chubbsey1

If we could teach people what really goes on, not just the struggle but the successes that many of you have had, maybe they would learn the truth. But then again, i often underestimate the power of stupid people in groups, so theyd probably learn nothing.

Hello Lipstick Lady,
My two cents go as follows, i'm a rookie by the way my surgery is in about three weeks. I believe that folks are inherently just judgemental. The first time I was actively following surgery over a year ago I made the mistake of sharing my decision with friends and family, I couldn't believe the resistance i received from a boat load of people who had no clue and didn't due the research I did and yet there it was basically I was labelled lazy and crazy, opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one and occasionally they spew forth diahrrhea. I think we are all judgemental to an extent I think it's just in our nature as social creatures. One persons wrong way is anothers right. Ultimately it's our,yours and my decision because we usually know what is best for us. I am nervous as heck yet I know if I dont push foward the myriad of obesity related illnesses that I have are going to bury me sooner than later and you know what I'm not ready to push daisies just yet. As the saying goes "It's hard to be a saint in the city."

Hello Lipstick Lady,
My two cents go as follows, i'm a rookie by the way my surgery is in about three weeks. I believe that folks are inherently just judgemental. The first time I was actively following surgery over a year ago I made the mistake of sharing my decision with friends and family, I couldn't believe the resistance i received from a boat load of people who had no clue and didn't due the research I did and yet there it was basically I was labelled lazy and crazy, opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one and occasionally they spew forth diahrrhea. I think we are all judgemental to an extent I think it's just in our nature as social creatures. One persons wrong way is anothers right. Ultimately it's our,yours and my decision because we usually know what is best for us. I am nervous as heck yet I know if I dont push foward the myriad of obesity related illnesses that I have are going to bury me sooner than later and you know what I'm not ready to push daisies just yet. As the saying goes "It's hard to be a saint in the city."

Hi everyone,
thanks for all the well wishes/messages Wednesday am, it was so awesome to pick up my phone and see over a dozen sleevers reaching out. I am only just responding because although its been a great few days in some ways, I've also had a few not so great things.
First the positive. Surgery done, a success and I am so excited and pumped that I got it done!!! Through the pain the minor complications etc, I am smiling big loving every minute of it.
As for complication, I ended up having a hiatal hernia that they fixed of course, but it has caused severe spasms beneath my sternum area/esophagus that then radiates into other areas. That increased my meds and has made taking in fluids a little more difficult, but it will pass soon and who cares, I finally have my sleeve!!!
I will be going home in about 5 hours and am excited about it.

Hello, Feb. 17th 2 week liquid diet starts on the 3rd.

I think people see obesity as a sign of weakness in people, or lack of self control.
Obese people in general are looked down upon, people prefer to look and communicate with thinner more attractive people. This is not my opinion, rather proven facts. The general non obese public think simple terms "Just stop eating so much, or eating poorly and that will solve your problems.... Get on a treadmill instead.... For the love of all that is good."
So I think the reason people feel it's a bad decision is because they don't understand what we go through, our physical needs, our chemical make up, or addictions. We ALL have our bad habits.... Some drink too much, smoke too much, work too much, exercise too much, watch porn, or other forms of sexual addictions, some do illegal drugs, some are just sloths....
Pick your poison !
I am thankful there is a tool we can choose to help us with our addictions, to achieve a healthier lifestyle, reduce health risks by 95% , reduce 5yr mortality and lead a healthier life! This tool allows us TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
It is drastic but it is proven to reverse the following:
Type II Diabetes, hypertension, Migraines, GERD, Urinary incontinence, cardiovascular disease, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, depression, degenerative joint disease, fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, gout and much much more! This is a risky surgery BUT look at the health risks you have if you continue to get bigger and bigger!
Easy by no means!!!!!! It's a very risky and tough decision! I personally cannot continue to live in this shell, getting bigger and bigger... Or losing and gaining back. I believe the sleeve will force me to behave better initially to get me to a healthy weight and lifestyle... As well as learn to have a proper Portion Control that will fill me up faster with less food. I am determined to get healthier to be able to play with Grandkids and maybe someday I can actually be able to run again. Right now I can barely walk!!!

Hello Lipstick Lady,
My two cents go as follows, i'm a rookie by the way my surgery is in about three weeks. I believe that folks are inherently just judgemental. The first time I was actively following surgery over a year ago I made the mistake of sharing my decision with friends and family, I couldn't believe the resistance i received from a boat load of people who had no clue and didn't due the research I did and yet there it was basically I was labelled lazy and crazy, opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one and occasionally they spew forth diahrrhea. I think we are all judgemental to an extent I think it's just in our nature as social creatures. One persons wrong way is anothers right. Ultimately it's our,yours and my decision because we usually know what is best for us. I am nervous as heck yet I know if I dont push foward the myriad of obesity related illnesses that I have are going to bury me sooner than later and you know what I'm not ready to push daisies just yet. As the saying goes "It's hard to be a saint in the city."

Hello Lipstick Lady,
My two cents go as follows, i'm a rookie by the way my surgery is in about three weeks. I believe that folks are inherently just judgemental. The first time I was actively following surgery over a year ago I made the mistake of sharing my decision with friends and family, I couldn't believe the resistance i received from a boat load of people who had no clue and didn't due the research I did and yet there it was basically I was labelled lazy and crazy, opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one and occasionally they spew forth diahrrhea. I think we are all judgemental to an extent I think it's just in our nature as social creatures. One persons wrong way is anothers right. Ultimately it's our,yours and my decision because we usually know what is best for us. I am nervous as heck yet I know if I dont push foward the myriad of obesity related illnesses that I have are going to bury me sooner than later and you know what I'm not ready to push daisies just yet. As the saying goes "It's hard to be a saint in the city."

Not everyone is open to this - but how about a counseling session to talk this through with an objective person?
I had massive anxiety pre op, but the difference was i felt like it was a life or death matter. almost like - I didn't really have a choice. I was so OVER food as a friend since it had co-conspired to freaking kill me young... I wasnt into the food funeral thing, I just wanted to escape from that 24/7 drive to EAT that I had pre sleeve.
I am 3 years post op. In truth, I think I enjoy food more now. I eat very consciously, i eat food that my body needs for good health. I do have junky food sometimes, but rarely. As a result, I don't find it as appealing and it often makes me feel icky - that crappy food has revealed it's true nature! It was poisoning me and i didn't really get it until the poison was removed/reduced. Ask yourself - are you happier for having that dessert (or whatever). i bet the answer is NO.

food funerals are pretty common with WLS patients pre-op. I tried to not go overboard, but I had a couple myself.

Hello Lipstick Lady,
My two cents go as follows, i'm a rookie by the way my surgery is in about three weeks. I believe that folks are inherently just judgemental. The first time I was actively following surgery over a year ago I made the mistake of sharing my decision with friends and family, I couldn't believe the resistance i received from a boat load of people who had no clue and didn't due the research I did and yet there it was basically I was labelled lazy and crazy, opinions are like a$$holes everybody has one and occasionally they spew forth diahrrhea. I think we are all judgemental to an extent I think it's just in our nature as social creatures. One persons wrong way is anothers right. Ultimately it's our,yours and my decision because we usually know what is best for us. I am nervous as heck yet I know if I dont push foward the myriad of obesity related illnesses that I have are going to bury me sooner than later and you know what I'm not ready to push daisies just yet. As the saying goes "It's hard to be a saint in the city."

I'm the 17th. Bmi 40.

Define normal. Is it "normal" to be morbidly obese? Is it normal to worry about whether you fit in a chair? On a plane ride? Is it normal not be able to go into a department store and shop for clothing? Only you define what's normal for you your life and people redefine their lives all the time.

I went through the same feelings and doubts you are having. I even backed out the 1st time I scheduled a doctor's consultation. A month later I had made up my mind to commit to surgery.
For me, it boiled down to answering 2 questions:
1) Do I want to be in this situation or worse a year from now?
2) Is the pain of staying like I am worse than the pain of change?
And you know my answers already. I committed to surgery and was willing to live with the consequences. And vowed not to regret my choice. After all, there was no going back, once 80% of my stomach was removed. So, no use regretting what can't be changed. :-)
"The reason I am having doubts is because I am afraid I won't be able to have a normal life - I'm afraid I won't be able to go out to eat with my husband and eat normal (but smaller portion) foods."
- Within a year, I was eating anything I wanted. Funny thing was, I no longer had a taste or desire for most of the flavors I used to love and crave. I still love steak, Pasta, rice, pizza... but I don't crave or "need" to eat any particular food anymore. I can be just as satisfied eating chicken breast as I would eating a rice and gravy. ( I was going to say "pizza" instead of rice & gravy, but even I don't believe that statement! But I can honestly say that I can pass on eating pizza without the slightest regret. ) I can eat at any restaurant without fear of not finding something I want.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to get in enough Protein and I will lose a lot of hair. I'm afraid I will end up accidentally choosing the wrong food and getting sick all the time. I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy any of the foods I do now."
- For the 1st few months, getting in the recommended Protein levels can be a challenge... at least it was for me. I viewed my doctor's recommended protein levels as something to work towards. My only concern was staying hydrated [ which was not a problem, thanks to Crystal Light lemonade :-) ]... the rest would come with time and healing.
- Hair loss can be a problem. I did not really notice it, but I have extra thick hair. I only noticed that it was a month longer between hair cuts. In 6 months, my hair was growing normally again. But I made sure protein came first in my diet - that might have made the difference.
"I'm mostly afraid I will regret the surgery for the reasons I just listed and I will no longer be my happy self. I don't want to lose the weight but end up being unhappy."
- I've found that I'm still me, 2 years later, maybe a bit more extroverted... okay a LOT more extroverted. And my whole way of thinking about food has changed. I used to "know" that I'd be hungry every 2 hours and have to plan for it. I'd get these cravings for pizza, cherrys, hamburgers, that would compel me to go out and get some before I could sleep. That's all gone. Food does not dominate my life anymore. I still eat out at buffet restaurants - I don't feel like I'm not getting my money's worth. I go to hang out with my friends, not for the food.
- Once food was no longer the center of my life, I was in control. And it's a great feeling. Being the same size as my co-workers feels great. Not being embarrassed eating in front of others feels great. Eating a small piece of cake or some ice cream at a party - and not feeling like everyone is looking at me thinking, "Look at that fat pig, no wonder he's fat!". Being able to buy clothes that fit AND are the style I like is wonderful - I don't have to settle for what fits.
"Today I am on day 4 of my 2 week liquid diet and I cheated this afternoon when I was having so many doubts. I had some chicken, so I'm hoping I didn't mess up too much to have my surgery. I haven't cheated at all other than this evening. "
-I cheated on my pre-op diet too. But I limited my cheating to pure protein, no carbs at all!!!!! And I still lost 10lbs in 7 days. From experience, I know that low carb eating keeps my weight down. I just couldn't stick with it long term without the help of VSG surgery.
"How long until I feel normal. "
- I've never felt normal - pre or post surgery. So I can't answer that one. :-P
- I hope this helps put you at ease. And watch my video below on my pre-op freak out and food funerals. That may help too.

Received my cardiology clearance today, I go for my surgical pre-screening on Monday and starting the liver diet on Tuesday.

I smoked for over 25 years, with a ~2 year quit in there but went right back to smoking during a stressful time period... that being said, I quit completely a bit over 2 months before my surgery. I haven't gone back either, and I miss smoking and still think about it almost daily even tho I'm more than 110 days clean. And I can't promise that I'm forever quit since I do miss it so much.
But here's the thing: I know that I'm an addict. I don't really miss it; that's the addiction talking. It's just like being an alcoholic. I can't have just one smoke or do it for a little while and quit again. I will always struggle with staying off cigarettes and I recognize that, and will do my very best to make sure I don't pick it back up again because it will hurt my health and likely kill me if I do.
So yeah, totally conflicted but hanging on as hard as I can to my quit because I deserve to be healthy - despite that stupid addiction.
There are no benefits from smoking - zero, zilch, nada. I had weight loss surgery because I also had issues with food and eating and I want to be healthy and live an active and enjoyable life with my husband. Being morbidly obese wasn't conducive to that idea, and neither is smoking. There is no good reason to smoke, and I've witnessed two family members die a slow, agonizing smoking related death... I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
And yet I still have that insane little voice inside that just wants a damned cigarette. Irrational and stupid, but that's what an addiction is. You can't get any more blatant than that. So that is just one more reason to not smoke - because I am not going to be thought of (in my own mind anyway) as a stupid person.
And using an e-cig is just as bad if not worse. All you're doing is changing the method of delivery and still putting poison into your body while fooling yourself into believing that it is healthy. They're still in the early days of studying the health effects and the news coming out now is NOT good. Saying they're safer than cigarettes (even using the no nicotine cartridges) is like saying that playing with one poisonous snake is safer than playing with 10 of them... they are still dangerous.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/California-Declares-E-Cigs-Are-Health-Threats-290104881.html
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/health-risks-e-cigarettes-emerge
I quit using the Allen Carr method (the vids are available up on youtube) and a phone app (Butt Out only available on iphones unfortunately, but there are plenty of quit apps) and told myself that the quit was temporary until I got healed from surgery. But I'm sticking with it as long as I can, because I know I feel better now than when I was smoking, and frankly it's nice to not be coughing and wheezing, have warm fingers and toes, and not smell nasty (and yes, you do smell nasty ALL OF THE TIME to non-smokers - that sh!t is in your hair, your clothes, embedded in your skin... I can smell smokers a mile away now, and had friends tell me the same thing).
Look, I'm not telling anyone to quit smoking. You have to be an adult to smoke anyway, so I'm assuming that you know enough to know that it's got no benefits, is harmful to your health and you're wasting money and throwing away years of your life to do something that is in essence a nasty habit that will cripple and then kill you in the end. Only you can decide if you're worth quitting for - no one can do it for you. But if you just went through something as extreme as weight loss surgery, you have to care a little about getting your health and well-being back on track!

It's tough, but you also gotta want to do it. Just like with our weight, no amount of nagging, criticizing, or berating will make us do something about it until we are READY to. I quit 3 months before my surgery using vape, tapering down on the nicotine until I was down to 0. Then I stopped the vape. There have been many, many times after the surgery I've wanted to have a cig, but then I think to myself how far I've come and how much healthier I feel without them (along with the weight loss). I can honestly say I'm more proud of my quitting smoking than of the WLS. Just keep in mind you had WLS to get healthy. How does smoking fit into that equation? I'm rooting for you!

Hoping for mid February! Good Luck everyone.

I quit using e-cigs and chewing tobacco. Weird but it worked for me. The two stents in my heart was also a wake up call.

I quit using e-cigs and chewing tobacco. Weird but it worked for me. The two stents in my heart was also a wake up call.

It was 2,3,5 & 6 for me Lol. I have overcome, Feb. 17th is "the" Day.

I think numbers 2, 3, and 5 are really prominent~~ in my experience. First off, back in 2007 when I started this journey, I was ignorant of the importance of surgery in saving my life. I didn't quite accept, at that time, that I couldn't do it on my own. Then years passed by and I failed time and time again.
Secondly, the fear of surgery was very big and real in me. I was afraid I'd die, have horrid complications, live with perpetual nausea, lose my hair, etcetera. I was more afraid, however, in my sick thinking, to lose my hair than to lose my LIFE. Craziness!! In reality, either none of my fears materialized or they were really so insignificant and made no real impact on my life.
Now that I was sleeved in late 2014, and am on this trip at last, I find a lot of negativity and skepticism and CRITICISM. Don't get me wrong, there are many people I have found who are supportive to the max, including my family and friends. But generally, in society at large, there is so much negativity about surgery. I think it is born of ignorance and stigma/prejudice. "Fatism" is possibly the last widely accepted social prejudice. I also get rude comments from acquaintances I see on a regular basis.
So I believe as time passes, all this stuff surrounding surgery will dissipate to a lesser degree~~ at least I hope so. All I can do about it personally is live my life openly and honestly and help educate others on a one-on-one basis.
Thanks for the article, Alex!

It was 2,3,5 & 6 for me Lol. I have overcome, Feb. 17th is "the" Day.

Reeger Cortell has been puzzling over the reasons that many people do not seek out surgical treatment for severe obesity, even though they could benefit. Roughly 70% of people with severe obesity say they would not even consider surgery. As a Nurse Practitioner, Cortell cares for people seeking bariatric surgery and produces the outstanding Weight Loss Surgery Podcast in her spare time. So she reached out to the people who follow her to do a survey of the obstacles.
She came up with ten. We share them with you as she so generously shared them with us.
Financial. Health plans put a financial wall around bariatric surgery with exclusions, limitations, and out-of-pocket costs. On top of that, there’s the cost of missing work during recovery. Contrary to the bigoted stereotypes out there, people with obesity tend to be a hard working tribe.
Fear. Despite a good safety record, the prospect of surgery evokes an outsized fear of complications, including death. Equally daunting is the fear of failure and weight regain, both of which would be humiliating. Other fears, not to be dismissed, are the fear of change and the loss of food as a source of comfort and coping.
Independence & Self Reliance. People have it drummed into them that worthy people can lose weight on their own. They shouldn’t need surgery. It’s a powerful lie.
Negative Press. Popular media is full of stories like the People magazine annual edition of “100-pound Losers Without Surgery or Gimmicks!” The suggestion is that outliers are the norm.
General Negativity. Surgery is consistently portrayed as cheating or the “easy way out” for character flaws and lacking willpower. A recent study found significant job discrimination against people who had success with weight loss surgery. It demonstrates how pervasive the negativity is.
Families and Friends. Surprisingly, being shamed by family and friends for seeking surgery is all too common. The impact is devastating.
Internal Locus of Shame. “I was too ashamed to ask for help.”
Lacking Knowledge about Surgery. Let’s be frank. The process can be overwhelming to prepare for surgery. “I had no idea where to start so I never did. Way too many hoops to jump through.”
Lacking Knowledge of One’s Own Obesity. People don’t seek solutions for a problem they don’t fully recognize.
Resistance from PCPs. “I asked my doctor and he refused to refer me.”
Cortell summarizes by saying, “Bariatric surgery has a terrible brand image.”
Deserved or not, such an image problem is no small task to fix. It requires a thoughtful, long-term strategy. It requires innovation in the delivery of care. It requires commitment.
If you haven’t yet discovered Cortell’s Weight Loss Surgery Podcast, click here to check it out.
This is a repost from an awesome blog I read on a daily basis. See more at: http://conscienhealth.org/2015/01/10-obstacles-for-people-who-need-bariatric-surgery/#sthash.SAHIDMsU.dpuf

Guess what? You just got a new job! Isn’t that exciting? Except…it’s a tough job: you will now be the CEO of Lifetime Weight Management. But don’t worry. You can do it, and the pay is fabulous.


We’ll get to the job news, but first I’m going to tell you a job story of my own. I’m a writer and story-teller: that’s my job. Often my stories are fiction, but every word in this story is true.
Many years ago, I attended a business luncheon with a coworker who was naturally slim. The food was delicious: a huge, flaky croissant filled with chicken and grape salad, a mountain of potato chips (I adore potato chips), and strawberry shortcake for dessert. About one-third of the way through her meal, my coworker stopped eating and pushed her plate away.
“What’s the matter?” I said. “Don’t you like the food?”
“Oh, it’s fine,” she said. “I just can’t eat any more.”
She must have seen the baffled look on my face, because she added an explanation. “I eat a certain amount, and then I reach a point where I just can’t eat another bite, so I stop eating. I’ve always been this way.”
I wanted to offer to finish her lunch for her, but was too ashamed of my own greed to suggest it, and I was busy digesting what she had just said. I couldn’t remember ever in my life reaching the point where I couldn’t eat another bite of food. And although I had tried more diets and slimming plans than I could name, it had never occurred to me that I might become slim simply by stopping eating when I became full. My coworker was effortlessly slim and I was effortlessly obese. I subsided into silent envy over her natural advantage.
I spent the next 20 years suffering from morbid obesity and developing numerous health problems as a result of it. Finally, after much research and thought, I decided that weight loss surgery was my best option. On September 19, 2007, I had adjustable gastric band surgery. Ever since then I have been learning how to eat, and live, like a slim person. During that time, I’ve accumulated a lot of information, and have cultivated a lot of opinions that may not agree with yours, but of everything I’ve learned during my weight loss journey, there’s one truth you need to heed.
Like it or not, no bariatric surgery of any description is magic. The WLS patients I know have all worked hard for their success. Adjustable gastric band. Roux-en-Y. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve plication. Duodenal switch. The surgical procedure happens only once (good Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise), but one thing, common to us all, happens every day for the rest of our lives. Weight loss and weight loss maintenance require attention, commitment and action every day for the rest of our lives. It’s a job – a career – we must do or die.
A smart, mature, diligent acquaintance who did her research before she took the weight loss surgery plunge said to me once, “I had no idea how much work this was going to be.”
The work is not just in the weight loss but in lifestyle changes. The work doesn’t end once you reach your goal weight, but believe me: it is so very, very worth it. I love this new job of mine. I love the improved health and high energy and increased self-esteem and size 4 clothing, and I hope I never grow tired of it or take it all for granted.
A lifetime of work ahead of you can seem overwhelming. Think of it as a lifetime of learning. Learning is a good thing. If you stop learning, you stop growing. And if you stop growing, you die.
My mother, who struggled with obesity most of her life, used to say that there was a tall, thin brunette inside her just waiting to get out. I will always have a short, fat blonde girl inside me just waiting to get out. But having weight loss surgery has given me some wonderful tools for lifetime weight management, and I hope that proves to be the same for you.