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We do Optifast in Australia, I’m about to do three weeks pre-op ….booked in for a bypass and hernia repair early Nov. Loving all your content, so helpful.

Thank you for wonderful ideas....

Thank you for this

Ive got my first appointment on Tuesday its a meeting. I just want to fast forward time. How many appointments did you have before the actual surgery. U can tell ive no patience 😂

Did all of your hair fall out, or did it just get thinner?

Hi am so happy for you wishing you all the best, by the way I just joined your channel, and I want to know if you did in Toronto Western Hospital cause I am supposed to do it next week

U look like a teddy 🧸, in a good way

Thanks for keeping this video under 10mins. So many videos about gastic surgery and the person has a 30min video that could be said in under 10mins. Thanks for the info. Why the bypass vs switch or VSG for you? It seems most doctors are getting away from bypass unless you have major acid reflux that it solves.

Currently lying in hospital bed after having gastric bypass, watching this

Good for you for getting in there! The first time is the scariest/hardest! Highly recommend trying a few sessions with a personal trainer. Most gyms provide at least 1 for free. ❤

Samantha you are beautiful❤! Thank you for sharing your story.

My name is Annette I’m having mine in 14 days time . I’m nervous and excited. X

U look great. Thank u for the updates!!! I'm having mine surgery in June and am very nervous.

Very inspiring! And by the way, I know what you are doing! You are exploring and initiating🫵🏻 are pioneering your new path! Thanks for taking us along! 150(ish) was phase 1 but this gym is phase 2 -and just as significant!!

did they deliver the optifast or did you have to go and buy it and bring it back - seems like a lot

Promo*SM 🤭

Thank you for this, I'm going for surgery in 12 days in Ottawa and i found this very reassuring 😊

Where did you get the boost unflavored powder?

Love your videos…I’m VSG, 1year. You have such a nice attitude -and weight outlook! Great sharing, inspiring!

Girl I’m soooo proud of your for trying out the gym and getting out of your confort zone! I’m so glad that you like it, it truly is a place where you can forget your problems and focus on yourself. One of the best recommendations I can give you is to start with low weights and low volume (2 or 3 sets of 3 to 4 exercises in a routine), that way you can work up from there; also don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, a lot of the people there might seem intimidating but are actually really nice. So excited for this next chapter!

Good for you. Yes regain is very common. I gained 27 lbs back at one time (by 2006) and lost it finally this past year. It’s ongoing work. I’m not a fan of the gym but if you love it, that’s a great tool to help! Keep up the great work

You GO Girl! You Rocked it and I’m super proud of you! 👏💕 By the way, I think you looked adorable in your gym outfit 😉

I don't know if this is a thing in Canada but in the States some post bariatric patients get physical therapy in order to get their bodies ready to work out properly. Facilities have elipticals and exercise bikes and treadmills for cardio. You may want to look into it. My cousin just had gastric bypass and I was really against it but came around and am trying to be very supportive. And you list 150 pounds...that is AMAZING! There are lots of people that have gained weight all the weight they lost back, you've kept it off. Be proud of yourself.❤ I wanted to say i was curious and just watched your video of "My 400 lb Life." I think you need to go back and watch that. You are absolutely miserable. You're telling us that you couldn't sleep due to pain, you woke up exhausted, you were in pain all day, had no energy, felt sick all day and depended on Craig for lots of things. Who is that girl? You have changed so much. Yes the weight, but you got your health in check, you're out and about walking when you don't have to. That's phenomenal. I'm a lawyer with a psych degree and an eating disorder.. anorexia. I'm in recovery but I slip every now and again. My ED is because of my mom and because of a very nasty ballet teacher. I fall but start over and I see that in you. You have so much desire to succeed. Don't let people that don't know you tell you where you should be weight wise. You can tell people to stuff it because this you is awesome!

So happy to see you back on here. And thanks for sharing your story ❤️ you can definitely see how relieved and happy you are 🫶🏻

I'm so proud of you Samantha. You're a very sweet and strong person. As someone who loves going to the gym, I got very excited to hear your news! It's scary at first, but eventually you'll get comfortable and you'll realize how much it helps with both physical and mental health. Keep up the good work, love to hear from you again. Thank your for keeping us updated in your journey

Awesome! I did not know you had a website. I had my surgery 3 yrs ago as of Oct/13/2023. I can agree with you when it comes to an improvement in this journey as far as care and guidance goes. I spent a lot of time doing as much research as I could, to try to prepare, but I was not fully prepared, especially when it came to the mental side of it all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Thank you for posting a very good video .

Thank you for sharing your weightless journey. You are such an inspiration. Please keep us informed about your goal to go to a gym. I went to one when I was very overweight. Do you know what happened? No one even looked at me. I was invisible. I decided to continue going just for me. I made very slow progress but eventually lost inches, pounds and was able to quit my diabetes medicine. You are a strong woman.I know you can do it too.

❤ this is your best video yet!!! So proud of you!!! Xo

I found you about a year ago when I was seeing a Doctor for Bariatric surgery. I chickened out because I am TERRIFIED of having surgery. I also have a lot going on mentally that I'm just not really sure what the best route for me really is. I love your videos. I hope one day I can get my health on track and feel better about myself as well. Food addiction is something I'm seeing that I really deal with. It's almost like I have no control over myself sometimes. I hate it. I've never looked into anything about it but I for sure will have to, Keep up the good work!

Hi Samantha, I'm one month post-op from Guelph Ontario bariatric clinic. My program only follows you for one year. I have just transitioned to soft foods, stage 3 and have had some trouble with that. They are very strict about the amount of moisture you can add to food (light mayo for example) and this has caused episodes of tuna and canned chicken getting stuck for up to three hours which is incredibly painful. Only if I use a good bit of sauce or something to add moisture am I able to get the protein down comfortably. Any recommendations? Great to see you again! Found you while I was going through my one year of preparing for surgery and then you disappeared.

Samantha - it is so great to see you back! 🎉 Please keep posting and sharing with us. I’ve often wondered how you’re doing with your journey and I’m thrilled to see you back! You make me smile. Welcome Back 😘💕

Im suprised thats the diet they recommended to replace opti. Especially the carbs and pork. Youd think they would just get you to have a diferent protein powder

I put orange kool-aid in the vanilla (Creamsicle) and ice. I liked mint drops and instant decaf granules to the chocolate. I also did chocolate cherry I had broth and cucumbers other than the shakes. I really liked them and wish I could get them outside of the program. I only did it for 2 weeks though

I can't find website, could you please share the link.

As I was watching after not having been in your corner of TH-cam for several months I couldn't help but think of how you had really evolved into a mentor role with confidence and experience, as well as altruism. Then you mentioned you felt you had come into your own and it was neat because I could really see it. Regarding the healthcare of different countries, I must say I love the idea of the gov't (who certainly takes $) giving back by providing healthcare the way yours does. I was only able to get my VSG because I got Medicare (being here in USA's system) and ours has big discrepancies in who can access what. Ins did not used to pay for this but now does, yet not everyone has the appropriate ins -my kind is only one of the options. But we don't have the big wait time you all do. Plus may get more service add on items depending on what ins. I didn't have almost any support, however I also didn't need it very much as I am 60 and my emotional status is very different than when I was 30. Probably most places do offer much more support than mine. I started out 248 and am 158 now with 20 to go-I'm short. Started losing last Nov, had surg at Xmas so it's been 11 month. I didn't try as hard as I should have but am still losing and happy with the results. But huge laughing to how much I discovered this VSG did not do all the work for me as I though it would -it was ok though, I adapted.

Hi sam your videos are really imformative

I have 2 friends who had weightloss surgery. One has gained 15 lbs back due to drinking carbonated beverages. She says no dctr told her she couldn't & she stretched her pouch. The other now looks anorexic & I really worry about her!

Thank you Samantha, for your brutal honesty. I am at the start of the journey and am watching many videos. Yours is super helpful! Also, I'm in Toronto, so your process is very interesting for me. Can you tell me how long it took to go from referral to surgery? Are you near the GTA? Thank you again!

Congratulations, I wish you the best it seems that you are willing to learn and try your best. I have been overweight all my 33 years of life, have never had a regular period and I already started to have other health conditions. I live in Texas and don't have insurance so the surgery is not an option for me, but my baby sister is still covered for my dad insurance and she wants to have it. I am anxious about the procedure but excited that she will have a better chance to not be sick at 30.

Walking and a heating pad applied to the abdomen can help. The heating pad helps with the gas pain and also if you feel crampy the heating pad will relax the abdominal muscles and muscles of the bowel walls to help some. Also put a pillow under the backs of your knees while resting. That way the abdominal muscles can totally relax and arnt being tugged on by the weight of the legs.

Where can I find the pro video please?

So the Optifast diet was something the Clinic (Bariatric Doctor) put you on?? They supplied the Optifast or did you have to purchase ??

Hi Samantha, I'm a 48yr.old from Ontario, Canada as well. And I'm so glad I found your channel. I'm exited to tell you that I'm going to ask my family physician to refer me to the Hamilton Bariatric Clinic. I'm exited to start this journey as well!!!

I’m supposed to have gastric sleeve next month and find I’m finding the pre op diet very scary. I hope I have the strength to get through it. I have a sugar addiction and never thought about a transfer addiction. 😳😬

I’m allergic to the iodine and tape too! I thought it was just me!

I remember when I went in for cosmetic surgery and coming down from the anesthesia I had a sore throat! I wish I would have been aware that was a side affect of the breathing tube. Because it took almost 2 weeks even with taking pain meds to gel better

Thank you for your honesty❤

Good luck in your new venture!! I’m in the process of getting into the bariatric program in Hamilton. I’ve been talking to my doctor about this since January and he finally agreed to refer me in April. 2 months later and I find out he still hasn’t referred me (he did but not through their portal and hasn’t attempted since), so it’s already a frustrating process right from the get go. Hopefully I won’t have to wait 2 years. All the waiting is so nerve wracking. Waiting for your family doctor to refer you, waiting for the clinic to contact you. Waiting for the orientation, then all the different appointments and tests before you get approved. Then getting approved and waiting for your surgery date.

Did you have laparoscopic or open gastric bypass