SouthernSleever

I think it's probably a wrong idea to get it stuck in your head that everyone's life revolves around your WLS. He could say the same thing about the out of pocket money, if any, you paid. Having to do extra house hold chores that you can't do while you are recovering and taking care of you/kids if you are sick out. It does suck, don't get me wrong, but this is your journey.

I think it's probably a wrong idea to get it stuck in your head that everyone's life revolves around your WLS. He could say the same thing about the out of pocket money, if any, you paid. Having to do extra house hold chores that you can't do while you are recovering and taking care of you/kids if you are sick out. It does suck, don't get me wrong, but this is your journey.

My siggy only shows my losses but if I were to chart everyday it would look like a heartbeat. I would lose 5 bounce up 3, stall, lose 5 bounce up 3.... Don't fret.

He's probably scared. Guys have strange ways of dealing with things and then even worse at communicating them. But rest assured.. If yor surgery is flawless and while heading home you stub your toe... No doubt the big guy will claim " I told you so! "

I could have had surgery in the US as many of the Drs in Tx are having to compete with prices in Mexico. I could have waited 3 months for my insurance to kick in as well, which wouldn't have been a big deal. All in all, I picked Dr Aceves over any other Dr I spoke with. It seems like whenever this topic comes up, everyone is an expert in some field or everyone is leery of those who post on certain doctors. I read several stories about hack jobs in Mexico and obviously several stories of successes.
It comes down to the surgeon, not the country. I'll say this. I had a f* up of an orthopedic surgeon here in the US. He ignored all of my weeks of complaining of swelling and pain in my leg, told me to call him on monday when I was coughing up blood on friday. Never compared the size of the two legs. I ended up going to the hospital with a pulmonary embolism and nearly died. I also had to have a revision on my ankle a year later. I did my research, I even straight up asked them if they had any legal action that was ever taken against them. They lied but I only found out about it after nearly dying. No lawyer would take my case, they all said that Doctors stick together and rarely will testify against each other. The surgeon did wipe clean all my bills to him but I was still left with several thousand bills for the PE through the hospital.
My surgery in Mexico far exceeded anything I have experienced in the US. The private hospital was cleaner and more well run. The entire staff was attentive and caring. Any questions I've had pre/post op have been answered quickly. If Dr A gets a bad review it hurts his rep and his pocket. He can't rely on people choosing him because their insurance covers him. He gets patients because of word of mouth, not a listing.

As I shared above, my reasons for choosing Dr Aceves are varied. I have worked in the healthcare field for more than 10 years, 6 of them in the Las Vegas area. I know many surgeons and physicians personally and professionally, including the top WLS surgeons. I don't want to name names, but one of them, I wouldn't allow to operate on a lizard, much less my body.
There are several excelllent RNY surgeons in this area, but the surgeons who have added sleeves have just recently (1-3 years) begun sleeving. And I know for a fact that at least two of them trained with...you guessed it...Surgeons from Mexico, including Dr Aceves. And I learned that from them, not Dr Aceves. Combined, (at least 6 months ago when I met and discussed the surgery with them) they all do not have as much as most of the surgeons in Mexico, including mine.
The cheapest WLS surgeon in my area charges about $12,000 for outpatient surgery. That means he does the surgery in a surgery center and sends them overnight to a hotel. I believe they are followed by a nurse, but I don't think the nurse is 24/7.
I had surgery for 4,000 cheaper, stayed three nights in a clean hospital with nurses who were right outside my door and answered the buzzer almost as quickly as I buzzed. When I had nausea at night, the nurse sat beside me patting my back until the additional nausea meds kicked in. When my sleeve sister and I wanted to go to the paharmacy across the street to get more pantazol (PPI) to take home, one of the nurses insisted on going with us to guide us through the traffic.
My insurance didn't cover WLS in any form. However, even if it did, knowing what I know, I would probably still go to Mexico for my sleeve. With insurance, I would have to take whoever was contracted with the insurance, whether he has done 1 sleeve or 1000. I was able to choose my own surgeon that I felt would give me the best results. That to me was priceless.

My siggy only shows my losses but if I were to chart everyday it would look like a heartbeat. I would lose 5 bounce up 3, stall, lose 5 bounce up 3.... Don't fret.

I do not monitor my food such as food journaling and I never have. I try to really listen to my body, what feels good, when am I hungry, why am I hungry? There are many reasons that I might eat more one day than the other such as monthly cycles, more activity, sickness, weather. I did join with my friend on myfitnesspal and kept track for 3 days. My calories averaged around 1600, a little more on days when I worked out, and less on days I was more sedentary. My carbs tended to be right around 100/day. I weigh everyday and if I see it bounce more than 4-5 lbs I will restrict higher carb foods.
I did not change the way I ate once I hit maintenance and I do not always eat to stuffed though it happens now and again. I find eating more of a chore than a pleasure. The food still taste great but I would rather get dinner done with and onto something else. The friends I have recently gained bring food when we are going out or we share Entrees. They do track food since they compete as athletes. It's very hard to have friends constantly going out to restaurants and you have to resist ordering something terribly bad for you.
I also must say that I started smoking (again) 8 months post op and I am still a smoker. I plan to quit again in January and I expect a 5-10lb bounce up. While I am not counting calories or logging food I do realize that I always gain over the Holidays and with my plan to quit smoking I am keeping a close eye on the scale.

Wow! Look at how much younger you look! Fantastic job!

Thanks guys! The most amazing thing I've come across so far is having to reorder my wedding dress! From a size 22 to a size 10 (that's guess work since I have no idea what size ill be in Feb) they even had to refund me 50$ because I'm not a big girl size anymore!!
As far as food I'm not nearly as good as some at counting calories etc, on a normal day I eat:
Breakfast: oatmeal (not sugar free just regular old oatmeal)
Lunch: mostly meat - so maybe tuna with egg in it on wheat thins
Dinner: Lemon baked fish, broccoli or some other veggie
I try to get all of my Protein through food because I HATE Protein shakes/bars.
I don't work out as much as I should with school and work... But when I do i just get on the treadmill and do a little on my arms or legs while I'm there.

Thank you so much!! I love my lil brats
I am on Protein shakes for Breakfast and lunch and high Protein dinner and Snacks (only if hungry) with tons of water!!
As of today I am down 9lbs and 5 days till surgery!!

Wow looking good! You looked young before but even younger now, I would have never guessed your age. Keep up the good work!
Sent from my iPhone using VST

i was feeling down about losing slow. but looking at these pics i guess i am doing pretty good for myself

One last thing I'd like to note, I don't think you won't see any post sleevers years out because they have maintained or kept the weight off. I'd say majority of them are simply living their lives and most likely HAVE gained some weight back (typically 10-15 Lbs) and either are too ashamed to admit it for fear of negative backlash, or simply don't care.
I'm in the latter. I don't really post here, hardly ever. I liked this post so I replied. No one should be left to feel bad for gaining a few pounds, nor should they be made to feel they should remain on a "diet" for the rest of their life to spite a few extra pounds off. I go up and down based on what time of year it is, however this is MY CHOICE. I don't feel the need to come here and feel bad about it, nor discuss this, really at all. I am not a failure by any means, simply because I won't continue to try to kill myself to stay in a size zero pants. But I will keep working to stay fit and healthy.

I have been looking forward to vajazzling mine when I'm done with weight loss.
Sleeved 10/24/12 Sent from my iPad using VST

Ok, I know at least one person was interested in an update..lol
Just wanted to let you know that i did warn him about having some loose skin due to losing alot of weight, and we had a few makeout sessions and since we both liked how those went - well we decided to partake. It was really good! Plenty of enthusiasm on both sides and we are definately doing that again! My body feels so good now during sex, I mean i just feel so strong, flexible, comfortable even on top - it just really adds to the experience. Makes me glad i exercise alot! From my side, I didn't even think about or worry about the jiggly tummy during. I was worried in advance that the extra skin would put a damper on things (although mine is not as bad yet as some i have seen but i still have 20# to lose) but at least with this man it just seems to be unimportant.
I read somewhere om the internet (so it must be true) that once a man decides he wants to have sex with a specific woman it takes ALOT to turn that desire off so maybe that is why it was no problem and eager for more...haha. We have good chemistry - alot to talk about etc too so it is a fun time all around.

I feel alive again. June 7, 2012 Dr Almanza changed my life. 230 pounds the day of surgery and today 155. 25 more pounds to go.

Update***
I got on the scale this morning and I am down 5lbs!!

Remember it's not because those hair follicles aren't growing it's that their strands are weak so the more you mess with them, the more they break. You will see short spiky hairs growing in their place. I only wash mine when necessary maybe twice a week.

No way to stop it. The breakage is from when you were first sleeved and your body reserves it's supply to keep going it's just long enough now where the strands are starting to break. It wil grow back but try not to wash it too often or mess with it a lot, will keep those strands around longer.

Do low carb like a mofo! You can do it! Don't let yourself have more than 20 carbs a day and you will lose it forsure!

I'm 5'6" I'm 2 yrs 1 month 15 days post op
Starting weight 282
Current weight 142
Starting sizes 22/24 XXL 42/44 E (DDD)
Current sizes 2/4 S 34B

Seriously? This is an issue that many people deal with. I'm still okay with losing a little more weight but my face is starting to look older and sickly. I'd be about 7-10lbs less if I didn't have excess skin and that would put me at 129-132 for being 5'6" with quite a bit of muscle mass. (My pic is before i reached goal a year ago).
To the OP don't worry, you are pretty new out from surgery. Around a year out I could eat 1/3 more than at 6 months out. Your weight loss will slow down and you will even out. What is your weight/height now?