caligirl3

I've had 12 different surgeries where I was put out for the process. Every time I faced that dread of "what if" and every time it went like this: You're going to feel real relaxed....now count back from 100.....100, 99, 98......Shirley...wake up Shirley...your surgery's over....you did fine. So I agree with the other folks in this forum that I face a greater risk of death by not having the surgery. I, too am 5'4" with a starting weight of 235. The pre-op diet has taken me down to 217, and my surgery will be sometime in November. My 53" belly touches my legs, and it is getting harder and harder to stand up straight. So, the greater risk for me is to not take this journey.

That's why I love this site the support is amazing

Hoping my surgery will be the end of November. So excited.

Oh I'm so hoping for a November date. I had my pre op class today. All that is left is a nut appt and then we submit to insurance. Gaaahh I'm soo nervous!

I have been silently lurking around this forum for quite some time. Finally late last year, I decided it is time to act. I am scheduled to be sleeved next Wednesday, January 30th. I am nervous but optimistic. I am a 40 y/o female, 5 feet 7 inches and 274 lbs at weigh-in two weeks ago. At yesterday's physical, I was 264 lbs.I am hoping this surgery gives me the tools and a kick-start of sorts to get some control back into managing my weight. I may not post often, but all of your stories have truly inspired me and I am grateful to have found this site.

I am taller, 5'7" but I started with a BMI > 40 at 274 lbs. I was sleeved in early February 2013 and as of this morning I weigh 143 lbs., which is 13 lbs. away from my goal of 130 lbs. You CAN do it. Follow your program, do the work, make the right choices, exercise as much as you can (within reason) and you will be fine. It is a complete lifestyle change but stay enthusiastic about the journey and you will be very happy along the way.

Your feelings are perfectly normal. Anyone who says they were not anxious/nervous, is full of it!
However, you are in for one heck of a journey and this is simply the first step in getting there!
The first day or so will not be easy, however you will get through it...and in a few weeks, this phase will be a distant memory.
My wife and I were talking about it last night (I'm 5 months out and she is 3 months), as we were wrapping up our five mile walk...this new normal is freakin' awesome! LOL You are in for an awesome transformation and this is just a necessary part of getting there.
Good luck and we'll keep you in our prayers. Enjoy the nap!

Had my surgery yesterday around 5. Did my leak test this morning. All is fine. I was given Gatorade this afternoon. It tasted sooo good after having fasted for so long for the surgery. Looking forward to starting the rest of my journey. Next post will be a long one detailing my experience here in Mexico for those who have not yet been through this.

Hi guys. I see a lot of you are struggling and worried pre-op about the pre-op diet. It is a HUGE challenge, but for me, it was an important one.
Exactly 1 year ago, I was in the middle of a 2 week liquid pre-op diet because my BMI was 55+ and I was self-pay in Mexico. Traveling from Canada meant that a reschedule would be A LOT of extra expense if my surgeon had to stop due to an enlarged liver mid-surgery. I had NO CHOICE but to follow the diet.
It also meant that cheating would increase the chance of complications and a longer recovery (or worse), all because I could not follow a 2 WEEK diet. Really? Here I was, about to take a seriously radical, life-changing step and get 85% of my stomach cut out permanently. But I can't follow a 2 week diet? That's crazy.
Post-op was going to be difficult for MONTHS, not days. So if I couldn't get my head in the game for the pre-op diet, then maybe I wasn't ready for what was going to follow post-op. I was terrified!
So I started the liquid diet. And I was STARVING. I was dreaming of all the foods I thought were leaving my life forever. Suddenly I didn't care that I had spent my life morbidly obese, I wanted my comfort back. I wanted to fill myself to bursting at every meal, like it was my last meal forever.
But I didn't break my diet.
Because for once, I wasn't going to cheat myself. It was time to grow up (I'm 43....) and take responsibility for my health, my future and my choices. A lifetime of justification, gluttony and excuses brought me to that operating room. Now it was time to face the music and get on with owning my future.
The first 3 days were HELL. That is when your body is detoxing from the carbs. You are using up the glycogen in your liver (to help "shrink" it) and it's screaming for replacement carbs to fill it back up. You can get through it. After 3 days it gets MUCH better. After a week you start to feel normal and more healthy than you have felt in years. You may be hungry, but you don't have the carb cravings anymore.
Most importantly, you feel IN CONTROL; and mentally and emotionally strong for battling your demons and winning. This is the first tangible proof in an unsure future that you CAN get through the post-op recovery and that you CAN succeed in losing the weight this time, FOR LIFE.
Whatever weight you lose during your pre-op diet is really inconsequential. What is important is what you gain:
- Confidence
- Emotional and physical self-control
- The desire to succeed and overcome "impossible" obstacles
- The knowledge that you are a WINNER as long as you do your best
Please don't look at the pre-op diet as a "condition" that your surgeon imposes on you (and some surgeons don't require it!). It is an OPPORTUNITY for you to test yourself, to help build your will, character and emotional toughness BEFORE you have the surgery.
It's like training for a marathon.....you put the blood sweat and tears in before the race to help you finish the race on game day. Without training and preparation, you will likely fail and you can get hurt really badly along the way!
Use your pre-op diet to work through your demons, build up your confidence and prove to yourself you can do it. If you "fall off the wagon" one day, the next day is a fresh start.
Aim for excellence. You owe it to yourself.

This... All of it! I'm definitely saying all of this. Love it!

I told people that NEEDED to know that I was having surgery for whatever reason that it was for "girly" things (truth--I'm a girl). I tell them I am doing a medically supervised high protein/low carb diet (truth), exercising a lot more (truth), I am measuring/logging everything I eat (truth), and that I cut out a lot of the bad stuff (truth-- my tummy!). I tell the truth about how much I've lost, too.
All that long drawn out subterfuge would make my head spin and quite possibly explode. When someone asks me a personal question that I don't want to answer, or one that is rude, I simply smile as if they are an idiot and respond with, "Now why in the world would you ask someone that?". Shuts 'em up every time.

Before. Last year same time at the OC fair
After last week. -almost 60 lbs
[ATTACH]16037[/ATTACH]

Plus 20 pre-op. hope the picture comes through.

Hello my surgery was February 25, 2013
1.5'8-Height
2.270-Pre op Feb 16 2013
3.258-Surgery Feb 25 2013
4.155-Goal
5 169-Current Weight-100 lbs down
6. 7 months is how long it took me to current weight
7. 36 almost 37
I am a size 10

I would love to see the results of your analysis once you've completed it. In hopes of inspiring you to share, here is my information:
Height: 5' 7"
Starting Highest Weight: 274lbs
Surgery Weight: 264lbs
Current Weight: 149lbs
Goal Weight: 130lbs
Length of time to reach goal: I am thinking I'll be there in a bit less than 10 months. I am currently 8 months post-op.
Age: 41 years old
Sex: Female

Worth every moment!!!

I just did push ups and walked with weights....drank plenty of Water and moisturized after baths. I have pictures of my arms in my gallery. I did require a tummy tuck...however I would have needed that because of my kids. I am also getting a breast lift with implants in two more weeks! Good luck to you!

Lifting weights is the best way.

Don't borrow trouble from tomorrow. You don't "need" to get any plastics done... I have lost over 150 from my start weight (and more like 170 from my all time high) and yeah.. i have extra skin. i am very happy being fit and healthy - i do plan to get plastics, but I could live without it. For now, focus on getting your weight and health in shape and worry about plastics later.
And I am sorry, i have done weight lifting, boot camp type fitness and all sorts of things... my arms are toned and have some muscle, but i still have hanging skin. skin is not fixed by weight lifting. It is influenced by your age, how many times you have gained and lost weight, how much weight you lost and the genetics of your own skin elasticity.

Here is my before and me in my wedding dress. No longer an apple. Now an hourglass. And I love it!!!

Lol!! Ummm.... I think she is trying to say,
(I) Went out(, now I'm) in trouble(. There was) no cheating (, but) he is still mad ( at me.) ( I think it might be) time to buy sex toys (.)

Huh?

Thank you so much. I will be telling very few people as well, I know this is going to be quite a challenge, but so has all these years of being held down by my weight, I'm ready to experience a different side of the coin. Much success to you going forward. Thanks