Suzannesh

Hi Thanks, I think that it is important that we give back if we have the time and we are willing. I want others to become successful too!. Hugs, Suzanne

Hey, Not a problem at all. My goal after having weight loss surgery was because I had all the same feelings and emotions that you are having was to help people along the way. I felt I was good with people and I have walked the walk, and talked the talk. So I hope that I can help others overcome some of these things and emotions that they are having. They are ALL very normal feeling and emotions to have by the way. It is the fear of the unknown for most of us. So always know that I am just an e-mail away. I try to read my E-mails daily. So if you are having a melt down, I am here and I am always posting stuff all the time. By the way you have made some smart choices and this time it really is going to happen for you. I am very proud that you are putting yourself first this time. This is ALL ABOUT YOU AND NO ONE ELSE. Don't you ever forget that. You are worth this. Hugs, Suzanne

Hey Sweetie, You are one of those success stories, and it is only going to keep getting better. I have somehing that I wanted you to have. I wrote it some time ago. But it is about the 1st months. I am here if you have any questions. Some things that you may have happen in the 1st months. When some of these things started to happen to me, I thought WOW am I the only one that this is going on with. Well, let me tell you NO, I wasn't. So I made this list and try to post it at least once a month for the new people who have just had surgery, about to have WLS,or someone who is just sitting quietly out there reading these posts, trying make up their mind if they want to do this or not. You have just had surgery and for a lot of you, you have read all the things everyone has posted on Dr. Aceves Web Site. They are helpful and encouraging. I spent some time with a lovely lady yesterday on the phone because she was sure I would have some of the answers for her. I hope I did and I think these are things that all of you can hear and use if you have just had weight loss surgery. So I will post this from time to time for all the NEWBIES. I am sure you have heard me and others say MANY times over "the 1st month is the most difficult month you will do." You have also heard me say that your brain will work extremely hard at play tricks on you. You read it and think oh sure, I can deal with that—and some of you are sure that this will never happen to you. It will happen to so many of us and we aren't even aware it is happening. This person was absolutely positive that she was just starving and was really hungry. She told me what she had been eating. She also said she was weak. I asked if she had been drinking her Water and her answer was just like mine was that 1st month. "Well, I can't begin to drink all that water"—remember your new stomach will only hold about 2 oz when you are trying to drink all this water. And like me she was having a difficult time getting in the amount of Protein she should be having 70 grams—no wonder she was feeling weak. After your stomach has healed most new stomachs will hold 6 to 8 oz of food or water. That is what we wanted a permanent restrictions so we can lose weight. So I will say this again, you MUST SIP on your water all day long when you are awake and the same goes for the protein that you are using—drink what you can and then sip the rest until you get it down. You need the protein to help your body recover. Your new stomach has experienced surgery and is swollen and will only hold liquids about the size of your thumb. This is our relearning time, and for most of us we have developed some extremely bad eating habits. Our OLD thinking brain tells us that we need to be eating more food, and we are not used to Clear Liquids for 10 day and creamy liquids for 10 days and then mushy foods the last 10 days. I want you to tell yourself this is only for 30 days and you can do anything for 30 days. It gets better as time goes one, I promise you. If you think you are hungry and you are positive that you are having physical symptoms of hunger this is YOUR OLD thinking brain playing those tricks we have talked about. You now have to start learning to educate this OLD brain into being your NEW thinking brain. Ask yourself do you just "want to eat" or do you really "need to eat" because it has been 3 or 4 hours since you have eaten anything. It is amazing what our brains can and will do to sabotage our old eating habits. You may be challenged by this OLD brains way of thinking for many years. For me I just have to have some self talks with myself. We have an addiction and our happens to be food. There is no way around avoiding food, so we need to find the set of skills that will allow us to change our lifestyle. I eat to live, I NO LONGER live to eat! Food is not my main focus in life. It does take some time to retain yourself in eating and I know that first month it is such a process just trying to get all the food in that you need to get in because of your new restrictions. In time it does get a lot easier. Some people morn the loss of food, because you will NEVER EAT the quantity of food that we used to eat---YEAH that is how we are going to lose the fat and maintain that goal weight that we want to have for the rest of our lives. These are the things that you will deal with in that FIRST MONTH and I am trying to be fair and honest about them.<BR style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR style="mso-special-character: line-break">Hugs, Sara ASKA to Sara as Mama Sleeve!

What is stopping you? What are the reasons that are stopping you from having WLS? So many of us contemplate what our lives would be like if only we could only lose the weight and keep it off. That is the KEY—KEEP IT OFF. I would say the fear of having the surgery is the biggest factors that stop so many of us. There is always a risk with ANY kind of surgery. So how do you overcome that fear? I think the best thing you can do is to educate yourself and figure out what type of weight loss surgery is best for you. For me it was the sleeve (VSG). I rules out the Lapland right away after talking to my PCP. And I knew very little about the sleeve until I did a lot of research and I knew it was best for me. I had my surgery done 2 years and 8 months ago. I had hoped that my insurance would pay for it. That was NEVER going to happen. So I figured out that I was going to have to pay for it all on my own. So, I think that is the next obstacle the most of us have to deal with—insurance our self-pay. Since mine was self-pay and I had a very close friend who had WLS and she was self-pay, I started to ask questions. She is a Nurse Practitioner and I trusted her judgment implicitly. But she encouraged me to check out all the possibilities of what Doctor I was going to pick to do my WLS. We picked the same doctor by the way. I think the next obstacle is telling our family and friends that we want to have WLS. So many of them have horror stories about people who have had WLS and died or had complications, and honestly this is mostly gossip that they are repeating. It used to be looked on as that you were weak and this was something everyone kept quiet about and didn’t talk about having WLS. It just was a NO, NO. Honestly; I think our families love us and are scared and they get on the Internet and get all the wrong information. We have the fear of “what if I am the ONE person this isn’t going to work on?” WLS is your tool and you have to learn how to make your tool work for you. So if you are sitting out there on the fence or lurking and reading everyone’s post, I wanted to share with you that about 99% of us have had to deal with most of these feelings and obstacles. I want you to know that you can overcome these fears and feeling. We are here to support you. Answer questions for you and just help in any way we can. I was lucky enough to have the top of the line team of doctors and support staff that was there to answer all my questions before and after the surgery. I had Dr. Aceves and Dr. Compos in Mexicali, Mexico. Now there was another thing that was an obstacle too—the thought of going to Mexico to have this surgery done. Well, I will tell you that this was the best choice I could have made. Their facility was incredible along with their staff. The hospital cleaner than any US hospital I have ever seen in. I can only speak about my experience, because that is all I know about. Hugs, and I am here if you want to talk or have any questions.

Hi, Well, I know for me it means being healthy, and having the life that I wished I could have and always felt like "I" had failed. With the sleeve it was my tool to allow me to achieve my goal and it also has showed me that I am NOT a failure. And I know I will always keep the weight off. I have made a lifestyle change. It is funny how we are our own worst critic when it came to trying to lose weight before the sleeve. Hugs, and I am glad that what I said hit home with you. Suzanne

:angel_smile: Hi, Excellent. Sometimes we just need to the the simple things in life when we aren't getting the support from those who we thought we could count on. It is amazing that people who are our friends are scared they will lose us if we become thin and healthy. These are just simple and easy thoughts. So many of us are care takers and we want to please others and take care of them. We need to put all our efforts in taking care of US FIRST!. :angel_smile: I am thrilled you have your sister and she has you. Keep up the great work with the support.:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Thanks, just some simple things to help people with their thought process when it comes to having WLS. Glad you enjoyed it. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Isn't it amazing when you mention anything about the doctor that "you" experienced that people assume we are getting paid to talk about them. I have had the same kind of attacks. All we can only speak about is our OWN experience. I am happy that you had success as I did too. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Sorry, my insurance wouldn't pay for WLS. Any place I check close in the Pacific Northwest was between $25,000 to $38,000. Like so many others I was a self pay so I started to check around for the very best I could find. I ended up going to Dr. Aceves in Mexico. I have no regrets and his fee was about $8,700 at that time. I highly recommend him. Suzanne

Hi, I know you must be so frustrated. Did you ever think he is scared that if you lose this weight that he might lose you? It is just a thought. Sometimes if you start a conversation with him and phrase it like this. "you know when you eat or bring things into the house that you know I can't have it makes me feel"--then tell him how you are feeling--be real honest and real clear about YOUR feelings. Don't attack him and tell him how wrong he is, but tell him how he is making you feel. He may be trying to sabotage you as you say--now is the time to find out just why???? If he is overweight the he may not want to face his problem and want to keep you fat just like he is. Sometimes people just aren't able to deal with the own problems and they want a partner in crime to continue on with the overeating. Let him know you are strong and you are not going to cave in. Tell him that this is ABOUT YOU and NO one else and you have ever intention of being successful at your weight loss. Ask him for his support and tell him you need him to understand this is about your being healthy so you have more years to spend with him. You did the right thing by coming on here and asking for advice and also saying how you are feeling. Ask him what his fears are; he might open up. This is down right ugly if he is trying to sabotage you. I was lucky that my significant other was there 200% with me. Keep me posted. I am always here to support you. Hugs, Suzanne

RAMDON THOUGHTS ABOUT WLS When you are thinking about having WLS I want you to think about just a few things. 1. Saying yes means you will do something new, meet someone new most likely and make a difference in your life. 2. Be true to yourself. It is you, your authentic self, the one you were in the first grade, before you leaned to massage your personality into a form that would suit others. 3. Sometimes it is hard to hear the message because of all the external voices and they are so loud. 4. Voices that are loud are always meant to bully. DO NOT BE BULLIED. 5. So carry your courage in an easily accessible place. Be your OWN authentic person when it comes to Weight Loss Surgery. This is ALL about you and NO one else. 6. Last you don’t need the approval of the Bully. You know what is right for you, follow your heart and go for it. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Boy you are soooooooooooooo right about that statement! Suzanne

Hi Beth, What excellent news. You have made the right choice when it comes to having the sleeve. You are going with the best weight loss surgery you could have. I am thrilled to see that finally insurance companies are starting to come around. If you have quesiton along the way, I am here to answer them. Fear and excitment and being scared all at the same time are If you have ANY questions at all feel free to ask me. I am happy to answer them for you if I can. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Well, I will do that. If you have any question feel free to fire them at me. I am always happy to share. I am here to support and help anyone who is about to start this process. Hang in there and there isn't anything that we can't talk about when it comes ot WLS. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, If I can make a difference and help others from where I have been and were I am now then it has all been worth its. Suzanne

Hi, Oh you are NOT crazy at all. As was reading what you wrote, I am sitting here thinking, this lady is saying all the things I said and feeling the same way I felt--I really do get you more than you know. Those people on Biggest Loser tend to gain it back again. Their succes over keeping it off isn't that great. If diet and exercise would work that GREAT for everyone, we would have already been successful. I also hear what you are saying about exercise. I used to hate it because I was fat and couldn't move and had NO energy. Now I can and I like it. I walk a lot. You are on the right track, it is normal to have 2nd thoughts and all these feelings. If your co-works are asking question, just tell them that you are having a lifestyle change, which includes a change in your diet and portion control and some exercise and then smile--leave it at that. That is all your OWE them. If later on you want to share with them, you can but keep it simple right at first. The last thing you need is anyone judging you. Share with your family if you want and just do what is BEST for you. There is no shame in having WLS. If the doctor said to you, that you were going to die if you didn't have your appendix out, you wouldn't think twices about doing it. Now you are taking control over your life and having 3/4 of your stomach removed because you will die faster from being fat. I know how you feel--how did I let this happen to me? Been there and done that. Now it is time to move on and take care of yourself. This is ALL about your and NO one else. I know how you are feeling. I am here every step of the way. Just ask what you want to and tell me if you are scared, These are all the things we have felt and know how you feel and what you are thinking. Hugs, and please keep me posted. Suzanne

Oh thank you, I truly believe that WLS is the answer for so many of us. I tried the diet and exercise and just felt like I was a failure. And I wasn't. I NEEDED the tool of WLS to make be successful. So I realized that was what I needed to do. I knew I wanted the best doctor I could find because I was PAYING for it. I found him and the rest is history. It required a lot of work and effort on my part. I want others to know that it is a lifestyle change and that you can eat healthy and NO DO have to live on a diet. I want you to know that you NEED to do this for YOU and NO one else. You are worth the cost of the surgery and support that you need is always right here. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Gina, You are doing all the righ things. Educating yourself is very important. You are WORTH all the things you are doing. Listen to your body and trust your own FEELINGS. NEVER give up on yourself. You are doing this for you and for your kids too. They want you around for a very long time. Sometimes Gods sends a message to you in ways that your aren't listen. So as I said pay attention to your own body. You will know when the time is right. I am here to answer any questions that you might have. I want you to know that this is a great place to get support. We have been down the road ahead of you. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Nancy, Well, it looks like you are on your way to having WLS too. It is NEVER too late to become healthy and change your life. You are worth the effort it takes. I am thrilled that I can give you hope. If you have any questions or just need to talk, I am always here. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I must have talked myself in and out of having WLS for at least 2 years before I had it. I kept thinking, if I get a trainer and go to Weigh****chers I can do this myself. It was also about spending $$$$. Then I had a very close friend that I worked with who had WLS. I started to get more serious about it after asking her at least a 200 questions. She was very patient with me--thank you Kristi. Her suggestion was for me to do some research on my OWN and see what I could come up with. That started my 6 month journey into WLS and all the kinds that were available. I also realized I was worth the $$$$ I was about to spend. So I just didn't wake up one morning and say I am having WLS. By the time I made my choice and where I was going to have it done, I had spent a lot of time educating myself. That is important to do. As we all know there is always risk involved when it comes to ANY kind of surgery, so I considered that, and said to my husband (boyfriend) at the time that I wanted to have WLS. He was there 200% for me. He loved me just the way I was and it didn't matter to him that I was fat. I was doing this for me and NO one else. The 1st month was the hardest month I had to do after having WLS--I had the sleeve by the way. I started to see the weight come off. I had my ups and downs like stalling for 9 days in a row without any weight loss, lost some of my hair (yes it comes back), had to deal with constipation. Tried foods I never ate much of before and learned I loved them now. Learned how to cook differently--healthy. And most of learned that exercise was something that I actually enjoyed doing. Would I tell someone this is what they should do. It is an individual choice. But, what I can say is that diet and exercise as I knew it wasn't working for me. I did the Yo Yo--lose it gain it back thing. WLS was my tool to allow me to lose the weight. It took me 14 months but I lost 105 pounds. I love my new healthy body and I feel sooooooooooooo much better and healthy and happy, and I have a zest for life. I only wished I would have done it years before. But, for me it was the right time. You have to have your head in the right place for it to work. This has to be for YOU and no one else. If you have any question, please ask away. I am here to support and encourage you that you too can be successful. It is really normal to have all kinds of feelings and emotions especially right before the surgery. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I am just checking in with you to see how you are doing. Life is going to just keep getting better. Please remember the 1st month after surgery is the hardest month you will do. It will pass and it gets better. If you have questions during that 1st month please remember I am hear just ask away OK. Hugs, Suzanne

I doubt you will be an outcast at dinner. You will be able to eat anything that others are eating, ONLY in SMALL amounts and you will be chewing and chewing, while they inhale their food. They will start to see how healthy you are becoming a will stop watching what you eat. This is pretty normal. The skin thing is so different with people. I don't have much skin hanging. Maybe one of these days I will consider going back to Mexicali and having it taken care of. I just love my new body and being healthy and happy. Hang in there and remember I am just an E-mail away. Hugs, Suzanne

HI, i think you will do really good. You will morn the loss of large amounts of food just at the first and that is pretty normal. I remember watching someone it a BIG hamburger and thinking to myself. I will NEVER be able to eat like that again. Now I think Oh my god look at all the food they are eating and so fast! I can have a hamburger, but maybe 1/2 of one at the most. If you have any of those feeling, send me a E-mail. I am more than happy to talk with you. I don't think you will regain it. You will enjoy your new lifestyle change which means smaller amounts of food and you are never hungry. You make good choice. Yes, I can have a cookie or a small piece of cake, but it is always just a small amount. I never feel deprived when it come to food. If you feel you are struggling with food then exercise some more and you can eat more calories. I am just an E-mail away, so remember you are NEVER alone. Hugs, Suzanne

Hey, Don't let those people get to you. Until they have lived inside your body, they have NO idea how you feel. Trust your OWN feelings. It is really normal to have these feelings of doubt. On my way to have surgery, I was still having talks with myself about should I do this or should I just go home. It was something that saved my life! It gave me a NEW life and I am healthy and happy life. I believe in paying it forward. So that is why I try to help people and let them know that it is OK to feel all these feeling. One of these days you will be on here saying WOW why didn't I do this sooner? When I would tell someone that I lost 105 pounds they would say "I never thought you had that much to lose." I was pretty successful at learning how to dress and cover up the fat! LOL. Now it is gone and I love my new body and how good I feel. NEVER give up, you will be successful too! It doesn't matter what others say--this is ALL about you and NO one else. Don't give your power away to them. Hold your head up high and say thanks for your comments, but this is about me and I NEED to do this.:rolleyes::rolleyes: Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Ricky, I was 63 when I had my WLS. I was successful. I had many more years at failing that you have had. So I would say go for it. Don't give away any more days of your life. You are really young and have a lot of life to still live. Hugs, Suzanne