HoosierGirl

BAT CAVE!!!!! So funny!! Glad you were able to talk with them....and are excited again.

Wow...thank you. This is a great "smack in the face" to regain my attention/focus to lose my remaining pounds! It's as easy (or as hard) as we CHOOSE to make it.

OMG - look at you!!! Woot woo!

I'm just shy of 5'9".....I recall weighing 145 in my late college years and being curvy, but still having a nice figure. My doctor's staff set my weight loss goal at 155 and said I could go lower if I wanted to. Currently weigh 163 and plan to get down to 145. I'm really good at GAINING weight, so if I am too thin at 145, I am sure I could gain a few pounds back! LOL!

You guys are HILARIOUS! I don't feel so much shame now knowing that I am in good company! Kobe Grill is my Walmart story. Again, not proud.

I recall being in college and happy about weighing 145lbs. Had nice curves, but was not fat. My surgeon's office set my goal weight at 155 and said I could go lower if I chose to. The way I figure, when I get to 145, if I seem sick looking I could gain a few pounds. Heck, I am a weight GAINING expert! Putting on a few pounds shouldn't be a big deal!!! Just want to be at a stable weight.

Your blog is a riot!

January 2013: 237.6 lbs Surgery Feb. 4, 2013: 223.5 lbs Sept. 15, 2013: 163.5 lbs Drs goal: 155lbs My goal: 145lbs Height: 5'8.5" Loss is 74 lbs in 9 months. Been very obedient on the diet and exercising. Feel fantastic and able to wear "normal" sized underwear. Priceless.

My insurance DOES cover the sleeve. My BMI was 37 and I had well controlled hypertension And I was DENIED surgery. Would have been OK if I were fatter (over 40 BMI), but since my BP was controlled with two meds, surgery denied. I had paid all our $5,000 annual deductible to go through all the insurance company's requirements at my local bariatric center. So so so mad! Insurance companies don't care about their patients. They actually need us to be sick so they can make money. So, I got mad & determined. Figured I needed to take the lead on what is best for me. Started doing research on VerticalSleeveTalk and learned about Mexico. Picked a surgeon, got my passport, and 7 months later am down 75 lbs. You are welcome to read through my blog. Talks about pre-surgery, selecting a surgeon, surgery day, recovery, and milestones after surgery. Right now, I am about 18 lbs from my goal. I am so greatful we have the option of so many surgeons in Mexico to help us. www.hoosierfatty.wordpress.com

I told my parents and they freaked! My hubs was good with it and that is all I cared about. Now, it's a great story based on SHOCK VALUE and I love to share what I did! Plus, it does sound totally nuts if you aren't educated on the topic. I remember when I found out Tijuana was a destination for weight loss surgery. My first thought was, "Oh man....I hope I am never desperate enough to go to Mexico!" Ha ha....lesson learned!

Frank - you look awesome and have already been incredibly successful with your sleeve! But, I totally get it...when you have goals that aren't being met, it's very frustrating. It makes sense to me that your weight loss would slow down as you get closer to goal. I have had several weeks where I lost NOTHING despite eating 900-1200 calories a day with vigorous exercise, watching carbs, lots of Water. (I'm no Fiddleman, but I have ambition!) What would happen if you changed things up a bit....walked for an hour vs. running or swam or lifted at the gym? Went back on liquids for several days or tried the 5:2 plan or other dietary changes? Maybe that would be the change your body is looking for? My younger brother is 6'2" and dieted down to 189lbs. recently and he looked like a P.O.W. The weight was too little for his frame. Try to keep these past two weeks in perspective...you DID lose weight....just not like before. The pounds may come off more slowly as you get closer to your goal weight. Good luck - you look fantastic and I can only imagine how great you feel too. Anything that is worthwhile is rarely easy. And you are in the right place for a "vent"!

Batman....I like it! As long as you get Dr. Martinez (and not the Joker) you are in good shape!! LOL! Stick to your guns and talk to the man. You will feel better if you do. And I didn't meet Dr. Martinez at OCC, only Dr. Ortiz. Interesting! But with my pre-op and post-op questions, Dr. Martinez answered those emails.

I got my surgical report about 2 weeks after surgery.

I am the whitest shade of white and mine started fading a lot around month 6. Before that, they were really noticeable. They are light pink now and I would imagine they are going to fade away to nothing like my other abdominal surgeries.

Oh yeah...my Mom was completely nuts before my surgery in Tijuana. Now, she wants to go there for a VSG too! Stay strong in your decision. Smile politely at those who 'just don't get it' yet. You know what they don't.

February to September.....goodbye 71 lbs!!!

Tomorrow, I have my VSG surgery with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center. I know there are several others coming to the same doctor/hotel in the next few weeks and months. Since I appreciated the feedback of others, I wanted to share my experience in hopes it will help someone else. When the plane landed in San Diego, I immediately had a text from Joel, the OCC driver. He was outside. The van was parked just outside of baggage claim and had my name in the window. While driving, Joel gave us the details about what to expect this evening and tomorrow. Joel is very polite and professional. We drove to the border, got out, scanned our bags and were not subject to a random search. Joel met us on the other side of the building and we drove on to the Marriott. Check in at the Marriott was smooth. Joel told is to be ready at 6:40 in the morning and that the hotel van takes you to the OCC. So we made sure to schedule the hotel van. The ride from the airport to the hotel really was only 20 minutes or so. We watched the Super Bowl in Spanish while we had dinner. My friend had DELICIOUS smelling mixed fajitas and a Tecate while I had broth and Water. Her meal was 15% off as an OCC companion. Mine was free. Broth was good and service was good. The wireless service is free for OCC folks. I did not need my Passport to get in to Mexico. So far, everyone has taken US currency as tips, etc. That is all I can think of now. More to come tomorrow! So far nothing has seemed odd and Tijuana is much nicer than the other Mexican border towns I have been to. Now I just hope I sleep tonight!

Wanted to update the folks planning to go to Tijuana for VSG surgery. If you are lurking, considering, researching - get serious, make a decision and give yourself this gift. Wish everyone could feel as good as I do. Wish everyone was off all their weight related medications. Wish everyone could be rid of back pain...knee pain...foot pain. I want everyone to be able to buy regular sized underpants for crying out loud! It's been 7 months since my surgery...has it been easy? Not every day. But I don't feel hungry all the time like I did before surgery. Even when I have a "bad" eating day now, it's nothing compared to what I was eating on a "good" day before surgery. Yes, I have 21 pounds to goal and will lose it before the end of the year. But I wanted to tell anyone who is scared of the cost...travel...safety...results...failure...it is possible to succeed beyond your wildest dreams. I wish everyone the success I continue to experience. Hugs!

The Beachbody folks have a new workout from the creator of Insanity, Shaun T. (Beachbody has several well known fitness DVD programs out, P90X, Insanity, Turbofire). Focus T25 is similar to Insanity, but is only 25 minutes long, five days per week and lasts for 60 days. Guess I am an easy sell, because I was very excited to receive this! It comes with a easy meal guide with few ingredients, a road map to take you through the program, and two different sets of DVD's. Although I only started this today, I am hopeful it will get me most of the way to losing my last 30 pounds. Anyone else doing Focus T25?

If you are still feeling weak and tired, I would not exercise. Give your self some time to heal up. Then start exercising gradually as you feel you can. I began walking about 6 weeks post op when I didn't feel tired all the time. Then started more strenuous workouts at about 3.5 months post op. My suggestion is to ease into more activity as you fully recover from surgery.

JessicaAnn...my tummy below the navel is going down. However it is not "tight" and hangs down somewhat. Add some pregnancy stretch marks. (Nice visual, right!?). If it still looks weird in a year or so, I will probably do a tummy tuck. It is what it is. I am 42 years old with two kids. I am not a super model, so it is ok. And it is the only place I have had an issue so far. Plus, I can dress around it as needed.

How does one post photos?

Early on, I was only walking a few days per week. But, at about 3 months, I started much more intense and frequent workouts. I notice that I do lose better if I am exercising. My main objective in exercising was to end up looking fit, not flabby. My arms and shoulders have nice curves, my legs are getting toned. My lower abs have a lot of excess skin due to weight loss after 2 pregnancies, 2 C-sections. Overall, I think the exercise is helping me look toned and fit. Also, I committed myself before surgery to doing EVERYTHING the doctors told me to do. My sole purpose with this surgery is to end up healthy. If they said eat Protein dense foods, drink minimum 64 oz. and exercise, I committed to make it happen. Surgery was 2/4/13 and I started the process at 237.6 and today weighed 169.6 (exactly 68 lbs). Only 24 lbs to go. Feeling amazing.

OK - I must confess - I think I have bitten off a little more than I can chew with T25! Not sure the workouts are for rookies like me! Yes, there are modifiers for beginners, but one big thing in T25 is FORM. Shaun T. keeps telling you to do things like "tighten your core" - "focus on the movement" but what does that mean exactly? I had to finally Google what it meant to "tighten your core" because I just wasn't getting it. And I know I am not doing some of the burpee type exercises right because my wrist is killing me. Perhaps I am too old for this? I don't know. Love the calorie burn, but all the jumping is not helping my knee. I think it would be great for someone who is a little younger and maybe doesn't have so much weight yet to lose? Think I am going to have to step back to what was working for me this summer....need a little more instruction vs. 'just do it'...lol....