ShariM735

I enjoy your posts so much. Anxiously awaiting getting sleeved in July. Keep posting and inspiring us all!

hi fellow sleevers
15 months ago i was an itty bitty new sleever - hmmm i mean a "big" new sleever
being a newbie - i religiously read this forum and asked my questions, got great answers
now, i am trying to "pay it forward"
i enjoy writing here
if i help anyone with one of my posts - that makes me happy
thank you for your nice words
everybody continue to do your great work/job - and one day you will grow up to be another successful sleever!!
you will enjoy living a healthier, happier longer life!!
good luck to all of us

Proudgrammy, you look terrific! You are my inspiration. I am 67 and will get sleeved in July. I can't wait. You look so happy!

I am new, also. I learned about this site at a support group meeting. I have learned so much from the others. I am four months into my six month process. I read every day. It helps me feel reassured that I have made the right decision and that I can do it. I too found out I'm not crazy, much to my hubby's amazement. lol.
Looking forward to learning more every day.

SmileyJo hmmmm, tell your hubby to relax actually he will be post sex
did I really say that
due to the fact that you will be loosing weight - you and dh will find sex easier and more "comfortable" and fun :wub:

That's really great! Congrats!

WOW! You look great and happy. Congrats!

gmanbat -- I am 67. Will be having the sleeve in July. I gave doing this a lot of thought. Wondering if I am too old. Asked at mt informational meeting and felt much better when told they have had people in their 70's. I've lost 15 lbs. on the diet the dietician gave me as prep. Excited about this when I know there are others in their 60's who are feeling so good. I enjoy your posts.

Holy Cow - It's been 7 months!
My weight has pretty much stayed the same this last month and I'm quite okay with it I started at 231 lbs. and 'm holding steady at 143 lbs. Ideally, I'd like to lose 10 more pounds and I am working towards it. It will happen!
I was just in my friend's wedding this past weekend and it was so nice not to dread a formal event!! Last time this year, I dreaded stuff like this for weeks due to knowing I wouldn't have anything to wear and that there would be tons of pictures. My friend looked beautiful and I was able to focus on her wonderful day rather than being insecure and concerned about how I looked.
As you will see in the pictures below, my friends are super tiny...like 95-100 pounds tiny! They have been my friends since I was 5 and I had always felt insecure taking pictures with them...no one wants to be the fat friend! With that said, they have been extremely supportive. They have never made me feel bad about myself and when I told them I was having the surgery they were 100% supportive. They are so proud of me and I love them for it. I didn't tell every person I know that I had surgery, but I did tell my close friends and it was one of the best things I could have done. To me, the surgery was something to Celebrate and something to be proud of. I'm proud of my decision and how hard I've worked to lose the weight....I hope everyone else feels that same sense of pride! You are taking control of your life and it should be celebrated.
Thank you to the people who read my posts every month. You guys leave the nicest comments and I'm thankful for the support this forum has provided me with. Wishing everyone happiness and success with their surgery!
Jordyn
The pictures of me in the black dress is from a wedding last May...the pictures with the purple dress is from the wedding this past weekend with my beautiful friends

Hey Everyone!
I had my 6 month appointment on Thursday and cannot even believe how much has changed in 6 months. I am now 88 pounds down. I couldn't be happier! I'm feeling like a new person. I thought it would be good for me to reflect back a bit on how far I've come. I had started a website/blog when I started thinking about having surgery.
Here is an excerpt from a post I wrote in July when I was awaiting my consultation appointment.
"I wake up every morning feeling completely disgusted with my body and my behavior. I avoid the mirror when getting into the shower. I can hardly look at myself when I have a towel around me and have to put on a baggy shirt to blow dry my hair. I struggle to get dressed knowing that my clothes are too tight for me. Every activity is filled with anxiety for me. Eating meals is like experiencing an out of body experience. It's as though I have no control, yet the whole time I am beating myself up over what I am eating. I am embarrassed to go anywhere knowing that I am overweight and people have probably noticed that I've gained even more weight. I look at my friends as they talk about "feeling fat" or "needing to exercise more" and know that I would die to look like them. Every time I sit down I want to cover my stomach up with something. Every time I walk I have to adjust my pants, bra, underwear, shirt, tanktop to make sure that I am 100% covered. I feel a depression at night - an overwhelming guilt. I lay in bed thinking how tomorrow needs to be a new day...how tomorrow I am going to be different. I will stay up for hours in bed thinking about it."
When I read this, I feel sad for the girl who wrote it. I think it is important for me to look back at how I felt during that time to continue to motivate myself to do well. I am to the point where I can eat more and I have to work harder for the weight to come off. I never want to feel like girl in that paragraph again. I wake up every morning looking forward to the day, excited to pick out an outfit, feeling happy about the decisions I make, and overall just taking pride in being healthy. This was the best decision I could have made.
For those of you interested in the website/blog, the link is below. It is a personal site, but it does give detailed information on my pre-op process. I haven't posted since September since I started writing on this forum.
Surgery Date: August 22, 2012
Starting weight: 231
Current weight: 143
Height: 5'3
Age: 23
website: weightonmyshoulders.weebly.com
Picture 1: Day before Surgery
Picture 2: The before/after picture Dr. Zeni's office gave me on Thursday
Picture 3: Me in the jeans I wore at my consultation
Picture 4: Same as picture 3
Picture 5: Getting my bridesmaids dress taken in!
Picture 6: Standing with my best friend for her bachelorette party last night!

Peace and prayers, Christie. You're on your way to an exciting journey! Can't wait to join you, but have to wait until July.

I guess I'm more senior than most. 67 but will have just turned 68 at time of surgery. Have two more months of pcp to finish for insurance. Want this so much. Don't feel old, just fat. Want to be able to hike on trips and do rides at amusement parks with my grandkids. Have lost 15 lbs. on pcp and dietician supervised diet. This waiting six months is so hard. It seems like forever.

I guess I'm more senior than most. 67 but will have just turned 68 at time of surgery. Have two more months of pcp to finish for insurance. Want this so much. Don't feel old, just fat. Want to be able to hike on trips and do rides at amusement parks with my grandkids. Have lost 15 lbs. on pcp and dietician supervised diet. This waiting six months is so hard. It seems like forever.

I'd like to look in mirror. I actually avoid them, even at home. I'm over 60, but would love to shop at Victoria' Secret -- my secret desire! ????
Not be the fattest person in the room.
Surgery not till July, but have lost 15 lbs. on prep diet from dietician.
I want this soooo much.
Been cleared by my pcp, dietician, and psychologist. Have two finish two more months of jumping through hoops for insurance.
New to site, but love it.

Congrats!!! I still have two months of insurance requirements. Can't wait to feel the excitement you are feeling now.