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Renew - bask away! You're doing awesome! I'm so proud of you...you are my fearless leader and inspiration. Thanks for everything gil.

Is your insurance through your employer? Regardless of the insurance company, if your insurance is provided by your employer the coverage is totally dependent of which policy your employer chooses and if they choose a bariatric surgery exclusion. I urge you to contact your human resources department and/or the actual insurance company and get specific written guidelines. Good luck!

Yah. It definitely sounds really different. I live in Philadelphia that maybe why. I already gotten my blood work an urine test done right after I left my seminar and the bariatric center called me back within acouple of days saying everything was in good standing. I think of it this way. The quicker you get the pre-op stuff done the better, my surgeon said the same as well because itll have you waiting and waiting. Thanks for the insite as well. Did you have surgery already?

I'm sorry you are feeling out of control with your weight. Set up an appointment with your surgeons office. Get their opinion if you have stretched your stomach. They can help you get back on track. Another option to consider is counseling/therapy. It will help address your mindset with weight loss. Food choices and grazing will cause significant weight gain. Grazing is the consistent, day-long consumption of low value food items, in other words: snacking. For example, mindlessly finishing your child’s breakfast cereal, stopping at mcdonalds, popping two donut holes into your mouth at the office, eating a protein bar mid-afternoon and a strawberry Greek yogurt with granola at night. The best way to address grazing after bariatric surgery is to employ preventive measures prior to the onset. That said, many patients will not succeed preemptively and must therefore deal with the problem of grazing only after it presents. Should you find yourself in the habit of grazing after bariatric surgery, the obvious resolution is to break the habit. This is no doubt easier said than done, but consider all that you have achieved to this point. The first step is to ask for help. It is unlikely that you can resolve your maladaptive eating alone. So simply ask for the help. Use your support network and those professionals who are currently among your inner circle. Begin to monitor yourself closely. Write down or log your food in MYFITNESSPAL all that you eat or drink for a period of three days or so, and then compare your notes with the nutrition plan from your bariatric surgeon’s office to note how much they do or do not correlate. Learn the different types of hunger, specifically head, eating out of boredom and physical hunger. In addition, cut out all junk food. Sit when you eat, and mindfully enjoy the meal. Eat meals that contain protein and fiber in the form of fresh and lightly cooked or raw fruits and vegetables because they make you feel full. Drink plenty of water over the course of the day except at meal time. WIshing you the best, Jenn

I am also required to do a 6 month diet documentation. I'm tracking my sugar intake through my fitness pal and keeping my sugar grams below 24 g, since I'm a diabetic. My focus is high Protein (between 80-100 g) and low carbs. So far, I've lost 13 pounds since the beginning of December. My blood sugar levels are thanking me because they are fantastic. I've also started taking a bariatric Vitamin.

it's going to depend somewhat on whether this is for the professionally-supervised diet that a lot of insurance companies require for a few months, or if it's just a visit or two that your bariatric clinic wants you to do with their resident dietitian as part of its requirements. If the former, the dietitian will probably have you keep records of what you're eating and you'll check in with him/her once a month to review your logs and they'll make suggestions on where to improve. If the latter, it'll probably be something more along the lines of FutureSkyDiver said - they'll probably talk about the basics of nutrition, how many proteins/carbs you should be getting, how much fluid you should be getting, etc. I had to do both - meet with a dietitian once a month for at least six months (to meet insurance company requirements) and then once I was closer to surgery, I had to meet with one of my clinic's dietitians to review their requirements for post-op eating. I think I met with her once or maybe twice.

Here are a few links to some threads for Katy-ites. They haven't been active for a while, but maybe they just need a kick start.:thumbup: Katy Lap Band Surgeons forum Katy - LAP-BAND Dr. Bonnor's forum (He's just been named head of Bariatrics at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital!) Dr. Ricardo Bonnor - LAP-BAND http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f64/katy-bandsters-32963/index2.html http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f64/looking-bandsters-nw-houston-57193/

Hey Lisa, I need to get to Walmart and pick up the Body Fortress. I've heard a few things about them and it seems like it's a good price. That's the problem that I have with a lot of them is that the ones I like a lot are the expensive ones! I do have a BMI over 50. I was debating starting the liquid diet on Thursday so that by time next week rolls around, I'll be into it for a week already. I plan on asking Nancy about that tomorrow night at the support group. It's the first banders group I've been to, so, I can scope it out for you! I am hoping that they'll be able to get me in either in late November or early December, that's what Patsy led me to believe, but, there's Thanksgiving in there at the end, so who knows what Dr. D's surgery schedule looks like. I know that they do have a second surgeon there now, not Dr. Scott, he went to St. Clair's. The hope is that I'll have it not TOO long after the class, but, then, who knows? I thought I may as well get a head start and if I can add fruit to the shakes, that makes it easier! I've been trying to keep them at 200 calories or less and carbs under what the HMR800 shakes have which are 17 per shake. I'm trying to not have any expectations as to how much I'll initially lose, I know it's all a process! I'm the same way, if it's in the house, I'll eat it. I really have to learn to stay away from the sweets too as I have an incredibly unhealthy sweet tooth! I was doing REALLY well with Halloween until yesterday when people brought in their candy leftovers and my body told me if I didn't have chocolate I would die.... :-) I have been sticking to the whey protein. I went to a GNC and was looking around and the guy there said that he's heard that whey isolate is what he typically sees people buying that have had bariatric surgery. I plan on asking them about that too. I've tried so many protein powders that my fiancee is sick of it, but, he likes the one's that I don't like so at least he has plenty to put in his coffee..... Anyway, sorry, I've written a small novel. Talk to you soon and I will let you know how the group goes tomorrow night!

Oh yes! I found her blog last week! I have it open in one of my tabs at all times! lol I love that she has dessert recipes too. Yes, pizza and also my sweet tooth have been my biggest problems so far. I also like that she has a recipe index, whereas Egg Face does not- you just have to search. Plus, Nik seems much more relatable, personable and realistic about her journey. I feel like Egg Face can come off too idealistic and preachy. Ok, granted, I'm not trying to be friends with them, but the tone can turn me on or off. The other thing about Bariatric Foodie is that she has some great links to other blogs in her posts. I've found some sugar free blogs (not necessarily WLS).

Wow, I can't believe I've missed this thread. My weight gain started around 3 years out. I really wasn't doing anything differently. I would indulge more on the weekends, and gain a couple of lbs. Then all of a sudden, I dieted all week long, and I hadn't lost those 2 lbs, and it was time for the next weekend. Soon it was Christmas.Uh-oh! My labs after 4 years show I am usually anemic even though I take Bariatric Advantage Iron with vit c. My b12 was so high I was instructed to stop all b vitaimins. My vit D is normal after taking 10,000 a week for a long time. rest of my labs are normal. I am never hungry unless I eat a lot of carbs, or I can mistake hunger and acid sometimes. I am 4 years and 4 months out from surgery. I was really afraid I would never be able to lose my regain and I was very depressed about it, until I found the 5:2 plan and I've lost 10 of my 15 lb regain.

I found an app and it's called "slow mow eating timer".. it was .99 but I feel like $1 is definitely worth it! I have been using it all day to really concentrate on eating slower and I have to say this app is quite impressive. You can set it to make a sound, buzz, or flash on your screen which is helpful if you're out and about. I tried the bariatric timer, but wasn't feeling the whole donut bit. Lol

I did keto for a long time pre-op and even before I thought about bariatric surgery. My program is different, I guess, in that we don't do purees or full liquids and move onto soft foods like cottage cheese and yogurt, etc. on day 10. We are allowed chicken salad, even. She said to start with Greek yogurt, which I did.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.algaecal.com/expert-insights/the-surprising-long-term-complication-of-bariatric-surgery/amp/ BgR72

Well I put in an order for a Terrific Tuesday, but let's see what I can do to insure that! This is an every- other-day week for me. Yesterday was Urology. My former urologist Dr Clemens decided to confine his practice to Franklin County and Columbus so I now belong to his partner, Dr Jed Henry. Seems very nice, a little older(42) than Dr Clemens but still young enough to be my kid. That happens a lot when you're 73. Going to call me back on Wednesday with a proper antibiotic instead of prescribing an antibiotic willy- Billy. Said I don't like the color and consistency of your urine, well Duh, I don't either, and that's why I came in. We had a good laugh at the expense of my PCP who told me last Thursday he would give me a 5 day script for Microbid and never faxed it over to Wal-Mart, my usual pharmacy. If I knew he was gonna forget, I should have asked for a hand-written script, He's only 50 or so, young for senility, maybe a transient stupid attack? Wednesday I also go over to my local hospital, Knox Community aka the "Band-Aid Station" dubbed this by the Columbus hospitals. They have a habit of treating what they want and sending the rest by land or helicopter transport to Columbus. Hence the sarcasm. When I was getting ready for my endoscopy on April 12th, the anesthesia doctor had a low-grade hissy because she heard a Frank heart murmer. Had my PCP. talked with me about it? Well he MIGHT have mentioned it but I thought it was mild, functional and probably part of aging. She still was a less' than- happy - camper, would not let her resident do my sedation, did it herself, and must have sent a little note to PCP because I got more cardiac testing tomorrow at 1 pm. Oh Happy Happy Joy 😂 Joy! Then on Friday I see my ENT, Dr Suzie Helming, she is a really sweet person. I have had a noticable huskiness coming over my voice, usually a high alto/low soprano quality. Now I think I sound like Lauren Bacall & why is this? Is it the culmative effect of all those years of Gerd, is my recently found thyroid nodule pressing on a vocal cord, could it have some sort of heredity basis, my late Mama was also husky- sounding the last few years of her life( died 16 years ago at 87, I was 57 then) or could it be something else? Saw her hubby Dr Jarrett, the orthopaedic surgeon, he did my 1st knee in 2014. Asked why I was sitting outside the office building on a bench, told him about going to visit his wife on Friday, we joked about that I didn't have to go to such lengths to see here, he had pictures on his wallet of her and the kids. Their daughter Charleigh is petite like her, but poor child, she otherwise looks just like her daddy. Maybe she'll outgrow it? Must going to be 3 in June, and their son Dylan, gosh I do not see a resemblance to either of them. The last picture I saw of him, he looked like Suzie had gone somewhere for Donor IVF, maybe he resembles Suzie's Dad or Jarrett's Mama? Funny how genes work! One of the cousins, Brandee, on late hubby side, spitting image of their Aunt Lois, but her grandma Aunt Woneta and Aunt Lois looked nothing alike. My hubby was the son of the oldest sister Faye, then came Aunt Ruth ,Aunt Lois and lastly Aunt Woneta. If you saw them on the street, didn't know them, you would never suspect they were sisters. So we Will see how this week pans out. And next week on the 30th I go to Columbus to be seen at the Bariatric Clinic , my paperwork says I see Dr Noria, my surgeons partner, but one of the nurses I spoke to the other day said No I merely see Valerie the head Nurse- Practitioner. Well no big thing either way! In the meantime celebrating being down to 228 from alk- time high of 365+, I say + because I got to the point I would not get on a scale unless you jabbed me with a sharpened stick. Knew all scales carried a grudge and wouldn't say anything nice about me! Suffice it to say my BMI was in the 50s and now it's mid 30s and lowering by the day! Yippee Skipee Yahoo!👍😝👍🍀🌈

Hi all, (VGS) I wanted to get some outside opinions. Firstly, I will say I am following what my dietician has directed. They want me to do a 3 month supervised diet which is fine, but they want me to cut out almost all carbs. I understand that getting the high protein is important and I agree. But my main concern is their opinion on things like brown rice, oatmeal, bananas and telling me not to eat ANY of it (even in small amounts).I feel like after surgery I would definitely try re-introducing some of those foods in small amounts because I believe they are healthy. I can tell my bariatric center is one of the ones that struggles to understand vegetarianism in detail, as everyone there pushes the protein and meat being easier (but no one has actually told me to eat meat or anything). It just seems strange to me that 3 whole months before surgery they only want me eating protein sources and vegetables,low carb fruits and no grains or anything at all. I have seen other surgeons in various places suggest different restrictions on diets and not all of them ban all carbs. I am at 38bmi and I don’t need to lose much before the surgery so it isn’t like, a rapid weight loss diet or anything pre-surgery. They sort of act like any carbs aren’t good for you. I understand immediately after surgery protein is top priority so getting in any carbs would be pretty difficult. It’s more-so that before and after permanently they are kind of saying to ban grains and things like that. But I know there are people eating a vegan diet etc and we’re able to re-introduce small amounts of carbs just fine. I am completely willing to cut down on carbs a lot, but has anyone else run into this experience ? My goal is to figure out a diet that works for me as a lifestyle and provides me with nutrients- before and after surgery. Just looking for some input from people who have gone through the surgery and how they handled this/what they are and if they agreed to long term elimination of most carbs. Thanks for any help!

I have allergies my whole life, I’m allergic to everything that grows. I have never coughed or gagged because of them just a whole lot of sneezing! I think it’s something else. Was it your PCP or you bariatric doc you talked to?

I am going with Dr. Lopez in TJ on October 22. I am paying $4750 with him. I also know that Dr. Elias Ortiz has a special right now for $4200. Hi, I might have surgery with Dr. Lopez on Oct 25th! I went through Mexico Bariatric Center, who did you go through? How did they ask for your payments? Sorry I have so many questions!

I am about 4 months post op and my scars are pretty dark because I tend to hyperpigment. I have 5 of them!!!! Dont know why the surgeon cant do the single incision gastric sleeve through the belly button. That would've been my preference but the only two surgeons in the US that do that were not near me. Anyway, I went to my dermatologist and he mixed up a prescription strength formula to fade these things and happy to say it is working. But honestly, I think it is something the bariatric surgeons should address.

Lara2080, when and what type of bariatric surgery did you have? How much have you lost? Who was your doc? I see that your a new member...welcome and please tell us about your journey.

I drink up until my first bite as well and typically wait at least 45 minutes before drinking anything more then a sip to rinse my mouth. Immediately post op for the first month I used the Bariatric Advantage Protein powder, but have after I got on soft foods, I switched to a single ready to go Protein shake (Premier Protein from Costco) which I drink halfway between Breakfast and lunch. I didn't puree anything either (puree actually wasn't on my plan) - for me it was 3 days of Clear liquids, then 2 weeks of full liquids, then 2 weeks of soft foods, then back to regular food as tolerable. As far as Snacks, at this stage I find I do need to snack a bit between meals in order to get in my recommended protein. A snack for me is usually something like a cheese stick or a Danon Light and Fit yogurt (12g protein,80 cal!) My surgery team didn't outlaw caffeine out right, just to cut back. Immediately after surgery I didn't have any caffeine until I was on regular foods. At this point I usually have one Americano every other day or so. I use Crystal light powder or other flavor liquids in my Water.. post op I find I can't drink water as well when it is plain. For movies, I only get a water, and maybe take in a Protein Bar and eat half of it. I'm staying away from popcorn until I get to my goal.

Wow. Have you been tired and fatigued during the day? Shouldn't push back surgery. They'll just send you for your machine and mask fitting. Should get a lot better after surgery Hey Nurselori, the thing is I never noticed! I have always kept busy with multiple jobs working 11 hr shifts and overtime. Also i finished art school a few years ago and pulled tons of all nighters while in school... I guess i just thought my lifestyle of staying busy and being overweight kept me tired! lol I'm glad I went ahead and did the test my doc had said that out of the bariatric patients he tests 80% of the time they will come back positive even when they have barely any symptoms i hope this surgery fixes it..I'm even more excited to get to October now! Hey! Just checking in to see how things are going for you since your sleep study...

Hey Lisa, Ok, so, there were a few things going on at home and I didn't make it to the support group. I am planning on going to the group for bariatric surgery next week though. I went last month and it was really something. I think that having a group that knows me will help to keep me accountable. I have my pre-op class on Wednesday. I've been really working on my liquid diet ahead of time. I had been thinking about buying a Magic Bullet since my little Hamilton Beach blender went kaput, but, my room mate talked me into a Cuisinart Stick blender instead and it's GREAT! I would recommend it highly. It really helps to make shakes more like shakes and it was only about $25. I started freezing some bananas too, but, I haven't tried them yet. Also, I picked up a bottle of sugar free flavored syrup, like what you use in coffee, this weekend and it's no sugar and no carbs. They had a few flavors, but, I went with caramel and I am NOT disappointed! Sorry, that's all the things I'm doing to try to keep things low carb and low cal but keep my protein up. If you ever get to Trader Joes, they have a thing called Better Than Peanut Butter and it's a LOT healthier than PB and tastes just like it. Oh, and I picked up some sugar free pie filling this weekend, but, I haven't experimented with it yet. Which calcium crystals did you get? I know Bariatric Advantage makes them, but, to be honest, the stuff I've had from them hasn't tasted all that great. I got some samples of stuff from Celebrate and it was pretty good, if you want to try something different. They included a pack of multi-vitamin drink mix, but, I haven't tried it yet, I'll let you know how it goes! So, I'm 2 days away from my class. Is there anything I should know, other than to get there super early? I was going to try to get there at about 7 am on the nose!

Have you tried the recipes on the blog World According to Eggface? She has recipes for every Bariatric stage. Whenever I get bored I try something new. The recipes make a lot of portions, so I freeze them and I'm good for weeks.

@@KaiserKid Thank you - and best of luck to you as well! Psychologist emailed me back on Friday and said he is clearing me for bariatric surgery, but that I absolutely need to follow up with him to discuss the rest of the results. I initially was a bit annoyed since I knew that was coming and I've literally had years of therapy... then I spent the weekend with my bipolar mother and grandfather and was like OK I WILL TOTALLY HAVE MORE COUNSELING lol. I'm pretty sure the remainder of the results are going to highlight my neurotic tendencies, and depression. The upside is that he really did seem to notice that I've come a long way and things could have been much worse than they are

Hi everyone, I've just started my process. I have done the psych eval, initial visit, nutritional consultation, and have gathered my history. I would like a bariatric buddy, and I also have some questions about pre op stuff. :-) Sent from my SM-G550T1 using the BariatricPal App