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When first making the decision to open up to the tool of bariatric surgery I simply assumed that the sleeve would be the procedure that I preferred. This was due to having the full run of my plumbing and perceived ability to eat the foods I wanted, but restrict the amounts. Seemed simple. My younger sister had bypass 15 years ago and I just didn't think that "aggressive" a procedure would be needed for me. After all.....I've lost large amounts of weight in the past through diet and exercise....I just needed a little help......or so I was believing. My physician who was discussing this with me eased me into the conversation and led me to find my way to the surgeon I've selected. I've been to his group presentation.....the first required step. Even after listening to my sister and seeing her progress.......for 15 years......and for secretly thinking in some small way that she took the easy way out.........I didn't "get" it. That presentation really altered my thinking about restrictive and absorptive restriction. I realized in that group session my "hero" status as the big brother doing it on his own......over and over again......was a stupid cycle. I needed to get all the help available.....every tool in the toolbox to get the lifelong results I strived for. Dr Carlson addressed the full room and fielded every question asked. An hour went by....then more.......he'd long since made his informative presentation.....yet stayed to discuss our concerns. A lot of "ah-ha" moments were had. I heard the lady seated behind me speak to her friend, "The sleeve is what will work best for me". My wife, seated beside me, was quiet. She reserved her comments until much later when we were driving home. She proceeded carefully fearing that she knew my mind had already been made up on the sleeve. It was a relief to her when I acknowledged that I felt I needed the bypass.......like my brave little sister did so many years ago.....doing her own research.....as a young woman on her own.......when most folks hadn't heard of such. One of my issues is reoccurring reflux. Some nights it can be really bad. It subsided greatly once I completely cut out alcohol from my intake on April 2, 2015. Back in early April of this year I'd begun resuming the fight to loose my weight. I'd taken evaluation of my current state of living. I loved to grill out.........really loved it. It is therapeutic. I loved to crack open a cold beer and fire up the coals. More beer throughout the cooking and serving everyone had me relaxed and happy. After dinner, I'd normally get drowsy due to several beers......then it'd be time to hit a couple tequila shooters and another beer......or a rum & diet coke or two. I'd get my relaxed and happy state back. It was clear which non-essential calories to drop first......cut out the beer and liquor along with seriously revising the menu on my plate. Guess what.....these were the nights the reflux was bad. Drinking + spicy food (the only kind off my grill ) = reflux. I discussed this "revelation" with my wife. She pointed out a few times since when I'd complained of reflux....since I'd cut out alcohol. I realized she was right......it was still occurring but less often. I have decided that I'd prefer the bypass.......but don't even know yet if I'm approved for it. The waiting and suspense of insurance is driving me nuts. Don't get me wrong.....I'm glad the procedure isn't something as easy to get as a bad tattoo.......but I wish it was more straightforward from the insurance company standpoint. Down the road the results I get from the bariatric will certainly lessen the costs I'd otherwise pose to them, right ? Sorry for the rambling. I'm just eagerly impatient and ready to get this ball rolling in the direction that will lead to successful and long lasting health provided I continue to do my part. I'm checking stuff off the mandatory list at least.....and this website and the folks here are already helping me find answers to the tons of questions I have. My mandatory checklist: Attend the group session---done in early June. Meet with the bariatric program's & surgeon's nurse to review my case and 8 pages of medical Q&A i was to complete--done this past week. Meet with surgeon on official visit----scheduled for July 1. Meet with program's nutritional guru----first of the 6 visits is on July 7. This I understand will be the "start" date of the mandatory 6 month timeline to surgery. Meet with psyche guru----awaiting appointment scheduling now. Internal scope evaluation of stomach and other plumbing-------to be scheduled after visit with surgeon I still don't have any type of official indication that bypass is a covered procedure (United Healthcare). I don't know if I can hang on 6+ months before getting this latest umbilical hernia taken care of. I want to get on to eating the foods I'll be living by after the surgery......eat like I've had the surgery......begin accelerated weight loss now......not wait until the surgery. I just want to be sure that I can't lose "too much" on my own that the insurance balks and says, "No way buddy.....you got this.....do it yourself". I can do a lot off by myself.....but I fail to keep it off. I don't want to sabotage my chances for coverage. So many questions that I'm sure will be resolved and clear in the weeks ahead......it's just right now I want to get going with progress of some type......no matter if it's from bypass or from my jumping onboard with the new plan. The compelling reasons for the need to get going are probably no different than most other folks here: I'm having back spasms from reoccurring back injuries due to herniated T-12 vertebrae. Spine surgeon stated that bariatric surgeon can do more for my spine than he could with back surgery. Sounds legit. Umbilical hernia is driving me nuts. It's worsened when back goes out and my posture and such gets weird. Knees are shot....ortho doc says I need knee replacements sooner than later....he's saying 5 years tops.....plus hip, too. He also stated that 200 lbs off my frame would push those replacements back a long time. I already feel some benefit in my knees from the initial pounds coming off. Swelling in my ankles is greatly reduced. Sorry again for the rambling. I'm jittery after finishing up the last day of miracle steroids (4th round with them since April) on my back. The side effects are sleeplessness for me. I get jittery after the 6 day cycles. I'm hoping for a good long sleep later today....tonight. Aside from dropping the alcohol, fried food and reducing sugar & starch intake (doing these).........what can you advise me to do? What other dietary-related actions? Breakfast choices now are oatmeal (made with Water and small amount of salt) vs sausage biscuits and such. lunch & dinner has me eating lots of salads. Snacks are nuts, fruits like blueberries and apples and occasional whole grain toast with small amount of health choice butter substitute or Greek Yogurt. Drinking tons of water. 40oz of coffee every day during the first portion of the day......a lot, I know. I use nonfat creamer and Splenda or Equal (10 packs for 40oz coffee). I'm still having 2-3 20oz Diet Mt. Dew's every day. Sounds like a ton....but it's way down over the number I used to drink. I go to one a day on days off....but do poorly during workdays. No more drive thru's and only salads from fast food restaurants. What else should I be doing? Should I order the "Big Book on Bypass" and get started on it ??????? Stir crazy and tired of my 46 years of fat fighting. 5 years ago I burned off 120 and felt like a new man.......still have many of the 2X & 3X clothes. I saved most of them.....refusing to toss them due to that being symbolic of me throwing away my hope of wearing them again. I lost that weight.....but failed to keep it off. The brief period at that reduced weight was enough of a taste of healthier living that I have craved ever since. Virtually painfree and full of energy. Leaner.......able to wear my old high school letterman's jacket and button it up......too small still, but at least it would button up. Another 100 pounds off that and I feel like i'd be walking around feeling like a Gazillion dollar lottery winner. I may never get a winning lottery ticket.....but I'll be supremely happy to get 200 lbs off........and MAINTAIN that level. So ready to get this machine krunk up and in gear and burn some rubber down the track. This waiting is like sitting there with the engine revving up but the parking brake locked in place...........

Lol thanks! This definitely put a smile on my face even though a lot of what you just said kind of scares the crap out of me! I LOVE myself some dunkies and or marylous! I recently started doing the sugar free shots not swirls and skim milk or sugar free creamer at home.. (They have me starting to get ready for what life's going to be like after surgery) everything I a huge change. I'm doing pretty good so far. Can I express how proud I am of myself for a moment? 1. I drank Mountain Dew faithfully for 12 years I'm talking 24 packs in a day! I've been Mountain Dew clean for almost 4-5 months now! I drink only Water and one coffee a day! Forced myself! I can't imagine it any other way now! 2. I have been a smoker since I was 6 years old (discussing I know! I have older nephews so if I smokes with them they knew I couldn't snitch on them!) I couldn't inhale until I was 8 but either way.. I'm 30 now.. I haven't had a cigarette in a week now!!! I don't even really care! That's the shocking part! I think I'm to concerned with my eating to think about smoking lol 3. I used to lay in bed and feel sorry for myself not move at all. Hence being almost 400lbs at one point I've been moving more even little things I have stairs that lead up to the bathroom... I so ten push-ups off the stairs before I can pee lmao and I have three kids all under 5 so.. Enough said there. I do jump and jacks with my 4 year old ( or what I consider to be jump and jacks ) I have cheated on this diet a little bit but when I've cheated it's been two extra pieces of celery or an extra scoop of low fat Greek yogurt.. Not an extra bowl of Pasta with extra sauce and bacon and chicken like used to. I'm proud of me Thank you for listening to my rant and thanks for all the advice!! I'm going crazy over here cuz I don't even know if they are going to give me a date yet! I'm still waiting! All I know is they put me on this diet and she said it's what I will be on for the rest of my life after surgery basically (minus the time I'm on the liquid diet) I just want a date now! I need to know!! I think I'm more nervous not knowing if I will get a date... I need this! I need to live and stick around for my kids!

Been stuck in a stall for 3 weeks, or about that. Like perhaps 4 or 5 pounds over that time. Now I am DETERMINED to lose weight, I am down to 350 calories a day, no appetite, cannot stand the thought of eating, coffee, Water and yogurt(s) are my entire diet as of now. I am back to losing weight again but at what cost? I don't know what to do. I take my Vitamins and feel great, but know this is bad for me. Suggestions? Calorie reduction went from 900 > 700 > 500 > 400 > 350 and today as of this writing at 3:08PM I am at 202 calories for the day. Not even close to Protein goal, water is waaaay over. Gah, I think I made a terrible mistake having this surgery. I was more successful losing weight pre-op on my own. Still burning 4K-5K calories a day and even then I am lucky to lose a pound a day. NUT would yell at me and tell me to eat more. PA more of the same. I see my therapist on the 20th along with a new Pdoc, what to do in the meantime? Tomorrow is weigh in day, and I am afraid if I don't see a big loss for the week I might start becoming anorexic. HELP!

Im so frusterated im on my 3rd week out from surgery, The first week I got on the scale and was exstatic to see that i lost 9.6 lbs. the second week I got on the scale and was a little disapointed to see a 2.6 lb loss im in the middle of my third week now and weighed myself tonight (my official weigh ins are every friday but i just was curious) and i actually gained 2 lbs. I feel so frusterated, i knew that i would stall like almost everyone else does but i wasnt expecting it so soon, nor was i expecting to gain weight. I feel so embarassed my mom who paid for my surgery is coming to visit me tomorrow and she hasnt seen my since before the surgery she hasnt said anytthing but i know that shes expecting to see me noticably skinner, i feel like im failing myself and my family. Im just sitting here telling myself that this whole thing was too good to be true and im just going to stay this way forever. I cant stop crying im so mad at myself. I know everyone says oh dont worry it will come off but i just feel convinced that its just not guna work for me. I am getting in all my protein Im drinking all my water im going to the gym Today for example I had 2 oz of yogurt for breakfast a couple bites of chicken for lunch and a few more bites of chicken for dinner. and then a protien drink. I dont feel like im eating too much I just dont know what im doing wrong or if im just supposed to be in this body forever. I feel like im letting everyone down and im so depressed any advice?

I'm 6 weeks out and only get in about 400 cal per day. I have 2 premier protein shakes as well, but I can only eat 1 egg and maybe a baby bel mini cheese and 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt for the day. I just feel too full for anymore. I figure as time goes on, I'll be able to consume more. My doc is not really concerned about my calories at this point. He just wants to make sure I'm at 65g protein and staying under 30g carbs.

I am December 7th. On 2nd week of pre op diet- 3 shakes a day- all I can eat raw veggies- 1 sf jello- 1 non fat yogurt and 3oz fruit. A bit rough but will be worth it.

Oh Kim I am so sorry you are not feeling well. I would suggest trying gatorade to help with getting your electrolites back and if you find it too strong Water it down....ice or popsicles....it goes down slow but at least you are getting some liquid....juice is good cause then you are getting some sugar....meaning a bit of energy....do not worry about the calories at this time it is all about healing...I ate alot of butternut squash soup...smooth but hearty and yogurt especially greek yogurt....great Protein Gas was bad for me too....however laying in bed is not a great idea....try just walking up and down your stairs every 30 mins....just to get stuff moving....gas x was my best friend during the gas pains. Once it starts moving it will feel better and increase your walking I couldn't do Protein Shakes at all...I had and still sometimes feel naseau....I was told that my surgeon didn't put anything in my band however I had and still have some swelling and restriction....small sips...make sure it goes down then another sip Keep in touch that's what we are here for taylor

I am so sorry to hear the fills have been such a struggle. I had my second one yesterday and it seems to be okay. But I am feeling like it is pretty tight. I couldn't even eat yogurt this morning. So i am back on the Protein Shakes (yum, I know!). I am trying some that are in the refrigerator section and have more calories. They are more expensive but are much better than what I had before and its only for two days. I lost 3 more lbs since my last fill three weeks ago. So getting close to the 20 lb mark. I also read a very inspirational book called Lapband and Laughter. The author went through all of the ups and downs of her 3 year experince. I would recommend it for anyone needing motivation. Here's the link: http://lapbandsandlaughter.com.au/ All the best, Melissa PS I am going to the Bahamas in January and think that is a good goal for a little more weight loss.

I've been eating puréed black Beans with mashed potatoes. This was really good. I've also been eating Greek yogurt, applesauce and tomorrow I'm going to make guacamole and try a tuna salad. I may even make the deviled egg mixture too. Just open to anything right now. The nurse pretty much told me what I already knew. I've been able to eat about 1/2 cup or so.

I prefer FAGE, and add a shot of sf torani hazelnut and a few slivered almonds for crunch... also ground flax seed is nice. You can also flavor the plain yogurt with sf pudding mix. You'll want to avoid the yogurts with sugar, of course. You can also add a spoon of no sugar added all fruit preserves, I think. Enjoy!

I really like the SF Torani syrups and the SF Monin ones. Oikos is a great yogurt. I like Voskos, too. And a Stonybrook greek organic one. I'll have to look for Fage as I have never noticed that before and sometimes I go to Walmart. Maybe the availability is different in different areas of the country.

It's amazing to me how different everyone's pre-op diet is determined by different doctors!! I am to use 4 protein carb controlled shakes ( they gave me a list of types) and 6 snacks a day that consist of my choice out of 1/2 c oatmeal, 1 cup tomato or v-8 juice, 1 cup raw veggies ( a list was given to choose from), a list and amounts of different fruits to choose from, sugar free pudding or jello, and light yogurts. I am on day 4 and am HUNGRY for some reason today!! I am a little overwhelmed with the thought of how my life will change after having the surgery but am exited all the same.

If you are on liquids then i would recommend the fruit and yogurt shakes from McDonald's or sonic.

There are times that I eat chili but depending on the recipes sometimes it's kind of a slider for me. Nachos while I love them really are not part of my life anymore. For Breakfast I have a fruited Chobani yogurt ( Greek yogurt has double the protein), mix in half a scoop of whey isolate Protein powder, unflavored Fiber powder and splendra to taste. I then add 2-3 broken up walnuts and about a quarter of a cup off Kashi go lean high protein Cereal. I usually have this after cup of coffee at about 9 o'clock at work. I buy a roasted chicken from costco on Sunday and use the breast meat for lunch all week. I weigh out 3 ounces of skinless chicken breast. In a mini plastic container I put low fat cheddar cheese about an eighth of a cup and then about half a cup of salsa. At lunchtime I cut up the chicken into small pieces pour the salsa and cheese on top and microwave. I also have the mini sweet peppers that you can find in a bag at the grocery store about 4 of them, and then some grapes or cherries for dessert. I hate to cook and I'm exhausted after coming home from the gym. So I have chicken breast with spaghetti sauce for dinner. I buy the frozen vegetables that steam in the microwave and measure out about half a cup. And some berries or grapes for dessert. My doctor really does not believe in Snacks. If I have a "snack" it's a premade Protein shake on my drive to the gym from work. I try to wait until 1 to have lunch because by the time I exercise take a shower and drive home I don't eat dinner untill after 8 and even with the Shake I'm hungry.

OK, so i kinda cheated today. I am still on liquids only + yogurt for 2 more days and I broke down added an egg to my chicken broth. I am allowed poached eggs in 2 days. I tried to make my own egg drop soup, but I guess the broth wasn't hot enough and it just turned cloudy. I heated it up some more and omg it was delish!! I hope it continues down my digestive tract as happily as it went in. LOL

Thanks! I am still working on getting 64oz. I am still on stage II foods. My staple food is greek yogurt mixed with cottage cheese, soups, broth, and Isopure Zero Carb. If I eat 2oz, then I really have to wait to drink for 30 mins, otherwise I can feel pressure going down my stomach. Working on increasing my fluid intake, and it's slow but getting better. If i sip too much it feels weird, so it's a learning process coz I sometimes forget and gulp too much and then i feel sick. I am back to work so it's even more challenging, but I really try to make a conscious effort to drink. Two weeks ago, I could only drink 1oz/hr, but as you heal and the swelling goes down, IT WILL GET better...and I was in the same boat as you, and many people posted they are father out than us and it's a challenge too for many. Just keep trying HAve a speedy recovery!

Sleeved on January 17th and doing great. I sip my water all darn day. I have one of those huge plastic cups that holds 30 ounces and fill it twice a day. For breakfast I either have 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt with a little strawberry jelly mixed in to take the edge off. I take my chewy multi vitamin. Then I pore myself half a bottle of isopure over ice and alternate between that and water until lunch. Lunch and dinner is soup soup soup. My doctor instructed 5 achy long weeks of soup. I'm a connoisseur of soup. I can rock some progresso southwestern veggie soup zip blended to thin (and strained) with a teaspoon of plain Greek yogurt. You squeeze you eyes real tight and swear its tortilla soup. In the afternoon I take my calcium right after soup. Seems to make the vitamins go down easy. After dinner I sometimes treat myself to no sugar added, all natural juice bar. I've been walking and walking and went 1.6 miles today, proud of myself. I also dabble in a little bit of wii dance with my kid, but take it easy, not too much jumping. It's a journey and with this new tool we have, we can all do it!

Surgery 11/4, I’m eating protein rich “meals” (1/4 cup of canned chicken mashed up with hot sauce or low fat salad dressing is a “go to”) 3 times a day, plus Greek yogurt as a snack. Today, I’m allowed to have “soft” foods, so I will have a Turkey meatball mashed up in homemade no sugar tomato sauce with a tablespoon of ricotta cheese for one of my meals and I can’t wait. I am hoping and wishing for the time when I can have fresh veggies- but all I’ve been approved for at this point is veggies steamed and mashed which… isn’t flavorful no matter what I try to do (and I’m a decent cook, but mushy broccoli is mushy broccoli no matter what herbs you add to it) the way it was told to me, I’ll lose more once I add to my diet. Not sure why, but hoping that’s true. I am down 36 pounds since starting the liquid diet 2 weeks prior to my surgery, and that makes me happy.

Telly, Do Those Yogurt Drinks Fill You Up? That's A Great Idea, I Guess You Get Very Creative With Different Foods Now, Huh? Tomorrow I Get To Start On Milk Products, Yea!!! I Am So Looking Forward To That, I'm Over The Jello/juice Thing, I Wonder If I'll Ever Hate Ice Cream That Much.

Yes i was looking at my carb intake and wasnt eatting a lot of carbs but now, im abt to truly give all i have, i will take yur advice the best i can, cut my carb intake all the way down. even though i thought i was doing so, the things i was eatting with the most carbs was yogurt and its the low fat yogurt that my nurse told me that would be ok, but i just gotta get to the bottom of this. Thank u for u advice.

I'm on thin liquids til Friday, then I go to thicker liquids like yogurt smoothies. I'm still confused on the consistency. Thin, Thick, Mushy, they all seem the same to me. I guess this Friday I want water down my tomato soup.

Hi guys, I just weighed in for week 2 and only lost 2lbs. I lost so much the first week, 17.5 that I expected more like 5 the second week, at least 3 or so.... Is this normal? I had no pre-surgical diet except to do Clear liquids the day before .... HELP..can I be doing something wrong already? I am still on full liquids, eating 3 shakes a day for Protein.. Muscle Milk light, made with Water.. about 140 cal per shake and eating Soup and yogurt in between.. yogurt is 100 cal and light. I'm not getting more than 4 cups water in tho.. and will try for upping it to 6 today... any input?

I found a different brand (it's organic and actually seemed "better" than PB2) at Vitamin Shoppe. The brand I bought is Just Great Stuff: http://www.bettylousinc.com/products_detail.php?id=287&ref=0 I bought a container of both the Peanut Butter and the chocolate peanut butter. They are both amazing and taste incredible mixed with the plain Greek Yogurt! I've also seen the PB2 on Amazon.

Our doc allows only 1 ounce of food per sitting. It doesn't sound like much, but it seems to be the right amount for me. I have been having refried Beans for about a week. It sounds gross but I have been taking the 1 ounce refried beans and mixing it with a small (think baby spoon) spoonful of cottage cheese. Once it heats up, it makes it a little cheesy and helps thin it out a little. I have really enjoyed it and despised cottage cheese pre-surgery. The beans have not made me sick, but I had trouble with eggs. I tried some scrambled egg beaters on Monday night and the doc thinks that is what caused the swelling that landed me back in the hospital on Tuesday (no stricture, just swelling). Another suggestion for you since it sounds like you're willing to try yogurt! I have been in love with Chobani 0% Greek Yogurt (1 ounce) mixed with a spoonful of PB2. Since it is nice and thick it almost tastes like I am eating a spoonful of really soft Peanut Butter. I've tried the one that is like Nutella and it is just as delicious.

Hmm... I was told that full liquids were things like milk, very runny yogurt, soup, etc, so egg drop soup and tomato soup should be OK according to that criteria. I'd start out with with only a mouthful or 2 of anything new and if you feel OK, you can always have some more later once you know you're OK with it.