shanda7182

Congrats on your journey as well Shandra.. you look awesome!! It is sooo very good that "old timers" like yourself still have time to post and keep us updated on your journey. Thanks sooo much for this website, to you, folks like Tiff and VegasAngel who really find newbie, like myself encouraged. I will be sleeved on March 19 and my do I have sooo many emotions.. I am not looking to change my mind; just periods of anxiety and self defeat that things had to come to this. I am attempting to put on my "big girl panties" and deal; however, much emotions. In reading your post, right now, you have definitely brought be continued encouragement and support.. Thanks soo much for your post.!

Brenda,

No problem! Im glad I can be inspiring to someone. I was a pre-op once and I WAS VERY nervous! You will be pleased with the sleeve! Trust me, it has its up's and down's however its well worth it. Im not @ goal but im confident that I will reach it soon. Congrats on your surgery date! I pray that you have an uneventful, complication free surgery!

You were already beautiful before, and now you are absolutely radiant. Congratulations on your success!

Thank You~Having the sleeve done was a very good decision~

Thanks guys! I have posted my 6 month update as of yesterday! We all must keep each other motivated!

Shanda!

Gorgeous! As usual! I am in love with your smile!! You have the confidence! It is radiating from you! Love your look my dear, you are a class act!

Where do you go to for support meetings? I went to my re-re-re scheduled 4 1/2 mo post op (more like 6 mo when I finally got there) like 3 weeks ago, Man, the new location is way far for me! He was busy, busy as usual!! I CAN'T WAIT for your next update with wedding pics! Like Dr. Alanis told me, keep do'n what your do'n!

XOXOXOX

Thanks Alegna! I attend my support group meetings @ Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital (which is WAY far from where you live). Maybe you can try calling a local hospital to see if they have WLS group meetings. I know @ my group most of us had surgery elsewhere but they welcome everyone!

Yes his new office is far for most. Interestingly enough, I live right down the street (lol). I am noticing that he is GETTING more and MORE busy with each visit!

I have referred 2-3 people to him and they are all scheduled for their surgeries (unfortunately) they are all getting the lapband because they are afraid of the "permanancy" of the sleeve or bypass. But hopefully they will still be succesful!

Yes I will post wedding & honeymoon pics. We are going to Miami for 2 days after the wedding, then cruising from Miami to the Bahamas and the Grand Turk Island of Turks & Caicos. So we will take plenty of pictures from both events...so be on the look out for them in May!!!!

I see you are almost @ goal girl! You are working your sleeve darling! Are you still working nights?

Your lookin good! bet the fiance loves the new you too huh???? Your going to make a beautiful bride! Keep up the excellant work!

Thanks thin,

Yes he does love the new look. However, I was bigger when we met so he liked the old look as well. Thanks for the well wishes!

Congratulations Shanda you are beautiful.

Thanks Lan,

How have you been? I think we were sleeved either on the same day or the same week. WE are sleeve sisters.....

Way to go - you look amazing!!! Can't wait to see how beautiful you'll look as a bride! Best wishes for your continued happiness and hard work.

Thank You so much. The well wishes are greatly appreciated!

Girl you rock! You look as great as you sound. What wonderful motivation you are. Congratulations!

Thank You!!!!

Awwwwww I absolutely love your updates! ! ! You've done amazing, and I can't wait to see the wedding pics.

Thanks Tiff! You are an inspiration to me!!!!

You look absolutely stunning. You'll be such a gorgeous bride. Congratulations on all your success in working your Sleeve!

Thanks. Good luck on your sleeve journey!

Wow,, you looked good before the weight loss, now your smokin hot!

Congrats on the weight loss and the engagement Shanda!!

Thanks, congrats on having the sleeve! I see you are in Houston as well!

Hi Sleeve family,

Even though I've been busy, Ive promised to keep you guys updated on my progress with pictures. For those of you who dont know me...I was sleeved in September (almost 6 mos ago). Its been a wonderful experience, Im feeling GREAT! Im getting married in only 8 weeks and now Im about to up my cardio/weights so that I may speed up the toning/weight loss process.

I am still attending my WLS support group meetings and I am so glad I had the sleeve. All the sleeve people in my group are doing the same or better than Bypass patients!! My surgeon said the sleeve will be the new gold standard and he would rather give all his patients sleeves than anything else! Oh yeah, I will be having my Tummy Tuck around Christmas time (as its already time for one) lol

So drum roll please....Ive lost about 70 lbs in a little under 6 months. One thing Ive learned DONT compare yourself to others because you will get dissappointed. Everyone's body is different and we all lose @ all our pace!!!! Just keep doing what you are doing new sleevers! Here is my now pic! (Taken early Feb)

chicken and a waffle (yum).....WELL, the sleeve showed me who was boss. All I was able to eat was one section of the belgium waffle and 3 bites of the chicken! I was so dissappointed! LOL But I was glad that I'd had the sleeve because if this would have happened pre op, I would have had 2 belgium waffles and 2-3 pieces of chicken! That experience really MADE me appreciate the sleeve! Big Time! Now I dont even had the desire anymore because I realized I cant eat enough to enjoy the food anyway! LOL. I dont think my brain has caught up with the new me yet.

So thanks to you all for helping to encourage me throughout this process (Special shoutout to Tiff, Vegas Angel and Alegna) you guys ROCK! and you helped me as a preop (when I didnt think I was going to be able to have the sleeve). So as far me, Im still working Full time, Going to School Full Time (im getting a Master's) and planning a Wedding Full time. Im a busy girl! My next update will be my wedding photos after May 1, 2010~ I love you all! Thanks for your support!!!!!!:thumbup:

Thanks Alegna! You are looking hot yourself girl!!!!!!

I confess that although I love my fiance and am ready to be married! I am ready for this wedding stuff to be over!!!! I am tired of spending money! lol......Please May 1st, hurry up and get here!!!

Im with attitudefree, I took 3 weeks off (which was wayyyy more than enough). I was in the gym after 3 days (doing treadmill walking). I just continued with my time off because I knew I would not get it like that again. Some people do get extremely fatigued after surgery though but that did not happen to me. Good luck with everything!

No regrets @ all. Only regret is not having it 4 or 5 years ago! Im with Tiffykins, I dont think of food the same. I do still have some hunger but its about a 1 on a scale of 1-10, nothing like before. Im enjoying the results!! You will too!

Shanda - You are looking GREAT girl - the pictures are great and you look so happy - and your future husband is one very lucky man - you two make a great looking couple. Thanks for the update and keep up the GREAT work and keep us posted. DEFINITELY want to see wedding pics!

Thanks for your kind words Vegas, I look at you as a sleeve big sister. You really helped me during pre-op and offered personal support! I will certaintly post wedding pictures in May! Hopefully, I will be @ goal by then (that will make it so much sweeter)......:hurray:

I will check back as often as I can but this school/work (both full time) keeps me busy. The Future Hubby is in school as well so we are both always doing school work! We are both in graduate school-so we are pretty compatible right now. lol

I hope you are having a great 2010......

Shanda, your pictures are stunning. What a beautiful couple you are. I love seeing your pictures at 4 months because they are so inspirational. Just reading "I'm free" says it all. Thanks for thinking of us and coming to post!

Thanks! I do feel very free and so will you!

By the way Shanda, thank you for mentioning theCityDoll - I really like the format of actually watching her journey.

Great, you will enjoy seeing the video posts of her update. Another one that I watched was Kellawanda. I dont know if she is on this site but she posts alot on ObesityHelp.com.

You will enjoy the sleeve, im so amazed @ how im progressing...I know some people have lost 100 lbs by now but Im satisfied. At this rate I should be @ goal by May 1st, 2010 (which is my wedding day).

You can always ask any of us on this site if you have questions!

Shanda,

You look tremendous! Wow, what a lucky fellow - you are just beautiful.

Looks like 2010 are when your dreams begin!

Congrats!

Barb

Thanks Barbann, congrats on having the sleeve-you will enjoy all that it has to offer! 2010 is all of our year!

Shanda you look AMAZING. You are doing so well. Keep it up. It's pretty cool that you started just about the same weight as I did, just 6 weeks later. Looking back at my weight tracker, I was right about the same (180) at 4 months post op too. It really works, it just works.

You are going to make a beautiful bride. Can't wait to see those pictures.

Thanks you look GREAT too Linda! I will post wedding pics!

Beautiful Pictures!!!

Keep up the good work!!

And congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!

( you got yourself a "hottie" :001_smile: )

Thanks Chancie---You have done fantastic yourself woman! Keep it up!

Lol@ hottie, Yep, I like to think he's a hottie too! :thumbup1: Thanks for the

compliment, I will let him know that he's hot-it will brighten his day!

Thanks everyone! Tiffy & Dee Dee you guys have done wonderful! You both are true inspirations to me as well! Hope you guys are having a great 2010 so far!

Congrats! You are absolutely beautiful!

Thank You, that's very sweet of you!

Im from Houston, Tx (Woo-Hoo) and I was sleeved by Dr Audencio Alanis. I highly recommend him! I had an excellent sleeve experience. He is a great MD (I rarely say this because I am a nurse and I met lots of docs with horrible bedside manners) but not Dr Alanis! He's very personable. He came to see me early everyday....I absolutely adore him. I have referred 3 friends to him. He also believes in telling you the truth and being very upfront about the different types of WLS.....He doesnt sugar coat anything. I like that about him! He gets my vote, I know im biased! lol