BigTom

So sorry to hear of your troubles. I had to pay for my surgery because insurance would not cover it. You can still work on your weight on your own. I was sleeved on 3/17/11 and this has not been an easy road. I still have to be disciplined in what I eat, how I eat, and how much I eat. The sleeve limits the amount I can take in at one time and it makes me throw up if I overeat or if I eat too fast. I have found eating too fast is a major problem for me. I have thrown up more in the past few weeks than I think I have my entire life. I say all of this just to let you know that even the sleeve is not an easy way out. I also struggle each day with the mental aspect of knowing there are certain foods that I can no longer eat or enjoy. I will never again get to have that feeling of being so stuffed I can hardly move. That feeling used to give me some type of satisfaction and now I feel like I will never be satisfied from food again. On Feb 25th I went to my Dr for my last post op appt. I weighed 375 lbs that day. I was put on a pre surgery diet which consisted of three slimfast shakes per day and one cup of steamed veggies. It was pure hell, but on the day of surgery I weighed 353 lbs. I was able to lose 27 lbs in that couple weeks on that diet and I will confess I cheated twice. Today I am at 324 lbs. I kick myself every day thinking I wish I would have stuck with the slimfast diet and tried to get my weight off without the surgery. I doubt I could have stayed true to my diet and then I think I may have done the right thing by having it. What I have learned though is it is all mental when it comes to food. Some people call it will power, but I think when we yo yo diet, and when we slip up we beat ourselves up over it and then throw in the towel. I would encourage you to find a diet you can handle and that works for you. When you slip up and eat something you shouldn't don't get discouraged but get right back to it. The main point I am making is the sleeve isn't an easy road just as a regular diet is no easy road. We have to battle to eat the right foods, fight the urge to over eat, fight the urge to eat just because we are bored, or because we are stressed. As my Doctor said to me, the sleeve is not a sprint race but a marathon, just like a diet which is basically a lifestyle change. In closing I want to share a couple verses which I found helped me before surgery. I can do all things in Christ which strengthens me and Greater is He that is in me than he that it is in world. I would repeat those over and over again when felt like I wanted to stop and get a hamburger or a box of chicken or whatever else I was craving at the time. If you will lean of God and know He can and will get you through this, I promise He will lift you up. Keep the faith and stay strong because you can do all things in Christ Jesus!!!! God Bless