BarnGirlWK

you are so right, @bikrchk. I like your take on this.

And maybe I'll get to that point, too. Sharing and being open about it. Just not there yet. It is still too personal and close to the surface for me.

I didn't tell anyone anything. When/if they start asking about or noticing my weight loss, I'll say, "Oh, yeah. That. I went to the fat farm a while back!"

Thank you for sharing! This helps to know!

Thanks for the info! Sorry you're feeling tired. And, yes, having real food may help with that. I will be in the hospital for 2 days and then move to a hotel for 2 days before heading back to San Diego, where I am actually staying one more day! So, maybe that will work fine.

1/4 cup of food in a meal? Wow! I find that hard to imagine! Physiological changes upcoming! And also the visual cues. Half a cup sounds like a ration in an orphanage or something!

@@PrincessSparkle and @@shar1972, can you share with us your Mexican experience? How are you since you've been back? How is the weight loss going?

Looking forward to hearing. Thank you.

@Fullofitx3: believe it! You are living it! Way to go! Woot, woot!

they arent 100% sure how the surgery works exactly. part of to is the restriction, part of it seems to be some sort of metabolic reset that tells your body to start burning fat like mad.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24670636/

Interesting @@moonlitestarbrite - that does help, too. Thank you.

I tried Quest Peanut Butter cups Protein 'snacks'. Gross. Dry as a popcorn fart!

Behind the eyes and the smile of the person in the mirror is someone I love. Someone I know well, respect, admire. I know her strengths. That person will always be in the mirror.

Behind the body of the person in the mirror is someone who has been in my life for a long time. I know her struggles and insecurities and worries and weaknesses. She shows them to the world in unspoken ways. She has served her term in the mirror and has started the journey away. I let her go with love.

Thank you gowalking, you are right. We will soon find out.

So, there are three of us on the same plan with A Lighter Me and Dr. Elias Ortiz. Me Aug 24, Shastasmom Sept 4 and Cody's mom Sept 13.

Glad we found each other.

@@Juba and @@Cody's mom: may I ask how you claim the surgery expenses on your income tax return?

Thanks.

Thank you, everyone. I have to admit that since my decision to do this (3 weeks ago), it has been a whirlwind, with surgery now only a week away in Tijuana. I'm stressing out a little today.

Can I ask another question? Is it just the fact that you have a smaller stomach and will consume less food that accounts for the weight loss, or is there more to it than that? I'm not trying to make it more complicated than that, but I feel like there's more to the story. Maybe I'm asking, what is it about gastric sleeve surgery that makes it work?

I'm a regular exerciser, and plan to continue with that, so I can't see that being an issue.

Hi Cody's mom. I leave Calgary on Saturday, surgery on Sunday. Dr. Elias Ortiz via A Lighter Me for $4,400 US. Yes, WestJet flight is extra. Yes, hospital and hotel are included.

This all happened very fast for me. Booked and paid deposit on July 29 and Surgery Aug 24, less than a month total!

I find myself stressing out a little today, for some reason. All good, though.

@@Amyly2n, I hear you. Why is it that overweight people, large as they can be, are so 'invisible'? It is sad that others mistake you for some other overweight person because they did not take the time to get to know your individuality and know that you do not have blue eyes like Tanya; you do not wear pink lipstick like Marilyn; you do not wear glasses like Cassandra does yet you're the same person. Sad. For them.

Never mind. You're on the way to being more than memorable.

I've been reading a lot of articles, as I'm sure most of you have. But I am a little concerned that most of the ones on gastric sleeve surgery say that it aids patients in losing 50-70% of excess weight. Why not 100%?

I have read the success stories, the goal weights reached, and it seems like it is possible to lose 100% of excess weight. But is it really possible for everyone? Even me?

I don't only want to lose 'some' weight. I want to be rid of the extra weight my body does not need or like.

Sandi, what form of Biotin will you purchase? What dose or strength was recommended?

Thank you.

Dr. Elias Ortiz through A Lighter Me

tiredmama: thanks for the link to your blog. I checked it out. Aren't you going to add a weight loss status to your comments? I appreciate the other insight, but what is still my focus (pre-op) is what weight loss looks like at your stage.

Great topic, and of great interest to me. Thanks for posting and updating.

This is important. Researching and deciding on WLS. For me, it is more than important, it is huge. Maybe the biggest thing I've every done.

Of course nothing else matters (as much).

And look at all the support here!! The insights. The tips. The encouragement.

Stay focussed, don't neglect the rest of your life.

@amsterp: your pre-op preparations are designed to help reduce the fatty tissues around the liver and the spleen to assist the surgeon during surgery. Most of us who are candidates for this surgery have an excess of this fatty tissue. Believe me, you are helping yourself and your surgeon by following the pre-op guidelines.

Friday will come, your surgery will go ahead with ease thanks to your prep.

Hugs

Earlier I meant that I have tried hypnosis for weight loss with no success.

10 years of weight loss troubles even after you thought it would help to have lap band surgery. That would be devastating. I'm afraid I would give up.

But, never mind looking back for too long. Look where you are now. You are slim, healthy, beautiful and happy. You're living the life you were meant to live.

I sure appreciate the insight and the sharing you've done. This is important. Thank you

Thank you! I mean it. I love knowing what COULD happen. And, I am aware that it does happen. And I don't want it to happen to me. My reaction is to say "I'd die", meaning from shame, embarrassment, etc., but that isn't want I really mean. I mean, I would feel awful about myself and would easily believe the 'lack of responsibility' you mention. I would be devastated. Mortified.

So, did you get to goal weight with the lapband? And then the weight crept back?

Darn it all! I just don't know what to think. Even though I don't consider myself an overeater, I realize that I must be to some extent to be in the pickle I'm in. But with only 15-20% of my stomach left at the end of the surgery, surely that tool in itself will be the one that finally grants me weight loss success.

I think I am aware that I will need to work at this every single day, but I also think that I'm hoping it won't actually be that hard.

Is it easier for you as time goes on? Or always a struggle? I appreciate that you don't feel like you've won the weight loss lottery, but is it truly a struggle? In what way? To not overeat? To make better choices? Feeling full isn't an issue, is it?

OMG!

P.S. I've not hypnosis for weight loss, too. No success.

Hi Lindseyzzzme

I'm doing my sleeve surgery through A Lighter Me in Mexico. Like you, I have only a two-day pre-surgery liquid diet. I am currently pre-op with surgery in Tijuana on August 24. So, I am consuming only Protein shakes and salad with Protein until three days before surgery when I switch to full liquid. Day of surgery, nothing.

Where is your surgery? There are different requirements via different surgeons. Different though processes, I guess.

gowalking; Wow! Thank you so much for chiming in. I guess, personally, I dread this: Getting to goal, and letting the weight creep back in. And I suppose that is why I think (I know) we really have to have a look at why we're overweight (heavy, obese, morbidly obese, plus-size, etc.) in the first place. 142 pounds gone! Gone!!! You rock! And, well, I guess nobody said what really happens once the weight is gone. There has to be some grieving, mourning, closure, ending. You are taking some very important actions to clear your addiction. I wish you strength.

CowgirlJane: you've got a lot of insight, I feel. I'm glad you are staying connected to hear what others have to say. You inspire.

Can I ask? Is it really, really possible to put the weight back on after bariatric surgery? Really?

Now I feel some apprehension, honestly. I do not want that to happen. This is a very personal, very large step for me. And I would feel more than shame or failure if I not able to maintain the loss.