My journey into WLS began over 5 years ago. I went to Dr. Clif Thomas' seminar on WLS options and why WLS is a good idea. I knew he was right. I worked with his office staff to get Gastric Bypass approved. Denied. Appeal. Denied. Appeal. Denied. A year or two later I ended up with a new insurance. Denied. Appeal. Denied. Appeal. Denied. And yet a 3rd insurance company... same results.

I was finishing nursing school at the time. I knew I wanted to work for the State in Mental Health and I've always heard that the State's insurance covers it. I committed myself to getting it ASAP. I started my new job last year. I check out the insurance... Oopsie... You have to be employed for 5 years, 1 year of psychological counseling, another millionty hoops to jump through. I was so sad and distraught. I kept my vow that if I ever worked out a way to pay for it, it was totally happening.

I should mention... during the 5 years of all this mess of trying to get approved, I decided VSG was the way to go. Good results, less invasive, fewer negative side effects... it's a winner, all around.

Late June 2012 I get a call from my Mom. My parents are getting a lump payment and are fronting me the money for my surgery. Time to get a surgeon, get a date, and get back with her with the total. Late June I go in with Dr. Clif Thomas for my consultation. The following Thursday I go in for my EGD. Two weeks later is my follow up appointment with surgery details. I have a massive hiatal hernia that he will repair for me. 07/19/2012 I am sleeved and I wake up into a new life.

PreOp Weight: 290lbs

It's funny that I truly feel like a new person since I woke up from surgery. food is not the forefront of my mind any longer. It's funny that I am getting ready for my drive to work and I think "Oh, I'll go to Sonic... Oh wait... why would I do that?" LOL! I have had little interest in food since surgery. Sure, recipes look good and I cannot wait to cook them... but the day to day drive to eat constantly is gone.

My parents are both proud of me. My GRANDFATHER is proud of me... and I can't remember any time in my life that he's ever actually told me that he's proud of me. My Mom is actually working on her pre-operative stuff for her insurance to cover her procedure.

Today is 08/19/2012... I weighed in 260.4lbs. I'll take a 30lb weight loss for my first month... sure I was stalled for 10 days... And it's over. Hooray! My goal weight is probably 145. In my mind I'd like to be under 150lbs. I'm 5'3'' so I don't think that's too small... My surgeon says 150-160lbs.

My newest goals are more simple... at least on paper... 48-64oz fluids daily... 80g Protein daily... Walk my Zoee girl daily... In September I'd like to get a cruiser bike and have a little variety...

Congrats to you! I'm 13 days post op, starting soft foods tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!

Congratulations to you! Sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for. So wonderful that your parents are so supportive and that your mom is thinking of doing it too! 30 pounds in one month is awesome...I cannot think of any diet I have ever been on where that has happened...at least not one where I was actually going to keep it off!! Keep up the great work and keep us posted on your journey!

Congratulations you have come a Long way now its your turn to shine...

Very inspirational. Good to see you didn't give up with so many obstacles.

I wanted to say thank you to every who has "liked" my story or left a comment. I never realized how important the comments are until today. I realized that I read over them every now and then to kindof refresh my motivation. It's been a FaceBook heavy day today and I really really realized how much the support means to me... especially on days when I'm fighting myself, I'm down, or just not motivated to exercise.

In my constant search of the web to learn everything I'll ever want to know on every topic, I found an exciting sleeved foodie blog. I was so very excited to have found until I realized I had read the entire thing in about 5 minutes. This person was sleeved and in 1 year went from a size 30 to a size 22/24. I was so shocked I re-read it a few times... I checked the dates... I looked at the photos. I was very confused. She's happy with her loss, says she'd do it again in a heartbeat. And in the 1 year follow up post mentioned something about never getting around to incorporating exercise into her daily routine but "maybe one day"...

I realize I have no room to criticize anyone... I know this could very well be me one of these days... all of that being said... I have to say... this has been the biggest kick in my rear to find my motivation to exercise. I'm self pay. I'll be paying my parents back for the rest of their lives for the $12,900 that this surgery cost me/us. This is a major surgery and I cannot take it lightly... and I refuse to fail because I'm too lazy to exercise.

Over the last two weeks I have been walking the dogs to the lake and back (about 1.7 miles... but more importantly, about 45 minutes per trip). My little Corgi dog Zoee has been the most motivating workout partner I've ever had. Those big brown eyes guilt trip me into taking her for a walk any time I'm thinking about weaseling out of it. I'm always glad we went by the time we get to the corner of the street.

Today I bought a bicycle (Huffy Cruiser) to keep variety in my options... Or really, just to keep me moving. I took it for a maiden voyage around the block (about 2 city blocks). I survived and made it home safely. Scared the boyfriend half to death because I am a very clumsy girl... he said he gave me 10 minutes to make it back home before he was going to drive around the block to find where I wiped out. LOL!

Just buying the bike was an experience in and of itself... I actually had the guy ahead of me at the check out flirt with me. Such an opposite of a teen experience I had (being ridiculed by a truck full of guys for taking the dog for a walk). All in all, I am very happy with the experience.

I keep finding myself making future plans that involve seeming dangerous items... I want a set of quad skates so I can get the puppies running. Once I can make the walk in about 20-25 minutes I want to start the C25K program. I want a Kayak so I can work my upper body and enjoy the lake.

These are insane exercise thoughts... I feel possessed! LOL!

I hope they stick around.

So while I'm really sorry that sleeved foodie blogger didn't have the results that I want for myself... I am grateful for her blog... it's really been the boot in my tooshy that I needed to really realize Sleevie is not going to do the work for me... But Sleevie is my friend who will handle the food part... This will leave me open to find the physical activities that I enjoy. =)

Your persistence paid off. Sounds like u have a great family. Much success to you.