wantingabetterlife

Great topic! Lol. I only go about once a week......

I debated keeping them just in case I fell off the wagon and gained weight again. Then I realized I was sabotaging myself and donated them to charity. I told myself that I will never wear those sizes again and there was no need to keep them.

Yep, but it does stop.

I had my surgery in November 2014 and was told to quit smoking because of the risks of clots, anesthesia, etc. related to smoking. I tried really hard and couldn't kick it. So I started using the e-cigs and was able to stop smoking cigarettes in October. My doctor in Mexico was okay with me using the e-cig because the concern wasn't the nicotine. I am not sure if he would have continued with the surgery if I hadn't quit though. This is an elective procedure for the most part and they want to make sure to minimize risks just like a doctor here in the US would. Good luck to you!

Great work and congratulations!

Lol, I live in Florida and wear long sleeves when it is 90 degrees here! At home, I wear a light jacket and socks.

@@kcmu5411 If you eat too fast or eat something really dense (like steak) and forget to chew it, you will know. You start feeling slime and foam creeping up and into your mouth. The more you swallow, the more it comes up. I usually fight it for about 15 minutes and then wind up vomiting the slime and what I ate. This is what happens with me and it could be different for you and others. It always makes you remember to CHEW and EAT SLOW!

You would be surprised at how safe you feel while there. I went unaccompanied and was scared to death when I got off the plane in San Diego. As soon as I got picked up in the van, there were four other patients that welcomed me and made me feel so much better. Only one of them had a support person with them. She checked on all of us and brought us anything we needed. All of us walked together in the hospital and at the hotel when we were released. The drivers also take very good care of you while in their care. As far as cleanliness, I can say that I have been in hospitals in the US that couldn't even compare to the cleanliness at my surgery center in TJ. It was nice to see that they took such great care to make sure everything was clean. You do have to keep in mind, some things are behind the times in Mexico. Not everything is state of the art and brand new! There are many great doctors in TJ and the care received is very comparable to the US. Others that have not researched WLS in Mexico will always say you are crazy to go there. They don't know how many of us have been and how happy we were with the outcome. Be happy with your decision and ask a hundred questions on here!! Best of luck to you on your journey!

That is awesome to hear! I had my 6 month lab work done and my values were all in the normal range. My primary doctor is more than pleased with my results. I no longer have or take medicine for hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, or hypertension. I still have heartburn but I am more than willing to take a PPI. I thought that some of my values would be off since we eat so differently but it I was pleasantly surprised!

My guess is that they want you close in case of any complications. I know many of us traveled outside of the US for our surgeries and had to fly within a few days of surgery. Better safe than sorry, listen to your doctor!!

Lol, it's the smallest things! I love looking in the mirror and SEEING my heartbeat!

Yes but you can share on here! Congrats on your loss!!! We all lose at different speeds. I am happy for anyone's success. Be proud of yourself, you deserve to!

Love edamame!! And I agree with @@SuperDave, since you have to open each one, I can't just scarf them down. It's a slow process of snacking. <3

If you've got it.....flaunt it!!! Get that new picture done! You look great and totally different.

Congrats on your loss! Now, it says you are a lapband patient?? If so, your loss may be slower going than sleeve or bypass patients. Keep your head up and follow your program!

I agree with all above. When I buy or eat something, I look at calories, Protein, carbs, and sugar content. If you keep the important stuff in check, the fat isn't an issue. @@alwaysvegas I agree, fat free cheese should be banned and burned!! YUCK!

I have donated three bags to Goodwill so far. As I try to wear something and it is too big for me, I throw it in a bag. When the bag gets full, I drop it off. I personally don't ever want to see those clothes and sizes again. It was hard in the beginning but now I have convinced myself that I am NOT going back there again. I feel a lot like @@CanyonBaby, if I keep them....then I don't have faith in myself and this commitment to myself. I just say (as I place an item in the bag), I will never need this size again!

You will learn! I still have those times if I eat a really dense meat (like steak) and don't chew it enough. I'm not as lucky though. After about 15 minutes of slime, I usually throw it all back up. Good luck to you!

I had that problem with absorption of medication. We (my PCP, my pharmacist, and myself) had a sit down together to try and figure out why. I had also begun to break apart my meds and I still wasn't absorbing them. They couldn't understand what was happening and why my medicines weren't having the desired effect. So I (being a nurse) went to the medical journals to see if this was an issue. I found several articles about this happening. After telling them, they did some research and found out that some meds will just not have time to break down in the stomach before passing through. The pharmacist specifically noted that "coated" and time release medication is designed to start breaking down with stomach acids and takes quite a while for the process to happen. He said they don't sit in our stomachs long enough for that to happen. Capsules and easily broken down meds are usually not a problem. Also meds that are meant to be absorbed in the intestines are acceptable. He told me that any meds prescribed need to be chewable, liquid, non coated, or made to absorb in intestines from now on. I hope this helps. It took us a while but we got it all straight and now they both know for future patients!

Congratulations on your decision! You will go through many different emotions throughout the pre-op process as well as the post-op process. Just stay strong and keep focused on the end result. Best of luck to you throughout it all!

I totally did this. I went to college at age 38, so I know how you feel. I had to take all the placement tests and I was scared to death since I hadn't been in school for 20 years. I bought a book that helped me brush up on some of the info that would be on the tests. I thought I would pass out on my first day of class! But you know what, I wasn't the only "older" student in there and I survived! It is way more intimidating in your head than it really is. Once you get started and get into the groove, you will be finished before you know it and relieved. Best of luck to you and remember, you can do it!

Congratulations on your loss so far! Best of luck to you too and enjoy the nicer weather up there!

Stay positive and as the NSVs add up, you forget how much you miss certain foods. I do miss my old go to's from the past but as I lose weight and have victories, I realize exactly why I gave them up. Hormones are a big factor here too. As you are losing fat, hormones are released. It can make us irritable, mad, sad, or just plain hard to be around! This is a hard stage to get through but you will! Keep your head up and stick to your plan, it's worth it!

@B Autumn I had a hard time with vitamins too! I was taking the Flintstones chewables but now I am taking the VitaFusion Multivites gummies. They have a decent taste and don't nauseate me!