LezzieLez

Congrats for eating healthy as well! I find it hard to beat mid-day cravings.

Be careful with bringing snacks in as well if you are a snacker. I have to limit what I bring inbecause if I bring in 3 days worth of snacks, I can eat it in 2. I leave oatmeal (with less sugar) packets and sugar free applesauce. These are my least favorite snacks so I am less tempted to eat them all in one day.

Since I am a Pisces, my next tattoo is going to be a Koi as well. I was thinking of getting two of them in a ying-yang position or wrapped around my ankle going to my foot. My last tattoo will be an Ankh- symbol of life (or key of life..) The tattoo artist I use is very animated and colorful. (Miya Bailey)

I totally understand! We all have our concerns and I question my ability to get to my goal - and to stay under it! My biggest fear is gaining it all back. Plus, I am a snacker and sweets eater. I know the bypass is a better surgery to deal with those issues, but I feel safer with my decision to have the sleeve. The one thing we need to stop doing is doubting ourselves. Our goals can and will be met! Hugs!

For myself, my goal is to be under 300lbs as well before my surgery 2/21. I am starting slowly - making more conscious efforts to substitute the horrible foods I love with the healthier foods I love. I also started strength training and will continue that well after my surgery. Part of my worries is regaining the weight afterwards. I feel that self control is a strength that we have to build/ exercise to see its full potential so why not start now?

I don't know her username on this site, but yall should check out 300poundsdown.com She is such a motivation and I love to be able to read about her emotions and thoughts throughout her journey of losing weight.

Someone jokingly called me that at work one day and it stuck. It fits me because I am a bit old school at times.

My same friend that used Dr. Macik recommeded Dr. Volcy at Kennestone Hospital. I am going to check her out since she is in the same office as my mother's PCP. I will let you know how it goes.

One of my friends had the lap band surgery with Dr. Macik and had nothing but good reviews with him. I started my process with Dr. Titus Duncan before finding out that my new insurance policy excluded wls..

Midol has Acetaminophen and caffeine. Personally, it doesn't work as well as Ibuprofin for me but it helps! So, I guess the ladies are right when they say tylenol since that is the same.

When talking to my friend who is a trainer, he doesn't approve of my surgery but respects my decision. If your co-worker was really a friend or a professional, they should have at least offered their help. Losing the weight from surgery is only part of it. We need strength training, maintenance, and encouragement to remain successful. Fitness trainers are great for that. Too bad for them, they may have just lost a great friend!

Here is my opinion. I believe some of the higher prices are due to different locations (Puerto Villarta and Cancun vs. Tijuana). Some of the hospitals are newer and some of the surgeons have been in the bariatric field for way longer than others. As far as cost goes, I chose a surgeon that charges on the lower side but have good reviews and a lot of experience. If I could afford $8-$11k, I would stay in the states and find a surgeon for that price because there are a few.

Before I paid my deposit for Dr. Garcia, I watched a few videos on YouTube. The hospital seems a little small but clean.

There are a group of women going to Mexico in March if you read the Mexico forum. I am going to Dr. Garcia in February.

Yall are funny and OMG you look sexy in your costume!! Congrats! As for coworkers... who cares? At a meeting the other day, one of my coworkers got up and announced that she found out that she was diabetic and immediately made some life changes. How much did she lose on her own? 30lbs in 6 months? What did she just eat at the meeting? A CUPCAKE??????? I was quick to judge, just like they did when I told her and another coworker that I was having the surgery. While I proud of both of them for making changes, they are not like me. I have been through the dieting and failed diets and the surgery is what is best for me. One of them even asked if I had life insurance.. (OHHH NO SHE DIDNT!!) Office politics are just that... a bunch of bs! Let them smirk and make stupid comments, but I bet at least one of the fat ones will have a consultation!

I was just talking to someone very close to me about this topic last night. I already started being active and cut out on fast foods (except for my emotional run to Mickey D's a few days ago). I started some strength training on my own and cannot wait to have my surgery. Even though I don't completely agree with the initial posting, I do understand that the first few months are the most critical for our weight loss goals and I will take advantage of it. Thanks for the advice!

If Mio or crystal light counts, I like the berry pomegranate flavor mio and either the peach ice tea or margarita flavored crystal light. I tried Propel awhile back, it isn't bad either.

Abraham sounds like the typical tour guide from Jamaica... They support their friends and make "pit" stops at places so the tourists can buy stuff. I happy that you are ok Muffintop! I booked through ready4achange and don't really expect much more since reading this. I hope my experience is better, but as long as I am not left for dead or miss my flight, I hope I am just ok.

Well, I am officially single... While I am disappointed about the break-up, I am even more disappointed in the fact that as soon as I left, I made a bee-line into Mickey D's and ordered a meal when I wasn't really hungry. Before I date again (and before my sleeve in Feb '13) I will be seeing a therapist.

I think Seven corners requires that the hospital have the JCI Accreditation.. You may want to double check that.

Hey Group! My highest weight was 324 and I am 5'10. I am still pre-op with a date of 2/21/13 (self-pay) I started cutting back on sodas and sugary drinks and lost 7lbs in since 10/1. I will be cutting back on fried foods next and continuing with my strength training until surgery. I have a goal weight, but not sure if it is accurate because my main goal is to get out of Lane Bryant! (Avenue, Catherines, etc..) I cannot remember how much I weighed when I was a size 12 but that is my target.

Check the reviews of that loan and make sure that your doctor takes it. I believe I was denied the initial loan but was offered a "no patient left behind loan". After reading the reviews, I didn't do it. Then I found out that my surgeon (Garcia) doesn't take it because of numerous accounts of customers getting ripped off.

Not stupid at all. I am sure a ton of people (I definitely am) were concerned about the saggy skin for both vanity reasons and health concerns. I am hoping since I am young and my skin is in pretty good condition, that it won't sag too bad. If it does, then I will consider plastics.

Hey, I live in Marietta and looking for sleeve buddies as well. My surgery is in February so I may not be able to guide you but can offer local support or an ear!

I paid my deposit and am still fighting with my decision. I think about the benefits, hope that my pains go away (its raining and my body is killing me), but then I think about the sagging, complications, keeping the weight off, etc. I am going to go through with it because I look forward to having the energy and ability to do more with my kids. My son is a teenager and he has called me out on being lazy a few times (in open conversations).. I don't want that to be the way he sees me anymore so I fight through it now regardless of the pain. My daughter is 3 and I always plan on going out with her on the weekends but then end up staying home.. The point is you may still struggle with the idea even after paying the deposit. Just remember that you thought hard about this and its worth it.