melissapaige84

I've told people slowly. I told my family, good friends, and Sunday school class beforehand. I keep a public blog about my progress but I haven't advertised it on Facebook or anything. I think I'm secretly waiting until I've almost reached my goal weight lol It's partly out of embarrassment that I let myself get to where I did and partly because I don't like to be judged. I haven't had anyone react negatively so far though. I've lost 67lbs so far and am much healthier for it. So I'm sure I will probably share soon. You do what you feel is best. At 6 days out, you're not going to feel like yourself anyway. Wait it out if you need to and then you'll realize that you made one of the best decisions of your life and you'll want to tell other people in case it's something that may help them or someone they know. Good luck!

I'm from Charlotte. I had my sleeve done on March 20, 2013 by Dr. Pirrello as well.

Thank you for sharing this Cheri! I am almost 4 months out and I have been going to counseling to work on some issues that may have been what has caused my weight problem all along and I would recommend it to EVERYONE! I also would really like to have a baby (hopefully next year) so you give me hope. You have a great way with words and your story is very inspiring. Thank you for your honesty.

Hi Melissa

i had my one month (really 5 week) appt today too. i was cleared for a bunch of stuff too.i got an elliptical.. I hope to start using it , I have been walking as well. but i like it ,I go to the park and its so peaceful.. how are you doing otherwise ???? if you dont mind me asking,,, how much Protein and Water are you getting in ... ??? and be careful who you knockout with those boxing gloves !!!! LOL

I won't actually be hitting anyone Just the heavy bag. Relieves frustration and stress and different emotions. I am doing great. I have needed to up my water but I finally reached 64 oz yesterday. Hoping to keep that going. I'm getting in at least 60 protein which I will be upping as well. I've had to add calories because I was only getting in about 600 and the doctor wants me at 1000 especially doing the boxing so I'm trying to get better about that. Tonight I'm going to start a strength training routine mixed with intervals on the treadmill. Walking bores me but if I can get to where I'm able to jog, I enjoy it more. How are you doing? Everything going ok?

I had my one month appointment today (technically 5 weeks) and got cleared for all exercise so I went and joined the local boxing club. I felt SO good afterward. Now tomorrow may be a different story lol I just hate to walk for exercise because I find it incredibly boring. So glad I can do something now where I actually feel like I'm doing something. I had to just walk in place during a little bit of it but for the most part, I did pretty well. Got a free set of boxing gloves too win win!

Thank you again everyone for the kind words of encouragement. My Stats are on my signature (weight) and my profile for height. I don't really have any tips, I just my new small tummy as a tool for sucess. I Work out doing boxing and kickboxing at a professional boxing gym at least 2 times a week, they are hour long classes. I try and take walks with my family and dog on the weekends for a few miles. I just watch what I eat very carefully on myfitness pal. I stay under 800 cals , under 40 carbs and get at least 60 grams of Protein. Those are the only 2 things that I really concern myself with.

Do you find that you have enough energy when you are doing the boxing and kickboxing by only having 800 calories? I'm concerned about this for myself. I should be cleared today to start more exercise and I'm going to go join my local boxing club. I guess it's just beyond me to know that I may burn more calories in one class then I take in all day lol Congrats by the way at your amazing success. You are definitely a great inspiration!

Congrats on your NSVs! I need to keep off the scales and focus on the NSVs. When the scale jumps up and down or doesn't move, it can be rather depressing. I'll have to think about NSVs more.

You look amazing! I can only pray that I have that much success. You are a great inspiration for those of us early in (one month on Saturday).

My NUT says I can have 800-1000 calories but I can't figure out what the heck to eat to get that much. I'm good to get to 600. I am a month out (well I will be Saturday). I have my one month appointment next Tuesday so hopefully they will clear me for fruits and veggies.

Keep doing what you're supposed to. It'll happen

I am definitely right there with you. Most of my life, I've done diet after diet and have only been able to lose 20-25 lbs only for the scale to stop moving completely. I'm down 30 total and waiting for reality to sink in but really praying it keeps going strong. Congrats on your loss so far!

I am about 3 weeks out and obviously I'm going to wait until I get cleared for more exercise from my doctor at my 1 month appointment. I have a boxing club a few minutes from me that I really want to check out. I've always enjoyed the heavy bag classes, kickboxing, etc. you don't actually fight another person. My question is, how in world do I get enough calories to make it through these classes? Right now I'm good to make it to 700 calories. I get so bored just walking so I'm looking forward to the perks of boxing as far as cardio and resistance. Any advice? I'll ask my doc about this too but just thought I'd see what anyone else has experienced

I'm not in a huge amount of pain but I am pretty uncomfortable from the gas and stuff. Been doing everything by the book and writing down every single thing i do. Overkill maybe but I don't care. I'm going to walk 6x a day...10 minutes each which is what they suggested. They took me off blood pressure meds because I was on a diuretic. So I got a blood pressure monitor to make sure I'm good with that. Doing my breathing treatments too.

Can you add me to the group? My name is Melissa Lewis Smith. I sent someone a Fb message but haven't heard anything yet thanks!

March 20th here too! Yay! Can't believe it's almost here. It's been 8 months since my process began. I'm in NC.

I'm March 20th also! So excited and nervous. I have my pre-op appointment on March 11 (MONDAY!) but I already cut the white flour and sugar out of my diet this week just to get a head start. We'll see if it does any good. I think the biggest fear for me has been on whether this will work for me. I've been overweight all my life and up and down. I haven't seen below 200 since I was about 12 (seriously....that bad). Now I'm 5'8 and a hair under 300. Blah. Looking forward to a new future.

I'm having my surgery on March 20th also! I have my pre-up appointment on March 11. I'm so nervous but very excited. When they called me a couple of weeks ago, they asked me if I wanted to do it the following week! But I couldn't get it cleared for work in time so I just decided to wait until I knew it would fit my schedule. Good luck! Hope everything goes well. How much are you wanting to lose? My goal is about 100 pounds....which with my history seems next to impossible so we'll see.

Any other Charlotte' date=' NC sleevers on March 18?[/quote']

March 20 here pre-op appointment on March 11. Decided to cut the sugar and white flour starting today. Getting nervous but really excited!

The actual drain they took out before I left the hospital. The covered the spot with more steristrips. They took out the staples on my first post op visit at his office.

You will totally love Dr. Pirrello. He's very thorough. He seems very straight forward and stiff , but has a pretty wicked sense of humor once you get him to open up. I was sold the night at the orientation when he talked about why he does what he does (his dad). Which nutritionist are you seeing? I see Cheryl as she went through my preop diets with me. The other nutritionist and I got off on the wrong foot, so I moved on. I think if you follow his plan of attack, you will do really good. Good luck Hang Tough. Let me know how you do!

Ok, that makes me feel better. I really like Dr. Pirrello. And I, too, was sold the night of orientation. I felt that he was genuine and very knowledgable. I met with him a few weeks ago for my new patient appointment and it was his last appointment of the day so he spent a lot of time just talking with my husband and I. I was planning on doing the RNY and after that meeting I decided on the sleeve and felt much better about that decision thanks to him. Thanks for the info

Mine wasn't but about 4 inches long and was taped to my side with steristrips. Didn't have to pin it to anything. Was a little sore around the area, but I had staples there too so that was more of the where the soreness came from.

Johnlatte....how long did Dr. Pirrello leave your drain in? I'm having my sleeve done with him as well in March. Just curious. I had actually never even heard of having a "drain" until I learned it from this forum.

I've been overweight all my life and have tried and tried and tried to lose it on my own but have gotten nowhere doing so. I have those same fears (minus the kid thing because I don't have any but I do have a husband that I love). I have been extremely selective on the people I have told thus far. It has slipped to some family I wouldn't have normally told and they were not supportive but they've been the only negative ones I've come across. Just remember you are doing it for your future and for the future you want to give to your family and children. Your health is more important than their biased opinions. Good luck! I'm getting sleeved on 3.20.

You look beautiful!

You look amazing! and so inspiring. I am getting sleeved on March 20. I've had such an inner battle on whether this is the right thing....like maybe I just haven't tried hard enough with everything I've done but when I see pictures like yours, it makes me feel better and hopeful. So thanks for sharing

I'm in Charlotte surgery is scheduled for March 20. So nervous and excited at the same time!

Charlotte, NC here

I've been overweight all my life. I don't remember even being below 200 since I was about 12. So when my surgeon tells me I can get below 200 with this surgery, I can't even fathom. I'm about 297 right now. Surgery is scheduled for March 20. I've dieted so many times in my life and exercised like crazy with several of those diets and still only managed to lose about 20 lbs each time. When the scale stopped moving, I lost hope and gave up....just to repeat the cycle a couple months later. Now at 28 with high blood pressure and pcos and many things that run in my family, I have decided to get the sleeve. I'm scared it won't work...just like everything else. But I'm going in with high hopes and I know it's just another tool and it's all in how you work it. We'll see I am thankful to have found this forum!