notmeanymore

Thank you and you've done a wonderful job too! Those skinny little legs! I have hot yoga to thank for how my legs got like that but Im still not brave enough to rock white shorts like you. My hero lol.

Look at you Miss Red Carpet! You look beautiful. You should be very proud of yourself. Your hubby will be showing you off all night! Congrats!

Congrats to you! You look amazing! I was also sleeved on 12/5/12 and am 5'4 so I know the joys you are going thru. Keep up the great work.

I know how you feel! When I see that M on my tags its almost unbelievable sometimes. Congrats to you! You work those size medium scrubs!

Thats totally normal Andrew. I was really freaked out the day before too. I cried, I wrote letters to my family just in case something happened, I prepared as much as I could. The hospital said I could take my xanax to help with the nerves which helped a little. But I think what helped me the most was knowing that the life ahead of me was not going to be of quality, things were not going to get better, I was scared of even more health issues that would arise. I had to do this. Living in regret was not something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Ive got a whole new life now with so many possibilities. Keep those positive thoughts in your head, listen to the doctors and follow the rules. Please check in and let us know how you are doing once you can after surgery. Good luck to you Andrew! We'll see you on the losers bench soon

I would never let the hubby take photos before surgery but I gave him permission to take pics at will. We went hiking down and up the Waipio Valley, did an 8 mile round trip hike to the green sand beach, snorkeled, did yoga on a cliff etc. When we got to the top of the Waipio Valley I cried because a year previous I wouldve never attempted it much less completed it. Full of energy is right. I wake up early now (cannot sleep past 8am) whereas I would sleep until 12 or 1 previously. Ive wasted so much time. The hubby and I are making up for lost time now and want to do anything and everything we can. Im even going to get him to come to yoga lol.

LOL I giggled at 'skinny legs'. Never in my life did I think someone would tell me I had skinny legs. The health benefits are the most important thing like you said but the other positive things sure are a great added bonus like the self confidence, the strength, the new clothes, etc. I do love my new clothes (and so does my hubby).

Here you go...

I told some and didnt tell some. The people that I knew would be supportive I told, the judgemental gossip types I didnt. If they ask I just say I eat small meals several times a day, lots of Proteins, low carbs and hot yoga which is all true.

My surgiversary was yesterday as well and I started at 242 too!! Congrats to you (and me of course lol). Keep up the great work.

hey girlfriend look at you!!!! you are hot so happy for you!!!! your DH sounds so smart (after all he married you ) caring for you/about - support is so helpful - how nice to have him there!!! your co-morbities gone/happiness returned..... can't get much better than that give doc a hug from me too , as i wish to thank him for a successful surgery he performed on you by the way, guess who turns 60 next month!!!! take care bud so very happy for you keep up the great job good luck "me" Hello my sweet friend! Well Ive got news for you....This morning I hit 100 POUNDS LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im happy dancing right into the Century Club and giving you a HUGE hug! Ill buy the drinks and we will toast to my 100 pounds and your upcoming 60th birthday! My goal was to hit 100 by my 1 year surgiversary but Ill take a year and 1 day lol. I cant believe it! Im walking on sunshine! Love you sweety xoxo, thanks for holding the Century Door open for me, your arm must be tired lol.

I hope that your experience is as complication free and successful as mine has been thus far. Thanks for the kind words.

Thank you so much. Yes my only regret is not having done it sooner. Im looking forward to all new experiences and joys this next year will bring.

Well at least he can take a good shot!! I tell you my husband waits till my stomach is sticking out and my neck disappears then SNAP! Picture taken.. Plunk him in the noggin for me lol.

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the support of my VSG family. Everyone has a story so thank you for reading about mine XOXO

Funny thing about the yoga poses...that was taken this year in Hawaii by my husband. He thought he was the friggin paparazzi taking pics of me. He had me doing poses on top of a mountain, a cliff, with sea spray in the background, etc. He was so proud and apparently is loving his new wife lol.

The waiting is the hardest part. Hope you get wheeled in soon so you can start your new sleeved life! Good luck.

One year ago today I was laying on the operating room table having 85% of my stomach removed. As scared as I was, I was more scared to stay heavy and unhealthy. I was only 42 and more unhealthy than some 60 year olds I knew. I started at 242. On my 5'4 frame, that was a lot. The list of ailments I had at age 42 was sad. I felt sorry for myself and didnt like the person I had let myself become. The only thing I could be happy for myself about was that I married my dream man 3 years prior. It was with his support and love that I came to the decision to be sleeved. It all started with being diagnosed with sleep apnea. My husband was very scared that he would come home one day and find me dead in bed. So I began researching sleep apnea treatements besides cpap. I looked into a surgery that was not covered by insurance and didnt actually have a very good success rate. As I kept researching, I started reading literature about bariatric surgery. Not as a cure for sleep apnea but in my case, with my apnea, my metabolism had pretty much stopped because I wasnt getting a recurperative sleep, I would injure myself exercising, my body was in pain from carrying around all the extra, etc. Therefore all the damage I had done to my body with the unhealthy eating I would most likely have to live with and life wasnt getting any better. Much to the contrary, it was continually getting worse. A year ago I had the following: SEVERE sleep apnea, back problems, planters faciitis, migraines, allergies (even to make-up), short of breath, high blood pressure, blood sugar issues (pre-dia betic), high cholesterol, anxiety attacks, night sweats, eczema, aches and pains, skin tags and depression. Im sure there are more to list but you get the point, very unhealthy for a anyone much less a 42 year old woman. A year later I DO NOT have the following: SEVERE sleep apnea, back problems, planters faciitis, migraines, allergies (even to make-up), short of breath, high blood pressure, blood sugar issues (pre-diabetic), high cholesterol, anxiety attacks, night sweats, eczema, aches and pains, skin tags and depression. I have discovered an intense love of hot yoga which is my main source of exercise, I eat healthier than Ive ever eaten in my life, Im happier than Ive ever been in my life, Im healthier than Ive ever been, my blood work comes back great, I take no medication except for a Calcium supplement and nexium, I am able to do all kinds of physical things I only dreamed I could do, Im not obsessed with food any more, I have so much energy, I cant sleep past 8am now (I used to sleep until 1 or 2 on the weekends), I dont need to take naps anymore, I can curl up in ball in the movie theatre seat lol, my clothes are so tiny now that they all fit in my drawers lol, I get to shop in the juniors section, I take pride in my appearance, our food bill is cut more than in half, I can wear makeup again, I went from a screaming size 18/20 pants - 2xl tops to a comfy size 8 pants and a medium top, so many positive things. When I see my surgeon I hug him because bottom line is, he saved my life and what a great life it is! Happy Surgiversary to me!

No problem, Im excited that you ordered one. Youll have to let me know how your nature treats turn out. If you have any questions just ask, I might be able to help. I havent quite mastered Jerky yet but Im working on it.

Now Im craving miso soup, thanks lol. Last night was egg drop soup and tonight Im all over the miso.

Great point but for me personally, I have trouble getting in enough calories even though I get in my Proteins for the day so the calories in my case are fine (especially because they involve fiber) but may not be for others. If I cant get some kind of nutrition benefit from something I put in my mouth, I typically dont eat it. Protein, Fiber, Vitamins, Calcium, etc.

Im the same way, I still will choose sizes that are too big because there is no way I fit into size 8 pants or a medium (sometimes a small) top. Its unreal. Its ok though because its like a new NSV every time I actually do fit into the tiny clothes

I had cream of whatever Soups strained. I like the cheddar cheese one because I didnt have to strain anything. I also made egg drop soup (extra Protein because of the egg).

Ive also dehydrated red bell pepper slices. First you coat them lightly in maple syrup and dehydrate them the same way you would do apples. They are AMAZING! I can fit probably 4 red bell peppers in my dehydrator and they will be gone so fast itll make your head spin. They are so good and good for you! My life revolves around fiber lol when Im not obessessing about Protein of course.

As promised, here are pics of our apple chips. The ones in the dehydrator picture are done. When I put them in there they touch but dont overlap and as you can see, they shrink up pretty good. I can usually fill the dehydrator using 3 small/medium apples or 2 large ones. I set the temp around 130-135 and leave in for around 11 hours. The will crisp up even more once they are out of the dehydrator.