LilMissDiva Irene

Hmmm well... this is always a very touchy and heartbreaking subject. I can offer up my *hugs* and tell you, if you truly feel 110% that this surgery is the answer for you, then you just have to do it. Only things I can suggest is to sit down one on one with your husband and go over all the reasons on why you feel this is your only option to cure your battle with your weight. If he is the type that doesn't listen to reason, maybe you can write out a long letter to him, so he really has no choice but to hear you out. Also, would he be willing to join you on a free seminar? Sometimes the biggest culprit in all this is simple ingnorance. Not knowing all the details and what to expect can be quite frightening. I hope all works out for you. Please let us know how it works out for you!!

Cheri, its so nice to hear from you! I see your sleeve has worked as well for you as anyone else! I think that's awesome you were able to live your life and still see such amazing results. You look like a completely different person and you certainly look very happy and healthy. Cheers!!!

The only "easy way out" that I know of are the extremely lucky few who can get to goal on calorie counting and exercise alone and keep it off. Everything else is anything but...

M2G CONGRATS!!! You look really great! You're smile tells a thousand words. You look so happy and vibrant but best of all you really look HEALTHY!! That's what it's really all about. So what if it's coming off slow? I always say, this is for life... so if you don't lose it all in a few months... so what??? What's really important is that you are making all the positive changes that will carry you through for all the years of your life (which you extended by many many many!!!) WHOOHOOOO!!!! ~~From the annoying chick way in the back.

A 34 is on the smaller side. My Dr. uses a 34 and oversews to a 32. My sleeve is *very* small!! But... I'm glad because I could probably do some damage if it were any bigger. I needed this surgery for a reason!

Let's start with suggestions for times and places. Pretty much I'm open Saturday late afternoons. I can do Sacramento, or Vacaville or perhaps even Hayward.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!! Going through this journey would not be half as rewarding without going through it with all of you. *hugs* All my LBT friends that are going through this with me I will never forget and will have a special place in my heart!!! And my grand scheme to get them all on this side is even better... heehee You're also doing fantastic!! Congrats to you!!!

Tyty!! Fat Superhero !!! Well that was me once upon a time! TBH I really don't even know at what weight I'll end up. I have an idea in my mind on what I'd like to end up like. I'm close but not quite there yet. Just coasting!!!

Great job to all who are participating!!! I've been doing really really well aside from catching a summer cold. Its ok its slowly resolving itself. It was out of the blue for me, I'd not gotten sick like this since my revision!!! Booo!!! LOL Oh well it happens right? So far I am down 3 Lbs since the challenge started. I'd say that's pretty darned special! Keep up the good work y'all!!!

Hi blondenurse... you will find a wealth of information here at our sister forum: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/ You will also find me there too under the same screen name. HTH

Great NSV!! Love it!!

Down another #!! Yay!! ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....185.8..............182.8...........179............3.8

No, Dr. Aceves absolutely does not take before and after photos of any kind. The only ones I've ever seen are patient requested where you stand side by side with him smiling, and you are fully clothed in hospital gown wear. I didn't take any photos during my hospital stay. Anyway, do not worry, you will not be asked to do anything that is uncomfortable such as taking newd photos.

Well if you are a guinea pig you will be a good one. I'm sure your Dr. will end up recommending the Sleeve to a lot of his patients.

Thanks!! You know I've always said FOR MYSELF the BMI charts are worthless. I even kinda make this thread in jest because according to the BMI charts I'd still need to lose 30 more pounds just to be at 24.9 which is the highest anyone should be! Ideally for my height I should be at 22.5 which is around 135 Lbs which is me still losing 50 Lbs. There's no way in the world I'd still lose 50 Lbs!! I'd look just all wrong. LOL Right now I'd be happy with about 15 more, just to get my legs a little smaller.

Well it sounds very promising for you! I agree in that Tummy Tucks or Panniculectomies should definitely wait until the patient is completely finish losing weight and are stable for months more. *hugs* and looking forward to reading about your transformation I know it will make you feel so much better!!

Thank you!!! No I haven't had any kind of reconstructive surgery... yet! I am getting breast augmentation and I'm going to get some reshaping done to my knees in September. Eventually I plan to get a total body lift and I might also get my arms done. I don't think my arms look too bad but if I can enhance them, I'd like too. So, I'm waiting a few years for that to see how well they snap back on their own. The three things I've done that has worked well for me is lower carb eating (I eat about 60g per day... twice as much as the normal 30g but due to my extensive workouts I must!!!) Also my running routines has really worked my legs into submission. I've always had issues with my legs and bottom half being at least one size larger than my top size. I think they are become more parallel!! Finally... And I also do some amazing toning workouts called Callanetics. It is an old school style body resistance workouts that really incredibly shape me up. I can't say enough about it. I've also created a thread about it in the Exercise forums. You can find the books and DVD's on Amazon. ETA: I made sure I was walking the day after surgery. I started back up very slow, but I've ALWAYS been someone who worked out... even at my heaviest. My advice is just to take baby steps and work your way up. And most importantly find something that you really love to do... HTH

THANK YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!! You all make this worth it, and watching all your journeys reminds me when I'm falling off the wagon. Awwww!!! And I've been sick all day and you just made my day Hugs!!! I'll tell you what, I did all of this with the right diet, and hardworking workouts. Of course my sleeve helped a great deal! I've never been able to do this and keep doing it without it. For that I am so grateful. This WILL be you too... just keep with the program. If you ever need anything just let me know!!!

Thanks y'all!! I'd actually been wondering if I'd ever get here. I guess that answer is YES!!!!!!

How's it going? Just checking in on ya!

Guess I should check in here... down a few pounds now since starting my 30 day Challenge... IT'S WORKING YAYYYY!!! ____________________________________________ SN..............Starting Wt........Current.......Goal.......Lbs to Goal LilMissDiva.....185.8..............183.8...........179............4.8

Most excellent Lila!!! Onederland is SOOO CLOSE!!!

Hey Lynda, great job!!! Today is DAY 4 and we have 26 DAYS LEFT!!! If you have gotten through the cravings by now you really should be good to go for the remainder of the days. My day 2 was sooo terrible, however I'm not having much cravings at all now. Thank goodness!!! For me today I'm sick I have a sore throat, a bad cough and a fever. So I'm going to take it easy. I even did yesterday too and I didn't realize I was actually getting ill!!! One thing I've noticed is that I don't really get Colds or Flus as much as I did when I was obese and unhealthy. I don't even think I've gotten like this once since my Sleeve surgery. I hope it will pass soon! Here were my totals from yesterday: Water: 132 Oz. Breakfast: 2 Scr eggs and 2 Sausages Snack: 1/4 Grapefruit w/Splenda Lunch: Baked chicken with Salsa and 2% cheese Dinner: Tuna on Mixed Baby Greens, with fresh tomato and cukes. 2% Cheese and HVR Dressing. Snack: 1 Serving Blue Diamond Almonds Workout: 30 Minutes on the Elliptical...

No problem! I'm glad to help

OK let me start by saying not eating anything is a really bad idea. Now that that's out of the way, maybe the answer is a lot simpler than you think. What kind of Protein shakes are you using? There are so many varieties out there, one has to be able to suit you. Even Slim Fast makes a Lo Carb version that's actually very palatable. Also, if you're making the shakes from powder, you don't HAVE to use milk. You can make the shake with Water if milk makes you ill or even Silk (Soy milk I believe). You shouldn't use milk if it makes you sick. I suggest going to GNC, or using http://vitalady.com/ - GNC will let you return unused portions of the Protein Shakes you don't like within 30 days I believe. Vitalady sells individual serving samples so you're not stuck paying for huge tubs of something you won't like. HTH