alconner86

Do this:

I have a 12 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. I've explained almost everything to them through this process. They have both been helpful and understand it's best for mommy. And my daughter has been giving me so many extra hugs and kisses lately. It makes the journey a little easier.

Thank you @@Fireweed56 I am married but don't have children yet and it has been an interesting adjustment with how my husband and I eat for sure! Yay for hearing from someone who has the same surgery date! You're the first one I have talked to for 10/30 Good luck!!!

Good luck! My surgery is scheduled for Oct 29th. I can't wait.

Hi Everyone,
My name is Eli and I am 21 years old. I just wanted to share my amazing journey with everyone and hopefully help anyone that needs it. Since I was a young boy I struggled with weight loss. I put weight on and I took weight off and it didn't seem like I could ever get it right. Growing up, all of my friends were thin so they never understood what it was really like to be overweight, nobody actually understands unless they actually walk a mile in your shoes. I was miserable, depressed, and felt like there was nothing in the world that could help me. As a lineman for my high school football team I justified my extreme weight gain with the fact that I needed to be bigger to play my position and this mindset caused my weight to spiral out of control.
When I graduated high school in 2011 I weighed the most I ever did and it took a huge toll on me as I was about to go away to college and had literally no self-esteem. Jumping ahead to my sophomore year of college I had now put on even more weight and it was affecting me more then ever. My grades were slipping, it didn't seem like any girl would ever want to talk to me, and most of all it was hard to look at myself in the mirror. When I came home from school after my sophomore year I weighed about 320 pounds, which was by far the most I ever weighed. When I came home in May that year I just came to the realization of what I did to myself and I asked myself, "How did I let this happen?" Before I continue I want everyone to know that this is not a sob story and that there is a huge gleaming light at the end of that tunnel. When the conversation of weight loss surgery was brought up for the first time I honestly felt offended because I never thought that it would possibly come to that and after countless talks with family members and friends I finally agreed to schedule an appointment and the Center for Bariatric Surgery and Weight Loss in Ridgewood, New Jersey in June of 2013.
Fast forward to September of that year I had completed all of my pre-surgery requirements and a date for surgery was scheduled. My surgery happened on November 4th at New York-Presbyterian in New York City. Let me tell you that November 4th, 2013 was the first day of the rest of my life. I'll save the details of pre-surgery, hospital stay, and post-surgery for another post. On the day of surgery I weighed 316 pounds having lost a little in the months prior to my surgery date. Now, in October of 2014 I am proud to say that I weigh 196 pounds putting my total weight loss at 120 pounds. My life has changed in the most extreme way, not just with how I physically look and feel, but mentally, I am a different person. I am the happiest I've been in my entire life.
I understand that there are countless reservations people have before making probably the hardest decision of your entire life, because for me it was, but I can also proudly say that it was the best decision I have made in my entire life. I understand that you might feel that there is no way out of being overweight, but I'm here to tell you that there is. I am willing to talk to anyone who has questions and I am always available because I understand how hard it is to make this decision. PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me anything. Thank you for listening to my journey and my story and I hope this might help anyone who is on the fence or anyone who is scared or nervous. Lastly, I'd like to say how amazing the last year of my life has been and I hope everyone can share the same happiness I do.
-Eli

I'm new to BariatricPal and it seems like a good outlet for the emotions I am feeling right now. It's nice to read all these posts by people who have survived all the different phases of this process. I decided to begin the sleeve process in December of 2013. I have been overweight my entire life and when I say entire, I mean since I was 2. I am now 28 and at my highest I have weighed almost 500 lbs. Crazy right! I, like others, have tried multiple diets and managed to lose some weight but always gained it back. I decided on surgical weight loss because I need a more permanent solution. I soon found out that it is a waiting game with insurance where I had 7 monthly doctors visits with a bariatrician and then consult with a surgeon. I had my consultation on 8/29 and found out about 2 weeks later my insurance had approved my surgery! So far I've lost 50 lbs and now I'm on day 5 of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for October 30th, it seems like 10 days is forever away... I am so tempted to cheat at times, but I keep telling myself that I have eaten and done just exactly as I wanted to for 28 years. Two weeks is not a drop in the bucket compared to that! I can do this. I sure hope I get the results from this surgery that I expect. It has been encouraging to read others success stories and I hope I will get to post mine as well

Thank you!

My surgery is on the 28th. Good luck to you I am st the point of getting VERY nervous

I'm right behind you on 11/3. I look forward to following your journey.

I'm new to BariatricPal and it seems like a good outlet for the emotions I am feeling right now. It's nice to read all these posts by people who have survived all the different phases of this process. I decided to begin the sleeve process in December of 2013. I have been overweight my entire life and when I say entire, I mean since I was 2. I am now 28 and at my highest I have weighed almost 500 lbs. Crazy right! I, like others, have tried multiple diets and managed to lose some weight but always gained it back. I decided on surgical weight loss because I need a more permanent solution. I soon found out that it is a waiting game with insurance where I had 7 monthly doctors visits with a bariatrician and then consult with a surgeon. I had my consultation on 8/29 and found out about 2 weeks later my insurance had approved my surgery! So far I've lost 50 lbs and now I'm on day 5 of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for October 30th, it seems like 10 days is forever away... I am so tempted to cheat at times, but I keep telling myself that I have eaten and done just exactly as I wanted to for 28 years. Two weeks is not a drop in the bucket compared to that! I can do this. I sure hope I get the results from this surgery that I expect. It has been encouraging to read others success stories and I hope I will get to post mine as well

I'm new to BariatricPal and it seems like a good outlet for the emotions I am feeling right now. It's nice to read all these posts by people who have survived all the different phases of this process. I decided to begin the sleeve process in December of 2013. I have been overweight my entire life and when I say entire, I mean since I was 2. I am now 28 and at my highest I have weighed almost 500 lbs. Crazy right! I, like others, have tried multiple diets and managed to lose some weight but always gained it back. I decided on surgical weight loss because I need a more permanent solution. I soon found out that it is a waiting game with insurance where I had 7 monthly doctors visits with a bariatrician and then consult with a surgeon. I had my consultation on 8/29 and found out about 2 weeks later my insurance had approved my surgery! So far I've lost 50 lbs and now I'm on day 5 of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for October 30th, it seems like 10 days is forever away... I am so tempted to cheat at times, but I keep telling myself that I have eaten and done just exactly as I wanted to for 28 years. Two weeks is not a drop in the bucket compared to that! I can do this. I sure hope I get the results from this surgery that I expect. It has been encouraging to read others success stories and I hope I will get to post mine as well

@@alconner86 exciting! I'm with you. My surgery is scheduled for 11/3 and I start my 2 week liquid diet today . I hope you're surgery has a easy recovery! Good luck to you and keep us updated.

I'm new to BariatricPal and it seems like a good outlet for the emotions I am feeling right now. It's nice to read all these posts by people who have survived all the different phases of this process. I decided to begin the sleeve process in December of 2013. I have been overweight my entire life and when I say entire, I mean since I was 2. I am now 28 and at my highest I have weighed almost 500 lbs. Crazy right! I, like others, have tried multiple diets and managed to lose some weight but always gained it back. I decided on surgical weight loss because I need a more permanent solution. I soon found out that it is a waiting game with insurance where I had 7 monthly doctors visits with a bariatrician and then consult with a surgeon. I had my consultation on 8/29 and found out about 2 weeks later my insurance had approved my surgery! So far I've lost 50 lbs and now I'm on day 5 of my 2 week pre-op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for October 30th, it seems like 10 days is forever away... I am so tempted to cheat at times, but I keep telling myself that I have eaten and done just exactly as I wanted to for 28 years. Two weeks is not a drop in the bucket compared to that! I can do this. I sure hope I get the results from this surgery that I expect. It has been encouraging to read others success stories and I hope I will get to post mine as well