Allie ALii

Friends-
Today, I Celebrate one of my biggest moments of bravery. I Celebrate agreeing to be wheeled into surgery despite a healthy dose of fear of both complications and the unknown. I had no idea how I'd cope in life without the crutch of food and failure. I wasn't excited about surgery and possibilities. I was simply scared and resolved. Now, I live a life I truly wasn't sure I'd ever get to enjoy. Life is good. So good.
I have been incredibly blessed on this journey. My approval process was relatively painless. It only involved four months of supervised diet. I didn't even have to do a liquid diet leading up to surgery. My only real complication was a very minor infection on one of my incisions. A round of antibiotics and I was fine.
My biggest memories of life following surgery were trying to figure out how to live without food as a focus and exhaustion. I wasn't hungry but still felt a need to eat but couldn't. I worked hard in therapy to be ready for this yet I wasn't. On top of that, I remember being absolutely exhausted until week 5. My other biggest memory is when I lost about 50 lbs. and realized that I no longer hurt. I had been overweight so long that I simply accepted pain as a part of life. To wake up one day and comprehend than general life no longer hurt left me giddy.
Since surgery, I have dropped 112 pounds, 12 inches (literally a foot!) off my waist, and 6 dress sizes (from 24/26 to 12/14). I have found a passion for running that culminated in running a half-marathon in January. I found the confidence to apply for a dream job that came with a crazy raise and got the job! I've found pride in myself and my appearance. I've become more than what I eat and how I look.
I haven't been the most well-behaved sleever. I feel I should share that in the interest of honesty. When I got the crazy, awesome promotion I started making some poor choices. I have yet to gain weight but I am in the world's longest stall due to poor food choices and a lack of focus on diet. I haven't lost a pound since December. I recognize that I haven't lost the last thirty pounds because of my less than ideal food choices but I am okay with this for now. I know that I will soon be ready to lose the last thirty and I will focus and finish what I started. My goal is to be at or under 175 by 18 months. I feel this is very doable. However, I recognize that this is my journey and I will finish it when it is right for me. Right now, I am enjoying the ride and life in general.
I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your constant support, opinions and advice. I've found this forum and the people it consists of a lifeline on more than one occasion. Bless you all!
Of course, a surgiversary post isn't complete without photos!


PS- I swear I am not a big drinker... it just happens that pics normally occur when I'm drinking.

I just left the grocery store and was getting a little self-conscience about what was in my cart. I wouldn't let my hubby put anything "bad" in there. I want my kids to learn to love healthy options. I have always thought healthy food couldn't possibly be as good as that greasy deliciousness from the burger joints or the sweet stickiness of a fresh donut. Well, I was wrong. I am learning to absolutely LOVE fruit and veggies again. Since I have to get all that Protein in and the fruit and veggies are "treats", I am looking at them in a new light. I live for my fruit daily. Any "real" sugar makes me sick. But natural sugars in fruit and veggies I have had no problems with. Also, I picked up the sesame WASA crackers today and put some lite laughing cow garden cream cheese on them. Talk about DELICIOUS! My husband loved them! I feel guilty giving my kids tons of carbs now and find myself giving them cheese and fruit for a snack instead of a granola bar or a fruit snack. I am just feeling really, really great about my new life with my sleeve, and so thankful!

I weighed myself this morning (I've finally gotten to where I only weigh myself every few days/once a week). I looked down and it said 199!!!! I made my 12 year old daughter come in and weigh herself to make sure that the scale wasn't going crazy, and she looks at me funny when I'm so excited for 199 again. Had to explain to her that it was a milestone, a huge huge huge milestone!!
I went shopping for an outfit for a job interview next week and was competely out of my element in the "normal" size sections! My 2 younger daughters were having a blast helping me pick out tops. My only problem is that my chest hasn't caught up to my upper stomach for weight loss, so if something fits in my belly it's way too tight in my chest. Oh the problems in my life now!! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had the self confidence to even seek out a new job before this surgery, and I am so thankful for that.
For all of the people just starting out, a sleeve is a roller coaster ride that is completely worth it. When you first get on and start out you question yourself if it was a good idea, then you go up and down a few loop-de-loops and it's a great ride!! Enjoy your loop-de-loops!!

I have been watching so many others and their success stories I finally feel confident enough to post some pics myself The before pic was taken 1 month before surgery and the second today. 5 months post op and down 70 lbs!

I had sugery on 2/27 and it is hard for me to drink milk based Protein Shakes right now. I bought 2 bottles of Isopure the blue one, and it taste good. Not anything extravagant., but it goes down without burning or hurting.

i eat because i need it to be healthy, i'm not hungry at all right now!
and i have to say i love it
and yes everything smells so good, i admit i lick stuff for the taste but i don't actually eat them haha

i have to add that he is super nice and sweet, you will get the best treat and care with him, he is simply the best doctor i know and i feel safe under his care!

i'm here 2 days post op and everyone is so sweet and nice, the rooms al clean and modern and the give you just abou anything you need or want.
i love my doctors Aceves and Campoes!

I just got in from my trip to Mexicali and I can only say I am amazed at how easy this was. I was sleeved by Dr. Aceves on February 28th. I am 57 years old and figured it would be rough because I hate pain and can be a bit of a baby. I expected the worse. I have had no nausea, no real pain- just discomfort, and have felt pretty good under the circumstances. The worst part was the trip home because I am not a big fan of flying. lol
All of the overly positive comments I had read about Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos, the Hospital Almater- it was all true. It was a great experience. I especially want to thank the other patients that I shared the experience with. I hope to keep in touch with you all! I am really excited about moving forward in this journey. The best is yet to come!
Oh, and another round of thanks to everyone on this message board who have posted their stories and questions. This helped me immensely through the process! Thanks to all and best wishes!

CVS has a really good one. Its the CVS brand, its in a foil looking bag and it comes in chocolate, vanilla and Cookies and cream. The chocolate tastes just like chocolate milk to me and if you mix the cookies and cream with SF instant cheesecake flavor pudding...its awesome!

At costco starting on Mar. 8 is an $8.00 off coupon on Muscle Milk powder (not sure if they have light). Also, the ready to drink stuff they have is decent. At Vitamin World they have a tropical mango flavor that is pretty good. 2 lb tub $33 or $34. They will mix you up some to try. The whey isolate is supposed to be superior to whey concentrate, so that's one thing I look for. Although I don't have surgery until March 12, I'm trying out lots of kinds. I start my Liquid Protein diet on Monday.

I really like Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein that I buy at Walmart for about $15.00 a tub. I've tried the chocolate and the chocolate Peanut Butter and they are both good. One scoop gives you 26g of protein and only 130 calories. It fulfilled the requirements that my doctor gave me for my protein supplement.

Yep! I buy mine from GNC too. They let me return what I dont like so it makes spending $28 on a shake ok because I know I will use it or bring it right back and try another. I personal like their Gold Standard 100% Whey by ON. I like strawberry the best but I like the Cookies and cream too and I used the chocolate mixed with PB2 and Water instead of milk early out but I have to warn you with pb2 it is very gritty. They have a member card you can buy too. You save lots of money with it. I usually buy in bulk when they have a good sale and then they give me gold card discounts on top of that. Good luck to you.

GNC or Costco/Sams Club.

I buy mine from GNC because they have pretty good sales and if I don't like something I have 30 days to return it- no matter whether it's opened or not. I like that.

Update: I tried on the rest of the clothes from the box last night and almost everything fits perfectly! I won't be wearing the jeans in public for a few days yet. They are just a hair too tight for me to wear them outside!

Thanks all, those jeans are a size 10 :-) woot

I love this community, and have found everyone on here to be so caring and compassionate. Although I will never actually meet many of you, I feel like part of a large sleeve family.
Anyways I just wanted to share my first NSV. As a child I played soccer, it was my favourite thing to do and I would do nothing by look forward to the next time I could play soccer. Then I hit puberty, and started gaining weight. I stuck it out for a few years but at 15 I stopped playing, I couldn't physically keep up, and was depressed. The weight held me back from doing the one thing I truly loved to do. The key word is held, because its not stopping me anymore, now that I am 70 lbs down I have joined soccer for the summer and in the mean time am going to play indoor soccer. My first game is tomorrow, and all I can say is how excited I am to have my life back.
Please feel free to share your NSVs, I love to hear them.

I am so thankful that I found this site. I have learned so much from reading the posts that I hadn't heard from anyone before. I hate going to support groups in person, so this is going to be my support.
Thank you all so much!!!

I'm glad you found this thread because I looked for it once and couldn't find it.
Dr, Aceves and his staff are all so great!

I know this has been said before, but when it happens to you you just want to scream it to the hills! Went out for lunch with DH, and I slid in to the booth with room to spare. I used to be squished in there like a overstuffed sausage. My DH was sensitive enough to smile and notice before I said a word. No more tables for this lady anymore, I'll be chillin in a booth thank you. ps still freaks me out how little fills me i love my sleeve!
sleeved 12-19-11

YAY! welcome to the sleeve side!

i'm sleeved!

yay me!
i had nausea after recovery for a lil while
but they put med in my iv and know i'm perfect!
i changed into my yoga pants and shirt and i'm so confy
i walked trhu the hospital and went to see the new borns so cute!
Happy is all i am now!

Thank you all!
i'm so good i went to the mall on saturday and grocery shoping on sunday
i can sleep on my side now and play with my dogs a bit
it is much easier to move and get up and the insitions are dry and closed, they itch a bit but thats fine and i'm so happy i only have 4 and they are so tiny
i wish the best to all of you!

Yay Allie!!!!