Recent Posts
Topic: RE: I have my date! :o)
Thanks. :o)
Oh great news to hear my dr. is so well thought of. I've read quite a lot of good things about him too so I feel I shall be in good hands which is greatly comforting. Unfortunately, bc of my BMI I will have to go into the hospital overnight but better safe than sorry.
Who is Vicky?
Oh great news to hear my dr. is so well thought of. I've read quite a lot of good things about him too so I feel I shall be in good hands which is greatly comforting. Unfortunately, bc of my BMI I will have to go into the hospital overnight but better safe than sorry.
Who is Vicky?
Topic: RE: pre-surgery diet & protein
I am pre-op as well...well, more like hoping insurance approves it at this point. LOL
Anyway, in the past I have used Medifast and will be using it as my pre-op diet. It helps you shed pounds fast as well as limits your portions. And, I just learned they have reformulated the bars so that you may have more than one bar a day and all bars contain 11g of protein. Yea!
Hope this helps! Good luck...I am so so so excited for you!
Anyway, in the past I have used Medifast and will be using it as my pre-op diet. It helps you shed pounds fast as well as limits your portions. And, I just learned they have reformulated the bars so that you may have more than one bar a day and all bars contain 11g of protein. Yea!
Hope this helps! Good luck...I am so so so excited for you!
Topic: RE: pre-surgery diet & protein
What worked for me with my pre op weight loss was limiting the amount of food that I ate. I took the suggestion from my nutritionist, and cut the size of my plate, going from a huge dinner plate,which I FILLED with food to a more realistic salad plate. Used that and filled it only once, okay I did cheat sometimes and fill it twice, but used my will power not to do it all the time. I also took her suggestion and ate my protein first, then veggies, and finally the carbs. Not what I was used to doing. I would always eat my food in the reverse order of what was suggested. Anyway, getting off track a bit....but by following ths plan, I managed to lose about 40 pounds prior to surgery....and for that I was thankful!
Best of luck................keep us posted
Best of luck................keep us posted
Topic: pre-surgery diet & protein
i am getting so excited that my date is getting closer. it seems like that is all i can think about. i am trying to find the best way to lose the weight the surgeon wants me to lose before surgery. i am hoping someone will have some suggestions on what worked for them. i am also wondering which protein drinks/bars/etc. are the best tasting and the most nutritional. please share your fav's.
Topic: RE: 1 year out and almost 100 pounds down!
Wow you look great Katherine! I actually think you were beautiful at 297. You are starting to look and probably feel your real age - and that is wonderful. Especially, with your family there to enjoy it. I too remember the kids being able to put their arms all the way around my waist, and not being so crabby has to do with not hurting all the time and just having the more energy and health.
I too never dumped on sugars (or anything else) so I know it gets scary when you are able to eat more. I say though, don't underestimate that the process is still going on after the "honeymoon". My losing 20 pounds a month did end, but during the second year it would be a pound here, five pounds, there, nothing here, etc. It would add up to another twenty and another ten. Also, when your weight is lower those numbers mean more ratio wise. I'm not very interested in a pouch test, or I think it should be renamed something like going back to basics. I don't testing if your pouch has stretched is something to be trying to figure out. I think stretching your pouch is much more of a paranoia and much less common than we all worry. Your by-pass progresses into next phases, and appetite comes back, absorption happens more than in the beginning, and we can eat larger quantities. That doesn't mean it's over and your progress is not going to continue. No surgeon promises it will all work just like in the beginning until all the weight is off. This is just the beginning of "the rest of your life". I kept my mind convinced that if I did the right basic things (excercise, water, not eating with meals, taking my supplements, getting plenty of protein (I didn't make myself eat it first-I have to rotate my stuff on my plate) it would be O.K. I didn't vary that stuff whether I was losing or not, and the pattern second year was slow and steady. Plus, who can't already be having a ball being down 100 pounds! I know you want to keep it going. It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Gotta watch the snacking, but I did have carbs every step of the way and I don't agree there is no place for them in my life. I try the moderation approach.
Good luck on continued success. You look great!
Patty
I too never dumped on sugars (or anything else) so I know it gets scary when you are able to eat more. I say though, don't underestimate that the process is still going on after the "honeymoon". My losing 20 pounds a month did end, but during the second year it would be a pound here, five pounds, there, nothing here, etc. It would add up to another twenty and another ten. Also, when your weight is lower those numbers mean more ratio wise. I'm not very interested in a pouch test, or I think it should be renamed something like going back to basics. I don't testing if your pouch has stretched is something to be trying to figure out. I think stretching your pouch is much more of a paranoia and much less common than we all worry. Your by-pass progresses into next phases, and appetite comes back, absorption happens more than in the beginning, and we can eat larger quantities. That doesn't mean it's over and your progress is not going to continue. No surgeon promises it will all work just like in the beginning until all the weight is off. This is just the beginning of "the rest of your life". I kept my mind convinced that if I did the right basic things (excercise, water, not eating with meals, taking my supplements, getting plenty of protein (I didn't make myself eat it first-I have to rotate my stuff on my plate) it would be O.K. I didn't vary that stuff whether I was losing or not, and the pattern second year was slow and steady. Plus, who can't already be having a ball being down 100 pounds! I know you want to keep it going. It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Gotta watch the snacking, but I did have carbs every step of the way and I don't agree there is no place for them in my life. I try the moderation approach.
Good luck on continued success. You look great!
Patty
Topic: RE: Checking in with my Oregon Friends
Thank you Kim for updating us! I would hate the think any of us would not feel like we can come back because of guilt for not being on the boards as much as we used to (me) because I just care so much about all of my WLS peers. I was so worried about you, especially that awful trip to the ER after going to the movies! You endured, and with the support of your amazing husband and family, you are finally able to move on. I know that time really does help to get over the trauma of something like that. I just wasn't how it was supposed to unfold, but now you are where you wanted to be AND are healthy again. I've had some lousy life moments, my own health things and family losses, and eventually they are part of your fabric but they don't define you. You have got so many great things to balance the difficult things you had to overcome. When your going through it what can you do except put one foot in front of the other and keep on trying. I've always found myself able to move on because who wants to not embrace the good things to come?
If you never get that surgery so what. I haven't gotten mine yet, and admit some hesitation and a willingness let it go for now - maybe forever? I would of course jump at it if it was free, but I do have to balance it with those family obligations that are equally important and our economy is not helping me feel any comfort in spending that kind of money. The skin is nothing compared to the weight. I don't get any of the rashes or annoying things some people suffer with, other than not liking to wear clothes that don't go way below my stomach, so for me it has just taken a place with all the other annoying things that clutter my life along with the good stuff.
I am just so happy you are doing well. It is great to feel like you can go to Dr. Denveny, and that he wants to keep an eye on you.
I am approaching five years and couldn't be happier with my decision to get the by-pass. As I mentioned previously, I have a little bit of regain and am in the hormonal storm or pre-menopause. Or maybe it is menopause, I had a hysterectomy but he talked me into keeping my ovaries, therefore those pesky hormones. I also have three teenagers, mostly a joy, but I'm a worry wart so their bumps in life are felt in my heart too.
Great to hear from you Kim!
Patty
If you never get that surgery so what. I haven't gotten mine yet, and admit some hesitation and a willingness let it go for now - maybe forever? I would of course jump at it if it was free, but I do have to balance it with those family obligations that are equally important and our economy is not helping me feel any comfort in spending that kind of money. The skin is nothing compared to the weight. I don't get any of the rashes or annoying things some people suffer with, other than not liking to wear clothes that don't go way below my stomach, so for me it has just taken a place with all the other annoying things that clutter my life along with the good stuff.
I am just so happy you are doing well. It is great to feel like you can go to Dr. Denveny, and that he wants to keep an eye on you.
I am approaching five years and couldn't be happier with my decision to get the by-pass. As I mentioned previously, I have a little bit of regain and am in the hormonal storm or pre-menopause. Or maybe it is menopause, I had a hysterectomy but he talked me into keeping my ovaries, therefore those pesky hormones. I also have three teenagers, mostly a joy, but I'm a worry wart so their bumps in life are felt in my heart too.
Great to hear from you Kim!
Patty
Topic: RE: Eugene Springfield March Meeting set!
Julia
I am can understand you reluctance to have another surgery. Maybe wait awhile and see how you feel. I think they might be able to remove the scar and hopefully you would not form more keloids. I guess the best thing is to have a consult and see what the PS has to say. I was very surprised that Dr. Jewel was able to get my insurance to cover. He does seem to know what they want. I would think yours would possibly be covered to get rid of the painful scar. Worth a try when you are ready. My insurance is a Blue Cross Blue shield. Julia
Julia 
Topic: RE: Eugene Springfield March Meeting set!
Wow Julia - that's great that your insurance will help pay! I now have a nasty and painful scar from the top of my pubic bone up to the bottom of my left ribcage. It has keloided and hurts when I cough, sneeze, or sometimes even when I'm just walking. My physical therapist says I need to see a plastic surgeon and see if they can remove most of it all by pulling the skin down (i.e., tummy tuck). I don't know if my insurance would pay part in that case, but I'm worried about having it done 1) because I really don't feel like going through surgery again, and 2) because I'm afraid that the scars from the tummy tuck would keloid and I'd end up with more painful spots. I suppose I'll have to wait and see how much it bothers me.
By the next time I see you, I'll probably not recognize you! Hopefully, when the weather warms, we can have a nice function in my back yard or something. We'll see! Best of luck with your surgery.
Linda
By the next time I see you, I'll probably not recognize you! Hopefully, when the weather warms, we can have a nice function in my back yard or something. We'll see! Best of luck with your surgery.
Linda
Success supposes endeavor. - Jane Austen
Topic: RE: Eugene Springfield March Meeting set!
Hi Linda, I was hoping to be able to come to your March meeting but turns out I am scheduled for BL and reduction on March 23 so probably won't make it. I am also surprised to find out that my insurance has agreed to pay as long as Dr. Jewel is able to remove the minimum amount that they require. He is not a preferred provider however so will probably only pay 60% but that is more than I expected. I am now hoping my secondary insurance will pay some too. Anyway wish me luck and I will see you at a meeting soon I promise. Julia Julia
Hi Linda, I was hoping to be able to come to your March meeting but turns out I am scheduled for BL and reduction on March 23 so probably won't make it. I am also surprised to find out that my insurance has agreed to pay as long as Dr. Jewel is able to remove the minimum amount that they require. He is not a preferred provider however so will probably only pay 60% but that is more than I expected. I am now hoping my secondary insurance will pay some too. Anyway wish me luck and I will see you at a meeting soon I promise. Julia Julia Topic: RE: 1 year out and almost 100 pounds down!
Wow Kat, you look fabulous! I'd say just keep doing what you're doing and enjoy the ride. I lost 73 pounds in my first six months post surgery. Then I gained a few pounds, lost a few pounds, back and forth, back and forth for a whole year! At 1.5 years post-op (this January) I finally began to lose weight again and have dropped another 12 pounds since then. I had a spinal fusion in November and haven't been particularly active. Just all of a sudden, I began to feel the restriction more and more and I've just eaten less and felt a lot fuller. So yes, I had a stall for nearly a whole year. Now I'm losing again. You've done so well and you look so happy and healthy. Good for you!
Linda
Linda
Success supposes endeavor. - Jane Austen
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