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I started my pre-op today. I am using Bariatric Advantage protein and am supposed to consume 4 - 5 shakes per day (so far I have done 4) with a total consumption of between 700 - 900 calories per day. I also have the same guidelines as yourself for other liquids and sugar free jello. I feel like I have survived day one! The one thing I think I need to be more aware of is I let myself get too hungry at dinnertime and even though I had a shake my brain thinks I am still hungry. I have been satisfied with the shakes so far. Hardest things for me today was cooking dinner for my family and I feel like I am always in the bathroom having to pee.

I do hope you're,kidding, some kinds of smoothies maybe, McD milkshakes NO NO NO. Think of all the fats, carbs and calories there. If. I don't slap some sense into you verbally there will be about 25 on Bariatric Pal who will. And they might not be as polite as me. Many items at McD are chock full of empty albeit tasty calories & calories. Repeat after me: child--- Tasty fast food is not good for you food.---. It will not make you a winner, it will not make you any thinner.--- You do not want to dig your grave with a pink plastic spoon. Yes milkshakes are liquid, so is motor oil but nobody stands in a line for that, do they? Put them Golden Arches out of your mind, you hear? You will never get a new and improved body hanging around there. It will take work, it will take commitment, there will be times you'll cry, want to throw in the towel, wonder what you and your body have agreed to do. But you will need to go on, baby step by baby step toward your goal. It may turn out to be the hardest thing you've ever done, weight loss and its surgeries are not an easy fix to a complex problem. But a lot of people can and have done it. They thought it was worth it, now do you? Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

How close are you to the Boundary Waters? I've heard your area is unbelievably wild and beautiful. I live in Ohio the first state in the Northwest Territory and the only one without any Indian reserves. I think our last native one, at least a full blood Wyandot/Huron died at Upper Sandusky in 1931. I'm sorry I sound a trifle militant but I'm somewhat a historian and maybe apologist. I suspect I have native American blood on my father's side, they don't talk much about it, my ancestors were absorbed into the Peoria tribe, I believe their Ohio name were the Mingo. If you happen to go on Wikipedia and pull up Peoria Indians the lady pictured there is the spitting image of my father's sisters. My Cherokee friend Cheyenne teases me and calls me a jelly donut. You've heard of blacks calling someone an Oreo, black on the outside,& white within, well I'm told Native Americans call someone an apple, red on the outside and a white soul? Cheyenne says I'm the reverse- a jelly donut, white covering but housing an Indian soul. She means it as a compliment and that's how I take it. Besides I still could be a 1/16th , both sides have been in Ohio since early 1800s, not impossible. Shoot I got off on a tangent didn't I? I am 72, 5ft8in, strawberry blonde hair with brown eyes(about the only sign of Daddy's side) weigh 323 down from a high weight of 355 last fall, I plan a RnY, I have GERD and suffers of that or diabetes are usually steered toward bypass instead of sleeve. I have had arthritis since 25, have had 2 knee replacements and also have sleep apnea. In my favor: I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol, a good heart , fairly good lungs and no diabetes. I should by rights be diabetic as both my parents were. My PCP says I'm a 40-45 year old trapped in a 72 year old body. I long to have my surgery, lose the weight no diet has helped me achieve and,live the rest of my days in a slimmer trimmer and healthier body. I've studied up on WLS, others have helped me on Bariatric Pal and I'd like to,pay it forward if I could. So if you have any questions I could help with, I'd be happy to discuss them. Welcome to our forum, I'm probably the oldest and still haven't had my surgery but hope to have a date soon. My road has been bumper than most but I'm still committed toward that goal. Well enough of me, tell me more of your story, okay? Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks all, I am really looking forward the time when I can say "finally" A couple days ago I was searching for silverware to use as a bariatric patient. There is some cool stuff coming out of England, but it was kind of pricey to get across the 'big pond', but Amazon had these Bariatric/toddler training untensils. I just got them in today, what do you think: $14 and some change shipped, you get two sets and two carry pouches. They seem well made... and smaller than you think. These are supposed to help with slowing down your eating, and of course eating smaller portions. I will test them out from here on out... probably give them a rest when I start the liquid diet...

Yes, mine too, no pre-op diet other than the day before. We do see various pre-op protocols specified, and there seems to be some debate within the bariatric community as to how much good a couple weeks of dieting can do on liver condition, and we do see the threat of not doing surgery if the liver isn't shrunk enough, though I can't recall anyone having that actually happen to them. For the OP, if you have had liver indications in the past (not unusual for the obese community) and it is in your medical records, I would expect that if your surgeon was really that concerned about it, she would order another ultrasound to check on its condition now, so that she could prescribe a more intense pre-op regimen if needed.

Wow great job. I agree as a newbie preop this is definitely inspiring to see, especially as I am on the bigger bariatric spectrum. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

When you cheat you only screw over yourself, stop jumping off the wagon, use some of the commitment you had when you resolved to start on your journey. You're not hurting the surgeon, you're not hurting the surgical team, you're not even hurting the bariatric facility, just YOU. And since you're in this to help yourself to a better, healthier and thinner life, isn't cheating counter productive? Just a few home truths from your Bariatric Grandma -ME. And I'll use the age card if I have to, after all I went to High School with Mother Nature. And our guidance person was Father Time. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My regrets may or may not be responsive. I regret when I grew up, when I reached late adolesence I was told stop being such a tomboy, stop playing softball and running wild with kids your age and younger, you are a young woman ---sit down and calm down. My parents even sent me to finishing school type classes to teach me to" deport" myself better. All I remember learning were make-up techniques, how to walk smoother and seductively and how to,balance a book on top of my head. But I listened, after all Mama and Daddy told me to do it and didn't they always have my best interests at heart? So although my appetite remained the same my activity level decreased phenomenally. Sit down, do your embroidery, crochet, knit, you can get up if you go cook, the only exercise you need is vacuuming or other housework. You'll never get a husband unless you move slow, smooth and act like a perfect,lady. As i look back, I probably didn't have a boyfriend because I was starting to look chubby but about as stimulating as thick vanilla custard. I regret marrying the first man who,seemed to,look past my body to my mind. They say you always marry a man like your father, well the" late lamented" did share the "my way or the highway" mindset, although he. was taller and heavier than me he seldom missed a chance to make snide remarks about my size. But I as least had gotten a husband, in the 60 and 70s every girl was supposed to have one, so I stiffeled my snappy retorts and bore up under the burden.Although he was a city boy he ate like a farmhand. Every meal better have potatoes and meat. When I married him his idea of a good meal was creamed corn, macaroni and cheese,(and that better not be from a box! )and mashed potatoes. I could throw in a platter of some sort of roast beast or fried chicken. Dessert better be cake, pie or choco-chip Cookies. Salads-- well they were evil, I could have one if I wanted but,I sure didn't expect him to eat any, did I?" I'm not a cow or other farm animal.after all." And I "dumbed out", me with the Mensa level brain, but I couldn't keep a man that way, could I? So I played the game, if I raged I did it in the bathroom or behind closed doors. Oh I promised to love, I did not promise to obey but it still was implied, wasn't it? I had a baby 13 months later, a little girl, he wanted a girl, so did both grandmothers. Both grandmothers set out to spoil her rotten , when one of them hadn't taken her shopping he was marching her around town. Meanwhile I cooked , cleaned and sublimated my will. I guess it wasn't a bad life, just not a great one. When" little precious" started school I decided to try to diet,in earnest, what was my reward? I lost 50 lbs and. I got pregnant. Yeah I had begged for years to have" little precious" a sibling, now when I had picked myself up out of low self esteem-ville. I got another baby, lost weight during my pregnancy, then regained it afterwards, did it again 3 years later, same scenario except after child #3 I went into peri-menopause and the weight remained, creeping up increment by increment. I wish then I had sought bariatric surgery but no-- I would surely find the right diet, I had lost weight before, I could do it again. But no matter how I tried I didn't, got ridiculed for my salads etc so I gave up and ate the carb -heavy diet I was expected to provide my family. In 1987 I started working, activity level went up and I started yo yo-ing the same 30 lbs, family members started dying-' many of them from obesity, did it sink in? Not really, still thought I could beat it on my own. And the arthritis I had since 25 started to take its toll. Yeah I had snuck in a little playtime and activity with the children but that started to become difficult. I ended up having 2 knee replacements, one in 2014, one in 2017. I started saving my energy so I could continue working for money. And although l.l. had parted ways with his Columbus corporate job in 1985 and worked sporadically after that, I kept chugging along. Like the bumblebee that doesn't know his wings are too short to support his body weight, he keeps flying and I guess I did too. And my life kept on, finally when I.I. died (and God forgive me, a relief) after 44 years of marriage in 2012 I had finally time to consider my health or what remained of it. Started going to my PCP, yeah another thing I.I. was against, doctors. They're only after your money, so many a time I went to work marginally sick. Only thing PCP stated on my 1st visit" You know you are overweight" [emoji197]No I'm obese but if you aren't going to say it I won't either. Finally after several years I got brave enough to bring up bariatric surgery. He told me at that time its something I think you should consider, when you feel you're ready I'll help you find a program. Finally in August 2015 I consulted a Bariatric surgeon in Columbus and started on his hospitals program, I was getting all my prerequirements done , had dietary assistance and had even,made a noticeable weight loss and my job and health insurance terminated in January 2016. I had 5 of the 6 I thought required when this happened. So I thought there would be no use in pursuing any further, I had no money for private pay and no covering insurance. Wasn't like I was personal friends with Obama and could ask him to underwrite it. Unbeknownst to me when I got new insurance the New insurance had looser requirements, I could have had surgery then. I regret not getting in touch with the surgeon's office then but on the other hand they could have volunteered the information to me also. I started again in autumn 2017 to seek surgery from the same place, since it had been 2 years I had to duplicate all the prerequirements once again. I did so, feeling I had jumped through every hoop they requested. I was waiting to hear back from them since my stuff had been finished in mid January. Waited and waited and waited, was told February 20th all 3 surgeons in the practice had a commitee meeting and decided not to perform my surgery. I regret returning there, I regret trusting these people with my life, I had felt my best interests were being respected there, I regret being told a lie as an excuse, what I was told made no sense to me or to anyone who truly knows me.But most of all I regret the abject waste of time out of my life. Oh I can and will find a placement in another program, maybe go in with my eyes wider open. But I can and shall make a success out of shambles. Just watch me folks![emoji197] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My experience....is that Infidelity, by itself, is almost never the integral issue. Infidelity is a symptom of a bigger underlying problem in a marriage that isn't working. People in happy marriages don't cheat. Not to say there aren't marriages and couples who survive a bout of cheating...but it's a huge red flag that more is wrong than meets the eye. Without addressing the underlying issues, the marriage becomes doomed. Remember that 85% of people who get bariatric surgery get divorced. If you're "happily married" and cheating...you're either a massive narcissist, or are in serious denial.

February 23, 2018 Initial Consultation Day Stats: Weight: 321lbs BMI: 44.8 My doctor of choice is Dr Todd Foreman of the Alabama Surgical Associates. Dr Foreman has 15 years experience as a bariatric surgeon. 10-years ago he performed gastric bypass on my mother, and the lap band on my sister. After researching a number of the local surgeons, I selected Dr Foreman, and set my appointment. The appoint seemed to take for ever, as this visit also doubled as lab day to get the blood work and H-Pylori test done. To prep for the big day I pulled together 28 questions to ask Dr Foreman. Upon his entry into the room, he answered most all of my questions in the first 20-minutes. He is a straight shooter, telling it like it is. I was afraid he was going to try and sell me the surgery, but instead he informed of the surgery, and talked at length about my options. After nearly an hour together, he confirmed a recommendation of the gastric sleeve being the best option for me. Elizabeth was with me through the whole visit. She is my conscientious objector. At the end of the day, we downloaded our emotions and began our discussion. Much to her dismay, I have decided to proceed with surgery. She stated she will support me all the way, but asked that I please consider her reservations. I agreed, and weekend we had a number of heart to heart conversations, we discussed more in-depth about the journey that lies before us.

I think as a bariatric patient you should generally err on the side of caution. The only vitamin supp I'm really concerned about is calcium because of the research Dr. Greger has talked about that shows calcium supplements can increase the risk for CVD, blood clot, and stroke. So... I don't know. I'll definitely be taking everything as recommended immediately following surgery. But it's the long-term I have concerns about. If after 6-12 months I'm eating enough greens, chia, beans, and fortified soy milk to meet the 1000mg dietary recommendation, I might opt to stop the supplement for the reasons mentioned above.

I take flinstone Multivitamins, Alive B-complex gummies, and Bariatric Advantage calcium chews. I don’t care for capsules, so I opt for chewables/gummies. I don’t love the Flinstone multivitamins, but they meet my nutritionist’s standards. Love love love the B-complex and Calcium chews. I tried the Celebrate multivitamins, but they made me vomit almost immediately! They just didn’t work for me. I get everything from Amazon.

I am not making a plug for Bariatric Vitamins but here goes. For me I thought about what I had just went thru and knowing that I am in this forever. I felt like I should at least buy the Bariatric vitamins. I tried the Flintstones and they were horrible, I tried the Chewable Centrum vitamins but man they are so nasty I ouldn't handle them. I have taken CELEBRATE Capsule for the whole time after trying the ones that made me sick. Another thing about me is I started taking chewable Vitamin C, they tasted so good kind of like a sour candy which I love beyond love anything sweet and tangy. Not good for me when I was woofing them down like candy. lol I buy CELEBRATE at Amazon. I like the fact that they are capsule and if need be you could open them and put them in applesauce or something while you are early out. Just my take on vitamins.

I got mine from walmart! My nutritionist wants us to take 2 flinstone completes, calcium citrate (which I got a big off brand bottle at Kroger for like 8 bucks), a sublingual b12, iron (if you're a women and have your period still),and vitamin D. I got all of mine at either Walmart or Kroger, and the good thing about Kroger is most of the time certain brands are buy one get one free! From my support groups, the only one I see people actually buying from bariatric advantage is the calcium citrate as chews. They made me nauseous though, so I take mine as pills. I feel great, I just had blood work done, so I'll know at the end of next week if they're working!

I got mine from walmart! My nutritionist wants us to take 2 flinstone completes, calcium citrate (which I got a big off brand bottle at Kroger for like 8 bucks), a sublingual b12, iron (if you're a women and have your period still),and vitamin D. I got all of mine at either Walmart or Kroger, and the good thing about Kroger is most of the time certain brands are buy one get one free! From my support groups, the only one I see people actually buying from bariatric advantage is the calcium citrate as chews. They made me nauseous though, so I take mine as pills. I feel great, I just had blood work done, so I'll know at the end of next week if they're working!

I got mine from walmart! My nutritionist wants us to take 2 flinstone completes, calcium citrate (which I got a big off brand bottle at Kroger for like 8 bucks), a sublingual b12, iron (if you're a women and have your period still),and vitamin D. I got all of mine at either Walmart or Kroger, and the good thing about Kroger is most of the time certain brands are buy one get one free! From my support groups, the only one I see people actually buying from bariatric advantage is the calcium citrate as chews. They made me nauseous though, so I take mine as pills. I feel great, I just had blood work done, so I'll know at the end of next week if they're working!

I get my vitamins at Costco. Inexpensive and good quality. Advice that I've been given at my monthly meetings, don't go into a vitamin shop and ask for vitamins for post bariatric surgery. They will sell you hundreds of dollars of vitamins you don't need. You will need to take a multi vitamin, calcium citrate not carbonate (the body doesn't absorb it as well) a b12 sublingual pill.

Hello all! I will be sleeved on Monday March 5th!!!! Super excited!!!! I have a question.... What are the best bariatric multivitamins out there??? And where have you purchased them??? I appreciate any and all the help!!🙃[emoji4]

They have great prices on Celebrate Vitamins. I love the 3-in-1 Vitamin Stix drink mix for my multi vita, and also love the chewable b12, iron + C, and calcium chews! My surgeon and RD really are gung ho about Celebrate for the bariatric vits.

Most people on here are 5-6 months, insurances vary in their requirements as do Bariatric practices and hospitals. Some of our Canadian brothers and sisters it may take up to 2 years. Our UK ones through NHS seems to take a while, that's why many either private pay or go out of the country. The New Zealand, Austrailia, South Africa and the rest you'd have to ask someone from there. I haven't heard anything from our Caribbean friend LillyBilly for awhile, she lives on a beautiful warm island and is going to Columbia South America for her bariatric surgery. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi bb1008, just reading your question. I recently just switch my Medicaid health plan to meridian after researching coverage as well. However, I'm a 11yr. Vet of the gastric bypass, I'm presently seeking a revision to possibly the ds switch. At that time 11yrs ago I had bcbs ppo, I was still denied several times and I did more than my share of stipulations until they finally got an approval. I've been practically asking the same question of coverage (rearranging the words) till finally I run into a statement that says meridian is covered once in a lifetime with exceptions of fixing complications, but does not cover members with prior bariatric surgeries. I've been having the 8-10th year complication/ failure issues that I'm seeking help for, my situation makes me a prime candidate for revision. Hoping that my team can get what I need done to qualify. Because once your surgery is done no one wants to touch you cuz they don't know the (gps) of your abdomen, smh. Let me know how the meridian experience turned out for you, my pre opt consult for revision is Friday🤔😣😒😞🤞🤞🤞🤞👍

Thanks everyone, it does seem like one thing after another and when I spoke to the bariatric coordinator and she wouldn't give me another date my heart sank. I ended up in tears the whole day. I am NOT giving up though. She said continue with my testing. Today I got my Upper GI and tomorrow is my pre surgery support group. As soon as I can handle the pain issue and see this specialist I am calling her for a new date. I appreciate all your replies, I really do!!! ((hugs))

had a gastric sleeve a year ago tomorrow. Lost a bunch, put some back on. Starting to make the transition to plant based for my health mostly (reflux, diabetes, etc). I have read lots of good information and have seen Forks Over Knives, it was informative. My questions is on Supplements. Of course our bariatric doctors say Multi-Vitamin and Calcium supplement forever specifically for bariatric patient. Plant Based information says don't take any supplements. What do you all do? Trying to find a good middle ground. I'm on day 3 of my transition of trying to go plant based, what is your advice?

Well today is the last day of February and I want to thank,each and everyone for allowing me to hear your stories, share in your success and empathizine with your trials. Today still will be surgery day for a few of you. I know over on the sleeve side SleevedSoulSista is having hers,today. Thank you for making me feel one of your own, even if my tummy is still unbypassed. Perhaps March ,Perhaps April. I have 2 introductory seminars to attend, one on March,9th, one on March 10th. I am certain one will fit me me better. When you have been back-stabbed or lied to, it is difficult to step forward,with full trust. But my God didn't make no junk, I am a good person worthy of the surgery I so earnestly desire. I am a katlady, I will land on all 4 paws and go forward. Look for me around on one of the other month forums, I intend to be a Bariatric Paller until it's finished. Love and Hugs your kakatlady612. [emoji197] Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

My sleeve surgery is on 3/16 and I start the pre-op liquid diet tomorrow. How did people manage eating the liquids at the office? We don't have a blender available to us and I was thinking some of the mix-ins won't blend enough in the shaker. Any tips or suggestions? Also, did you make your shakes and night and then pack them to go with you already blended, or did you make fresh? I have to use Bariatric Advantage per my doctor's orders. I chose chocolate and vanilla for the base. Thanks in advance. I want to do this right.