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

I went through this and learned I was just eating too much. You will find your cue that you've had enough before you get to that point as you learn your sleeve. I find there is a point of no return and it's just ONE bite that is the difference between comfortably satisfied and painfully miserable.

I had lots of reasons and experiences that led me to consider WLS but the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back was going on vacation with my husband (no kids!) and feeling sick about being in a swimsuit, then coming home and seeing a photo of me at the beach and I swear I looked like Jabba the Hut. My seminar was 2 weeks later and the rest is history.

Same here. It was so confusing to see posts about people who were so fatigued when I felt like I had insomnia for the first time in my life. I couldn't sleep for more than 4 hrs a night and would take a daily afternoon nap for the first few days. My sleeping was very impaired. The good news is it normalized after a couple weeks, but as the weight comes off, my energy level increases so I'm not as tired. Good luck with your recovery!

Thank you all for your encouraging words and congratulations! This group has meant so much to me. Thought I'd post one more picture of myself and my daughter, who weighs 54 pounds. That's exactly what I've lost as of today. An entire 5 year old! LOL

Received the items I had purchased in just a few days. Everything was in excellent condition and exactly as described. Thanks so much Jana!

What a huge difference. You look great!! Congrats!

Sent PM

Congrats on all things good - weight loss, getting married and inspiring your family members!

The title says it all. I hit 50 pounds lost in 3 months since starting the pre-op diet on 6/12/12. I had surgery on 6/26 and haven't looked back! I thank all of you for your stories and support during this process. I may not post much, but I so enjoy reading everyone's questions and comments and after my husband's support, it's been the next best thing I can imagine. I still struggle with feeling fat and not seeing the loss when I look in the mirror. Then I see these pictures and freak out! I've lost a ton! Congrats to everyone! April 2012: September 2012: Morning of pre-op diet June 2012/September 2012:

I didn't make it to 216 but I couldn't be happier with where I am. On Labor Day, I was 224.0 and had lost exactly 50 pounds. What a wonderful milestone!! Can't wait to see 216 as that is my pre-pregnancy weight and where I was when I met my husband. After that...onederland will be knocking on my door!