Raine

You know, I think its fantastic that you are here. I also think its great that as a doc you understand and know the benefits to what this will do for you. Congratulations on your decision and good luck to a speedy, and complication free recovery!

You are doing so great! I loved your heading too, it made me laugh out loud for real I wish I could divorce my scale, I really should, its a mean old bastard. LOL

Thanks guys! I feel great too. As a matter of fact I haven't felt this good in over a decade. The sleeve has saved my life.

Was at my sisters wedding on Friday and had a blast. It was so much fun. Everyone was amazed at how I looked and kept calling me things like skinny, slim and tiny. Kept hearing you're melting away, you are disapearing etc etc. I love all the compliments and at the same time it makes me feel a little weird. I don't know, but I still don't see me as skinny etc. In the past it was always at this point that the tides would turn and I would gain what ever I lost back. The best thing is that the ones that know me better, didn't say those things but did ask how I felt and how was my over all health with the weight loss. That is when I got animated about it all because I haven't felt this good in over a decade. A couple of NSV's from the wedding: They gave all the brides maids these beautiful Tiffany like silver bracelets. I was so afraid mine would not fit, well because those things never fit my wrists and it did, it fit perfectly. They also gave the brides maids these little tank tees in their color ( it was a rainbow wedding I was medium blue ) to wear the day of the wedding when everyone was getting ready together. They got me a large and I smiled and put it back in the box thinking, no way in hell is this thing going to fit me. But it did fit and it wasn't even a tight fit, it fit with room in it. I normally do not wear anything that shows my upper arms because of the skin and stretch marks, but I wore it that day with a smile.

Why the hell would anyone blast you for that, Bisquit!!!! Well done, and if anyone can't take it in the context its given, well then they need to just get over it!

When your at a lower weight you tend to lose the weight slower is my observation so far. I lost about 30 lbs before my start of pre op diet and then on my surgery date I was 193 on 4/27/2011. After one month post op I was only down 17 lbs. Keep in mind that once you get closer to goal it comes off slower. That being said, drink your water, be strict with what you eat and put some more exercise into it if you want to see faster results. I personally think each person approaches this at their own level and will succeed but at their own pace. Good luck!

In the begining I had an issue with water by itself but what did help me a lot because as everyone knows, the sweet stuff tends to get a bit on your nerves, was beef broth cubes in a hot mug of water. It gave me a savory flavor that I was craving and it went down nicely. hope this helps!

When I started on this road and decided to get the sleeve, I was 240lbs as of my first month post op weigh in I was 176. The after pic was at my sisters wedding on Friday.

Ok, get glasses Alice! LOL, it is waaay noticable. I see it in your face and in your tummy. You look great. Keep up the good work.

That is awesome! I know how you feel, rock that sleeve!

I'm just glad I have a neck now LOL. I noticed the same on mine too.

So glad you were able to get it done! Congratulations!

Coops I know exactly what you mean when you say no one else really gets it! I bought a skirt for my sisters rehearsal dinner and the 12 was too big, The 10 fit perfectly and I was thrillled with myself, told people and they were like "thats nice" but everyone here knows what it took to get there and how excititng it really is. GREAT JOB!! We do get it!

My doc told me 1 cup a day after the 1 month mark but only if you get in enough Water because I was told it also dehydrates you.

Kelly, Your doctor was trying to scare you and succeeded. Yes there are risks involved with smoking and surgery. I have had 4 surgeries prior to this one (all unrealated to eachother) and with each one I healed fine and was fine and I smoked before and after all of them. I am not saying to smoke and if you can quit then by all means quit. I was one of those people that couldn't and the 2x I did quit, I went back to smoking just as much. I will try and quit again because I know its what I should do. But like others have said and this stands the same for me I really don't want to.

I am a smoker too. My doc required that I quit three months prior to surgery. I have been smoking since I was 13 and am 44 now. So I know as well as many people do, what you are going through. The only thing in the past 31 years that has helped me "quit" is Chantix. I've tried cold turkey, the patch, the gum and even hypnosis. Nothing worked. I have actually quit 2x on the Chantix once for almost a year and the second time for 7 months. There are side effects to this so beware of them and if you choose this let your doc know if you get them. My doc did a carbon test on my blood to see if I was smoking. I got seriously stressed on a business trip to Chicago in October (quit in March 2010) and one cig led to a whole pack. I didn't tell my surgeon that I started again, not sure how he could not know to be honest with you. I am still smoking and have been since I got home from the hospital and I have had no complications since being home. Hope this helps.

I tell people my goal weight is 140 which I don't consider too small for me, I am 5'5. And they all say that I will look sickly and ematiated (spell check lol) How can anyone look ematiated at 140 unless you are 6 foot something? I don't get it. I agree with the jealousy thing from people that are heavy and making negative comments. You are doing what they have dreamed of doing forever. I also agree with the fact that people get used to seeing you a certain size for so long that they just can't picture you to be a normal weight. To heck with all of them, and everyone and lets keep rocking our sleeves.

So since I am going to NJ this week, I thought I would clean out my closet of clothes that don't fit and bring them to my sisters. Holy Cow Batman!!! I had a lot of stuff ranging from size 14 to 18. Good thing is my sisters ( I have 4 sisters ) range from 14 to size 18 . Ok, so that being said, I was thinking what the heck am I going to do about clothes. Then in the back of my closet was a big plastic bin. About 6 or 7 years ago, I lost about 60-70 lbs (from start of my journey last June I am down a total of 64lbs, 59 if you put back the damn water weight I am holding LOL) and of course a month or two after I reached that point the yo-yo went back up. I know all of you guys have been through this and knows what it feels like . In this bin was all of those clothes I bought pants a size 12 and a couple of pairs of 10's that still had the tags on, I bought because I was so sure I was going to reach that and shirts from L to XL. My work clothes are pretty standard, button up shirts in various colors and black, grey or brown slacks. So all of these didn't go out of style so to speak. Tadaaaa!!! I have a whole new wardrobe again, and my closet is full again LOL. I totally forgot about those clothes. I just saved a TON of money LOL.

How did your f/u with your PCP go?

You go Paul! Well done on a job well done.

Irene, I felt your happiness! That is amazing and I am so proud of you. You have accomplished so far what some here are working so hard to do and you have inspired them because through you and people like Tiffykins it shows that the goal is attainable. Congratulations. And BTW who said you cant have it all? You never know

I had a cup o'joe yesterday afternoon and it wasn't repulsive LOL. Finally! It is starting to taste like it used to. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing

The scale this morning said I was up another 2 lbs. So that is a total of 5 lbs!!! I know its water weight because my feet look like balloons. I just don't know how to get it to go away. *this too shall pass...this too shall pass...this too shall pass* I keep repeating it to myself over and over. My sugar numbers are perfect so I know I am doing something right. It still sux though. :hurt:

LMAO that is too funny, I was actually laughing out loud!

That is awesome!!! Great job and keep up the good work. I love that kind of date