endless80

Wow you look awesome. Congrats!

I drink Starbucks multiple times a week.

Personally I do not recommend this surgery to anyone. That's a decision you make yourself. I also think (and this will be unpopular, I'm sure) that if you have less than 100 pounds to lose you should look into other less extreme options. There are variables to that of course.

Girl you did that! LOL! You look fantastic.

I got sleeved and my partner didn't. I was 360 pounds to his 320. I'm now 274 and he's about 295. He has been nothing but supportive and encouraging for me so regardless of what he weighs I don't discourage him. I do point him in a healthier direction because he asked me to hold him accountable. If we're out at a restaurant and he wants a coke I say no. Because he asked me to. We work together to share food when we eat out and I cook pretty healthy meals. Like tonight I am cooking shrimp in yellow curry with carrots and instead of regular rice I am making cauliflower rice with some Thai basil. It's a healthy alternative and we went shopping together and work out at the gym together. I think it's about working as closely together as possible on your health goals rather than 'this is me/this is you'. Have your own vision of your health but a partnership is a partnership. If they cannot honor their end, then re-evaluate the partnership based on your changing needs but I think you have a responsibility to not give up easily or throw your hands up in the air. That's you honoring your end. Its easy to forget that they didn't get this life changing surgery while you're dropping weight almost effortlessly at first. We just choose this path. Just like there are many paths to God, there are just as many paths to better health. You're in this together. We're all in this together. Just my 2 cents.

lol! Yeah I hear a lot of people have gallbladder issues after this surgery.

Take some time to get your mind right with this because for me it is 90% mental. You're starting a journey that is going to change your life forever. The liquid diet is the hardest, especially with your full stomach but keep reminding yourself that #1. 2014 is YOUR year and #2. that you're doing this to reclaim your health and mend the disconnect you have with your body and with food. Good luck.

Optifast? Like prepackaged meals and shakes? You should honestly save yourself the money, buy a good Protein shake and Google or Pintrest low carb recipes or Paleo recipes and go from there. Optifast reminds me too much of my pre sleeved lifestyle... just another program that looks good on the box but is a waste of money and a hassle to maintain.

Same here, I've been eating like total crap lately and that was only compounded by the holidays. It took me a couple weeks to rebound but I did and I woke up today lighter than I've been in probably 20 years. I do love my sleeve and the decision I made to get it.

My partner and I live in Atlanta as well. We should chat sometime.

Congrats

LMAO! Yes, and I hear there is a small meteor flying towards the Earth. I am more than positive that it will hit RJ, while she's driving in her car, going 75 miles per hour, under a bridge while the train is going over it above her. RJ hun, bless your heart. Give it time, this too shall pass. *hugs* (I know you're not a hugger but that makes me want to hug you more! lol)

I'm already bald. Problem solved. I don't care about scars, which almost 4 months out are still purple. I do care a little about loose skin but honestly, even though I do have excess skin my skin has done an AMAZING job at bouncing back. I notice differences all the time with my skin. I also have lost a lot of fat in my face which has slimmed down a bit so I look a little older. No biggie, my partner loves me if I'm a 400 pound state puff marshmallow man or a 230 pound flab fest. As long as I'm healthy.

LMFAO Beautifully put! LOL it was true! A small measured bowl of ice cream but still ice cream none the less.

Sorry but if my eyes could roll any further they would pop out of my head.

I'm slipping into a bowl of ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon right now.

$25 for my initial surgeon consultation. $25 for Psyche Eval. $25 for Pulmonologist (sp?) $25 for second surgeon visit. $25 for bloodwork panel (but then I got another bill from them for $85, not sure why) $20 for Primary Care Physician Clearance $149 for my first Upper GI (was applied to my deductible) $104 for my nutritionist consult (I never visited her or talked to her again, what a colossal waste of time and money), plus I received an extra bill after visiting her for $89.. don't know why. *eye roll* $25 for my final surgeon visit. Plus about $20-$30 in after surgery prescriptions. I hope I'm not forgetting anything.

This happens to me EVERY.SINGLE.TIME! I was stuck at 301, 302, 301, 303 for weeks and my next goal which was below 280 and I was stuck at 281, 282, 280 for what seemed like forever. My body has always done this. But then one day I'll wake up and be WHOOSH I'll blow right by it.

I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday and she told me that one of her friends used to be over 400 pounds and lost her weight the traditional way. She had no skin issues because she drank a ton of skim milk while she was losing weight. I did a Google search and there seems to be some truth to this. Has anyone experienced better skin elasticity by doing this? After 80 pounds I am starting to feel a little.... hmmm, squishy. So besides exercise and cocoa butter I am looking for the best angle to deal with excess skin with additional surgery being an absolute last option.

Plus you also need to consider all of the co-payments and prescription fills. That was probably an additional couple hundred through this whole process. I have Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

My surgeon office told me no. I had to pay 20% of the surgeons fee's upfront (about $500) and my deductible ($1100). They told me they had a contract with the insurance companies and required that. I got a bill from the hospital after the surgery for about $500 (which I haven't paid yet but will with my FLEX spending in 2014). But considering when all was said and done it was almost $30,000 to get this done. I'm not complaining that much. lol

The only time I had any nausea was when I first came out of surgery, still groggy and oblivious to my surroundings but I somehow knew there was a nurse there and in my confusion said "nauseous, please fix it" and she (or he, I don't remember) shot me up with something and it never happened again.

So basically you're not getting the surgery because you have to slow down just a little bit when you drink water?

Ummm it varies day to day but... Today: coffee 2 eggs with a little cheese, 2 sausage links Half of a small lasagna (250 calories worth about) And for dinner I'll probably have a piece of chicken and some veggies. Tons of Water Oh and don't judge me... earlier I had about 10 Funyuns and they we're delicious.