SherB

Look at you all!! Marathon runners! Truly an inspiration! Best of luck since I don't run anywhere but maybe one day.=)

Went looking for some tops since mine were literally falling off of me. Went to Plus size store Catherine's and realized that the smallest size tops were a bit too big. =)

Your looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. =)

You look wonderful. Are your working out a lot? That seems like a lot of weight for 5 months. I am over 2 months and have only lost 42 pounds. Not sure I could even get close to what you have lost in 5 months. Great job! Jealous here too.

Taking a road trip down memory lane everyone, so please bear with me.... October 2013, SW: 275 I am a 38year old mother of 4, newlymarried. Beautiful house, nice vehicle, great kids, loving hubby....I should be happy right? No, I was not...was not happy with myself & that turned me into a monster.
I have been diagnosed with PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder with severe anxiety & panic attacks,OCD Hypothyroidism, Elevated Triglycerides, Asthma and PCOS just to name a few.
I was trapped inside of a heavy drum and could not climb out and break free, I began hurting myself b/c I could not feel anything anymore. On the brink of suicide. I wanted and needed help.
I met DR. SAMUEL BLEDSOE, and HE & HIS STAFF, literally saved my life! He is a wonderful surgeon with an outstanding bedside manor. They walked me through the whole process with a checklist that needed to be done before the surgery could transpire. From his seminar(which he does on a Saturday)to sleep study, to lab work, to meeting with the nutrionist...I was able to contact his nurses PAM & HALEY at anytime with any questions or concerns.
The information packet they give is so very informative and I did my homework to prepare...Fast Foreward to January 2014...I had the SLEEVE surgery at CHRISTUS CABRINI HOSPITAL in ALEXANDRIA, LA.
The most kind and compassionate surgeon ever... Dr Bledsoe talked and even prayed with me before taking me to surgery. He, along with the hospital staff, took such great care of me during my one night stay...one night!!! Cheering me on with every little step I took and every little sip I drank!!
Looking back, I not only did I feel mentally prepared, by attending the seminar, but to know that I had a team of people, standing behind me, to pick me up if I would fall...and that was a relief in itself! I cannot leave out SANDRA (nutrionist) for she gave me great ideas on foods and Proteins when my taste for things changed or getting stuck in a little rut on eating the same foods...
Now, here in the present, I am 14 months out...weighing 184 pounds. I am not at my goal weight just yet, however, I AM HAPPY WITH MYSELF!! It has been a journey that I wanted to take for ME..no one else!! I still struggle with depression and the like, but it is tolerable, and I do still take meds for it. But I have the energy to move myself and stay motivated! I no longer have asthma, no longer take meds for high triglycerides and I am on a lower dose of thyroid medication.
What I want to say to those of you who are thinking about the surgery...make sure you find a surgeon who is compassionate and caring. Without that, you are just a number... Thank you for allowing me to share and to brag a little on my surgeon????

Good luck to you. If you set your mind to it you can lose weight without surgery. I have done it several times and regained. Of course the same can be said for people that have had surgery.

Phew! Cuz I was totally worried about you judging me.
I am almost two years out, made my weight goal quickly and have maintained for over a year. I think it's working for me, my doctor is happy and so is the rest of my medical team.

Mine was about 8 days. Good luck!

Your looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. =)

Your looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. =)

I am feeling pretty blessed. Everyone of my family members has been super supportive including a ton of extended family. A few of my friends may have mixed feelings but never voiced them to me.

Your looking like a fool with your pants on the ground. =)

Went looking for some tops since mine were literally falling off of me. Went to Plus size store Catherine's and realized that the smallest size tops were a bit too big. =)

I don't think any of us got fat by eating well.
Head hunger and eating issues are not solved by the sleeve. There's still work to do! Many people try to push their boundaries after surgery...can I eat this?...can I eat that? We got fat due to an unhealthy relationship with food in one way or another.
Many people can eat everything they ate before surgery. THIS is why doctors state over and over and over...the sleeve is a tool. Many people can get a bag of Oreos down even post-surgery. May take them hours, but they can do it with an unhealthy relationship with food.< /p>
Eating pizza that soon is probably not great for your new tummy, but many people who've reached their goal weight enjoy a slice of pizza....not the whole pizza...and not a slice every day. Healthy relationship with food...that's still the work we have to do.

I can't believe people are suggesting you to get counseling, that is hilarious. Real quick to diagnose someone. Sheesh.... I think the girl was craving pizza and did the right thing instead of SWALLOWING it, just chewed it and spit it out. I remember when I was 10 days post op, I wanted anything and everything. When I was not eating food during the first few weeks, all I could think about was food. I was miserable. You will be so happy when you can have soft food. Try the Ricotta Bake. It is amazing and satisfies my pizza cravings and i LOVE pizza! Just try to fight off those urges and take each day at a time. That's what I kept telling myself, one day at a time. Now, if you really like to torture yourself like I did, I would go on pinterest and different blogs looking for recipes to try when I got to solids. It was like food porn for me. Lol But now I have lots of recipes bookmarked and excited to try! The time will fly by and before you know it, you'll be at Solid Foods! Hang in there!

Yeah, well I have lost 55 pounds since surgery and nobody seems to notice except family. I give up waiting for others to compliment me. My smaller, looser clothes compliment me. =)

Yeah, well I have lost 55 pounds since surgery and nobody seems to notice except family. I give up waiting for others to compliment me. My smaller, looser clothes compliment me. =)

My personal opinion is to tell your friends, it isn't fair for people you love that are obese to watch you lose weight so quickly and not realize you had surgery. People then wonder, "why the heck can't I do that?". That is why I will tell any of my overweight friends the truth and the not so overweight ones that ask. What does it really hurt to be honest? Who knows, they may decide to join up and get surgery too! That being said, you have to do what is right for you.

I missed pizza too but now it tastes so disgusting and salty. Cant stand it. LOL

LOL DBLPATTYMELT7AM, You are probably right AND I also ate a few bites of pizza about 2 weeks out. Chewed the crap out of it and swallowed it CUZ I was hungry as heck!! Once you can eat more solids some of the cravings subside. =)

thanks for the diagnosis but i think i had a craving and wanted to taste some pizza

I missed pizza too but now it tastes so disgusting and salty. Cant stand it. LOL

I missed pizza too but now it tastes so disgusting and salty. Cant stand it. LOL

I was allowed baked chicken at 3 weeks out. All doctors are different. My sleeve handled it just fine but of course I could only eat a few bites and it wasn't dry.

This will be a weird Thanksgiving for me. I really cannot overeat with my sleeve at this point but I really have to think through exactly 5 bites of "what" I will have. =)