Comeflywithme

YES OMG after people seeing me and hearing me gloat about how happy I am how great I feel, 4 co-workers and 2 personal friends have gotten sleeved and another one JUST went for his first check up last week!! I feel so happy for them and so proud and I constantly coach them. They too tell me all the time how I was their inspiration, what a great feeling!

You look fabulous. I wouldn't worry about what others think do what's best for you, it's your body.

Thank you everyone !! I have told everyone that it is my decision and whether they support me or not I'm doing this for me. They don't know what's it's like covering up all the time and having to sit a certain way so the fat doesn't bulge through shirts etc.
I am actively looking for a surgeon now and will probably travel to Florida to get it done. I have heard great reviews from Dr Fisher and I am hoping to go with him but will keep my eyes open for anyone else that's great.
Thanks again everyone for your wonderful comments it makes me feel so good !!

Congrats! You look great! Past that, your body is yours and yours alone- do with it what you want. I had plastics at 11 months post op, then again at 14 months and my last procedure is next month at 16 months out. My first procedure was the TT and lift/ augment and wow, hello- plastic surgery rocks!! I like my new boobs, but I've never in my entire life had a hard, flat stomach. It has been almost 6 months now since I had it done and every single day I am ecstatic that I did. It is so awesome to be able to wear a dress and not worry that my stomach pudge is visible and it is really nice that I can wear shirts without a big supportive bra. If you can afford surgery and you want it- go for it. Your family will either get on board or get over it. Either way..you win.

My family members to not get to vote on my healthcare decisions. My healthcare is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship, and I am the dictator. Do what you want, dear.

Plastic surgery, just like WLS has to be for YOU and YOU alone. You can't/shouldn't do it for anyone else and you can't/shouldn't NOT do it for anyone else either. It's all about you being comfortable in your own body for the rest of your life. No one else has to live inside YOUR body.
When I had plastics done, it was 100% for me and I am so grateful that I did. No regrets!

Hello everyone, it is March and I am finally ONE year out !! Yay !! I have lost a great amount of weight and I am so so grateful for my new body. I am very happy with my results. I do want plastic surgery though. I want to be able to wear a bikini in public and not have excess fat sagging there .. My family is not very supportive of going through with plastic surgery because " I don't really need it " and " god made you the way you are "
I just hope maybe someone knows how I feel and can drop a comment / suggestion.
I am unsure what doctor I will be using.
Pic below of my before / after
   

I can't help but wonder if, if I do this and it goes well, it might spur my father to do it too. He's older though, about 60. But he's always been overweight since I was little. He is obese now, and has type 2 diabetes. he's had one heart attack, but doing well cardiovascularly right now. He has lots of follow ups, etc. But i'd love to see him get off all his meds and have less pain, be able to be more active with the grandkids, etc. He's on cholesterol meds too, which make him a bit spacy (known side effect) and such, and I just think he'd be so much happier. He likes healthy food, he just eats too much of it.
Anyway, I'm wondering if you losing weight spurred anyone else to do this.

Ugh feeling your pain... from all of you and I've been bad with these new Dove Dark chocolate Covered cranberries, OMG!! LOL! I can't wait for better weather to continue with my walking and staying OFF the chocolate! Dammit! LOL!
Good luck my Sleeved Sisters! ♥

I hear ya, sleeve sister. I am just not as motivated to make laps inside the house as much as casual walk around around the neighborhood on a pleasant sunny morning.
What I did yesterday both pleases and shames me. My gentleman friend is from the Mediterranean Island of Malta, and they have a lovely pastry there, called pastizzi. For lack of a better description, pastizzi is like a baked ravioli using puff pastry instead of noodle dough. When we would visit Detroit when he folks were alive, we would go to a little neighborhood market and buy frozen ones by the dozens and bring them back home to Chicago. Outside of Malta, Detroit, and Australia, they had almost impossible to find.
His favorite filling (and the most common on the Malta Island) has a ricotta cheese filling, although a corned beef / pea mixture is popular, also. I was sooooooooo bored yesterday (retired and post-stroke, so I really don't have anywhereI am medically permitted to go when I am alone). We had the perfect pastizzi storm in the fridge. There was ricotta, corned beef, peas, plenty of butter....the temptation was too great, and he has not had pastizza since 2011.
So, I got up early and started the process of making home-made puff pastry, which I had not done in twenty years because of constant yo-yo dieting. I made up some ricotta filling, some corned beef/pea filling, and experimented with bacon/onion/spinach filling and two dessert fillings - ricotta with lemon, and ricotta with dark chocolate, crushed unsalted mixed nuts, cinnamon and dark chocolate.< /p>
Oh man, I played in the kitchen all day. The fillings themselves are all bariatric friendly being mostly Protein. Since I am a year out and close to goal, I can justify the few carbs is the corned beef / pea mixture. But did I stop at eating the fillings? Noooooooo.
When I baked the pastizzis for his supper, I just couldn't resist the golden brown yummy deliciousness, and had one of each between dinner and bedtime. Well, I am having pastizzi remorse today and still can't go outside to walk it off because it is 18 degrees here and snowing AGAIN. I will have to do some extra squats and belly dancing, I guess!
But, talk about a happy man......he was so surprised when he came in from work - totally not expecting a surprise like that. He is the cook in this house, and quite skilled with the Mediterranean cuisine and has never made pastizzi himself.
So, two points for making the homemade pastizzi, minus four points for indulging in too many for myself. I need some summer sunshine or at least another 45 degrees to get out and go walking. I don't do cold.

Okay so now I don't want the bag of Oreo Cookies but a nice pastry called Pastizza I'll have the ones with the ricotta with lemon, and ricotta with dark chocolate, crushed unsalted mixed nuts, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Two please!

This Canadian winter is getting on my nerves so much. I am starting to feel sad and helpless. Stuck in the house and can't drive or even walk the temperatures are so cold not to mention the wind chill factor.
I feel like gobbling down a box of Oreo Cookies..... Sometimes I am so grateful for my sleeve. But really want to eat the box of Oreo cookies!

YES YES YES I'd do it in a heartbeat and MY ONLY regret is not having it done sooner (I'm 53 and have been overweight since I was 13)! So much so that I don't remember ever in my life being this happy and feeling so healthy and energetic and good!
I've had a REALLY good outcome since day one. I walked 30 minutes after returning to my hospital room from my surgery and didn't feel any pain at all, only minor discomfort due to gas -- which walking helped tremendously, more than anything and I did so every 2 hours -- even at nights. I am down 73 lbs, 8 months out, am a size 10 pants (I have NEVER been a size 10 before) and loving my life.
Good luck, stay positive, stay excited and follow your doctors advises to a T. Keep us posted.

When you make the life-altering decision to undergo bariatric surgery, it also affects the people around you in a big way. Most of us are uncomfortable when the people we love the most change before our eyes. Here are some tips and tools to help you both stay on same course during the journey.


People generally prefer for things to stay the way they are. Change can be unsettling -- like walking into a dark, unfamiliar room where you can’t find the light switch.
More often than not, as time passes, the people in your life will adjust to the ‘new you’ during you weight loss journey, but there will probably be a few bumps along the way.
Your significant other is the person with the most at stake (other than you) during this new stage of your life. They love you, but they are also “losing” the version of you that they know and love. And the “new you” may be viewed by them as someone they don’t really know. At all.
The Relationship Dynamic Changes With Weight Loss
If your significant other has taken the lead in your relationship due to low self-esteem or physical restrictions due to your weight, that dynamic may equalize or even flip.
Over time, losing a significant amount of weight and garnering more vigor for life due to increased energy can open the door to several significant life changes — a better-paying job, different hobbies, new friends, or a new way of dressing or wearing your hair. Your spouse may be caught off guard by all these changes, especially if they take place in a short time frame.
Find Solace in a Support Group
I recommend spouses and family members attend Bariatric Support Group meetings with you so they can get a clearer perspective of what you are experiencing during your weight loss. It affords them the chance to listen to others who have achieved goal weight and observe many of the changes and benefits firsthand.
Keep Talking
Nearly 50 percent of marriages in the U.S. end in divorce, and weight loss surgery patients are not immune.
Mental health professionals say that strong relationships grow under stress, weak relationships grow apart or fail. Don’t hesitate to seek couple counseling even if things are going great from your point of view; your partner may be feeling stressed or confused and need an outlet to express his or her feelings about your life change and how it affects him or her.
A Little Patience is Needed While Loved Ones Adjust
I always tell bariatric clients that patience is probably the most useful tool they need post-op. Even with the speed of weight loss with a bariatric solution, it’s never feels fast enough. In addition, people around you can unknowingly say or do the wrong thing that may seem thoughtless or insensitive. We’re all human, we all say the wrong thing sometimes.
Stay gentle, stay engaged and stay in touch with your closest companion — and all your supporters. Time changes everything, and most difficulties will resolve themselves sooner than you think.
Remember, you are in the driver seat during your weight loss transformation, but your partner is also along for the ride.
Photo Credit: freedigitalphotos.net and courtesy of David Castillo Dominici.

Hi everybody. I've been reading the forums and cheering yall on for a few months now. I currently have the lap band. I've had it a few years and was never really successful with it. The little bit that I lost I gained back plus some. I made the decision to have the revision to sleeve done. It took me about a year to make that decision but I'm hoping to finally live my life to the fullest. I got the call today that I'm approved! I'm scheduled for March 2nd. Seems as if it took forever to get here but now seems like a whirlwind. I'm very excited and very afraid to fail at this one too. Yall are so encouraging and informative. I can't wait!

If you’re a weight loss surgery patient or patient-to-be, you’d better grow a thick skin if you haven’t already. Your thick skin will help shield you from negative reactions to bariatric surgery. People are not afraid to make personal and hurtful comments about this surgery, even they often have no idea about the facts.


One of the barriers to getting weight loss surgery is the fear of telling others about it. People are quick to make you feel ashamed about your choice. They accuse you of cheating or of making a dangerous decision.
But it’s not just uninformed people who can make you feel bad. What about the media, which you trust to get its facts straight, and which influences millions of Americans’ beliefs and opinions? Sadly, the media spreads its share of misinformation about weight loss surgery.
One striking example occurred on the final episode of this season of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” For the record, this was not the first time this show publicly aired negative comments about weight loss surgery. On this occasion, Dr. Robert Huizenga clearly stated that weight loss surgery is an unhealthy choice. The implication was that it is a mistake in all cases, and far inferior to the weight loss methods used by “The Biggest Loser” contestants.
There was no mention of the fact that the weight loss methods used by the contestants are the exact same as the most effective weight loss methods used by weight loss surgery patients. That is, both use a low-calorie diet that dramatically reduces junk foods, and both encourage physical activity. The problem with weight loss surgery? Dr. Huizenga did not explain. Viewers can only guess at the horrors he was thinking of.
I’m certainly not the only one to notice such snubs on national television. The BariatricPal community had a thing or two to say about this particular episode of “The Biggest Loser,” and I invite you to check out the comments and add to the discussion if you haven’t already.
The Biggest Loser
Nobody’s dream in life is to get weight loss surgery. Unfortunately, nobody’s dream in life is to struggle with obesity, but many of us do. What options do we have? Those of us who have chosen weight loss surgery chose it because we exhausted our other options. Those options – regular diets – just didn’t work for us.
So, what would Dr. Huizenga have recommended in my case? A 16-week stay at the Biggest Loser Ranch, just like the contestants who made it to the season finale? Full dietary, medical, and physical activity support, just like the contestants? Sure, I would have been happy to try that option. Unfortunately, it costs about $3,000 per week to stay at the resort. That’s a value of $48,000, not including the longer-term support contestants receive.
Could I have lost the weight without surgery if I had had $48,000 to spend and the promise of lifetime support? I don’t know. What I do know is I did not have the chance to try. I did, however, have the chance to get weight loss surgery, and I made the most of it.
Don’t get me wrong. I really respect what I see on television of the Biggest Loser trainers and health staff that I see on television. Dr. Huizenga seems genuinely distressed about contestants’ poor health at the beginning of the show, and just as genuinely satisfied about their improved prognoses by the end. This season, trainer Jen’s tears were representative of the sincere stake the trainers have in the contestants’ lives. And, like many in America, I’d be on the first plane to Los Angeles if Bob or Dolvett offered to train me. But I do wish they did not feel the need to bash weight loss surgery without explanation.
The Truth of the Matter
Even if you have the choice between losing weight the Biggest Loser way or through weight loss surgery, which is better? There’s no question that you need to decide for yourself, but let’s take a look at each of these weight loss methods.
Losing weight Biggest Loser style means spending hours a day in the gym. The show doesn’t air nearly as much material on food as it does on exercise, although terrible eating habits got contestants to where they were, and good nutrition is clearly a part of their new lifestyles. It seems doubtful that Biggest Loser contestants can continue to exercise so many hours per day for the rest of their lives after the show, and I am certain that many other individuals just do not have this kind of time.
Weight loss surgery is…well…surgery. It involves going under the knife and changing something about your insides. There are inherent risks that are unavoidable when you undergo weight loss surgery. Aside from that, bariatric surgery requires a controlled, high-protein, nutritious diet, and exercise is recommended. Many patients can average about 100 pounds, or a respectable and reasonable 2 pounds per week, during their first year after surgery.
How do the results of losing weight Biggest Loser style versus with bariatric surgery? Initial weight loss seems comparable, according to a study discussed in US News and World Reports. But the study found Biggest Loser contestants ending up with a lower metabolic rate – making them potentially more likely to regain their weight. Granted, this study did not follow participants long-term, so we do not know what will happen in 10 or 20 years. What does seem clear, though, is that it is not yet justifiable for the “Biggest Loser” to state matter-of-factly that all weight loss surgery is bad.
Why Does It Matter?
Does it really matter what a reality television show says in passing about weight loss surgery? I believe it does. For one thing, the country already has a culture that largely views bariatric surgery negatively. We don’t need to increase the negative feelings with these vague statements proclaiming that the show helps contestants lose weight the “right” way, and other methods of weight loss are “wrong.”
Second, the show has millions of loyal viewers, including many who may be eligible for weight loss surgery. In my opinion, the show is doing them a disservice by stating unequivocally that bariatric surgery is a bad option. For some of these viewers, bariatric surgery may be the only option that would allow them to lose the weight that has plagued them their entire lives.
I don’t know what the solution is to this problem of negativity towards weight loss surgery and weight loss surgery patients. Education and patience come to mind – spread the word, when you can, about how weight loss surgery works and why some people get it. And, grow a thick skin. No matter where you are in your weight loss journey, you’re bound to get some negative comments about your decisions. Just know that you are doing the right thing for yourself.

YES YES YES I'd do it in a heartbeat and MY ONLY regret is not having it done sooner (I'm 53 and have been overweight since I was 13)! So much so that I don't remember ever in my life being this happy and feeling so healthy and energetic and good!
I've had a REALLY good outcome since day one. I walked 30 minutes after returning to my hospital room from my surgery and didn't feel any pain at all, only minor discomfort due to gas -- which walking helped tremendously, more than anything and I did so every 2 hours -- even at nights. I am down 73 lbs, 8 months out, am a size 10 pants (I have NEVER been a size 10 before) and loving my life.
Good luck, stay positive, stay excited and follow your doctors advises to a T. Keep us posted.

YES YES YES I'd do it in a heartbeat and MY ONLY regret is not having it done sooner (I'm 53 and have been overweight since I was 13)! So much so that I don't remember ever in my life being this happy and feeling so healthy and energetic and good!
I've had a REALLY good outcome since day one. I walked 30 minutes after returning to my hospital room from my surgery and didn't feel any pain at all, only minor discomfort due to gas -- which walking helped tremendously, more than anything and I did so every 2 hours -- even at nights. I am down 73 lbs, 8 months out, am a size 10 pants (I have NEVER been a size 10 before) and loving my life.
Good luck, stay positive, stay excited and follow your doctors advises to a T. Keep us posted.

YES YES YES I'd do it in a heartbeat and MY ONLY regret is not having it done sooner (I'm 53 and have been overweight since I was 13)! So much so that I don't remember ever in my life being this happy and feeling so healthy and energetic and good!
I've had a REALLY good outcome since day one. I walked 30 minutes after returning to my hospital room from my surgery and didn't feel any pain at all, only minor discomfort due to gas -- which walking helped tremendously, more than anything and I did so every 2 hours -- even at nights. I am down 73 lbs, 8 months out, am a size 10 pants (I have NEVER been a size 10 before) and loving my life.
Good luck, stay positive, stay excited and follow your doctors advises to a T. Keep us posted.

Hmmm... it's all about jealosy.... Wait till the weight starts coming down ... then you'll REALLY see it then. I have family members as well as coworkers treating me very differently too. I shrug it off. You just go about your happy self with this tremendous decision that will change your life -- for the better and not mind the opinion of others my dear. I choose to IGNORE those who either used sarcasm or negativity towards my WLS and I am just too happy to deal with that.

I'm 5'4 and my goal weight is 164, I have 16 more lbs to go -- it's really tough losing these last few pounds but I WILL do it and I am in no rush.

..... and you just wait my friend... it gets SOOO MUCH better!!! I am 9 months out, 73 lbs down and couldn't be happier. I'm losing very little nowadays but could eat everything and I feel AMAZING~! Enjoy!!

I'm 5'4 and my goal weight is 164, I have 16 more lbs to go -- it's really tough losing these last few pounds but I WILL do it and I am in no rush.

Although I am two years out from being banded, I have a number of body image issues and I find that photographs help me to see what I have trouble seeing when I look in the mirror. I know that pictures also help my buddies on this site when they wonder if they too can transform even with high BMI's or complicated co-morbidities. Here's the proof that it can be done by just limiting intake, making healthy choices, and moving a little bit. I haven't done anything to excess and have still found success. If I can do it, so can any of you. The first set of pictures is from our company Christmas party. The before is from 2011 and the after is from 2014. The other set of pictures is from a hotel I stayed at in June of 2013 and again last week. At the time of the first picture, I was already down nearly 70 lbs. and the after pic is me down 155 lbs.

So many on your list would be on mine as well. Some days I just gush to my husband about how great I feel about myself. He was not supportive of my having surgery (since surgery is only for people who need to loose 100's of pounds....), but he is now on board with me. I love pulling old clothes out of the closet and doing "fashion shows" to get his opinion of whether I should keep or donate. All of my high heeled shoes now fit and some require insoles since my feet have clearly gotten smaller. I still take my OTC Prilosec, but I'm off all other presurgery medications. No more high blood pressure, high cholesterol and no more sleep apnea. I just never thought I would ever be thin again and I am so happy with the woman I now see in the mirror!