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So far I've only pureed soup with chunks, and then the bean/cheese/milk concoction. I haven't gained courage to puree food that's not already pretty close to puree because I'm pretty sure it would gross me out.

I'm in the really big category, and like you my Doc did not prescribe a preop diet, not even to the point of liquids only on the day before, though I was so nervous I ended up only having liquids the last 48 hours prior to surgery. I had surgery on a Friday morning, was out Monday morning (no releases were processed on the weekend) and so far I'm happy with my ability to heal and weight loss...good luck to you!

I have had an ultrasound of my abdominal area done, my blood and urine show me in perfect health. I have never had body pain from being overweight before last summer and I'm not sure what the pain feels like, I have been 238 and now down to 207 but I really think my body is beginning to feel the extra weight and its giving me pain. Just wondering what it would feel like, I'm so glad my surgery is coming up soon and hopefully this pain goes away.

I lost 12 lbs the first week and weighed 220. Then I gained 3 back and held that weight for 2.5 weeks! My surgeon warned me that I would likely stall for a couple weeks while my body recovers from the shock of surgery. I'm now 4 weeks post op and losing again steadily. So yes, what you're going through is normal. Stay hydrated and get your protein in! I still lost a lot of inches while stalled, going from size 18 to a loose 16.

It's called the 3 week stall. Basically, once you start a reduced calorie diet your body starts burning glycogen for fuel because it's the most accessible fuel source. For every pound of glycogen you burn, you will use 4 pounds of Water weight as well. This accounts for everyone's initial and easy weight loss when they start a diet or have WLS. Once your body realizes that this calorie deficit is going to continue past the point of using all your glycogen stores, then it starts to burn fat. But at the same time it must refill your glycogen stores, along with that water weight which keeps the glycogen soluble. So at this point you are burning fat but adding water weight. If the fat loss does not outpace the water gain your weight will stall, but you are still burning fat. Once the glycogen and water weight have been restored, you will see the scale start to move again.

You are now in the official weight loss groove. Doesn't it feel like a victory? It is you know, and now you move on to become a veteran and mentor all the newbies and to me, because I still haven't made it to the Triumphful Losers Bench. Ah but I shall--- for as long as I draw breath ---there is still hope for me! Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats with the changes and the weight loss i was banded 9/26 down 19 pounds. No troubles at all. Stay focused

I was banded on 9/27, down about 28 lbs. Original weight 273.8, current weight 246. I am back to working out. No fills and eating normal foods. I love the band!

Hi everyone, Brand new to this web site. Am considering the surgery, but need to find out more about it. Am 65, 6' and 350. I am concerned about excessive skin after weight loss & what other problems down the road that they left out. Oh, i'm a male. Anything anyone could tell me about pros & cons would be greatly appreciated.

That is you losing weight. Just make sure you are keeping hydrated especially if your pee is dark. That means you are dehydrated and so does muscle spasms. Also make sure you are getting the required protein. These are very important.

I completed a year of medical weight loss with no luck. I was put on phentramine a week and a half ago and already lost 7lbs. I am happy with how it’s going, but I know as soon as I stop I will gain it right back. I have started the process for vsg, but I’m so scared. I have to wait ten weeks to complete a few insurance requirements and then surgery can be scheduled if I want to go that route. So many mixed feelings! I’ve had therapy and am through with emotional eating. What scares me most is that I’m a single mom to a wonderful six year old little girl. I’ve had a falling out with my family so it’s just the two of us. That makes surgery more difficult. Making a permanent change to my body is scary too. I know deep down it is what I need to do. I want to be able to do everything with my daughter, especially amusement park rides. I’m never want to go on them because I don’t want to be embarrassed if I don’t fit! Anyone else have a similar situation or any advice?

This is my response to another poster's concern about co-morbidities. I thought it would be helpful to post it here as a separate post. Here is a complete list of co-morbidities that insurance companies use in evaluating your case. I got it from dsfacts.com. DS stands for duodenal switch. Hope this helps. Maybe you will find some you see as familiar. I also provided a heartfelt letter for my packet, which explained why I need the surgery and how my weight and co-morbities were degrading my quality of life. In that letter, I explained when I started gaining weight and listed the diets and exercise programs that have failed me. I told them about family members who have died of conditions on the co-morbities list. I included a list of the medications I am taking for conditions related to my obesity. I shared info about surgeries and joint replacements and other treatments necessary because of my weight. I told them about inconveniences and the adjustments I have had to make to function throughout my day, and how how the weight itself prevents me from an effective and agressive exercise program. Then I closed the letter by explaining how the surgery would drastically improve my quality of life, and thanking them in advance for approving the surgery which would surely extend my life and reduce the need critical medical care in the future. When composing any good presentation, follow these 3 rules: 1. Tell them what you are going to tell them. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you told them. Good luck. Obesity ComorbiditiesTo follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death For more information on the NIH qualifications for weight loss surgery: Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Proceedings of a National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference, March 25-27, 1991.

Yes they said they would cancel if I gained from my initial visit

I have high cholesterol. My goal weight is 145lbs. I am at 199 now. My doctor said it would be the right surgery for me. I would have great results. I am a nurse and teach about good health with my patients but I'm not healthy myself. I have tried diets but never do well. I eat mostly healthy but binge when I'm hormonal. I need restriction.

To "braydensmama", have you heard anything from your insurance yet? I also have Anthem BCBS. I do know that my insurance covers psych tests but the Dr. that is doing the test doesn't accept Anthem so I'm going to have to come up with $400 out of pocket but they did say that my insurance will reimburse me. Let me know how all this goes for you, it sounds like me and you are in the same spot in this process. To "Rina83" thank you for posting the site to Anthem, but to me requirement #2 is unclear. My surgeon is saying I have to do the 6 month diet because that's what most insurance companies require. Of course they haven't filed my claim yet so according to this I may not have the 6 month wait as long as my Dr. states that I have made weight loss attempts in the past? Am I reading this right? If I am right I wish the surgeon will go ahead and file the claim, it's been over a week since I've had the appointment with him. To think I have to wait for 6 months makes me even more depressed, as if being "morbidly obese" isnt' bad enough

Hello All, My name is Asmaa, I am 40 years old, married, mother of 3 daughters, age 19, 12, and 10. I currently live in Philadelphia but am originally from DC/NoVA. I have been on my weight loss journey for 19 years, right after I had my first child. I was always pretty slim growing up and only picked up weight after having kids. Over the last 10 years my weight has skyrocketed and before I knew it I was 328 pounds. It wasn't until I saw myself in a family picture that I realized how big I had gotten. Along with they weight gain I suffer from high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I am being treated medically for the HBP and have to sleep with a C-PAP mask for the apnea I have lower back problems and I plantar fasciitis. I have been on every fad diet that anyone could mention, the weight drops but then it comes right back. I had considered weight loss surgery years ago but I felt that I was cheating and taking the easy way out. I felt that I could do i t on my own, and I did. I lost 80lbs by changing my eating habits and exercising. Then I injured my knee and had to have surgery. This slowed down my exercise routine and I returned to disordered eating and the weight came back. I exercise 3-5 times a week but it hasn't been enough. I needed a change and so I decided to look into weight loss surgery. After attending the information session, I felt confident that this option was right for me at this time in my life. The surgeons and staff are terrific. They are very kind and compassionate and care about each and every patient that they treat. And as the months have gone by in preparation for the surgery, I grow even more confident that this is the best choice in my journey. So with that being said...... My vertical sleeve surgery is scheduled for this coming Monday, October 14. I am so happy to be beginning my journey to weight loss and a more permanent healthy state. Well that's my intro, I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Counting down the days until surgery. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have been ready to start my weight loss journey for quite some time and am ecstatic that I've only 4 more days to go! Woohoo!

Yeah the gas pain in my shoulder just started tonight. Thought I was having a heart attack too! These posts are great & have been incredibly helpful! So far this has been the worst of the pain. I'm only a week out so I think that's pretty damn good. Haven't used the pain meds in a few days but this is horrible, it hurts even to breathe. Hope it goes quick for both of us! Banded 7/31/12 <br />Pre op weight 344, starting weight 324<br />Goal "No limits!"

The info packet I got from the surgery center in Detroit says...2 weeks before surgery, replace two meals a day with a protein drink? Anybody know why? I'm willing to do it (I'm willing to do ANYTHING to get my weight down!) but just want to know why. Also, most of the posts have a cute little....ruler?...with the weight and loss and BMI etc at the bottom of the post. How can I get one too?

I'm getting my band on 9-13! that has got to be a lucky number for me as both of my kids had that number in sports. I am very nervous and excited at the same time. I am not afraid of the anesthesia . It always makes me feel so rested when I come out of it. My biggest fear is not having my little yorkie jump on my stomach for a week. That's going to be hard to do. My whole life I've dealt with weight. Every wish I make is "to be thin". Now my wishes will come true. I can't wait to tuck in my blouse.

A lot of people say its really hard to lose the last few pounds. I wanted to get to 145 for normal BMI but my weight just plateaued at 155 for several months (I did not attempt to lose it by dieting or exercising as that had obviously never worked longterm in the past!) I got a 0.3cc fill which I thought was ridiculously tiny but I lost 14 pounds in about 10 weeks quite easily and have been areound 138 to 140 ever since...I still dont diet or exercise. Best 15K I could have ever spent!

Well I'll be 8 months out from surgery on Monday. Did another before/after pic. Weight loss is definitely slowing down but I'm quite close to my goal and perfectly content where I am. I wouldn't mind dropping a few more pounds and I'm still losing, just slowly (7 pounds in the last 7 weeks). Overall though I feel a million times better.... I've gone from a 3XT/4X shirt to a regular Large shirt and waist was as big as a 50 at one point but generally a 46/48 and now down to a 34. Absolutely ZERO regrets!

I was banded December 3 2006 and have lost 120 lbs including the 20 lbs presurgery from the liquid diet. (Yech!) I'm thrilled at the success and would do it all over again. After a 20 lb gain after the death of out 10 year old grandson from leukemia. (Yes you can gain weight on the lap band if you stuff eat "feel better" junk day in day out, and you just feel worse) I've been on a pretty steady minus 5-6 pounds per month since then. I'm thrilled to have join the Forum!

So I'm looking for stories from lower BMI patients about their weight loss after surgery. Those people who like me have less weight to lose before hitting goal. Let's say 100 lbs and less. Do we hit a higher % of excess weight? Does it come off faster? Anything that you'd like to share about your journey ......