devine.adon

I do not believe I was talking about you, I was talking about the Pasta eater who also dabbled in some cake and cheat or slider foods.. I was looking at my emails reading posts and did not realize there are 3 different threads labeled "July 2013 sleevers" again I was not being a "blank blank blank" I was trying to point out that things need to change or a person can gain it all back plus some! I was also ranting a tad because I'm doing everything I'm told to do except I'm exercising more than what my dr said. I am starting to assume my dr is way more strict on what foods he wants his patients to eat! Also he never talked about slow losers, all he talked about to me was how fast I should loose! I guess he's had a high success rate of fast losers! December will be my 5 month mark and he had said I should have 100 or more lbs off by then easily! I guess my dr along with myself have gotten too high of hopes but its not totally 100% me, I was listening to the man who operated on me as well!!

I'm sorry if this offends anyone but this makes me want to cry!! I do not cheat, I am not eating over 800 calories a day, I get in all my Protein, I stay as far away from carbs as I can and fat is the devil!! But yet I'm only down now 31 lbs!!! I was down 38 lbs but it went up and now I've stopped loosing completely! I was 333 lbs day of surgery and was told people over 300 lbs loose really fast the first 3-6 months, evidently not me! I have no clue what to do, I can't even eat 3 oz at any meal time! I I have to repeat I never cheat and this is just horrible!
My surgery date was July 13, 2013
As of September 13th it will be two months!!! I should be down 60 lbs by then but it sure doesn't look good!
What's my point of all this your probably asking?? Well it really upsets me severely when I read about people eating slider foods, and high carb foods and complaining about their NUT going crazy! See there's a reason, you must learn to eat differently in order for this to work!! You MUST change your lifestyle and eating habits FOREVER!! If not you will end up like the lady that goes to church with my aunt... All weight gained back plus some!! Yep it can happen, she started gaining it back within a year of her surgery!! PLEASE THINK BEFORE YOU EAT!! I mean some people may not care but if not why have the surgery to begin with??
I paid for my surgery completely 100% out of my pocket and I'm certainly not rich, really I couldn't afford it but I needed this for myself and my kids!!!
Anyway now that I've probably made everyone mad on here I guess I will apologize, I rally am only trying to help but yes I had to rant too! I guess what bothers me most is the fact that I was told I'd loose fast bc I needed to loose more and I took it literally! I was hoping to be down 100+ lbs before Christmas this year maybe something will turn around for me and I'll suddenly see the major loss I'm waiting for!

I'm still feeling great!! I started I chips yesterday and then moved to sips of Water, the ice chips don't bother me but sometimes the Water is too much!! My nurse Jessica is the best ever!!! We even connected on fb and exchanged numbers! I will miss her greatly! My dr has been in several times to see me and just chatted with us, he's wonderful and so down to earth. The assistant Dr has also been great, frequent stops as well. I feel like I'm being treated like a princess, its truly amazing!! I am having just a tad bit of pain mainly from the bloated belly, I really wish I could pass some gas or a big burp lol sorry for the TMI there but it's the truth!!
I haven't been sick at all and I even got my shower last night. My dr actually said I've bounced back greatly, really even better that most!! So my advice to future sleeves-- get that mindset that you are gonna be one to bounce back easily with little to no pain!! I know I did and it worked!!
I will tell this, my husband didn't tell me but right after surgery I had said I was in a lot of pain (I do not remember any of this) they have me some meds and my nurse said I scared her bc my oxygen levels started dropping and got below 80 and was going down, my dr was right here by my side within seconds and had it all under control, yes it was scary to hear this but it was a comfort to know he was so quick to fix it!!! I'm fine now and it was just my dose of pain meds didn't suite me. I am so thankful for a wonderful nurse and a superb dr!!! I will suggest him for a lifetime!!
Dr Alvarez is the best, I'll stand behind him 100% always!!!! If you plan to go to Mexico this is the man to see!!!! You won't regret it one bit!!

Well I am sitting in my Hospital bed as I type!! I had the sleeve at around 10:30 am today with my Dr here in Mexico and I want to just say how truly great of an experience I have had here...
First the trip acroos the boarder was get and the hospital was maybe 10 mins across.
Very clean, they are renovating but it's still very clean.
The lab work went great, I am a Medical laboratory technician and I started out as a Phlebotomist so I know all about drawing blood the lady here gets a A++++!!!! Didn't even feel the needle go in!!
The nurse, gave me the IV and hit it perfect the first try, every time I've had an IV in the states it's been hell and they took 4-5 times poking me, but not this lady!!
The Dr himself.... Wonderful does not even start to describe him, he is amazing and so is his assistant Dr! Great Great Great!!! Still not enough but it'll have to do.
The procedure, must have went great bc I was up and walking ASAP!! I was ready to walk but they wouldn't let me at first, but buddy it didn't take long and I've been making laps around the halls! Dr said I was doing super well and beyond his expectations!!
The assistant we started out with this morning is totally the best!!!! She will be back in the am and I glad bc she has literally been wonderful!!!!
No pain, no hunger, nothing but energy!!!!! This describes my feelings best! Seriously proud and extremely happy!!! I would do this 1000 times over!!!! And nope, I'm not asking for pain mess!!!
Can't wait to get home to see my kiddos and start my new wonderful journey in life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I researched the Dr's not the area, I felt Dr Alvarez was the best fit for me, and it's my opinion... He fits what type of surgeon I want and whom I will recommend! I agree that there should be no bashing of the areas, it is immature and uncalled for and I just wanted it to be known that it started with someone talking about PN first. I googled the areas only after this person posted it was scary and I guess they googled the wrong place lol cause I found nothing, except its a quiet little town and that they love taking siestas lol

I went to my dr here in town and had blood work done to check everything possible, it all came back good. He also done a lung test but it was just me breathing into this tube and that was good as well. I haven't done EKG because I had one a few years ago plus he listened to me really good. I suggest going to your dr and just having a few tests run. My dr here in town is completely happy and onboard with my surgery I'm having in Mexico with Dr Alvarez!! I'm scheduled for July 13th! I'm not going by myself and personally I wouldn't but I've read where others went alone and all was fine. As far as a nutritionist goes I have a friend that just finished school so I'm going to have her help me out and I'm going to be getting a personal trainer (friend of mine) to come to my house and help me when I am able. Good luck with everything!!!!

The U.S. alert cited violence associated with drug trafficking in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Durango, Monterrey, San Luis Potosí, Mazatlán, Nogales, Puerto Peñasco, Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Tampico, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Manzanillo, Acapulco, Morelia and Nayarit, among others.
This was apart of a long article but just wanted to point out Piedras Negras is not listed. I realize it says among others so Piedras Negras could be one of the others but Tijuana is listed at the top. It's not going to really matter, it's basically all the same, I decided on Dr. Alvarez because of all the research I've done on the different doctors, I've researched for over a year before deciding, and I've spoke with past patients of Dr. Alvarez and I feel he is extremely qualified. I've heard noting but great things from each one of the 6 patients of his that I contacted. He has a fb page where you can go and everyone I contacted was willing to talk to me, I even talked to two people that live less than 20 miles from me that went to him. I think your best bet is to research the Doctor first, then if you want you can research the area but you will find its all Mexico so it's not really going to be any different.

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...

Devine,
You are going to drive yourself crazy focusing so much on the numbers. I also have more than 150 to lose and was told the first six months are a magic window of time and that I need to follow the plan so I don't end up second guessing myself with thoughts of "if only I had done this" I would be 30lbs less.
Six months of a strict diet is doable and I can certainly follow the plan given to me. We are already one month in. My nut said to stick to around 600 calories and if I am not hungry don't eat. My primary focus is 60-70 grams of Protein and less than 40g of carbs a day.
Right now, I only have the okay for walking but am hoping in Oct I can step that up a notch or two when I go back.
If I do this and I don't stray, I will have done what I should and will not be chastising myself over a missed opportunity. As long as you do your best, be happy with where you end up regardless of the number of days since your surgery. You will get there, its just not an exact science.

My Dr says only three meals per day and maybe a light snack if needed but lots of liquid! I am never hungry so I know it's working as far as the hunger it's just the weight isn't coming off like expected. Today marked exactly one month since day of surgery and I've lost 32 lbs since day of surgery!!!! So the scale went down again finally!!!

Well I am sitting in my Hospital bed as I type!! I had the sleeve at around 10:30 am today with my Dr here in Mexico and I want to just say how truly great of an experience I have had here...
First the trip acroos the boarder was get and the hospital was maybe 10 mins across.
Very clean, they are renovating but it's still very clean.
The lab work went great, I am a Medical laboratory technician and I started out as a Phlebotomist so I know all about drawing blood the lady here gets a A++++!!!! Didn't even feel the needle go in!!
The nurse, gave me the IV and hit it perfect the first try, every time I've had an IV in the states it's been hell and they took 4-5 times poking me, but not this lady!!
The Dr himself.... Wonderful does not even start to describe him, he is amazing and so is his assistant Dr! Great Great Great!!! Still not enough but it'll have to do.
The procedure, must have went great bc I was up and walking ASAP!! I was ready to walk but they wouldn't let me at first, but buddy it didn't take long and I've been making laps around the halls! Dr said I was doing super well and beyond his expectations!!
The assistant we started out with this morning is totally the best!!!! She will be back in the am and I glad bc she has literally been wonderful!!!!
No pain, no hunger, nothing but energy!!!!! This describes my feelings best! Seriously proud and extremely happy!!! I would do this 1000 times over!!!! And nope, I'm not asking for pain mess!!!
Can't wait to get home to see my kiddos and start my new wonderful journey in life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I am sitting in my Hospital bed as I type!! I had the sleeve at around 10:30 am today with my Dr here in Mexico and I want to just say how truly great of an experience I have had here...
First the trip acroos the boarder was get and the hospital was maybe 10 mins across.
Very clean, they are renovating but it's still very clean.
The lab work went great, I am a Medical laboratory technician and I started out as a Phlebotomist so I know all about drawing blood the lady here gets a A++++!!!! Didn't even feel the needle go in!!
The nurse, gave me the IV and hit it perfect the first try, every time I've had an IV in the states it's been hell and they took 4-5 times poking me, but not this lady!!
The Dr himself.... Wonderful does not even start to describe him, he is amazing and so is his assistant Dr! Great Great Great!!! Still not enough but it'll have to do.
The procedure, must have went great bc I was up and walking ASAP!! I was ready to walk but they wouldn't let me at first, but buddy it didn't take long and I've been making laps around the halls! Dr said I was doing super well and beyond his expectations!!
The assistant we started out with this morning is totally the best!!!! She will be back in the am and I glad bc she has literally been wonderful!!!!
No pain, no hunger, nothing but energy!!!!! This describes my feelings best! Seriously proud and extremely happy!!! I would do this 1000 times over!!!! And nope, I'm not asking for pain mess!!!
Can't wait to get home to see my kiddos and start my new wonderful journey in life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guillermo Alvarez, M.D. Located just over the border from Eagle Pass, TX!! I have been researching these drs for a year+ and I tried looking at others but kept coming back to Dr. Alvarez!! I have spoke to several people that used him and just recently spoke with a lady that used him 2 years ago, she was well over 300 lbs and now only 116 lbs!!! He has wonderful support system and you can speak to him personally, he is there for you, and like this lady that is two years out, he is still in contact with her!!! Personally, I would not go anywhere but Dr. Alvarez. I am scheduled for my sleeve in July!!

Pic of me before surgery for and then a month ago during my wedding festivities...(@around 188)
HW: 294
CW: 185
GW:170

I had a 21 day liquid diet before surgery, now the first week after is clear liquid then the 2nd and 3rd weeks are still liquid but can move up to cream Soups and I'll be able to drink my muscle milk again. So if your tired of a liquid diet of only a week or two you might need to step back and look at the big picture... Also cheating after the surgery is risky and could be life threatening!! This really isn't something to mess with. I will tell you it's very hard when your family is eating right in front of you and you can smell even just a turkey sandwich and wish to bite into it, but you have to eat your ice chips! This is not easy at all, and it's not ever going to be your old normal ever again. You must become someone new, everything must change forever! As I fixed my sons turkey sandwich I sniffed it with my eyes closed bc I am starving, but thank god I have self control that I really never thought I had before! You have to want this with your all, there can be no "one little bites" it just cannot happen if you want this to go the way it's supposed to go! I know one thing, if I ever hear another person say "you took the easy way out" I honestly think I will deck them!! No wait I know I will deck them!! This isn't easy!

I had a 21 day liquid diet before surgery, now the first week after is clear liquid then the 2nd and 3rd weeks are still liquid but can move up to cream Soups and I'll be able to drink my muscle milk again. So if your tired of a liquid diet of only a week or two you might need to step back and look at the big picture... Also cheating after the surgery is risky and could be life threatening!! This really isn't something to mess with. I will tell you it's very hard when your family is eating right in front of you and you can smell even just a turkey sandwich and wish to bite into it, but you have to eat your ice chips! This is not easy at all, and it's not ever going to be your old normal ever again. You must become someone new, everything must change forever! As I fixed my sons turkey sandwich I sniffed it with my eyes closed bc I am starving, but thank god I have self control that I really never thought I had before! You have to want this with your all, there can be no "one little bites" it just cannot happen if you want this to go the way it's supposed to go! I know one thing, if I ever hear another person say "you took the easy way out" I honestly think I will deck them!! No wait I know I will deck them!! This isn't easy!

I had a 21 day liquid diet before surgery, now the first week after is clear liquid then the 2nd and 3rd weeks are still liquid but can move up to cream Soups and I'll be able to drink my muscle milk again. So if your tired of a liquid diet of only a week or two you might need to step back and look at the big picture... Also cheating after the surgery is risky and could be life threatening!! This really isn't something to mess with. I will tell you it's very hard when your family is eating right in front of you and you can smell even just a turkey sandwich and wish to bite into it, but you have to eat your ice chips! This is not easy at all, and it's not ever going to be your old normal ever again. You must become someone new, everything must change forever! As I fixed my sons turkey sandwich I sniffed it with my eyes closed bc I am starving, but thank god I have self control that I really never thought I had before! You have to want this with your all, there can be no "one little bites" it just cannot happen if you want this to go the way it's supposed to go! I know one thing, if I ever hear another person say "you took the easy way out" I honestly think I will deck them!! No wait I know I will deck them!! This isn't easy!

I had a 21 day liquid diet before surgery, now the first week after is clear liquid then the 2nd and 3rd weeks are still liquid but can move up to cream Soups and I'll be able to drink my muscle milk again. So if your tired of a liquid diet of only a week or two you might need to step back and look at the big picture... Also cheating after the surgery is risky and could be life threatening!! This really isn't something to mess with. I will tell you it's very hard when your family is eating right in front of you and you can smell even just a turkey sandwich and wish to bite into it, but you have to eat your ice chips! This is not easy at all, and it's not ever going to be your old normal ever again. You must become someone new, everything must change forever! As I fixed my sons turkey sandwich I sniffed it with my eyes closed bc I am starving, but thank god I have self control that I really never thought I had before! You have to want this with your all, there can be no "one little bites" it just cannot happen if you want this to go the way it's supposed to go! I know one thing, if I ever hear another person say "you took the easy way out" I honestly think I will deck them!! No wait I know I will deck them!! This isn't easy!

It can be hard in the beginning. One of the easiest Protein drinks I found (and I actually liked it) was Syntrax's nectar. They have 15 different flavors and most of them are fruity. They still have the chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc. but they have a lot of flavors that mimic Crystal Light. I actually bought a sample pack from mybariatricpantry.com and got to choose the flavors I wanted. They had a ton of samples that you could buy of different product lines. I also tried Syntrax's Matrix sample pack and loved those too. The mint cookie was my favorite. A great site for samples and foods that's for sure especially if you don't know what you like or haven't tried a lot of different things. Hope this helps and remember...it will get better!!

Well I am sitting in my Hospital bed as I type!! I had the sleeve at around 10:30 am today with my Dr here in Mexico and I want to just say how truly great of an experience I have had here...
First the trip acroos the boarder was get and the hospital was maybe 10 mins across.
Very clean, they are renovating but it's still very clean.
The lab work went great, I am a Medical laboratory technician and I started out as a Phlebotomist so I know all about drawing blood the lady here gets a A++++!!!! Didn't even feel the needle go in!!
The nurse, gave me the IV and hit it perfect the first try, every time I've had an IV in the states it's been hell and they took 4-5 times poking me, but not this lady!!
The Dr himself.... Wonderful does not even start to describe him, he is amazing and so is his assistant Dr! Great Great Great!!! Still not enough but it'll have to do.
The procedure, must have went great bc I was up and walking ASAP!! I was ready to walk but they wouldn't let me at first, but buddy it didn't take long and I've been making laps around the halls! Dr said I was doing super well and beyond his expectations!!
The assistant we started out with this morning is totally the best!!!! She will be back in the am and I glad bc she has literally been wonderful!!!!
No pain, no hunger, nothing but energy!!!!! This describes my feelings best! Seriously proud and extremely happy!!! I would do this 1000 times over!!!! And nope, I'm not asking for pain mess!!!
Can't wait to get home to see my kiddos and start my new wonderful journey in life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the original post that started the bashing of Tijuana... This was NOT written by me!!
"I was thinking about going to Tijuana because when I googled Piedro Nagras the results were scary. Also, how long did you have to stay in the hospital and in the hotel and what were the facilities like? Thank you for any advice!"
It goes both ways, I am going to Piedro Nagras and personally I did google it and found nothing scary at all.I also googled several other areas and found recent things going on and warnings so its kinda one of those things... To each their own... Opinions are like bungholes everybody has one...
PeAcE!