Shea

Congrats on your success. I know you're gonna rock those jeans when you get them. Make sure you take pictures and let us all see!!!!!

WOWWOWOW!!! That is so awesome in nine months. You are really work'n your sleeve! Congrats

You look fabulous!!! I love that black and yellow dress, too cute!!!! CONGRATS

Girly you are soooo cute and petite. I love the black dress, I think all women need to have one, and I have to say that you look great! Congrats on your success!!!!!

You have done so well. Congrats!!!!!!!!!

Sista girl hold your beautiful head up. Men are who they are and they aren't going to change. What has to change is you and your tolerance for their actions. There are plenty of men who love voluptuous women. What this young man is looking for is "sex" and if the thinks he can get it from you then he will try, same for your cousin. If he was real about either one of you then there wouldnt be a second option it would be about you and only you or your cousin and only your cousin. Notice although you're getting smaller he isnt wanting you as far as a relationship, he wants your body, which means he's not worth your time, conversation, or tears. I'm glad you shut him down because when a man realizes you love and respect yourself, regardless of your weight you demand respect from men, he will give you just that or not bother you. A lot of men dont show attention because they are intimidated. This guy knew you from before so he felt comfortable trying you, and seeing how far you would allow him to go. Real men know how to approach, talk, be real, and be sincere to a woman. Dont let one guys words lower anything about yourself. If he likes your cousin better, that means he's not meant for you and which is best, because dear heart you deserve the best there is to offer. I have to say that your mom has a misconception of attraction. Beauty fades but someones spirit follows the person regardless of their outward appearance. For many men it's all about how you carry yourself, and how you make your curves look like waves in the ocean, inviting and smooth. There's good attention and bad attention, and the more weight you lose the more bad attention you will attract because now you are visually appealing to the majority, but still hold your feminity, grace, and uphold your highest standards and that real man, the man that will notice the color of your eyes, notice the strides in your walk, the curve of your lips, and will say this woman makes my heart skip of beat, not because she's thin but because she's a lady, a diamond, rare and hard to find, someone to keep for life. This is what you wait for, this is what you expect, and this is what you will get. You will only get what you think you deserve!! Take care!

You look great, CONGRATS!!!

Thanks for your story. It was truly inspiring. You are so pretty, even heavier you are very pretty. Now that you've lost the weight you can see the confidence your pictures. Congrats on your current sucess and the sucess of reaching your goal. Keep working your sleeve girly!!!!:bounce:

For me it's a two edged sword. I'm an african american female, 30 years old. In my culture being thicker is considered a good thing, many men find this attractive and have told me that they dont want me to lose weight, they like my curves, and no man wants to hold a bag of bones. On the other hand I'm also a college graduate and finding a good job has been difficult. The last interview I went on, I was top two out of a hundred and thirty people that applied, the final interviewer looked me up and down and kept staring at my feet and hands and I thought to myslef, "wow she's not liking that I'm overweight". I looked nice, my hair and nails were done, I was qulified heck I was top two, but her response to my appearance wasnt pleasant. No, I didnt get the job. This has been one of the factors of me wanting to make a change. I've been heavy all of my life and have done many diets, and because I see that the professional world is looking for the "look" of being educated, I will be that. I will be graduating with my master's degree next summer and by then I want to be confident on any job interview, I've put the job hunting on hold until I have the surgery and have lost a substantail amount of weight. It's unfair to have this kind of treatment. I hate the comments "But you have such a pretty face". This is like saying you're face is pretty but the rest of you is a pile of crap. I carry myself well, and I dress professional but I feel like the higher I go up on the ladder the more I'm going to be discriminated against not so much for being a black woman, but a heavy woman.

My bariatric nurse said the wait time for a surgery date from the time your insurance approves you is 6 to 8 weeks. I started my six months supervisoed diet back in april, I should be finished in October, if I get approved in October I should have my surgery in December so that will be a total of eight months total.

Yea my insurance is different, If you wanted the band or bypass your BMI has to be 35 with two comorbidities or 40 with no cormibiditities. They didnt tell me about my BMI having to be 50 for the sleeve, I had to ask specific questions about the sleeve. I guess they didnt to tell me. I would def ask your insurance specific questions so you will know what to do. Also the bariactric center when I went for the seminar told me the insurance company goes by the what you weight when you meet with the bariatric office for the first time, not what I first weighted at my doctors office for the 6 month supervised diet (yes I'm confused). I havnet had my consultation with the bariatric team yet (hoepfully it will be within the next week or so) so I need to make sure my BMI is enough then because my BMI when I first saw my PCP was 49.9, and that's not enough. It's so important to ask as many question as possible early so you will know if you need to gain weight, lose weight, how much money to get upfront and all that so there will be no surprises.

You are BEAUTIFUL! LOOK AT YOUR HOUR GLASS FIGURE!!! WOWOWOWOW THE GROOM TO BE IS GOING TO BE BLOWN AWAY!!!!!! You are also very pretty. CONGRATS! :cheer2:

You are beautiful!!!! Keep up the great work, I know you will reach your goal with flying colors!!!

I'm happy for you. My insurance company just started paying for VSG three months ago so I completely understand, of course I have to have a BMI of 50 which I'm 49.9. Oh I have no problem gaining weight to meet the goal . I'm three month in my 6 month diet so I'm excited it's half way over. It's really gone fast. I have to take all of the tests also but I'm good with that. I'm just excited. Hopefully I will be sleeved some time in December. Good luck on your journey and I wish you well.

My doctor told me they only look at the weight from the beginning of the diet so if you lose weight it wont count against you. She said the insurance company is looking to see if you're willing to lose weight and is serious about the process because they dont want to waste their money on someone who wont work at losing the weight along with their tool. What's funny is, I went to the seminar and the coordiantor of the bariatric center told me the insurance company looks at the beginning weight when I have my first consultation with the bariatric center. So Im not sure which weight the insurance company looks at, the doctors or the bariatric consultation weight.. I have to be at a BMI of 50 to qualify for the sleeve with my insurance, and therefore I cant lose a lot of weight otherwise I will be below the 50 bmi when I have my first consultation with the bariatric team. I dont know what to do. I've just been losing and gaining the same 6 and 7 pounds.

You're Pretty in Pink!! You look fantastic girly!!!

Hello. I'm also a single mother. I have a five year old and 12 year old. I'm 30 years old. I'm also a college graduate and yet I'm still single but overweight. What's important for me is to enjoy life to the fullest. We take vacations every year, some twice a year and I can't enjoy them. Last year at Disney World was awful because I didnt have the energy to walk the parks, nor did I fit in on the rides very well. This year I wanted to do a Disney Cruise but said "UM NO" I wont feel comfortable in a bathing suit and I want to enjoy myself. Something had to give. I'm saving the cruise for next year once I get my surgery and lose some weight. I'm also in my sisters wedding next May which I want to look good for. What's selfish about wanting to be healthier for your son. You are young just like me and we need to be there with our children enjoying life with them. This is their golden years, the years that they will remember when they get older and you dont want those memories to be mom always tired, and mom not being able to play with him. I'm still a few months from surgery for having to do the six month diet first but I'm half way through it. My insurance is paying for my surgery, well 80% of it. And despite the negativity from my family and friends I feel that this will help me live a healthier, more energetic, and worth while life. And of course I will feel more confident when I do meet that right person. I want to feel sexy in all my clothes and believe him when and if "he" tells me I'm beautiful. Right now I have to love myself before someone else can, and although I love who I am I dont love what I look like. We as mothers always feel selfish when we want to do for ourselves because we spend a lot of time taking care of others, but as one mommy to another, GIRL IT"S TIME TO BE THE BEST MOM YOU CAN BE ON THE INSIDE AND OUT!, AND TREAT YOURSELF FOR BEING A WOMAN, LADY, AND SOON SASSY SINGLE MOMMY!!!

WOWOW I love it. You look great in the cheerleading outfit. It must feel like a million buck to be in your daughters middle school clothes. That's so inspiring. GO GIRL!!!!!

Hello. I'm one month 4 of the 6 month diet. It has not been easy for me. I love chocolate but I'm not doing too bad. I do exercise regularly but the head hunger is what I'm trying to get in check before surgery.The only good thing I can say is the time as flown and I've learned a lot while waiting. Im hoping to be sleeved in mid to late september if I go ahead and get all of the other test completed this month. I dont have any co-morbidities so I'm getting sleeved based on my BMI alone which has to be 50 to approved by my insurance company which my BMI is 50 exactly, well was 50 when I started seeing my PCP for the supervised diets which is what I think the insurance goes by when they approve you. Wishes I wish you a ton of sucess and and keep us posted. I'm one month behind you so I'm going to need someone to mimic after when it gets becomes my turn. I wish everyone else good luck as well and try to keep busy to make the time fly by.

You look great girly. Lose 15 pounds where??? You look picture perfect to me honey. Keep rock'n your sleeve!!!

I'm glad your home and doing well. Keep us posted on your well being and weight loss. Congrats on everything going well so far!!

WOWOWOWOW is all I can say. I've always wanted to run. You truly are an inspiration and you look AMAZING!! Keep work'n it girl!!!

Thank you SkinnyGirl. Congrats on your surger and I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Did it take you long to get a surgery date? What was his pre-op diet like?

You're so right PCOS_CHICK there a lot of issue before getting sleeved that we may still have after being sleeved that may contribute to our outlook on our relationships. I think for me I would still have a self conscience issue, I can see me still not wanting people to see me naked or comment on my body because I would just think they were just being nice and not being truthful. Then on the other hand I could think I'm hot after surgery and then go after the hot doctors I work with here. HAHAHA. That would be great. Anyway there are a lot of issues that do follow us on our journey that we have to deal with.

It's so sad to hear that losing weight brings in a lot of other issues we hadn't planned. I do hope that the relationships that are rocky get better. it's truly sad that once we decide to do something to save our lives and makes us healthier, that it can ruin a relationship. I know some people have problems regardless and break-up but it's just sad when it's due to weight loss.