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bethow

Gastric Sleeve Patients
  • Content Count

    65
  • Joined

  • Last visited

2 Followers

About bethow

  • Rank
    Senior Member
  • Birthday 04/18/1952

About Me

  • Biography
    I have been overweight all my life but descended into obese before I realized it. I am determined to reverse this trend.
  • Gender
    Female
  • Interests
    creative writing, reading, spreading positivity in a world who has too much negativity
  • Occupation
    Retired
  • City
    Lake Havasu City
  • State
    AZ
  • Zip Code
    86403

Recent Profile Visitors

910 profile views
  1. bethow

    OOTD

    Had my sleeve in August of 2019. My HW was 316 (groan) and my CW stays between 158 to 160. I pretty much eat whatever I want but in much smaller portions and reasonable exercise. My doctor didn’t want me to go below 165 because of all the loose skin. He was afraid I would be underweight (as if that has ever happened). I am still debating getting a plastic surgery (I am 71 and wondering if it is worth the expense and pain at my age). The best part of the surgery is the confidence I have about not putting the weight back on.
  2. No one, I mean absolutely no one has the right to talk or not talk to you in such a disrespectful way. Why some parents chose to have children and treat them so horribly is beyond me. My birth father was mentally, emotionally and physically abusive. When my mother left him and filed for divorce and received sole custody, he kidnapped my brother and me and told us our mother had been killed in a car accident. For four years he kept us on the move trying to stay ahead of the law. It was 2 years before our mother her found us and began a battle to get us back. God in his infinite mercy not only made that possible but my mother was married to a kind, gentle loving man who made me feel loved and cherished. Six years later, one week after my graduation from high school, my birth father her showed up at our door. My stepfather who I called Daddy had instilled in me the self confidence that my birth father her had attempted to destroy. I told my birth father off, telling him that I wanted nothing to do with him and that my father her was in the bedroom. I never spoke to him again. That was 52 years ago and I haven’t missed him a second in all that time for one second. you have a wife who obviously loves you and stood by you as you started your weight loss journey. if your mother is so petty as to treat you or her other children in this manner, put her in your rear view mirror and never look back. If something is bad for you, you just have to let it go. Our parents get 18 years to be either a good or bad parent. Once you are an adult, you get to choose your own course in life. You can either pack your awful childhood away and start a fresh journey of your own or you can haul that old baggage around and let it ruin your life. The choice is yours.
  3. bethow

    OOTD

    Tell me about it. I discovered ROSEGAL and can’t stop ordering. Fortunately due to boredom, I came out of retirement and took a part-time job. Unfortunately, due to vacations and call offs I am working more than the three days I signed on for but I am still having a ball. The best part, for the first time in my work life I am not the fattest one there. In fact, I am second to the thinnest and I get wonderful compliments on my attire.
  4. bethow

    OOTD

    I am barely old enough to remember life before the polio vaccine. My aunt had a fiancé who took her home early from a date because he didn’t feel well abs three days later died from polio. So, my mother’s entire family was quite fearful about the disease. I can remember my mother’s relief the first time we were vaccinated. There was never any discussion among the citizens of our country getting vaccinated against it. So, it is completely beyond my reasoning why anyone would refuse this vaccination which seems to be a deadly as polio and leaves such awful health issues in those who somehow manage to survive it. In my last two jobs before I retired, I was a safety coordinator and in that position received extensive training on pandemic preparedness so when I began hearing about the illness in China and how rapidly it was spreading, I got on the phone to family and friends and implored them to get ready and to follow the instructions of the medical professionals. When some idiot politicians shot off their anti-science soapboxes, I again called family and friends and asked them not to listen to politicians but heed the warnings of the medical establishment. While I have become increasingly healthier in the past five years, in my youth I suffered from bronchitis so I went into lockdown and my family was very careful not to bring anything home to my husband and me. As soon as vaccinations became available, every member of our family received one. It just saddens me to see the news outlets that have failed to aggressively spoken out against the vaccinations when they themselves, hypocrites that they are have been taken the vaccine. We have a dead friend who has been fighting cancer for the past two years. Because of his compromised immune system, he was advised not to get the shot. Recently, he was advised that the cancer has metastasized. When he went to a cancer clinic out of state, he discovered that he has the Delta variant. So, he’s in a hotel alone thousands of miles away from home, any possible cancer treatment out on hold if he survives covid. This is not rocket science or brain surgery; GET VACCINATED!
  5. bethow

    OOTD

    My surgeon discussed the various bariatric surgeries but I had thoroughly researched them and had decided on the gastric sleeve before my first appointment with my surgeon. I knew 3 family and friends who had had the bypass surgery and all 3 have regained a large portion of their weight loss.I had one friend who was successful with the lapband surgery but another friend who spent nearly two months in the hospital and had to have the band removed. I am 18 months post gastric sleeve surgery and down 145 pounds from my heaviest weight. The difference in my life has been AMAZING. I have gone from a 3X to a size large in clothing, my energy level is up so much that I exercise five times a week for at least 30 minutes but usually one hour and I went back to work part time after 4 years of retirement. I was on 3 medications and was still not able to achieve a earthy BP. My meds have been cut in half and my BP is nearly perfect. Lol, when I went to my PCP the first time after my surgery, I thought he was going to do a jig because he was so excited by the amount of weight that I had lost and how much my BP had dropped. My only regret is that I hadn’t had the surgery sooner.
  6. Kleah73, congratulations on your success thus far. The fact that you lost some weight on your own, will give you an advantage on this journey. I had my surgery on 8/25/19. Prior to my surgery I had lost 35 pounds over a two year period. My highest weight was 315 pounds and I cried when I saw that. My weight at surgery was 280 pounds. Today I am at 171 pounds. I was hoping just to get to 200 pounds when I started so I am over the moon with where I am. I am so accustomed to my modified eating habits (I haven’t had a coke since 8-05-19!) and exercise routine (30 minutes minimum at least 5 days a week) that it has become routine. Just stay positive, keep up the good work and enjoy the rewards of this new adventure.
  7. I had my one year on 8/26. sw: 315 size 3X. Bra 46DD cw: 176 size L. Bra 40 D. my weight loss has slowed down to about half a pound a week or two pounds a month. I try to exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day five days a week. All in all, I wish I had had my surgery sooner but not bad for an old lady of 68 who feels better than she has in about 40 years.
  8. bethow

    OOTD

    Giorgio’s Red is my favorite And has been for some time. It has a fresh clean fragrance with just a little spice to entice.
  9. bethow

    OOTD

    Dear Marvelous Matty, my late mother’s birthday was June 12th so I hope that it will be an auspicious day for you. i have changed your name in my response to you because it takes courage to start on this weight loss path and it takes determination but it is so worth it. In a few months after your surgery you will have to change your name any way as you get thinner and healthier. Good luck on your adventure. On June 3rd I have my nine month f/u appointment and I have lost 95 pounds.
  10. bethow

    Protein Shake Recommendations, Please

    I got to the point that whey protein nearly made me gag. So, I switched to unflavored egg white protein. My favorite morning smoothie is frozen watermelon chunks, frozen strawberries, egg white protein powder and some crystal light strawberry flavor. Blend and yummy. The best part is it keeps me full all day
  11. bethow

    February 2019 weight loss buds

    BTW, Azhiker, I am in Havasu. Where are you?
  12. bethow

    February 2019 weight loss buds

    I am on on board with you. I fell off my exercise and three pounds crept back on. So, tomorrow I am climbing back on the wagon and the exercise program. I am down 125 from my maximum weight and only have 50 to go to get to my goal weight. When I started this adventure, I didn’t think I could possibly get to 135 but I plan on still trying. We can do this!!
  13. I started off at 315 pounds in October of 2017. I list 35 pounds in almost two years on my own before surgery. In August 2019, I had gastric sleeve surgery and have lost another 90 pounds so that I am down a total of 125 pounds. I only have the two headshots but can’t get over the difference. (I used to avoid getting my picture taken). I lost a second chin and discovered my clavicle. I have gone from a 3X to a L in clothes. My only regret is that I didn’t have the surgery sooner. The second picture is from my 6th month follow up and I was at 205 at the time. I am averaging about 5 pounds a month weight loss.
  14. bethow

    April 2020

    Solo, try not to be too upset. Due to circumstances beyond control; it took me two years to get mine. I started watching what I ate and exercising more and lost 35 pounds before my surgery. I can feel your pain but try to stay positive.
  15. bethow

    April 2020

    Try not to stress. Mexico actually has fewer cases or coronavirus than we do, Mexico has very clean clinics and it took me 2.5 years to get surgery. I used the time to increase my exercise and change my eating habits. I lost 35 pounds in the two years prior to my surgery and 80 pounds since my surgery six months ago. Lol, my PCP asked after I lost the 35 pounds if I wanted to reconsider the surgery! Hell no! Of course, he nearly did a jig when I went into my first appointment after my surgery because my blood pressure had gone down so much. So, good luck with your surgery; it’s quite an adventure.

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