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Okay so I went to the dr Wednesday dec 6th I wrote him a letter with everything that I have tryed and diets, apps ,and gyms. I put skinny pictures of me and now weight pics of me. He knows I have tryed everything under the sun and he thinks it's time, he told me to go to a seminar which I just enrolled and it's dec 15th in Knoxville TN and then after that one see him and he will do the referral letter to the surgeon and they will make apt for me. I'm 5'11 and weight 246 my bmi is 34.5 I know I have to be 35 and 1 or more health issues I have asthma, siatic nerve issues in back and knee problems but I heard that wasn't going to count my dr said that he can make it happen and put i have more issues if I really want this done which is shocking!! So!! I'm going to have to gain about 10 lbs to get my bmi to 35 but scaried to death he can't make it look good on paper for health issues or I could gain another 47 lbs and be at 40 bmi and not have to have any health issues . What do you all think and any advice is greatly appreciated!! I have blue cross blue shield federal also. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Oh, and I would also do the best you can to lose a few pounds. Just start getting into the healthy eating mode early by eating lean proteins and veggies and lots of water. Do that for a couple of weeks, and you'll see the weight come off. Plus you'll feel great.

Okay here's the thing. I'm a Jersey Girl : ) and I work for the State... I plan on having my surgery the end of January and it's COLD!!! So I'm wondering what will I wear back to work this winter. I'm eating better now and losing a little here and there and I have the 2 week prep diet then the surgery and post diet. So when I return to work I can't go in looking like a Rag Doll.... and it 's to cold to wear a dress, now that I think about it I hardly wear dresses I think I have 2 work appropriate ones Gosh I need help! I'm starting to worry about every little thing... Blahhh

For those of us who believe in a Higher Power, God, Jesus Budah whomever, try this. Print this prayer on business cards and stick them here there and everywhere. In the car, in your wallet, in the bathroom or on the fridg. My good friend who was banded on 11/1/2005 gave it to me. Dear God, I surrender my body and my weight loss to your divine care and love. I ask that you remove all excess unnecessary weight from my body. Return mybody to it’s most healthy and balanced state. Give me eating habits that support my health and life energy, and finally, teach me to love my body and to care for it from this day forth. Amen I know it when I read it I stop... I might eat, I might eat better or sometimes I say "Drink some more water" LOL That and another tip Lynn gave me... eat with a baby spoon it slows ya down... now it's like a love affair with my yogurt... oooooo LOL any hoo just something I would Share! Good Luck to you all! Just Keep Swimming!!!

Danielle, This depends on what your employer has written into their policies as a covered benefit. Some people with UHC have a weight loss surgery benefit, some don't. For my employer, different UHC policies cover different things. In my case, we have to have the HRA plan and not the HMO plan to qualify for weight loss surgery. You'll have to make some calls to UHC customer service or to your HR/benefits department to find out if you qualify. If you don't, you might be able to change to a different plan during open enrollment in order to qualify for the WLS benefit.

I agree that you could use a support group to deal with your stressful situation with your son. I can't imagine how hard that must be! We can be your support group if you decide on weight loss surgery, but it sounds like you might be helped by some counseling for your dependence on food. You really might find help if you seek out a professional's help or a support group for that also. I wish you the best and hope that things turn around for you soon!!

During the liver reduction diet? No. Actually, I was told if I did gain, they wouldn't do the surgery as it's impossible to follow the diet and gain. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was told that if I weighed more than surgery goal weight on day of surgery it would be canceled Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using the BariatricPal App

So is it normal to gain weight during the process? I start the liver reduction diet on Monday, January 9 and VSG is on January 23, 2017. Sent from my SM-G930T using the BariatricPal App

I was incorrectly diagnosed with MS 5 years ago. I was still under the care of a neurologist so asked him for his opinion on getting a band. He said he thought it was a good idea, and saw no issues with it and the MS as a lower weight is going to be best for my overall health and especially mobility. I'm now having my troublesome band replaced with a sleeve. I'd recommend you check in with your own specialist and have them answer your questions directly. Best of luck for your journey.

Hi All. I am getting bypass tomorrow. I am a mixed bag of emotions today. Took the day off from work, mainly because I cannot concentrate on anything but my surgery. Also thought it would be a good idea to flit around my house getting loose ends wrapped up. I am excited to start on my journey to a healthier, more weight, body confident me! Wishing you all success and support on your journey. HB Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

This was the question asked of me today when I went in for my fill. For Breakfast most mornings (especially work days), I eat light string cheese and CARBMaster yogurt (12 g Protein, 4 g carb, 1.5 g fat and only 80 calories). She said that yogurt just slides right through the band and doesn't provide the feeling of satiety. I have to disagree. Again, during work days, I eat breakfast about 8:45 am. I then take lunch at noon. It fits my schedule perfectly and I am ready to eat lunch at that time. I don't eat dinner then until around 6:30-7:00 pm. My doctor also told me to stay away from any Soups that I can't eat with a fork. Hmm, so I guess no more SouperSalad for me! lol On a side note, I did get a fill and some how managed to lose a pound in the last two weeks. I had had a cold which made my band really tight so I didn't get a fill two weeks ago. My cold went away and so did my restriction. I've been eating a ton this last week and totally expected to gain.

I had my surgery back in November so its been a little over 7 months and I am officially down 151 lbs. Things have slowed down the past 4-6 weeks but it is still coming off. I definitely understand what everyone means by the "honeymoon" phase now and it really helps to lose as much as you can during that period. I've got 69 lbs to goal and I will have lost half my initial weight.

With less than a week until my operation, I thought I would focus on the three big weight loss goals that I would like to achieve, in a Japanese way. Today is Setsubun, an old Japanese holiday that used to mark the change of seasons. It involves wearing a mask to scare children and throwing dried Beans or peanuts around (and out of) the house to get rid of bad spirits (and encourage good ones to come in). However, this holiday often includes getting a Daruma doll. In Japan, when one has a wish or goal they would like to complete, they get a Daruma doll, which is a small, hollow, wooden doll, usually painted in red, with the eyes blank. You fill in one eye when you make your wish, and then when that wish/goal comes to pass, you can fill in the other eye. These dolls are a symbol of perseverance and good luck, and are popular all over Japan. I happened to visit the centre of Daruma-doll production (Takasaki, Gunma), where I picked out a few of them. I thought they would make great visual reminders of the goals I want to achieve. The three goals are: hitting onederland, losing 100 pounds, and achieving goal weight. What are (or were) your three big goals?

had my sleep study last night and am pretty much DONE with pre-op stuff! I don't sleep well away from home so I was geared up and they could tell. the bed/room was very comfy and a great tv but I didn't fall asleep for almost an hour compared to just barely hitting the pillow at home! I DID hit REM sleep for a few hours so at least I feel rested. The rule that is followed by the Doc at this sleep center is an AVERAGE of 5 apneas per hour qualifies you for CPAP. I averaged 2.3 an hour EXCEPT when in REM and then I had 15 per hour. But, the respiratory therapist who was with me during the test told me this morning that this is a textbook "I need to lose weight" type of sleep apnea, and not true long-term apnea. He said that it is a coin toss whether I need the CPAP or not. In any case, the Neuro/Sleep Doc will read it and I see my surgeon next week and we will decide. Hopefully they will let me waive it and I can keep moving forward. All in all it wasn't SO bad but i'm hopeful I won't have to do it again!!

I have tried every diet there is and have had success a little bit but never major I am ready for a life change to start over again I have heard that the gastric balloon is coming out but who knows when it will be out. I also have had 3 friends who have done the gastric sleeve and had had success. In our class they did say that the majority of people do gain the weight back after 2 years back but if you do you what you're supposed to do and stick to the proper eating then you will be successful. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Here is the chart that came with my scan: Age: 16-19 Female: 17-32% Male: 10-20% Age: 20-39 Female: 21-33% Male: 8-20% Age: 40-59 Female: 23-34% Male: 11-22% Age: 60-79 Female: 24-36% Male: 13-25% So, for me, it would be 11-22%. Of course, if I just sit tight for about 17 more years, I'll be much closer It doesn't specifically tell you how to go about getting the % in line - either gaining muscle mass, or losing fat would lower the percentage. I will just attack it from both angles. Although, I have never been very good at actually building muscle, and I certainly could use some in my upper arms to help tighten up some of this skin!!! Now that I'm think enough to actually see the muscles, I realize my muscles are very thin/sinewy, not at all bulky.

I will take a crack at some of these: 1. Yes - some do frequently, particularly if they overeat. Personally, I haven't in the past six years since surgery. 2. Yes. Ingested air or gas from digestion has to get out someway - there are two routes. 3. Post op tolerances vary widely with some not able to eat some foods for varying lengths of time, and some have no issues at all with anything. 4. Depends on your surgeon's program. Mine was soft foods and liquids from the get-go. 5. Depends on surgeon's program and individual needs and inclinations. Most are protein centric as our bodies need certain minimal amounts and can get by with little else. Some follow one of the many popular fad diets while others concentrate on learning to eat sustainably for long term maintenance and weight control. 6. No idea, but it shouldn't hurt. 7. No experience. 8. No, more like T-giving dinner after seconds, thirds and fourths, only with a small fraction of the amount. Some may experience what they call foamies or slimies when things come back up but I have never experienced this. 9: Water goes right thru; capacity of the stomach is irrelevant. Eatiing/drinking limitations are variable but usually settle out at no drinking for 30 min after a meal. Before a meal doesn't matter as the fluid flows right thru the empty stomach, though a limitation of 15-30 minutes is often used initially to account for post surgical stomach inflammation that may impede fluid flow. 10. As before, with a sip of water. For a while it was one pill at a time with a sip rather than a handful of pills with a gulp, but that settles out over time. Some RNY oriented practices like to use chewies or gummies to avoid pills getting stuck in the stoma, which is irrelevant for sleeve patients who don't have a stoma. Some large pills may work better split or crushed for a time. 11. See Above - fluids flow right thru the empty stomach. Drinking immediately after eating may result in things coming back up. 12. With the sleeve, nutrition is largely up to the patient as there is no significant malabsorption effect. Early on, much of our nutrition other than protein comes from supplements but that decreases as our diets improve over time. 13. For a time, yes, and some do more than one. Some choose to continue using them for the long term out of convenience. 14. you aren't going to do much to damage your stomach by exercising too much/early, but you can induce incisional hernias. 15. Choose better parents and don't get fat in the first place. Seriously, it's a matter of genetics, age, and how much fat is stored where.

The only regret you will have if you don't do it I'm now 12 days out after surgery I feel good no pain . And driving still on liquid diet but to be fair I don't feel to bad as yet it's a strange feeling not feeling hungry and when I do 200ml ov Soup sorts the job out . I was pooing myself before but that's normal we are changing our lives forever . Our main goal is to have a tool in our body to help us be healthy and lose weight if we choose to do so .hope this helps good luck ?

I hope I lose a good amount I'm doing 10 days to try and make weight for my preop it's been difficult and I've had issues but yesterday and today have been good I need to lose 10 pounds by March 10th

Really? Do you think people will notice? I suppose It depends on your starting weight if people will question it.

I do miss an ice cold glass of pepsi now and again, but I think of all the things I've gained and it seems like more than a fair trade. I'm nearly two weeks post-op and still on full liquids. Only very slightly hungry. Barely think about food. Only complaint is I'm bored of the lack of choice in my full liquid diet. Haven't had any overwhelming cravings at all, mostly just sitting there with my bowl of soup while my family eats BBQ steaks and wishing that were me!

I am scheduled for surgery this Wednesday I'm anxious to lose the weight but afraid of the strict diet restrictions anybody that's had this surgery can you give me any advice and how hard is it to comply with the new food restrictions like my pre-op liquid diet for a week and right now I'm starving

As much as the research that I have pulled together I speculate the liquid diet is based on surgeon and part weight some surgeons want you to go on an all liquid diet to mentally prepare yourself for what's coming ahead, as well as shrinking the liver to make it easier to operate and easier for healing time! Also if you have a lot of weight to lose your doctor may put you on a strict liquid diet for a few weeks longer to lose weight to be able to operate, I have a BMI of 40 and my doctor put me on a two-week liquid only diet surgery date January 25, for the first seven days I had extreme headaches all day and all night long due to sugar withdrawal I did call my dietitian and she told me I can add a small piece of fruit two times a day if needed! Hope this helps and good luck HW 270 CW 258 Surgery date 1/25/17 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

It is a great idea. I'm doing the same thing, I started my pre-op a week early and when I met my surgeon he was really happy. The more weight we lose before surgery will prepare us better (smaller liver and less fat located in stomach) and less weight to lose after surgery.