spazdd

I can have a conference room in monroeville.

Please PM me if you'd like to lead or co-lead this support group!

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Aloha,
Just checking in. I was sleeved January 30, 2013. I started at 311 pounds and currently weigh 171 pounds. I have not reached goal yet. I am still happy with my progress, but I definitely took some detours along the way. Hang in there everyone. I know sometimes when the scale stays the same for more than a week it is frustrating, but eventually it does come off. Stay strong, count calories (or whatever works for you), keep active, and look ahead.

Congratulations. You look amazing!

Congratulations. You look so good.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments and feel sad when you are sad. I just wanted to thank you all for being there. Although we haven't met and I don't post know that you have helped me tremendously and I am thankful. Wish you all the best in our lifelong journey.

Today makes 6 months that I decided to make one of the best decisions of my life! My starting weight was 303lbs and I'm now 219lbs. I'm feeling a lot better mentally and physically. I'm so motivated that nothing is getting in my way. I go to the gym 3-4 days a week, and still staying under 1200 calories. Here is a couple pictures so you can see my results.

I'm 7 days post op and have told only close family and friends and a few good work friends. I'm still undecided how ill handje it. I do knowthat if someone with a weight problem asks im being honest. Others still undecided. I love reading everyone's responses.

Spaz, the best of luck to you in this journey. Hope you will post often. This site has been a life saver for me. Only this group of people can understand what life is like now.

You are right, we are not strangers. We all share something in common. To use an analogy from a 12 step program, we are like the surviving passengers of a shipwreck. We come from different backgrounds, some of us from steerage, some of us from the luxury cabins. But we huddle together sharing blankets and help each other out of the Water.
We are survivors and we are not going to let our weight define us anymore.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments and feel sad when you are sad. I just wanted to thank you all for being there. Although we haven't met and I don't post know that you have helped me tremendously and I am thankful. Wish you all the best in our lifelong journey.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments and feel sad when you are sad. I just wanted to thank you all for being there. Although we haven't met and I don't post know that you have helped me tremendously and I am thankful. Wish you all the best in our lifelong journey.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments and feel sad when you are sad. I just wanted to thank you all for being there. Although we haven't met and I don't post know that you have helped me tremendously and I am thankful. Wish you all the best in our lifelong journey.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments and feel sad when you are sad. I just wanted to thank you all for being there. Although we haven't met and I don't post know that you have helped me tremendously and I am thankful. Wish you all the best in our lifelong journey.

My energy level started picking up between 4-6 weeks after surgery.

Love that story:). Many more to come!

You look amazing. Thanks for sharing your story.

I love to kayak but due to weight haven't gone in years. You made me want to go again. Congrats and very happy for you.

I'm 7 days post op and have told only close family and friends and a few good work friends. I'm still undecided how ill handje it. I do knowthat if someone with a weight problem asks im being honest. Others still undecided. I love reading everyone's responses.

Congrats. You look amazing. Thanks for sharing. Your an inspiration. Just for sleeved 1/30 and I needed to Ww these.

You are only 26! And you are smart enough to know at your young age that things are going to go around and around in circles. the merry-go-round of dieting can have a disastrous effect on the body...
You have two options..continue in the path that brought you to this decision or jump in with both feet and end the misery that will come upon you... Down the road your health will suffer in some way and your self esteem will be damaged forever..
People who don't know you will see to that....I wish I had done this years ago and had not gotten so sick that it was the last recourse....
I look at this journey as giving my life back to me...If you have had enough of the abuses to your mind body and soul you will consider this a gift...A life long gift if you use it properly.....
I think your really smart to know now you need the help from the sleeve so that you will have a good, healthier and happier life in the future....
I think you are far ahead of some of us who waited until it was the last thing we could do because we tried it all....
All the best......

Ladies -
Only you can answer the ultimate question of whether this is right for you or not. Your surgeon can advise you on the risks of surgery. Weigh that factor heavily.
There is a plethora of information on this site about the trials and tribulations of pre-op and post-op weight loss. While I certainly Celebrate individuality, I see many threads of commonalities in the postings here. Meaning... there are other people just like you. Look for them. You may even want to contact them. Ask what you are really worried about....
I was sleeved in June of this year. So most of us June sleevers are about 3 months out or a bit less. 99% of us are past the physical issues related to surgery and now dealing with stalls and avoiding old habits again. I would suggest reading the June 2013 sleevers trail of messages where you will see the good bad and ugly as about 100 people went through this process.
In my humble opinion, the physical repercussions are relatively minor compared to the mental and emotional ones. Each of us has their our own set of challenges but there is a great deal of crossover.
Build a strong network of people close to you in real life and perhaps a few key supporters online that really "get it" and "get you".
This is not easy but either was being overweight with no hope in sight. 24+ years of just getting heavier, trying every diet, exercise plan, gaining after pregnancy - I am surprised I am still sane.
"Did I try hard enough?" That is the self-sabotage question of a lifetime. I asked myself that long enough and was becoming my own worst enemy. Finally, for me, I just said to myself - "The results are in and these people with sleeves are really doing it. I just don't want to live like this anymore and I don't want even more problems when I age." There is a posting about the Straw that Broke the Camels back here. I would suggest you read those postings. VERY compelling statements about what brought people to this point. I suspect you will see yourself in a variety of those postings.
"Did I try hard enough" can imply that this step is not a hard one. This process/journey is by no means easy. So I suspect when you're on the other side of surgery you will say "Damn right I have!!" Pat yourself on the back for figuring out that this is going to work for you and get ready to work with a tool that you have been looking for all of your life.
I wish you both the best of luck in your continued journey. Feel free to reach out to me privately too. The best is yet to come.

I've always been a private person when it comes to my health and personal decisions. This was no different. I chose to tell only my very supportive husband who has listened to me complain/worry about my weight, sleep apnea and concerns with the threat of HBP, diabetes & high cholesterol. I told 3 very very close supportive friends.
I told my HR rep only because I thought it would be on my paperwork that I submitted for FMLA. Had I known my doctor was writing abdominal surgery only, I wouldn't have told the HR rep. My coworkers thought I was out sick. I work in the healthcare insurance industry and we are well aware of HIPAA. It would be a violation if they ask any personal health questions. I just accept their comments & keep it moving.
I have a large family and a twin, but didn't tell any of them. We tend to be very critical & judgmental of each other. My twin is very competitive. It was easy not telling them because I don't see the everyday. They have no idea that I took off for 5 weeks for my sleeve. I'm loving the fact that they don't know. Funny thing is, I think one of my sisters is overly obsessed with the fact that i don't drink or eat as much as I previously did when we get together. Almost to the point where she said something a few times about me going to the bathroom after eating. I wouldn't be surprised if she and my other sisters discuss that behind my back. I'm okay with that, and can't wait for them to stage an intervention, lol..... My husband and I talk about how funny that would be.
I knew folks would try to talk me out of it and I didn't want that stress on top of the anxiety of have major surgery.
When folks ask what am I doing, I tell them I eat healthier, Portion Control, & exercise. The folks that know me well enough to ask questions, they know me well enough to know their limits with discussing my health.
My limiting the number of folks has allowed this journey to be a very positive one.
I enjoy the great comments and keep it moving.
So not telling works for me,

I'm 7 days post op and have told only close family and friends and a few good work friends. I'm still undecided how ill handje it. I do knowthat if someone with a weight problem asks im being honest. Others still undecided. I love reading everyone's responses.

I love to kayak but due to weight haven't gone in years. You made me want to go again. Congrats and very happy for you.