SexySlim

My body hates (low calorie diets) LCDs so without HCG my weight would stall (kinda like it is now). I ordered some and it came last week 2 vials and may do a 21 day round to kickstart. I'm still deciding though. I also know it works wonders for reshaping. When I lost on it before I was heavier than I was in high school but one of my classmates told me I looked smaller than I did in high school. But yeah to each his own I would never discuss my rounds/results up here on these boards. All of the HCG experts will tell me that I will get cancer and lose all my muscle. *eye roll*

HCG does work, but you must get the real hormone. The FDA took all of the homeopathic products off the market. I did HCG throught a clinic in 2009 and lost 50 lbs. I kept it off for about a year, and it did take work to keep it off. Gained it all back in a matter of months when I got on antidepressants. I don't think it's worth investing in for pre-op. Just follow your doctor's orders. I have considered doing it post-op. I've been in a 6 week stall and am really tempted to order some from India. I think getting the weight off is easier than keeping it off, and the sleeve will help me maintain. I'm down 50 lbs but want to lose 40-50 more.

Lol yes this was a decision that took a lot of thought. I was like look there are stop signs. Look there's a crosswalk. It actually wasn't that bad. Once the cars saw that you were trying to cross they stopped. I had to shuffle across because I didn't want to hold up traffic. I told my friend I survived surgery I can't die in Mexico crossing the street!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi there! I was sleeved by Dr. Kelly on 3/28 of this year. I will try to address all of your questions: He was my first choice as well. Even when I started researching other surgeons, I still came back to him. The fact that he called me after I submitted my application to talk to me and answer any questions I had made me feel very comfortable and confident in my choice. Omar wasn't working with him when I went. He was working with Ana. She was a sweetheart. Ana was a nutritionist and gave me a printout of a post-op diet. I didn't have a drain. I only took a week off from work, so I was sleeved on a Wednesday and went back to work that following Wednesday. I'm all the way in MD, so it was a cross-country trip. Honestly, the day after surgery I felt very sluggish. But everyday I felt stronger and stronger. I flew home with no problems. I actually left a day early because my friend had to get back to work and I didn't want either of us traveling back alone. Dr. Kelly just made sure I cleared all the post-op tests (swallow test). I was actually going to go alone, but one of my friends volunteered to come along with me. I took my cell phone over there and hooked it up to the free wifi and was able to Skype and GoogleVoice call my family. I talked to them right after my surgery. I didn't really tell that many people. And to this day my mom thinks I got sleeved here. She would never understand. I told some people I went to Mexico. You will find that a lot of people will just throw negative comments and say you're taking the easy way out. So sharing with people is up to you. But we are losing the weight by dieting and exercise though so whatever.

Since you will be shrinking I wouldn't invest too much money. Walmart carries danskin brand for a reasonable price. Or just get some sweats from the men's side.

I'm 5'11" started at 288 size 20W now 224 size 18 regular pants and some 14 dresses. Tops from XL to L. I think I'm a slow loser but so happy I'm losing

LOL I'm the ignorant one yet I have a PhD and work for the Agency that regulates all the prescription drugs in this country. Let me try to speak to you on your level:
1) Obviously you do not know the difference between a “treatment” and a “cure.” A treatment is given over a time period to lessen the symptoms of a disease. A “cure” is something that is taken that will rid the body of a disease forever. So do you really think a drug company will make a trillion dollars over night by finding a cure “here take this one pill and be cured of your disease forever.” They are already making a billion dollars annually (that means every year) by selling pills that are taken continuously for a long period of time to “treat” a disease. “Here take these pills once a day for the rest of your life if you want to have less symptoms.” Cha-ching!
2) The last time I checked, CEOs do not have scientific degrees, i.e. PhDs or MDs. They are only interested in what is going to make their company money (see response #1 above).
3) Do you know what the success rate for chemotherapy is? I’m sure you don’t. It’s 3%, yeah 3 out of 100. Did you also know that chemo kills healthy cells along with cancer cells. You probably didn't. So how can someone’s immune system fight cancer if they are being injected with a poison that is killing their immune system at the same time. I’m sure those hundreds of millions of people whose lives were saved were the lucky 3%.
4) BIG PHARMA is the biggest and most powerful influence on our healthcare system. Insurance companies are only out to make money for themselves. As long as BIG PHARMA can keep making drugs that people depend on, they will still be pushing their drugs and remain a billion dollar industry.
Seems to me like you don’t read much, so how about go on over to youtube and check out the documentary “Cancer is Big Business.” Until then, coming at people on message boards with fake facts and telling them why the "probably" did something will make you look stupid.
You guys are seriously funny and entertaining. Coming to a forum entitled “Mexico” and haven’t had your surgery in Mexico. Before you had kids I bet you were all over the parenting forums giving some great parenting advice.

Yeah I'm sure there are better docs in the states but do you think doctors here are actually curing cancer here? No. And you know why? Because drug companies cannot make any money on a cure. How about read some books about cancer cures then talk to me about the US doctors treating cancer with poison.

1) doesn't have insurance
2) has insurance but don't want to do the 3 or 6 month diet and requirements
3) want to be sleeved by a Mexican surgeon with more experience than a US surgeon
4) self-pay is cheaper than the US self-pay
5) hospital stay is longer
6) doesn't meet US insurance requirements (BMI and/or comorbidities)

I finally got a XBox Kinect last week and I'm in love (upgrade from a Wii). I've been doing the Your Shape game every morning before work this week and boy is it intense. So I see that you can connect to XBox Live and compete with friends. Anyone else have this game and want to compete?
I also have Zumba Core and Hip Hop Experience. Love them both!

Last week I went to Walmart & bought 3 pairs of danskin pants & tops. White, black & grey. I had NO idea that section of clothing was even at walmart! I'd never strayed past the Plus size womans dept!

1) doesn't have insurance
2) has insurance but don't want to do the 3 or 6 month diet and requirements
3) want to be sleeved by a Mexican surgeon with more experience than a US surgeon
4) self-pay is cheaper than the US self-pay
5) hospital stay is longer
6) doesn't meet US insurance requirements (BMI and/or comorbidities)

Well if you drink half it looks ok.

I've been fat all my life and I'm so happy that I don't have to make a New Years resolution this year to lose X number of pounds! I would like to lose 35 more pounds, but since I'm sleeved I know it's achievable by my new lifestyle and I don't have to make it a resolution by starting another diet. This feels so good!!!

Definitely go! I went to an all inclusive in the Dominican Republic last month. I was able to eat small portions of everything I wanted and I drank alcohol. I couldn't finish a whole drink but it was all inclusive and I was going to eat and drink what I wanted! I actually came back home 2 lbs lighter! Enjoy your vacation!

I've been fat all my life and I'm so happy that I don't have to make a New Years resolution this year to lose X number of pounds! I would like to lose 35 more pounds, but since I'm sleeved I know it's achievable by my new lifestyle and I don't have to make it a resolution by starting another diet. This feels so good!!!

You just made my day! I have 11 pounds until I reach my goal but I am happy where I am. This will be the first New Years in 8 years that I won't be making a resolution to lose weight!

I've been fat all my life and I'm so happy that I don't have to make a New Years resolution this year to lose X number of pounds! I would like to lose 35 more pounds, but since I'm sleeved I know it's achievable by my new lifestyle and I don't have to make it a resolution by starting another diet. This feels so good!!!

People please do your research. The surgeon that invented the lapband practices in Mexico and so does a surgeon that was named one if the top 25 bariatric surgeons in the WORLD. So just thinking US surgeons are the gold standard is hog wash.

I vacationed in Peurta Vallarta last year and got sleeved in Tijuana this March. You will be totally safe. In PVR we left our gated resort and went shopping downtown (me and another female). We actually were going to take the bus but it was so hot waiting we took a cab. So two single (attractive) females and a male can driver we felt totally safe. The driver even offered us a tour of the city and tequila factories and gave us his card. I had the same pleasant experience in TJ. We actually walked around after we checked into the Lucerna. I had a Gatorade and we hung out at Starbucks. Sorry your family is not supportive. You will find plenty of support here

111 pounds gone FOREVER! I am 10 pounds passed my original "goal"! I have NEVER felt so amazing & am so in love with the new me!
HOWEVER, there is one VERY BIG problem-- I am now a SHOPAHOLIC hahaha! My hubby has decided to pull the purse strings a little tighter, because I seem to get carried away! This is coming from the girl who HATED, & I mean HATED to shop! I would get anxiety and usually cry in the dressing rooms! There was actually a few times that my husband would come into the dressing rooms to try to encourage me & keep me in good spirits- NOW, he refused to come shopping with me because I fall in love with everything I try on LOL! He says "i'm not needed for moral support anymore" & he is right! AHHH, what a FABULOUS year!
Start weight- 249.8
CURRENT- 139.0
Start BMI- 48.6
CURRENT- 27.1

On my first date with my now bf he noticed I hardly ate. I told him I wasn't that hungry and I had a big lunch. That always seems to work. He knows about my lifestyle and surgery now. At first he would forget and tell me to finish my food. He's used to it now I'm a very cheap date. We split meals a lot.

Researching reviews on Amazon and saw this. About wet myself laughing.
"3.0 out of 5 stars Gross, but has a lot of proteinI drink these for lunch because I need Protein and like to torture myself. They taste like a wild boar's butthole farting green apple, but I just close my eyes and pretend that I am Dumbledore drinking the Drink of Despair and I'm able to choke it down."

The second photo shows a lady who has 10 lbs of difference between the photo on the left and right. She weighs less in the photo on the left, but looks much more fit and in shape in the photo on the right.
The lady shown in the grocery store is holding a model representing 5 lbs of fat.
The last photo illustrates the difference between fat and muscle mass.
Helps put a few things in perspective.

Using medical malpractice claims as an example of why not to go overseas isn't always a great argument.
My mother was given a totally bogus diagnoses for numbness and tingling in both legs (was told it was a kidney stone pressing on the sciatic nerve) that resulted in her being partially paralyzed, wheelchair bound and on Warfarin for the rest of her life. She'd had an aneurysm. She spent nearly two months in a medically induced coma once they finally figured out what was wrong. She had to go to a different hospital to get someone to acknowledge that blue feet and numbness in her legs was a serious concern! And she HAS insurance.
When all was said and done she was saddled with over a hundred thousand dollars in medical expenses. She lost her job...or rather, still has her job but is only given about ten hours of work per week. She is still fighting for disability, two years later.
The state she lives in caps malpractice suits at $150,000 so lawyers will not take the case. Three separate malpractice lawyers told her she had an excellent case because the very idea that a kidney stone would cause paralysis is laughable, but nobody was willing to take on a complicated case for what amounts to a pittance in lawyer fees.
So please, let's not pretend that even American citizens, with insurance, in America, are fully protected under the law. This is not always the case. My mother is wheelchair bound for life, has lost her independence completely (she now lives with my sister and is only 49 years old) and she has been forced to live below the poverty line without any help from the government or recourse with the medical hospital and doctor that put her in this predicament.
Furthermore, it is comparing apples and oranges to point at overseas medical training programs and say "Americans train longer, and therefore are more experienced." In other countries, even in Europe (Germany and Italy, where I've personally lived and received care) doctors are not generally educated on all medicine - they are specialists that focus their education on one medical specialty for several years instead of learning about general medicine for several years AFTER pursuing a general degree. This cuts their training time down considerably. Many foreign doctors have expressed to me (not doctors providing my care, but rather those I've personally known on a social level) that they're amazed that American doctors can be proficient at any one skill, since they're learning so many different areas of medicine before narrowing into a specific field. This is also a reason that becoming a doctor overseas is not the status profession it is in America. Your education does not cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars and you are not paid an extremely high salary to compensate for your twelve years of education. Doctors are respected, yes, but no more so than any other professional.
In fact, in Germany, Italy and especially the former Soviet Union there is no real glamour in being a doctor. It is far more respected and admired to be a professor in a university, for instance, than a doctor.
In any case, I think that these continual anti-Mexico posts are a bit redundant and in many cases, far too biased. Nobody coming here to criticize care in Mexico actually had a negative experience there! They're just afraid that it could happen. I could say the same for doctors in the US. It's a silly round-and-round.
And frankly, instead of providing information and being supportive, it turns into a battle for-or-against that does nothing to change anyone's mind or even to disseminate information.
Truly, if you don't believe people should go to Mexico, there is no need to post about it beyond stating that you wouldn't and why. Hearsay helps nobody. Saying "I've read horror stories" could apply to any doctor in any country. I'm sorry, but the medically induced comas and leaks on VST lately were all AMERICAN SURGEONS.
So please, accept that some people will go to Mexico whether you think they should or not. And some people will be more comfortable in the states. Sometimes it's a money thing but not always (as I previously stated I could have gone anywhere and many others face these options, too) and likewise it is not always a "last resort" option. Accept that some people are more comfortable with something you are not.
There are dozens of these threads on here and what ultimately happens is despite the good intentions of some of the posters, it turns into an us-vs.-them debate that DOES border on prejudices that are most often based in hearsay and rumor than actual fact. Everyone has "heard of someone" or "saw a 20/20 report" or "knew a doctor that said" or "ran into one case that proves this is the norm" and honestly, I hardly see anyone with personal experience that is negative contribute to these conversations.
People are so happy with Dr. Aceves that they rave about him without being compensated. We happen to take unfair criticisms of him, due to the fact that he's operating in Mexico, as offensive. If you don't know him and he didn't operate on you, what right do you have to say that his care is substandard? Basing it on rumor, hearsay and assumption offends his many happy customers on here, sorry to say. And you will not convince those of us (hundreds of us!) that had a positive experience in Mexico that it's more dangerous or terrible to go there, so there is no need to continually refresh the argument with a new topic!
Vent over, I'm just annoyed that I'm repeatedly posting these same logical arguments and it keeps coming up over and over again. If you're not comfortable with Mexican surgeons the answer is simple: don't use one!
~Cheri