Babysteppin

April 22nd baby!! It'd be cool to keep this thread going to stay in touch through the process. Good luck everyone. It's gonna be freakin' awesome! (eventually)

It's good to hear that the increments between bougie sizes is comparatively small. I wasn't concerned so much about my sleeve being too big, but more that it might be too small and restrictive to get enough in!

Thanks folks, this helps ease yet ANOTHER pre-op worrying spell. Can't wait to just do it already!!!!

I think I can see my bougie now... it's been years!

Ha-HA!

....My surgeon says she'll use a 32. Curious if this is a popular/successful size? I didn't think to ask her at the time. What size did you have, or will you have? Thanks!

I guess I'm not the only one who watches too much walking dead haha

Post op I think we all have a better chance of surviving. My pre op self so would have gotten eaten first lol.

Now I'm daydreaming of the day I reach goal weight, and am fit enough to wield a badass samarai sword as mightily as Michonne...you know...should I feel the need.

Haha this thread has all the makings for a new reality tv show..."Doomsday Preppers: Sleever vs. Zombie Edition".

In a past weight loss journey....At -100lbs I bought myself an i-Pod. At -160lbs...I bought myself a kickin' emerald ring!!!! Wearing the ring which I loved, really reminded me on a daily basis of all my hard work and achievement. Expensive rewards....but hell, we deserve 'em!

I had mine on my birthday October 15, 2012. It was a rebirth or new beginning for me. So far the best gift ever! I look forward to my next birthday to see how much i have lost by then.

That is so cool. A day to Celebrate on both fronts!

Thought I'd share this from Syntrax's Facebook page. What a cool idea!

Have you tried Protein popsicles? One of our Instagram fans @fancy_fitness shared her own personal recipe on how to make a delicious protein popsicle using Nectar! Here is the recipe in case you want to try it!

Ingredients:

*Nectar vanilla Bean Torte

*Plain greek yogurt

*Light coconut milk

*Unsweetened shredded coconut

*Dark chocolate

*Bananas

*Stevia

Instructions:

Mix everything together, pour the mix in popsicle containers, put in the freezer for a couple of hours and enjoy!

Let us know what you think!

I am today's my bday just sleeved and doing great. I viewed it as I was giving birth to a me! Happy Burthday!!

Happy Birthday!! What a fabulous gift...to give yourself a future of many healthy birthdays to come

Ohhh...yeah that's definitely a different reason for spitting. Almost sounds like a type of transfer addiction, instead of binging or overeating. Good to know that it could be a potential pitfall though...and only if I allow it to take root.

Wow, I didn't know this! Thanks for sharing the info. I'm still pre-op, and my NUT told me that if I take a bite and realize that I'm not going to be able to break it down, then it's better off to just spit it out. Hopefully that won't happen to me often enough to do any damage though!

Sometimes I look wayyy to much in to things when really I shouldn't.

Amen to this! The more I go through all the what-if's, and the more I try to project into the future - the more freaked out I get about my upcoming surgery.

I think I just need to let go, trust in the process, and realize that there are always going to be some 'unknowns' when stepping into something new...and that I'm spinning my wheels trying to figure out the answers to the unknowns. (It's just my nature to analyze and look for logical answers, I think.)

But also the way I figure it....there are sooo many people out there that are glad they went through with it. That, and my doctor wouldn't be doing this procedure if she didn't believe in it, or it's long term success. For example, my surgeon told me she's cut waaay down on performing the lap band, because she no longer feels good about it....so I need to keep reminding myself that she's got my back!

Don't know if these thoughts help anyone, but it's what I'm going to use to get over my daily freakouts.

I'm in April!!! On the 8th, in Mexico. I am counting the HOURS!!!!! I'm so excited and motivated and READY!!!!

Yay, that is so exciting!! Not much longer now, woohoo!

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. I'd never thought about it before, but maybe the sleeve will end up being the best bday present I ever gave myself. Big time props to those who've had the VSG on their birthday, btw!! That is so meaningful and courageous.

I also like what you said TES, about focusing more on the occasion, rather than the food. I need to make that my mantra when the day comes because right now, my mind says: birthday = cake and martinis!! (...and steak. lol)

Hey local folks. Finally got a date! April 22nd. Wow, sh** just got real.

Sounds like you're nearing the home stretch! I wasn't really 'freaking out' until today when I got my date...I think it's because the surgery didn't seem real to me. But it's definitely becoming a reality now!

I would love to hear how things end up going for you. Hope all goes well!

....If so, did it totally bum you out? Or did it make your birthday better somehow? Or was it just 'meh' either way?

It's silly, but for some reason I'm worried that the combination of being 1 year older, single, aaand having only 10% of my stomach left could be 'the perfect storm' for an emotional funk. I'm being overly dramatic just for a laugh, yes. And there's a lot of waaay more pressing things I could be worrying about (and I am!). But nevertheless I'm still curious if anyone else has had a VSG / bday experience?

Hot off the presses! I JUST got my date. It's set for 4/22/13.

Is anyone else getting sleeved that day too? Or April in general? Would love to connect with others who'll be in the same boat at the same time, so please feel free to reach out!

Oh....and would also like to know if you're freaking out nearly as much as I am??

<----(Pictured left: my emotional rollercoaster right now.)

I like the Syntrax nectar the best out of everything I've tried. I love the sample packs so that I can switch things up often.

But I always buy the big tub of the vanilla bean torte flavor. It tastes good, and I think it's the most versatile because I mix all sorts of flavorings into it...things like: unsweetened cocoa powder (why pay separately for chocolate shakes when I can make my own!), spoonful of instant coffee, PB2, flavor extracts (cocoa powder w/ mint extract yummy!), even spoonfuls of sugar free Jello or pudding mix powder!

My fave right now is blending the vanilla nectar w/ frozen raspberries and a spoonful of lime Jello powder. Tastes like rainbow sherbet yumm.

woah, didn't know those huuuge pictures would show up!!! yikes!

Brandy, Maybe giving them some information would help them understand? Even seeing some YouTube videos. They are just worried for you.

This was the case for me, with my family. Initially they weren't 100% supportive, but I realized it was just because they were worried about me. Any surgery is a totally valid reason for family to worry in general...but in my family's case it was because they didn't know anything about the procedure itself. Showing them some YouTube animation videos really helped them come around, because it wasn't an unknown to them anymore. To ease their worry even more (you can tell I really planned this out!), first I showed them the clip about Lap Band...then 2nd, the clip about the Bypass...and then I showed them the Sleeve clip last - because to me, I think the Sleeve is somewhere 'in between' and it helped family to have better perspective of how the Sleeve is a great alternative to the other 2 procedures. Just sharing what worked for me. Here are links to the clips I used if it helps:

Lap Band:

Roux-en-Y Bypass:

Sleeve Gastrectomy:

Second question... what do you see as being better... the loss in inches or the loss on the scale... and why?

Both are fabulous in my book! But Butterthebean is right about inches being directly linked to your overall health, even more than the pounds. Often times a loss of inches can mean you're building muscle, which helps strengthen your metabolism...or it can mean that your body is losing its 'visceral fat' which is all the unhealthy (and dangerous) fat that accumulates in and around the internal organs of the body. Either way, losing inches is good news.

Surgery date is now April 26th, met with surgeon and did sleep study, which should be called no sleep study lol, so now I diet and wait till next appt in march , where along is everyone else in progress?

Sounds like you're almost there! That's wonderful. I just had my final NUT appointment, and she's clearing me for surgery. I have an appt with my PCP next week, and then I'll be submitted to insurance. I'm thinking my date might be right around when yours is.

I had looked into MGH's weight loss program as well as MetroWest's and Lahey Clinic. I am leaning towards Lahey if I decide to go that way just because I have gone there for other procedures and appointments and really had good experiences. I would love to know if other people have used the surgical team there and what they thought.

Oh wow, didn't know you were from Beantown too! I've heard great things about both MGH & Lahey's programs. I chose Mount Auburn's Weight Mgmt Ctr in Waltham and they've been absolutely wonderful so far. We're lucky to have our pick of great hospitals.