mysleevemylife

CONGRATS!!! :-) BEST WISHES!!

I started gaining weight around 12, before that I was thin. I don't remember what it felt like not to be fat. I feel like all of my mannerism, my personality, my understanding of people, my empathy, who i am as a person is because I am fat and had to learn how to exist in a skinny world. I feel like I am me, because i am fat. So now i am worry about not being fat, that as the pounds leave me, other pieces of who i am will to. that i will wake up and be different and that scares me the most. Don't get me wrong i know my quality of life will improve 100 times over when i lose weight, i will be able to do things i can't do now because i am to big to slow, and i get to tired to fast. I know my health will get better, health is the biggest reason i am doing this. but I am just scare of not being fat.....

I understand completely. You will see that as time goes, a new but better "you" will surface & you will get to know the new you. It's a great experience. I'm going through it now. I love my new found confidence & parts of me that lay dormant for so long are resurfacing....good parts. Best wishes! Go for it! Therer is a saying that says "Do it, even with fear."

I love this. It reinforces the notion that our choices are powerful, and that the choice to be successful can be as simple as choosing not to fail.

Even when I make bad choices on this journey, I never see it as failure, quite the opposite. I see it as all part of the journey, all part of what I am learning.

I totally agree with you. Everything I experience, good/bad, etc is all just part of my journey. I will ride the waves until I reach my shore. I won't beat myself up or give up. Great point!

For the first time in my life I actually believe that I am capable of any goal I set for myself.

I have put my body through countless WLS complications and death twice.

This time, I have no clue when or how it happened, but my VSG decision was the trigger. I started pre decision very depressed, but by the time I made the decision to get sleeved I knew this was my turning point. Never have I given myself the option of failure.

Who knows where the path will take me. I know for sure that my life is already changed and I can't contain the excitement I have for today and the future. It's a whole new world of opportunities that I never considered possible! It's amazing what a healthy, happy body and mind can do for ones life. Its absolutely beautiful!

Thank you for responding to this post, cause I needed this. I'm having some personal issues that's making it rough on me emotionally & I'm fighting to not fall into depression AGAIN...Failure is not an option for me either. I refuse to give up this time. I'm glad you mentioned the possibilities & things that await in the future, cause that made me smile. I need to stay focused on the things that are coming in my life for my good, cause right now...it's rough looking at my present reality.

To keep on working on myself. I want my inside to match my outside...whereas before surgery and goal I really felt that the outside was what needed changing. In fact, my problems started inside and the weight was just a sign of the problems in my life. I spent years being fat because I was hiding myself and didn't want/feel I deserved to have real relationships with other people. Slap on an extra 100 pounds and a mean look and people leave you alone, you know?

I have been told how pretty I am my whole life and I suppose that due to a myriad of totally screwed up experiences I tried to distract from that with ugly behavior. I want to be more grateful. I want to be happier just as I am...without feeling like I need something else to happen before I'll allow happiness into my life. I have come so far in my life and I have done an amazing job taking care of my family and being a mom to my kids...things that, quite frankly, have taken a lot of work and effort for me, because I grew up in such a terribly messed up home. If you learn how to parent and how to have relationships from your family as a child, who teaches you how to do things properly if they're completely backwards and harmful? Loving people or letting people close to me does not come naturally. Being nice, being friendly, being open, being unselfish...those things take effort though they are becoming more natural as I continue to work on them.

So for me, the most important thing is to make sure that who I am inside and how I'm feeling match the woman on the outside, who is pretty and smiling and looks like she has it together. I want kindness and forgiveness to be my first responses, not irritation or frustration. It's hard. I'm a work in progress and I want to keep working. I also want to remember that I always get to try again tomorrow. And every day I work on me, the REAL me, not just my body, it gets easier and I feel less like I'm acting or performing.

That's got to be progress.

~Cheri

This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing straight from your heart. You def have my best wishes for today, tomorrow, & always. Many continued Blessings!! :-)

Ruthie,

Do it for those that want to see you in a few years.

Do it for the person you will be next month, next year.

Do it because you deserve to feel good.

Do it because you love yourself.

Throw out the food in the house you know you should not be eating.

Put your workout clothes out the night before and set your alarm.

Buy the healthy foods you should be eating and put them in convenient locations.

Lynda

This is great! Thanks for sharing & I agree!!!

I'll have to come back through to read your post, but just wanted to say WELCOME!!

congrats! beautiful "after pic". well, not after but "during". you will meet your goal! keep up the great work. :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

The most important for me, I am hopefully live a longer life and be able to see my grandchildren when they come along and be able to help take care of them.

Family means the most! That's awesome. :-)

Initially it was about the weight loss and the health improvement. Over time though, it has become about living an authentic life, being true to myself, being in the moment and consciously choosing well. That is, choosing me. Choosing health, choosing authenticity, choosing to live a good life.

The weight loss now is a bonus to all the other gains this surgery has bought to my life.

That's beautiful!

Mine is 2 keep this weight off and get down 2 a healthy bmi I'm only 2months out

Improve my mobility...I never want to be bedfast again; I suffered an injury and was bedfast for nearly 6 months. My increasing weight made it so much worse even when I was mobile again; I knew I'd be bedfast long-term, or permanently, if I didn't get my weight in control...that was my # 1 reason in seeking wls.

I know that had to be VERY difficult. I'm so glad that you are on the road to better health. I totally wish you the best on your journey. Thanks for the response to the post. :-)

Hey everyone, I hope that your day is going well thus far. :-) Just wondering...when you think about this journey of better health, what is the most important thing/goal, etc to you? The key is to pick only one thing. I'd like to see what you all think. For me, the most important thing to me along this journey is that I NEVER GIVE UP. This is not easy & sometimes I feel weary/overwhelmed when I think about how hard I have to continue to work to accomplish my goal & maintain a healthy BMI, but I refuse to give up. I've given up too many times in the past & that's part of what got me to 303lbs to begin with. No matter how hard it is....I...Must.....Keep...Pressing....On. (Sigh) WE WILL DO THIS LADIES & GENTS!!!

I think you have to purposely try to gain to not lose. Like, constantly drink calories and eat slider foods, or eat until your stuffed all the time.

I agree based only from my personal experience cause I've eaten all of the following in moderation, BUT I've had pizza, Panda Express Orange chicken with Steamed Brown Rice, Buffalo Wild Wings chicken Wings with Sauce (both bone in & bone out) & I didn't gain from it. I only stayed the same. So, I'm thinking that it would take quite an effort to gain a substantial amount after the sleeve. Disclaimer: AGAIN, THIS IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE. I AM NOT PROMOTING THE food LISTED ABOVE. IT'S MY SLEEVE & MY LIFE. I ENJOYED ALL OF IT IN MODERATION & WILL CONTINUE TO EAT LIKE THIS AT TIMES CAUSE IT WORKS FOR MY LIFESTYLE.

Say what???? That is amazing and congratulations on all of your hard work!

I love that scripture. I just wrote it down. Also, to the creator of this post, CONGRATS!! THAT'S TRULY AMAZING! & YOU STILL HAVE MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TOO. THANKS FOR SHARING!!

^{I personally swear by Biotin. I tell you, it DOES help my hair to grow faster. I know there is technically no scientific proof, but I know it works for me. Also, the total overall health of my hair is better. Shinier, softer, stronger...I love taking it. I've never heard of hair falling out AFTER taking biotin...hmmm...I'll have to look into it. My personal opinion would be to try it since it's not pricey & I agree that it's helpful to skin & nails also. :-)}

I'm def not suggesting this as a fun exercise, but I will tell you...the 30 day squat challenge that I found on-line has really changed my life. Sounds silly, but seriously. Before surgery I would frown at lunges & squats & ALWAYS avoided them. Well, a friend of mine is a personal trainer & my legs are def a trouble spot for me. She suggested it & one day, I picked up the 10lb dumbells & just went for it. First day was 50. My legs have changed so much. They are much stronger & I'm starting to feel that they are sexy!

Anyway, on to the fun stuff...Zumba is awesome! Walking is one of the best exercises & not hard on your body. Water aerobics is awesome & very good on your joints. THen, dancing is a blast & you burn so many cals.

Yes I've had soda. It didn't cause any problems but it did make me feel very full for hours. It was like the bubbles just sat in there the rest of the day. Some people tolerate it very well though. My suggestion would be to just have a couple sips here and there, for no other reason than to avoid the full feeling that may keep you from eating real food.

Oh - and good for you having the very nerve to ask a question that our die-hard forum members will consider a "rule breaking" behavior:) Get ready for all the preaching that will most likely follow your question. Just go ahead and read it all while having a taste of your favorite carbonated beverage.

Very good response.

I took my two kids and family to a city fair and was told by the employee I was too heavy or big to ride as the safety strap would not close. I am 30 mother of two girls and been in a relationship for 13 years, never thought I would be so embarrassed. I am 5' 4" & 269lbs this has never happened. I can not wait Abby longer for my surgery to come so I can live life. How can you all relate.

I totally can relate. Not too long ago, my job had an "Event at the Lake" & I was so excited about the Zip Line. I waited in line in the heat & sweating just to get to the front of the line & the harness would not fit around my waist. Everyone in the line looked. That gave me so much more determination & I felt like I needed to "fight for it" even harder. Hang in there. It's hard to experience things like that, but it makes us stronger. You got this! :-) Best Wishes.

This is what I did at about 7 weeks out. It will give you something to look forward to. I purchased Mission Brand Low Carb (small) tortillas, the white kind & I baked it to get it firm, then I topped it with pizza sauce & reg pepperoni. Now we know that turkey pepperoni prob would have been better option, but I was counting my coins that day, lol! Anyway, I topped it with pizza flavored cheese also & but it into four. I enjoyed it & it satisfied the craving. Hope this helps!! :-)

Yes, I would also say to have a heart to heart talk with yourself & revisit your intial reasons for having the surgery in the first place. I also recommend setting fresh goals for yourself that have nothing to do with the scale, just NSVs only. Then, write down your vision & plan that you have to knock off the last lbs you plan to lose & hang it where you will be reminded daily. Hope this helps. Best wishes...

Hello, I'm sure you will def received mixed reviews/answers on this one, because I've found that Docs differ on this theory. My Doc told me that beer in moderation would be fine AFTER I'd gone through my first mandatory diet stages & at 5mos out, you're def past that part. Now, I've personally stayed away from carbonated drinks, because upon my own research, I've found that more often than not, sleevers don't recommend them. I would def to be sure ask your surgeon, BUT don't just get an answer, make sure he/she backs up the answer with more than just an "Because I said so" approach, because I'm a strong believer in knowing why/why not so that it makes sense to me. I know that I really didn't give a direct answer, but that's only because there really isn't one unless it comes from your surgeon. I hope this somewhat helps, though. Hey, update me. I'm curious to see how this turns out. Best wishes.

CONGRATS...OH MY, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DAY FOR MYSELF. I WON'T GIVE UP...NO WAY. :-)

Good Morning! I've been doing squats with weights & they have toned me up quite a bit. Just google "30 day squat challenge". I've found that there are more than one. For example, one starts with only like 10 on 1st day, but the one I'm doing started with 50 on the first day. Also, walking is always a great bet, just make sure that your shoes are supportive, but I know you know that...just a reminder. :-) Water aerobics is great & easy on the joints. Now, all of these will help you firm as well. Dumb bells are great to start a routine.