xavtay2

Happy camping! Your story has me in tears.... Thanks for sharing and I am still pre-op battling with insurance requirements.... You have given me the motivation to keep holding on. Keep up the great work you are not only model material but also an inspiration

I'm only 2 months post op but doing great! Down 40lbs and hit onderland on July 31st! Yay me!! Stay strong everyone. Every pound is worth it! Love you all!

I am 37, six months ago, I was 5'6" and weighed 373 pounds.
My son has ran cross country for the last 2 years. I have been lucky to be able to watch him start, then take the parent shortcut to the finish line in time to see him finish. It has always bothered me that I couldn't help him train in any way.
Today, I am still 5'6", but am now down to 270. This morning, my son and I participated in a 5k. Yes, he had to wait for me at this finish line, but I crossed it at 49:30' still able to sprint the last 40 yards. And I did not puke, pass out, or die.
My 14 year old son, told me that he was proud of me today. I have had many nsv's, but none of them made me feel as good as this one.
Worth it all, everyday and twice on Sunday.
Much love
O

So I am officially 4 months and 1 day out today. It's been a journey to say the least. Not any issues with the sleeve, just the head part of it. I know I have lost a lot weight (89 including pre-op) but I mentally still see myself as what I looked like before. But, I have went from a size 22/24 to a size 14, I went from 285 to 196, I weigh less than I did in Jr high, and weigh less than my husband does (by 5 pounds thank you lol). It takes a lot to accept the compliments from others, but I have got to say, I like the attention.
I work out at least 4 days a week for 60-90 minutes. I eat almost only Protein, though I can say I don't really watch calories. As long as I know my carbs are down, and I get all my liquid, I know weight will eventually move. Just know that this journey is not easy, but I would do it a 1000 times over.
I would've put full body pics up, but the only before pics are only in bra and pants LOL. Other than that, never really allowed full body shots.

I hit the 9 month mark last week and a friend sent me a picture she took of me after our morning run. It was so weird...I kept looking at the picture, thinking, "I almost look normal!!!"
This journey has been so amazing!! It hasn't been easy but it's been totally worth it!!! For more than 10 years I pondered the idea of WLS. I told myself over and over again that I "should be able to take the weight off on my own". I was one of those people that thought having surgery would be a cop out. I could not have been more wrong!! The initial stages of post op were torturous for me. I remember feeling like I was going crazy at about the 3 week mark. I just wanted to chew something and I wanted to kill my family!! LOL!! I had to mourn my love affair with food...probably the hardest thing ever.
Now that I'm past all that, I am here to say that my life is 1000 times improved and the NSV's are endless!! I can fit into a booth at any restaurant now!! I've stopped snoring and no longer have to wear a mouth guard in order for my partner to sleep!! I've completed a triathlon and am doing 2 more in the next 3 weeks!! My plantar faciitis is gone!! I can walk up a flight of stairs and I like it!! Shopping for clothes is fun again!! But the biggest NSV is that I finally feel like I have a "normal" relationship with food!! It no longer controls my life...I no longer live to eat, I eat to live.
So, here are my pics. The first one is from a cruise I went on in Nov 2010...I was at my heaviest weight and I was so uncomfortable!! In November of this year I'll be going on another cruise and I'll be exactly 1 year post op. I'm looking forward to taking the same picture!!

Go buy yourself a new, flattering outfit. Maybe even the next size down so you can watch yourself melt away and one week you will put it on and be excited you can fit in it. Or, go shopping and try new clothes on and take pictures of yourself and compare them to your before pics. Wearing the same clothes makes it harder to see the loss. Don't get discouraged! You have lost a good chunk of weight and should be proud !! Congrats on making it this far. We all have our downer days, it's how you pull yourself out of it that makes a differene. Which is hard to do, but if you find a way you will feel much better. Good luck to you!!

I was sleeve on July 12th and have lost 40 lbs with preop diet and postop. U can tell the biggest difference in my face. I can yell that all my clothes fit different but I am in a dreaded stall and am not losing like I was!

Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you all the best in healing!

Slimommbest regards as I have prayed about my decision and I will continue to pray! Good post very inspiring and prayerfully my surgery will be the week of Sept 10! I can relate to everything you said. We can and will be healthy soon

Hi Cynthia I can't wait to be where you are in the process sounds like you are off to an awesome start! Best regards in your sleeve journey

Hello fellow sleevers. I start my pre op diet Monday too. I am trying to keep a positive attitude about the hunger. I have been through so much to get to this point, so I am not going to let some hunger pangs ruin this for me. I don't know about everyone else, but I prayed when I first started this journey, and asked God if it was not his will for me to have the surgery, to block it. And I meant it. I did not want to be laying on that operating table if it was not his will. But every step of this process has been smooth sailing. My surgery coordinator submitted my package to my insurance company on a Thursday, and she got an approval on the next Tuesday. And I just got my insurance 7 months ago, through a new job. It is though everything has been mapped out for me. So I am going to take one day at a time, and pray everyday for grace. Don't even think about the hunger. We have to get to the point where we realize that we have to eat to live, not live to eat. I love to eat like the next person, but if we want to keep this weight off, we have to get the victory over food. Myself included. I refuse to let food continue to dictate my life anymore. I hate feeling bad after eating a big meal, because I am ashamed of the amount that I ate. We shouldn't be stuffed when we finish eating. I would be soo full, that I could hardly move. I am just being real. That is ridiculous, and I know it. But now I am pressing forward, and excited to be regaining my life back. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes 2 two years ago, and sleep apnea recently. Now why I had to be diagnosed with them first, before doing something about my eating habits is beyond me. But I am not going to beat myself up about it. I made the mistakes, I am human, now I am going to do something about, while I have the chance. Tomorrow is not promised, and God knows my 4 little children need their mom around, and my husband needs his wife. I don't want to let them or myself down. I wish everyone much success with your pre op diets, recovery, and new way of living. Here's to taking our lives back!!! Surgery date is August 30, 2012, and it cannot get here fast enough.lol

in 2 scoops 31g carbs Fiber 2g sugar 3g

Very cool! Yes keep in touch!

Great news! Congratulations :D
I was just approved this past Monday so I know how you feel and you must be ecstatic. Enjoy the feeling.

Thank you all ! I am very excited. I can hardly contain myself at work today, I want to scream !!!!!
I am also a little bit nervous now that its all coming together. So many things to worry about regarding the surgery...
Right now I just want to enjoy this feeling cause it sure is nice !!

ONCE all the requirements were met to Cigna's satisfaction (Friday), I was approved today (Monday). But, we went several weeks back and forth with Cigna on technicalities. I was denied twice and then had to have a Peer to Peer. Cigna was a real stickler, believe it or not, on the letter from my primary care physician.
Good luck to you, I'm sure all will go smoothly for you. A word of advice, make sure the letter clearly states that you are "cleared for surgery". My PCP did 2 letters that were rejected but we got it right the 3rd time(always a charm).
Odee

The coordinator just called and let me know that I was approved!!! She said she had a bunch of people waiting for her with appointments etc. but she wanted to let me know that the approval went through and she would be calling me back later to schedule the surgery etc.
So excited, just had to share! :D :D :D :D
Odee

I messaged BCBS asking if they received the letter from my surgeons office and in 24hours they replied that they did receive it and I have been approved for VSG!
I sent an email to the surgeons office coordinator and I'm waiting to hear back about a date.
This whole process is wait, wait, wait...

Yesterday would have been my mom's 65 birthday--- she passed almost 5 years ago from ovarian cancer. I promised her the month before her passing that i would get healthier. Although much time has passed, and every diet tried since then......yesterday the Drs office called and said I was approved! Now waiting for the next step and hopefully a surgery date !! Feel like mom sent me a small gift on her day !!!

Justine so was I got the news today! Shooting for Sept 10 as well. We have to keep in touch during the process so happy

Had my surgery April 19th and have lost 70.4# so far. I am so excited. Started at 271 now at 200.6. So close to Onederland I can hardly contain myself. I need some suggestionson how to break this plateau.

I had the sleeve 3 months ago and I've lost well over 30 lbs. I looked at myself yesterday and realized Im really wasting away, wow! Best damn thing I couldve did was have that surgery! 

Today I'm officially one year and 5 days post op. I've so far lost 98lbs. I'm so close to that 100lb lost it's crazy. The scale has slowed down alot but my body is changing soooo much. I'm doing about 1 hour of cardio a day and 30-45 minutes of strength training 3 to 4 times a week.
I hadn't noticed how much my body had changed until I saw my surgeon today and he asked about my measurements. In the last 6 weeks my bust size went from a 38 to a 36 (I started at a 48I), and I went from a 14/16 to a 10/12. My shirt size was a 3X and now I'm in a large which is getting pretty loose. This was the best decision I could've ever made for myself. I hope that you all are doing great! Keep up with the weight loss yall!
Here are some pics of me (before and after)

The first picture was in Sturgis 2010 and the second is from last week. 83 pounds difference. Had a great time and it was much easier to walk around. I didn't get tired at all.