nutrients- before and after surgery. Just looking for some input from people who have gone through the surgery and how they handled this/what they are and if they agreed to long term elimination of most carbs. Thanks for any help!

Still hanging out in healing mode at home in my cozy compression garments + PJ's as my outfit for the month. Haha. Although the scarf does add a little pizazz, right? ;] But found new color way in that sparkly flat shoe with more neutral undertones to blend better with 25th gala ensemble. Designed the vest and ascot for hubby. Seamstress did a phenomenal job. She's now working on the sketch dress I submitted for our original matron of honor. Hubby was a penguin 25 years ago. This time, I thought the mid-grey tux (although the model looks 15!) with cool grey shoes + block socks were really hip + stylish for our gentlemen vow renewal party at 60 and older, but certainly young at heart. I think hubby gets more distinguished with age.

I am on soft foods here was my day yesterday BF: 1 packet sugar free maple brown sugar oatmeal with 1 scoop of Genepro protein powder and splash of sugar free salted caramel syrup -159 cal total L: 2 oz refried beans, 1 oz cheddar cheese soup, 1 oz red enchilada sauce, 2 oz avocado - 158 calories total D: Ricotta bake with unflavored protein powder mixed in - 200 calories total Snack: Dannon light and fit key lime Greek yogurt- 80 calories Also had a bariatric hot chocolate for 90 calories Total for the day 686 calories, 86 grams protein, 48 net carbs, 15 grams sugar, 21 grams fat and 12 grams fiber. I have started exercising again and found I need to keep above 600 calories or I just drag butt all day. My weight loss has tapered off but I am not worried. There will be good weeks and bad weeks, but it will all average out.

Not everyone is "driving them self nuts with the scales". Many of us are perfectly capable of weighing regularly and still keeping it all in perspective. There is not only one path to weight loss success. What works for you may not work for someone else. There are a lot of bariatric rules I do not follow. But logging all my food and weighing myself regularly was critical to my success in my weight loss phase, and continues to be now that I am in maintenance

I definitely see your logic here, but I’m working with a trainer, and I have some very specific fitness goals I’m trying to achieve. Weekly weigh-ins, measurements, and progress pics are necessary. If he adjusts my diet, he’ll have me step on the scale a couple of days later to see what effect it has on me. He’s worked with bariatric patients before, but this is type of loss is making him scratch his head too. Thanks for your input tho!

Right! Are you having bypass or vsg? I’m going to Tijuana, because my stupid insurance stopped covering bariatric surgery this year.

I’m very pleased to meet another WFPB post-bariatric athlete here! Although I’m not as active as you, I’m somewhat athletic (active 7 days a week with hill hiking, race walking, distance cycling, squash, cardio, weights, sea kayaking, downhill skiing, etc. and currently training for a triathlon in August), and once I’m into maintenance, consuming enough (and the right types of) fuel for workouts is – and will continue to be – an ongoing experiment for me. If you, like me, were athletic at any point in your life prior to weight gain or WLS, then you’ll know that athletes need to eat more frequently than non-athletes, no matter what type of food lifestyle they’ve chosen, typically at least 6 meals per day – 3 meals and 3 snacks, depending on the intensity of training. So my best advice is to structure every meal and snack so that they support your workouts. The timing of all meals and snacks should support optimal performance and recovery, so for example, if you train after work, save one of your snacks for about 1 hour beforehand, and eat dinner within an hour after completing your training session. Obviously you’ll also have increased nutritional needs for optimal performance and health during long distance cardio training and events such as cycling. The typical recommendation is that endurance athletes get 60% of their calories from carbohydrates on training and event days. To calculate this, take your calorie intake for the day and multiply it by 0.6. Then divide that number by 4 to get the number of carbohydrate grams you need daily to support optimum performance. For example, on a 1500 calorie per day diet, that number is 225 grams. Carb needs will go above and beyond this on days with longer training sessions but you might not be able to hit such a high number due to space constraints or fear of dumping, so all you can do is increase your carbohydrate count slowly over time to see how your body reacts, making sure to use a variety of high quality complex carbohydrate sources such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The mixed grain cereal you’ve mentioned in other posts is ideal. Immediately prior to an endurance training session or event, the typical recommendation is for an athlete to ingest 1-3 grams of easily digestible high quality carbs per kilogram of body weight (bananas, figs, etc.). Bariatric athletes won’t reach that number, so the goal would be to increase carb consumption before an event to a level at which you are physically comfortable, then note any performance improvement. Foods high in protein and fat are digested more slowly, so are usually avoided in the hour before an event. Just keep experimenting with pre-race fueling to see what works best for you. During a training session or event, endurance athletes typically take in 30-50 grams of carbohydrates per hour. Bariatric athletes will need to spread this out in smaller portions (protein bars, energy gels, dried fruit, lightweight hydration back packs with added electrolyte and carb powders, etc.). After a training session or event, endurance athletes usually consume about 15 grams of carbohydrate within 30 minutes of finishing. One to two hours later, another portion of high quality complex carb rich food with some protein mixed in is needed for muscle recovery (i.e., banana with peanut butter, a glass of Ripple milk, etc.). I have read studies that indicate that glucose ingested while exercising is less likely to lead to dumping syndrome, but this is an individual thing to be approached extremely carefully, but in general plant-based whole foods like fruit do not cause dumping syndrome as far as I’ve read and can be used in place of sports drinks and gels. To address any increase in hunger due to training, or to supplement in order to maintain weight, in the past I found that low calorie high nutrient shakes are ideal (i.e. Ripple milk, a few nuts and/or seeds, ½ c berries, a handful of raw dark green leaves, and 1-2 tbsp of blended pea/soy/rice/hemp/chia protein powder, and if needed, a handful of steel cut oats that have been soaked in water overnight to soften). Most Americans, as well as virtually all WLS-post-ops in maintenance from what I have read on these and other boards, consume too much protein, but endurance athletes actually do need a bit more protein, anywhere from are 1.0-1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight. Remember that all plants have protein in them, and to count their protein towards your daily intake. Re hydration, I monitor this closely, particularly at my early stage post-op (I use a hydration pack and will continue to). Taking a before and after workout weight on a calibrated digital scale is an excellent way to determine hydration status. If the post-workout weight is lower than the pre-workout weight, you’ll be able to track exactly how much water was lost through sweat and respiration. In terms of micronutrients, some endurance athletes may have increased needs for vits a, c, and e, as well as iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, and chloride. Get regular labs, keep taking vits, and rehydrate with electrolyte drinks or powders (I like Ultima Replenisher). Finally, investing in a WFPB bariatric nutritionist is worthwhile because calibrating nutrition for a post-bariatric athlete is both difficult and very individualized. Parts of what I’ve written here comes directly from notes I made during sessions with my own WFPB bariatric nutritionist. I will also try to put together a brief recommended reading list within the next day or two. Disclaimer: These suggestions are intended for bariatric endurance athletes in maintenance ONLY. If you are exercising at a low to moderate intensity for less than 2 hours per day for 6 to 7 days per week, you don’t need extra nutrition, calories, macronutrients, or micronutrients to support your exercise or recovery, and doing so will only hinder your weight loss or cause weight gain.

Ya'll are all ahead of me. I still have a few more days of liquids. I mentioned a couple of days ago that I was in my groove with the liquids, but I TAKE THAT BACK because today was tough. I was hungry. 😟On a positive note, I've lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks! I didn't walk today because it was icky outside, and I didn't do my Yoga either because I just didn't have the energy. I'm averaging 88g of protein a day, getting a minimum of 64 ozs of fluids, and 450-550 calories. All the foods ya'll have posted sound wonderful right now! My vitamins: Bariatric multi vitamin with iron-1X day (I ordered on here) Liquid B-12- 2X a day B1- 1X a day D3- 1X a day Biotin- 1X a day Chewable calcium-2X a day at noon and before bed

HI all, I am new here. I am looking into these 2 doctors in Mexico. Dr. Ortiz works in Obesity Control Center and Dr. Cueva in Renewal Bariatrics. Has anyone done the sleeve with either of them and how has it been? I'm looking for references on both. Thank you very much

I'm also on a bunch of prescription meds from the bariatric center Calcium Vitamin D (I was low) B-12 Iron (also low) Biotin Multivitamin chewable 2/day On my own (with approval) I also take cranberry, apple cider vinegar, and collagen. Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

One of the things I have been using is Rodan & Fields skin care line. I use to have horrible skin from years of being a millwright in a steel mill. I had sun damage, freckles, horrible acne and acne scars. I use the Reverse Lightening Regimen and have the Derma-Roller with intensive renewing Serum and my skin has improved greatly. I started using these products about 4 years ago so I was concerned that when I had WLS 17 months ago, I would develop a turkey neck like I had seen on other people. I have been fortunate that it is not that bad - my husband only sees it when I look down. Even though I am 50, I see it is tightening up so if you can work on it over time, I recommend some type of roller to use 2 times a week and a good skin care line. I even saw a video where a woman used a roller on her postpartum belly to help firm it up. Unfortunately, I have way too much excess skin for that to work so I am looking into plastics for that.