SmokyMtnGal2011

thank you so much for the valuable info. you answered most of my questions and put to rest alot of my fears. thanks for the inspiration and knowing it truly is never too late!!!!

My surgery is a ways off (supervised diet stage) but as this point my slogan would be: I AM WORTH THE EFFORT TO WIN BY NOT GIVING IN!!!! So often I feel that "larger" bodied people are view in society as lazy, dumb, worthless and the entertainment industry also portrays large people as clowns, comic relief or losers. How sad this is for our young people who stuggle so with their identities anyway!! How sad it is for us large people who have had to deal with these untruths for so many years. WE ARE NOT THOSE STEROTYPES - WE ARE UNIQUE, EACH OF US. Some of us are large due to genetics, some have medical conditions, some have mental hurdles, some are depressed and some feel unworthy but we all are wonderful, human beings that deserve a chance to be healthy, happy and loved for the "inside" qualities that make us who we really are... not the physical body we are encased. OK, off my soap box for the day. Just needed to vent and I love you guys and gals on here for all your support. I got the "look" last night and this time it hit me the wrong way. You all know the "look" that skinny folks give us, I HATE THAT!!!! Sometimes, I just want to scream at them, WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT AND WHY DO YOU SCREW YOUR FACE UP THAT WAY - IT MIGHT FREEZE ONE DAY! Again, thanks for letting me ramble. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

YOU LOOK FAB!!!! great job.

Rootman YOU ARE MY HERO!!!!!! It is nice to have a male presceptive on these subjects and yours is so honest and open. Keep the comments coming!!! PS love your bike.

I go Friday 8th for my 4th PCP visit then only 2 more left. I have been eating as I would have to after the surgery and losing weight, still have a high BMI and that seems to be what most insurance companies go by not so much the actual weight. I am excited to have so many TN Neighbors that will be SSer's (September Sleevers) This will be a great journey together and we can all compare notes, receipes, what does and doesn't work. Thank you all for being here!!!!

Curveball21 Good for you. Good job so far. Have you tried swimming as an exercise? I don't know if you have a "YMCA" or pool near by - I found this to be good for being able to move, walk, etc in the water without so much pain in the joints, feet, ankles and especially for me my knees. Please keep moving - this will help alot for your weight loss. I know it helps me even if I have stayed strict to the program. You are doing great so keep going!!!!! You are worth the effort and hard work. :teeth_smile: :clap2:

:clap2: Lil Sister I am so proud of you - you can do it!!!!!

LaTasha WOW what journey you have been through. Your story is very inspiring to me as we are same height and weight. This is a great site and there is so much information and support here from all of the Sleeve Neighbors. I know you will do great when you get your sleeve and being your new adventure. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. please keep us posted on your progress. do you have a surgery date yet???

Lil Sister don't you dare back out on me!!!!! You can do this You are worth it You will be glad in the very near future that you had your sleeve. You will lose the weight, you will be able to eat normal food again and you will have energy, energy, energy to do the wonderful things you want. Remember, You adventure to this point has been good and now it is time for the best adventure of your life - 'cause this is all about you Lil Sister, ALL ABOUT YOU. I know your can do this and be a great inspiration to the rest of us waiting in the shadows to have our day with the sleeve. You will be healthier and you will live longer to have lots of adventures...YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU ARE STRONG AND YOU CAN DO THIS FOR YOU!!!!! Hang in there Lil Sister, you are not alone.

this is better than any mystery novel...

great job

Send some flowers and a card and HAVE YOUR SLEEVE DONE on schedule. This is about you and not to be mean or hateful sounding, he techincally isn't family anymore. Perhaps you will be able to go to family visitation or send food to the home. You sleeve is more important and unless it was immediate family(mother, father, sister, brother, grand parents, etc) you should keep you surgery appointment. The family is in sock and auto pilot and your presence will not be known, better to wait a few months down the road when you are feeling better and go visit, take some food or a plant or I always write the family a letter of happy memories of the departed. It always seems to brighten their spirits. Good Luck, you will make the right decision for you. IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU RIGHT NOW, DON'T FORGET THAT!!!!!! (not wanting to come across as mean or cold but it is true.) :-)

Howdy I too am going on my 4th month of "supervised diet". I have been trying to eat as I will have to after my sleeve so I can really see if this is going to work for me. I hope to have my sleeve late September or October. What were we thinking planning WLS before Thanksgiving and Christmas????? I know we will be past the liquids and soft stuff by then but we will still have to be careful so we don't stretch are "NEW" stomaches too much. I am looking forward to the challenge. I just can't get motivated to excercise. I have a treadmill but a day at work just drains me especially if I don't get enough protein. Not excerising contributed to the weight i am trying to lose now. I have to get motivated to move. I have heard the WII or KINETIC are good tools as excerise is more of a game than a chore. Does anyone know if that is true???? I may have to get one but then Lovey (the husband) will be playing war games and I will never be able to get the exercise done. I am glad to have fellow "Almost a Sleevers" to visit with. This forum is a great place. Thanks neighbors!!!!!!

Margaret I am glad there is another East Tennessean among us. I am having my surgery through the New Life Bariatic Surgery Center in Knoxville - where are or did you have yours?

JASLEEVE I am so glad that you decide to do this while you are so young. You probably will not have the "hanging skin" that us old folks will have to have something done to get it gone. I wish when I was younger this opportunity was available. Please keep us posted on your adventure and don't give up!!!! YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT!!!!!

I am so grateful i have CIGNA. they cover lots of WLS and VSG is one of the procedures. Requirements are 6 mos supervised diet, pschy eval, nutritional eval, BMI > 35 with co morbidities, past history of weight loss attempts (my PCP provided excellent info on this), blood work then hurry up and wait. Once all is submitted, it will take about 1 week for the approval letter and then I can schedule the surgery(approval letter is good for 6 months). I was told by my surgeon staff that CIGNA is one of the better Insurance companies they deal will. I hope this is the information you were looking for.

Bridget how did you surgery go? are you home yet? How are you feeling?? Please give us an update. Healing wishes and angels coming your way thanks.

so close i know you are excited, I am excited for you. I can't wait till my day and time will be here. please keep us posted on your progress. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

WOW GREAT JOB Very inspiring I hope to be there one day

BRYN IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT Remember you are closer than your were before. Just hang in and on, this adventure is so worth it. Truly worth it and your surgery will be here and gone before you can blink. Just think, some people have to pay out of their pockets because of insurance, not to down play your circumstances, but it could be worst. The wait is horrible, the rewards life changling. WE are here for you!!!!

Leslie I have an emergency pack that i carry with me in my purse (more like a large duffle bag for all my goodies). I have 3 Atkins bars that have a good number of Protein and of course low carbs. I also have Atkins shakes as they are pre-mixed again great protein low carbs and some mozzeralla cheese sticks for a quick boost. I always have bottles of Water with me. I have this just in case in am out and can't get to my planned food. It has helped me a couple of times. I hope that will help you for you last client's birth? Are you a mid-wife??? How exciting the must be!!!!! the Atkins are a little pricey ($5.89 for 4 at WalMart) but worth it if you are in a pinch. You are doing great and YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!!

:welcome: WOW JOHN What an accomplishment. You will be able to give us "pre-ops" lots of knowledge. How are things going for you now? How has your journey been to this point of your path? Great job and continue the great work. YOU ARE A WINNER!!!!!!

LIL SISTER I am so happy for you and your date to the NEW YOU. You will do great cause you have so many new neighbors here to help you and we are all wanting the same for you as we do ourselves, a new healthier life style. Please keep me posted on everything so I will know what to expect. I am so excited for you that your can have your surgery so soon. YOU GO LIL SISTER, YOU GO. :cheer2: :success1:

I am sooooooo OCD about smelling foul or bad. I normally don't smell me but lately it seems to be a strong musky smell. My husband thinks I am nuts but I am noticing the smell in my cotton shirts as well. Maybe it is my nose and not my armpits or maybe my OCD brain. I thank you all for the information, each response has been very helpful. Thanks too for the "atta-a-gals" for my weight lost. The journey to this new way of eating has been an adventrue to say the least, so much to learn or should I say re-learn. Thank you again Neighbors!!!! YOU ROCK!!!

Wheatsin I do bath daily because I can't stand the thought of others being able to smell me. I use benadine sometimes as I get dermatis under my arms. I dry the area well and powder daily. I will try the different deodorant to see if that will work, I had been using Alamay. Thank you so much for your help.