SKCUNNINGHAM

Being WAY smaller than my husband's ex-wife (saw her at a family party). :-) (evil smile)

Being WAY smaller than my husband's ex-wife (saw her at a family party). :-) (evil smile)

Being WAY smaller than my husband's ex-wife (saw her at a family party). :-) (evil smile)

Bombshelle - I think you will do GREAT! I remember when I was in your shoes and joining this site. While you are counting down the days for surgery, spend your time that you normally would spend eating getting your house ready for when you come home. This site has a list of things you will need to take with you to surgery - search for it or ask for suggestions and you will get a bunch of ideas. Some things I was really glad I had with me - comfortable PJ's that were not tight over my belly, shoes that were easy to put on so I could walk the halls, my cell phone charger, a pen and notebook, lip balm, and hand cream.
One thing that will be really helpful for you once you start losing is to arrange all your clothes by size - you will be changing sizes pretty quickly, and it helped me to be able to find a piece of clothing that fit while I was losing. Just because something fit you one day doesn't mean it will fit you the same way the next week - although now, instead of being tight, they will be TOO BIG (yea!). Also, think about what you are going to do with your clothes as you shrink out of them. THERE IS NO NEED TO KEEP THEM! Plan on how and where you are going to get rid of them. I gave my clothes to a thrift shop that supports a women's shelter - sold some at a consignment shop, gave some to friends, and gave some of my suits to a charity that helps women get back into the job market.
Best of luck to you!
Sharon

Let's see - "Downside" of the sleeve:
- You will be tempted to spend $$$ buying a wardrobe of new, sexy clothes once you get to goal (in additon to all of the in between sizes)
- You will spend a bunch of time going through your old clothes to find what fits, and getting rid of "fat" clothes and you shrink out of them
- You will get LOTS OF ATTENTION as you are shrinking (and when you are at goal - I'm not there yet).
- You will be COLD - but sweaters look really nice on thin people!
I think these are the "worst" of it. I LOVE MY SLEEVE.

I tried some. Mine were made from a yam plant, not from Tofu. The smell when opened was really fishy to me, but after rinsing in a colandar several times, the smell went away. I dried them on paper towels then added them to a steam veggie dish with a soy based sauce. I mixed them in together. We had the dish along with rotisserie chicken. My husband thought they were the noodles from the Ramen noodles. That is what the texture is like to me. I thought they were OK, but they didn't impress me too much.
I did the spaghetti squash recently, with a homemade spaghetti sauce and some meatballs. I really enjoyed that.

I must be an oddity - I didn't wear Spanx type garments before I lost weight - I didn't wear form fitting clothes so I didn't need to hide the jiggles and rolls. Now that I am approaching my goal weight, I ike wearing my size medium shirts and size 10 and 12 petite pants. My skin around my torso and belly is really loose and jiggly, so I wear spanx type camis to hold things in. I also wear a support panty to smooth my belly. They aren't uncomfortable, they just hold things in.
I also went to Soma and had a bra fitting. The one that makes my girls look the best is a minimizer bra. The bra kind of compresses my saggy, droopy girls into a really nice shape located where my girls used to be several years ago.
Through my losing process, I have gotten rid of a bunch of underwear that I would have been happy to burn. Now that I am the size I am going to stay (the last 7 pounds won't drop me a size) I have decided that life is TOO SHORT to wear anything other than pretty, well fitting underwear and bras.
Sharon

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different.
Post Surgery
A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell.
A perfectly grilled scalllop or two
Broiled salmon over a green salad
Sauteed mushrooms
Garden ripe tomatoe
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Crab Cakes
Baked Sweet Potatoe

Pre Surgery
Brownies
Ice Cream
Chocolate Cake
Lasagne
Pasta Primavera
Barbequed Ribs
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Scalloped Potatoes

This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different.
Love my sleeve!

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different.
Post Surgery
A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell.
A perfectly grilled scalllop or two
Broiled salmon over a green salad
Sauteed mushrooms
Garden ripe tomatoe
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Crab Cakes
Baked Sweet Potatoe

Pre Surgery
Brownies
Ice Cream
Chocolate Cake
Lasagne
Pasta Primavera
Barbequed Ribs
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Scalloped Potatoes

This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different.
Love my sleeve!

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different.
Post Surgery
A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell.
A perfectly grilled scalllop or two
Broiled salmon over a green salad
Sauteed mushrooms
Garden ripe tomatoe
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Crab Cakes
Baked Sweet Potatoe

Pre Surgery
Brownies
Ice Cream
Chocolate Cake
Lasagne
Pasta Primavera
Barbequed Ribs
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Scalloped Potatoes

This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different.
Love my sleeve!

Bombshelle - I think you will do GREAT! I remember when I was in your shoes and joining this site. While you are counting down the days for surgery, spend your time that you normally would spend eating getting your house ready for when you come home. This site has a list of things you will need to take with you to surgery - search for it or ask for suggestions and you will get a bunch of ideas. Some things I was really glad I had with me - comfortable PJ's that were not tight over my belly, shoes that were easy to put on so I could walk the halls, my cell phone charger, a pen and notebook, lip balm, and hand cream.
One thing that will be really helpful for you once you start losing is to arrange all your clothes by size - you will be changing sizes pretty quickly, and it helped me to be able to find a piece of clothing that fit while I was losing. Just because something fit you one day doesn't mean it will fit you the same way the next week - although now, instead of being tight, they will be TOO BIG (yea!). Also, think about what you are going to do with your clothes as you shrink out of them. THERE IS NO NEED TO KEEP THEM! Plan on how and where you are going to get rid of them. I gave my clothes to a thrift shop that supports a women's shelter - sold some at a consignment shop, gave some to friends, and gave some of my suits to a charity that helps women get back into the job market.
Best of luck to you!
Sharon

Amy - you are wise to be thinking about this. Counseling would be a great thing to consider - to find out why you have the problem you have. Hypnosis is another option that I firmly believe is a great help. Some people get strength from going to support groups (like alchoholics do wtih AA meetings) Reading books are good, too.
I am struggling a bit right now with stress eating / grazing due to the pressures of a new job and traveling. This is a life long pattern I am working to change. That is why I have in my signature "the easy part is over, now the hard part begins" That refers to the mental part of STAYING THIN. The sleeve is a wonderful tool - but it isn't the only thing you need to stay thin.
Best of luck to you.
Sharon

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different.
Post Surgery
A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell.
A perfectly grilled scalllop or two
Broiled salmon over a green salad
Sauteed mushrooms
Garden ripe tomatoe
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Crab Cakes
Baked Sweet Potatoe

Pre Surgery
Brownies
Ice Cream
Chocolate Cake
Lasagne
Pasta Primavera
Barbequed Ribs
Moo Goo Gai Pan
Scalloped Potatoes

This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different.
Love my sleeve!

I must be an oddity - I didn't wear Spanx type garments before I lost weight - I didn't wear form fitting clothes so I didn't need to hide the jiggles and rolls. Now that I am approaching my goal weight, I ike wearing my size medium shirts and size 10 and 12 petite pants. My skin around my torso and belly is really loose and jiggly, so I wear spanx type camis to hold things in. I also wear a support panty to smooth my belly. They aren't uncomfortable, they just hold things in.
I also went to Soma and had a bra fitting. The one that makes my girls look the best is a minimizer bra. The bra kind of compresses my saggy, droopy girls into a really nice shape located where my girls used to be several years ago.
Through my losing process, I have gotten rid of a bunch of underwear that I would have been happy to burn. Now that I am the size I am going to stay (the last 7 pounds won't drop me a size) I have decided that life is TOO SHORT to wear anything other than pretty, well fitting underwear and bras.
Sharon

My surgeon has asked me to be in an ad for him! I was surprised and pleased. I have been interviewed by his ad agency, and the "shoot" will be later this month. I think it will be fun. There will be a video testimonial on his web site it may also be used in other ways.
It surprised me because I am not some tiny size 4 person like some people get to at goal- I am happy with my size 10's and 12's. I am also not a "spring chicken" - I turned 55 last Christmas. I really would like to get rid of some jiggly saggy skin and would like my waist to be 2-3" smaller - but neither of those are happening before the end of the month!
When everything is complete, I will post the link to the finished product.
I am absolutely a believer in Dr. Nick (or I wouldn't have picked him). I am NOT becoming a "Paid Spokesperson" for him, or anything like that. I am doing this for him because I am thrilled with the changes I have made in my life since the sleeve. If I can help someone in their desision process to get WLS, that's great.
So now the big question - what am I going to wear?

My surgeon has asked me to be in an ad for him! I was surprised and pleased. I have been interviewed by his ad agency, and the "shoot" will be later this month. I think it will be fun. There will be a video testimonial on his web site it may also be used in other ways.
It surprised me because I am not some tiny size 4 person like some people get to at goal- I am happy with my size 10's and 12's. I am also not a "spring chicken" - I turned 55 last Christmas. I really would like to get rid of some jiggly saggy skin and would like my waist to be 2-3" smaller - but neither of those are happening before the end of the month!
When everything is complete, I will post the link to the finished product.
I am absolutely a believer in Dr. Nick (or I wouldn't have picked him). I am NOT becoming a "Paid Spokesperson" for him, or anything like that. I am doing this for him because I am thrilled with the changes I have made in my life since the sleeve. If I can help someone in their desision process to get WLS, that's great.
So now the big question - what am I going to wear?

My surgeon has asked me to be in an ad for him! I was surprised and pleased. I have been interviewed by his ad agency, and the "shoot" will be later this month. I think it will be fun. There will be a video testimonial on his web site it may also be used in other ways.
It surprised me because I am not some tiny size 4 person like some people get to at goal- I am happy with my size 10's and 12's. I am also not a "spring chicken" - I turned 55 last Christmas. I really would like to get rid of some jiggly saggy skin and would like my waist to be 2-3" smaller - but neither of those are happening before the end of the month!
When everything is complete, I will post the link to the finished product.
I am absolutely a believer in Dr. Nick (or I wouldn't have picked him). I am NOT becoming a "Paid Spokesperson" for him, or anything like that. I am doing this for him because I am thrilled with the changes I have made in my life since the sleeve. If I can help someone in their desision process to get WLS, that's great.
So now the big question - what am I going to wear?

Irene - I don't mind at all - I am going to put up the link on my Facebook, too.
Interesting that you and Coops think I have a calm and soothing voice. It's nice to be thought of it sounding that way. Quite a difference from when I was a child. When I was a small child, I had a speech problem. I couldn't pronounce the sound of the letter "R" - it came out like a "W" - like the Elmer Fudd character in the cartoons. I had some speach training to correct it before I went to school. Now, my "R's" disappear only if I have had too much to drink or I am tired to the point of exhaustion. Kind of a good thing to have - it tells me I need to STOP what I'm doing and take care of myself.
I do enjoy public speaking - I have done a lot of it in my career. I was pretty relaxed while they were filming - the director made me very comfortable during the proccess.
Thank you for all of your support.
Sharon

My surgeon has asked me to be in an ad for him! I was surprised and pleased. I have been interviewed by his ad agency, and the "shoot" will be later this month. I think it will be fun. There will be a video testimonial on his web site it may also be used in other ways.
It surprised me because I am not some tiny size 4 person like some people get to at goal- I am happy with my size 10's and 12's. I am also not a "spring chicken" - I turned 55 last Christmas. I really would like to get rid of some jiggly saggy skin and would like my waist to be 2-3" smaller - but neither of those are happening before the end of the month!
When everything is complete, I will post the link to the finished product.
I am absolutely a believer in Dr. Nick (or I wouldn't have picked him). I am NOT becoming a "Paid Spokesperson" for him, or anything like that. I am doing this for him because I am thrilled with the changes I have made in my life since the sleeve. If I can help someone in their desision process to get WLS, that's great.
So now the big question - what am I going to wear?

Irene - I don't mind at all - I am going to put up the link on my Facebook, too.
Interesting that you and Coops think I have a calm and soothing voice. It's nice to be thought of it sounding that way. Quite a difference from when I was a child. When I was a small child, I had a speech problem. I couldn't pronounce the sound of the letter "R" - it came out like a "W" - like the Elmer Fudd character in the cartoons. I had some speach training to correct it before I went to school. Now, my "R's" disappear only if I have had too much to drink or I am tired to the point of exhaustion. Kind of a good thing to have - it tells me I need to STOP what I'm doing and take care of myself.
I do enjoy public speaking - I have done a lot of it in my career. I was pretty relaxed while they were filming - the director made me very comfortable during the proccess.
Thank you for all of your support.
Sharon

Well, the ad is up on my Doctor's website.
Here is the link: http://www.nicholson...nials/#!zoom/4/
Please don't take this that I am trying to convince anyone on this site to use Dr. Nick. He is a wonderful surgeon and I am very happy with him. Picking your surgeon is personal choice - I don't think you could go wrong with Dr. Nick - but there are a lot of good surgeons out there. I am putting this link up here to share my story with you guys here on the site. You are the people that helped me through the pre-surgery and post-surgery process and I wanted to share this NSV with you.
I have also attached a couple of pictures that the photographer took.
Sharon

I did my commercial "shoot" on Wednesday. What a fun experience! It was way more complicated than I expected - I thought there would be four or five people to get the thing done. There was closer to a dozen people there - two for hair and make-up, a director, the ad agency guy, a video photograper, a still photographer, a sound guy, a lighting guy, a camera assistant, and various other assistants. It was an interesting process to observe and to particpate in. Very organized, but still allowed for the creative "stuff".
I wish the woman that did my hair and makeup could come by every morning and do my face before I left my house. I didn't look made-up hardly at all, I just looked as good as I possibly could (and ever have). Apparently, since things are now shot to be shown on HD, the way that makeup artist do their job has changed. No thick cakey look (like stage actors use). She used an airbrush and a pallet of subtle matte colors. And, it washed off with soap and Water. The experience has made me re-think some of my makeup choices.
I have hated to have my picture taken most of my life, and avoided cameras as much as possible. I found it is possible to sit and have a conversation with the director - looking either right at him or at the video camera, and really forget you are being filmed and that a still photographer is snapping your picture almost continuously. I think I had more pictures taken of me that day than I have had cumulatively in my entire life. He probably took 500-600 shots that morning! I will be interested to see the results of them. Odds are, he should have gotten some good ones.
I think the fact that I was comfortable during the process speaks to the skill of the director. He has the ability to make you completely at ease, and give you the impression the things you are saying are the most interesting things he has ever heard. My logical mind told me that was what he was doing, but I still responded to him emotionally. As he had me telling my story, he had me laughing, smiling and even brought tears to my eyes at one point. That surprised me. I am such a logical person (I am an engineer by profession), I thought my decision to have surgery was mostly logic based (health, wanted a longer life) but it also had a lot of emotions tied up in it. That really came out at one point in the morning.
I am not sure what all is going to be woven into the finished product. I provided "before" still pictures, some "before" video, pictures as I was losing, and some "after" pictures.
When the ad agency shows me the fininshed product, I will provide the link and hopefully a couple of still shots.

Well, the ad is up on my Doctor's website.
Here is the link: http://www.nicholson...nials/#!zoom/4/
Please don't take this that I am trying to convince anyone on this site to use Dr. Nick. He is a wonderful surgeon and I am very happy with him. Picking your surgeon is personal choice - I don't think you could go wrong with Dr. Nick - but there are a lot of good surgeons out there. I am putting this link up here to share my story with you guys here on the site. You are the people that helped me through the pre-surgery and post-surgery process and I wanted to share this NSV with you.
I have also attached a couple of pictures that the photographer took.
Sharon

Well, the ad is up on my Doctor's website.
Here is the link: http://www.nicholson...nials/#!zoom/4/
Please don't take this that I am trying to convince anyone on this site to use Dr. Nick. He is a wonderful surgeon and I am very happy with him. Picking your surgeon is personal choice - I don't think you could go wrong with Dr. Nick - but there are a lot of good surgeons out there. I am putting this link up here to share my story with you guys here on the site. You are the people that helped me through the pre-surgery and post-surgery process and I wanted to share this NSV with you.
I have also attached a couple of pictures that the photographer took.
Sharon

My sleeve was 50 weeks ago (fast approaching my 1 year mark). I have lost 108 pounds, gone from a 24W to a 10 petite and am much healthier and in better shape. I am exercising >5 times a week.
I would rate my sleeve a 10.