tami j

Gah you and me both. I'd rather have flaming bamboo shoots stuck under my nails. If it's not books, electronics or bath products, I'm not interested in shopping for it.

Hey everyone!
I had my surgery August 22nd, 2012 so I'm about 15 months post op. I've lost a total of 101 pounds and I feel great I started at 231 lbs. and now weigh 130 lbs.
At 23 years old, I feel like life can't get any better I've been maintaining for about 7-8 months. I feel so much healthier and more confident. I continue to exercise and make healthy choices to motivate myself to be the healthiest me that I can be. This journey has been one of the most humbling and challenging experiences of my life. I've surrounded myself with positive people who have supported me throughout this whole process.
I'm now participating in the "Bari-Buddy" system at the hospital I had my surgery at - getting paired with people who just had the surgery to be a support to them. It's been a great experience - both rewarding and inspiring to help support other people who are in the same position I was in 15 months ago.
Since the summer, I've graduated college and started a new job. I'm now an occupational therapist working in a pediatric setting. This is something I always wanted to do but I was always too intimidated to work with kids - because let's be honest...kids are a little too honest!! I am so grateful that I now have the confidence (and the energy!!) to help these kids achieve all of their goals.
I hope everyone is having lots of success and happiness Here are some before and after pictures!

For starters, I have never believed everything I read on here. Don't think anyone should.
Secondly, It seems like everyone has different instructions from their Surgeons and NUTS. After all, we trusted them enough to remove 80% of our stomach so why would we NOT do as they instruct?
That said, I believe the different surgeons instructions come from this; first, medical fact, second, medical opinion, third, serving the lowest common denominator, and lastly, covering their asses.
Caffeine is fine? No caffeine ever again? Straws ok? No straws ever? Alcohol ok? No alcohol ever? Carbonation ok? No carbonation ever? I think lots of surgeons say these things because lets face it, we didn't get morbidly obese doing all the right things so many think that there is no wiggle room in their patients and they don't want someone suing them because they used a straw and gained all the weight back and we not warned about it.
I do follow my surgeon's and NUT's instructions but I also think they use a common sense approach. My only no no according to them is carbonation. I can live with that. Had I been instructed to never have caffeine, alcohol, use a straw, or consume a carbohydrate I would not have had this surgery. I got this surgery to live a long, healthy and normal life not spend the rest of it being afraid every time I put something in my mouth.
I'm sure there are some WLS patient who need that strict set of rules but I think for the most part, we can all use our common sense along with our medical advice and make the right decisions that work for us.

Also, thank you atlantaRed you have done a truly great job keeping all the dates straight and updated!!!!

Also, thank you atlantaRed you have done a truly great job keeping all the dates straight and updated!!!!

There's been a lot of recent activity (which is great!!) just let me know if I missed adding someone to the list.
I added myself (yay!) and tami j. I also added Jill105 from our Facebook group.

I love Shelly's blog, I am scheduled for surgery 12/16/13, but have been inspired by her recipes and tips on puréed section as well

You look great, but tell us, what did you have to do to get all those beads???? Do we really want to know?

Well, I am just over 11 weeks post op and down 54 pounds! August 19th was surgery day. I am down 5 pant sizes and 2 short sizes! I still have more to go in the gut but have lost a lot in my face, shoulders, arms, legs and waist. I feel great! I truly hope everyone else feels as great as I do! Here are before from Feb 2013 and today Nov 2013.

Oh here!
http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html?m=1
I hope this isn't torture

Andrew - Come to find out I have a rather large hiatal hernia, which being self pay, i was very happy about since insurance covers that part of the surgery thus lowering my out of pocket expenses for the sleeve.
I also have chosen to tell people my leave is for the HH. I have worked here 14 years and never had to take a leave before, so it is all new to me - I never realized how many would ask me so many questions. There are two co-workers I have been friends with outside of work for many years and they do know that the sleeve is also happening. then my family knows and my best friend. That is it!
i have contemplated over this part for months now, even when I was just researching it was only my husband that i discussed this with. It wasn't until we were a go that I told those closest to me in the past few weeks.

I am new to the group, my surgery date is set for December 16th. Merry Christmas to me I am in North Fort Worth, Texas and would love to connect with others going thru this and that have already gone thru this. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
I do have a question with the changeover VST is having to BariatricPal, have you noticed that everything transfer's over?
Hope you are all having a great day!

I am new to the group, my surgery date is set for December 16th. Merry Christmas to me I am in North Fort Worth, Texas and would love to connect with others going thru this and that have already gone thru this. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
I do have a question with the changeover VST is having to BariatricPal, have you noticed that everything transfer's over?
Hope you are all having a great day!

I am new to the group, my surgery date is set for December 16th. Merry Christmas to me I am in North Fort Worth, Texas and would love to connect with others going thru this and that have already gone thru this. Looking forward to getting to know some of you.
I do have a question with the changeover VST is having to BariatricPal, have you noticed that everything transfer's over?
Hope you are all having a great day!

Just call me Miss December! I have a "tentative" date of December 3rd! I'm excited, anxious and all that!! Can't even focus on anything else right now! Lets see...I'm 47, have dieted since I was 8! Chunky my whole life and I'm done with it! I have three kids and they youngest (twins) are graduating this year and I decided it was MY TIME! Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

Hello all! I have been lurking for at least a month so I finally decided to join the group. I'm happy to be a fellow December sleever! My date is 12/16. I started the process in April and finished up the 6 month requirements with my PCP in Sept. Of course, there were some delays but insurance approval was received last week. I had to put off surgery till December because we already had a family vacation planned for Disney World during Thanksgiving week. Let the stress, anxiety, fun times begin!!!

Ok, this is what I've come up with for dates. Let me know when you have a solid date and I can update the list.

Dec 02 Krysta03
Dec 02 gaslimgal
Dec 02 jess9395
Dec 02 Annadette
Dec 02 sookie
Dec 02 Nurse_Bonnie
Dec 02 doopa
Dec 03 Tasha420
Dec 03 SouthernCharm
Dec 03 redilla42
Dec 03 skinnynewbecky2014
Dec 03 Sinderelly
Dec 04 L-in-NJ
Dec 04 Healthbound
Dec 04 kledislynn's mommy
Dec 04 Katdrox
Dec 05 Blondiee
Dec 05 Lioness813
Dec 06 kyholder
Dec 06 harleychic
Dec 09 De-jo
Dec 09 AshleyMidwife
Dec 09 Sweettart702
Dec 09 MShell
Dec 09 Carlotta
Dec 10 hopecomeswithtime
Dec 11 liciamarie
Dec 11 KaminaBlue
Dec 11 Only1likeme
Dec 11 soul2bleed
Dec 11 Volfan
Dec 11 dencob1
Dec 11 MnWin
Dec 11 onedaycloser
Dec 12 amills
Dec 12 kellymoon
Dec 13 Mommie4
Dec 13 amduc (and husband!)
Dec 16 slvrsax
Dec 16 elhudge
Dec 16 Mfs
Dec 17 Shelly70
Dec 17 Serenah
Dec 18 Sns513
Dec 18 Nona337am
Dec 18 gemgirl
Dec 18 mija1980
Dec 26 ReEstDec2013
Dec 27 Carmen1963
Dec 30 elsnanny
Dec 30 bcishop

No date yet:
AtlantaRed
beansmomma
HoustonTexanFan
AngiD
fpmr96a
SueRN
Simpley_ke
Vixey
macman
MonisNatural
fmpr96a
Tarheel79
SeniorMoment

I just went on the new website to check it out. They have not brought over active forums, and your profile is void of pictures, the count for comments you have made or posts you have started, and your information. I am hoping this all carries over!