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Wow! Congrats on your success. You look great. Quite a testimonial to what we can accomplish with this tool if we put in the work ourselves as well.

Just had mine done 5 days ago w/ Kelly. Very happy with my choice. Good luck w/ your decision.

Just had mine done 5 days ago w/ Kelly. Very happy with my choice. Good luck w/ your decision.

I flew to Virginia from San Diego with only a 30 minute layover in Ft Worth. Very long flights to and from. Walk as much as possible while in Mx..I was all over the place. Stretch your legs/rotate ankles/flex calves on plane. Never had any any problems. Good luck!

Shain, always a pleasure to meet a supportive and accepting str8 person. Ive been a supporter of y'all for years. Lol ; )

Surgery 3/28. 11.5 wks out.
[ATTACH]14125[/ATTACH]
starting wt 206, cw 163. I am very active now most days, and feel wonderful! Approx 51 more # to goal.

Surgery 3/28. 11.5 wks out.
[ATTACH]14125[/ATTACH]
starting wt 206, cw 163. I am very active now most days, and feel wonderful! Approx 51 more # to goal.

Surgery 3/28. 11.5 wks out.
[ATTACH]14125[/ATTACH]
starting wt 206, cw 163. I am very active now most days, and feel wonderful! Approx 51 more # to goal.

Surgery 3/28. 11.5 wks out.
[ATTACH]14125[/ATTACH]
starting wt 206, cw 163. I am very active now most days, and feel wonderful! Approx 51 more # to goal.

Surgery 3/28. 11.5 wks out.
[ATTACH]14125[/ATTACH]
starting wt 206, cw 163. I am very active now most days, and feel wonderful! Approx 51 more # to goal.

You look wonderful, healthy and happy. Congrats!

There's a hand full of Dr. Ramos Kelly patients around these days. I am 13.5 weeks post op now and still think my experience with him was top notch. I really loved the care I got at florence Oasis and while I'm only 75lbs down, I'm 75-freaking-pounds-down! LOL I hope your experience is fantastic!

Well, I'm 6 wks out today and 31# down. 3 to share. 1. My son and I went hiking last weekend. I made it 3 miles on a difficult trail. A quarter of the way through at the top of a hill, my son stopped me and said " remember this spot? Its where you were out of breath and your ankles hurt so bad, I saw tears in your eyes. Now your keeping up with me." We finished at a very brisk pace this time.
2. He said he was proud of me
3. A patient asked why I'd had an MRI. As I was encouraging him through his PET scan. I told him I'd had a ministroke at age 37 due to being overweight and high BP. He looked me up and down and was surprised because he thought I looked "healthy"..
I still have 65# to lose, but its a start.

I'm issuing a weekend challenge.
To all of you who have clothes that are TOO BIG in your closet (Laura-ven, I'm looking at you, too)... GET RID OF THEM!!!
You will never need them again. Do not hold on to these clothes as a back-up plan! Plan to succeed!
I'm going to take a look in my closet and dresser and make three piles:
-keep because it fits me, is comfortable, and looks good on me
-throw it away because no one else would want that nasty old/dirty/torn/worn out thing anyways, and
-donate! I always found it frustrating when the only plus size things at Salvation Army were muumuus. My nice things will go directly there.
Good luck, and God speed! Challenge accepted.
Do it, and do it right!

Can you say a***ole!!!! You may have been over weight, but he is just STUPID to say something like that to you after all your hard work and what you have been through.....you are losing the weight,,,,,but he can't fix being STUPID!!!! Girl don't take that crap....from the one person who is supposed to support you. You need to surround your self with your real supporters and ditch dead weight.....pun intended.

Ok, I debated about posting this as I'm still bit insecure about all my loose extra skin but my hubby said its not very noticeable in these pics and I so wanted to share. We went to the beach for Mother's Day on Sunday and it was the first time I have worn a bathing suit without a huge coverup dress in the last 9 years. Here are two pics I'm 7 months out and 90 pounds down, about 15-20 pounds to go! 

I know that a steady regime of daily exercise is one of the greatest daily "gift" we can do for ourselves and our new, healthy lifestyle!
I can only walk a quick pace, my insides and incisions are still too sore to jog yet.
I am getting a new gym membership on Tuesday because it is getting too hot here (90's F ++) and it makes me very nauseous to work out when's it is that hot outside!!
Let's keep up the good work!

Well, I'm 6 wks out today and 31# down. 3 to share. 1. My son and I went hiking last weekend. I made it 3 miles on a difficult trail. A quarter of the way through at the top of a hill, my son stopped me and said " remember this spot? Its where you were out of breath and your ankles hurt so bad, I saw tears in your eyes. Now your keeping up with me." We finished at a very brisk pace this time.
2. He said he was proud of me
3. A patient asked why I'd had an MRI. As I was encouraging him through his PET scan. I told him I'd had a ministroke at age 37 due to being overweight and high BP. He looked me up and down and was surprised because he thought I looked "healthy"..
I still have 65# to lose, but its a start.

I have made it six months. So far, minimal hair loss. All reports I read say Hair growth should regenerate after six months. So I am hoping I am past the "you are going to lose some hair phase". I have been religious taking all my Vitamins and minerals EVERY day.
I am down 60 pounds. It feels amazing being able to purchase pants in regular stores. It feels great being able to put my pants in the dryer without the fear of them not fitting when they come out. No more "hanging" my pants to dry. I am pleased when I see myself in photographs, I no longer cringe.
Very, very few people know that I had gastric sleeve surgery. Just feel like it is my own private journey. I find it interesting that many friends are "concerned" how much more weight I am going to lose. "You look perfect now". Funny how they never asked me in the past: "How much more weight do you planning on gaining?".
I focus on not sabotaging my weight. It is easy to have that glass of wine, or that handful or two of chips now. I remind myself I have been given an extreme weight loss tool with this surgery. It gets tiring refusing to let other people sabotage my weight, "Oh come on, you can have one cookie". I work on staying focused. I like how I feel now, I like how I can cross my legs now, I like that I don't have anxiety walking into a room.
My co-workers and such who do not know, constantly ask me how did you do it? I tell them I don't have the answers. I have done many things. Mainly, eating very little. It does amaze me now how much others eat. As had I, people have lost the concept of what a portion is.

22 pounds to my personal goal.

Well, I'm 6 wks out today and 31# down. 3 to share. 1. My son and I went hiking last weekend. I made it 3 miles on a difficult trail. A quarter of the way through at the top of a hill, my son stopped me and said " remember this spot? Its where you were out of breath and your ankles hurt so bad, I saw tears in your eyes. Now your keeping up with me." We finished at a very brisk pace this time.
2. He said he was proud of me
3. A patient asked why I'd had an MRI. As I was encouraging him through his PET scan. I told him I'd had a ministroke at age 37 due to being overweight and high BP. He looked me up and down and was surprised because he thought I looked "healthy"..
I still have 65# to lose, but its a start.

It is 4 months today since..
I woke up before the sun, drove to the hospital full of apprehension, ready to flee the scene before someone sedates me, but putting up a brave front to keep my mom's nerves at ease.. got greated by some friendly nurses and a funny anesthesiologist, everyone wishing me an advanced happy birthday (it was 9 days from the surgery..) and got sleeved into a new life.
I cant believe it is 4 months already..! I remember everything from my surgery day (up until I was transfered to the operating table o'course) like it was yesterday...
Deciding to not run away from the hospital was probably the second best decision of my life..
Having said that.. It was not a easy ride.. the chewing, 30 minute no drinking rule, slimies, trying to get in enough fluids, Protein, countin calories, carbs, dirty looks from the waiters when I ask for a to-go box, hair loss, and oh yes.. the dreaded stalls! I seem to be in more stall weeks than in loss weeks in any given month.. but hey if thats how my body wants to roll..
Will I do this all over again..? I don't know.. will a surgeon be ok with removing 85% of my already 15% stomach?
Here are a few pictures of the journey.. please don't mind me not smiling.. I can't.. really... put a camera in front of me.. and I have no clue what to do!
In the last picture..it is my.. "I'm in a stall.. again! what do I do this time" face.. :ph34r: I don't see any difference in the 2.5 and 3.5 months pic.. but the clothes surely fit more loosely..

That is so neat! It's amazing what we will do for our loved ones even when our bodies are hurting, I can totally relate with my knees. And now to be able to go hiking and not have that pain is truly wonderful! Congratulations!