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Hey Renewed, Congratulations my fellow Oct PS buddy. WOHOO 8 pounds must be the magic number this month. I haven't been online much as Dr has me on strict bed rest becasue of one icky spot hes keeping a close eye on. He told me to not stress, but I m . thats just me. OK will chat later, remember the drugs our your friend right now. Congratulations again.~

YAY, you're home!! Me and DS have been at his cousins fishing birthday party since lunch. I was going to give you a call if I didn't see a post from you. When I woke up this morning, my first thought was "I wonder how Renewed is doing", lol. I still can't believe how good you sounded on the phone yesterday. You rock!! Take it easy and try to get some good rest (if that's possible, lol). Call me if you don't feel up to posting and I'll update everyone. And ditto on the bestest band buddy....you're the best!!!!

I happen to like the chocolate. But everyone's taste is different. Some people swear by the Bariatric advantage I wanted to vomit drinking them. I don't think the premeir protein tastes like chocolate milk though. I also lime unjury and I think their chocolate tastes like chocolate milk when made with milk

I have Kaiser and I have relatively low co-pays except for emergency visits which are $100 a pop. But, bariatric surgery is $500 co-pay up front. I checked my coverage right away, first to see if they covered it, and saw the cost then. To me, it beats $10K out of pocket (on the cheap side) if I had to pay for it without insurance. Good luck with your surgery, hope all goes smoothly!

I love my fitbit one - if I can help am happy to try. I've had it since February and it's great. Syncing with my fitbit goes between both my home and work computer, my ipad and iphone and the device. I sound like a gearhead, but it's really for me to travel easily and make my work simpler. Once home i only use my devices mostly to check Bariatric Pal and Fitbit! My only struggle is trying to print out my food log for my doc, but i imagine i'll find a workaround. Anyone have suggestions? I tried linking to myfitnesspal but it didn't transfer earlier data. Bummer.

Hi Renewed Hope, I plateaued before my first surgery too -- I think that just happens when we get close to goal. That said, my advice would be to mix up your exercise routine a bit. If you like running, maybe you can have some days where you do some anaerobic activity, like sprinting. Also you might want to do some "long cardio" on certain days. When I'm in my regular exercise routine, I try to have one or two (ideally two, time permitting) days where I go out and take long (2-3 hour) hilly hikes. Weight lifting is another thing that works really well for me, although I haven't done it since early June because of my surgeries. I find that keeping my body guessing about what I might put it through next really seems to help keep up a fairly steady weight loss. Hope this helps, and looking forward to hearing more about your upcoming PS journey! :biggrin::smile::thumbup:

I have been doing the bariatric advantage shakes. They are meal replacements and YES im hungry!! Lol..my only motivation is that I HAVE to lose 9 more pounds for the insurance requirements. . I was thinking of also trying the protein drink Isopure..since its clear (good for post-op) and has like 30g of protein..any feedback on that??

Hello all. I am 4 days Post op from RYGB. I am doing what I consider GREAT! I gained 14 pounds from surgery, all those gasses (laproscopic) and Water (tons of IV bags of fluid) really add up. Little by little I can tell that is exiting my body, then I should begin to lose the actual "weight". I am only sore in the abdomen area. I have had NO PAIN at at all. Just tenderness, soreness and when I first wake in the morning, I'd say my belly area is stiff. I did get a bit plugged up feeling yesterday and took some MOM (Milk of Magnesia sp?) and that worked like a charm. Everyone should keep that product on hand...just incase. I am doing my 2 oz of bariatric approved Protein shake every hour and hydrating with zero caloried water and flavored drinkings in between. It's really hard to consume so much "food" (fluid) when you are NOT a bit hungry. I have had NO belly hunger and NO head hunger. It's been six days since I have "eaten" real food. I was thinking I'd be starving and dying for food and the hand to mouth function....I am not! So far, so good. Really looking forward to getting some of these extra surgery pounds offs, so the real LOSING can begin!!! Happy Saturday to all.

I was sleeved in June and waited until Christmas the same year. I had brandy in a vanilla Protein shake. It was like a Brandy Alexander---bariatric style! Now, when I want a social drink, I am back to my beloved dirty martinis with three olives. Olives have some nutritional value, right??? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it. If you really want the RIGHT answer for YOU----ask your surgeon. Sit down with him/her and have a serious conversation about when/if it will be OK for YOU to have alcohol. Remember, some of the answers you might get on an internet site are just "smoke and mirrors"----not real.--just posted for "shock value". Be forewarned, Friend. Want the right answer to any serious question? ASK YOUR TEAM.

IV Tylenol and advil are staples for bariatrics where I work. Every patient gets them (OFIRMEV and CALDOLOR) Im surprised they're not more commonly used tbh

Healthier is a matter of perspective. Are you looking for higher Protein content? Lower sugar content? I've read lots of great recipes for homemade protein ice cream. Both of my go-to bariatric food websites, theworldaccordingtoeggface.com and bariatricfoodie.com, both have recipes for protein ice cream. For low sugar, you would just have to look around. Your local place might have some sugar free option, not sure about Diary Queen. For store bought stuff, I prefer pre-portioned stuff. It keeps me from having to measure out servings...because my tiny tummy is not going to tell me it's full of ice cream in only 1/2 cup or whatever a "serving" is on the label. I like the Breyer's/Edy's Carbwise ice cream bars line...although, I count total carbs rather than net carbs, so have to really read the label to figure out the total carb count. I think the last time I bought some, the total carbs was around 11 carbs..which I can work into my day. ~Kat

Hey there, I am so sorry you had this experience. As well as all of those who have replied to your comment. I am a dietitian, who actually had the bariatric sleeve procedure. I have both clinical and experiential knowledge. I am happy to help. :)

I am so disappointed - the bariatric coordinator told me when we spoke two weeks ago that she had everything and was going to submit for approval from my insurance company that day. I called today just to double check and see if any progress had been made with the approval. When I called today I got the other bariatric coordinator who told me that they had not even submitted! She looked at my file and said that indeed everything was set to be submitted and she wasn't sure why it had not been submitted already. She is going to submit tomorrow and now I will begin the waiting game all over again. This isn't the first time this girl has dropped the ball either.... My husband called the office because I was so upset and they weren't super nice to him although I heard the conversation and he was calm and not hostile or rude at all. I'm afraid they will now purposely delay it longer. Has anyone ever switched doctors at this point? Would they give all my information to another's doctors office? Any advice is appreciated!!!

Totally agree with @CanyonBaby. This really is a journey you both go through together. If you already don't have support, you won't likely get it diwn the road. My husband is obese as well and really needs to do something for himself but in the meantime I do not pressure him. He will make the appropriate changes as he becomes more ready. As far as I go, he is so proud of the progress I have made that he tells my story all the time. We had to see my bariatric doctor this week because I am having a very difficult time eating much of anything following another surgery. My husband went on and on about how engaged I am in this journey, whether it be a support group lead role or simply helping spread the word. My doctor said to my husband that it is really refreshing to see a spouse so excited for his significant other. He really is my biggest supporter. He is my very best friend and has done nothing but support my choices along the way. I would like to think most healthy strong marriages become stronger after this type of life changing event.

I was banded 2010, lost 20 pounds, had problems, my Dr. left and wasn't replaced. January thought I was having heart attack, my band slid up. Finally was sent to decent Bariatric Dr. start 2 week preop diet Monday and surgery for removal and roux en y revision.

I got banded in 12/07, and long story short, I did great for the first 6 months - quickly dropping 60 lbs. from a combination of following the rules to the letter, eating right, and working out 5 days a week. I plateaued around the 6 months mark when my working out became inconsistent, and I didn't push myself because I felt very comfortable at the weight I was at that point. Over the next couple of years, those 60 lbs. stayed off. A whole lot of other stuff happened in my life in the following years including getting married in 2010 and having kids. Before kids, though, as newlyweds, I got pregnant and the result was a partial molar pregnancy - basically, I drew the statistical nightmare short straw that day. I ended up getting referred to a gynecological oncologist with a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease, also called choriocarcinoma, a rare but highly treatable form of cancer. Over the course of months, I had countless testing done, lots of lab work, and 7 rounds of methotrexate shots. It wasn't until 7 months after first finding out I was pregnant, that my HCG (pregnancy hormone) finally hit negative, indicating that the cancerous tissue in my uterus was eliminated - and right before starting a much stronger chemo drug, thankfully. So, during those 7 months, I kind of lost myself. I gained 30 lbs., and I joke that it's because I spent those 7 months stuffing my face to avoid having to speak at countless parties, BBQs, get-togethers, and events where we were bombarded by pregnancy announcement after pregnancy announcement by friends.. but honestly, I was depressed and grieving, and isolating myself from most of my friends because I was internalizing all of what I was dealing with. Even now, only about 4 people outside of our parents knew about what we were dealing with. A year after my HCG hit negative, I got pregnant, resulting in an easy pregnancy, an awesome labor, and a healthy baby boy. I gained 20 lbs. with that pregnancy, and by the time I was 5 months post-partum, I had taken off 28 lbs., so I was feeling confident about getting back on track with the band. Then, surprise! As my son hit 6 months old, I found out I was pregnant with baby #2. During that pregnancy, I gained back all of the weight I had lost, plus some, putting me about 10 lbs. below my consultation weight when I first got my band. After my daughter was born, right before I went back to work, I visited the bariatric surgeon's office and had all of the remaining Fluid in my band taken out - maybe 8ccs, or something? I can't remember - because I was getting stuck all the time, and I felt confident that I could eat clean, work out regularly, and take the weight back off. He made an off-the-cuff comment about, "Most people think that, and they're wrong. Only 20% succeed." I thought, I'll be that 20 percent. Buuuuuuuut I'm not. I joined an awesome gym almost a year ago where I've developed a love for weight lifting and kickboxing, and I'm surrounded by other regulars who love to do OCR events, and eventually, I'd like to try a Spartan trifecta. But in the past year, I've been trying different things to see the scale reflect a lower number - low-carb, carb-cycling, cutting out processed foods and sugar, tracking/weighing everything religiously - and I am still lingering very close to my pre-op start weight. I can see my body composition changing in certain ways thanks to weight lifting.. my shoulders and upper arms are slowly becoming more defined, my quads and lower half is different, too; but my mid-section stays the same, even in terms of inches. And that pendulum of weight holds me back from box jumps, from completing Olympic lifts, from attempting OCRs (I can't imagine pulling my own body weight over a 12 ft. wall.. at least not right now), etc.; and enough is enough. So, I called up the bariatric surgeon's office and made an appointment to come in and talk with someone about getting back on board with the band. I haven't seen them since 2014, and since then, their practice has split and restructured. I'm hoping I can get in sooner through a cancellation (otherwise, mid-August it is..), but in the meantime, I'm going to be revisiting the binder of information from my surgeon from when I had my surgery almost 10 years ago, and trying to reconnect on here. Anyone else going through something similar? I feel like a total newbie all over again! Thanks for letting me reintroduce myself!

Good riddance to bad rubbish. How do you move on and date? In my opinion, very carefully and very slowly. It sounds like you need to grieve and recover from your marriage before jumping back into the dating world. Do you have a good therapist? Have you considered attending a 12 step recovery group like Overeaters Anonymous? Are you attending bariatric support group meetings? Take the time to get to know yourself, recover and heal (physically and emotionally), learn how strong and resilient you are, and focus on health and wellness. Another relationship can wait until you are steady in your own feet. Yes, I am looking into finding a new therapist since I moved away from where I used to live. Hoping to find a good one soon. You're right, no dating for me until I am healed from this pain. Thanks

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?

I am so sorry to hear how bad things are going for you. It might help to know where you are located. There are people all over the world on this site that might make a recommendation on a proper Bariatric surgeon that can help.

My goodness crissy79, I am sorry for your pain. We have a wonderful bariatric unit in MD called John's Hopkins Bayview medical center. Not sure where your located but it sounds like you need some good medical care. Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Prayers coming your way. Sent from my VS985 4G using the BariatricPal App Las Vegas, Nv. I am planning a trip to California. I heard they have a good hospital there to. If a bypass doctor won't accept me. thank you. Sent from my SM-N910T3 using the BariatricPal App

Yes, Duke Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery is in Durham, North Carolina (near Raleigh). They have 5-6 fantastic, permanent surgeons (who are also professors of surgery at Duke), and they also have a year-long fellowship program where they accept less than 6 doctors/fellows a year and give them a very intensive education on Bariatric Surgery. These fellows then go on to be leaders in the field. These are not surgeons who took a weekend workshop on these procedures and began practicing (believe it or not, that happens and is totally legal).....at Duke they eat, sleep, and breathe bariatric surgery. Whoever you work with, ask if they are fellowship-trained. You want that level of commitment and study. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Bariatric Advantage are great Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

So I am coming up on my 1yr mark. While I am happy that I've lost 142lbs from HW in Feb 2018, 93lbs since sleeve, my weight loss has virtually been stalled. My macros are have been on point(1200-1400 cals, 90-125g protein, 50-60g carbs per day) while walking 4mi six days per week plus 1.5hrs lifting at gym 4-5 days per week. Per Apple watch, I am burning 4500-5500 cals per day depending on workouts but yet scale has not moved in more than 2lbs in two months. Frustrated as heck but I haven't let off the gas pedal. My personal goal is to lose another 35lbs while getting by BF 15-20%. Definitely have much more noticeable definition in arms, shoulders, and legs but yet scale not moving. Could overtraining be the reason for my stall??? Am I just not able to get enough calories in to keep metabolism burning?? Have I reached my loss period??? I am afraid if I lower cals, I'll start to lose my muscle gains. Any trainers out here with experience in bariatric surgery? Anyone go through this??

Surgery on the Thursday August 23--taking the pain meds, resting, walking, sipping water, crystal light...all is very good. I am amazed how well everything went. My bariatric team ( docs, nurses, etc) were great. It is so exciting to be getting on with my "new lifestyle"!!

Hi, That's great result. Concerning me, I have lost 34 punds far and still have to lose 22 pounds to reach my personal goal. I did that in less than 3 months and I am proud of this result. Actually Dr. Habib Ajami, the bariatric surgeon , was of great support . That's why I think the doctor usually plays a very important role in his patient's new life. Good luck again