Happy13

I've also chosen not to tell anyone, although I'm having my gallbladder removed at the same time. My family & friends just think that's all I'm going in for. My husband is the only person that knows and has been so wonderful with me. I just want to avoid the negative comments & those few people I KNOW will tell me not to do it.

These are my legs!! ????

Before and after. Less than 50 pounds to my goal weight!

Oh snap! I forgot to do my monthly update here. Sorry.
On 1/1/15 I weighed in at 217.2 for a total of 43.6 lost since I started my pre-op diet. I lost 8 pounds in December. Since my goal is 2 pounds a week I met my goal!
Measurements are very impressive. Let's do a comparison!
10/2/14
Neck - 15
Liver - 45
Waist - 45
Hips - 53
Arm - 16 1/2
Thighs - 27 1/2
1/1/15
Neck - 13 1/2
Liver - 39
Waist - 38
Hips - 45
Arm - 14 1/2
Thighs - 25
Total Lost
Neck - 1 1/2
Liver - 6
Waist - 7
Hips - 8
Arm - 2 (each)
Thighs - 2 1/2 (each)
NSV: Everyone has noticed my weight loss this week and told me I look just like my mom which is a major compliment. I'm so thrilled with my progress so far!

Thank you for posting this!! So glad that you are doing so well! Congrats!

I thought it was going to be worst but as soon as I was placed into a room all i felt was if i had done 100 sit-ups and my stomach was a little sore nothing else i made sure i walked every 2 hours and had minimal gas pain for those of you wondering what the incisions look like, see pic below (still a little red)

I got the call today 6/17/15 that I was approved im so beyond excited I have been wanting this for many years. O the butterflies just arrived in my stomach.
Now to wait till July 7th for an appointment with the surgeon and find out my surgary date!!!!

I don't think I'll tell anyone but but my husband and siblings. I wish I had not told my mom. Her mouth has a hole in it!

I previously had a lap-band and had so many complications I decided to get it removed and get the sleeve done instead. I have had so many comments on losing weight the "cheating" way and why can't you just diet and exercise the weight off! If that worked all by itself I would have been thin years ago. I just got tired of the comments and so I chose to tell only my one friend that recommended the surgeon. My husband and mother think I got the band out and that is all. I choose to be happy without the drama ????????

My surgery is In less than two days, and the only people to know are my husband and adult children. They are all extremely supportive and I feel I don't need anything from anywhere else. I've been yoyo dieting for years so it doesn't matter to me what others observe. This is something I'm doing for me, and for my future. My son was recently married and there was a table set up at the wedding in memory of people that were loved and lost. I swear I will do everything in my power to dance with my grand babies when they grow up and get married. I will not be a photo on a table. So I don't need two cents from anyone unless they plan to be right there beside me.

Best wishes to you two for a smooth surgery!!

I was really really worried about this too. I LOVE Water. It's all I ever drank even before surgery. So, I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to drink it post-op or that I wouldn't like it anymore. I won't lie. It was SUPER rough getting in my Water in the beginning. My post-op internal swelling made even the tiniest sip of water a huge ordeal for the first two weeks or so. Once the swelling was down, it was a lot easier, but I still wasn't able to get ALL of my water in, until I realized that it was much easier for me to drink SUPER cold water. Once I discovered that, I got a double-walled thermos-style water bottle, filled it with ice, and drank super cold water all day. Now I have no issues getting my water in. It's only ever a problem if I'm in an environment where I can't get ice water. Like somewhere that only has "cold" bottles of water. I need ICE in there. It has to be near freezing.
So my advice to you is, if you are having issues getting your water in post-op, experiment with different temperatures. I know some people do a lot better with hot beverages post-op. And some people do better with room temperature water.

You guys are wasting your time.
You can eat everything you want later on -- but not all on the same day and not as much as you used to eat. And by that time, you won't want to eat like you used to.
FTR, I didn't do food funerals. I was just so ready to change my life for the better, it seemed like a terrible idea and sort of disgusting.

You can do it! My stomach was grumbling today and I was just like "wahhhh" but I came home gave my kids a snack and I had broth. Yum! Lol.

I'm on day one.
I am so afraid of failing.

Ugh I started my 2 week pre-op diet today too and I'm getting real hungry! I need to stay focused. It's lunch time and all I can think of is food. I'm praying for self-control.

I'm on day 5! It gets so much better. broth is what I look forward too for dinner. Swanson makes flavored broths now. They are so good. Or I just strain a can of low sodium Soup. That adds a lot more flavor. good luck!

Almost a year out and I still go out. At least 3-4 times a week. I have a half a glass of wine or a half glass of vodka. Don't get me wrong I order a drink. I just can't finish it without feeling massively drunk as a skunk.
Nobody cares. The supportive friends are my friends the ones who didn't understand or only wanted to socialize a certain way we're left behind.
I am now almost 45 and honestly you're 21. You will go trough so many phases in life. Friends will come and go as we change and they also change. Open yourself up to allowing me for this now and don't be hurt by it. It's ok. When I was young the perceived loss of a friendship was devastating but looking back I never lost the friend we just had ebbs and flows of our diff needs and making room for others in our lives.
Open yourself to the new experience as part of your journey

Listen. I just had my surgery on Monday. Trust me when say drinking is a big problem for me. Just think about the long term and not the short term. You WILL be as to drink again you just have to wait. I'm in my early 30's, I don't party like I did when I was 21 because my fun is more sitting at the bar/house/porch/ backyard drinking! Just think about how much FUN you will have 6 months from now. Or next summer when you can be on someone's island in a thong bikini(my goal) lol.
Monday 6/8 before surgery i was 5,2 225 today 6/12 I am 211. #youCanDoIt

Thank you all for your opinions, i truly appreciate all of them and I'm taking everyone's pointers to heart! Including the tough love! These are all things I will contemplate on in the next few weeks and I know if I continue with the surgery I will be 100% positive and ready but until then, I'll keep you guys updated on my journey! Thanks again!

This is going to sound harsh...do you want to be fat or do you want to party? You said that much as you have a great life, it is limited because of your weight. You avoid doing things because of your self-esteem and you feel like you are surrounded by all your beautiful friends and guys never look at you. You're going to need to give up booze for a few months after surgery, but after that if you want to you can still go out and drink. If anything you will be a way cheaper drinker because less alcohol gets you buzzed faster.
I can appreciate in a sense how you feel because when I was 21 (and under 21) I had a great time partying, however back then I was normal sized. When I did finally decide to get the sleeve (when I was 29) I hadn't gone out in several years because I was so ashamed of what I looked like. Guys wouldn't give me the time of day, so no matter how much fun I had with my great girl friends, I felt like not only was I bringing them down because guys had to send in the Grenade jumper (the dude that jumps on the ugly fat girl so his friends can hit on the hot girls) before they could come hit on my friends but I was embarrassing myself in the process. As a result, I just decided staying in and being alone was the better option.
I am now slightly under goal and for the first time in a very long time dating someone. We go out places and instead of people looking at me like I should be at home on a treadmill, men hit on me all the time. People are nice to me. Women and men make comments about how tiny I am. I'm not a big drinker anymore, but when I do drink I really don't notice a huge difference between before sleeve and after sleeve now that I'm almost 2 years out. I can still go out, have a good time, and drink...I just don't eat a lot of the foods anymore and I don't spend the entire time wondering if people are laughing at me. Really though, I would give up booze and partying forever if it meant that I got to be the size I am now for the rest of my life. Being thin, healthy, and attractive is worth way more to me than being able to drink and eat my face off whenever I want to.
So...getting the surgery will not kill your social life for more than a few months, but if your priority is not with being healthy and is instead with going out, partying, and keeping the bad habits that contributed to your weight problem in the first place, the sleeve isn't going to help you much past the first few months. I can easily eat and drink my way to WAY too many calories, but I'm more focused on being thin and healthy than I am in enjoying food and booze. It sounds like you, like me, want to be thin because you want to be hot. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, however in the long term the motivation to be thin has to be more than the motivation to go out and have fun every night. Being hot comes with sacrifice and if you don't think you're willing to make that sacrifice, wait until you're a bit older, a bit less interested in partying everynight, and a bit more oriented toward making the healthy choices you will need to make if you have a sleeve.
I'd say I'd do a shot for you tonight and wish you luck on your decision....but I'll drink some carrot juice for you instead.

I was an over weight alcoholic. I was faced with a dilemma, die young because of my obesity or lose weight so I can grow old with my family. No brainer, I quit drinking (for the most part... details later), had the surgery. I am 9 months out today and down 116 pounds. I feel great. life is great. I was given a second chance. I do occasionally drink red wine. Bourbon was my daily vice. I have had it once since surgery (on my birthday). Don't let booze control your life. I know you are 21 and it seems like a huge part of your life, but that will wear off. I am not sure of your stats (height/weight) but you are young, this will give you an amazing rebirth. You can still go out and party. Yeah, you can drink. moderation is key.
I am glad you found this site. read on here. sooooo much info. it motivated me to do the surgery and has made me successful. good luck!!!

My prayers go out to you, May the Lord grant you a safe surgery and speedy recovery.
Nothing to fear - God got you!
Keep us posted after surgery.

Im leaving for the hospital in 30 min. Have to be there at 7 . Im excited . What is the saying ? This is the first day of the rest of your life.
I've. Given all my fear to the Lord and know Im in his hands.

Thanks for your replies. I feel as if I have turned a corner an am now just really tired! 10 hours sleep a night seems to be helping.