loser

PB2 is pretty good, but a little watery for a sandwich. My favorite shake I call a Snickers Bar shake. I take chocolate Unjury shake, add spoon of pb2, and some sugar free, calorie free, carb free pancake syrup.. mmmm,,, mmmmm,,, good.. I go on full liquids in two days,, can't wait for my Snickers Shake.

DeeDee, congrats on saying farewell to the 2's. Looking great. LOL,, I feel good to be in the 2's.. hope to join you in a few months.

I was sleeved by Dr. Alvarez on Monday, 5 days ago. I am down 31 pounds since my first visit in his office. Lost 22 lbs pre-op. I have no bruising what so ever. Dr. Alvarez and his staff were great. Many people have very little pain. My first two days were pretty rough, but I have never had an operation before. But the 3rd day there was a marked improvement. Now I have discomfort but very seldom any pain. Would I do it again, you betcha. My energy level is very high and I am feeling really well. So expect some pain, if you don't have any that is great. If you do remember it gets better every day and by the 4-5th day, you will feel so good the little pain you felt, if any, is trivial. Feel free to PM any questions to me, or if you want a step by step scenerio of my experience in Mexico. :thumbup1:

Hey Nick! Well done,,, and congrats on the great progress...*

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: That is great news Tiff,, Your a real winner! Go Tiff, Go Tiff, Go Tiff, Go Tiff!!!!!

Way to Go "Sleeve Twin Sister" I was sleeved at approximately 10:30AM Monday. Drove home this morning. Getting on the sip, walk, burp bandwagon. Everything seemed to go well, but the first two days were rough for me. Never been cut on before, and the pain that moves through from ab to chest was scary at first. But feeling 300% better since Monday.. We made to the Sleeve Side Sis! All incesions look good no bruising at all.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Tiffykins. You should be able to feel the positive vibes from all of us on VST soon. You have been such a help to so many of us, wish there was more we could do. You are strong, you are positive, this too shall pass and you will feel better than ever.

Thank you everyone for the support. I won't be taking my laptop, but will be back Wednesday evening and will post some post-op news. Cajun, no I am not driving myself but will probably do the driving. Her driving would scare me more than the surgery. LOL.. "That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do; not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but that our power to do is increased" Ralph Waldo Emerson

KP,, a big congrats on a sugery well done. We can hear the happiness in your words. Tiffy,, so sorry about the gallbladder thingy. Do you think everyone should have theirs removed when they have surgery. I am old, but want as few scars as possible.

Lets hear it for deedee.. !!!! :lol0::thumbup::biggrin0::lol0::lol0::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::w00t::w00t::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0::biggrin0:

Lets see, bringing my swim trunks, tennis racquet,, oh wait,, that is another trip.. I am bringing personal hygiene stuff, gas X, bathrobe, slippers, underwear (without the racing stripes), my iPod with a couple new movies loaded, a book, bottled water, a protein bullet (which I hate), chapstick, C-PAP machine, all my current medications, pill spliter and passport. Also, some clean clothes to wear on the drive home. About 365miles, so not bad. My kitchen is stocked with post op food for when I get back.

I am 3 days away from "the sleeve" and have ben on the liquid diet for 2weeks and 5 days. I cheated some, but only with a very small amount of something that was low carb. My coordinator said if you have to cheat, eat very little and make it something low carb. So I have really worked on not cheating at all, but I have had, a couple slices of turkey lunch meat, a couple slices of dill pickle, 3 asparagus spears (steamed), a kids burger at Micky Ds and threw away the bread. The best thing is to not cheat at all, but I do understand. Do the best you can, just dont break down and go for a meal especially one high in carbs. I have done some home projects, when I get a craving I go brush my teeth, that actually helped. If I watch TV, mostly DVD movies with no food commercials. Best of luck to you mate. Look forward to seeing you on the losers bench.

Hey "Sleeve Twin", I am down 21lbs, BMI is now 40.5 from 43.5. I am excited and nervous, mostly excited. Tried on my compression garment, packing my bags.. Are you ready to rock?

Great job on the 2 week pre-op. May all the positive vibes from VST be with you.. Let us know when your up and kicking around.

Many thanks to all I am back into following through with this. Bigdd, I am going to Dr Alvarez Feb 1st for a good sleeving. Thanks for the feedback. That is good news. Good to hear I am not the only one that almost said the hell with it I love food to much.. lol... It is great to hear your doing well, hope to meet you at one of his annual get togethers. MrNickSr, thank you sir. That is what I was hoping for, that full bloated feeling, rather than just a full sleeve. I think I was really close to calling it off, but thanks to everyone for convincing me to stay the course. I sometimes feel guilty about spending this much money on myself, so when I have doubts I think of the things I could buy for my daughter or the house and a host of other things, rather than spending it on myself. Josephine thanks for that meal plan,,, yummy,, it all sounds so good right now. A few weeks ago it would not have thought so, but after being on this diet so long, just a pickle with a cracker would be sooooo goood.. Tracey. a loss of appetite sounds great. would love to have to remind myself to eat. Thank you. ThinOneDay,,LOL.. Thanks, Lets kick some fat,caloric ass.. :>),, very nice.. Amerigirl, you have taken the big brave step, wtg. Many thanks for sharing with us. MtnLover, Thank you for sharing your experiences and your well wishes. LauraMomof3, Eating snacks is not stupid, we just have an addiction. You have taken the brave step and put yourself through pain and misery to obtain the tool. You are going to do well. I have read to many posts of others having their moments, but getting through them and having great success. Thank you for sharing with us.

Angel, My surgery date is Feb 1st, one week from yesterday. Thanks for the reply. MrNickSr,, thank you, that sounds pretty good, that nothing tastes as good as it once did. I told my doctor a long time ago, if he would just give me a pill or a shot that would make food taste bad or no flavor, I could keep the weight off.. He said there is no such thing. So I guess the sleeeve is as close as I am going to get.. When you get full is it a satisfied full feeling, or is it more like you feel your sleeve is full and you know not to put anything else in? Thanks

I have been on preop diet for about 2.5 weeks. Today I went into a mall and the food smell and my hunger made me almost insane. I started thinking,, soon I won't get the hungry feeling or the craving when I smell yummy food,,,, or will I? ... I also thought about how many of those fresh bbq ribs I could eat right now,, and then thought; pretty soon I won't be able to eat but one maybe two delicious ribs because my sleeve will be full. Will I feel full or will it be just that my sleeve is full? Will I feel satisfied, or just not want to eat another rib because it will hurt, or just fill up my throat and not go down...? :drool: Thanks

TATOR TOTS,,, that sounds heavenly.. LOL.. I sure do miss those.. What does your diet consist of? I notice some get to eat a small amount of veggies, that would be nice as well. I did cheat this weekend and ate 3 asparagas spears that were steamed.. I think it figured about 1 calorie. I was allowed 98%fat free cream soup, but found Campbells chicken noodle has .5 calories less and the same amount of carbs as the cream of mushroom soup. I have had a couple cans of that last week. I don't think that is cheating since the cals and carbs are in line with what he recommended.. may be wrong.. This week I am going to be very strict. I have lost 18lbs, 14lbs I think it was the first week. Not sure what happened after that. I am ready to be sliced and diced and get on the sleeved side of life. I am sure you will do well on your preop diet, if you find yourself craving "real" food, try and get your mind on something else, like go for a walk and fantasize about what it is going to be like to be thinner.. The visualization has helped me I think.. I also have brushed my teeth when I start craving, worked out, taken dogs for a walk, sand and refinished a door.. lol..

Thank you ThinOneDay! Katldy, Congrats on getting your date with Dr. Alvarez. Yes I did go to Piedros Neigras to meet him and visit the facility prior to giving my down payment. After meeting Dr. Alvarez and touring the facility I am very comfortable with having him do my surgery. All that others have said about him appears to be true. The hospital is older, but looked clean to me. If anything is not, I will make a point to post it on this board so you will know. The 3 week strict diet he put me on is very hard. This being the last week I plan to be a little tighter on it, not going over about 800 cal/day, and keep carbs to less than 80. I will PM you my phone number if you want it, and you can call me on the 2nd if you like. I don't plan on taking my laptop to Mexico, and don't want to access my email on a public computer. The only concerns I have had about Dr. Alvarez is he doesn't use much pain medication. When I questioned this, he said most of his patients don't ask for anything more, but if they feel they need it he would give it to them. He said on the second day it should feel about like the day after giving your abs a good workout, and be feeling the burn and sore.... Other patients of his have said pretty much the same thing,,, we will see.. I am a wimp to pain, never had an operation in my life, so this will be totally new to me.

Tomball Texas here.. Anyone else get sleeved by Dr. Alvarez?

OMG,, try Chike. I am preop and can't stand the bullet drink,, yuck.. I think Tiffykins turned me on the Chike,, it is the best tasting by far. I use it with 1/2 water and 1/2 skim milk. But it in the blender and it gets really thick and tastes like a real delicious shake. It also has a lot of vitamins. I am preop but seems you could sip it slowly,, it is so yummy. Congrats on be a "Sleeved One".

Buy everyone a round of drinks and tell them you have an announcement. Let them know how brave you are and how happy you are. Let them celebrate it with you. They will be happy for you, as the mood is already festive. Then let Oprah know and maybe she will do an entire show with you!! Best of luck and happiness!

Hey BigTex,, that is a diet I could handle for a couple weeks. I am in the middle of week 2. I have cheated a little, but very little, and nothing high in carbs, I also excercise every day. I have lost 15lbs. Calories never over 1125, carbs around 100. But the last week, prior to surgery, I am going to tighten it up to not over 800 cals per day, and more than 64oz of Water a day. I am a better sprinter than a long distance type of guy. Bambi, I do know once I had that first cheat it was harder to not cheat. Kinda like potato chips. Don't do as I have done,, don't take that first drink (bite in our case). I am still 1 1/2 weeks from surgery,, it seems so far away...

Yeah Tiff,,, your hot,, very cute do, looks great.. Think I will get one of those after I loose 100lbs..

Glad you are doing well. My sleeve date is Feb 1st,, can't wait.