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Hey everyone, I am 4 days into my two week Optifast diet an have been told twice today that I have bad breath even though I just brushed my teeth. I know ketosis can cause this , but my question is when does it stop ? The idea is to be in ketosis for most of the weight loss phase, right ? So does that mean as long as I am eating low carb I will have an offensive odor coming from my mouth? I have tried mouth wash, gum, brushing teeth and mints . They briefly and barely help. Any tips or hope on when this will stop would be so greatly appreciated! I know it's a small price to pay to be healthy , but yuck !

I never really ran from the camera because I figure it is what it is. The weight is apparent, even if you don't want to see it in a photo. Everyone sees it when I'm out and about so trying to shield myself from seeing it, I feel, is futile. I may not like what I see but it's me. I walked past a mirror at a department store once and that ruined my day but I got over it. Then again, I have a performance background so I'm used to putting myself out there; good, bad, ugly, pretty.

. Oh okay , I'm not really sure about their policies .. But mine went pretty fast. I got my referral on June 3 had orientation June 11- was sleeved on August 12 because I had to wait a month for my pysh eval because he only work 3 days a week there so it might have been sooner that's not bad at all compared to what I thought it was going to take. I've read a few different posts that said Kaiser requires a 12 week nutritional class and you have to lose 10% of your current weight before you can have the surgery. Congrats on your journey!

Hello all I'm just beginning my journey. The first step through kaiser nor. Cal I have to take an introduction to weight loss surgery class, which isn't scheduled until Sept 9th. I'm just wondering if anyone else has any experience going through kaiser for the sleeve how long did it take from your initial inquire until you had your surgery?

Well, I am down 35 lbs. from 1 week liquid diet to toady my 4 weeks post-op. I believe this is called the Honeymoon period. I am glad for the loss, but I don't think I want to lose this much next month also. That would make me more than half way to my goal weight loss in 2 months. I am expecting to stall out a bit or gain a bit once I start my soft solids on July 1st. Is this what most experienced sleevers experienced? When did your honeymoon period end, and why do you think it ended?

Another weird thing I noticed as well is I always seem to lose weight right after a fill and then the next two weeks I fluctuate back in forth. I am really wondering if my restriction is not where it needs to be. I am a little concerned though because my band is only 11cc and I have 8 in there already.

hello MzPecanbrown, wow thats awesome you lost so much weight. I had vertical sleeve surgery on july 16th in california. I moved recently to raleigh , nc. I have lost 30 lbs since surgery. it is stalled for now. I dont see any weight loss. Also i am worried about what kind of workout i should be doing. I was wondering if you could give me info about weight loss management centers for weight loss surgery patients that would specifically know how to handle patients like me. Thank you in advance

What was your starting weight. You look fab ! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes I'm ready !! More then ever ! To ready to wait over a year to have done, but I will do whatever it takes. I have health net HMO insurance. I went to my first doctors apt yesterday where my doctor informed me that i would have to see the doctor every month for 6 months to weigh in and also show them a journal of everything that I've eaten for that month. After that is completed then I need to see a dietitian, a psychiatrist and so on and so on...it can take up to a year and a half. Is It worth it ? I've been over weight all my life. I have tried sooo hard to lose it. Now that I'm a mother there are so many things that I want to do with my children that I don't have the energy to do, this brings tears to my eyes. So yes, it's more then worth the wait to be able to run and play with my kids. I'm very excited ! This website is wonderful ! I will keep everyone posted as to how everything is going concerning the lap band, insurance, doctors visits and so on...I would love to hear from you all. Thanks for your support ! xo-Anne

dwbrown sorry you've had all these medical problems/surgeries - you are obviously very brave/strong dealing with what you have gone through happy you found this site - we love to give advice, but first we need to hear the questions you newbies should be asking we're always here to support everyone you didn't ask, but i just want to mention there are videos that you do from your chair only - i started out with some of those before WLS and continued for awhile - they could be helpful to you also you have a wise dr. - suggesting the sleeve as the way to go we on the sleeve board all say how wonderful the sleeve is, we're kindof biased, but the sleeve is the best WLS The sleeve works as a tool/assisting you to loose weight. Be good to the sleeve, work with it, and it will be good to you there is alot you have to do also - but i see your strength, so i'm sure you can accomplish the rules that go along with the sleeve glad you already have been approved by your insurance - thats one big thing you don't have to worry about early congrats on your future with WLS you will love your sleeve good luck

Hello everyone I was wondering about online trainer programs because i have come to realize that with my weight loss journey i need professional help of some sort because what i am dong on my own is sporadic and really not getting the job done i do not know what is going on with me i work out for 3 days straight then i stop for three days its just not right for a young man who wants to lose weight really bad just cant cut the mustard in my heart i want to get the job done but my head always make an excuse things are really boring for me when i work out.I believe dealing with a professional would really help and give me some motivation cause right know thats my biggest hurdle. So do you guys know of any online programs were you deal with a professional trainer who writes up a custom program to help you reach your goals thats good for you and caters to your abilitys cause i need a change of some sort.Has anyone ever done something like this. Thanks Brandon

I had the lap band about a year ago and lost about 70 pounds, recently the band slipped and I had to have to emptied so I have already gained back 30. My surgeon wants to take my band out and recommends the sleeve and I want to do something but I'm scared of the sleeve! I want to know what the recovery was like, how long you were off work (I'm a teacher), and if you would do it again.

Congratulations on your weight loss so far! -From another February 2012 sleever!

Well, my bag for the hospital is ready to zip up, the car is fueled up for the 3 hour drive to the hospital, Protein laden popcicle's and broths are in the freezer, various Vitamin Water zero and crystal light in the fridge, dog sitter is all lined up to take care of my hairy children, prescription for pain meds is filled, and my nerves are officially on the razor's edge ! Been wearing my not so spiffy hospital bracelet since Friday and I'm having the expected huge OMG am I really doing this anxiety attack Told my sister in law day before yesterday (swore her to secrecy), and who do I get a call from yesterday evening ??? My mother in law ! So much for sworn secrecy... I definitely won't miss the miserable gallbladder, but I'm SO afraid I'll never be able to enjoy food again... I'm taking my little netbook computer with me so PLEASE CHIME IN !!! I'm fortunate to have 2 people going with me, but not so fortunate in that one thinks this surgery is no big deal (never had any weight issues, or any surgeries) and the other thinks anyone can lose weight if you just starve yourself, take diuretics, and do weekly colonics (like she has done for 50 years), but I love 'em anyway... I'll try to post an update Tuesday afternoon as drugs permit All prayers, good thoughts, or cyber lucky charms will be greatly appreciated !!! P.S. Also posted in September Sleevers Thread...

I am currently 525 pounds and am required to lose 100 pounds before I can see a surgeon. I need help to lose that weight ASAP I need this surgery to save my life. Any advise???

2 months out and happy toàJpuhkpo

Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled. Saw the post-op bariatrics team last Wednesday. Kaiser defines a sucessful bariatrics patient as one who has lost 50% of the excess weight within one year following surgery. I have lost 81% in 7 months. This forum is a wonderful resource, with many people who are very successful with the sleeve in the long-run. I want to add my experiences to the pool of information. I plan on being one of the long-runs. To keep losing weight, I have to eat fewer than 50 grams of carb a day, and stay under 1200 calories. No, I usually don't get all my Water in. I also drink coffee, with 2% milk. This is the source of most of my carb. Eating too much is as bad as eating too little. Doing either one can make my weight loss stall. I can't snack anymore. The surgeon told me that, after 6 months, it's three meals a day, period. He's right. I still use baby bowls, a baby spoon, and 5-inch plates. I plan to use the small plates forever. I like my baby spoons, and the bowls are still portion-perfect. Too much Protein triggers insulin, and I gain weight. At my weight, 166.6, I only need 65 grams of protein a day, according to my NUT. If I don't eat enough fat, my weight stalls. Fruit = stall. I cannot lose without low-intensity exercise. 3 - 5 sessions a week, 30 minutes, on a treadmill that keeps me at a pulse rate of 107 (based on age) is the key. I also lift heavy weights twice a week. Throwing a 20-pound weight around does nothing for me. I use as much weight as I can lift for 5 slow reps. I am almost to the point of being able to do a real pull-up. I have loose skin. I am a shar-pei. But I am a proud, getting-healthy shar-pei. It doesn't bother my Best Half. Why should I care? I wore a bathing suit in Hawaii, and no one reported me to the Skin Police. Yes, I lost hair, starting at 3 months and it has slowed almost to normal. I ate my protein, took my Vitamins, and I still lost hair. It's based on hormonal changes, just like after childbirth. I still look like a girl. If you are scared to have a sleeve because of the potential hair loss, you aren't a good candidate for the surgery. You don't want to lose weight badly enough to be successful. I did not have a "food funeral" before my surgery, and I followed my surgeon's pre-op diet to the letter. I've spent years eating crap. Two weeks crap-less wasn't going to kill me. I don't miss any foodstuff. I don't cry over crap not eaten. I pull my vintage sized 14 Liz Claiborne clothes out of the closet and rejoice that I no longer wear a size 26, like I did back in 2000. If I really, really want it, I eat one small bite. Most sweets that I used to crave now taste terrible. One sweet potato fry satisfies as well as a bag of gingersnaps used to. Soda tastes like chemical-salts-bilge water. Yuk. I goof. I screw up. I eat too much. I still emotionally eat. That doesn't make me a bad person. There's always the next opportunity to make a much better choice. Veterans, please feel free to add on. I'd love to know what is down the sleeved road!

Hello everyone, I'm getting worried and I could use some advice. I attempted to begin the process to get the sleeve during the summer, but was told that my 2 year weight history did not show a BMI of 35 in 2011. About a month ago, a friend referred me to another surgeon who agreed to start the process. I've completed the Nutrition appt, sleep study, psych eval, stress test, and endoscopy all in the last 2 weeks! Whew! I have 2 more groups to go, one in November and the other in December. I'm so hoping that I can submit in January and get approved, but I'm so worried that my medical records will not reflect that I have a full 2 years of a 35BMI!!!! I have chronic high blood pressure that requires two medications to control along with a host of other medical issues related to a thyroidectomy in 2012. Has anyone else had this problem/concern and if so, what did you do?! I so want to get this done at the first of the year! My surgeon's office actually wants to submit in December, but it was my idea to wait until January, hoping it will allow me to get medical records from 2013-2014, instead of 2012-2013!! I'm kinda freaking out!

Wow! That's great! From what I've been told, the weight history, nutrition, and 3 month diet is an insurance requirement. The stress test, sleep study, and endoscopy are required by this particular surgeon. Currently my BMI is 36.6 but I'm on about 8 medications a day!!

ugh, all the terms for carrying around extra weight. I hate the equation of fat to ugly as well. or fat to lazy or fat to dumb basically generalizations about the outside as it relates to the inside stinks. And really I'm more squishy than anything else at this point.

I was excited to find out how my one week apt, would go. Best case scenario lost 20lbs worst case scenario gained 5 - 10lbs. Well the envelope says .............. Down 18.7lbs in one week. OMG who is excited????? BUT to all you newbies this is not the norm. And I know this will not last loosing this much in one week but I had to share! Yes get my oatmeal that I have been wanting the last few days.

Not to be a downer, but everybody should loose with a post op diet of liquids, then mushies, etc.... The challenge becomes when you are released to start eating normal solid foods again....I gained all that weight back....because my band was not yet adjusted....and I was the same as before I had the surgery..... It took months to get things on track with the band, and it was not very enjoyable...but down right frustrating and difficult....the hardest time with this surgery was that phase.... So yes, enjoy...just be forewarned...but not to worry...many here have gone through this and there is a end to it, eventually.

I leave for the hospital in 3 or so hours. I'm being admitted today so they can monitor my blood sugar overnight this time. Some may remember my first attempt at surgery 4 weeks ago was canceled when my blood sugar went haywire at home the morning of my surgery. I haven't lost as much weight this 2 weeks prior to surgery, but I'm ready to get this thing finally done. I think I'm scheduled for sometime late tomorrow morning.

hello....I was banded on 17th march 2011...but im not loosing any weight now.... In fact I put on very easily. could anyone guide me about the daily requirement of Proteins? [ [/media]

I aim for 65 grams a day. How many fills have you bad? Do you feel any restriction? My weight loss didn't really get going good until my third fill.