longer-life

I think you have a positive attitude. Keep up the good work and I know you will do good. You lost a lot of weight prior to surgery and I know you will be even more awesome with it. I think about food everyday too and that's because I love catering and feeding others. I also love trying new dishes. I have willpower and so do you. You will NOT fail.
God Bless You!

I hovered around 200 like a shadow for about two and a half weeks! :banghead: LOL Finally dropped to 198!
Under 200 lbs for the first time in over 20 years! :Banane55:
It will happen all of a sudden, when you're least expecting it and have stopped worrrying about it.
Hang in there!

Yeah!!!!!!!!! I am very happy for you!!!!! Congratulations!!!!

Hi Yecats,
You will do great with that attitude. It seems slow, but looking back time zooms by and IT IS SO WORTH IT. I love taking my friend's exercise class now that I can keep up and not feel like I am going to keel over right in the classroom. The sleeve gave me that. And fitting in my car seat with room to spare, less pain in my knees, ankles, and feet, and really cute cheap clothes! I'm so thrilled with the way I look that I'm very happy in inexpensive jeans, tshirts, and sweaters. They all look fab if you ask me :-)
Buy yourself some treats for post-op. A yummy book, a luscious lotion and lip gloss. super soft and warm socks, a pretty nightie, robe, and slippers. Think of some movies to rent and watch. Take your pain meds if you need them instead of toughing it out. These things all helped me. That and knowing that the sleeve works and I would feel just like I do today - thin, healthy, and happy!
Best luck on the 4th!
Lynda

I'll probably get slammed for this but whatever, no food is forbidden ever. . . it's how you use that food to your advantage. If you over indulge, well you'll gain weight of course. . . moderation is the key and as someone who is out going into my 3rd year, I have hit my doctors goal, surpassed it, and am maintaining beautifully. I eat my 3 meals a day with healthy Snacks and yes on the occasion i do indulge in yummies. I'm livin my life now and totally lovin it! Good luck !

Yep, no longer wearing 8-1/2 or 9s. Only 8s. New shoes! :biggrin:

Very cool!!!! Congrats! :rockon:

Ah dramagirl28;
I remember the start of your journey. Thrilled for your BIG goal so a huge congratulations. Looking forward to many more success.
Hugs from one of your cheerleaders - iegal
PS - come meet your fellow SoCal support group sometime, okay?

I couldn't agree more Yecats!

Glad to hear from you Peacequeen! I had been thinking about you. Awesome news about your leak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not only were you told they took your insurance when you set an appointment , but when you visited they took your copay and not full payment. They made TWO mistakes. I would call my insurance and then call them. I wonder if he was covered at the time of your phone call and visit. At a minimum, I would want a DEEP discount. I would fight it.
I have a PPO and I call my insurance for expensive things like surgery but not every time my daughter or I go see a new specialist. Like you, I call the doctors office and take the receptionists word. In the end I know I will be responsible financially, but I can't imagine calling my health insurance so often! Do others call every time?
Congratulations on your potential approval! :-)

So, today has been very interesting, emotionally draining and just UGH!!!.. Thought I'd sit down, breath and write a little note to my sleeve... Care to share yours??
Dear Sleeve,
It seems like so long ago that I first heard of you... Initially, I was quite taken aback by all of the hoops, loops and rings of fire I had to jump through to make you mine... Then I found this site.. And oh, the joy!! I've seen people loose tons (literally) of weight and go on to have beautiful babies, marriages, divorces and lives!! I mean, geez... our weight is not just heavy on our physical frames, but also on our mind, emotions, spirits and esteem..
You know I love myself and now you know I love myself enough to do what's necessary to live a full life, free of weight physically, emotionally and everywhere else. I look forward to the day when we are united forever... I relish the thought that you will help me reconcile the person I am inside, with the person who is outside being smothered by weight, regret and disappoint.
I know you can't fix me overnight, heck, I realize you can't FIX me.... but you give me hope and opportunity to work hard and diligently to become the best me... I can appreciate that....Well, until be meet in 6 weeks...
Waiting for the greater,
Tina

I needed to read that post about Dr. Oz so badly just at this moment. That is exactly how I explain my decision to friends & family. I am sitting in Atlanta airport after having missed my connection to San Diego- I have my VSG surgery Monday with Dr. Aceves. Stuck here due to bad weather (and I purposely chose a connecting flight through the south from Boston, so I wouldn't have to worry about winter weather when connecting-- never thought to worry about a tornado!!!) Originally, Delta told me they couldn't get me to CA until tomorrow afternoon and I said I cannot do that- I have a pre-surgical workup tomorrow. Bless them- they moved me to the head of the standby list for the last flight out tonight and I am crossing my fingers that I get on. I was thinking "hmmm, maybe this is a sign that I shouldn't be doing this" but having read this has cleared my head. I am a widow supporting 2 kids, my elderly mom & disabled sister. They need me to be around for the long run and this is just another way of taking care of myself to make sure I will be. I love this forum & thanks to all of you who empowered me to be (literally) on this journey.

I agree with this. Andersonlj you were called rude on another post and I agreed with that too. I don't know what is happening to you. The other day I thought one of your posts was so sweet to a fellow poster that I mentioned it on one of my posts. I am here shaking my head. There is a fine line between being honest and rude. I walk that line everyday and hope that I don't cross it. You are crossing it.

Woohoo!! Now you need to change ur name from weightbegone to weightALLgone ; )
Congrats!!!!

My sister in law had the bypass 7 years ago and never got to goal. I estimate she missed it by 25 to 30 pounds. She lost and has maintained a 140 pound loss. She never wanted to exercise (which I don't condone), but yet she is an energizer bunny type person. She never stops. She now has a better half, a child and feels incredibly happy. I consider her a success story.
Has she had a perfect journey? No. Should she exercise for health reasons? Yes. Does that mean she is not a success story? Heck no! I do think we should all strive for goal, but to me, it is not an "all or nothing" situation.

It's easy to talk about someone who can't talk for themselve. I appreciate us all wanting to discuss "giving up" or "self esteem" or how we will act in three years or how ONLY losing 75 pounds is half a$$ (my words). The truth is it is scary to see someone with the same tool as us not lose as much as we or perhaps she would want to in three years. The statistics also say that many people experience a bounce at three years. I have also lost weight and swore I would never gain it back, yet have, and also have personally never gotten to goal on a diet... but have been dieting sense the age of 8. We don't know her story. I still think getting to goal is a mystery... almost as mysterious as those that never get fat. I am very close to goal, and really, I still don't understand it. Bless her heart, there but for the grace of God go I! I prefer to stay humble. I don't really know what the next three years will bring...

I couldn't agree more it's like the vet's lead the newbie's, then the newbies start to become vets ,and the cycle progresses forward. We all learn and get smarter together. The body's shrink, and the minds get stronger. Truly cool and awesome system!

LOL ... I know it's vanity sizing, but .... well, it appeals to my sense of vanity! :blush5:

Dear JASLEEVE,
Am so glad to hear that you are doing better. Although I didn't post or comment, I have been following your saga since you first posted about feeling crappy.
I felt really bad the first few weeks too. I went back to work when I was 10 days post op, and believe me, it almost killed me trying to work 12 hour shifts when I was so tired and felt so crappy! (I am a labor and delivery nurse, and work from 7:00 PM till 7:30 AM in a department where we do about 350 deliveries per month, which translates to 6-8 deliveries a shift. BUSY, BUSY place!)
I was sleeved on June 18th, I am seven months out yesterday, and I still have an occasional problem. Tuesday night I fixed dinner for myself and my hubbie, and as I was putting stuff on the table I was struck by a bout of nausea! I mean overwhelming nausea! I had to go lay down, and needless to say, I skipped eating dinner that night! I slept most of the night and got up around 4:00 AM feeling normal. Don't have any idea what happened, or even if it was related to my sleeve. Just know that once in a while I feel "off". Usually doesn't last, and usually isn't as intense as it was Tuesday night. But I just wanted to say "hang in there", this too shall pass!
I am down 98 pounds now (I know, I need to update my weight loss ticket!) and now wearing a size 8! I NEVER in my wildest dreams thought of myself as a size 8. In fact, it still seems to me to be a dream. But everytime I put those size 8 jeans on I pinch myself and say "Yep, It's true, you're a size 8!" And I still have trouble believing it.
My biggest fear is that I will gain weight back and be a size 26/28 again. But I trust my sleeve and intend to keep on keeping on and loose the last few pounds I need to loose to get to goal. Keep on Keeping on, and you wilk get there too. And remember when you feel crappy, "This Too Shall Pass!"

I agree with this. Andersonlj you were called rude on another post and I agreed with that too. I don't know what is happening to you. The other day I thought one of your posts was so sweet to a fellow poster that I mentioned it on one of my posts. I am here shaking my head. There is a fine line between being honest and rude. I walk that line everyday and hope that I don't cross it. You are crossing it.

If someone has a friend who will leave at the drop of a hat because the other friend has lost weight, then sadly this person was never a friend to begin with. This person was using the heavy friend as a "wing-man" or as other women put it, someone to have around so they look like the hot one.
No one needs friends like this. It took me a long time to realize this, but I just don't have the time or energy to entertain people like this. They are selfish, and well in my life now I guess so am I. I have so many more important things to worry about rather than to stroke a miserable females ego, who really has no good interest in mine too. Maybe that sounds harsh, but I'm a supporter not a deny'er. And in my little world, if my friends can't give that back to me, then they're just not my friends at all. Never were.
If this "friend" (and I use that word loosely) were to stick around, I can see them doing everything they can to make me feel bad about myself and try to turn the focus back on themselves. No time for that. They can take their little toys and go back home, because I'm not playing.
One more thing though: The above reference was in response to friends who openly admit they "don't wanna be the fat one"... that burns me up, I guess you can tell! LOL
Now on to another scenario, lots of times our friends can just be worried about us too. Surgery is a dangerous, and if one of my friends were going to have one I'd worry as well. The best thing for this would be to supply them as much information as you can. Take them to seminars or support groups... invite them to read this website, and many other ways to get them on board with the idea.
The best answer for any situation is communication. Don't assume either the reason behind the questioning. Talk to your friends about it, get the truth out so you will know for sure.
GL to all, this IS a bumpy road... no lie.

Hello there VST!! It's been some time since I've sent you all some updated photos... so that's my full intent right this very moment.
I've been through a lot!! I've been struggling to get healthy and fit for 6.5 YEARs now. Well guess what, TODAY and everyday after will be a success, because that is exactly where I am right now. I do NOT regret one single second of my long journey, and certainly never punished any pound lost. I celebrated them all, because they all mattered! I avoided the word "only" like a disease because that one single word can change a sentence by volumes. You are what you make of it. I made it gourmet, and I encourage all others to do the same.
Never let anyone tell you there is an end to the weight loss with the sleeve, never allow anyone to put an "expiration date" on your tool. The only one person who has control over that is YOU!! If you believe it, you will BE IT!!
Be LOUD Be PROUD... OWN IT!!! Keep on fighting!!!
Remember, I'm always only a message away. I'm always happy to give out my help if you need it, because I already know how difficult and mentally trying weight loss can be. I was there!! But... even when I was at my lowest point, that was when I reached down deep inside, picked up my big girl panties and made it work!
Heaviest ever weight 330 Lbs. Lap Band weight 283 Lbs. Sleeve weight 272 Lbs. Today 170 Lbs!!!

I just made Burbon chicken. It is wonderful. I wanted to try this receipe however it was carb loaded for my taste. So I subsituted the brown sugar with splenda brown sugar and omited the apple juice. Not sure how much the carbs were lowered. By using the receipe the way it is the carb count is 23.4 grams. So I figured what the hay, and give it a shot. Also I used the low sodium soy sauce. (no rice or noodles. I did use green pepper, mushrooms, celery, onion and broccoli. Once sauce is ready place the veges in and simmer for 5-8 minutes. Then add chicken and simmer another 10-15 minutes) Enjoy!!!
Deb
2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup Water
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 Heat oil in a large skillet.
2 Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned.
3 Remove chicken.
4 Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium Heat until well mixed and dissolved.
5 Add chicken and bring to a hard boil.
6 Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes

I am puertorrican and we eat a lot of pork,specially in the holidays :smile1: I found this amazing site,there is tons of recipes to make with your crock pot :smile1:
But I tried this pork and it was delicious :smile1: I just had a bit of the pork and some baby carrots ,it was very moist and soft :smile1:
http://www.skinnytas...erto-rican.html
I just wanted to share :smile1:
and tons of recipes to try on here
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/03/recipe-index.html