Happy13

June 30! I start the liquid pre-op diet on Tuesday the 16th. I can't believe this is really going to happen!

I am not exactly in your position, but at 5'4" and 235 pounds, I had 100 pounds to lose. I am a slow loser and will hit my 18 month mark on the 23rd, so I am almost to goal. Having that extra 100 pounds was like wearing a two month old colt for a belt.
When I lost the first 30 pounds, I was already feeling benefits from the surgery. I could walk easier and stand up straighter. At fifty pounds down, my bed was starting to feel bigger and exercise seemed like something to do rather than something to avoid. Now that I am almost there, my insides feel better; I actually feel healthier.
If you wanted to lose 150 pounds, that would be a colt and twin toddlers!
If you wanted to lose 175 pounds, that would be a colt and a full-grown Irish Setter!
If you wanted to lose 185 pounds, that would be a colt, a bale of hay and a medium sized microwave!
Whatever amount of weight you lose, you will be ahead of the game and healthier for it. Just think - if you can lose 150 pounds, the you will be a 200 pound person who wants to lose 35 pounds. If you can lose 150, what's another 35 over time? Hitting 200 doesn't mean that you have to stay that way forever. Anyway, losing 150 pounds, plus floppity skin removal (panniculectomy) and a Tummy Tuck will put you close to your goal.
Congratulations that you have decided to take this step early on. I lived my whole adult life hidden inside another person's miserable body, and it took a stroke to get my attention. Think of your sleeve as a gift instead of a burden. Your quality of life will be so much better for you. Hugs from Miss Mac in Chicago.
And contrary to what Christen Cavaleri (actress and wife of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler) says, Chicago is a great place to live.

My starting weight was 278, 1st goal was 145 (reached at 10 months post op) & current weight is 124 (reached about 3 weeks ago). This (125) was my "dream goal" that I never thought would be attainable but I've lost over 155 pounds, which is more than 1/2 my body weight in 20 months.
You should check out my blog (linked below). I started it at my first pre-op appt (about 9 months pre-op) & update it still now. It will definitely answer your questions like was it worth it (a million time YES) & would you have the bypass instead (no).
Hope that helps
And YES!! You really can do this!

I'm going in for surgery tomorrow morning. I also haven't lost much weight on pre-op, but my PA said not to worry about it.
My nerves haven't fully kicked in yet, but I don't think I'll be able to sleep much tonight!

My life has just been a food funeral lately, My surgery date is June 30th, and I've started to eat a "post-op" high Protein, low carb diet, but some days the pizza and pie and ice cream just call to me! Starting my liquids in two weeks and 4 days!

Monday is the beginning of the 2 week all liquid diet. I have been drinking one to two Meal Replacement drinks a day so that I can get mentally ready. Congrats to all that have gotten the surgery and good luck to those whose date is comming up.

I'm getting the sleeve surgery on June 30. I'm so nervous! I start my liquid diet on June 16.

I know during the pre-op stage it can be incredible difficult and you may be questioning your decision or struggling through the pre-op diet, wondering if you will ever get through your insurance requirements, wondering if it will even work or be worth it. I thought I would post really quickly with some encouragement. I know everyone's experience is different, but for me, the sleeve surgery, and the abdominoplasty to remove excess skin after losing 155 pounds, were the VERY best decisions I have every made in my life. And...the proof is in the pictures!
I posted the following in another forum, but thought that someone here might benefit from it as well. You can also see my blog (in my signature line and linked in the text here for all of the ups and downs of my journey from the 1st pre op appointment in Jan. 2013 to today. Hope this helps someone!!! :-)
I am now 1 year and 9 months post op. I reached my goal weight at about 10 months post op (140-145) and in the year since then I've felt that things have been moving very slowly. Well, I was ordering a dress online the other day and I had to take my measurements. I hadn't taken then since reaching goal weight almost a year ago. I was shocked to see that even though it felt painstakingly slow, I lost an additional 20 pounds and 22 inches in the past year, putting me at my "dream goal" and feeling pretty freaking amazing.

My husband and I just got back from our anniversary getaway and we took a picture together. When I got home I decided to see if you could really tell a visable difference from me at 1st goal weight and dream goal weight a year later and I think you can. I was pretty surprised. I'm feeling super happy at my weight and health and fitness level right now, and having kept it off for nearly 2 years I"m feel pretty good about the prospects long term as well.

Well then I decided to go a little crazy, and I went back and found my anniversary pictures from the past 5 years and decided to do side-by-side comparisons. I'll only include the one from last year (goal weight) to this year (dream goal weight) AND one from my highest weight (278.4) to now (125), but if you want to see the rest of them, just click on the link here to the blog post with all the pictures from the past 5 anniversaries:
"The Proof Is In the Pictures" Post

Here is goal (June 12, 2014) to dream goal (June 12, 2015) and highest weight - 278.4 (June 12, 2013) to dream weight - 125 (June 12, 2015). Enjoy!

What does your preop diet consist of?
Mine is pretty much Protein drinks, yogurt, turkey/chicken and green veggies.

Congrats on getting your date! My surgery is tentatively scheduled for June 30. I had my EGD today, which was my last big test to pass. I'm nervous too, but all the success stories on here encourage me. Excited and nervous at the same time!

I love your videos!! Thank you so much!

Welcome! Your story is very much like mine--except the BC--I spent my 20's and 30's in a bikini on the shores of So Cal and age, bad habits, and a removed thyroid have landed me into sleeve land. My surgery is 6/30/15, so you're ahead of me, but within a few months we will be about the same place. Keep reading these posts! They'll help a lot with the pre-surgery questions.

Hey guys just a quick post as Im heading to the hospital. Today is my big day!!! Im so excited to Begin this journey! Yes Begin for all the newbies that are awaiting their day to start living life in their new transformed self!! All the preop jitters and uncertinty is normal the preop diet is preparing you for how you will learn to eat! Dont be too hard on yourselves if you cheat a little we are human and it takes alot of discipline to retrain ourselves to a new way of living thinking and exsisting! Make Peace with yourself and be honest with yourself and those you love about what made you build those layers of protection the walls of fat that gave you security and kept you from being that beautiful healthy person God intended you to be. Love your self and give yourself time to mourn your old self. Lay that person to rest with dignity and love. Know that we all all worthy of love and respect in any shape and size we choose to be as long as you thrive and feel renewed!!! Best of luck to all everyone as you wait and patiently comence this journey we call life!! ❤Live????Love????Laugh????Deeply????Thrive in your renewed self!!!????

How involved is / was your spouse? Mine is going with me to my first appt today. I am not the kind of person who would typically drag my hubby with me but I am going to need his support and want him to have the same info as me.
Thanks!

Im so excited and thrillled to know this time tomorrow I will have finally be over with all the anticipation and nerves and even though I will be in pain I cant wait for the real journey to begin....Renewed, Restored, Rebirthed!!

June 30 is my date.

heres mine me at my biggest of 425lbs, then a the full body was oct of 2013 and the head shot was new years eve

that looks like a mother and daughter picture!
thats crazyyy
you look fantastic btw

Creating a new thread because the other one has gotten really long.
So, here are my before and currents to keep the topic moving.

Current as of last week:

I am self-pay, so I don't have to jump through insurance hoops. Sucks that I have to pay out of pocket but glad I don't have so many restrictions in order to have surgery.
I am a teacher, so I scheduled the surgery right after school is out. I have had my psych eval and met with the nutritionist. All I have to do now is the pre-surgery class and a physical, both of which are scheduled 6/2.
Getting ready...nervous, but ready!

And i feel great, came back to work yesterday as i have a desk job so nothing to strenuous, when i got home from the hospital i was 296lbs, and in only 1 week im 277lbs as of this morning, im so happy and really motivated, June 2nd was an awesome day!

Dr Garcia did mine and my moms sleeves yesterday around noon. They wheeled me into the OR after my nice dose of sedatives that eased my anxiety. I got onto the table and it was just me and the anesthesiologist. I made small talk with him about how many cases they do a day and saw the syringe in his hand and asked him if that was gonna knock me out he said yes and next thing I know my Bp cuff going off every 5 min in recovery woke me up. I had no pain at this time I was just so sleepy I couldn't hold my eyes open. I tried hard to make myself wake up so I could walk. Once in my room after a hour or so I was not dizzy and sleepy anymore so I walked and walked. My mom went first so she was already awake and waiting for me in our giant room (it's super nice) Once I got awake the pain came. Awful gas that felt like a elephant on my chest and stabbing pains in my left shoulder. Then I would get horrible cramps in my stomach. The tordol IV helps so much. When the gas was unbearable I made myself walk and that helped tons. I'm slightly sore but the incisions don't hurt. I feel like I can feel my drain though. When I take deep breaths it's like a pinch where the drain incision is. I also vomited twice which was awful I was nauseated and hurled up mucus and blood which is normal. They gave me nausea meds. I can not tolerate even the smallest ice chip. I tried one the size of a corn kernel and it was bad. So I swish Water around my mouth and spit it out for dry mouth. We are both still on IV fluids which keeps us hydrated.
My mom is doing great very little pain or gas!
The staff is nice but are hesitant with pain meds which I'm not sure why it's not narcotics or anything?
It was a tough night I think the worst is behind though and I have no regrets. Next on the agenda is showering more walking and I think they will make us drink today which I'm worried about after the ice???? I'll post tonight with further updates!! Xoxo

I'm 38, 5'4" and 238 lbs. Scheduled for June 30th, which is starting to feel soon. Happy to make buddies for this journey.

Back at the gym.
Movie it to lose it.

You guys! 14 days out and 14 pounds down!
Who's your daddy?