SoReady219

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!

I am sooo excited to get bras from there!! Lane Bryant never has my size in store... Always have to buy online. So excited to shop at Victoria's Secret :) I can't even wait to buy those cute bottoms that say PINK on the butt

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!!

This list was started by readytolose on the Sept 2012 forum. Unfortunately I did not find it until I had spent hours putting my own list together so hope that I do not offend by adding to this list. My additions will be noted by -
September 2012 sleevers
Sept 3 COnative Dr Alvarez
- Lila S
- lvnvmon1
Sept 4 Savarra San Diego
You would think so Dr. T Jones
ohmandy
dasinga237 Dr Winston NC
- lrains Dr. Smolik
- odee Dr. Nadzam
- BillyvMom
- Mesee Dr. T Baker
- VSGRachel Dr. M Kligmin
- robyluevano Dr. Kim
- Tishissweet Dr. Rogers
- rachdreamz
Sept 5
Bkmama
Jenn31MA DR David Brams, MA (may have been moved to the 10th)
Nikiw714 WA
Purplegoddess
- Velena
Sept 6
- strangelyNormal
- NeNe1284
- lizandberry Dr. Spiegel
- nybecca20
- suepeeps Dr. T Jones
Sept 7 Robbino Dr Garcia TJ
- Christine7 Dr. Umbach
- MCM Dr. Abu-jaish
- 72Wade
- Marking15 Dr. Lyass
- Oahu Firewater Dr. Almaza-reyes
- Auburngal
Sept 10 Scubadottie Dr Ortiz TJ
- KMerton Dr. Chaudhari (possibly the 12th)
- StepanieRN Dr. King
- scubadottie Dr. Ortiz
- mufasas-mom Dr. Marsden
- dewdrop78 Dr. Bono
- trinie75
- amazon13 Dr. Garcia
- Tonyswifey
- Peace36love Dr. Henderson
Sept 11 secondchance4me Dr Pohl RI
Formygirls San Diego
- besquared1426 Dr. Moeinolimolki
- fluffydiva345
- JennLhp
- Losing it in Lima
- Staisea Dr. Croudhamel
Sept 12
- Newgrandmother
- KMerton Dr. Chaudhari
- wallman
- sleeveshelly
- toyaboo22 Dr. A Fernandez
- justine13 Dr. Foster
Sept 13 Emme Dr Garcia TJ
Jeepermom Dr Richard Duluth
- scaredoftheunknown
- stalissa01 Dr. Pham
- lanuevanicolasa Dr. Pham
Sept 14 StrangelyNormal Dr Gonzales TJ ( have her listed as Sept 6?)
- nursgirl Dr. Ponce
- soready219 dr. verboonen
- Texas89 Dr. Jayasrelan
- readytobesleeved Dr. Kim
Sept 15 kmwheel Dr kelly
Sept 17 germen Dr Quinones TJ
- BigChrisATX
- sramos89 Dr. Barker
- xavtay2
- momof3 Dr. Kuwada
- DaniMama Dr. Irani
- change4life2012 Dr. Snyder
- resqume3 Dr. Beltre
- moelizg
- brookeco Dr. Valpe
Sept 18 Spellbug Captain Flint , FL
sleever963 Dr Kim TX
- sml1997 Dr. Zorn
- wookie10 Dr. Chung
Sept 19 feelsme2 Dr Ahmad NY
somers2698's husband
- thin1day
- LloydThumper
- jaded Dr. Stowers
Sept 20 Beefalogal Dr Kim Trophy Club
- gorjess907 Dr. Garcia
- Scorpio2479 Dr. Kim
- candyce
- Joisey01 Dr. Kim
Sept 21
- missyshy
Sept 24
- Saah'sMom Dr. Cummins
- misstiffsue Dr. Aanestad
- Jakesgirl Dr. Chin
- navyjd7
- chad2rad Dr. Uchal
- Mickey1956
- JammyDancer Dr. B Schrope
- needasleeve Dr. Curry
Sept 25 iprincess Dr Scott Dallas
Leahleah Dr Aceves
- Tbrendon
- preety-pink Dr. Alvarez
- Liguori Dr. Marley
- barisaxilady Dr. Claros
Sept 26 somers2698
- XTwisted_LemonX Dr. Macik
Sept 27 ladyk Dr Katz
Sept 28
- fran71
Sept 30
- ArtSong
WOW what a lot of winners! Sorry for typos but going to send this before I lose it again! LOL

I am on day 6 of my 2 week pre-op diet and wanted to share a couple of the recipes with you that have been helping me get through this time! All of these are additions to vanilla Protein shakes. Enjoy!
Gingerbread shake: Add a dash of each: nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and ground ginger along with a tablespoon of sugar free caramel coffee flavoring.
Morning coffee Shake: Add a single serve packet of instant Decaf coffee a tablespoon of sugar free chocolate Syrup, and a dash of cinnamon
Coconut cream pie shake: Add a teaspoon of coconut extract, a dash of cinnamon, and a tablespoon of caramel coffee flavoring
"Mounds" shake: Add a teaspoon of coconut extract and a tablespoon of chocolate syrup
I have several more, but these are a few of my favorites that go beyond the standard chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. :-)

Reese's shake
1.5 scoop vanilla Protein powder
1 TBSP creamy Peanut Butter (I used crunchy)
1 TBSP hershey's cocoa powder (I used swiss miss hot cocoa mix)
8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (I used FF braums milk)
4 ice cubes (I used crushed and to my liking)
Put in a blender and enjoy! IT'S GOOD TOO! I wonder how it'd taste with PB extract instead of PB JenniJune! Hey it'd save on calories (but does cut some Protein out too, oh boo).
I have quite a few other shake recipes if you want them, but that is one that I used just the other day and it was good - the whole family thought so.
And protein bullets are nasty to me... but try Cytosport's whey isolate drinks <<for any phase in the diet plan (i.e. clears TO full).
They are RTDs that I bought from Vitamin Shop and they are Clear liquids. If memory serves me correctly, it's 38 g of protein per 16 oz. bottle. The best two of the three flavors that I liked were tangerine and tropical. You can buy them individually from Vit Shop's refrigerated section. If you don't like them, return the opened container with the receipt w/in 7 days and you get a full refund! (love vit shop for that reason alone)
As you progress to real foods, it's much easier to get your protein in via real protein sources (i.e. fish, meat, shrimp, etc.). I eventually cut most of my protein additions (like shakes/RTDs/protein puddings) out (as they add in quick calories and it slowed me down in losing/reaching my goal).

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.

I got a passport for the trip, but on our trip back over the boarder the other two patients in the van only had their Lic & birth cert copy and no one even blinked an eye. Made me feel a lil silly for spending all that money on my passport. However... now that I have a passport and a sleeve soon I am going to use both to lay on a beach in another country in a bikini

My name is Julie and I was sleeved by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico (Obesity Control Centre) on August 13, 2012. Thoroughly researched and found he was exceptionally qualified and well-recommended. Two weeks post-op and extremely pleased with the way surgery went - no complications, no difficulties with post care and wounds are healing well.

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.

OK, this is always a controversial topic, so I am going to say this as gingerly as possible. You definitely should make the decision that is best for you, but it would be helpful if you did not make disparaging remarks about the doctors whom you do not prefer. I and several other people have used one or the other of the doctors whom you subtly critique. Beyond that, most of us are happy with our experience. I find your comments a bit obnoxious.
That said, good luck with making your decision.

I am planning on a September date, too. It will here before we know it!

just think guys by christmas we will be smoking hot im getting me a cute sexy outfit

3rd NUT appointment Wednesday & I start my pre-op liquid diet Wednesday too! OMG 9/19 can't get here fast enough!

Most def!!! Can't wait to meet ya!! Have u started a preop diet yet? My Dr wants just 10 days, but I'm starting tomorrow to condition myself