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Thank you for the birthday wishes. We decided to risk it and venture out for dinner tonight. A favorite local restaurant with outdoor seating with Bobby and our fashionable masks... I need a BREAK after 10 weeks! Even with take-out your still cleaning up dishes. So yay!!! no prep or dishes tonight. By the way, it is 4 tablespoons (not 6) for above posted chia seeds and it did need just a little honey or maple syrup. Here is the banana peanut butter chia now setting. I'll let you know how it tastes. So easy in the bullet.

My surgery is scheduled June 17th. I started my pre op surgery diet on the June 3rd. I have lost 40 lbs since my journey started in Aug 2019. I heard about people grieving food and I am starting to feel sad about the some of the food (maybe the amount) I can not have after surgery. What are your thoughts? Did you experience a food funeral?

I am age 66, male. At 5' 10", I weighed 271 on January 1 and 253 this morning. I just got an email from my surgeon's assistant saying I need to make my final appointment. Apparently I can meet with the surgeon and then go over to the anesthesia center for blood work and an EKG. I believe we'll also schedule the surgery at that time. I called him back immediately, but he's already gone for the day. But it looks like very shortly I'll also have to figure out how to entire my statistics for this site. Before I'm all new, though, I may need a hip replacement. This getting old is not for the faint of heart, I'm telling you! Dave

Did the weekly inventory of the stuff in the fridge and determined I needed to use up some wonton wrappers, a couple stalks of green onions and what was left of a tub of cream cheese. Sooo....made Spicy Cream Cheese & Green Onion Fried Wontons! Also made a dipping sauce with Tamari, sesame oil, sriracha & a touch of honey (its in that stainless steel bowl in the background) These are terribly addictive, as evidenced that they where gone in like 10 minutes. But I did manage to eat one before they all disappeared. 1 wonton (without sauce): 66 cals

YOU are doing AMAZING! To think this has occurred since last September 4, 2019 is Totally Mind-blowing! Do you ever have to pinch yourself to be sure it’s not a DREAM??!? CONGRATS!🎉🎊💖

I had VSG on 5/18. My insurance required a 6 month program prior to surgery, then I was delayed 2 more months with COVID-19. I lost quite a bit -73 lbs- pre-op (48y male, 6' 2", HW 382, SW 309, CW 301). Surgery went well. Surgery day was rough with gas pain, but discharged by 2pm day after surgery and feeling good now. I walked about a mile a day from day 2-5. Since day 5, I have walked 2 miles per day and do some resistance band training every other day. I lost about 8 lbs in the first week, but have been stalled for the last 4 days. Since day 4, I have been averaging 400-500 calories daily with 70-80g protein, ~30g carbs, almost no fat. Most carbs are from milk with the protein shakes or light fruit juice. I am getting in my hydration with non-milk liquids at ~70oz/day. Still on a liquid diet until 2 weeks post-op. Is my pre-op weight loss slowing me down, or is this normal? A little frustrated as I thought this would be the time weight would just fall off.

Just coined the term for those of us using the metric system and finally and gratefully seeing a number below 100 kg 😋 My metric Underland was reached this morning 🤛 99,9 kg (220lb), 10 days post op MGB (SW 104.2kg, 230lb) Next stop: Onederland 😁

Hi all, I'm pre-op for VSG. My whole process was way-laid by COVID-19, like so many of us. But now things are moving along; but no surgery date yet. Anyone here from Sentara Comp WLS in Hampton Roads, VA?

Hey there, I did. I was approved and has VSG on 12/9/19. Are you going through a military bariatric program or a civilian bariatric program? I believe this may make a huge difference. I moved away to a different state and no longer see my surgeon for follow ups. I see a medical assistant from a bariatric program run by the military hospital. I am sure that if I would have moved here before the surgery, the program would not have allowed me to do it. My comorbidities were major depressive disorder and chronic back pain.

Hi, Meow, I'm just a few weeks behind you. On my first visit to the surgeon on May 5, he told me I would need a psych consult and a nutritionist consult, then a visit with the anesthesia doc and a final visit with him prior to surgery. His assistant said if everything lined up right I could be having the surgery in early June. I had the psych consult yesterday and the nutritionist today. Early June still seems optimistic, though. I have cataract surgery scheduled for Monday and Wednesday next week, and a routine follow-up with my pain management doc on June 10. I will ask the pain doc about squeezing in another steroid shot before the gastric bypass, but I'm still hoping for late June or July. Just like you, I feel that things are moving quickly for me. I'm sure it will be an adventure. Dave

Hi Everyone! I'm from NW Indiana, and I started my journey nearly 18 months ago! After pills, diets, exercise, etc. I finally got a referral from my family doctor to see a bariatric surgeon last July. I called my insurance company and they said my insurance was covered if I met their prerequisites. I let the surgeon know and they of course called after my first appointment and they got the list of prerequisites. Although I had spent 6 months on a supervised diet with weigh ins twice a month, I had to do 6 months with the doctor and nutritionist, maintain my weight, have a 5 year history, show previous attempts to lose weight, etc. So I did all the standard things, and it was time to submit to insurance in February of 2020. I got a call from the nurse at UHC to check on me after my procedure, but I had not yet had any procedure. Nothing was approved yet! So the nurse checked and the procedure was denied - it was excluded by my policy! I was upset and appealed. My surgeon appealed, because they had a preapproval number from September. Still, UHC refused to cover anything. I was upset, and researched it. I found a website for my state that had information about Healthcare complaints, so I filed a complaint and included information about their calls with me and the doctor's office. I suggested that they review the calls and retrain their employees to properly look at a caller's insurance, because they always say to "Call the number on the back of your card to verify benefits." Then COVID 19 closes everything. The doctor's office closed my case, and I started researching self-pay. I found Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas, and I paid my deposit and scheduled surgery for June. Yesterday I received a letter from UHC. They are paying for my surgery with my original surgeon. I thought it was an error, a joke, a dream?!?! I called my surgeon's office and sent them a copy of the letter. They called me in shock and asked what I am doing in July. Well, I think I'm having my Gastric Bypass and hernia repair in July now - close to home and without traveling. I'm worried something will happen to change that. I am out $550 because I paid a deposit to Blossom and for an appointment. I called today to reschedule for now - I don't want to cancel and have my other surgery fall through and be left with nothing. My surgeon's office said I am only the second person to successfully battle UHC over their error and actually win. I am worried the bill will exceed the $40,000 limit that was not a condition of the original guidelines, and I am scared they will find a reason to refuse payment. I am anxiously awaiting surgery in 6 weeks and 4 days.

Yes. I am losing 1-2 pounds per week. I am 19 pounds from what the doctor said I will lose with the surgery alone within 18 months. 177lbs is my first goal. I was told that I will lose 75 pounds, give or take, just from the surgery. The remaining 17 pounds that I will need to lose will have to come from my own work. That's why I am worried about getting the eating habits under control now.

Haven’t posted in ages. Seeing as schools as closed, most of my wardrobe consists of leggings or workout clothes. Decided to put “real people clothes” on today, had to mark this momentous occasion 🤣 (bypass, 7/10/18, down 130+ pounds)

Everyone is different been said above. But you may want to spend just a little money and get a Nutritionist to help mix up your diet. You body is sayin F@#ck No i want to keep it, You are saying Nope gotta go! So let the battle begin - I would mix up the Carbs and calories different each week. I did it and it really worked, I had a Nutra person to lead me. Sunday - Sunday next week - Go real low calories, 900 or less, As much water as you can, Up your cabs 10% Sunday - Sunday following week - 1100 calories mostly veggies but Higher Protein - lower water Sunday - Sunday 3 rd week - Intermingling fasting, All protein low calories Low carbs You get the point you are changing your calories, carbs and proteins each week to trick your body into burning, The fasting was a key for me broke everything free Good luck stay focused you will win this battle

So sorry you are struggling at this time, but don't get discouraged. Everyone losses at their own pace. I checked my journal and at where you are I had lost 32lbs and I remember feeling the exact same way. Your body might take a drop that last week too. I lost during 1 week to 10 days of the month, instead of a slow steady decline which always freaked me out but it always happened when I followed my plan. You may even want to try bumping calories up 100 to see if that might get ya going too. Sometimes to few calories may make your body hold on tighter, at least that is what I was told. I would ask the Dr. or whomever is doing your food plan just to make sure. Good luck to you !

Its all done! Preop diet, labs, covid test, clear liquid day, family meal prep, a little meal prep for me... and, BOOM, surgery is tomorrow. Yikes! My hubby is working, and my 16 year old daughter is dropping me off at 10 AM. Might as well with no family visitors allowed. 🤞 for a smooth process!

I started in August 2019, had a health scare in September 2019. I was on blood thinners so I had to wait until Jan 2020 to continue my appointments. My estimate schedule date was May 2020 then COVID hit. And my surgery date was pushed out to June 17th. So my timeline is not as streamlined but a typical person takes about 6 months.

Hi everyone, I wanted to reach and out and see if anyone has experienced neck pain after eating. I had VSG Dec 16, 2019. By the time I was cleared to everything, I started noticing that I would get pretty sharp neck pain if I ate too much or too fast. This is really starting to get bothersome as now I notice it at every meal (which I can assure you I do not over eat)... and the pain is quite unsettling. I am hoping to do a virtual chat with my surgeon but it’s very difficult to get a hold of him. any one else experience this type of pain? Would love your feedback. thanks! Neda

Well naturally @Hop_Scotch I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas. @Arabesque I had my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago so I should be good there. It seemed to kind of go away a little bit ago but it’s starting up again. I’ll get it checked out.

I was biting my tongue on this but it’s not smart to suggest candy bars or junk food. When there are plenty of healthy options out there. Like avocado, protein shakes like labrada lean body which are higher calorie and protein range but still very low carb and sugar. I’m a little confused I guess, I know you are 6’ 3” which is far off from my height of 5’ but even at your height a healthy weight range is considered 150-190lbs According to BMI charts which is BMI 19-24. You would have to weigh 140 or less with a BMI of 18 to be underweight for your height. maybe you aren’t getting enough protein for your weight rage. Try calculating your daily protein based on your weight. 0.36 grams protein per 1lb body weight, minimum. im not trying to offend anyone I apologize in advance. But sugar and junk food is a terrible idea to turn to after bariatric surgery. If you have stricture, I’d think these would be difficult to eat too.