I'm fighting myself to stay away from the damn donuts in the break room! grrr And for some reason, I'm seeing Potato Chips EVERYWHERE!!!!

Your doing great Shirl. Hang in there. Head hunger is what scares me the most. I can only hope and pray I'm one of those who doesn't want food but I doubt it. Head hunger is a real thing for me even now before being sleeved. I cant even imagine how much harder it will be after. I also wonder how long your plan has you on liquids?

Hang in there shirl...head hunger is no joke -sleve or deliberate eating...i worry about auto bites and licks too amd preparing foods for others
. Not in a good place myself since yesterday with doubts very strong in the force. *sigh*

How long are u on liquids in ur plan?

Shirl good luck on your journey.You have been so pleasant and upbeat. Im having surgery June 9th in Mexico. I am a nurse and have been on my feet for years,I have been plagued for 3 years by chronic knee pain,and ankle issues which I'm sure were created by my weight. Today I came home from work in tears due to the foot pain.I haven't shared my WLS journey with anyone but my husband. My BMI is 35 so people don't really get it.This for me isn't vanity. It's a quality of life issue. My orto DR is pressuring me to cast my foot for 8 weeks, I don't know how to share with him that I need to be mobile post op WLS. If I hadn't already bought my tickets I'd deal with my ankle and then proceed with WLS. I can't afford to lose all that money for tickets.Any suggestions...ambulating po will be touch either way!

That's what I do. Mash it up good in the blender then heat it up on the stove, but mostly cause I don't running the blender so long

Amigas! I do not recommend this soup until stage 2 maybe 3!!! Don't get me wrong, it was easy and delicious!! But the blending made it bubbly which my new tummy did not like one bit! after sipping two tablespoons oh some serious cramping started happening. Next time, I will purée broccoli then mix on stove top. I used bone broth instead of milk and bouillon, and goat milk cheddar. My daughter and friend love it. I'm glad I tried though.

I've made this in my Vitamix in the past. It's really good. You can turn anything into liquid in a vitamix....remember when I turned a cooked chicken breast into "soup"?

You can use these same ingredients, except change out the broccoli for carrots, or asparagus, or bell peppers, or whatever other veggie you desire. You can add different spices, or use coconut milk.

PS if interested, I have a FB page called "Bariatric Food Academy" that stresses (learning about)whole foods and eating healthily since I see on so many forums people are not well educated about nutrients and whole foods in their pre op process and it serves as a like a binder for me about food things I find while internet trolling.

ooh Keep em coming! This is my plan too....make "smoothy soup" in my bullet. I've actually never done it...just drank smoothies, but, same principle. When I need something savory and I'd rather just have a bunch of whole food and add yogurt and some protein powder as the only processed things. I did splurge on organic soups the other day by Pacific just to make it that much easier the first two weeks and to have variety to choose from and have "permission" to just stop eating one and try another if I can't get it down.

How's the vitamix? Thinking ahead to a Christmas gift. I have the simplest Bullet right now.

Shirl!!!!! ****hugs***** we'll see on the other side

And I'm cheering for you both! gimmee a V, gimmee an S, gimmee a G! what's that spell? VSG! VSG! whoot whoot!

@Donna much love to you Womyn! Thank you!!! and this chubs is cheering for you too!!! Xoxoxo

You got this Shirl!! I'm cheering you on in the background. Picture a chubby girl with pom poms in your head, that's me!

Did I miss your birthday Shirl? Screaming HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you all the way from louisiana if I did. I picked out a number for what I want to be weight wise. Its 135. But honestly, all I want is to be able to fit in a pair of single digit jeans. I wont care it Im 180 and I fit in a pair of single digit jean, I will be happy. I will be 48 this July and have been overweight most of my life and been on a diet of one form or another all my life. You and I started on the forum and on this WLS jurney at about the same time. Love reading your posts. Always so upbeat and full of good information. Ive been keeping a little book of some of the things youve posted for when I have questions. lol

Well...Happy birthday Shirley! I think you will be great at 48 years old, looking the best you can, but feeling so much better with less pain!
I'm guessing at the end of my journey, I will still be overweight (but not obese :-)...I mean I have a hard time imagining that my body would allow me to loose more...but I will be happy with whatever is coming, because doing my best, I don't think I will really be able to control when my weight loss will stop, it seems that our bodies find their own way to decide about the weight. May be I'm wrong, only the futur will tell us!

I went for the high end of normal BMI and it is perfect for me. I'm not thin and fragile looking, just normal. My goal was always for people not to look at me and see a really fat lady, and I've accomplished that goal. I don't hide behind people when getting my picture taken. Maintaining the same weight for almost 2 years now is probably the most major accomplishment of my life.

So update...

I am staying with the surgeon, they apologized profoundly for any miscommunication, and for not replying promptly. I am now dealing directly with the surgical team since my insurance has been approved, and I will not have any out pocket cost. The surgeon has over fifteen years of bariatric and cosmetic surgery, and has received numerous recognitions.

My student health insurance expires August, so there is no warranty that the other surgeon will be able to schedule me for surgery before then.

I am ok with staying with the original plan. I trust that my life is in good hands.

Originally Posted by Muted_Tummy

Yes, twice.

oops I already replied LOL

Yes, twice.

I'm with you..there are so many variations of "end"...and unlike every other "diet, if we are really following the sleeve/rny eating plan, we can choose where to end. Some seem to perpetually get stuck in trying to lose more because they don't like the number, but do not stick with eating plan or their body just puts up a friggin fight, some lose too much and fight to add weight back on, some regain (dun dun dun).

I was happy and curvy at 170. Will I fight if my body takes me down to 150? no. I was curvy there too. But I can't imagine weighing less than that.

My nut asked what's the lowest you've ever weighed in adult life and how did you get there. This is a good indication of the lowest your body might let you go. I said...well....in 1988 and 199, I WW'd down to 136...I stayed there for like a week. Through most of college, I yo yod between 145 and 160. Then, the yo yoing after that was 155 to 170, 155 to 180 and so on.

So, I think my "goal" will be 155 which is the highest weight of "normal" BMI for my height LOL But...we shall see.

I know right! My lowest weight yo yo weight was at around 175-78, and that was with the assistance of phen phen. But then the doctor switched me to Fadtin because they could no longer prescribed the other cocktail mix, and I just did not like the way it felt so I stopped taking. Anyway, it was so hard to maintain because my hunger came back with vengeance and any eating plan I had went out the window particularly when I was not prepared and it became more often.

Today I feel I am much better equipped and my health and longevity is my number one priority front and center. I know there will be struggles because my obesity is the effect of physical injuries and genes (maybe) but psychological trauma as well.

I remember getting my heart broken and buying donuts and ice-cream to comfort myself, I remember being pissed and eating out anger to spite my exhusband, I remember being happy and eating to celebrate my happiness. My mom used to force me finish everything on my plate or beat the shit out of me if I didn't. I remember having seconds even though I was full because it would make my mom happy. My emotional eating is something that I will need to conquer as I continue with my life.

I have to keep myself from asking how much women that are my height weigh! Not very socially acceptable behavior...lol

I HAVE done it though. I just cannot imagine weighing any less than 180 lbs, and there are women my height that are 130's-140's...so weird to me.

It sounds to me that you're going with your gut feeling--also it makes sense that you're going with a center of excellence, your primary care doc referred you and they are in your insurance network It also stands to reason that you should feel cared for, that includes return phone calls and updates.

Thank you, Tobysgirl!

The new surgeon's office first available appt is May 6 which I took. I have about two weeks to get my paperwork transferred, the new office would like to have everything so they do not duplicate and get me approved through them asap.

My brother changed his surgeon during pre-op. Actually, it was just a couple of days before the scheduled surgery. The first surgeon's office wasn't a center of excellence and was out of network. They said that they were approved by the insurance company but it turns out that they submitted the paperwork late and didn't have the approval. They weren't responsive to calls as he tried to figure out if the surgery they scheduled was on or off and the status with the insurance company. He found another surgeon able to do the surgery in the same week.

The new surgeon was in network and at a center of excellence. The office staff of the new surgeon was incredibly responsive. They took all of the tests and paperwork from the original surgeon but required two additional tests and an updated referral from his primary care physician. They helped schedule the tests within 24 hours and the surgery proceeded. I can tell you that it was quite a relief to my brother to work with a surgical team and office staff that was so responsive. Also, when he met with the new surgeon, he said he immediately felt comfortable.

The transfer of records took no time because he went to the old surgeon's office with the request, picked up everything and took it to the new surgeon's office the same day. For the new tests he had to take, he asked that they rush the test results to the new surgeon and they did.

I had surgery two weeks before my brother in Mexico. It was really frustrating to see all that he went through compared to my very easy experience going to Mexico. But, in the end, I do think that his switch to a new surgeon was the best decision for him. Deciding to have this life-altering surgery is hard enough. You need the surgery team and their staff to be responsive pre-op and post-op.

Originally Posted by Shirl

Oh thanks so much to you both! I kept thinking I'm being impatient, but from the get go those folks weren't responsive. It's too bad because I felt comfortable with the surgeon. If all had moved from November I would have probably been sleeved by now.

I really hope I don't have to start over, why did you @Muted_Tummy?

@MrTumnus, how long did it take for medical records to be transferred each time?

I had to because diff WLC require different pre op tests and within a certain time frame. The third change was a do over because diff insurance. I transferred all my medical each time (pretty quick process). For #1 to #2, they did keep some. From #2 to #3, nothing. Each center has their own "game board", too, and unless you are self pay, it seems the time frame is the same. I got semi fast tracked with #3 with no weight loss goal to meet and no extra nutrition or psych mtgs... waived because I "came in ready". I do have to go to rhree, weekly behavior management me ey ings that start next week.

Thank you, Sandra3. This doctor has been doing bariatric surgeries for over 16 years, and is connected with Cedar Sinai one of the best hospitals here in L.A., but he also has his own bariatric surgical center which is less than a mile from where I live.

Well I missed three calls from them this morning, I called them back and the office manager was wondering why I had changed my mind, besides them being out of my network, I also wish they had been that responsive from the get go.

I am definitely still unsure, the office manager tried to convince me that they are an excellent center, she said that even though they are not contracted by my insurance their center does not charge any of their patients any out pocket costs, they also have an on-call nurse for me in the event I need anything. And in terms of my insurance lapsing she said that all follow-up visits are free and that in the event an ultrasound, x-ray or CT scan is required they would work out a reasonable fee and payment plan.

Even though I had my 90-day pre-op visit last week, I still have to wait for the heart ultrasound which is next week. I was supposed to have it in March but their technician cancelled.

Basically, I am back to figuring out if I should stay or go.

UGH!

I did contact several surgeons in different countries before deciding where I wanted to do the surgery. I had several criteria s, from the number of surgery done by the surgeon (over 2000 is a plus), an ICU in the hospital..but the team had to be responsive. I can contact my team for anything, I know they will get back to me under two hours during working hours. That's really important! good luck! I hope you will find what you need!

Oh thanks so much to you both! I kept thinking I'm being impatient, but from the get go those folks weren't responsive. It's too bad because I felt comfortable with the surgeon. If all had moved from November I would have probably been sleeved by now.

I really hope I don't have to start over, why did you @Muted_Tummy?

@MrTumnus, how long did it take for medical records to be transferred each time?

Hi ..and no you don't have to start over at least not in my case! I was going to have it stateside and pay cash with one surgeon and found another surgeon in the area that offered a better price..they simply transferred all the info over to the new surgeon. I also found that Mexico was even cheaper, so I decided to go to Mexico. I had a great experience and saved a ton of money.