mnbsleeve

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What a beautiful picture!!! This one is going to have to go on your mantle! :-) You both look wonderful! I'm so glad life has given you a little back. Thank you for your sacrifices for our country!!!

I think this issue is difficult because we live in such a body conscious society! We've had issues with fat but all around us everyone obsesses over dimples on the thighs, not enough muscle, not flat enough tummy, not big enough chest... etc. Models, athletes, actors... that's all everyone/media/magazines etc. seems to focused on: body issues. We will not be free of it in the sense that no one is free of if unless we make a consciouls choice not to be sucked in. I think that's what "skinny" people deal with. As "fat people" we've had specific issues related to the fat, but then there are all those others that are just part of our culture.

I agree with your husband and with Kristey above. I would DEFINITELY check out the other MD! Your first loyalty is with yourself and your health. Like Kristey said, you'll be having to deal with the staff alot. Should somethinge ever come up, which most likely it won't, you could frankly say that you were uncomfortable at the level of response and treatment. I think the surgeon would be glad to know if his staff is causing him to loose patients. Remember: this is a very HOT business right now. It's hard to say this but it's the truth. Lots of money is being made with sleeves. This is our health and our lives and no one has as much invested in it. Insurances, doctors, etc, when push comes to shove they mind thier stores. Sorry to be so practical here. I did not use my insurance so avoid the hassles. I was fortunate to be able to do this (cleaned us out though :-) ) But I was treated like royalty the whole time. Staff "worked for me" as it should be. Good doctors are not threatened by patient's self advocacy and second opinons! In fact, they expect it and hold us to it!!! I hope this helps. Pay for the other consult if you have to. So worth it in the end if it reasures whatever decision you make. Hope you get some zzzzz's :-)

What a great feeling! Congratulations! Have fun with the new clothes!!!

WOW! Congratulations!!! I love lynda's comment above LOL!!! I second that! :-)

Hi FloraBama, Yes, I have my compounded at a pharmacy too! Since the beginning i had to have them compounded since I had a reaction to the binding in the regular pills. I stopped taking the Armour when I had my surgery and have not resumed. I have Hashimotos. I will be seing my MD soon and will resume the meds. What was your experience?! I'm so sorry to hear about your reaction!!!!! Hope you're doing well now!!!!

Cool! My "real age" came out 44.5; I am 48, almost 49 Thanks for the link!!!

Wow, funny I found this post! I saw some before and after pics on a post and was feeling like I haven't really changed much yet and looking forward to looking a little thinner myself!!! I've lost *only* 39* lbs. I decided to pull up some old fotos and, WOW, I do look smaller!!!!! I just actually started a folder with a progresion of pics. I decided to add one pic per month or so just to keep me grounded!!!! I do still think of my self and see myself the same as when I started. But even though I have a long way to go, just the 40 or so lbs. really do show!!! and I do feel the difference too. It's weird how our minds work.

Fern, I loved your post! You look fantastic! Congratulations on all your hard work and progress! Enjoy all the hard earned success!!!

You look GREAT! and you look very healthy and radiant too! Congratulations!!!! Thank you for posting. Like most of us here, I love pics! :-) So inspiring!

You look GREAT! Nice vest! Very hot! :-)

Is this also the case with Armour? (the natural dissicated thyroid) I will check with my MD. Thanks for this post!

Hi guys! I have to vote again! Something came up for 9/18. So my new vote is for 9/24 or 9/25 only. Sorry about that! Hope everyone is doing well!!!

I tend to stay stuck for a while, then drop. Like others here, with my cycle I will go up a couple of lbs. but then back down. Again, for me it's been mostly and issue of being stuck 3 or 4 weeks, then FINALLY down :-)

The soups I was eating early on were the protein soups prescribed for us. They gave me the runs! In fact, most of the protein drinks and producsts did and do! I ended with a lactose intolerance which also means "the runs." Once I figured that out, it helped. I stopped the protein soups and made my own broth. The non flavor unjury powder seemed to help and I found one protein shake that did not give me the runs. Recently I've used Ensure, for lactose intolerance. It had many more carbs than others but at lease I am not in the bathroom all day and I feel alot better. I just work off the extra carbs. Hope this helps! All my best!

I'm not an expert, but I know that when I increase activity, or include weight training, I tend to retain more liquids. I does go back down eventually and usually followed by a weight loss. I understand that our bodies need the extra fluid retention to process the needed glucose for the muscles. Hang in there. More than likely it is temporary. Good job on the added activity!!!!

You look fantastic *and* what a great job you did with this sleeve!!!! Congratulations. You look amazing!!!!

I think it's tough because, like Myrori said so well above, it's forced change. We don't just change how we look but our lifestyles become different. We become more interested in different things, or we finally try out activities and experiences we've put off or felt unable to do or try prior, we get more active and we also loose interest in certain activities -- like eating or maybe more sedentary things. All that spells a new life and when you share a life, its a big one to re-negotiate. It's a transition, like many others. But it's doable! You guys may need some counseling support to help get through the initial rough spots. The really hard part is that if you were to postpone or even abandone the idea, there's a good probability that you would resent her big time. And then *that* would interfere in the marriage equally. Hang in there!!!! As Myrori said, get some support. I think it's important to not do this alone!

I know you feel bad about the three week notice, but you know, that's how medical things are! We can't plan them like we plan a vacation! So don't fret! Good luck and hang in there!!! We're rooting for you!

You can do it Tony! Try SF popsicles and clear broth... of course, if you MD okayed them, they help curb the apetite. Hang in there. You're almost there!!!!

I don't know what ATS is and I can't comment on the balance issue, but I think the fact that you are taking belly dancing totally ROCKS!!!!! You go girl!!! :-)

Congratulations!!! I never get tired of reading/seeing people doing so great! It's both inspiring and moving! Hope I can do as well! Enjoy the new you!!! You look great by the way. I love the side-by-side pic on your profile!

Jackie, this sounds really good! Do you know if it comes out okay without the cottage cheese? Would it be too dry? I'm lactose intolerant now. I can tolerate some of the harder cheeses but not ricotta or cottage at all. This recipe sounds really good. I would eat it for breakfast too! :-)

Nancy, it sounds like you are doing fantastic! I can't believe you are only 5 weeks out!! I'm 10 weeks out yesterday and still struggling to get all my proteins in! The shakes make me want to puke! :-) You've made incredible progress on lots of fronts!!!! It really is great to reap the benefits of this effort, not just looking better. I was pretty active before my surgery yet a few days ago I had to go up a few flights of stairs and I suddently noticed how much easier it was!!!! I'm not always tuned in to all the great changes my body is making. Congratulations to you on all the great progess!!!!! Have fun with the walking :-)

Woo Hoo! Sexy Momma!!!! You look great!!!!