HoosierGirl

So ladies I just came back from a cruise and my boy thought I lost my mind! I kayaked, parasailed, and went on a zip lining/ suspension bridge adventure (needless to say I am so sore right now!). He's wondering what's gotten into me (I ate alligator and tried escargot too).
I will post pics.

Kindle - totally agree...wouldn't trade my sleeve for the world! Still nice to see OCC featured on Nightline. Takes some of the fear out of weight loss surgery abroad.

Hi everyone !!!! Well I could help but notice how many if u are so excited about ur upcoming surgeries and I remembered how reading about others experiences help me. So just to share a bit if my story : I had surgery May 9th 2014 at the OCC with dr Ariel Ortiz and Martinez and I have to say it was an amazing experience .... The attention was great and the place was very clean . Thankfully I have had no complications and am recovering very fast the day after surgery I was able to walk back and forth from the marriott to the Walmart and even accompanied my husband for dinner at Applebee's in the center of the walmart which is very nice if I may add. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

So...I have officially lost 50% of my excess weight!!! I am down 70lbs. I feel amazing but it still doesn't feel real!

For those of you who mentioned that Dr Ortiz is sexy:
 
 

 
 
 

 
BTW - He is charming too.

Back at OCC today with my hubby! I forgot to get a pic with Dr. Ortiz at the beginning of my journey, but I am 6 months post op today!

Hey everyone. Hope all is well with you all. I've been working like crazy and am now taking a few weeks off for vacation (yay!!). Doing well and loving my sleeve. I've developed a new horrible horrible habit- going to Ross! OMG- I'm so bad with the clothes shopping. I can't help myself if I see a cute dress- gotta have it. Hi- my name is Tamara and I'm a shopaholic

SoCal mom,
 
I'm right behind you.... Head out Sunday for Surg on Monday. PLEASE, if your feeling up to it keep me up to date on what's going on with you.
 
My text number is 604-618-0661
Please PM me as well.
 
I want to try to meet up with you at Marriott.
 
ALL the very best and good luck with everything!

Sitting here at San Diego International Airport waiting for my driver. Surgery today! Will let you all know how it goes!

Raven - it's not how fast you get to goal, only important that you make it to goal! You are doing great! I was technically a slow loser too, but still made goal in a year. Actually blew past the nutritionist goal and hit my personal goal. Been maintaining 143-147 since January.
If you feel good, that is all that matters! Good job!

Raven - it's not how fast you get to goal, only important that you make it to goal! You are doing great! I was technically a slow loser too, but still made goal in a year. Actually blew past the nutritionist goal and hit my personal goal. Been maintaining 143-147 since January.
If you feel good, that is all that matters! Good job!

I am 5'8" and maintaining at 145. Highest ever weight 272.

Ha! B2B you are funny! But I agree with you completely.
Mexico seems like it should be scary or the price "too" affordable. Having my sleeve at OCC opened my mind to question how "great" our US medical system really is. Expensive YES, efficient and patient focused...hmmmm... Not sure about that.
I am planning on heading back to TJ in December for plastics. More experienced and less expensive surgeons...why go anywhere else?

I am 5'8" and maintaining at 145. Highest ever weight 272.

Curiouslyhopeful - when you get to wear that dress....and I KNOW you are going to get to wear that dress....please be sure to post a picture of it! You are going to do awesome because you are taking the long view and you have a great long-term vision! So excited for !

OK I know I'm going crazy posting for now but I'm sure everyone here had that one particular thing they wanted to do or wear when able to.....Well I want my husband to take me to see the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. I want him in a tux and I want to wear a blue sequined, floor length, spaghetti strap evening gown. I've dreamed of this for so long but never went because of being fat. 2014 I declare you the year my dreams come true !!

If you are sold on your doc, that is all you need! Just be confident in your decision, talk to their patients, and understand exactly what will happen each step of the way during your surgery experience. I had surgery on 2/4/13 and really thought the weight loss was all about the surgeon....nope! That is like saying good drivers only buy Honda's (or insert whatever brand). Your success is all about YOU. Just be sure the doctor has a good track record, operates in a clean facility and has your safety in mind. Make sure you can access your doctor's staff directly for questions after surgery. Good luck in doing your research!

Im at florence Oasis of Hope hospital now. My surgery was this morning and I was very groggy. I tried walking twice but ended up sleeping for another few hours before finally being able to. Since then, I have been walking regularly but nothing is helping the gas trapped in my left chest area and around to my back shoulder blade. Am I in pain? No. Im just in discomfort with that air pocket. I dont feel pain in my incisions though, yay! Im looking forward to tomorrow. Will update then.

Covatila, just wanted to let you know the month long stall is over! Feeling better, so Doubled my fluids and calories over the last week and lost 3 pounds for a total of 2 pounds down in the last month. Yeah, it's slow, but is still LOSING and I'll take it!

I leave for OCC in 23 days! Holy cow this is really going to happen! Yikes! I need to find my initial emails and check over all of the things I need to do before I go! Getting nervous!

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained.
The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head.
What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet.
You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!!
Whew! That was my best pep talk!

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained.
The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head.
What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet.
You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!!
Whew! That was my best pep talk!

You guys are amazing! Thank you SO much! You are so encouraging! I really appreciate it! I feel bad for posting all my negative thoughts and feelings but I don't know anyone else who's gone through this journey and you are always so helpful!

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained.
The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head.
What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet.
You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!!
Whew! That was my best pep talk!

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained.
The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head.
What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet.
You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!!
Whew! That was my best pep talk!