Shell88

Ok, ok.... drain removal? Drain coming out? Someone please explain - panicking over here with surgery in exactly a month LOL

@@ready2B you couldn't be more right! food isn't our enemy, a friend - just not a person! I wish you all the best with your surgery tomorrow.... it must be incredibly exciting..... I know I am counting down the days!!!! My surgery is Dec 11th - 1 month, 2 days away :-)

@@chylamarie thank you :-) it's nice to know there are people proud of me, whether they know me or not.... i think we're all doing such amazing things for ourselves and the ones we love

@@Mami5Boys thank you so much for the feedback! That definitely cleared my head more about the surgery which is officially a month away. Congrats on the recent surgery - it must be so exciting! Keep me updated.... And thank you again for the great report :-)

@@dar81 yes please do update..... my baby needs me alive and functioning more than a weight loss surgery that can go terribly wrong with the wrong doctor

I just found this thread after reading the review..... I have surgery with him Dec 11th..... that just made me really uneasy. Anyone else know enough about him?

@@Ronab - decaf is a life saver.... decaf doesn't mean no caf - but its so little it helps take the edge off and it is allowed on the diets..... I wanna try mine with some cafe latte Protein powder in a blender actually lol

@@Jonathan Blue - you are awesome!!! I read that post in your blog and it honestly did inspire some presurgery ideas. I also find it astonishing that you lost a whopping 200+lbs in a year!!! This makes me very excited for my own surgery and my own continued journey -- thank you for that

@@Stevehud - that is exactly what I fear.. Not for my own self - but I don't want her to ever be embarrassed or want to hide me.

@@CowgirlJane - I find you to be an amazing role model. Before my information session in September, it was you who told me to rethink the lap band surgery and why. I'm glad I went into that session with a newly opened mind because I am now going for the gastric sleeve and not looking back! I actually mentioned you recently to a family member as to how inspiring you are and how many great things I've noticed you do now - including the dance lessons! It's because of you I know that there is definitely a whole new life at the end of this tunnel.... the surgery will only be the beginning

@@Rogofulm - 82 lbs since June?! You are amazing! Hat's off to you sir! I enjoy the advice and tips and tricks for the eating events ... I will definitely be trying that all out this holiday season.

@@Roo101769 - Thank you. It's so great coming to this site and seeing people who truly just get it! I have always disliked the term BBW because it was always associated with such negativity. I understand fully what you mean about the only into the physical but wouldn't actually ask you out. It's fine behind closed doors- but we're an embarrassment out in public... I commend you for being a single mom. It's tough. I feel like I'm doing it now anyway. There's a lot that goes into it, on top of trying to make a living to keep you both surviving. You've done amazing thus far - I hope I can follow suit!

Thank you @@VSGAnn2014 ... Yeah I reread what I wrote and realized how mentally I've moved on before anything has even happened...

So, I'm not going through the thinking phase - oh boy where do I start?! First off - I'm going for surgery 6 weeks sooner than originally planned. I was excited to get it done after the holidays because it meant I wouldn't have the issues or discomfort of sitting at holiday dinner with my big Italian family. I will be on liquid. There goes the antipasta, lasagna, and ham. AND! My birthday is 4 weeks after surgery! The lifestyle of drinks with my friends, Red Lobster as a birthday dinner, and some awesome flavored cake is done-zo. But this is stupid little things that I know I'll get over and beyond all doubt get through. I have faith I can make it through the insanity. I am worried about my relationship though. He didn't like the idea of the surgery in the beginning.... or even 2 years ago when I was first contemplating it. (Just a little background : my fiance is a chubby chaser, as were all of my exes). I'm afraid that no matter what he says, and though his fears were that I would be the one to leave him, that he will lose attraction once I start losing mass amounts of meat from my bones. With all that I have put aside for him, and the bs I've sucked up and dealt with, and all of the things I've looked past for him - I don't think he'll have that ability to just accept my weight loss. And I fear my ultra confidence and new vanity will give me that slight boost I was looking for to leave. \ I have read a few people say they see people get these surgeries for vanity reasons that they won't admit to. I was actually fine with living how I was and looking how I do. I enjoy my curves. I knew I only attracted guys with BBW fetishes. But I was all good. I was happy. I knew I could and did get guys. But then I had my beautiful little girl. For her, I want Mommy to be healthy, and able to run after her, and pick her up without back pain, and be around for decades to come without some sort of mortal complication. So it's not always vanity - but I know I will look damn amazing, even if not attracting the same guys. Which I'm fine with. As long as I can spend eternity with my pride and joy.

We asked my surgeon at the info session - he said whenever you want! He doesn't want to be the one to stop you from intimacy LOL

Only to find out X was leading them on all along - she was too confident and independent for either of these boys!

@@Lizzie125 - I wish I could LIKE your post 20 more times!! Dec 11th here too!! I started over a month ago drinking Protein shakes for breakfast every morning. They are definitely solid enough to hold over my hunger for a few hours. I wasn't a fan of the CVS powder or the Muscle Milk - and Premier Protein shakes and Pure Protein Shakes taste pretty good for how inexpensive they are. Just went to a few websites and bought variety packs and individual powder packets to start trying them now along with one of those special shaker bottles to see if it really helps de-clumping. Haven't figured out how to incorporate the powder into my other drinks and food yet.... but this is so exciting!!

Congrats!! Dec 11th Sleeve date here! :-) It's so exciting

Is anyone else getting super excited as the days pass now?

Essex County HERE!! Dec 11th date

Just got my date yesterday!!! December 11th!!! So excited!

Will do! Thanks @@MarieMarie

Hello! I'm up in the Verona area, still working with Dr Paragi in west orange... looking forward to getting my surgery date soon :-) congrats on your surgeries!

@@sugar free - I'm so sorry I didn't see this sooner! I hope you got a bunch of information at your first appointment - there's a journey ahead! A bunch of tests, but once they are all over - you'll be in shock at how much you accomplished - I know I am!

Thank you so much @@Sweet Pee - however I find you to be inspiring to me! 140+ lbs is an amazing concept to me, and I think it's fantastic you pushed and got that far on your own... congrats, I'll see you on the other side! :-)