jthurman

I think I'm more worried about the whole liquid thing on the airplane than anything!(Going to MX) How will I carry all my Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, face lotion, toothpaste, body lotion, etc. in ONE quart sized bag? I guess I need to be simple for a week but I feel so much better when I have all those things. I guess being overweight I pay alot of attention to my physical appearance and smells...lol! Any suggestions?
On a side not I have lost 24.5 pounds on the preop diet and haven't smoked since last Sunday!! So proud of myself...hehe!

Yes, I will. I remember when I was first starting this whole thing and I wanted as much info as possible, and I wanted to hear from people about their sleeves, and tummy tucks, and everything. I figure it's my turn to help out those who are just starting out on their journey...to let them know that yes, it is possible to achieve your goals in weight loss, and be happy in your own skin again! I am just so thrilled right now, even with the pain...I am on cloud nine!

I think I'm more worried about the whole liquid thing on the airplane than anything!(Going to MX) How will I carry all my Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, face lotion, toothpaste, body lotion, etc. in ONE quart sized bag? I guess I need to be simple for a week but I feel so much better when I have all those things. I guess being overweight I pay alot of attention to my physical appearance and smells...lol! Any suggestions?
On a side not I have lost 24.5 pounds on the preop diet and haven't smoked since last Sunday!! So proud of myself...hehe!

78 down
7 (hopefully) to go!
SW 217
CW 139
Sleeved 3/22/12

I didn't have any stitches or staples. Just open incisions. that had gauze pads on them. One stitch on the drain incision but she cut it when she took out the drain before I left the hospital. That was in April of this year.

I used alighterme and they had older vehicles and no one visited me in the hotel. I just spoke with Alma for my husband(he is going in May of next year) and she is actually very nice and she said Melissa is working for them now. I think we will go with them and save $300. That will pay for one of our plane tickets. Same hospital, same hotel and same Dr.

I used alighterme and they had older vehicles and no one visited me in the hotel. I just spoke with Alma for my husband(he is going in May of next year) and she is actually very nice and she said Melissa is working for them now. I think we will go with them and save $300. That will pay for one of our plane tickets. Same hospital, same hotel and same Dr.

I got on the scale today and it said: 179.8.
I'm making this announcement because I want people to know that so far, my year-long experiment with sleeve eating has not been a failure. If you've ever read my posts before, you know that I am not dieting with the sleeve. I am not lowcarbing. My calories are not at starvation level and they have not been since I got my surgery last April. My actually surgery was March 29, but I mostly count it as April 1 just to round everything out.
Okay so the thing is, there is research out there that says that people typically lose sixty percent of their weight in the first year and that's all you get. There is research that says that you will "stretch" your sleeve after six months or so, lose your "honeymoon" with your sleeve, stop losing and get stuck. There are surgeons who say you *have to* be on a lowcarb diet of 800 calories for the rest of your life or you won't lose the weight, and they say that you need to exercise like a demon *while* you're eating that 800 and you have to stay like that forever or you'll get fat again.
I want to tell you that in my experience this is not true.
What I want to tell you is that I got the sleeve because I was 46 and SO FAT -- I weighed 289 -- and I was at the end of my rope. I had dieted before and gotten the weight off only to regain it and the way I did that is pretty much to follow all the instructions above. Eating 800 lowcarb calories a day will get you to goal weight, there is no doubt,but in my opinion that's just no way to live and it's impossible to sustain. It also creates such intense anxiety about eating and your body and your food that it creates a horrible unending complex about fat, and feeding yourself, that the cure is worse than the disease.
I got my surgery in March. I was *severely* depressed and the reason I was depressed primarily was because I WAS SO FAT. I really hated myself. But I decided that the fat was emotional mostly and so what I was going to do was this. I was going to lose weight without dieting by having a surgeon remove eighty five percent of my stomach. And knowing that was taken care of and I had done the most *extreme* thing I could possibly do to solve my weight problem, I was going to let it come off naturally, eat normally and not push myself or punish myself because obsessing over my weight has basically been my career since I was 13 years old.
I had this thought once when I was watching Oprah Winfrey. All that woman ever talked about was her weight. All she ever did was look at the scale. Every time she lost fifty pounds it made the freakin national news and when she gained the weight back she made this weird confession and apology to everyone in the world. So obviously she was obsessed but what I really thought was holy crap, really? Imagine what Oprah could have accomplished with her life if she was not spending seventy five percent of her time obsessing over her pants size. Imagine what *I* could do if this was NO LONGER A PROBLEM for me and when I say NO LONGER A PROBLEM I mean I NEVER HAVE TO THINK OR WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN.
So really....I was looking for more than weight loss. I wanted to be healed. Completely.
So the weight has come off really slow. In August of last year, I weighed 237. In November, I weighed 222. In January, 209. On April 1, my surgiversary, I weighed about 190. I've gone on vacation, I've drunk numerous glasses of wine, I've eaten cake and Pasta and carbs, I've avoided cardio really for the most part -- but my calories are *naturally* way under what I would need to sustain these weights and so....slowly....it's coming off. And it's still coming off and it has now been *over* a year.
I think I'm going to hit goal eventually. This will be without dieting, without worrying about the "honeymoon period", and without forcing myself to do ninety hours of cardio a week. And when I get there there's not going to be some freakout/rebound where I now have to figure out what "maintenance" is and be on the verge of shooting myself in the head because I had a piece of birthday cake or a piece of gum with sugar in it.
So this is what I want to say:
If you're just starting this project ( I refuse to say journey -- UGH) then realize that patience is required. Plan on a year *or more*. Even if you believe the honeymoon thing you're not going to drop all your weight *inside* your "honeymoon" so think about it...what are you going to do when it's over? Because you're still going to have to lose a lot of weight and you're going to have to sustain whatever you're doing for the rest of your life. It's frustrating that such an extreme solution is not instantaneous, but it is NOT, so prepare yourself. You're going to be working on this for at least a year. A year is a long time and you can't just not be alive for a year while you get thin. I didn't have that year to waste and you don't either.
If you're just starting this project, consider what you want your life to be as a thin person. Not a "formerly fat" person. Not a constantly dieting, obsessed person. This is what you'll be free of when it's done, so prepare by starting now and living your life.
And finally: Prepare for the idea that you may not lose all your weight in the first year. But remember this post by me and realize that you *will* very likely get exactly where you are going by the end of the second one and forget all that stuff about first years and honeymoons. This is not magic, it's science. It's mechanics. The mechanism that uses energy that is your body will continuously be operating at a deficit *even after* the honeymoon, *even after* the first year, and that means you *will* get there. You *have to*.
This requires patience, and then more patience. That's really the *only* think you need going into this. The rest, I really promise you -- will take care of itself.

My surgery was on 4/30, and I'm down 60 pounds. As a 53 year old post-menipausal woman, im pretty thrilled with the progress. (6 pounds to wedding weight!) Pretty much everyone at work knows I was out for WLS and I'm like the poster girl now, receiving lots of attention and (for the most part) encouragement. Some folks are weird, much more attention from men, and most people are just kind and curious. There are 3 other sleevers at work: one who is a total success, one who lost then gained a lot back, and one who just recently had surgery and is eating a lot of sugar and fried stuff and complains about getting sick all the time(!) Coworkers openly compare me to the others and it makes me uncomfortable ( I say things like, "we each have our own challenges...)
My BFF is a year out from a successful double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and other ravages on her poor body. She is about 100 pounds overweight and we've talked very frankly and openly. She's jealous of my weight loss, she knows it hasn't been easy, she would like to look into it but doesn't want to put her husband and two young sons through more medical drama right now. It is kind of awkward between us at times. We used to bond over meals; not a big option for me now. She is very conscious of what I eat and curious about how it could possibly be okay.
Finally, my family is supportive and happy ad long as I continue to crank out dinner every night and stock the pantry and fridge. Fortunately, my sons are all athletes and my husband appreciates healthy, well balanced meals. Still, there are slider foods in my house, and some days that's a challenge.
I love my sleeve but I have to say it has changed pretty much everything! Most for the better....

I had posted before in a separate topic, but will post here too! I love seeing other pictures and find them inspirational, so I will post mine too!

I love it!! Have eaten this for a few years now and am still losing weight!!

Highest weight 295. 2/1/12
Day of surgery. 285 2/7/12
Current 202. 8/29/12
Grand total of 93 lbs in 6 months!!!!
From a size 24/26 to a 13/14

after weeks of being all stressed out about finding the dress..... and without having any idea of the size, I found the strength and went out shopping for a dress!!! I found one! and it was a size 8! I almost cried!!!! I think last time I wore a size 8 was in elementary! hahH! i looooove my sleeve! i hope to reach my goal weight someday, but I sure am happy today just the way I am!!!

In all honesty, I don't think the surgery itself does anything to relationships. If a relationship ends in light of surgery, there were problems long before that. I think a couple of things happen. I think a lot of people are already in unhealthy relationships, but they stay because they have such low self worth that they think it is the best they can do. After surgery, we start to gain more confidence and feel better about ourselves. In turn, people end of leaving their significant other because they realize they are worth so much more.
In your case, I think your husband is just using it as an excuse. If he truly loved and respected you, he would have been there for you instead of fooling around on you. I agree that counseling is a good route, but staying together just for your daughter's sake is never a good way to go. How often do we hear people saying they stayed together for the children, when, in reality, it was the worst thing for them.
My husband has been nothing but supportive and my biggest cheerleader. He loved me at my heaviest and he loves me now. Best of luck with everything and do some deep soul searching to figure out what is best for everyone, including yourself!

I to am sorry to hear it.
All I have to say i that what he told you is just a lie, and excuse to cover his actions. I for one am an adamant supporter of every story having two sides but his story just plain stinks. When you need him the most he ups and fools around on you.
Only you can make the decision of what you want out of it, to heal or not. Otherwise just dump his sorry ass and move on. Sorry to be blunt but I just really, really hate people who play games and lie.
I've been married 30 years and there has been a LOT of times it would of been easy to stray, opportunities have presented themselves or I could of MADE an opportunity. I have NOT strayed as I value my marriage, my wife and the solidity that it gives both of us.

When you get to puréed, try the world according to eggface's baked ricotta. It's on her website. Met my urge for pizza/Italian.

I went to the "Avenue" day before yesterday checking out the swimsuit sale - for my daughter actually - and I browsed the store to see what else was on sale and I it was mind blowing...everything looked HUGE, I felt like Alice in Wonderland..all the tops looked tent size, the maxi dresses were extremely long - maybe you have to be 6 feet tall to wear them and I'm only 5 feet tall....I tried on one little shrug in an 18 and it was too big...weird I walked out of there and felt a little EMO....after all these years of the Avenue being a favorite store, I realized I will never shop there again. I am happy about it, don't get me wrong...but it was like saying goodbye to an old friend...
Last summer I was almost 280 pounds....now I'm headed for Onederland...this was the best decision I ever made for myself!!! Sleeved 4/6/12.

I just saw my nut Friday and asked her about this. She said that your body breaks down and uses carbs much faster than Protein so the more carbs you eat, the faster you'll get hungry. If you eat lean protein then you'll stay fuller longer. I've been trying to cut my carbs way back since she told me that and am noticing a difference. So for breakfast I went from eating a breakfast bar to having a spoon full of Peanut Butter. So far so good! Cause I am sick of being hungry!!

As of today, I have lost a total of 102 lbs!!!!! I am down from 325 to 223. I still have a ways to go, but my next goal is to get under 200lbs. It is falling off much quicker than I expected. I was just sleeved 4.5 months ago. Since the surgery, I have lost 87lbs. I have gone from a size 30 in jeans to a size 16/18 and a 4x in tops to a XL. I feel so much better, but can't wait to lose the next 50-65 lbs. I hope to be at goal by Christmas. Just wanted to share my excitement with you all.  

I haven't been posting lately because honestly.. im not sure what else to say.. I have had one hell of a journey these past 6 months.. and I feel terrific.. I just want to let anyone out there that worried know.. if you work your sleeve it will work for you!!!!! I couldn't be happier.. Im not even sure that I want to hit goal because im really happy with where i am at right now.. i always said that around 160 would be good for me because i have a lot more muscle than most so at a heavier weight I think I look ok.. So instead of waiting to hit goal I am officially posting my before and after pic. Again a huge thank u too all of you for your support during my journey I hope I can be a support for others on their journey!
anthem lap band policy.pdf me at my heaviest
weightlossticker.bmp just before surgery in oct 2011
one month post op
2 months post op
3 monst post op
4 months post op
5 months post op
...............................DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!....................
I TOOK THIS PICTURE YESTERDAY ----TODAY IS OFFICIALLY 6 MONTHS POST OP FOR ME!

So 18 months ago I weighed a hell of alot, and now I weight alot less. My husband has been with me throughout it - big, small, in between and he has never waivered. We have been trying to conceive for the past 3 months. I am still terrified that I will return to the size I once was so I have kept every stitch of clothing I have had from before my weightloss. I knew this would be the month, and I had quite a few clues along the way. Firstly, I breezed through my menses. Secondly, after my menses I knew there was a brand new fresh egg and that this one was the one that would make my first child. Knowing this too the core of my being, I started talking to this future child of mine, affectionately known as "little bean." I would talk to little bean, feeling silly and nuts but also very connected to my little bean. I would eat something particularly tasty and then ask little bean if it felt as good as it tasted to me. I would take a hot shower and remark to little bean that I hope it wasn't too hot in there for it. Of course I made sure no one was around to see a non-pregnant woman talking to her abdomen because quite frankly that's crazy, so I kept my craziness to myself, not even sharing this with Merrick. My OvaCue monitor signaled to me that my little bean was mature enough to be fertilized and so I knew that May 24th through May 28th (Memorial Day Weekend) would be the opportune time to do the baby making dance with Merrick. Thirdly, on May 26th I used an ovulation prediction stick ( a little stick you pee on to confirm ovulation) and it was positive, then my Ovacue fertility confirmed ovulation as well. Fourthly, Merrick and I had already planned a romantic weekend because he and I had a 4 day weekend due to Memorial Day. We proceed to have the most amazing time both in the bedroom and out. It was just different, I was relaxed, I was very much in the moment, and it was just awesome! I return to teach my last week of school Tuesday through Friday. Fifthly, four of my students who are ascending from 8th grade to 9th in different periods throughout the day,ask me if I am pregnant. Each time I smile and say to them I don't know for sure yet. I will find out June 9th. A few responded by saying that's too long. LOL, I totally agreed with them at the time. Sixthly, school ends and I spend the 2nd through the 8th taking naps every single day and being tired despite these naps. I also, spent an excessive amount of time eating, because I was seriously hungry. On that Tuesday I buy a crap ton of fruit ( like 8 pounds worth of strawberries, mangoes, apples, and pineapples and consume all but 3 of 4 mangoes -- AND I'M STILL HUNGRY! Then I waited a full 8 days past ovulation and then I tested. They were negative. Yet, I still talked to my little bean about how "I know your in there so just keep multiplying so that I can show them your there" But even while doing this I was very disheartened, but still trying to keep hope alive. Everyday I was tracking my progesterone levels which had been falling steadily, but on my 10 day past ovulation they started rising slightly. On my 13 days past ovulation they had risen a solid 50 points. In discussion with Merrick about these numbers he would say, "So what does that mean? you pregnant?" to which my reply would be, " i don't know we gotta wait and see" or " Stop asking me that damn question, how the f**k am I supposed to know *giggle, giggle*" to which he'd smile and laugh too. So I can't wait any longer and test using two different tests. They were both negative. I meet Merrick and a coworker for lunch and during the lunch I am planning to have a cocktail. Merrick's coworker convinces me not to get a drink until I get my period and can confirm that no pregnancy has taken place. So I don't get the drink. At this point I tell Merrick well my period should be here tomorrow ( not realizing that it actually should have been there that day) and here's to a month of trying again. The next morning I have plans to meet a friend for brunch. I pee and decide to take two different pregnancy tests again for shits and giggles. I don't wait for them to finish as I am pretty sure I'm not pregnant. We are in the computer room screwing around on Diablo 3 and Merrick is rushing me out the house because at this point we are running late and he is uber hungry. So I run through the house to the bathroom, stand at the counter to brush my teeth and I look down at the pregnancy tests. There are two faint pink lines on the tests. I grab it and scream maniacally through the house MERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK. At this point he comes running because he thinks something is wrong. I say "it's positive -- do you see the second line?" He's like, "Your not pregnant that line is too faint! It should be as dark as the control line, right? And you were in the computer room for way longer then 10 minutes so it's probably to late to get a correct reading. I refuse to get all excited until I see a positive blood test" I said, "the literature online says it does not matter how faint the line is. and fine! I'll take another one using the same urine" he says, " elise i'm hungry. go get in the shower. I am not about to get my hopes up just to find out your not pregnant again" i say, "stop at the drug store we will get the one that says Pregnant or Not Pregnant" he says, "fine. GO GET IN THE SHOWER" I get in the shower and the 3rd pregnancy test I take shows up positive in less than 10 minutes and I show it to him yet again. He says " it's still a faint line" I get dressed while we discuss the entire time, about how i am worried that it's gonna be false, how my hopes have already gotten so high that if I'm not pregnant I am going to be so disappointed, I even start crying because I finally got pregnant etc. We meet the friends for brunch and he makes it real clear that he does not want anyone to know about it if we are pregnant until we are out of the 1st trimester. So I sit through brunch with this big grin on my face and I am bursting with excitement and I want to scream it from the rooftops. We leave brunch where we discuss some more about how he refuses to get excited, etc. All the way to the grocery we run the gamet of emotions. We go to Walgreen's pick up a 3 pack of Clearblue pregnancy tests that show Pregnant or Not Pregnant. We get home, I still have the pee in a container from that morning and I dip it in and sit the test down. Since I have to pee again anyway, I go grab another container and am grabbing the second pregnancy test to test with a new batch of pee. As I am grabbing it, Merrick goes into the bath room to check the tests and walks out of the bathroom with a big grin on his face that he's trying to contain and I say "I'm pregnant?" he says "no" so I go running past him into the bathroom to check it as he says, " no your pregnant" I still grab the test and look at it. and immediately turn to him and tackle him on the bed while screaming repeatedly "I TOLD YOU ." So that is how we discovered our little bean stuck lol!

Hi Everyone,
I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon today. I had written on the forums a little while ago asking advice for this horrible 4 week stall I have been on. For those of you who dont know me a little bit of background for you:
I was sleeved January 25th, 2011. At my highest weight I weighed 304. I am only 5 ft 4. Today at almost 18 months post-op I weighed 173.5! 130 lbs gone forever! I have struggled throughout my journey but can honestly say that I have not one single regret! My blood work all came back perfect. Pre-op I had high cholesterol, I was on medicine for type II diabetes, I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 15 and hardly ever had a period. I also suffered from bad sleep apnea. At age 22, I was a wreck. Now I take no prescription medication, I have had a regular period AND ovulated every month for the past year. I have never felt so good. I was also cleared to try and become pregnant. Although my goal weight is 145# my surgeon told me that I was healthy enough to start trying now. This is a HUGE NSV for me! I have always wanted children and pre-op was told that my chances of having children was slim to none. I probably will not be having children for at least another year ( Im a nursing student and have enough on my plate!) but nevertheless this was wonderful news for me.
Basically, I want to be an inspiration for others. Those who havent been sleeved yet, I know how nerve wrecking and hard it can be, as well as the flood of emotions you feel. You are making a huge commitment to your life. But I can promise you that you will not regret your decision. It takes a leap of faith and a great deal of courage to go through weight loss surgery but the benefits are neverending.
To those that have already been sleeved, whether your 2 days post-op or 2 years post-op I encourage you to enjoy your journey. Be patient and take it one day at a time. I have been notorious for getting bent out of shape when the scale isnt moving the way I want it. It is important to enjoy yourself at every weight and enjoy watching yourself become a healthier, happier you. This website is full of such wonderful people with a plethora of great knowledge. I feel blessed to be a part of such a great community.
Good luck to all of you!
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."