ProudGrammy

@itstime4me123 you are 9 weeks PO it's never too late to start taking your measurements. i'm sure you realize that, and you are now measuring frankly, i don't think it's ever too late to start anything in life. You are aces that you suggested/reminded people to take their measurements. congrats on losing 47 lbs!! keep up the good job kathy

@sophie66 you've lost 225 lbs!! holy moly . be proud! buy an appropriate bathing suit from a link posted above - they look nice. - it is hard to put yourself out there in the public - but you can do it!!! better to have loose skin than all that excess weight - anybody you think is staring or something - screw them!! they might not even be staring at you - it's just that you might be self-conscious enjoy the water and life!! keep up the good job -kathy

@Gjdf52 DOS for sleeve 12/15/11 (medicare did NOT cover sleeve) A few months later, my state of NY did accept medicare for payment for sleeve luckily after much "discussion" with empire (my secondary insur) from work i was approved for sleeve, no co-pay hope all goes well for you good luck kathy

@New Beginnings 78 (aka Tex!!) you DID hit the lottery!!! required days of pre-op?? some don't have any pre-op diet others will vary anywhere from 2, 5,7,+ days - your doc will tell you good luck speedy recovery kathy

@jazzy0917 don't know your starting weight, or your present weight but i know you are doing terrific, and your future "shows" you will continue to lose more and more weight. keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier longer life!! you are aces bud kathy congrats

@swizzle i robbed the bank naw, i would never do that!! LOL DH and i are very frugal/thrifty/CHEAP!! we constantly add/save our money, 401K etc. we also have money put aside for a rainy day or PS, whichever comes first!! LOL many people live paycheck to paycheck economy being what it is, can be hard to save money - esp. when you have family/kids/ bills, bills, and more bills!! - you can have PS in the future with saved money/finance etc - right now, continue to eat well - and get healthier and happier you are doing terrific with your weight loss good luck bud kathy

@jazzy0917 i'm gonna slap your handLOL don't down play your success whether you lost 45 lbs or 4 lbs, look at how far you have come, glass half full or half empty, you choose!! doing great - you are aces keep on keepin' on!! kathy

@mi75 hi girlfriend nice to see you again glad you are getting a fresh start. never too late did DH have surgery too? or is he needing to lose weight also? whichever, it's great to have a "partner in crime" "trying" to get back to bariatric based diet:" " do or do not"" there is no try," - Yoda new day - you are starting again, and will do great good luck kathy

@KateBruin the above is good enough reason for me(reducing complications by not drinking) like you said " They do emergency surgeries on people who just ate or drank." it's true - they have no choice -don't think it's a little BS being told not to drink prior to surgery - unless BS stands for "be safe" good luck for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life @Joe's wife you are right many OP/insurance co. consider WLS elective - it most definitely is not!! i never "elected" to gain and gain weight, then lose the lbs" - but be unable to keep the weight off good vibes being sent to your DH (you too of course)! speedy recovery kathy

@Joe's wife i wasn't allowed to drink after midnight. WLS was 7:30 in the morning. no problem not drinking) was asleep anyways LOL) anyone having any surgery, will be told not to drink or eat.prior to surgery, you could vomit during surgery.i couldn't have water after surgery either, in case i needed to go back into OR they gave me swab with water on it, so that eased my dry, dry lips good luck to DH i can tell you will be there with help and a smile during recovery - and the rest of his life good luck bud kathy

@faithmel i'll go along with OP and say the protein water is ok. buttttt... I drink GNC Lean Shake 25 gr protein pre-mixed btle - um, um, good!!! really tastes delicious - only way to fly in my opinion. Swiss Chocolate is what i love. drink and then drink some more. At 6 weeks i had to go to hospital - i was dehydrated. had IV put in with ??? and stuff (electrolytes??) it was on valentines day! DH brought me flowers!! i gave them to nurses so YOU drink, and drink and then drink - do as i say, not as i do!! speedy recovery good luck kathy

@teacupnosaucer down 70 lbs total you are lookin' and doing great!! wonderful job!! my sleeve was done 5+ years ago 11/25/11 (about 3 weeks pre-op) 2/17/13 after pic - (need to update) present - still look cute as a button 105 lbs down- GOAL maintaining, i do regret not being able to see my weight loss over 1rst year about pics - "do as I say, not as i do!!" LOL keep up the good work kathy congrats

@James Marusek hey guy thanx for running this list again newbies et al appreciate VETS like you that help them with info you said ---“Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] (never knew or heard that one congrats on all your NSV's down 117 lbs almost 4 years PO GOAL!! maintainning and of course being such a nice guy kathy

hey Tex you have done great. wonderful, wonderful, keep up the good work as you are starting maintenance. you are aces!! kathy

i said the following statement up above post IMO i agree with surgeon - i would have the bypass over the sleeve any day of the week and twice on sundays!! ________________________________________________________________ @Kawkab i didn't say the above statement correctly even i got confused when i re-read it!! i meant to say i think bypass would be a better choice if you already have reflux many OP choose the gastric bypass over the sleeve to avoid acid reflux I hardly ever had heartburn in the past no revision for me from sleeve sleeve and have walked "arm and arm" almost 6 years"we" couldn't be happier 105 lbs down and maintaining (fluctuate a little) G O A L !!! good luck bud with your important decision kathy

@Kawkab if you have acid reflux now, it "probably" will continue PO. (maybe worse feelings) if you never had reflux problems you might still get reflux PO sleeve some peep that have the sleeve, then major heartburn - will get a revision to gastric bypass i had the sleeve, no probs with heartburn IMO i agree with surgeon - i would have the bypass over the sleeve any day of the week and twice on sundays!! good luck with your decision kathy

@Redmaxx you have worked hard you deserved all your success 100 lbs gone walking easily 2 miles in parade great NSV's keep on keepin' on kathy congrats

@pasquini hey dude maintaining after 6 years 153 lbs gone you are aces keep it up actually "keep it down" great pics!! kathy congrats

@dashofpixiedust 274.8 lbs gone!! 62.2 to GOAL you are aces!! all that weight loss pre and post op you do look great, everyone keeps telling you that, so i won't repeat what they said - wellll, ok i'll say it too. you look maaaaaaarvelous! you have so much will power and "won't power" ( i won't eat this or that!) newbies through VETS must be so excited for you - hoping your success will transfer to them keep up the great work sweetie take care kathy

@d6g007 ummmm 500 calories a day for one year??? i'm having problems with that!!! hard for me to wrap my head with that answer good luck bud kathy

@RobertIsFun many OP (me too) hiccup as they are getting full. it's a "sign" that you should stop eating. my doc told me at the very beginning....... "eat til you are full, then stop 2 bites earlier good luck with surgery - speedy recovery -kathy

@ssflbelle aka Amanda soooooo happy that things are finally going your way with plastics- you have worked very, very hard and long through this process. taken you years to go through insurance paperwork, labs again and again!! you have so much determination!!! 182 lbs total pre-op - 92 pounds post op holy moly continue feeling better - more plastics coming?? who loves you baby?? i NEVER use the word....INSPIRATION - on the board, but i'm making an exception for you!! hugggggs kathy

@sylvia2017 on the rare occasion that i have heartburn..... i will chew 3 tums, and eat a slice of bread - absorption - works for me heartburn suckssss feel better sooner than later good luck kathy

@Old2NewMe hey youngun don't know your weight or age they are both important factors to the answer you are looking for younger you are (20's etc) skin usually has more elasticity and skin isn't that much of an issue - but you'll probably have some excess skin .. it's hard, but don't worry about what OP think (easier said than done) I had breast cancer 18 years ago, so OP automatically thought i was sick again luckily they were all wwwwrong! there's a saying here that says something like "i'd rather be thin with excess skin, than be fat" enjoy pre-op good luck with WLS speedy recovery - kathy

@sylvia2017 great weight loss, great start 30 lbs down - party dance NOT to burst your bubble, but you most likely will not loose similar large amounts through your journey - but you'll do great slow and steady wins the race good luck with surgery speedy recovery kathy