Mrs.Prisses

Today while preparing for a meeting at work my bosses boss came up to me and inquired; "I heard you had surgery. What does that do for you?" After hearing my spiel, she asked if I was interested in speaking about the journey toward health. (I work for a nation wide fitness company who has many other ventures on the fringe of what it does). My initial reaction was not shock or offense...even tho I wondered who had been talking about me. It made me feel good that she noticed how much weight I lost, but, made me feel even better because I would LOVE to shout to the world that you don't have to take morbid obesity sitting down! In essence, I think that what the devil meant for harm (gossip) was turned into a great opportunity (as God often makes it). I didn't wear any makeup or hair or any jewelry today. I didn't have much in my closet that fit so I picked basic black pants and a button up top. Nothing about me today stood out in any manner. To be noticed because I am pursuing health, weather its negative attention or positive, says something to me. Today, I woke up with my mind on 1000 things. I asked the Lord to guide me thru them all. I may have skipped the "Prisses" today but I managed to focus on what is real. Today, keeping it real went right.

Yea I have like...A LONG way to go...Everyone keeps telling me that I will NEVER be at my ideal body weight. My doc wants me to be 140lbs @ 5'6. With so much to lose it's like 50 is a drop in the bucket. I swear I hope I can lose another 130lbs. Skeptical, but optimistic. I hope that this month is an indicator but it seems like it slows down the further out you get. Thanks for the kudos, guys! That's why I love VST!

Alright so now I am officially a blogger, right? First things first, I will map out my journey; October 5, 2011- I attended a seminar about weight loss surgeries at KC Bariatric (which is far off in Lenexa Kansas) October 20, 2011-I had my first meeting with Dr. Kowalski (that's my surgeon) October 25,2011- I had my EGD which was required pre op November 2, 2011- I went to the nutrition class, the physical therapist, and took the post op education class November 7, 2011- I had my physical which was also required November 18, 2011- I paid my program fee to the surgery center (skipped the cable bill, too) November 19, 2011- I had my psych eval...they found out that I am only a little nuts November 21, 2011- I had my f/u psych consultation where the previous findings were confirmed December 12, 2011- I got insurance approval (and I was glad it was on the phone because I would have kissed the lady December 14, 2011- Started my pre op hell diet December 18, 2011- Had my pre op labs done December 19, 2011- Met with Dr. K a second time (decided that I will call him Dr. K because he will be looking all up in my guts, may as well be friends!) December 26, 2011- HAD MY SLEEVE INSTALLED That's it. Here I am January, 20, 2012 36 pounds lighter and ready to blog about it!

I often day dream about having "the perfect body". But, as I am losing, I am finding that I keep finding things wrong (when I am looking). I think that even if I get that body...there will be SOMETHING for me to pick at myself about if I am looking for it. For me, at least, I will settle for "the perfect body with clothes on" :blush5: Then go from there!

CONGRATS!!! :biggrinjester:

I want to be skinny NOW NOW NOW...But, it is fun losing weight. Lotsa little things that weird me out... like having to pull my pants up so high that I look like Ed Grimley...

I am reading along and noticing the VAST differences in everyone's loss. I had my sleeve done on 12/26/11...and have lost 36 pounds now. I have to honestly say that it seems like so little when there is so much that I need to lose. My clothes are all too big and that's kinda fun. Plus I can touch my toes and I can run (not simultaneously). My surgeon said that I should expect to lose about 20-30 monthly. I sure hope that is not lofty because I still have such a long way to go. Where were you at this time? When did you start REALLY seeing a difference? When will my chins consolidate ?

And we ALL know we don't want anything to do with "STALL"! Keep eating and moving! Then when your all done moving, drink some Protein shake. Then move some more. At night when the cravies come...go yourself to sleep. The best way to avoid cravings is to keep moving so that you can sleep at night like your supposed to. food is all around us and will always be. They took our tummies, not our taste buds. I will never be cured of my desire for Church's chicken, but, I will be strong enough to resist it. I will because I know that its going to go to my body and do absolutely NOTHING good. I am in charge now and I say what goes in me MUST do something good FOR me. That being said...I also have found some yummy substitutes for some old unhealthy favorites.

Yea, a lot of it is mental. We are used to eating and gaining weight. With this sleeve, its like I am always eating or drinking something, thus, will not lose weight. But, if you just "feel" your food work; like after you eat then go for a walk. After that, you will have the feeling of so much energy. When you get your protein in, its even better. Its like you can feel your food being energy. So now, as odd as it seems, food is your friend. Just make healthy choices, stick to doctors orders no matter what. I have been eating and exercising, which makes me hungry for my next meal. Its the only way to get the food down. Not to mention, for me anyway, eating is still somewhat uncomfortable. I am still learning to eat slow and in very small bits at a time. I still have not eaten until I feel "Full" yet. I use a time limit of 30 min. What ever has gotten down is whats going down. As always, if your body feels wrong, then take a step back in your diet and call the surgeon. We are all different and so are our sleeves! Best wishes to you!

Thanks! Yes, I want to blog and keep a photo journal as well. I really never got familiar with how to blog on here. Open to tips Having an awesome experience and ready to share!

And lest I forget...all the glory to God.

Okay, not to be premature... after all, I am only 6 days out from surgery ...If your an expert, please evaluate this. I started out at 308 then lost 15 on the liquid diet before surgery. After surgery. I was 312. Today I am 283. Numbers aside, I have had so much energy that I am a bit freaked out. And could it be that I am loving my mile daily walks? I am struggling every day just to discern all these new physical sensations. Hunger, fullness, gas, pain, all feel different. And now I am going into emotional overdrive because I can't believe that I have all this energy and am already wearing some of my old clothes. So, seeing 2 anything on the scale is like proof that I must be tripping. I don't want to Jinks it. What part of the game is this?

I am having a hard time telling on feeling from another. Is it pain? Hunger? Fullness? Gas? And what's with all the nosebleeds? Why does eating make me sleepy? Why is the smallest stitch the one that hurts? Did really gain weight? Ok...that's all for now lol. Nap time. Thanks to you experts for the help getting to know my sleeve.

I am at my parents house now so I can use the lap top. My phone sucks right now lol. I am so sore and achy but I am really ready to swim or even do the water fitness. I wish I would have known how intense this pain and gas was going to be, though. I don't know WHAT i am feeling. I feel hunger, gas, pain, soreness, more gas, all at once lol. I felt hungry, took meds then felt nothing. Lots of nose bleeds too. BUT,,, This is so awesome! I am just going to ride the wave. I know my body has to regulate itself, I am going to be patient with it. My ticker is tripping but I don't care right now, Just so hyped up lol.

I don't see that at the bottom. Can't believe I am sleeved ...ready to work out lol.

I just got sleeved. Please help me get off mobile mode. I have so so much to say. But its hard on this mode.

I am stuck in mobile format. Full version is what I need HELP. Sleeve done yesterday.

They have some really great varieties of veggie chips! Try that. They are just dehydrated veggies.

Your almost there! You will look back at this post in February like "Dang, that seems like a LIFETIME ago!" Keep your head up. All will be well according to the Masters will!

Thank you! I have been reading the blogs in regards to insurances and approvals and whatnot...the results are soooo far from typical in any one case! My biggest thing is that I just don't understand the whole process. My case manager from the surgery clinic JUST NOW asked for the phone number of my nurse case manager from BRS (a service thru the insurance @ UHC). I actually was so nervous about it yesterday that I sent in the paperwork my danggone self...to BOTH of them. Then emailed them each others contact info. Overkill? Will the deny me just because I am pushy or approve me faster to get rid of me?? I don't know...I am just like "SLEEVE ME, DANGGIT!" :smilingface (52):

It's kind of quiet here... so let me fill the air with my anxiety! That's how anxious I am...I could probably literally fill the "cloud" and all of cyberspace with my own tension. I have submitted all my insurance requirements. I have to have my psych eval then that will be all the surgeons requirements. I am BEYOND twitchy at this point. I can hardly believe that I am this obsessed with anything.

I think I started out like that. I wasn't, going to share with anyone but my immediate family and boss. But, 1- I have been too excited to NOT share, 2- Once I have it done and start losing I will not want to lie about how I am doing it. I know that not sharing isn't lying exactly but to me I would feel like it. Plus, I want others in my situation to consider their options and know that it's okay to use every tool at your disposal to be healthy. I want to be an example for some of my family members who think that WLS is somehow cheating.

I wish you nothing but blessings on your journey. It seems to have been a long road with more to come. Whatever you decide or whatever happens, keep your head up and stay positive. But, if your asking ... I would say it's a bit much to be going thru... and I would be on the next thing smoking to Mexico. Of course, that's just me.

Hello, I guess I will start by saying that it's a good feeling to know that I am not alone. You know how it is in the "community". Mental health, obesity, and other topics are more than stigmatized...they are out right TABOO. Which I find ironic because we, as a group, have more reasons (not even just excuses) to suffer from those ills the most. Anyway, here I am finally admitting that 1- I AM morbidly obese and 2- I need HELP dealing with it. I felt like my life was just about perfect. God has been so good to me. I have a wonderful husband, beautiful son, dream job, and honey a Cadillac car! Seems like my life all came together except one thing...my big butt doesn't fit into it. I mean, here I was so happy to praise God and spread love and thinking that I am doing HIS will for my life...but lying to myself and all those around me the whole time. Rebuking FAT does NOT work. My life is far from perfect. In fact, my life will be over very shortly if I am not PROACTIVE about my declining health NOW. I have watched my aunts lose feet, use canes to walk, and pass away because they have fallen for the lie that black women are just naturally supposed to be BIG BONEDED. And while genetics may contribute to the shape of our bodies, that is NO excuse to accept the shape we are in. So, the long and short of it is this... I made the decision to do the REAL will of God. He calls for us to lay aside every way that so easily besets us. I am making lifestyle changes that lay aside my greediness with good food, my lazy attitude toward working out, and I am not ashamed to say, my envious hating of other woman who APPEAR to be able to control their weight. My decision to get "sleeved" is based on the fact that my weight is so out of control that I need to utilize every tool available to me. Now... I am prepared for the haters who are going to say I am on crack or got "The Package". I am prepared for my friends and family to ask me why I "bought" my body instead of doing things the good old fashioned way. I am prepared for the grief of my old relationship with food. My hope is that joining this group will help me deal with those things I may encounter that I am not prepared for. I look forward to sharing my journey and getting to know some of your journeys along they way.

Can you tell me how to make my picture come up when I post, please?