devine.adon

That y'all for the replies! I was beginning to think I was the only one on here that is using Dr. Alvarez and to be honest I couldn't figure out why! I haven't even been there yet but they already keep in touch and Susan seems to be very kind and helpful!! In my paperwork I read he only does 2 surgeries a day but mine is on a Saturday so maybe he only does 2 on the weekends. I'm very excited and oddly enough I'm not a bit nervous about going to Mexico at all! The only thing I'm nervous about it the long trip home and of course I'm worried about the outcome! I have a lot to loose and I'm noticing a lot of slower weight loss on here than what I've seen with the patients I've been in contact with by phone/email.. I hope it's just the fact they don't have as much to loose. I'm 5 ft 8 in tall and 340 lbs (plan to drop a few lbs before surgery) I would like to loose a total of 180-200lbs. But I hope to drop over 100 lbs within the first 5-6 months!!

I have not had surgery yet, my date is July 13th... I am excited about getting to a point to where I can exercise!! Maybe it's all in my head but I sure hope not! I have several pictures posted on places like the fridge and cabinet and even my make up mirror of what I want to aim toward as my goal, not to look like these people but to get as close as I can to a fit me! I have a lot to loose too so it's gonna be a long hard road but I feel like I'm ready! I have several different pieces of exercise equipment and I'm planning to purchase more but so far I have a gazelle, total gym, elliptical, and loose weights.. I'm wanting a treadmill, bicycle, and most of all a bow flex revolution!! Maybe I'm going batty but I'm excited about this! Maybe trying different things or even try some of the dance video workouts they look fun, I plan to get some of those too! I hope this isn't just all in my head, and honestly I don't think it is because even at the point I'm at now I've been doing a little more each week so I think I'm just to the point it's all or nothing! Good luck and I hope you find something you enjoy!!

Thank you!!!! I do know this is a life changing thing! Lol it's funny how I've been shopping for exercise equipment and getting excited over it!! I love the feeling I have it my gut and I haven't even had my surgery yet I am ready to change, my only fear is the fact that I have gotten to a point that I cannot even go to the park with my kids without having to find a place to sit down and oh I sweat like a water faucet is running over my head! Of course I seem to only sweat bad on my face, neck and hair so I always look awful! I can remember back 6 years ago I was around 200-220 and I remember how much better I felt then but I was still fat but not near as bad as I am now! I'm at 340 lbs, 35 years old (come November) and 5 ft 8 in tall it's crazy that I let myself get to this point!!!! I haven't always been overweight but it's been a good 10-11 years since I've seen 160 and under! Cant wait to see it again!!!!

July 13th!!

My surgery is set for July 13th!! I'm so excited and I've felt so positive but recently I'm feeling worried... When I first started this journey I was researching the different weight loss surgeries and finally decided the sleeve was going to be the best one for me considering I had at least 180lbs to loose!! I was able to get in contact with several people that had this surgery and wow their outcomes were all awesome!!! Within 5-6 months they had all lost 125 + lbs. each so of course when one particular lady was so close to my stats (age, weight,height,etc) told me about her journey and she lost 165 lbs in 6 months I was ecstatic!! However since I've joined this app/group I'm noticing its not very common for that type of weight loss, or at least not on here... most I'm seeing don't even loose 100 lbs by the 5 month mark and so it's got me worried, especially when I see posts saying in 5 months only 50lbs has been lost.. I'm hoping the posts I'm reading are people that may not have as much to loose but I'm starting to worry.. I know me.. and I'm needing a dramatic loss in these first few months so I can get to the point I can actually "do" things! I know this is not a miracle working surgery but I'm not having this to just pass the time away, it's a surgery that is supposed to be dramatic and help you loose more weight at a faster pace... PLEASE don't take me as being negative in anyway against anyone... I'm here for answers and support just like everyone else, I don't have a family member interested enough to even talk to me about this so I'm pretty much on my own here...

Oh I'm certainly not letting them get to me, I don't have insurance and the least expensive around here is $20,000 + so Mexico was my only option from the get go.. I'm actually very happy with my decision and I'm just ready to start melting

It doesn't really matter if you tell or not, if you go from 250-300 lbs to 150 lbs in 6- 12 months people will know! I live in a horrible gossip village small town so I know I will eventually have to tell bc I don't want to lie about it... There are several people in this town that have had the band and RNY and they actually lie about it, it's their thing I know but when the lady that teaches Sunday school class that has lost over 200+ lbs in just a little over a year stands there and tells you oh I've just worked so hard at this diet and get lots of exercise.. I don't agree with that!!! Don't lie... If you don't want to tell that's one thing but if someone asks you, did you have surgery then please don't lie about it!

This kinda throws me because after all the research I've done it seems to me that sleeve patients loose more weight and at a faster pace than the RNY or the band and seem to keep it off much better! I was put in contact with several sleeve patients when i first started my research journey and they all lost over 125 lbs within the first 6-8 months!! My mother in law has the band and is constantly going back to have her band filled because she starts gaining weight, I know a guy I went to school with that had RNY and he almost died, he has lost ALOT and I mean ALOT of weight and its been about 5-6 years but he's been in and out of the hospital with "stomach" issues and he says its a battle to keep the weight off. My aunt went to church with a lady that had RNY about 12 years ago and she's gained her weight back plus some! It's never been a question for me but I wanted to research all my options, I will say that since I've joined this group I've noticed several that have not lost as fast as those first few people I had spoke with but there is one factor that I don't know about most of the people on here and that is what was their beginning weight... This plays a big part and from my recent discovery while talking with my ob/gyn, if you weight around 250 or less you most likely will not loose near as much as someone 300 lbs or more! In those first few months!! It seems the more weight you have to loose the faster the weight comes off in those first 6-9 months!! Now this is not set in stone but this was my concern because I really really want/need to loose 125-150 + in those first 6-9 months! I am 340 lbs at last weigh in and 5 ft 8 inches tall. I have 3 kids, my youngest is 4 years old so I need this horrid weight off and fast!! I don't feel I have unrealistic goals and I really believe this sleeve will help me tremendously!!! My procedure is less than 30 days away!!! I wish you the very best of luck!!!!

I'm scheduled with Alvarez in 30 days!! YAY ME!! I have researched others in Mexico but I feel a safeness with Dr Alvarez.. I really feel his location is great as well, I have fears of Tijuana because if stories my cousins have told lol, they live in ElPaso, TX and have went over into different parts of Mexico and they say Tijuana is bad! Now that's an opinion so please don't take that badly!! I also checked into one near Cancun but its farther into Mexico and well we are driving (I don't fly) 16+ hours already so I don't want to add to that!! I know I'm rambling on but my nerves are shot lol in a good way, I'm so consumed with this I am so ready for these next 30 days to fly by! I am nervous, but it's not because of it being Mexico its just this is a major surgery and I have 3 kids, youngest being 4 years old that I MUST come home to!!! I wish you the best of luck!!! Btw my surgery with Alvarez is 8700.00

This made me very happy I am 5 ft 8 in tall but I wear around a size 24w as you did in the beginning, I will be 36 years old (November) so it makes me feel good knowing someone semi close to my size and age has had such a great outcome!! I have said all along I've gotta start saving now for when it is time for the body tucks lol but I'm glad to know you were not just tons of skin hanging to your knees lol sorry its a fear even though I don't believe there's actually that much there thank you so much for sharing!!! I get my wonderful life changing sleeve in mid July!!! I'm so excited to start this journey!

I'm starting to wonder why I have to go on a 21 day full liquid diet?!?!? Eek!!

I am having the sleeve with Dr. Alvarez in July.. I have just spoke with an ob/gyn here in my area that just had the sleeve with Dr. Alvarez as well as many others. They have been great so far, I've had lots of communication with them and I have already paid my no refundable deposit to hold the surgery date. I've already seen my doctor here in the states that says he will most definitely see me after the sleeve surgery with Dr. Alvarez and he has also done some checking up on him and seems very pleased with his record and certifications.

I'm 35 and I have had three kids, I have been considered severely overweight for the past 11 years, before that I always maintained at about 160-170 lbs, I'm 5' 8" tall, however I went from that to above 200 lbs then gradually over these past 11 years up to now 340 lbs!!! I'm only a fatty from above my breast to basically the tops of my thighs. I'm not a big butt and legs gal, I am a chicken, I have chicken legs and a big ole body... Sad but true.. So anyway (long winded) I am wondering if I'm going to be really depressed with my horrible amount of hanging skin or is it possible a lot of it will still have some bounce back? I really don't think it will as my lower belly hangs now.. I barely have the money to "self pay" for the sleeve but I am having it in July, already scheduled!! I'm just wondering if I'm going to be maybe just a tad disappointed with the "after"body... Thanks!!!!

You know I haven't even thought about my double chin... I was just assuming my face would pop back into place... So odds are I'm gonna hang everywhere... I don't plan on wearing a bikini but I do want to be able to feel comfortable around my husband, which I do not now! I also hate the mirror! I need to do some research on skin firming lotions and such... I know there's some out there... I am more than ready for this and I do realize I'm not going to be a instant flat belly but I'd like to get to a semi-normal body. I hope to reach a goal of 150-155 lbs but I'd like to hit 200 or less in less than a year!

Sizes have changed??? Oh no lol when I was at 170 I was wearing size 12 in slim cut Wrangler Jeans (I was a cowgirl) I say was bc there's no such thing as a fat cowgirl!! Lol I'll claim that title again someday I guess I've been shopping in big momma clothing for these past 11 years and well lost track of the real world. I hope I can get some feedback from some people with my body shape and the fact that I've had 3 kids, well it is looking grim... However as soon as I can get some of this weight off I plan to start some weight training and my new habit in life is going to be working out, lifting weights and getting some muscle back!! I have pictures on my fridge, cabinets and even in my truck of my future self lol I am in all seriousness still concerned about that ole "after" body... I may be toting my boobies in a couple of slings and my belly hang in a wheelbarrow until I can scrap and scrounge enough to get some chop chop to the ole belly and some new firm boobie bags lol

Just in case you haven't, check your spam. Susan responded very quickly to me and I ha d actually contacted them back last year, then again this year. Depending on BMI it was $8700 but if you have a BMI over a certain amount it cost a bit more but I'm not sure what that amount is. The prices may change idk so I'm not giving you an actual quote but an estimate. Good Luck!!

Just wondering if there will be anyone there while I'm there...

I was planning on ordering medifast for my 21 day liquid diet phase before surgery however after looking at the medifast website I'm thinking these foods may not be considered a liquid diet? I've known a lot of people to go on medifast before the surgery but I'm wondering if it is the right thing to do? I need something fast, and easy to grab bc these weeks before surgery I must be at work allot of hours so I can get things done before all my time off. Need all the suggestions, opinions and info I can get!! I have to start my liquid phase on June 22. Peace )

I am reading lots of stories about weigh loss after the sleeve and I'm starting to feel discouraged.. Mine is scheduled for July, I had only spoke to a few (8) people about this over the last year and they were all extremely successful, for example one lady was 382 lbs the day of surgery and in 6 months she was down 160 lbs and in a year she was down another 75 lbs I was amazed at her transformation. She now (3 years out) weighs only 116 lbs!!! The others all lost well over 100 lbs in less than 6 months, now your wondering why I'm feeling discouraged... Well since I joined this page I have gone through and read several stories, one is 47 lbs in 6 months, 100 lbs in 14 months, 20 lbs in 3 months, this is not the weight loss I was expecting, these are very minimal amounts to me.. I have researched this for over a year and I'm just now stumbling onto this... Do I have extremely high expectations drawn from the 8 people I came in touch with? I'm over 300 lbs and have every hope to be under 200 lbs in a year or less... I'm starting to worry I don't want my mother to be right, she keeps telling me this will never work and I will just be throwing money away (I'm self pay) I need some input.. I am a mom of three my youngest is 4 years old I need this to work, I need to get healthy for my kids and myself. I'm 5' 8" 340 lbs I have no medical issues. However, I am to a point that its hard to walk very far without sitting down and I am very exhausted by the end of the day to the point I doze off unknowingly but as far as HBP, Diabetes, high C I am in the clear... Just looking for some encouragement...TIA

Djbwilson... Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! I have to admit I don't really have anyone at home cheering me on... Everyone is negative about it in one way or another! I think the issue at hand, and yes after reading and thinking, more reading and more thinking its simple.. I have an overwhelming desire to prove my mother wrong... Now for any of you to understand that statement it would take a LONG time to explain in full effect but basically in a but shell, my mom has never had faith in me, never pushed me to do well anything, always negative toward me... Now my other sibling, perfect in her eyes, I have offer wondered if it was bc they are almost 15 years older than me idk, our parents have been married 50 years, had a kid young and waited 15 years, mistake maybe? It's crossed my mind... But I do love her don't get me wrong... She has been so negative since I decided to actually do this, I really think she never believed I would actually do it!! I have to admit, I still want that goal of mine, maybe somehow I can lower my goal before July gets here but like I said before.. I'm stubborn I feel like I should be able to do this and meet that goal and I guess in part it's because I want to show my mom that I can do it! Then I start thinking about my kids and how badly I want to go to Disney world with them and actually walk all day long and not have to sit down ever little bit!! My dream is to be a Mom that my kids are proud of! I know they love me and they are proud of me but I don't want them to grow up and think of all the things their mom never did with them, I want them to think of all the awesome things they did with their mom!!! I was once able to loose 20-30 lbs in a month, I explained that in an earlier post, but after some bad times in my life I got to a point that I gave up and when I realized what had happened it was too late! I had become too fat to function!!

Ms.AntiBand I was wondering the same thing...

Yes, I guess that's where the whole "minimal" word is coming from, everyone of the people I had talked to before coming in here were 290 and up!! I do realize the people that have a start weight of much lower (low 200's and less) wont loose 100 lbs in 6 months well because if they did OH MY they would blow away!! I have a lot to loose, my goal is to get under the 200 lb mark, preferably 170 lbs before a year is up! I know that's a loss of. half of me now, (170 lbs) but its a goal as of now! I'm in no way here to get anyone "told" again I repeat it is "minimal" for my body, for me! I am not one for drama so oh me oh my please understand its not against you it's my opinion... Opinions are like....... Well we all know what opinions are like.

Oh and btw sassygirl06 I was 340 last I had to check, I haven't gained that I know of bc I can still wear all the same clothes but I hate the scale!! I have read your post twice now, I love that you said you can run and play with your kids and they can wrap their arms around you, that's what I want more than anything!!!! Thank you again!!