ShrinkingBellyKelly

Gosh, I love this post so much I came back to read it again today. I am *this* close to onederland and have done it eating 1200 calories a day (give or take 200 either direction) with increased physical exertion. I struggle to call it exercise since the gym has been hit or miss, but I'm definitely more active. I found a direct correlation to finding my happy place with realistic food intake and my weight loss and overall happiness. It's all simple math for me. The calories burned in a day minus the calories consumed will equate to weight loss. I don't need to ear 500 calories and be miserable to lose weight (and for the record - I was seriously miserable). It felt like another crash diet. What I'm doing now I can maintain as a lifestyle change forever!

Before pic: 274, during pic: 210. Surgery was 6/26.

I had a picture perfect recovery with no complications, minimal discomfort and was back at work in less than a week. And I wouldn't have dreamed of flying 10 hours 4 days post-op. You're asking for a blood clot...

It depends on who does your work. There is a doc in Monterrey I'm considering once I can mantain my goal and he will do TT/arms/breasts in one surgery. He has a pretty loyal following here: http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/Dr_Sauceda_Patients/discussion/ Your title made me laugh. That's how I'm feeling these days plus some thighs in the mix!

Compliments are just one more motivator to me. I know what I'm doing is the right thing for me health-wise and looking better is the best side effect of weight loss I can think of! They are just trying to be encouraging and supportive. Don't you know you'd be peeved if no one commented on your loss. It's a double edged sword. Embrace the compliments and be thrilled you have friends who are excited for your journey.

My insurance coordinator told me BCBS of CA (Anthem) is the best insurance for bariatric surgery and if you meet the qualifications, it's a slam dunk. Don't worry - they are just reviewing! After reading so many stories on here, I tend to believe the coordinator. We are very, very blessed with such good insurance benefits!

Mine are jacked up! I had a month long one after surgery, then a couple normal-ish ones and now I'm going on 3 weeks of fun times with the all too frequent visitor... Doc says it's the hormones being released from my fat stores and variances in periods are normal though.

This. Being a hospice nurse, I took my completed advance directive with me to the hospital. There are many patients who end up in hospice care without an advance directive because they didn't make their wishes know.

I'm doing really well. The first 4-6 weeks were tough for me realizing how insanely dependent I was upon food. It was just an emotional time learning how to eat again. I have no regret though and am down about 60 pounds from my highest weight in a relatively short amount of time. I am losing about 2 pounds a week now that the loss has stabilized and my skin is doing pretty well. Most importantly, I am eating so much better and feel SO MUCH better. No more meds, snoring or chronic fatigue. No regrets at all! Good luck to you! I hope everything goes perfect for you!

I had Anthem BCBS and it was super fast too, just a few days. I had surgery less than a month after approval. Good luck!!

I was sleeved by Drs. Fearing and Malley at Menorah Medical Center on 6/26. Great experience! Good luck to everyone!

Just remember there is a very fine line between comfortably satisfied and miserably stuffed. For me, it's just one bite between those two extremes. Good luck!

That's an approval!

Perfect! I knew the jeans were too small at the moment, but I'll definitely get use out of them soon