Hi All!

I wanted to start a thread for African-American sleevers (no worries I HEART all sleevers from the rainbow). I just thought, no scientific proof, that African-American sleevers may respond to the surgery different than our lovely non-African American sleeved sisters and brothers. I wanted to know if we had the same skin issue, hair problems, and other surgery related issues. Also, how to deal with the culture shock. African-American "soul food" may be something of the past... or not. So I was just looking for a space to voice culture related issues and concens.

PS- I TRULY :heart: ALL SLEEVERS.

Can I join?! :-) Just signed up today but I've been lurking for a while, been in the thinking stage and am now actively pursuing insurance approval. So it's time to come out of hiding! I'm 42, 5'11, and 300 lbs. I'd like to get to 165ish. Maybe 175. Weight problem started in my mid-20s and I reached my highest in 2009 (330). I'd gotten down to 260 last year but yeahhhh. I have autoimmune disorders and the extra weight has become a real issue for my joints. It's gotta go. My doctors are fully supportive and my insurance requirements are very straightforward, so we expect all that's between me and surgery is the medically-supervised 90 day diet rule. Have my 60 day check in appointment on the 15th and my first surgical clinic session on the 18th. Exciting stuff! Luck and good to all!

Yennoe, of course welcome.

My first small goal met!!! Finally!!!!

Edited August 9, 201412 yr by blackbeautywaiting

Good morning Challengers,

I just wanted to come on and say "I am so excited my weight is coming off". I am now down to 213 and I am praying I reach my goal before October 1. (Funny how we become greedy when we see things moving better than expected...LOL.) It is crazy I went to my cousin's wedding on Saturday and I woke up to a 1.6lb loss. I guess it was the dancing and the high protein meal. Whatever it was... I am saying thank you JESUS! Today, I am working out and hope to put some miles on my belt this week.

I hope everyone have a great day!

I haven't popped in in awhile. I got these swim paddles you wear on your hands, and now because of them I can swim the entire length of the pool without wanting to die (and stop half way down). It's the little things. I feel like my strength and endurance are really improving. Also, my shoulders look pretty good.

I also had to suck it up and buy new jeans. No one likes jeans with a baggy ass, and mine were to the point where no disguising and artful draping was going to make them look good anymore. So off to Ross I went for some cheap smaller jeans. And I also found a bottle of sugar free vanilla syrup for $2. Hope everyone had a fab weekend!

I haven't popped in in awhile. I got these swim paddles you wear on your hands, and now because of them I can swim the entire length of the pool without wanting to die (and stop half way down). It's the little things. I feel like my strength and endurance are really improving. Also, my shoulders look pretty good.

I also had to suck it up and buy new jeans. No one likes jeans with a baggy ass, and mine were to the point where no disguising and artful draping was going to make them look good anymore. So off to Ross I went for some cheap smaller jeans. And I also found a bottle of sugar free vanilla syrup for $2. Hope everyone had a fab weekend!

I use Miralax on a daily basis. It helped me a lot when I had the lapband. So I will continue to use it. good luck to you, I can't wait to be sleeved on Sept. 3.

@@Forsythia, I put 2 scoops of Benefiber in my tea every morning and after lunch.... keeps me regular.

I haven't popped in in awhile. I got these swim paddles you wear on your hands, and now because of them I can swim the entire length of the pool without wanting to die (and stop half way down). It's the little things. I feel like my strength and endurance are really improving. Also, my shoulders look pretty good.

I also had to suck it up and buy new jeans. No one likes jeans with a baggy ass, and mine were to the point where no disguising and artful draping was going to make them look good anymore. So off to Ross I went for some cheap smaller jeans. And I also found a bottle of sugar free vanilla syrup for $2. Hope everyone had a fab weekend!

Ha hahahahaha I said popped, not POOPED. LMAO

For the record, i poop every day!!

Edited August 11, 201412 yr by Forsythia

Sorry about that Forsythia, read it too fast. LOL!!

Sorry about that Forsythia, read it too fast. LOL!!

This gave me a good giggle. And honestly if you can't laugh at things such as this, that's doesn't bode well for your day!!

Just a thought. The American sleeve forum I thought was to educate, advise, encourage etc pre sleevers and post sleevers. Now this forum has since turned into a challenge forum. Some of us like myself haven't even been sleeved yet previously liked to read about post op experience and wat to expect. Now all I read about is challenges....Mayb there should b a forum entitled AA sleeve challenge for anyone who wants to join, hope no one is thin skin I am just saying.....

Just a thought. The American sleeve forum I thought was to educate, advise, encourage etc pre sleevers and post sleevers. Now this forum has since turned into a challenge forum. Some of us like myself haven't even been sleeved yet previously liked to read about post op experience and wat to expect. Now all I read about is challenges....Mayb there should b a forum entitled AA sleeve challenge for anyone who wants to join, hope no one is thin skin I am just saying.....

Not a thin skin but this challenge is part of our journey. It was started to motivate, encourage and support each other through this part of our journey. I thought this forum was meant to help each other in anyway possible through our journey. And in my opinion I think the challenge is doing just that. If you are pre-op the challenge show you where you can be at. If you look at the folks that are part of the challenge... You will see they are from all phases of the sleeve from the beginning and further. I think it is unfortunate you didn't get that. And my apologizes since I'm the starter of the challenge that I'm not allowing you to get what you want from this forum.

Edited August 12, 201412 yr by Ria1202

<p>Ha hahahahaha I said popped, not POOPED. LMAO </p> <p> </p> <p>For the record, i poop every day!!</p>

Sorry had to say your posts made me giggle. I was tickled by the saggy ass jeans but then the poop pop sent it over the edge and made my day!

Edited August 12, 201412 yr by back2barb78

I am a 40 year old black man and I just switched insurance. I had Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City through my job and they didn't cover anything no matter what. I am 5'8 313 and started my new insurance plan today. Hopefully things will go better. I'll keep y'all posted. I have seen a lot of black women posting but not manybbpack men and I know we are out there

Just a thought. The American sleeve forum I thought was to educate, advise, encourage etc pre sleevers and post sleevers. Now this forum has since turned into a challenge forum. Some of us like myself haven't even been sleeved yet previously liked to read about post op experience and wat to expect. Now all I read about is challenges....Mayb there should b a forum entitled AA sleeve challenge for anyone who wants to join, hope no one is thin skin I am just saying.....

I am not partaking in the challenge. I just like to POP in to report progress and whatnot. Answer any questions if anyone posts one. So if you have questions, please ask! From protein to exercise to post-op recovery someone here knows the answer!

I am still in the challenge, however, I have not been doing my walking/exercising this week...but I am doing well with my food and lost an additional 5 lbs this week. This brings me to a total of 31 lbs lost since my surgery on 6/30/14 - so I am pretty excited about that...

I need to incorporate some kind of exercise regimen as I know I could have lost a lot more