SoReady219

I had my band placed 9/4/08...lost close to 90 lbs, but ALWAYS had issues & discomfort. Within the last yr & 1/2, the dreaded weight is back-I've grown tired of always havin to sit near a bathroom when I go out to eat for fear that @ any given moment during a meal-I may hurl what looks like a baby jellyfish outta my mouth...I will have my revision to a sleeve on the 14th-a few more days...I cannot wait!! I will lose that 90 again & this time-it won't find it's way back

I made a Chocolate Protein Shake & put 2tbs of Chocolate Pudding Powder sf/ff. It was thick like a Milk Shake, I could of blended ice in it & it would of been exactly like one!

I gotta jump in on this one LOL I am an operating room nurse with great insurance except it will not cover ANYTHING weight loss related!! can you imagine?! in this day and age? LOL so I am going to Mexico with Dr Ponce next month. It costs 5500 and I am financing about 4000 because I didn't want to wait any longer to change my life and better my health. Also I just bought my first house this year so my savings basically all went into closing this house. Anyway I know I can work extra here and there or use a tax refund to hopefully pay it off sooner than the 3 yrs they gave me. Honestly I believe this is a smart move for me. At work I see (on a daily basis) what strokes and heart attacks and diabetes do to people.. I'm done! Basically it is SO worth it to me to pay crappy interest if it means I can do this right away.
I'm not suggesting that everyone should just run out and take out a loan for this.. but for ME it was a valid option and I'm grateful the option was there!

Hopefully this will keep going. These are my before and after pics. Today is my 4 month anniversary of my surgery. I have losy 90 lbs from 315 lbs to my current weight in this pic at 225. Forgive my old age and shirtless ness but I couldn't resist. My surgery was on May 1st 2012. Hopefully others will share theirs.

I got to go on puree!!!! Although it's been a little rough. NY sleeve is quite sensitive!

You can always just try it-but just a few pieces like NewMan was saying. Popcorn is a slider food, and oh so delicious, so try and not let it get away from you...I don't live far from Chicago, and theres a place called Garrett's.....one word-LETHAL. Good luck!!

heating pad, kindle charger

Hey!!!!!! Wake up! This is fabulous that you want a better healthier lifestyle!. I am a Marriage and Family therapist and I highly recommend that you get up and out of bed and go for a walk each morning. Look at nature around you, smell the air, be thankful for whatever you had. You are a beautiful vibrant woman and it's time to rise to the occasion. You are having a lot of hormonal releases in our body. If you can't get out of bed to exercise, then go see your PCP and seek out a therapist that can help you. You can do this. I want you to tell yourself that you are going to be so much more healthier and have so much more energy, and will be much more happier than in the past. This is a great thing that you have chosen and am so fortunate to be able to benefit from it. First, up your protein some, drink as much water as you can. This is the worst part and pretty soon, you will be eating more foods. Try some soup broth. You can do this. I know you can. Keep talking with us on the board for support. Ask questions. But do get out and start walking.........

I hope this helps your mind to settle:-
I am 31 and I lost my mother to cancer the day after my 30th birthday! My whole family is devastated by this loss. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2010 and it's so hard to hear as of course she smoked! I immediately felt the strain of my weight-I have 2 young daughters and I would feel so so guilty if I became I'll because of being obese so god know how my mother felt about her illness. I immediately started Lighter Life diet and lost 4 stone-but when my mum died in the May, I just couldn't maintain not eating and feeling miserable about it. I put on all the weight loss and more and my weight rose to over 17 stone! Then I was lucky enough that my Aunt offered me the money to have surgery!
I dived in straight away so I didn't have time to think too much and I ignored everyone's concerns or thoughts of it being too drastic my BMI was around 37-38 so did not qualify for free treatment!
I ignored everyone who thought I was irresponsible doing it with young kids and now I know I was right to! All I could think was how much I wanted to do this for my kids to make sure I was healthy for them!!
I'm about 5 weeks post-op and don't have a single regret! I'm down to under 15 stone, 2 dress sizes smaller and feel healthier and happier an know that I have kicked into touch my fears about becoming ill from my weight and leaving my beautiful girls to suffer without me as I now suffer without my mum! Sure-as you say-could get hit by a bus tomorrow-but I know I am doing everything in my power to be a healthy mum who will be there as long as possible for my kids!!
Yes the first week was hard-yes I thought it might be better to just be fat-but each day gets so much easier and food is no longer my life or my emotional guidance buddy-it's something I eat to be healthy in small amounts and nutritious ways!
Best decision I ever made for me and my girls! Only wish my mum could have had an operation years ago to take away her smoking addiction so I could still have her with me now!
Good luck what ever you decide! I was fit and no health problems at the start I this journey and have been lucky not to be that <1% who run into trouble!
Nicky xxx

I am3 weeks postop with Dr. Lopez. Zero complications! BMI was 31.9 and I am down 23 lbs. I was in TJ but I just thought I would share.

So, I was on a first date yesterday. It was a lot of fun, we met for coffee, talked for a couple of hours, and then parted ways. When the evening wound down, I walked her to her motorcycle which was parked out in front of a skeezy dog park in downtown Seattle. Lots of drunks and sketchy folks hanging out.
When we got to her bike, after a little more small talk, we had a nice good night kiss. A VERY nice good night kiss. In fact, it turned into a bit of a make out session in full public view (prompting, I **** you not, a round of applause from the bums drinking in the park!). As we were drawing apart, ready to go our separate ways, she had her hands on my waist, and she commented "wow, nice abs!"
I have never had ANYONE in my ENTIRE LIFE say "nice abs" to me before.
THANK YOU, SLEEVE!
(edit: realized I was being overly defensive about my life choices... without need. Changed the tone!)

You can always just try it-but just a few pieces like NewMan was saying. Popcorn is a slider food, and oh so delicious, so try and not let it get away from you...I don't live far from Chicago, and theres a place called Garrett's.....one word-LETHAL. Good luck!!

I know my surgeon took it out of one of the 7 incisions he made through a little tube that look like a turkey marinator. I didn't get to physically see it but he did show me which incision he took it out of! a slightly larger incision but it is still very small to imagine it came out of that.
Also, if you go on Youtube you can find short 5 min videos of a sleeve being performed. Quite interesting I may say! What a few of them.

I was sleeved on 8/20, home on 8/21 and 8 days out I have lost 9lbs so far.
Highest weight 332.
8/20 Surgery date 300.
Today 291.
So excited to have made it this far.

Just wanted to give everyone an update I am leak free. I got back to my hotel today and relaxed poolside for a few hours. Then my husband and I hailed a cab and took a 3 hour tour wrapping things up at Tijuania beach. It is breathtaking. My husband got to induldge in the local eats and drinks. I was a bit jealous because I am a foodie although I was not hungry at all. I recommend mexico! I highly recommend Dr. Lopez and his wife Dr. Osana. I paid 4500 and 900 for our plane tickets. I have spent money here but you dont have to if you dont want to. Whatever any one has put in your head about coming to Tijuania is complete BS. it is a great city. People are exteremely nice and accomodating. They completely bend over backwards for you here. I went through the company A lighter me and Janese was my coordinator. By the way my doctor has visited me already today and will be back tommorow. I highly doubt you will get that kind of treatment in the US. My husband got a kidney transplant from Johns Hopkins 2 years ago and said the service here is comparable to the service at Hopkins. The only difference with the states is the doctors have way less experience and often encounter problems and leaks in baraiatric surgery. They have been doing it here for way longer.

I am new to this forum & SO glad I've joined! I'm havin my band remov converted to vsg on Sept 14th & don't really have anyone around who understands, or can give advice! U r all special!! I don't feel so alone in this adventure now-just being able to read & kno there r ppl out there who feel EXACTLY what I am! I am travelling to Mex to have mine done-has anyone else done this? I'm nervous & excited-what an adventure I'm about to begin

I am having surgery on the 17th with Dr. Verboonen!! I just started my pre-op diet today.

I was sleeved 6/15 by Dr.Verboonen in Cancun. Surgery went great, no problems with recovery. Down 34 pounds and doing well. Dr Perez removed my drain and released me. Both were nice and I would recommend either one for surgeries in Mexico.