ocean_ophelia

What a great feeling! Congrats! My resolution is to get the sleeve!

I think it's sad that they think it's the "easy" way out. Major surgery is not easy. Traveling out of the country to have it done is not easy. Giving up all your favorite foods and completely changing your lifestyle is NOT easy. It's brave. My husband was really worried about me, but he's read more about the surgery and feels comfortable now. I really hope your family comes around.

What is the difference between purees and soft foods? I guess soft foods still hold a shape? The diet progression confuses me.

Great post! I really needed to read that this morning. I've been a bundle of nerves as my surgery approaches the first of the year. Thank you, and congrats on your awesome weight loss!

You look incredible! I love posts like these.

yup, me too. I'm out of control. I had dinner tonight then stopped at McD after I took my daughters to dance. It's shameful. I think I'm just living it up now before I can't.

It hasn't proved true for me - yet, but I was also hired for my (well-paying) position before I gained weight. Women in general face more pressures to look a certain way, to be both attractive AND professional, and fat just isn't considered attractive. I know for a fact that my husband hasn't gotten at least one job he applied for a few years back because he's heavy. Off the record, one of the interviewers told him the boss was very health conscious and didn't think my hubby would fit into the "culture" of the company.

It sounds like you totally went with the flow! Yay for the sleeve - and fabulous trip to India! (I'm a teeny bit jealous

I'm just not sure what the hospital would do for you? I mean, they're not going to pump your stomach or operate, right? I doubt vinegar in and of itself would cause a leak. I'd wait, take the Tums, sip some water.

My post-op instructions say to return to most regular food at 8 weeks.

Who did your sleeve? You should have received post-op diet instructions. In general, it's liquids for two weeks, then purees.

Hi everyone! I'm January 5th! I'm scared and excited and anxious!

You have received some amazing and supportive advice. I am in my 30s with young kids. My BMI is "only" 30, but I have high blood pressure and elevated LDL cholesterol. Hypertension runs in my family, so I am actually not counting on the surgery to "cure" it, but losing weight certainly won't hurt. The bottom line is that I feel like crap most of the time. I am ashamed of the way I look, and I avoid social engagements. I am not nearly as active as I should be, because I figure, what's the point? As someone else pointed out, yes, you can lose weight on diet, including WW, Jenny Craig, etc, but for most obese individuals the trick is KEEPING it off. I have lost weight MANY times in the last 15 years, and I have gained it back (and then some) EVERY SINGLE TIME. I am a binge eater. I'm an emotional eater. I need a tool to help me get that under control. I need something permanent to help get my hunger and eating back on track. If you think you can lose weight and keep it off, by all means, do that first. But have you already tried and failed? Health problems can creep up on you just like that. I had no issues until I had my mid-30s. Sometimes I think it's best to do this "preventatively." After all, people sometimes have a double masectomy when they discover a lump in one breast. They figure, might as well nip it in the bud early. That's how I think of this surgery. With a BMI of 30, I could certainly do another diet, but I'm afraid in 5 or 10 years I'd just be back here again - heavier, more unhappy, and older.

That sucks, Lissa. I'm sorry. No matter what, divorce is never easy. But it sounds like he wasn't very respectful of you OR your needs.

Interesting. I work in the medical field and was told that gallbladder issues can occur following rapid weight loss, NOT just due to WLS. There are other risk factors as well, one of which is being obese and eating a diet high in fatty foods.

If you think it's just to test you, then why are you complying? If it's arbitrary then have something not clear. How will they know? My point is: Everything is arbitrary to a degree; this is the human body, not a machine. You have to make the best, educated decision for YOU. And please, please don't tell others not to do it just because you're having a bad day. I don't think that's entirely fair. You're having an emotional reaction, not a rational one. Yeah, it sucks, but the idea was to limit the food intake. It's major surgery. You just had 85 percent of your stomach removed - clearly you're not going to be eating steak right after.

I sound like you, about the same age, bmi 30, having surgery in Mexico, have high blood pressure though. I am not telling my doctor before I go. I don't think most US doctors want to hear you're going to Mexico for surgery - it takes business away from them, and there's nothing he could do anyway. There's little follow-up with the sleeve. You could see him after for blood work. Best of luck to you! Which dr are you using in Mexico?

You could also try a whole food type vitamin. I can never take the artificial vitamins; they make me so sick. I discovered the whole food ones when I was pregnant. The only issue is the ones I take now are like horse pills, so I'm wondering if that will make it impossible to swallow them when I'm sleeved.

I'm going through this right now. Since my BMI is on the low side, I only have to do the three days of liquids, nothing else. The surgeon said not to worry if I gain weight before my surgery, which is, yikes, three weeks away! I've been eating a ton, and not all stuff I like, just eating to eat. Not good. It reminds me of why I NEED the sleeve.

I'm going alone as my hubby has to stay with the kids. I've never heard of anyone having problems.

Your video made me cry. Truly inspirational! Your kids are darling, and you are a wonderful mom for giving them (and yourself) this gift!

I think it's the lack of food in your stomach. Right now I take the whole food organic vitamin from New Chapter Organics. I love them because they're made with real food so they never upset my stomach. However, they are big, so I'm not sure how swallowing them will go post-op. I have bought some chewables just in case.

If you weren't approved, are you doing self-pay out of the country? That's the route I've decided to go, and I'm smaller than you. I'm 5'8" and 197 pounds, which means my bmi is 30. No insurance company would approve me, but my insurance doesn't pay for ANY WLS surgery anyway, regardless of person's bmi. But I know better than anyone how hard I've struggled and know if I don't do this NOW, I will just be 20 or 30 pounds heavier next year and the year after that and so on. I have tried to lose weight and succeeded, but I can't ever maintain it longer than a year. After losing and gaining the same 50 pounds three times in the past 10 years I know I need something more permanent, a tool that will help me succeed. I've done a lot of research and while I still have doubts and still get scared, I have a date to be sleeved in Mexico in early January. Only my husband knows. I'm sure I'd get a lot of comments about not being big enough. But I'm in size 16s now, and that's that; I won't get bigger. I already have high blood pressure and elevated LDL cholesterol, and my back and knees hurt. I feel like crap and am ashamed of my weight and am tired of using food like a crutch. This is not the "easy" way out by any means; it's a major decision, and there will always be naysayers, because unless you've walked a mile in someone else's shoes it's hard to understand. But I'm tired of yo-yo-ing. If your appendix was inflamed, you'd get it taken out; well, this is a surgery like any other. Yeah, it has risks. But it has a LOT of benefits. People are scared of stuff they don't understand; most have not done research and have only heard the rumors and (possibly false) horror stories. Plus, often others are jealous and don't want you to succeed.

Cool. Happy birthday! You look fantastic, and you are a true inspiration. We're about the same age. I hope I can be as successful as you following my sleeve.

You look hot!