Severcoe78@aol.com

Thank you I will!

Thank you. Unfortunately we only have one WLS center in my area and there are 3 surgeons there. I have spoke to several folks that have had the surgery by them and all have been happy. I will ask about after surgery support? Thank you for your help.

Like you, I did a lot of research. I reached out to a bariatric center of excellence. I took six months of classes pre-surgery and learned about the various WLS options. I learned about lifestyle changes pre and post surgery and then partnered with my surgeon to determine the best choice for me. I felt well informed pre-surgery and now I am part of a monthly face-to-face support group led by a registered dietitian that is associated with the bariatric center of excellence. I appreciate this online support group, my face-to-face group, and my appointments with my surgeon and his nurse. I suggest you research the surgeons in your area and learn what resources are available to you pre and post-surgery.
Had lapband surgery 10/12/16

My advice is to talk with your team about the mental aspects of the journey. That is where the real struggle lies, and where the battle is won.
Good luck!

Awesome you look great! Here I am trying to figure out if I should go through with it in 3 weeks (Dec. 19, low bmi as well) and your post has really inspired me....thank you!
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It's been a year!!! I can't believe how fast this time has passed. I started out low bmi (height 5'8.5", starting weight: 190 lbs.) I was always physically active, but my access weight was really holding me back from excelling at all I wanted to do and be as well as causing me great anxiety. I have three young kids, and the day of surgery I woke up and thought, what am I doing?!!! Once it was done, there was no turning back, so I ate what I was supposed to, walked all the time from the get go, and came to this forum for support!
This year has been one of the most amazing years of my life. As the weight melted off, I was able to be even more active, and the more active I became, the weight continued to come off. It was a cycle of health! My goal weight was 140, which I hit around 5 or 6 months post surgery. I hit my current weight about 8 months post surgery. I am now on the cusp of being underweight (124 lbs, I am guessing because I am so active), but I feel amazing! I have never felt so healthy. I do taekwondo twice a week and run a ton (this week I ran a total of 34 miles). I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I still love food, but it just doesn't have the pull it used to have. It doesn't hold my thoughts hostage anymore! My husband is stoked, clothes are so fun to shop for and wear (I went from a size 14/16 to a size 2/4). I wore a bikini for the first time ever this summer! I am not self conscious to meet new people, and I don't have to pull my shirt out of my belly fat when I sit down anymore. Having gastric sleeve surgery is the greatest gift I ever gave myself!

I tell you what I was on the fence when I had my sleeve done 2/16 I was 226 before my pre-op liquid diet. I believe I was down to 215 at the time of my surgery. I'm now down to 155 and I feel like I can take on the world! To me it's one of the best things that I've done for myself and my family.
My husband was also on the fence about my surgery. Obviously you're husband loves you but when you are struggling inside you're not the happiest that you can be and whether we admitted or they admitted it does show in our everyday lives. Since my sleeve my whole family has benefited we eat a heck of a lot healthier, we save a lot more money from not going out to eat, we do a lot more things as a whole because I have the energy and want to. I don't just watch life pass me by I participate now.
My husband sees the change for the positive while at first he was not liking it he's been my biggest fan after.
Your going to have people say go for it and some that are against it if you look for it. You're the one living in your skin day in and day out as long as you educate yourself your make the right decision.
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I can completely relate! I'm not much over 200pounds. This is the first year I've been at & over 200...BUT like you, I was never the 'slender teenager'. It's like a I turned 10 and stayed at a ladies' size 14 all of my life. I'm only getting bigger and bigger these past years, and as I'm in my 40s now it's not coming off. Oh, I could get a prescription for a month of diet crack (pills), but whatever I would lose in that one month I would gain back (but HEY! my house was clean from all that energy I had!) My insurance isn't paying for my sleeve since I wasn't a 35 BMI past three years. I pulled my medical record--I was at 32 BMI the past 4 years. I'm sick of trying diet pills, I'm sick of busting my butt with a trainer and 5k run classes and still stuck at size 16. I know it's not cheap since my insurance isn't paying but I got a loan and I'm investing in myself. So, I hope you know someone out there is rooting for YOU across the pond in Alabama, USA. My surgery is Monday, 5 December. I'm going to work hard to use this tool to its complete potential. Good luck to you @@Rachel79uk !

I wasn't given any "have to" weight loss goals pre-op, but I did lose 99 pounds (from 397 to 298) during my six-month insurance-required diet program. I wanted to lose as much as I could before the surgery, so I followed a low carb/moderate-to-high protein/high healthy fat lifestyle and started an exercise program. I am so glad I did it. I re-established my relationship with food before the surgery, and I am convinced that the hard work helped with my seamless recovery and continued success post-op.
Good luck!

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