kw2walker

Sounds like you have your mind right!! Good luck!!

I've been reading about mental hunger for a few days now. xchubba you made a great point about television. I may have to stock up on books and limit TV to just the weather.
Continued success everyone on their journey.

This was great information! I am getting nervous but so excited on taking this journey.
A friend of mine that had the VGS done a year ago has been wonderful in giving me information and advise. They suggested that if I wanted to get my supplements in liquid form to go to www.drugstore.com and to look for products under the brand of Wellesse. I did look and they have B-12, Iron, Multivitiamin, Vitamin D3 in liquid form. The costs, are rather low as well.
Once the supplies I have purchased run low I consider ordering from them what I need. But knowing myself I will shop around for the best product and bargin. Lol.

Wow!! I look forward to being on point with my skinny girl me. We haven't spoken for so long, I hope we don't have too much trouble getting into the groove.

I just rewarded myself with some great VS stuff. I can now fit into their XL underwear and even their bras fit. Their semi-annual sale started online before it hit the stores and I was able to get five bras and six pairs of undies for around $100. The bra band and straps are quite a bit narrower than I'm used to wearing though. (Skinny teeny boppers don't have much back and side fat.) These are t-shirt bras - so foam cups and wirefree! Very comfy.
It all started out with me getting a professional bra fitting somewhere else. I found out I am finally in a normal size bra (40C). Yay! Maidenform has a really nice back smoothing bra with foam cups (no wire) that I really like. I also bought a few of those in different colors. These are SUPER comfortable.

I too have seen some look older. I myself feel as though I look younger. But in addition to looking older, I have also noticed some who look sickly. This can also be mistaken for looking older. To decrease a sickly look, make sure you get proper exercise, vitamins/nutrients!

I have also seen some of the younger sleevers finally look their age after they've lost weight. I'm 53 - if I lose alot of weight in my face, I may look older, but it's a small price to pay for feeling good and having my health. Then again, there's always plastics...

yes. actually a lot of photos people post of their before and afters...I usually think they look much older in their afters. Of course, they are older!!! I think it just comes with the territory you know? We have fat in our faces that fill them out and make us have less wrinkles. As we get skinnier, it unfills showing our wrinkles and probably sagging a little. Saggy skin will also come with those of us who have a lot of weight to lose which causes the aging look.
I wouldn't worry about something you can't control. Just know that even if you do look a little aged...your body will feel 20 years younger with the weight off.

My skin looks dry and wrinkley, but I am 55. It may be lack of water as I can't get it all in yet. 4 weeks out.

Absolutely! I usually have pretty good skin. As soon as I started the prep diet I got dry patches, blotchy skin, and acne. I still am having issues 3 weeks post op. I think it is just lack of proper nutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and hormonal imbalances. Just like we have the possibility to lose hair our skin suffers. I am still also having trouble with my tongue. It should get better with time. Till then we are going to look pretty scary. Good luck!!

Thank you for your honesty. I am pre op and I am the kind of person who wants to know the good, the bad and the ugly to give me the full perspective of what I could endure. I know this surgery is just rainbows and butterflies. Great post!

I'm day six today! I truly believe its "emotionally attached to food." I have same attachment I'm normally super busy, but now that I'm home, I'm watching T.V and BOY do they advertise FOOD! Hope GOD helps us! Good Luck!

Wonderful! I plan to go to Atlantic City, NJ and may hit the beach. It's been years since I've been to the waterpark; I am inspired to take my 3 yr old nephew once surgery is complete. I'll still have a month of summer left after surgery.
Continued success on your journey.
Karen

Wonderful! Enjoy your success.

I know that regain after surgery is possible. I am ready to follow Drs orders. I too think it's ridiculous to wait, go thru all the hoops, finally get the surgery - then a week out asking how soon they can have a beer and a hot dog. I have done the research, weighed the pros and cons, and am ready to be obsessed with food until the point that eating what i'm supposed to is second-nature. I'm with you pal, I just want to get it done!!

Ok, i hear you. But no on should really come out and ask you that at work. It's inappropriate and it's protected under the HIPAA law.
I told my HR person to get the my paperwork & FMLA approved thinking she would know what was going on when she received the paperwork from my doctor. Later found out I didn't have to tell here because my doctor only wrote "abdominal surgery." But oh well, the HR rep is sworn to secrecy.

I drink lots of water and walk a lot. Three times a week a go to an exercise class. I finally saw some results. I lost 10 lbs, it took me two weeks. I stayed the course and kept trying.
I have my surgery on July 22nd, I can't wait. I as I write this am sipping on a protein shake. I follow my course faithfully, I've been on this process a year now and don't want to go back.
Hang in there you will see your results soon from all of your hard work and determination!
Continued success on your journey.

I attended my first information session in June 1, 2012, and made my appointment. I am flying through all of the tests needed until I hit pulmonary. I go, do the initial test, then I inform the doctor that I have to have my thyroid removed. Was told to come back after its done and I'm cleared. I have the surgery, two weeks off work, do all of my follow-up and then make my follow-up with the pulmonary doctor. He then said you did good on your tests, we would like to do a sleep study.
I then get word that on Nov. 7, 2012 I would have the sleep study. I get a call the day before the study that the insurance would not allow the study. I call in Nov, Dec, Jan, and then I wrote a letter to the doctor, he did not contact me to offer other options. copiedin the letter was the program director of the program. I kept going to the appointments so they could encourage me. Then one day I just snapped.
I said I would withdrawal for the program. I said that they need to now take the time to find out how many other patients worked with this doctor when they hit the pulmonary stage and are forgotten or dropped. The staff said I made a good point but they were not able to do much, they did guide me as to who to contact that was above the yo-yo not doing his job.
Just as I was about to give up. I get a call, hey we can do a home sleep study and from there we can proceed. Home study completed, and then it was inclusive, so I then get the opportunity to have a sleep study (insurance approved). It's amazing when you have to rant and rave what can be done.
Just like that the appointment books opened up and everything starting falling in place again. When I had my last visit with pulmonary, I really told him about himself. I said if you don't have time to care, you should not be part of the program. He must have apologized a thousand times. I told him I do not except them and he was a sorry excuse for a doctor. I left say its a good thing I did not need a lung, your actions would have left me dead. He was totally embarrased.
So the program director called me, I took my last class, then met with the psychologist and nutrientionist and have been chugging along.
Like you when I knew this is what I wanted to do, I set up my account on this site. Then I hit the road block and lost all motivation to do anything. Then as I moved along and i am getting closer to my July 22, 2013 surgery date i am so happy I have returned. The experiences good and bad have beenof should great help.
Thank you for sharing your experience, keep up the fight.
Karen

I told only my husband, 2 very close friends & only the human resource person at work. I too didn't want to be judged or watched. When folks ask me how I lost, if i choose to tell them anything, i just tell them I'm on a journey to get & stay healthy through Exercise & healthier eating.

I to have kept it quiet. I have only told two people I work with and that is all other than my family. I guess I have all the same worries of what if it doesn't work and some that would say if you just tried harder. I am 52 and was put on my first diet at 6. I have lost and gained everything many times over. People that don't have a weight problem just don't understand. I hope this is the tool I need to be very successful. Good luck and hope we both reach our goals.

It's your body and you can do with it whatever you please. You don't owe anyone an explanation! You can tell as much or as little as you are comfortable with. I've been very open about WLS it's just easier for me to be honest so I never worry about who I told what to. You'll have to do what ever feels natural to you. I found people to be very supportive when they learn I had surgery. A lot of people have questions about it and how it works, including people who are obese and are afraid to take the step we took. Do what you need to do for your health. Good luck, and there is plenty of support on this site!

Here this will make you feel better... I waited since 4/2010 to get sleeved, got it on 6/12/13 and now I'm not losing weight!!!! I had it and am stuck!! NOT eating sugar, not eating carbs, startch... eating stupid egg dropped into organic chicken brother, low fat cottage cheese and other stupid, boring foods that don't even fill me... and I have stopped LOSING!!!! Talk about frustrated!!!! I don't drink caffeine, don't smoke, don't eat bad foods.... I feel ya!!!! *pitty hugs for us*

It will all work out and this headache will be a thing of the past before you know it. Keep your head up and keep chugging forward. You will get your surgery and be glad you did. I know right now all this seems crazy but it will all be worth it! Good luck! And don't for get to take a deep breath... breathe in, breathe out, repeat over and over again!!!

You will do great and believe me it is bearable. I barely had any pain besides the gas pain. Bring Gas X and walk early and often. Use the breathing machine often. I have already lost 27 pounds and it has only been 2 and a half weeks. Already getting compliments and clothes are too big. Good luck.

I went to Miami with my girlfriends 6 moms post op. Since I was 4 sizes smaller, of course I needed new clothes. Felt so good to shop for everything from a-z. I was so excited when I got to Miami, felt like it was the debute of the new me and it felt sooooo good!!!!!!