Pixie Dust

It's threads like yours that give us pre-sleevers some hope!! How wonderful for you!! I too can't wait to pull my seat up closer without my belly getting all tangled up in the steering wheel! My teen son who is 5 inches taller than me can't understand why he has to pull the seat up when he gets behind the wheel to drive my van! LOL! I don't dare tell him that I need it far back to make my belly fit!

My doc said age & how long you've carried the weight is a big factor on how much of it tightens back up. I'm SOL since I'm 53 & have been carrying this excess weight for about 20 years now. But I really don't care personally....I just want to be healthy & be around for my kids. Not going to be doing any swimsuit modeling!

OMGosh...where are you in pain? Do you have pain meds? Can you call your doctor if the pain is that bad??

Just amazing!! Let us know how your skin removal surgery goes too! Thank you for sharing your amazing pics! You don't even look like the same person anymore!

Wow! You look just gorgeous!!

I'm 53 & have been overweight for 20 years now so my skin will be hanging too. Surgery or just live with it. I hear its a very painful surgery soooooo....I'm not in this to be a bikini model. I want to just buy some extra years to be with my children. I'm doing it for health reasons, to kick the Type 2 diabetes, High blood pressure & cholesterol meds. So whatever is to be, will be. I will be healthier & I will probably have extra time on earth to spend with my precious gifts from God. I can deal with the skin. My husband did tell me tho that most insurance companies will pay for skin removal IF it's medically necessary....like if the hanging skin continually causes yeast infections, etc....so you can always check with your insurance company. He's mostly worried I'm going to be losing my boobs (which I look forward to!) LOL!

Welcome! Of course you can share your journey with us. No one but US will truly understand what you're going thru anyway! I'm a pre-sleever too. Don't have a surgery date since I'm switching hospitals so need to start the treadmill race all over again. Toasting to our new friend WeeWers! **Raises bottled Water with crystal light** I see we like the same Disney character! Sprinkling some Pixie Dust on you!

I was just going thru the costco coupon booklet, which we get in the mail & there is a $5 off coupon for the Premier Protein shakes, chocolate and/or vanilla flavor, 18/11 oz containers! If you do not get a coupon book in the mail, then go to the Customer Service Desk & they just have them usually laying on the counter. Otherwise, just say you didn't get one this month (they are usually sent to the Executive Member Card Holders but anyone can use the coupons & they are for every card holder too!) I'm going to finally get a box or two today. I hope I'll like them! Usually people rave about this brand....lets hope! Wish I could taste them first. The good thing about Costco is that if you don't like them, you can return them! Happy Shopping!

You sound wonderful & up beat! That's great!!! Hope the rest of your journey is as easy!

Congratulations ~ you look fabulous! You also share a birthday with my youngest son! Your before & after pic is quite inspiring!

Mine was a good hour if not 90 mins. They first questioned me, then had me fill out a questionnaire which was about 50 questions. Then they looked over the questionnaire while I just waited, waited, waited....uhhh...did I mention that I waited? Anyway, then they came back & said I was cleared for surgery but she gave me some "suggestions."

Ohhhh...that last link is just gorgeous! How appealing is that to see those beautiful fruits with mint leaves, etc...in the water? When we eat out, we always just order water to save $$ on our bill & I ask for lemon & lime wedges so have already been drinking that but this summer when I grow my mint, I will add mint leaves to it too! Thank you for sharing!

What mesh?? You mean to put the part of the stomach in that has to come out?

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed...I'm so grateful there is something out there to help me, BUT it's no one's business. My husband & my best friend from out of state know. I also told my one neighbor who doesn't talk to the other neighbors because I may need help with my youngest (special needs) son. It's nobody's business. I haven't even told my teen son, I'm only going to tell him I'm having hernia surgery. As for anyone else, once they see a weight loss, then I will just say "better choices, after a month long of a medically supervised special liquid diet." That will be the truth as well, right? I just don't want to hear the negative comments. I think this is one of those personal decisions that you have to make for yourself. It's not a big bad secret, its just a personal decision which will have a positive outcome.

I just hope I can tolerate all that sweet tasting stuff. I'm more of a savory girl myself, so I can see myself with the broths but all the other stuff might be too sweet for me.

What wonderful NSV's to look forward too!!!! As it is, I'm such a germ-a-phob that I cringe if I have to even use a public restroom but then having the back of my legs hit the toilet as I'm squishing my fat body in to shut the door just has me immediately take my pants off when I get home & toss in the washer! LOL! I'm sure at nearly 300 lbs, I probably wouldn't even fit in an airplane restroom anymore either! I'm so excited for your NSV's tho ladies!!! Keep them coming!!! Give us all hope!!

I can't wait to look as good as your "BEFORE" pic girl! LOL! I was going to say "don't look back, just forward" but in some cases, like with weight loss, it might be good to look back! You don't want to be the "before" person anymore! Here's to the "after"! **Raises a glass of water!**

Have to agree on the awesomeness of BCBS insurance! The most I'll have to pay out of pocket is $1000 to have more years added on to my life by having this surgery! Worth every penny!

I'm a coffee lover too & almost nixed the entire idea of having this surgery since they told me I couldn't drink coffee after being sleeved! WHAT???!!! So just wondering, are you all talking about regular coffee or decaf? I really hate the taste of decaf but it might be better than not ever having coffee again. I never buy Starbucks or any other coffee out due to the cost, but I buy Gevalia or Duncan Donuts brand bags of coffee (with coupons of course) & use the flavored sugar free creamers. Are those okay to have?

I hope you stay motivated whether people say anything or not, because you will see/feel the diff maybe even before others do but also, I know like my husband will never say anything to other people when they've lost weight. He doesn't want them to know that he noticed they were "fat" prior to losing weight. He may just say "you look good" or "you look great" but he would never say "wow! Looks like you have lost weight!" To him, it feels like he's insulting people. He doesn't get it that WOMEN want to hear that all the time! LOL! But he notices EVERYTHING! He just feels its insulting people to tell them, so they may notice but just don't say anything. Keep up the good work!

WOWZA!!! You look fantastic!!! The difference is really amazing! You must feel so much better carrying 70 less lbs around too, don't you? I just can't wait to get there! 2 months time & you lost THAT much weight! That's really amazing! Hope I'm as lucky as you! Do you mind if I ask how much you lost prior to surgery?

When I suffered from depression (after my Mom's death), my doctor "made" me join a gym or exercise class, so I joined Curves & it really did help with getting me back to my old happy self. Works better than anti-depressants! Regarding getting addicted to exercising...I have heard/read that it can really happen! We give up a food addiction for another addiction (& hopefully a good one like exercising!) You sound really motivated & that's a great thing!

I haven't been sleeved yet, so have no words of wisdom, but just want to wish you the best. I so feel for you right now & am not gonna lie, but I'm nervous about having it done. I do try to keep in mind that in the long run, it will only be this that buys me a few more years of life. I'd like to be around until my youngest is an adult. Sooo....with all that said, just deal with it one day at a time. Baby steps. Thankfully they really didn't find anything so maybe if the swelling goes down faster now due to the steriod shot, you may be making a quick turnaround! Sending you healing thoughts!

Oh lawdy, I sure hope I'm as blessed as you!

I'm just a few years younger & have the same surgery date. Where are you from? Wow...looking at your profile pic, I'm thinking 57 is not your age?? What is 57??