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I guess you would have to ask your surgeon. They gave me one but no one told me what it was for. Really the restaurants just require proof of bariatric surgery. So I guess if you don’t want to walk around with a bunch of papers they give you the card instead...

Don’t use me as a resource I just found out about it this morning! Ha ha. But sounds like the Brazilian steakhouse only charges half because they are aware that a bariatric patient won’t eat anywhere near $25 worth of food, much less $50! I was fascinated by that!

It came to my attention today that the card that my doctor provided post-surgery is good at some restaurants for discounted meals. Participating restaurants will also allow the server to sell children’s menu items to card-holders. I was totally unaware of this until today and wondered what experiences others may have to share. A quick Google search showed me that red lobster and Olive Garden participate in this program. The OP whom I read this from said she used it at Fogo de Chow To get half price meal ($25 as a post to $50) by providing proof of bariatric surgery. If you are aware of any other national chain restaurants (or Florida restaurants, in my case !) that honor the bariatric card and offer a reduced cost meals, would you mind sharing in the comments? Thank you!!

I would suggest meeting with a few Bariatric Surgical teams and discussing the lapband. They are not widely performed anymore because of migration, erosion, herniation and slippage issues. They are mostly removed these days. You can also work with dieticians and endocrinologist to get your weight under control. Good luck 💜

It's one of the common things that happens post-bariatric surgery, but I think it only lasts for a short period of time. I'm taking Biotin and using Rogaine and Nioxin.

I googled this because no one ever made me aware of what this card was for. You should read this forum on this cruise ship website. People get totally up in arms about the thing. I actually stopped reading it because it started irritating me. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2522100-restaurant-discounts-for-bariatric-surgery-patients/

My best friend turned 40 recently. We celebrated with a trip to Fogo de Chau, a Brazilian steak house where they bring out all the meats on skewers and slice them onto your plate. I love this place! I had to be very selective on what I ate. My favorite thing there is the Parmesan crusted pork medallions. To die for!! The place is $50 a person but if you bring proof of bariatric surgery it’s half off. Still ate no where near $25 worth of food but I didn’t care one bit. It was amazing! Nice to still be able to enjoy things like this. I just don’t leave feeling miserably overstuffed anymore.

Definitely check in with your surgeon & try the changes you mentioned and let us know how it works out!!! You may help solve someone else's bariatric mystery

I take a bariatric multivitamin and hair, skin & nails vitamins. O don't think it helps. I'm also losing hair rapidly. I have plenty of hair, but still worried. Im also 4.5 months out. I can feel short stubby hairs all over in my scalp coming in, so maybe that is a good sign it will be growing back soon. Good luck!

I'm at 4mos PO sleeve. I have noticed my hair is falling like 20 times more than at the beginning. Is there an additional Vitamin for it? I take 1 bariatric advantage capsule a day, thank you! Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello!! Another Nancy here! My surgery is 2 days before yours... July 22. Right now I'm 288 pounds. My surgeon doesn't have a strict 2 week liquid pre-op diet. He instructed me to cut out carbs - no bread, pasta, rice, etc. (You know, the GOOD stuff! LOL!) That being said, I'm doing mostly liquids anyway - just to get used to it. I have a collection of protein drinks - ranging from Premier Protein (available at Walgreens, CVS, etc) and protein sample packs I purchased here at the Bariatric Pal Store. For inspiration, encouragement & tips, check out some of the YouTube videos by fellow sleevers. Some are REALLY good! One, Kimberly H, has her own channel as well as videos she does for Bariatric Pal. There are others, some funny, some boring... just try them out. Just search for VGS, Bariatric Sleeve, etc. WE GOT THIS!!!

Amen to that! I enjoy watching YouTube videos by others who have experienced Bariatric surgery. I especially appreciate the ones who emphasize that they’re relating THEIR journey, and that yours may differ. It helps to know what you MIGHT experience - even if not exactly.

Or it could be like me where my pouch hasnt had ANY problems whatsoever to the point that im wondering if the surgeon made it big (he didnt). In fact, I had my first post-op checkup (6 weeks out) and asked all sorts of questions like, "is it normal to be so normal?" She kinda laughed at that. The only "mistake" I was making was taking double the amount of bariatric vitamins that I needed. The surgeon isnt as caught up as the dieticians on which vitamin cocktails are available now and I was taking both sets of vitamins. Oops. But yeah, I was (edit: still am) obsessed pre and post op and love watching 600 lb life too. Even if dont weigh anywhere near as much, it helped me see the challenges in a VERY obvious way in order to reflect on my own mindset. Being obsessed is really the only way to start. I even started trying to eat a bit in a bariatric way before the surgery (but with more volume of food) in order to see if I could do it. Preparation is key and it is never too early to test things out.

The bariatric team here gives a special dietary needs card which gives me children price on a buffet (Golden Corral ) or I can order off the child menu if I go out to eat.

I'm not sure you're going to be able to get the kind of advice you need for your situation here. You're looking at bariatric quantities PLUS vegetarian diet PLUS powerlifting specific needs to build muscle and burn fat. I'd look to a nutritionist and perhaps a personal trainer to get specifics on what you need. All I do know however is PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN. You need a lot of it and if you aren't supplementing your food with protein drinks - be it plant or whey based - you aren't going to get the results you want.

Darktowerdream: Many congratulations on your almost 40 pound loss! That's really something to celebrate, indeed! You must be feeling a bit better daily despite other chronic issues. Keep working the plan and remain diligent, and once reaching your goal weight (while not a doctor, of course) maybe other issues may calm? I commend you for taking control of your health and food environment. So often we find ourselves around toxic food environments and insensitive people. Regardless of what other people want from you right now - I think it best to put ourselves before another's agenda. Set in place strong healthy boundaries and concentrate on making yourself first priority. Your longterm success depends on this. Additional perspectives and helpful insight that might be helpful - Are youtube videos and books by Dr. Matthew Weiner and Dr. Duc C. Vuong. One can be very inspired, encouraged and feel supported engaging these outside your world. Might I suggest the following to keep you focused and encouraged: Weight Loss Surgery by Lisa Kaouk and Monica Bashaw A Pound of Cure by Dr. Matthew Weiner Ultimate Gastric Sleeve Success by Dr. D. C. Vuong The Emotional First + Aid Kit by Cynthia L. Alexander Each address facets of interest in protein, nutritional needs, exercise, chronic conditions + disease along with the emotional and social connections after bariatric surgery. And, many best wishes on your journey. Despite the extraneous challenges you face, you are moving forward in a heroic way! ;]

I am also an Autie, at the Asperger end of the Spectrum, but never got official validation until after 70. Oh I think it always was there, feeling like a square peg in a round peg world. Much sorrow but now I know, I can acknowledge it, use it for my good and I am ME and that is fine! Our motherboards are wired differently but we all are good people, and more than worthy to be here. Well you know, when we are interested in something we can be almost obsessive? I used that tendency to center on preparing for my RNY Surgery and let nothing deviate me from that goal. Dr Kramer, my Bariatric shrink , said I would be that way and he was correct. Still following my case and may the rest of my life, that's okay. Perhaps it will give new insights that may help others. So anytime you want to chat,PM me or look for me on here. And I will be cheering for you too.

Or me either at 10 months, and thought I was perfectly ready, cool, calm, ready to start living the Bariatric life. And I read all the "pie in the sky" pamphlets I could get my chubby little paws on. Nobody mentioned my Evil new Friend. Stoma-stenosis and his sidekick jejunal ulceration. And I did not realize it takes it seems to take forever to heal. I have been on Carafate every 6 hours since October 12, 2018. I used to joke at autopsy the medical examiner would find my spine consisted of Halls cough drops, well now it has changed to oval white caplets of Carafate. And I am happy- proud of losing 125 since surgery , but Me Oh My, what I have gone through to get there! And when I try to talk to someone about my qualms, all they see is the thinner, more shapely body like a so-called Normal woman and they tune me out. I fear I will turn into a thinner corpse, easy on the pallbearer but actrifle harsh for me. And I am still on pureed,protein shakes, soups, broths and approved no calorie liquids. Know anyone else on basically a pre- surgery liver shrinking diet for almost a year? Except on it I got a 300 calorie Lean Cuisine every evening . Now I don't even have that! And when I try to advance my diet, Precious Pouch slaps some sense into me by vomiing EVERYTHING up. Why.can't I get a little honesty? If I am going to be a Gastrointestinal Cripple the rest of my fool life, OWN UP TO IT, I promise I will be less angry than I am now being ignored by the Clinic for 4 months. I reached out once, was told I was delusional, there was nothing wrong with me, this after not being able to keep anything down for 16 hours, and was advised to seek mental health help in my County. Relatively certain we have no one here. Local ER dreads seeing me, not sure how to treat anything beyond basics. They say "What can we do for you? We know little if anything about recovering RNY patients." Well my Bariatric surgeon is in Columbus, 50 miles away , Tomkitten and I don't drive, local transportation group wants 2 weeks prior notice so they will transport for scheduled appointments, but anything emergent, Forget about it! So I chug along, venting on here, praying still there is a Good Resolution to all this. Less than 25 pounds to Goal, now my PCP who I thought was in my corner is getting some sort of Cold Feet. Told me last week he only expected me to lose 70% of my excess weight, I have lost 68.3% and have 2 months before it's a full year. Some people you just can't please & he was the one 2 years ago dancing around ,singing. " Obesity gonna Kill You!" now I'm too thin? Oh come on, you were one of my Weight Loss Godfathers, and now you're backing Down? When I need some on to talk to about this, not even YOU WILL HELP? I feel rather abandoned by all, so I keep trying my best, and wistfully praying it is enough.

I never really had a moment just a lot of things that collided and me randomly thinking "bariatric surgery"! I don't know why it crossed my mind, but it did so I looked up if it was covered and it was so I started the process. I have been thin most of my life, but when I got pregnant with my son I gained 70lbs. With my first i had a military doctor and they did not listen to me at all. I knew something was wrong I was gaining like crazy, but not over eating I couldn't eat I was throwing up all the time. I had preeclampsia too and they made me go a week overdue because they wouldn't listen. Delivered a 10 1/2lb baby! With my second child 5yrs later my new doc said she thinks I'm borderline with gestational diabetes thats why my son was so big and I was gaining. They monitor me with my daughter and I gained 35lbs and lost it. But my PCOS kicked in inbetween having my children and it caused me to have a metabolic disorder and through the years I have just been gaining. With PCOS comes a ton of symptoms which is the weight gain, acne, abnormal hair growth on the neck and chin. That is what I hate the most. I knew losing the weight would help with the symptoms, but PCOS weight is different and extremely hard to lose because of the metabolic disorder. So that's what made me think of bariatric surgery. I'm a size 18 and weight 255.... I don't take pictures with my kids and I feel so bad. I'm ashamed of my weight even though technically its not fault but my condition that I happen to be born with ughhh lucky me! I was starting to back out of not wanting the surgery. Then some kid called me fat from the school bus passing our house. That hurt my feelings and pushed me more into pursuing the surgery. I don't want to embarrass my kids eventually when they get older and notice. My son is 10 and he tells me nothing it wrong with me and that I'm pretty lol bless his heart! I got a candid picture of me the other day and omg I am the same as you that I questioned is that me?!? I swear when I look in the mirror i dont see it... I see a thin person, but honey my eyes are deceiving me! Ill attach the pic... ugh so embarrassing! Anyways my surgery is July 23rd and after seeing this picture I cant waittttttt for my surgery to come. 2 more wks! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I too was always a Plump Princess, even from birth. I had under control, I was big yes but exercised, was a player of sports, basketnall, softball and neighborhood baseball. I was stable around 230, then suddenly I ballooned to 365+ and was on Phenteramine, team I broke out in fat.Was told I probably had a couple years to live if I were lucky. And suddenly I never stood if I could sit because it hurt my 2 artificial knees so badly, I was short of breath, couldn't climb steps, that turned to don't sit v if you can lays down and why bother with anything if I was on the slick glide path to mortality. I heard about Bariatric Surgery, oh I thought it would be only for Chickee babies who were 20s and 30s. But my Red-head stubbornness kicked in, Wasn't I just as good as them? Shoot I have lived longer than them, and so I said DON'T COUNT ME OUT! Yeah I am a Greandma, but I won't be a fat one anymore, didn't want my grandbabies ashamed of me but even mote I DIDNT WANT TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF. If it killed me having surgery , so be it. Everyone expected I would blow up, family already deciding my pissessoonscamong them. Am I sorry for it? Well yes and no, I am glad I had a good surgery, I started malfunctioning, and my recovery has not been picture perfect, but I still believe it can be ! I am a cock-eyed optimist and I shall not be a loser, Wasn't born for that and why week to be average when you can be Outstanding. So I chug chug toward the finish line like a brave little jalopy🚘, scratches, dings, lost a fender skirt somewhere, don't know for certain whether the chassis and engine will hold up, but I am worth more than thec$250 local guys charge such things like me. As long as I keep moving , them and the repossessers cannot hook a cable to ME!

My moment was honestly maybe 2years ago, diet and workout wasn’t working for me so I did my own research on WLS. I didn’t do anything about seeing a surgeon back then because I didn’t know how. Fast forward to November 2018, I went in for an emergency gallbladder removal because I was in excruciating pain. Then here came my one week check up but the surgeon who did the surgery didn’t have an opening for over 2 weeks but she still wanted me to see someone. So they made my appointment and I met with the surgeon and at the end of my follow up he asks “by the way has anyone talked to you about weight loss surgery?” (Now for most people I think would have gotten offended but I didn’t). I told him no but I am interested. Turns out he was a bariatric surgeon. He gave me his card to call to make a consultation appointment and I did, the minute I got home. Dec 5 2018 came and I had my consult and at the end he asked me if I would like to go forward with the process of getting approved by insurance and I said. Got approved May 30th and I will be getting VSG on a August 19th 2019

I’m on month 4 of 6 of my insurance required visits. No surgery date set yet but hoping for late September or October. Not a day goes by that I don’t do at least one of the following... research online, watch YouTube Bariatric videos or browse here and several Facebook groups. I’m pretty anxious now. I originally started the process 4 years ago but only went as far as the first visit. I felt surgery was too drastic at the time and I thought I could lose the weight on my own. After many ups and downs (biggest loss of 50 pounds) and gaining it all back my pcp referred me to a weight management center. I feel comfortable with the staff/doctor. I hope the remaining months go by fast. I’ve never ever wanted summer to be over with. Lol.

https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-15g-protein-shots-pink-lemonade I got 4 flavors of this in my bariatric pal box & I was hesitant but... I've had the pink lemonade & orange & they're actually really good. They can down the tiny bottle like a shot, but I dump it into a bottle of water & liked it. I wasn't as bad off as you my first two weeks with the protein- it didn't make me sick but mentally the taste of most all of it was just gross. I enjoyed the premier protein shakes prior - first 2 weeks after I didn't really want to drink them. (Now that I'm farther out they're good again). I also liked the premier protein clear drinks prior. I STILL don't want to drink those & now I've got 20 of them piled up in my pantry. Whomp.

read this study on bariatric surgery performed on lower BMI patients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5803286/ opinions and anecdotes are good to form a support system but look to research to be fully informed re: low bmi barbaric surgery.

The foods you made sounds awesome. I’ve made chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt and cream in the past. I haven’t made it yet post op. Sorry my reply turned into a long winded message ... I’m in Florida too. I went to Shillingford but it didn’t work out and I ended up going to Cleveland Clinic. I needed gastric bypass due to severe GERD and Dr. Shillingford didn’t even discuss it. He made a lot of assumptions without hearing me out. Insurance doesn’t count metabolic disorders as a comorbidity, I had enough of them but never had high BP and did everything to prevent diabetes due to pcos. I didn’t have the energy to prove my sleep apnea. I couldn’t deal with a sleep study. Even fighting my weight I ended up hitting the 40 BMI mark. I dreaded that. It was an endocrinologist that helped confirm having bariatric surgery was my last method of treatment, or at least a tool to help fight my weight against several metabolic disorders. She referred me to Cleveland clinic. The one 4th of July bbq I went to was tough. All my mother’s friends. I ended up doing the work rather than eating anything. It was Saturday and rained on an off. (Drenching rain) Besides the person who always mans the grill, and my mother, no one did anything except say where’s the food. I felt like if I didn’t help, no one would halve. At one point I had to hold an umbrella over the grill. Would have been funny had I not been exhausted. I wasn’t feeling well so had not planned on going but my mother wanted me there. I haven’t been able to shift past let alone into the purée phase. (And I’m about 9 weeks in, I should have been moving into phase 4) There wasn’t anything I could eat. That didn’t bother me as much as being asked how I am knowing they expect me to say just fine, if I say otherwise it’s, it’ll get better or but you look good. Words hard to deal with because of living with lifelong chronic illness that no one can see. I will never be better. But need to get to a healthy weight to ease some of the burden on my messed up body. I have a upper endoscopy the 11th, I’ve got some kind of hiatal hernia, a stricture (3mm narrow gastrojejunostomy) and a Schatzki ring. I don’t know how the doctor will address that since I didn’t hear from them about the gi fluoroscopy results that showed these things. I’m almost tempted to cancel the endoscopy. I’m also seeing a neurologist about dysphasia separate from those things. I guess I’m just not good around people. I don’t expect anything. Definitely not pity. And I don’t mind helping either. But when I feel like that’s all I’m good for even though my body took a heavy beating from doing so ( and no one can see it) I don’t feel very welcome. Sorry. I have rambled on. My weight is going down thankfully. Sometimes it stays the same for days on end. I weigh myself each morning after I’m dressed. I mark it on a calendar I printed out. I started taking some notes on my tablet for each day my weight and what I’ve “eaten” calories and protein. To make sure I get at least 50 grams of protein. I have the same protein shake almost every morning mixed with ripple milk. To get 30 grams. Probably is not smart but I haven’t eaten lunch. I get the rest of my protein at dinner. I’ve read some research that it’s good to have protein at rest, vs prior to exercise. im always worried my metabolic disorders will get the best of me And sabotage my efforts as it did before. How few calories should a person eat. I thought I was doing alright before, I didn’t eat sugar, ate low carb ... everyone talks about exercise. I cannot. It’s hard to get even doctors to understand that I’ve one of few medical conditions that exertion causes literal damage and worsening of my conditions. Just doing what needs to be done takes it all out of me.