I'm down 40 lbs

Find a community or senior center that offers water aerobics.  My daughter will be teaching some here in Fontana at the senior living centers..Guess i won't be able to escape her classes..lol
Kim in Fontana

Hello Everyone am new at this, so here I go.  I am so excited about this stage in my life.  I have been reading your letters and I can't wait to have my surgery.  I don't know if anyone has gone thru Kaiser Permanente here but today I am starting my first class.  They require that we take 24 classes before the surgery takes place, it seems like a lifetime.  Accortding to kaiser 24 weeks of classes are so that I could be prepare for the good and for the bad.  After I finish the 24 classes it will take another 6 weeks until surgery.   I just found out that Kaiser does both surgery the Lap and the Gastric I am more inclide to do the gastric, only because my friend had the lap band and she constantly has to get it re-adjust, and another friend, she had slipage of the band and she gained all her weight.  I am so excited so any advise will be appreciated.  Kaiser requires that we loose 10% of body weight by the time of surgery, hopefully  I willbe able to do that.

You guys are great, keep up the good comments and all of your hard work, I will continue to read your advices very often I need all the support I can get.  My boyfriend is a little nervous but he knows once I make up my mind I have to do what I need to do.

I belong to Kaiser in Fontana..it has all been good, except they do tend to get behind if you do not keep up with phone calls and labs and tests .  Be sure to keep up on all your classes and labs.  Sometimes because of time spaces, you might have to repeat a test or scan.  Start your vitamin regime now...walk and sample some of the protein products.  Lots of Bariatric websites have sample foods.  Which Kaiser are you with?
Best of Luck...
Kim in Fontana

Hello Kim, thanks for the advise.  I started my first class last night and it was great.  The class was held in West Covina and will end at the end of March 2009.  I started taking vitamins about 2 months ago, whi*****lude a complete women's multivitamin and 1 biotin, 2 omega 3, calcium and C vitamins all total 6 vitamins per day.  I don't know if it is too much or am missing something.  How long after you finish the classes with Kaiser where you able to get the surgery?  and where did you go?  What was and is the worst experience for you? They are talking about UCLA or Pacific Bariatric in San Diego, it seems like Pacific Biatric is the one most people choose.  I am planning to attend the next support meeting for the people that already had the surgery, someone said last night that  it is a great way to see first hand what I can expect.  I am excited and having all kinds of feelings.  I have spoken to my family and thou some of them don't understand why people need this surgery they are ready to be supportive.  I am thinking that if am done with all my classes and tests by the beginning of April 2009 I probably will have the surgery sometime in May or June, long way to go but I have been working at this for a long time and now am in the program so that is a huge step for me.  I am 222.2 and am 5"3  and not able to sleep thru the night is what is making this surgery so appeling.   I will finally get to sleep better, have more energey, etc.   I am so willing to go thru this life changing surgery, some people love it some people have hard imes, whatever is in store for me I am willing to endure to have healthier life style.

Thanks for your reply
Maria

Congratulations on the start of your GREAT WLS journey!!! Buckle up for the ride of your life!!!!
I had Kaiser. You will be surprised how fast the classes go! I remember thinking that 6 months was forever and now I'm 16 months postop and it seems like just yesterday I was where you are at!!! The classes really are a GREAT idea and I think EVERYONE should HAVE to take them! Use them wisely and learn all that you need. And start practicing good habits now...using a small plate, small utensils, sipping, not drinking with meals, etc! It really does help when the real time is here!
I'm so excited for you sweetie!!!
Welcome to OH and the Cali board!!!  bigg huggs, Becky

Thanks Becky I am glad to hear  from people that at this site and that had the surgery thru Kaiser.  My classes are in West Covina, but my doctor is in Baldwin Park and I lover her.  She is supportive and so far everytime I have gone there they are pretty punctual with tests and everything, so let's see what happens. I guess UCLA are going to have a seminar at the West Covina facility to explain their process since Kaiser uses them for the surgeries.  It seems however that Pacific Bariatrics is the hospital of choise for most people that have Kaiser am still waiting to see if other people tell me the positives and negatives of both places and then try to make up my mind.  Yes, you are right it seems like 6 months is a long way, but boy time goes by so fast.  Let me ask you have you ever regreted to having this surgery?   I know four people who had it and they are very happy about it, except one of them has a hard time eating , she says that most of the time she is only hungry in the evenings and that the rest of the time she only drinks the protein because she can't  get anything down, however she is the only one that had the lap band everone else has the gastric.  Thanks for the advise, I will start using the small plates and the small utensis I need to prepare myself to make the changes for the rest of my life. Thanks again.

Have a wonderful day!!!
Maria

I went thru Kaiser West Covina classes... the time flys before you know it ... I would do the surgery again... but for me it has not been a cure all... I don't get sick at all from sugar or anything for that fact and i am almost six mos out and have lost a total of 89... I am hoping for 10 more before the end of the month..... 
Cate 48

Wow Cate 89 lbs that is amazing am very happy for you.  Did you choose the UCLA or the San Diego facility? and what was your experience during your stay at the hospital?  Yes, I understand that some people have not difficulties with sugars and other they get really ill don't know which is better for you.  I am however one of those people that really likes rice, bread and things like that, am not big on sweets.  If you ask me if I prefer a piece of chocolate cake or a cup of coffe and a piece of french bread I will take the coffee and the bread. Yes I know they are both carbs so I really need to cut down on those especiall y the amounts of white rice.   I must confess that giving up my cup of coffee in the morning is going to be tough.   I for most part have one cup of coffee pe day.  I do not eat chips either but I do love those home cook meals I make, so know I started making little changes in the way I cook and the type of oils I use, etc.  They say that you are to loose 10% of your weight before surgery what this your case?  So many questions and so much too learn.  Thanks for your reply.
Maria

Maria,
Well i pick pac bar because they were the fastest... but they are also good... they were very nice to me.... and it does not matter how fat you are they still make you feel human not like a freak...One thing i wish i had done more of was try and lose weight before the surgery.... while i was taking the classes i was just screwing around... not sure if i wanted the surgery...doing the tests and all the blood work.... telling my self will see will see....I started the classes at 378 I am now 240 but i don't think i will feel good until i break 200 then will see... this is such a journey, and some days i still fight not to eat sweets that is my down fall... can i eat like i use to No but  i can still eat.... also i have had no problems.... been lucky...
Cate 48

Wow Cate you should be proud that is wonderful progress.  Well I guess you are one of the luky people that really did not get sick or anything like that after the surgery, some people do say that they have a hard tiem.  You are right I will start making changes now to loose some weight.  I am afraid that if I loose they won't give me the surgery but I just spoke to Kaiser and they told me that once you are already in the classes you have been approved and only the surgeon can deny the surgery.  They also said that if I loose weight it will be better for me, the smaller you are the easier it is on you.  I know I want the surgery, I don't know at what point during the classes they send you for the tests so I have to wait and see what they tell me.  Try to fell good about your weight loss, you must admit that is owesome, and I know you will go under 200 pretty soon.  Wow am at 222 and it seem like it will take forever to loose at 80 lbs, which I need to loose desperately.

Have you tried eating those sugar free candy, maybe those can curve your desire for sweets or maybe even that sugar free jello, lots of protein but sugar free.  I know it is not the same but sometimes you have to trick your mind and taste buds at least that is what my friend tells.

Keep up the wonderful work and am grateful for the suggestions. Oh  and please keep them coming.

Thanks
Maria