Hi Everyone,

If you are sitting out there with a lot of questions like I was 4 years ago, I want to tell you that I was 63 when I had my surgery in Mexicali, with Dr. Aceves—I believe he is the very best you can find to do your surgery. I lost 105 pounds and YES I have kept it off for 3 years now. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds.

My ONLY regret is that I didn’t have it done sooner. It is unquestionably the very greatest thing I have ever done for myself! I will be honest and tell you that the 1^st month after surgery will be the hardest month you will ever have to do. During the 1^st month you will be making lifestyle changes, letting your body heal, and start to retrain your “OLD” thinking brain to the new ways in life—this is a struggle because you “Old” thinking brain has been used to ALL the food you have been eating all your life. But, it is only 30 days and you can do this! It is NOT a miracle cure, it is a tool to allow you to lose the weight and maintain it for the rest of your life.

What is a typical day in my life like now? I want you first to know that I do not ever really feel hunger anymore—again your old brain will try to tell you that you are hungry—we call this “Head Hunger” because it really isn’t real. Now I just know that I need to eat small amounts of healthy food during the day. I have now changed how I cook and I now crave healthy things—I know it is hard to imagine that you will do this, but it is true. Yes, I do have desert –but I have learned how to bake in a healthy way. I have a great Low Carb Cookbook that allows me to eat a lot of things I loved in my past life and they are healthy now.

So this is what my day is like:

· I get up about 7:00 am put on my walking clothes and shoes and go for a nice brisk walk for 2 to 3 miles with my husband. Believe me I didn’t start out walking brisk or this far. Do the best you can, but do SOMETHING for exercise. Sometimes in the evening we will walk 2 more miles.

· I return home take a shower and for Breakfast I have a Premier Protein Drink. I still to this day have a Protein Drink for breakfast and that is all I need.

· I do all the normal things anyone else does during the day, like clean the house, grocery shop, laundry, and plan the meals, work in my yard. I am also own my own business where I am an Instructor in 1^st Aid, CPR and AED to people in my community.

· lunch usually is some kind of a salad or I have some protein—usually chicken, with some fresh veggies, some fresh fruit.

· I have an afternoon snack, maybe something that I baked from my Low Carb Cookbook. There are some great products that are healthy to have too. There are all kinds of things you can snack on that are OK

· dinner is always about 2 oz of some kind of protein. I eat, chicken, fish, or Pork. I eat very little red meat—and I always loved red meat in the past, but I found out that my tastes have changed a lot after I had surgery. I always have some kind of fresh veggie, maybe in a form of salad and then fresh fruit. I eat about 1,000 calories a day sometimes a little more depending on how much exercise I do. I NEVER feel deprived.

Part of keeping the weight off is finding ways to cook that make it taste good. You can learn to convert some of your old recipes to being healthy too. I do have desert, but not every day. Sometimes just the taste of something will satisfy your need for it. Food NO longer controls me I now control the food and the amount.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me. I just want you to know that you can be this successful too. I have written a lot of things over the past 4 years, and I have information for those who are thinking about having surgery if you want any of it. You can be successful too.

I remember thinking what if I am the ONE person this will not work for, because I failed at everything else. So you are not alone, because many of us have thought all the same things that you have. I think the best things that you can do, is ask all kinds of questions. Check on who is doing your surgery. Like anything there are good and bad doctors out there, and I want you to be safe and have the very best you can have.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Sleeve 10/21/2008

Lost 105 pounds

Dr. Aceves- Suregon

Thank you for sharing your success with us. It really helps to hear the voice of experience - to all of you who have shared the good the bad and the ugly - thank you!

I loved hearing your story. We are always looking to hear from people who are as far out from surgery as you are. Congratulations on your continuing wonderful health. Walking and hiking is my exercise of choice as well.

Thank you for sharing your story. It is helpful to hear peoples successes and struggles.

I pray every day that I have the strength to be where you are. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and words as well as time - it is inspirational!

Thanks for posting and congrats on not only achieving your goal but maintaining it. I tell people that once your body hits it's "happy place" that maintenance is easy but most people don't believe me.

You've done great!

~Cheri

Thank you Suzanne!

You are inspiring! It will work for me! It will work for me! That is my new mantra... and I will make it happen!

Cheered, Dottie

Thank you for this post ... My surgery is scheduled this Tuesday with Dr Aceves..... I loved reading your post ... I too have thought.. Maybe this too won't work for me.... Your words encouraged me today! Thank you!

Absolutely fabulous testimony Suzanne! I am now 5 1/2 months out and every great once in a while I wonder if I will be able to maintain this over time. My thoughts always turn to "I don't have any idea what the future holds, but I do know I am going to keep doing what I am doing (walking everyday and eating right) and let life happen. I will not let food control me again."

Thanks for posting this.

I remember about one week out I read this part in your long post............"You know we never think twice about making car payments. If you have to borrow the money for this surgery just look at this as “body payment.”

This was such a light bulb moment for me and I was like "heck yeah, thanks Suzanne"! LOL -

Thank you for taking the time to share your success story. Plus all the tips are great. I can't wait to have a life free of diabetes and be able to enjoy my life to the fullest once I start my own journey.

Did you set your on goal? Did your body just slow down on losing the weight? This just baffles me how we know where our bodies should be. I am far away from goal, i know the goal the dr. set for me.

Suzanne, I'm blown away! You're awesome! Enough said.

Awesome information and shared with compassion. Thank you!

maintenance is easy but most people don't believe me.

clk

you have done a great job losing over 100 lbs and keeping it off for years

i always regained weight i lost during my many diets in the past

Mentally i know that i shouldn't gain back any weight on maintence with the help of the sleeve

i know i can only eat whats supposed to be, quantity and what foods i eat - proper amounts.

once i reach goal i will feel better, work on mentally that as long as i continue to follow the "rules" i will be fine.

gone through too much good/bad - to ruin things now - i'm so very happy at my new weight - frequently do the happy dance too

thanx

Thank you for this. You are very inspirational and motivating. I am only on my 12th day, so this means a lot!!

Thank you for your encouraging and insightful posts. I'm having surgery this Tuesday and I'm at peace with my decision I've researched and prayed and prayed and prayed. Of course I'm still nervous yet excited to get healthy and take care of me for a change. Congrats on your success I hope to join you on the looser bench:)