ChaChaBurch

I did not see your age, but let me share with you what happens in the blink of an eye. I turned 40 last June and have been significantly over weight since at least 25 (over 200lbs at 5ft1). I always was "fat and healthy", so I thought. In the last year I have had to start on bp meds, i am right at the border of becoming diabetic and, I have most likely lost my opportunity to have a biological child. I am not sure how old you are, but let me tell you, if you are under 40, DON'T WASTE TIME!!!!! You don't want to wake up one day ready to finally deal with it and find out you are too late for some lifelong dreams you had. Where is your doctor going to be then? This is YOUR life. Your decision. I pray the BEST for you!

Just like Foxbins and Ldydrgkpr- I too watch my Portion Control. I bought myself a cute red salad plate that is my dinner plate. I eat a lot more leafy greens and fish then most other stuff. My family loves the cooking that I am doing. My oldest who is 13 says that he likes the way he feels after he has eaten now. Not before when the meal was mainly fast food or a carb. We are not sluggish and over stuffed. I ALWAYS stop eating when I feel the slightest bit full.
I do indulge in sweets ( from time to time), a crouton or 2, and Peanut Butter toast- but a very small amount, and not everyday. Denying myself is not something that works for me. I do have children, so I am also trying to teach them way better eating habits now then what was at the house 2 years ago. So, I explain to them that things are okay in moderation. Have a glass of Water and piece of string cheese, fruit or veg for a snack instead of the old way of Cookies and junk. My kids are really liking the new variety they are getting in their school lunches and actually make healthy requests at home! This is a huge motivation for me!
I have found out the hard way that I cannot eat : rice, Pasta and bread. I feel terrible after I eat it and it's really not worth it. I don't like how I feel and I still sometimes throw up if something doesn't sit well. And to be honest to myself, it was eating way to much of that (bread, Pasta and rice)- that got me to 385 pounds in the first place!
My #1 thing that I do for myself that has really helped is to plan my meals. That way I have everything I need. I can grab, create and eat! It's amazing how much the tastebuds change after the surgery. I was a fast food junkie- and now the smell revolts me! Never in a million years did I ever think that was gonna happen to me!
I love what the surgery had started for me. Or the tool that was given to me and my family. I am not the only one that is digging my sleeve- my kids are too. I gained a better life because of it and new outlook on life. Although there are still downer days for me (food addiction/emo eating)- they are far and few in between. Nothing like how it was.

Getting ready for church this morning, and one of the pantsuits I normally wear (size 24), was WAY too big. I couldn't believe it! I found an outfit that was 2 sizes smaller (size 20) . . . . and it fight perfectly! I just about fainted!!! Only 3 weeks post-op!

I HAVE A PUKA!!!! A puka means 'hole' in Hawaiian and (drum roll puleeasseee) I have a hole at the top of my legs meaning they no longer touch!!!! I posted a photo on my weekly blog (along with the worst-photo-ever-taken-of-me at my highest weight....) wearing the same outfit. Just click on the link to see......
Never thought I would see the day......
Thank you vertical sleeve peeps!!!

Congrats on your success! Such an inspiration!!!

After I decided to go forward with surgery, time seemed to sloooooow down to almost nothing. The closer to the surgery date, the slower it went! I tried just about everything to keep me occupied so I wouldn't constantly obsess about it. But the date finally arrived, and now I'm 3 weeks post-op. Looking back it seems like time really flew (of course). I spent a HUGE amount of time going through this website trying to absorb just about as much information as I could so that I would be mentally prepared. I know it seems the same for you right now, but it will go by a lot faster than you can believe - just stay busy doing any and everything that you can. Good Luck - and let us know how you're doing!

I'm soooo sorry that you've been experiencing this. I had an attack back in 2008 (swore I was having a heart attack), and had mine removed. I'm really glad I did.

I know it is frustrating when that pesky scales doesn't move very quickly... believe me I am the Queen of Slow...lol! I am 20+mths out and still not at goal... do I want to be there... hell yea! Am I getting stressed about it... not any more.
I am fitter and healthier now than I have been for the best part of 20years. My point? Don't just measure your success by numbers. Look at other factors too... think about how your clothes are fittng; how you are working out more and making improvements to your overall strength and fitness level; how you are looking; how you are feeling.
These things, to me, are now more important than numbers.
Don't get me wrong, the slow route can sometimes be painful and annoying... especially if you start to compare yourself to others, which I did and I did it often. This was a bad move for me as I got to a dark place and I convinced myself that I was doing something wrong or that I wasn't good enough. I set loads of personal goals and didn't make many of them.
I stopped all that nonsense and started to compare myself just to ME! That was a real eye-opener. I then realised that I was a success, that I was doing things right and that my body will do what the hell it wants to when it wants to regardless of how I fuel it.
Now, that didn't give me license to go mad with sugar and sweets; I just do what I can, eat good wholesome food and wait for my body to realise that it is healthy and to release some more fat.
That is my logical side, which I see most days now - yesterday however, I was a raging rat bad who was full of hormones and agnst...lol!!
Keep doing what you are doing... you will see results and believe me they are worth the wait. Remember the scenic route is the most beautiful way to go... =]

I'm 3 weeks post-op (tomorrow), and I'm wondering if anyone else seems to be having the same issue. My taste buds seem to have changed dramatically.Everything I eat tastes different than it did before the surgery. puddings, yogurts, tuna salads, etc., all seem to not taste as good as they used to. Will food ever taste really good again? Everything seems to taste "weird". That's about the best I can do to describe it. Maybe it's just that I really have no interest in eating. I have no appetite, and when I do eat, it's never really satisfying. Anyone seem to have any thoughts or suggestions? I'm still on the soft/mushy phase, and will continue to be so for about another 3 weeks.

sleep study done, and over with. Apparently I have no sleep issues (Yayyy). I also had my pre-op blood work done today. So now it's just continuing with liquids. I can't believe my surgery is only a week from today!!

Hello everyone. Just checking in and letting you know that my surgery was successful. Got home Friday night and have been fighting naseau and acid reflux, but other than that doing good. Today's the first day that I've felt almost normal. Glad I did this! Can't wait to get healed up and focus on my new journey. Haven't weight - will do that at the Doctor's office on Wednesday - when they remove my port.

Hello everyone. Just checking in and letting you know that my surgery was successful. Got home Friday night and have been fighting naseau and acid reflux, but other than that doing good. Today's the first day that I've felt almost normal. Glad I did this! Can't wait to get healed up and focus on my new journey. Haven't weight - will do that at the Doctor's office on Wednesday - when they remove my port.

Well, tomorrow is the big day for me. Please say a prayer, and I'll be praying for all of you. Save some room for me on the losers bench

Well, tomorrow is the big day for me. Please say a prayer, and I'll be praying for all of you. Save some room for me on the losers bench

Well, tomorrow is the big day for me. Please say a prayer, and I'll be praying for all of you. Save some room for me on the losers bench

Well, tomorrow is the big day for me. Please say a prayer, and I'll be praying for all of you. Save some room for me on the losers bench

I'm on 3/22 also. Anesthesia does strange things to me, so I always apologize ahead of time. I tell them to please forgive me for anything I might say, and that there's no way they can hold me responsible :tongue2: My daughter's a RN and she says that folks say all kinds of crazy stuff before surgery. I think they keep a log somewhere in her hospital, just so they can refer back to it for laughs.
I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am and surgery is scheduled for 7:30am, so please keep me in your prayers!

How's everyone doing this morning? I'm less than 24 hours away from surgery! I don't know if today's going to go by super slow or super fast. How did you spend your last day before surgery?

I'm on 3/22 also. Anesthesia does strange things to me, so I always apologize ahead of time. I tell them to please forgive me for anything I might say, and that there's no way they can hold me responsible :tongue2: My daughter's a RN and she says that folks say all kinds of crazy stuff before surgery. I think they keep a log somewhere in her hospital, just so they can refer back to it for laughs.
I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am and surgery is scheduled for 7:30am, so please keep me in your prayers!

Thank you so much for sharing this. You have given me something to think and pray about. I am so sorry for your pain and suffering. I can't even begin to imagine what this must have been like for you and your family to go through. I am glad that you seem to have turned the corner. I admire your courage, not only in having to face what you did, but also in sharing your story.
You and your family will be in my prayers. Please keep me posted on how your healing is going.

Finished my sleep study (no sleeping issues - yayyyyy!). Also did my pre-op bloodwork. Now it's just focusing on the liquids until next Thursday! Just one week away!!!

NaturalRhapsody33 - I think that's wonderful that you have finally found your "joy"! I look forward to the day when that's me