Pookeyism

Thank you for replying kamrie37.

I dont think the creams work, and your incisions are going to all but disappear, mine are dots... Take care of yourself from the inside out, it is the best thing for your skin. With that said, I take almond milk baths with glyceryn, and use massage oils or evoo or such to massage the surface of the skin about 3x week (it all the extra time I have for such a task, but I would do it every day if I could). The massaging has been proven to be more bebeficial than the lotions, as far as the lose skin and cellulite (two different issues).

Has anyone been able to get off of assistance after WLS? I mean diability pay, or other forms of subsidized living? It was a question posed to me at lunch, and I didn't really have an answer for it. Added : Is there anyone out there that will or has been able to remove themselves from subsidized pay that they were living on pre-sleeve, after experiencing relief from symptoms due to being obese? Does anyone have this as a goal?

Challenge yourself, too - challenge yourself to a reading list, to continue your counseling and visiting your nut - challenge yourself to tracking your foods - myfitnesspal is good...pick fun stuff to do (keep a list!!!) for the days you can't hit the gym. Consider these challenges, too (or instead of) your lbs. lost - the weight will come off, and you will have gained alot of valuable habits, too.

Congrats to you - as for the give aways, that is good, but consider selling yoru nicer things, because you are going to spend alot down the road - it is just a suggestion. I have gave away hundreds of dollars of clothing, and made, so far, about 300$ on ebay, too. My goal is to replace my leather coat, my london fog, and my (!) gear for our Alaska trip next year off of my sales...(yeah, I know, need more than 300$, lol).

Also, make sure you aren't experiencing head hunger - or anxiety eating - try to find a way to get your mind off the hunger...try lilmissdiva's boot camp, maybe?

That was a really big deal to me, that makes me smaller than I have ever been in my adult life. I can even squeeze into some twelves, but only at home for encouragement, lol...NO MORE MUFFIN TOPS! never, even if it means saying I am wearing a size smaller, lol.

I was actually told I have an exotic almond shaped eye, and it was obvious I had "more than european" blood - lol - actually they are right, but I don't think they meant Cherokee and Aleut (think Alutian Islands, Alaska) - but the eye comment flattered me MUCH more than I expected it to, I always felt my features disappeared into my fat.

Non-Scale Victory - and they will be your best-friends!

Have not set a goal yet, I just don't know where it will end, or where I want it to - maintenence is fine for me right now, mainly since I am in a stall, lol. I would probably let myself shoot for a size 8, but only if my body wants it (thats so vague, I know). Otherwise, A 12-10 is what I am aiming for by my 39th birthday - or the holidays, whenever, lol... ...The sleeve has just made me so mellow about all of this, it will happen or it will not, as long as I maintain my current weight I am OK.

Stalls are common for me but I have a metabolism problem that is genetic and meds don't help alot - the sleeve has saved me. I don't fret the stalls, now I just wait them out. It probably will not be like this for you, but I have been in stalls, if you add them up, for about half the time since surgery - but I am still losing, and one thing I have noticed - I have nowhere near the saggy skin that I expected. The stalls have been a good thing in that way. I can see the difference in pictures, but still feel bigger than I am - but check out my pics, if you would like- maybe reassure yourself this is possible even with stalls. Good luck!

Check out yoga, try a core class first, to aid in your balance, or it is just going to feel awkward...also don't feel like you have to jump hard core into any one thing - and really, truly avoid plunking down alot of money to "join" anything right now - as your body changes, chances are your preferences in exercize will too. I do yoga, walk casually, volunteer dog walk for the elderly, I bike, spin class, weight lift, box, kick box, dance naked in my living room, swordsmanship, poi, hula hoop, contact juggle, flowersticks, and more - and I only go in the gym if I am with my hubby or it is raining, lol...I am also beginning to train for a zombie 5k...

How long have you been sleeved?

That is an absolutely GREAT NSV!!!!

We have ALOT of band to sleeve revisions here, and alot if people who wish they could, the band seems to be a really risky procedure - and from what is described to me, many people don't feel less hungry, they just can't eat as much...not a good thing.

Thanks for responding! I feel like I can't be the only one going through this, so I wanted to post it so others could see the positive replies (which I was pretty sure I would get).

If it regular frozen yogurt I would have to say nay, I would be afraid it would mess up my tummy... Have you tried Skinny Cow? Not frozen yogurt but good. Comes in a much more proportionate size. Try mushing up some Jello, and a frozen fruit bar - kinda chunky, and you can do it with popcicles too. Put it into a freezer bag, push the air out, and let it freeze...and then dump it into a blender and pulse it for about 30 seconds...chop some ice in the blender first and let it sit, and toss that (it tempers your blender so your creation does not melt immediately - pour into an also tempered glass mug or such...it make a kinda gelatto thingy, very nice in my opinion.

If I lose no more weight (which I feel like I will, if I want, but just, still...) would I consider this sucess? I have been thinking about it alot. I think the answer is actually not really a 'yes' or 'no' for this size, or weight. I think it is a need to be comfortable with the choices I have made, and the ability to recognize the tremendous changes I have gone through, and understand that at any given point, somewhere, the weight loss stops. I have not set a goal. I don't think it is a good idea to set a goal based on size or weight - anything really, until I can begin to "see" myself. I literally cannot look at myself in a mirror and see the changes. Somewhere in there I do, because I FEEL good looking at it. That also eases my concerns, and lets me know I have, like I have when I am waiting on my stalls to pass, all the time I need to work on my head, and get myself to see the way I must look - the way that person looked in the photo - then I realized that picture was...of...me... that.picture.was.of.me. that.is.me. me. i.am.that.beautiful.woman. I am working on it! lol. So for now I guess I am comfortable if I never drop another pound, but where I want to be is saying this much further down the road, so the journey continues... Fellow sleevers, hold my hand and I will hold yours...I do occasionally admit when I need help...

I think he migh meant not so much the passing into Onderland as much as he means that you are getting very near your goal weight usually once you are lower than 200 - and that means that yes, lots of people slow down. This is not as much of a roll the dice type of thing as it seems. Even in a stall you create the outcome. Your body still builds, maintains or loses muscle and definition and you feel and act in direct relation to how you are dealing with your emotions and such. This is a very good time to look at your habits. If they have not really, truly changed drastically, they need to do so at this time. FYI - I say this in the middle of a MAJOR stall :/

Yay! Love you body now, and every step of the way - it's going to be working hard, be good to it!

Change up your habits as much as you can. Switch chairs or, something. Our bad habits are tied into routines...

I did not go the insurance route, but I suggest you read and read and read on here - there are alot of people who have kept track of their journey - what to-do's as well as what not to do! Understand your insurance, and confirm your specific coverage does not have a exclusion on the surgery. If you work for a large enough company and are comfortable with it, ask around and see if anyone in your company can help you out with info. START SAVING - this costs more than you think and alot will be out of pocket for you (most likely). You will also want to purchase books and miscellaneous that having extra will help alot. If you are covered, if there is no exclusion, find a doctor that all of his support group AND hospitals, are all on your insurance plan. Check also to see if maybe your insurance has a package deal with someone already. Get the costs from you doctor up front as is you DID NOT have insurance, and then compare to what is quoted for insurance. This is a neglected step in many people's journey - and remember as you go forth so shall you blaze a trail - future sleevers benefit from this too...do not go to a doctor that would charge the insurance more than a cash customer. I sugget it, at least. It speaks to the ethical nature of the doctor. Know your limits on, realistically, how long you need to save on your end. You need enough for your percetage, trave, copays, out of poclets, foods, supplements, etc...and also to supplement your pay from missed work - possibly longer than you think...coming from experience, dont eat up you emergency funds! You would be suprised at what can happen while you are thinking you are going to have some quiet time to recover. This was all I can suggest, the actual process seems to vary, and I was self pay. Good luck.

What are some name brands?

I didn't. I get tshirts and watch them get too big, lol. All of my weight was in my belly and arms, so it works out!

Really nice to hear when things are going so smoothly! Keep it up and yay! You are a loser! lol!