mythreechildren2001

One big difference Kacee109 is trying to point out is that she has NO recourse in Mexico. Had she had this surgery done in the US there are groups, organizations, lawyers etc she can go to and get help. She is out of luck and being ignored BECAUSE she went to Mexico. I am not saying, don't go overseas, I am saying this is an important point that should be part of the equation when making a decision.
Is this doctors name Dr. Rod or Dr. Rodriguez? What city?

There was time when I was younger, that I wouldn't have told a soul. But now (maybe because I'm 47 and getting cantankerous) I just don't care what people think anymore. Everyone who knows me knows how many times I have been on Weight Watchers, Atkins, Slimfast, diet pills, plus literally DOZENS more. They know how I ruined my knee forever from exercise. Maybe it finally was the easy way out for me because it was a guarantee that I will lose, but I don't care. I haven't hidden it from anyone, because I DON'T CARE! (Did I mention that I'm becoming cantankerous with age?) lol I have tried and failed and tried an failed and tried and failed so many times. I just couldn't go on with it anymore.
My husband was so against me having surgery, but he couldn't have stopped me if he had tried. We have been married for 22 years and we consult each other about most everything, but this was non negotiable. I FINALLY had the opportunity for insurance coverage for surgery, and I was taking it.
I feel 1000 times better already. I'm already a better wife, mother, teacher, daughter, friend, etc because I now have the energy to go around for everybody. I LOVE my sleeve and I will shout it from the rooftops!
As I see it, people are going to talk. The more they know something bothers you, the more they are going to talk. I decided to take that power away from them. My best friend, however, (who is also 47) is trying to have it done but she will have to self pay because she doesn't meet insurance qualifications. She's not nearly as heavy as I was. She plans to only tell her husband. I will go to my grave keeping her secret, because that is her choice. We all have to do what we are comfortable with, but I feel no shame.
You do what you have to do. I really don't feel that there is a right way or a wrong way to handle this. Enjoy your sleeve, because it is amazing!!

forget the carbs, drink the milk. It is calories and Protein that really count at this point.
You might try the Protein shakes using milk and a half banana or some other fruit.
Also try cheese, turkey, beef. I find Protein Bars to be good source and filling.

i got another one! i was volunteering at my youngest daughters school. i was walking around monitoring the kido's. i overheard one of the girls that my daughter has play dates with at our house...so she knows me well. she said, "is that your mom?" my daughter said, "yeah you know she is." her friend says, "she looks DIFFERENT!" and my daughter said, "yeah she lost a lot of weight."
i was grinning from head to toe!
:Banane55:

i have had a few...tonight though i was out with my kids trick or treating and i ran into an old co-worker of mine. it was dark out so she couldnt see me to well, but she gave me a hug, and while she was hugging me i could feel her hands feeling around for the rest of me...haha she stepped back while still holding my waist and said, oh my god, where is the rest of you! i laughed and told her that i have lost 80 pounds and she was flabbergasted! to fun
my other nsv happened a while ago that i already posted once, that was when i put on a bath towel and for the first time it fit all the way around me and tied in the front. that was sooooo cool!

I can't possibly just choose one Crossing my legs was huge, seeing my collar bones, hitting my size goal of an 8 (and even better now having 8s being WAY too big and actually was able to put on a size 4 the other day!!), not being scared of the camera and allowing people to take pictures of me now, just to name a few

ooo, what a good post:
I love that ppl call me tiny, skinny, and I'm melting b4 their eyes..... from shopping in only the plus size section size 16 pants and a 1x in tops..and now to a size 4 or 6 (depends on the maker of the pants) and either a small or med on the tops....
Seeing my bones in my hips, ribs, neck are awesome feeling too.

Third Place: fitting into a size 6 jeans from old navy! So far I have gone from an 18 to 6
Second Place: being able to walk for miles without missing a beat, last summer I could barely walk to the store without being out of breath and feeling like I was going to die.
First Place: My diabeties going into remission, I was on 4 pills a day and bordering on going back on insulin shots to keep it under control.

It was cold the other night after a concert, and my husband put his coat around me--it was WAY too big for me! I used to be unable to wear his shirts/jackets/etc. and now they're really, really big. I love finally being smaller than him. :-)

My hubby can't keep his hands off of me!!! He tells me everyday that I look great.

No more CPAP/sleep apnea after only about 3-4 weeks post op, and no more blood pressure meds! I LOVE my sleeve!!

I can completely relate, except I've given up on being "stressed" about it. Would I love to be at goal? SURE! Heck would I love to be 'further' along? You bet! But this is a process, and our tool is our forever tool, so even if it takes us longer (I'm only ONE month away from my 1 year anniversary) I still plan on getting to goal.
I know it's hard when people on here race to goal in 6, 9, 12 months, but that isn't my story...it's theirs. And I'm finally at a point where I am HAPPY with what I see in the mirror! Yes, of course I stil have weight to lose, but I'm not ever going to shop in the plus sizes again, my weight begins with the number ONE, my loose skin is not an issue at this point, so I've decided to relax and enjoy the ride. I am shopping at thrift stores and Goodwill right now because in one more year I do plan on reaching goal, so I can still shop and not feel guilty about buying something that probably won't fit me this time next year.
This is our forever tool. There is no expiration date, no end of the line just because we have a 1 year surgiversary. I know everyone talks about the honeymoon period and honestly I think my honeymoon period was 3 months long...my 4th month post-op I lost exactly 2 lbs. And in months 8 and 9 I lost nothing. And I didn't do anything different during those slow or non-existent loss periods than I did when I was losing a few lbs a week. So my body just isn't going to put up big numbers each week and I'm finally okay with that.
You are doing fine, keep working your sleeve and eventually the weight will keep coming off!

Nope, not really.

9+ months out and here are SOME things I regret or don't like:
I had a LOT of good quality, fairly expensive nice clothes I had to get rid of when I lost weight. It occurred to me today, It's really hard to shave now, my face used to be round and the razor slid around, I now have a lot of sharp angles that I have to really concentrate on or suffer with scratchy peach fuzz all day. Putting my wife through few decades of living with a fatty, she never complained but I looked terrible and it really kept me from doing a lot of things with her.
That I waited so long to do it.

try the crock pot girls on face book really cool and alot of recipes

could someone who knows medical speak translate that into english for me? LOL

I am so pleased with this side effect!!! I had reached the point of having accidents and was considering surgery to correct the problem.
Since my vsg surgery I no longer have to wear daily protection. Now there's a savings I haven't heard anyone else mention!

You guys are so right. I've been having little battles in my head of what I want and what I need. Not to mention my husband, who is 33, mentions it often and gets upset about the thought of being old and never having children, or being old and then having children. Part of his issue is that both of his parents passed away recently, he was only about 30 at the time and freaks out to think he'll only live til 60. I am about to turn 30, so I know I have plenty of time. I think the number is just getting to me. I am also determined to make my 30s better than my 20s. I am not mentally prepared to possibly have a misscarriage. We would be devastated. And I was unaware about the ketosis and fetal brain damage. I have decided I will wait. I will talk with my husband about this later. Thanks everyone for your input! While I am super bummed, I have learned alot from what you said. I don't want to do any harm, as all I could wish for would be a healthy baby.

Whatever you do.. DONT FREAK OUT... I'm the Queen of Freaking just ask Tiff LMAO She was my savior LOL... Exercise is good..I'm SO NOT a exercise person if I was, I wouldn't have needed surgery so thats why my Dr said it'll come off but its coming off in the speed I give it. So I stopped freakin out.. I'm 50 I'm not young trying to impress anyone, I just want to live another 50 years So I can annoy the hell out of my kids still *Howling* YEAH!!
You will do great... just stay focused and don't make it a "event" make it a journey that you're planning for I do my menu the night before and this way the next day I can go to my fatsecret on my phone and know what my day is going to be
There will ALWAYS be support here.. this is by far the best forum... We've all felt it.. have cried about it.. have regretted having it at one point and have regretted not doing it sooner... we are all human and unfortunately are victims of our own insecurities..
You're GORGEOUS the way you are... you're on the road to a new healthier you

It's been a while since I was here... needed a break... I was on the dreadful stall mine lasted about 29 days.. i was freaking out big time! I went in crying to my awesome and incredible doctor and he told me "You're tracking too much STOP"... I use FatSecret.com and have it on my iphone cause I can barcode scan whatever I eat and not have to search... so I'm worried about Fat and Carbs and he said this and maybe it'll help others...
Stop worrying about the Fat and the Carbs.. your main concern right now is staying between 800-900 calories and over 80g of Protein a day. If one day a week you go over 900 that is ok its a shock value to your metabolism but stop worrying so much about the fat and carb! I was trying to so hard to stay in the low fat and carb that I wasn't getting enough calories or I was getting too much and I have always done good on my protein that's never an issue for me... so when I stopped trying the fat/carb route and I went to just the calories and protein the stall broke and I started losing.
He also suggested I try alternating my foods.. I am only eating the foods that "I" KNOW work for ME and I'm comfortable in those.. so I alternate between scrambled eggs for breakfast and the day I'll have a Clif Builder Bar chocolate Mint that is so YUMMY and keep alternating... for lunch I'll alternate with the Chunk Swanson 2oz can with some cottage cheese and the next day maybe I'll have the tuna salad ready packet.. dinner is the same one day it'll be shaved mesquite turkey and ritz bits 100 calorie packets and the next might be the spam packet or the chunk chicken again..
In doing this I've lost and he also gave me some really good advise "You WILL lose weight no matter what, you have 1/3 of a stomach, you might NOT lose as fast as others and you might just kick butt.. but if you exercise you'll do better, if you aren't a exercise person you'll go slow, but either way the weight will come off it'll be only in the process you take"
Now my biggest thing... is losing my hair.. it's like I went from thick and alot of hair like the width of a cucumber to now it's maybe 3 pencils.. UGH.. I've been on the Biotin 7500mg for 4 months and was using Nioxin shampoo and it still comes out in the brush about 30 strands or if i'm sitting on the couch it'll come out just freaks me the hell out! So I'm using Head & Shoulders with Zinc believe it or not its slowing it down ... amazing...
So anyhow.. I've missed everyone.. hope y'all are doing great..

Guess what? you are where you are supposed to be. Please read my other posts and view some of my video diary on YouTubes--Here is one link that will get you there.
Now I am not sure what sort of support you had from your surgeon, but the post I wrote today could be spot on for you, so just read that besides this reply please.
Starting right NOW, you are on a journey of discovering yourself. You just won the lottery, OK you may not feel that way NOW, but if you can get your HEAD into the game right NOW, you will go all of the way with no problem.
Become a Body Listener and stop being a Body Big Mouth -- that was my post's topic.
So what I see below is that you are testing things--good girl--write this info in your journal--keep testing.
My suggestion is that you stay liquid in the first 30 days. I lost 27 pounds in my first 30 days by staying on Isopure [from GNC] and then my next goal was to lose 10 lbs/month. I am 57 y.o. and this forum told me that I would be slow to lose because I was over 50. That is crap.
Take advantage of this first month and do your Soups, Protein shakes, Isopure Zero carb drink--why rush yourself back into foods?
You are at the T in the road. Your surgeon just gave you a 50% step up over everyone else in America trying to lose the weight--now the other 50% is up to YOU.
OF course you don't know what it means to have that full feeling...you are only 1-week into your journey. This feeling is not the same sort of feeling you have ever experienced. It is not like the pre-surgery FULL when you pigged out until you could have passed out. NO--this is NEW, this is foreign, this is something you don't know and try as we might like to help you--this is a self discovery process that will either HELP YOU or HURT YOU.
So one thing that I had to learn was to STOP GULPING and to allow my food or drink to slide down.
Don't eat in Bed. don't lay down after eating. Don't bend over after eating.
If you gave yourself permission to be in a Learning Curve and you shifted your panic to curiousity--you might enjoy this process.
The Hunger is in your HEAD--that is the place most of us had to address first and then we realize that you start your day with protein. Feed your body for nutrition--not for taste in the beginning otherwise you will lose your hair, etc--Be MINDFUL right NOW about what you are doing and why.
Don't whimp out -- you have taken a very couageous step for yourself--NOW show up using that courage.
Courage + Curiousity would be two things that would be very very good for you.
I used Isopure Shakes and Zero Carb drinks--that gave me 90 grams of protein/day. I drank 64 oz of fluids per day--to do this I juiced 1-lemon + 1-lime and added stevia as my sweetener--don't use SPLENDA--it triggers your insulin--I have done alot of research on Splenda and can send you more info, but for now, go natural: Stevia, agava,
I have several Soup video's posted on YouTubes. You can have alot of soup since it adds to your 64 oz's of fluids...but be mindful of your total calories for the day. You can really make big progress for yourself in the first 30 days if you pay attention to your intentions.
Good Luck--read my posts and watch my videos for some good ideas on foods.

I was really hungry about day 10 I mean to the point I couldn't sleep. I remember being so mad at someone for saying it was only head hunger and to deal with it. I talked to my dr and started pureed foods about a tablespoon at a time. Now I really don't get hungry. In fact if I am busy busy I will not even notice the time. I do have acid problems, I am on two meds for that. Now I am 10 weeks out and sometimes my tummy will growl and I know I need to put food in it. But most of the time I eat because I know it is time to eat. And I feel an empty feeling more than a hunger feeling. So around 2 or 3 hours I will eat one or two small squires of beef jerky and I am good until my next meal.

I was 3 months out from surgery which put me smack dab at Easter ... The kids had tons of candy sitting around. I just couldn't take it anymore. I ate a handful of M&M's and another handful of Jelly Beans.

A little later, I was sitting in my room crying. My husband came in & was immediately alarmed. I told him I had something to confess. He got VERY alarmed.

I told him what I ate. To his credit, he did the best he could to control his face. He got it under control and asked me why I did it. I gave the honest reply of "I just wanted it so bad." He then lost all control and started to laugh. He made me look up the calories on myfitnesspal. Then, I was laughing too. I had a total meltdown over what equated to less than 200 calories.

We're all human. We all make bad choices sometimes. It's the "sometimes" that is the key.

My thoughts exactly!!
I will not get fat from one or two Cookies, but surely will from 10!!
Also not from 1-2 pieces of pizza but will from 5!!
That was my reasoning for the surgery too! PORTION CONTROL!!
Don't beat yourself up over a few bites of something. You WILL NEVER be able to eat like you did pre-sleeve again. If you have a few bites of something "bad" once in a while, it will not wreck your plan. Just don't do it everyday!!
Hugs,
Kelly

I once ate a 350 calorie cookie....yep...350 calories of delicious buttery shortbready goodness. and I felt guilty and horrible and like I had failed....and then I remembered...Normal people don't beat themselves up over a cookie. NORMAL people with a Healthy food relationship would just eat the damn cookie enjoy it and move on with their lives.

I am betting you did not eat 5,400 calories OVER your daily caloric needs on this trip. That's what you had to do to truly gain 1.5 pounds. My money's on the Water weight that those awesome tasting, sodium infested snack foods always leave behind.
I'm betting you are back to normal after a few days of your usual routine. Regardless, you recoginized a hazard in your new life and are now aware of the potential for danger as you move forward. Good for you!
Amanda