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I didn't have a goal weight and no one set one for me. I told my doctor my main goal was to be healthy and feel good. He was okay w/that. That happened after about three months when I reached a size 16. I could've been 'content' with that but I was still losing so I dared to hope for a 14. Then a 12. Then a 10. The rest has been pretty unbelievable for me. An 8?!!!! And now a 6?!!!!!!! Somebody pinch me, I have to be dreaming!! I've spent the last few months walking around in a constant state of happy disbelief, constantly looking into mirrors to see if it's real. :-)

As I look through the forums and see peoples goal weights, I often wonder who people chose them. According to this website : http://www.calculator.net/ideal-weight-calculator.html My ideal weight is around 130 for my age and height but according to the US BMI formulation, it can be anywhere from 114 to 154. My goal weight is 150. A few years ago I got down to 159 and I liked the size I was. I actually felt that if I was much smaller I would just be too thin for my taste. I do not being so overweight as I am now but I also do not want to be rail thin. I am hoping that the surgery doesn't take me to that place. How about you. How did you decide on your goal weight? Was it your idea, your doctors?

I'm very heavy right now, but tall - my starting weight is (currently) 373; my surgeon asked me what I wanted for my goal weight (possibly to feel me out about how realistic I am), I said 160. His reply was "let's shoot for 180 and negotiate from there," which I thought was a great answer. Given my age (46), height (5'8") and size I might have a hard time with the extra skin, etc. I visited Dr. Wolkodoff here in Denver, he's a PhD in exercise physiology and is very involved with pro sports medicine. He did an in-body scan to get an accurate picture of intracellular/extracellular Water, where my muscle is located, where I need to gain muscle, etc. It was actually surprising to hear that my lean body mass is currently 167, and he suggested a goal weight of 210 (adding the average 24%-ish body fat most women should have). He gave me a BMR (basal metabolic rate), and told me to gain 2lb muscle in each leg but that I had plenty of muscle in the upper body; he gave me some basic information and suggestions as to an exercise regimen. It was a great consult, and I'll be following up with him post-surgery at 1mo. 3mo. and 6mo. This is something i would suggest everyone do, not just bariatric patients, and I'll be bringing my 24-yr old daughter with me next time - she's not heavy but doesn't really exercise and I'd love for her to have an outside perspective on her body composition so she doesn't land in the same boat as me. My surgery is 7/21 - good luck to everyone on here, both pre- and post-surgery. Mel

I wouldn't tell anyone before. You'll get negative Nancys (including my cardiologist for my pre-check who said that I wasn't super heavy and should just diet). I've started to tell folks afterwards, one, because they were worried about me, and perhaps more importantly for accountability. As the motivational speaker Zig Zigler said, you want to share your "Give Up" goals with the as many people as possible to keep you honest. I'm only 2 weeks into this sleeve, and I'm already pretty sure that I know how to beat it with milkshakes and ice cream if I wanted to (thankfully I don't have those cravings). But I think that by telling more people, I'll have more support. I told my boss over the weekend and he was EXTREMELY supportive, since he had started razzing me about my weight gain. I'm not sure that he would have been as supportive beforehand. But after it's done, you can't go back!

For a few weeks before my surgery I started having second thoughts. I was really scared, mostly of the surgical process itself. However, I'm 3 weeks post-op and really glad I went through it. Even though I still weigh 386lbs (started at 657lbs on 9/20/12), i no longer feel like "the fat guy". I know I'm gonna shed the weight and it won't define me anymore. I have a new found confidence and so much new energy!

Nope, BMI is a calculation using height and weight. Now your insurance company may consider waist circumference separately but it's not part of your BMI.

I couldn't stick with the liquid diet or lose any weight before my surgery but I'm having no problems now because I'm not starving all the time. That is just a load of hogwash!

So I have to be atleast 282 to qualify for the 200%? I might not have to gain more than 5 pounds. Im 273 on my scale...on a dr's scale im closer to 280

2nd. Surgery. Options <LI style="Z-INDEX: 10000">Make This Entry A Draft <LI style="Z-INDEX: 10000">Lock Entry <LI style="Z-INDEX: 10000">Delete Entry <LI style="Z-INDEX: 10000">Edit EntrySend Trackback30 January 2007 Posted by sstasevich Todays date 01/30/07. Just adding some info to my journal. As of today I way 210, so I have lost 146Lbs., so far. Still a long way to go. I would like to see about 135; but if I end up settleing for a little more, I'll take it. But I will still try to go lower. I am also in a size 18, some cloths are 16, but that's rare so ,I'm not counting that, just putting it in the computer. On 02/05/07 I go in the Hospital again. This time for a Total Knee Replacement. This is surgery #2 in a 2 part surgery. First was the Lap Band,and it turned out great. I got more thean I bargained for though. So did Dr. Jeffrey Genaw "Genious at work!" He had me on the table from 11:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M., thats a long time. Especially when the band takes about 30 minutes.#1. He froze 1 Lymph Node, pulled it out, Bi-Opseyed it, and it came back normal, "CANCER HE WOULD HAVE CLOSED ME UP" then did the same to the other one, again normal. "Thank God!!!" These were located in the Groin, so you can only imagine the pain. #2. Old Scar Tissue Removal, From Gallbladder, exploratory surgery, and Hernia Repair. #3. Hernia Repair "He dug it out!" "ouch". #4. Last but not least, he put in the Lap Band. "finally"! And I just love it! I've lost 22Lbs since 10/31/06. But I'll take it. I spent the night in the hospital, and went home the next day. I no longer have to take Prevacid, I take Pepcid Complete, and Flintstone Chewables Complete/Choline. So I get my Vitamins, Calcium, and won't have a problem with Acid- Reflex any more. My Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Denniss Kelly told me that unless I lost weight threw surgery, that he would never touch me. To high of a risk, and the knee would never last. That was 10/05. I saw him 11/06 He said "Hy Skinney" I said not yet, but i'm working on it. I asked him about my knee? He said youre gonna get one, youv'e done everything we asked, so lets get some x-rays. He told me the knee was gone, and he doesn't understand how I am even walking? Trust me very carefully! So he said lets pencil in a date. I chose 2 dates, had to see what was gonna be best for the hussband. "time off, etc." I decided on February 5th. 2007. That's 6 day's from today; I'll be glad when it's done. 0 ipb.global.registerReputation( 'rep_post_2957', { app: 'blog', type: 'entry_id', typeid: '2957' }, parseInt('0') ); Share This Entry: ipb.sharelinks.url = "http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/225/entry-2957-2nd-surgery/"; ipb.sharelinks.title = "2nd. Surgery."; ipb.sharelinks.bname = "Lap Band Talk Forums";

I AM HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES..... OMG. I thought I was the only person going through this. I feel horrible every night I wake up feeling like I am choking and i wind up vomiting. This is my third fill and I am doing great with losing weight and with good restriction but this acid reflux is killing me!!! Any ideas on what I can do? I have never had this sympton before so this is new for me.

So I went to my first "consultaion" today. It was more of a classroom experience. There were probably about 20 people in the room. We were educated on both the Bypass and the Lap Band and given a binder of information. after the "class" we were given paperwork to fill out and a psych test to bring to the evaluation when we get our appointment. I saw a PA she took my medical information and checked my heart and lungs. They took my weight and height and a "before" picture for my file. I then got to speak to an Insurance "specialist" who had all of the information on the prequalifiers for approval. For me with Blue shield of California.... I have to have a psych eval and a nutrition class...THATS IT.... Wait WHAT?!?!?! Yeah THATS IT!!!! Of course there are all of the pre op tests and what not but that comes with every surgery. OMG I AM SOOOOO EXCITED. I am hoping to get a srgery date for the last week of Decmber ... BUT... the PA said they are really backed up ... 3 months??? Ugh But I can wait if I have to, it will give me more time to plan and cook and freeze etc etc etc. I finally feel like I am on the road FINALLY... Why didn't I do this sooner? Hugs and Kisses and can't wait to see you on the other side!!!:thumbup::biggrin::biggrin: Erin

Don't feel like you have to tell your boss. I found that with my colleagues, if I just said I was having minor overnight surgery, people left it alone. I think they probably assumed it was a womanly thing and didn't want to ask. I clearly wasn't offering out information, so they took the clue and didn't ask. As far as whether you can handle this, you've done so much to get this far. You'll be ok. I think we all have had that moment of "what am I doing?".... and you'll have that moment again later, but it is worth it. I lost weight slowly at first---it took me nearly 6 months to lose 50 pounds despite working out daily for over an hour. But, that frustration I had to work through was worth every moment of seeing the lowest numbers on the scale I've had since 1993... I am not at goal. My primary care physician told me to expect to lose no more than 80-90 pounds. Now that I have lost over 60, I have loftier goals. I love how I feel today. It has taken me less than 7 months to move my life along to greatness. The worry and stress prior to surgery, as well as the hard work and frustration have been worth every moment. I wish you the best. Keep signing on here and keep in touch with other people who will be your greatest support. I can't promise you'll love the results, but I can promise you'll always wonder "what if" should you choose not to have the surgery. Good luck!

Sending you nothing but good vibes!! I feel where you're coming from. I lost weight pretty rapidly the first year to 16 or 18 months as well. Then I realized I could eat whatever I wanted and not get sick from anything and if I worked out, I pretty much stayed within a 2-3 pound range. That's all fine and dandy until life hits you in the face! The unexpected death of my sister, job stress, surgeries, a cancer scare, and then the death of a beloved pet in the past 3 months has lead to me falling into old habits to just "get by" until I could finish the thing causing me stress at work and actually take time to grieve the loss of my sister. STUPID choice on my part! Life didn't stop while I was trying to get myself back in order and I paid for it by putting on 14 pounds. I've lost 4 of that in the past week by making time for ME again and I know it's not going to be easy to NOT take the easy way out and go back to old eating patterns in the future, but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm worth more than that! Not to mention that there's now a voice in my head that tells me to "suck it up" because I'm sure my sister would still like to be here living the life she had with her husband and kids, so I should take advantage of the life I have and live it FULLY!

Not much you can do, most Drs. require you to be fully healed before a fill, so the first month or so is just for healing not necessarily for losing weight. Just do the best you can getting used to eating slower and eating smaller bites. Once you do get a fill it is definitely easier to stick to the rules 100%.

I am working through my preoperative requirements for my Cigna policy right now. The policy from my summary plan description requires a physician monitored weight loss and exercise program monitored for at least 3 months monthly visits (>89 days) which actually means 4 visits. I also had to have a psych exam, and a few other things that I can't think of right this minute. I was referred to Cigna policy 0051 updated 05/2014 for the bariatric surgery. Good luck to you on this journey and remember there is always tons of support and knowledge here for you!

Not gonna lie im almost 5 months out and i have liquid days. Not because I'm trying so hard to lose weight but sometimes i just can't do solids. Sometimes i feel tight early and can only do Water, shakes and tea. So I'll do that and my next meal I'll do dense Protein. And sometimes i can't finish the same amount as i did the day before but it's ok. Part of the process i guess. Im usually ok just up my shakes for that day and drink more water. I don't push it. Next day i get back into it best i can. Just gotta go with the flow. But still do what you need to do for you. I try to eat when im hungry unless that takes too long. If im not thinking about it ill completely forget or neglect the fact i need to eat. Sometimes i just really don't feel like eating. When that happens if im not actively hungry I'll wait it out a bit. If i start to feel sick i know i waited too long and will drink a bottle of water before my next meal to start my system. It just feels better, like I've woken my system to receive food. If i don't its hard to get much anything in and it isn't comfortable for my stomach.

I told my husband months ago that I was going to get banded. I'm not banded yet. He didn't ask any questions, he never mentioned it, he never discussed his feeling about it. I figured, okay I'm doing this for me. I don't care what he thinks. He's never really said much about my weight, and was always just concerned about my health, not so much how I looked. He didn't freak out when I gained 100+ pounds, and even said he likes a girl with meat on her. He hates skinny, bone thin women. Not attracted to them at all. Lately, I've been a little hurt that as my surgery gets closer, he hasn't said anything. Then yesterday, he said, and I quote: "Babe, how about I take you shopping today. Lots of sales and with your new professional job, you need some professional clothes. but we shouldn't spend a lot, because this time next year you'll be a lot thinner and will be needing a new wardrobe." WOW!!! I almost fainted dead away.He was actually supportive. Men are funny. sometimes you think they don't have feelings about stuff, don't care or aren't interested, when actually that couldn't be further from the truth. I think my hubby just didn't want me to be scared, or he didn't want to hurt my feelings in any way. As for your husband pulling away from you. did you ever think HE might be scared for you? My husband has seen me at age 31 and 130 pounds. He stuck by me for the gain, (age 48 and 255 pounds) I have to believe he will stick by me for the loss. Good luck to you. and TALk, TALK, TALK!!!!

So I am preparing for my appt with my bariatric surgeon Jan 8th and trying to get all my records together to shorten the approval process for my ins. I am only 28 years old so the extent of my medical visits for the last 8 years have been ob/gyn visits for my 3 kids. Last year I did go to a "wellness" clinic for fatigue, exhaustion and just general well being, thinking that if I was not so tired all the time I might have energy to excercise, cook healthier meals, etc. I thought I might try a different approach since the dieting I have done since 1990 (10 years old) has not worked so far. I have been seeing this wellness doctor for 10 months about every 2-3 months and she has found a thyroid problem and been treating me for that as well as my fatigue, stress, etc. Bottom line... she won't write my a letter stating that I have seen her for " weight related issues".......WHAT!!! And no where in her notes does it say anything about our discussion regarding my claoric intake, daily excercise, weight history, etc!!! And we discussed that at EVERY visit!!!! HELLO..... IT IS A WELLNESS CLINIC, me walking in at 230 lbs, you would think she would have noted somewhere that she asked about my weight problem...how else would I have gotten to 230 lbs. I am a nurse and I know that docs don't have time to note EVERY word, but is she not treating my "wellness" which to me includes my nutritional state. As we all know the "damper" obesity is on "wellness" What a joke, I am so irritated. Anyone have a similar situation? Thanks for reading, I am not one for long posts. :rain::clap2:my sone wanted to put the smiley in.

Hello; I am being submitted for approval tomorrow and am concerned because I was told that Medicare requires among other things, 5 years worth of doctor notes with weight information. Like many overweight people, I didn't like to be weighed. So for my notes, I only have the last 3 years notes with weights and the first 2 years it says I refused to be weighed. Has anyone else run into this particular problem? I was told that some insurance companies will take pictures if the date of the pic is shown on the pic. I am hoping not to be denied, but was wondering that if they are a stickler for this information, what can I do. I cannot speak to the pre-cert department with United Health Care as they will only speak with the provider. Member services is just telling me to wait until the information is submitted and see if they contact my doctor for more information. I am really started to stress over this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. K

The body needs carbs to regain weight (insulin is a building hormone). White sugar actually gets adrenaline going, which is counter productive since adrenaline is a weight loss hormone. (Ever see a skinny sugar junkie? I have!) So, concentrate on complex carbs, healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins so the body has everything it needs to start building again. Exercise should be moderate cardio (30 minutes, 3 times a week) OR walking 3-5 miles per day. AND weight lifting 2-3 times a week. I have no way of knowing how many carbs y'all should aim for, as it just depends on your own metabolisms. A good general starting point is 150g/day. If that seems high.. well it has to be to get you gaining. If it seems low, then add 50g a day to what you are currently consuming. Increase the carbs by 50g/day each week until you stop losing weight.

ROFL. Thank you for the laugh. Those who believe exercise is not necessary are 'know it alls'...and those who believe exercise is necessary are exempted from this know it all status how? Basic math, Happy. Calories in/calories out. If you eat more than you expend, you gain. If you eat less than you expend, then you lose. It takes approx. 2157 calories to maintain 140 pounds on a 5'7", 25 year old woman of moderate activity. This may vary depending on muscle mass and a few other factors, but I'm trying to keep it simple. To lose one pound per week, that woman would have to decrease her calories by 500 calories daily. Now, she could choose to decrease her calories by only 300 and increase her energy expended by 200 calories, but she could do it simply by decreasing her calories by 500 calories daily. To put it another way...to maintain my original 260 lbs, I need to eat approx. 2718 calories per day. So if my 260 lb body needs 2718 calories just to maintain that weight, common sense says that if I decrease my calories to 1200 calories per day...without changing my activity level...I will lose weight. Simple math. .

My ins. co received paperwork on 7/7/08. On 7/23/08 my surgeon contacted me and told me that the ins co said they could not use the first MDs note because it was over 2 yrs old. 6/26/06, or were I saw the counselors there after for the month for my diet counseling wt in etc. I would like to know what all do u have to have for the ins? My ins is BCBS PPO Highmark, they say at least 6mo supervised WL diet for a cumulative of at least 6mo over the 2 yrs prior to surgery. I had a copy of my ins policy and it says that it takes physician supervised or counselors, exercise that is working under the MD supervision. They would not count the mo of LA wt loss or weight watchers that I was doing. It appears they only want to look at diet supervision when the doc prescribes phentermine. Any suggestions or has anyone encountered this? I had 4 mo of MDs and diet pills they were ok. I submitted 3 mo of my PCP notes that had "concerned about wt" or "wt gain" the last was "re lapband" under the diagnosis had wt gain, wt gain, obesity for the plan she wrote: labs, increase exercise calorie restriction, on the second one she orderd synthroid (even though my thyroid level was in normal range) to exercise and watch calories, on the 3rd not it was to follow low fat diet and exercise. Just hoping I don't get denied. Any comments would be greatly appreciated!! I have been at this process for some time now. Thanks, and good luck to everyone!!! :w00t:

Weight is all about calories in and calories out. Perhaps you're eating more than you really think you are? I'd start journaling every bite you put in your mouth even if it's a stick of gum or a mint. My guess is that when you had difficulty with the eggs it was because you took too big of a bite and/or didn't chew enough since you obviously had no problems with your Thanksgiving meal. I'd go back to the doc and talk to them. Explain you are not too tight. You are still able to eat in excess. I lost 70 lbs without exercise and I've kept it off without exercise so I'm the voice of dissent on 'needing' to exercise to keep your weight off...assuming you aren't eating more calories than you're expending during the day. Want to eat 3000 calories per day? You'll probably have to exercise unless you have a very physical job or lifestyle. It is possible to eat 2000-2200 calories per day (recommended as the daily intake for adult women by some nutritionists) and expend that amount of calories without exercising...assuming you don't sit behind a desk for 8 hours and then go home and watch tv for the next 5 hours. Hang in there. Go talk to your doctor. If they're dictating to you and not listening/working with you, find another place to do your fills where they will listen/work with you. You didn't spend all this money and go through all of this just to give up because you're not getting the support you need and/or not taking advantage of the band. Good luck. :thumbup: .

My sleeve-aversary is coming up on April 18, so I'm 1 week shy of 1 year out. :-) So far, down 118 pounds from morning of surgery, 149 overall (I can't believe I just typed that). Seems so unreal, in a way. Everything about how I eat is different now, in a good way--I can honestly say I ate like a kid without any sort of remote attempt at nutrition before (except for the 2 years of veganism, LOL). Now, I am very aware of everything I put into my mouth, but without freaking out about it. I enjoy food even more than before, and I still feel fabulous after eating (not sleepy and sluggish because of too much of the wrong kinds of food!). My husband and I are both sleevers, and it's been really fun to sort of transform ourselves into healthier, thinner people. The biggest change I have found is that I am less worried about being "in the way," as I am no longer so self-conscious about my weight. I also really love being able to dress in cute styles instead of my former "wardrobe," and I use that term loosely. I also find that other people really do treat me differently at this weight; men have literally run ahead of me in order to get to a door to open it (and I am not a petite young thing, at 6'2" and almost 50 years old!). So I say, if this surgery feels right for you, go for it! It's a great tool, a very useful, long-term tool. I am so grateful for the chance to live longer and feel better about life--all due to the sleeve!

Jennifer, after surgery I weighed a LOT more than before, thanks to all the fluids they pumped in during my stay at the hospital. Give your body some time to adjust. Keep following your doctor's eating plan. The weight will come off. I think you're doing great if you're getting in most of your protein and water--the first week after surgery, I could barely get 8 ounces of water in, and that took some serious effort! Just hang in there. :-)