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As others have said, a vegan post-sleeve diet is certainly possible, but needs to be well considered and supported by a dietition who knows there stuff to make sure you aren't missing out on things like key amino acids your body may need to maintain your muscle mass while on low calories and losing a lot of fat. Also ensure your vitamin supplements are complete and suitable for post bariatric surgery If your concern is more not wanting to directly eat meat/dairy, would it also stop you wanting to have any processed protein supplements derived from dairy? (since whey protein seems to be about the most common complete protein used in supplements, and you can get things like "whey protein isolate" based protein waters that don't taste milky at all - I don't really like any milky supplements and make myself yummy protein waters with an unflavored whey protein isolate powder in lovely iced fruity teas sweetened with stevia powder... really refreshing). Once you are 3 months+ post op and eating larger portions of food you may find you can get at least most of your required protein from plant-based foods.

Could you get something similar on Bariatric Pal or Amazon?

Also did anyone get out on Prenatal vitamins instead of the Bariatric multiples we hear of so ofte R on postings? My dietician/NUT reasoning, the level of iron should be sufficent without separate iron augmentation. Your Thoughts?😌

Once we know you, you become one of us and we,love and support our Bariatric Family members. We are either go8ng through these things with you or we have been there already and remember how it was. You are never alone on here!

Anyone of recently going to Baileys Bariatric in Owasso oklahoma?

You are small enough I believe to not have major loose skin. I would recommend you buy some Bio Oil and start using that right away. It helps minimize stretch marks and keeps the skin in great condition while you go through weight loss. Its what pregnant moms use on their belly as well as bariatric clients. Use it on your stomach, your outer thighs and inner thighs and under arm flap

Tomorrow (today) I have my rescheduled post-op visit with the surgeon! I have gone against my word and been weighing myself every day - that obsessive mindset is so hard to shake no matter how much I tell myself not to engage it. My weight has been bouncing around from 323 to 325 for just about 8 or 9 days now, so I'm still in the 17-19 lb range lost since surgery. Of course I would have loved another week of an 8-10 lb loss but so far things just ain't moving. I'm irritated but not concerned... I know it will move, and after tomorrow's appointment I'm going to try my damnedest not to get back on the scale until the 17th for a one-month weigh-in! I've been much happier since I started taking my vitamins earlier this week; I'm not exactly sure what could be in them that would boost my mood, but I'm all for it! I'm taking the Bariatric Fusion chewables. So far I like the tropical flavor and don't particularly care for the mixed berry. They are definitely a mouthful, regardless of the flavor! I'm still taking pantoprazole and just started actigall, plus my AD. So I have a very simple twice a day pill routine and I don't have to worry about spacing things or remembering to take pills at various hours, etc. I'm really pleased with this, so far! Belly pain is minimal, just a few zaps from around the numb area here and there. Bowel movements are easy to pass and regular. Eating has been getting easier as the days go by and to be entirely truthful I think it's because I'm not really following the puree rules. Unless the food is naturally pureed (mashed potatoes, applesauce) I'm either mashing with a fork (banana w/ peanut butter) or just mushing it to bits in my mouth before swallowing (potato soups, tuna). Maybe the puree texture was what was really messing with my mind. I still can't do the hummus ever since I had the meltdown that set off the eating issues. (Disclaimer: please follow your surgeon's guidelines instead of going off-track like me!) Possibly because of the added textures from the not-so-pureed foods, I've finally started feeling some feedback from my pouch here and there. I still haven't had any issues with what I'm eating, I seem to tolerate it all fine - but I do think I've been eating too fast because I definitely got some feedback after eating quickly, once yesterday and twice today so I'm going to work on "bariatric etiquette" including putting my fork down between bites and separating food and water. What I felt was mostly a weird, squeezing sensation (maybe a very low-grade pain) in my pouch with a very loud, overwhelming STOP! signal attached. It almost feels like a vagal response, like the first little bit of fuzz in your brain when you are about to faint. I don't actually faint or anything, though! And I'm still so happy that I haven't (yet) had vomiting, slimes, foamies, nausea, etc. or anything of the sort. I feel very lucky in that regard. I still don't have any sense of hunger or fullness. I'm eating because I know I should and stopping when my serving is gone. Maybe as I head into week four (can't believe it's been 3 weeks post-op today!!!!) I'll start getting some of those senses. I have had some cravings for gross, fatty food recently and I think it's because I've been eating a lot of prepared/purchased food, like beans from Taco Bell and mashed potatoes from Bojangle's. So I'm still keying into that "alone in my car going to drive-throughs" ritual that was such a problem for me. It also may be because I've chosen to reincorporate animal products, particularly cheese, in the soups and such that I've been eating. Because, to be frank, almost all the cravings I've been having are for products either made of or covered with cheese! Crispy melty mozzarella sticks, a Rally's burger dripping with cheese sauce, chicken fried rice from the local Mexican restaurant (which is basically just Spanish rice and grilled chicken with a crapton of queso blanco poured over it), a 5-layer burrito from Taco Bell... all have been on my mind lately. (Dr. Neal Barnard has some really interesting insights on cheese and addiction-like responses in the brain if you want to read more about why eating cheese might be making me crave cheese!) Right now I'm relying on my tiny pouch, lack of hunger, and a sincere desire NOT to harm myself by eating foods beyond the mushy/soft stage to overcome those cravings, but that stuff won't last forever. So in this last week of puree, I'm going to keep eating the foods that have been working for me, in the interest of calories and protein - but starting next week in the official soft food stage when I can experiment more, I'll be focusing on building back up a plant-based diet that helps my mind stay away from those types of cravings. Part of that will be planning meals and bulk cooking, and part of it will be rebuilding my cardio ability so that I have more energy for cooking! Well, I think this post is certainly long enough. One day soon I'll have to copy all this over to a word document so I don't lose any of my post-op journals if BP ever goes kaput!

Smoothies are typically a red flag item in the bariatric world due to their implied high calorie content, but you seem recognize that with your 80 cal statement. You can make a smoothie/protein shake or drink with unflavored or vanilla protein powder and add whatever extra flavors or fruits/veg that are consistent with your caloric limits. My wife makes one every day with vanilla protein powder (Optimal Nutrition from Costco is her choice) with tangerine juice as the basis and a bucketload of frozen strawberries and a banana. It is by no stretch of the imagination a low calorie or weight loss drink (she makes it more like soft serve ice cream consistency) but she doesn't need that at 13+ years post op, and it does hide a bunch of her needed supplements. Do the accounting with MFP or whatever tracking app you like to ensure that it fits your program needs, and have fun playing with it. Enjoy.

Have you had people my age(because I'm not an usual age for surgery) before and how well are they doing now? My particular bariatric center has past patients with their victory stories on their website. And a Wall of Honor on their hall to the Examination Rooms. I plan for,my pictures to be there someday!😛

I am 27 months out and am still surprised at how people don't get it. Some people have asked me what I do and how I eat because they want to loose weight also. Well of course I can relate and I want to help. But I know that sharing what and how I eat is probably not going to help them, because they are missing the SURGERY part of it along with 2.5 years of vigorous research and help from a Bariatric Registered Dietitian who I still see. I preface everything by telling them that the surgery was a game changer and I could not have done it without surgery and that I still see my Dietitian. But they go right past that part. Like it is inconsequential while the truth is the opposite. Anyone else have this reaction?

Key Point: · Products listed were chosen to make preparing food easier to achieve. Slow Cookers: Small · Small slow cooker brands include TRU (0.65 quarts), Proctor Silex (1.5 quarts) and Crock-Pot (2.5 quarts). Prices range from $10-$30. · Smaller slow cookers make cooking for one or two people more practical. There will be leftovers for bariatric patients. Slow Cookers: Large · Crock-Pot, Proctor Silex, Hamilton Beach, Elite, Cuisinart and West Bend slow cookers with 4-8 quart capacities. Prices are less expensive for manual controls when compared to digital/programmable controls. Prices range from $25-$200. Microwavable Dishes · Nordic Ware – Makes micro ware to cook eggs (poached, boiled, omelet), heat soup, plates and bowls to heat meals and other containers to cook or reheat a casserole. Check out www.nordicware.com. · Poached egg cookers also made by Walter Drake and Miles Kimball. · Look for a variety of microwave cookware that can steam fish and vegetables, reheat food or have protective screens to prevent splatters. · Plastic storage containers are now more often able to go in the microwave. Check the label to make sure the plastic is microwave safe. · Pyrex -type cookware and measuring cups are microwave friendly. Other Stuff · Spiral cutter for making zucchini pasta (“zoodles”). Helps maintain low carb eating. There are handheld and tabletop versions. Spiralizer and Veggetti are brands to make veggie noodles. · Good set of knives for chopping and cutting. · Meat tenderizing mallet. You basically pound your meat to make it thinner, and it helps tenderize the meat making it softer to chew. Nice way to burn a few calories, too!

I am currently living in the middle east and have decided to move to Florida due to medical problems after having the mgb. My concerns are finding a bariatric clinic that will monitor my blood and health every couple of months. Does anyone have any suggestions? I will be moving to Orland Florida. Thanks Sent from my LG-K430 using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m super glad it wasn’t your surgeon being the bad one in all of this that is a life long relationship you have with something like bariatrics same as in psych office staff can really be incompetent but hey you don’t go to school for over a decade to work in an office

Surgery 4/10/18 HW: 295 CW: 252 Slow start out of the gate. Surgery was complicated by adhesions from band and I was overmedicated recovery unit. Been on solid foods for a few weeks. I have to be careful with bread, but I don't eat a lot of it anyway. I do OK on my plan, but have had a few episodes of uncomfortable slime/foamies. Sometimes I can figure out the cause, sometimes I can't. Discovered last week that traveling can be a challenge, but I do the best I can. My weight loss is going much slower than I'd like. I'm told that it's because of my previous bariatric surgery/lap band. Guess the body has "been there/done that" kind of attitude. Happy I'm losing inches. Am down 2 pant sizes. Glad my energy is back. Started off on MD Patches, but developed sensitivity to the adhesive. Don't like the chalky chewables and the soft-chews are kind of expensive. I can take small pills, but the larger vitamin size caplets can be uncomfortable. Currently taking SF gummy supplements, which seem to work and I consider them my treat for the day. My skin is looking great. Not much hair loss. I notice a little extra in my brush, otherwise I seem to have that in check.

Hi there, I'm looking to speak to some women who have undergone bariatric surgery for an article in New York Magazine to learn about their experiences. Quotes could be under pseudonyms if people aren't comfortable sharing their real names. Would anyone from your group be interested in speaking with me briefly on the phone next week? Thanks so much! Anna Silman, senior culture writer at The Cut/New York Magazine You can reach me at anna.silman@nymag.com

And congratulations on these first steps, now that you are on the path please keep going. Your future health and indeed life depend on it. If I told you my chronological life age you would say " that's so cool." but I am having my own life struggles. Let me share a few. First I am one of those whose journey has painfully slow, partly my fault but mostly not. Don't worry , there is no way on God's Green Earth yours could be like dynasty one. Second I am on Social Security so Uber limited income, have been fighting the Workman Comp Wars for a little over 2 years. It should finally settle soon, one wrinkle was I have been fighting,a self-insured ex employer who I suspect has been praying I'd die off so they could wipe it off their corporate books without final restitution, while I was receiving temporary total I had no problem paying my landlord, now as it comes closer to finally being at end that stopped. I had to cut back on rental payment to pay for utilities, medications my insurance doesn't cover or even with co-pay is high and sad to say, they are ones I really need to stay healthy. Last 2 months I could pay at all, bought some time with LLord by telling him I'd resolve it with my insurance. Since he wasn't getting,in what he,thought he should receive he stopped doing repairs. Okay, things still moving along in life? Spoke with my lawyer, thought(maybe foolishly) once I paid LL back there would be enough left maybe I would have enough to make down payment on a future small house of my own, it's just me, my son and 2 rotten spoiled cats, and honestly I'm tired of a house with plaster falling,baseboards missing and now after neighbor moved out, they must have had bugs because they've moved in too. The kind you need an exterminator for, if you know what I mean. LL already threatening to evict,me in July if I don't come up with more money. No do I tell him I have one of those insects that just keep on giving? Talked to lawyer this week, I had already explored getting preapproved for sale housing,even have a letter stating that to show realtor, when time. Lawyer gave me an amount based on his years of practice, he didn't just fall off the turnip truck, been doing this variety of law for years, after his % which I don't begrudge him because he has worked hard. If I would tell ex employer you would say" Oh you can't win anything from those peaple" well I will but not as large as I dreamed of. So I will have to later call LL who lives almost into the next state, yeah pretty absent when yo need something. Oh yes, in December I had to consult a specialist in another city- another county- due to a hereditary condition running in my family, without this more detailed clearance I couldn't be cleared for Bariatric Surgery. My JFS locally had been helping with such medical trips,they dropped this facet December 31st in my case, doctors office didn't send paperwork back until January, So cost reverted to me over $100 which I have been paying off monthly. Just another nasty bite out of my puny budget. So now today I have to call LL and update him, although I have every hope of paying him the soonest I'll realize any money is 2 months, remember he already is making eviction noises. Then I have to call lawyer and tell him to make the formal demand in writing to opposing company, where we say we want like $60,000 and they say we want to pay $15,000 and then they jockey back in forth. Then I hope I don't hear from realator or lending institution because I told them I'd be making a move in July and now it doesn't look that way. I have so many clothes that hopefully I won't be able to wear anymore, some of them winter because I live in Ohio, I could have an all weekend yard sale, maybe I should pile them out on the curbside on a table with a sign FREE and just keep refilling it. Now back to Bariatrics, I should have my surgery in July(another July occurance) all I'm really waiting on is my 30 day electronic validation of usage which will be submitted July 2nd and that is hands down the happiest part of my tale of woe. I started wanting and working toward it in August 2015. Any after my RnY, don't k ow where I'll be living or how much money I'll really have, but I've got to get it finished before the end of my insurance settlement because my piddly bit of money will kick me off of Medicare/ Medicaid and I can't afford the $19,000+ Ohio State University Hospital charges for it without medicines and everything else. But I will triumph over all these setbacks because like Reba McEntire I AM A SURVIVOR! Your new Friend Frustr8.😛🌸🌺🌺🌸

Oh my goodness this is one of the very questions I asked of my support group last week!!! I feel like we are all given this massive amount of education and help pre-op and then we are left to our own devices post-op. It was an interesting adventure to navigate post op, but I feel like there is SUCH a HUGE lack of long term support for all bariatric patients. Yes, we have out follow up appointments.. but what about emotional, educational, physical, and all of those changes we go through that have such a massive impact on our progress and growing into these more positive improved versions of ourselves on our journey. I was so disappointed by the lack of long term care I went back to school and am working on my Masters in Health Science (will be a registered dietician at the end of it all!). I work with the two local weight loss centers in my little forest town and have helped put together a great long term care program for patients that includes having access to nutrition, support of various types, and focuses on helping people grow in a positive direction post-op. It is so amazing to be able to help people that are at various stages of their journey and offer them support along the way, I feel like if we knew then what we have learned now and through these journeys we would all have made healthier choices hopefully not needing to go through all of this. BUT without this journey I would not be who I am and I would not be able to have such a positive impact on the world around me and helping others as they work through and navigate their own journeys.

Pre-surgery I never smoked and definitely stopped drinking... but post surgery, once I was where I needed to be I added in a glass of red wine here and there, but it definitely hit me a lot harder post surgery.. so it is very seldom that I do that. I was just shy of 2 years post op last December when my anxiety began to get so much worse and I was having panic attacks, I usually combat that by trail running...but even that wasn't helping. SO, I began exploring making my own cannabutter and from there used that and made healthy edibles (which I still make and use). I do smoke once in a while, but it is all for medicinal purposes. I definitely understand quitting all of that pre-surgery as it can help lead to ulcers and other post-op issues that nobody wants to deal with. I think everyone handles their anxiety, depression, and other stuff in their own ways. My goal is to not add to my plethora of vitamins and supplements I take daily, so it was important to explore more holistic options for handling my rising anxiety. I found a dosage that works for me and I have felt so much better in the past 6 months. I am working towards my MPH to be a registered dietician in my state so I can help bariatric patients long term, the lack of long term support and education kinda drives me nuts. So I am looking forward to working with the local weight loss clinics in my small forest town to set up a positive environment for patients to ask questions and get any help they may need,

My PCM sent a referral to the bariatric program (same organization....Baylor Scott and White is huge) and the staff there contacted my insurance and determined they would cover the surgery. At that point, I got an appointment with the surgeon and then received my book with all my instructions for the various appointments needed preop. Since there was no requirement for supervised weight loss I just went to the various appointments (7 total I think) and the day after the last one they called me with a surgery date. Took less than 4 months.

Congratulations on your excellent success so far. You are an inspiration! I don't have enough experience to comment on your long-term meds, per se. However, I've been around prescription meds long enough to offer this advice: Do NOT let your meds run out, especially if the insurance will cover them. Renew the prescription, and then experiment with eliminating/reducing them one at a time while you have a good supply in case it doesn't work out. You don't want to take the last ones you have, thinking that you don't need them anymore and then realize that you REALLY do need them and have to wait to refill a 3-mo prescription by mail. Been there, done that, it's rough. Good luck to you and your monster-taming! Blessings!

It’s important to remember that you are on the same team – the team that puts you and your health first. Explain to your doctor why your decision is right for you. Here are some conversation starters and other points to make when telling your doctor that you are going to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Starting the Conversation… What do you even say to begin? Consider the following starters. Keep it positive and confident, and not defensive. “Doctor, we’ve been talking about my weight for years, and I’m ready to take charge.” “Doctor, I think you and I agree that my weight is a problem. I’ve come to a decision.” “Can we talk about these most recent lab results [or sleep apnea or arthritis or whatever it is…]? I know they’re related to my weight, and I’ve decided on my next move to get healthy.” “My diagnosis of prediabetes [or diabetes or hypertension or whatever it is…] has made me realize that I need to do something about my weight now, and I have found a good option.” “I Am Getting Bariatric Surgery Because…” Now that you have your doctor’s attention, explain your decision to get bariatric surgery. You might remind your doctor that diets haven’t worked, that you have weight-related health risks, that your weight is causing pain and interfering with daily living, and that you’ve done your research and you understand and accept the risks. Some points to include: You’ve tried dieting and exercise for years, and no plan has worked for you long-term (and if you have been with your current doctor for a while, she should know this). Your health is getting worse – you might point out any obesity-related conditions that you have, or explain about joint pain, shortness of breath, or other inconveniences. You have researched bariatric surgery, and you accept your responsibilities and risks. You believe bariatric surgery is the only solution that will allow you to control your weight for life. “By the Way, I’m Going to Mexico for My Surgery.” Your doctor cares about you and may naturally have concerns about your decision to get your surgery done in Mexico. Explain to your doctor what you already know: that BariatricPal Hospital in Mexico offers top-quality surgery and a lifelong follow-up program. Let your doctor know that BariatricPal Hospital in Mexico: Has an American-owned and operated hospital dedicated solely to BariatricPal patients. Offers a bariatric surgeon with a perfect record of 0 fatalities after over 9,000 surgeries. Promises nutritional support for life, which is essential, but not always included with other programs. Listen to Your Doctor Your doctor may raise concerns and ask questions. Do yourself a favor and try to answer them, rather than get defensive. You should be able to justify your decision, and it is also good to have one more person getting you to think about things you otherwise might not have. Remember, your doctor’s job is to work with you to make you the healthiest, happiest you that you can be. Feel confident talking to your doctor about bariatric surgery and your decision!

Telling your doctor that you are getting weight loss surgery can be difficult. Some doctors are uninformed about weight loss surgery or are actively against it. Even if your doctor is among those who are open, you may hesitate to share your decision. To make it more difficult, what if you have decided to leave the country for your surgery? It’s important to remember that you are on the same team – the team that puts you and your health first. Explain to your doctor why your decision is right for you. Here are some conversation starters and other points to make when telling your doctor that you are going to Mexico for bariatric surgery. Starting the Conversation… What do you even say to begin? Consider the following starters. Keep it positive and confident, and not defensive. “Doctor, we’ve been talking about my weight for years, and I’m ready to take charge.” “Doctor, I think you and I agree that my weight is a problem. I’ve come to a decision.” “Can we talk about these most recent lab results [or sleep apnea or arthritis or whatever it is…]? I know they’re related to my weight, and I’ve decided on my next move to get healthy.” “My diagnosis of prediabetes [or diabetes or hypertension or whatever it is…] has made me realize that I need to do something about my weight now, and I have found a good option.” “I Am Getting Bariatric Surgery Because…” Now that you have your doctor’s attention, explain your decision to get bariatric surgery. You might remind your doctor that diets haven’t worked, that you have weight-related health risks, that your weight is causing pain and interfering with daily living, and that you’ve done your research and you understand and accept the risks. Some points to include: You’ve tried dieting and exercise for years, and no plan has worked for you long-term (and if you have been with your current doctor for a while, she should know this). Your health is getting worse – you might point out any obesity-related conditions that you have, or explain about joint pain, shortness of breath, or other inconveniences. You have researched bariatric surgery, and you accept your responsibilities and risks. You believe bariatric surgery is the only solution that will allow you to control your weight for life. “By the Way, I’m Going to Mexico for My Surgery.” Your doctor cares about you and may naturally have concerns about your decision to get your surgery done in Mexico. Explain to your doctor what you already know: that BariatricPal Hospital in Mexico offers top-quality surgery and a lifelong follow-up program. Let your doctor know that BariatricPal Hospital in Mexico: Has an American-owned and operated hospital dedicated solely to BariatricPal patients. Offers a bariatric surgeon with a perfect record of 0 fatalities after over 9,000 surgeries. Promises nutritional support for life, which is essential, but not always included with other programs. Listen to Your Doctor Your doctor may raise concerns and ask questions. Do yourself a favor and try to answer them, rather than get defensive. You should be able to justify your decision, and it is also good to have one more person getting you to think about things you otherwise might not have. Remember, your doctor’s job is to work with you to make you the healthiest, happiest you that you can be. Feel confident talking to your doctor about bariatric surgery and your decision!

When I asked my PCM for the referral he was surprised but readily agreed to do It saying I met all the criteria for getting evaluated for bariatric surgery. It took him about 3 minutes to put it in his computer. It is really up to the surgeon to determine if you are a safe surgical risk and appropriate candidate. Good luck to you!!

If there's one thing I've learned it's that there are as many post-op programs as there are bariatric surgeons, lol. Sometimes I'm shocked seeing people 2-3 days post-op eating purees or even soft foods... but as long as it's what their surgeon recommended, none of my business, haha.

It is important advice from the 2 wise ladies above. True it is YOUR journey but you don't have to face it alone , talk to us but an understanding bariatric therapist is worth him/her weight in gold. But remember Bobbie, we ❤ you. always!