BigMommaNoMore

I'm scheduled for surgery 8/27 in Memphis....looking for other Tennesseans to share the journey with. I'm both excited and scared.

Ill join in... 8/27/12-DOS- 223 Today: 166.4 Goal for 1st of Spring is to reach my personal goal Weight of 150-155. I thank God every day for leading me down this path. My Sleeve is the best thing that I ever did for myself. I tell EVERYONE that asks about my weight loss about the sleeve!!

Congrats!!

Congrats. Keep us up on your progress.

I had surgery 8/27/12. I am officially down 43 lbs. I have never felt better; physically or mentally. Life is wonderful. Onward and downward!! One week before surgery 40 days post op and down 27lbs. 3 months post op and down 43 lbs 3 months post op down 43 lbs.

Congrats 75 is awesome. You are well on your way!! It really does feel good to be in a better place in life doesn't it?

I haven't worked out like I need to. I have walked in some 5Ks which is something I probably couldn't have done before. I do ride a stationary bike a little but not regularly. The hardest part is leaving food on my plate. I make very small plates and I stop the very second I feel anything close to full so leaving uneaten food is hard. Really no part of the whole surgery has been real bad. I would most definitely do it over a hundred times. My only regret is not taking this step sooner.

My weight on day of surgery was 221. I was self pay due to lower BMI and not qualifying with insurance.

Picture in green shirt are both taken one week prior to surgery.

Good luck on your upcoming surgery. Hang in there with the pre-op. it is so worth the trouble.

I was self pay. My first appt was July 3 and I was sleeved on August 27. Could if done it earlier but I had planned a vacation. Good luck on approval.

Surgery on 8/27/12 Size 18/20 day of surgery and XL to 2X top Yesterday I purchased size 12's and a medium top

I was sleeved on 8-27-12. Just 40 days ago. I am down 27 pounds since the day of surgery. I feel like I've had a spare tire surgically removed from my middle. I am so happy I did this for me!! The week before surgery. Week prior to surgery

Starting weight in day of surgery was 221 Weight today.…194 and dropping. Everything I've lost has come out of the middle.

These pictures were taken today. Cheesy because I took myself but they show what a difference just 40 days has made. 40 days after surgery Today-27 lbs lighter AND HAPPY!!!!

I had struggled with the problem "to tell or not to tell" ever since I got my surgery done on 8-27-12. I have lost 26 pounds and it is obvious on my 5'6" frame. Many people had been coming up to me and complimenting me on my weight loss and of course the common question is "how did ya do it?" I didn't want to lie or to mislead anyone and make them think that I did it by diet alone. I wanted to be real and let them know that it is ok to need help getting healthy. I had told a couple of people and their responses had all been positive. I decided on 9-22-12 to make it "Facebook official" because we all know that unless it is said on Facebook it hasn't been said right!!! LOL. Below is my post. I was amazed at the responses I got. I had 103 likes and over 60 comments (well wishes) in the matter of a couple of hours. People are really supportive. I write this because I know lots of people struggle with the issue of telling others. I hope in some way that I can be an inspiration and let them know that it is really ok for the world to know that you needed a little bit of help getting healthy and staying healthy. You would be surprised how many people honestly want to know more about the surgery and how many people don't know where to begin on their journey to health. I have had more inbox messages asking questions about how to go about looking into surgery than I can even answer in a day’s time. I don’t necessarily want to be the poster child for gastric sleeve but I want to be supportive and help those who don't know. THE FAMOUS FACEBOOK POST THAT STARTED IT ALL!! I've struggled for years with being a "big girl". I've joked about it to cover my tears. I've dieted and lost but I always regained everything I lost plus a little. Over the years, I have done every diet known to man. Realizing that I have so much to live for I made the decision to do something about my health. I knew I needed help to get this weight off and to keep it off forever. I didn't tell anyone about my plans except those that meant the very most to me, those who wouldn't judge me for choosing to do something drastic to improve my life and my health. Today, however I am making it "Facebook official" because I have reached my very first scale goal. On 8/27/12 I had gastric sleeve surgery done. I weighed in the day of surgery at 221 big ole heavy pounds. This morning as I stepped on the scales, big huge crocodile tears ran down my face as I saw the greatest sight. I weighed less than 200 pounds!!! I've lost 10 inches in my waist line alone already. I've dropped from a size 18 to a 14 pants. I don't want to be a stick girl just healthy enough that I may grow old watching my children live productive lives and to be able to run and play with my grand babies. I want to ALWAYS be a part of their life. This surgery was only a tool that i purchased. I've had to make major changes in my life to get to this point. I have quit drinking; I haven't had a “real” coke in two years, any diet drinks, carbonation, or caffeine in 8 months. I am eating very healthy and trying to exercise every day. I'm proud of my decision to take control of my weight rather than let it control me. I am on my way to a new healthier me and I am one happy girl!!