Hello to all,

My journey is not complete. I am not here to tell you that I have figured it all out, or that it is easy. I have lost 87 lbs with the gastric sleeve surgery and diet. I lost the weight from January to July 2011. I have been at the same weight since July 2011. Once I began eating regular food, my will power left to use the sugar free diet that got me to my current weight of 200 lbs. I pretty much ate what I wanted, regular sugar; have gone through holiday's and birthday's and gained and lost only 1 or 2 lbs, I know that I will not regain the 87 lbs. I ate well according to the diet plan at first, then ate poorly slipping in the rich buttery foods that I love, but, I ate only a little of everything. If I ate too much or too fast, I would have to throw up. I am now determined to reach my goal weight of 145 lbs by spring 2013. My stomach is small, but I ate too many liquid or empty calories and the wrong foods.

The beginning of my story is typical, I ate too much in general as a lifestyle, between meals, too rich food, and have a job where I sit most of the day. My knees were weak and I did not want to have knee replacement surgery, so I had to get the weight off quickly or I was going to be in a wheelchair. I was a mature first time mother, and the doctor just said to me, "All we care about is having a healthy baby." I gained 75 lbs with my pregnancy 20 years ago. I had a 9.5 lb baby, and kept the rest of the weight. I ate what I wanted, but because I was moderately active was not sickly. I went to the Doctor and was told that I was pre-diabetic, and this information was the last straw. At the time, my insurance did not cover the gastric sleeve surgery. I went on a letter writing campaign in Cincinnati and went all the way through the Anthem appeal process and was denied for the sleeve, but approved for the gastric bypass. I did not want the bypass, don't get me wrong for some the surgery is a good alternative. However, my friend had the bypass surgery with good results, but she has been sick ever since she reached her goal weight. My friend had complications with her surgery, could not keep any food down and now is in a nursing home having gone from 338 to 105 lbs. I again went on a letter writing campaign indicating that Anthem in other cities were covering the gastric sleeve, that was May 2010. By December 2010, Anthem changed their policy and allowed for the gastric sleeve. I went to Dr. Curry in Cincinnati, he is a very good doctor. My surgery in January 2011 went well with no complications.

I feel fat now at 200 lbs, and am no longer basking in the glow of the 87 lb weight loss. I am ready and willing to do what I know to do to lose the remainder of the weight. My plan is to pull out my gastric sleeve diet plan and start the plan again from the beginning with the pre-op diet to get my body and taste buds ready to finish what I started.

I will tell anyone, the gastric sleeve is the best surgery, and it will get you to your goal if you remember to keep your eyes on the prize.

I hope this inspires you to go for it.

Karen

willing to do what I know to do to lose the remainder of the weight. - My plan is to pull out my gastric sleeve diet plan and start the plan again from the beginning with the pre-op diet keep your eyes on the prize.

kariwimms aka karen

be proud of that 87 lbs lost!! WooHoo

you know what to do to get back on that horse - you sound very committed - good for you!!!

knowing the problem is half the battle don't know if i said that right

stand up straight, get back to work with your eating and drinking, exercising et al

i have confidence that you can do this

now get going

good luck

Proudgranny, just one pound to go?? WOW! Congratulations!

Good job everybody! Keep it up!

Proud gramy I am so proud of you! :wub:

Hey Kariwimms,

Everybody is right -- losing 87 pounds and NOT gaining it back is FANTASTIC! So you took a few months off and had yourself a break -- no big deal. But it sounds like you're ready now to get back with the program, and you WILL do it! You are truly an inspiration; I think there are a lot of folks we never hear from who fall off the wagon and can't ever climb back on, but you're going to do it!

Show us how it's done, Girl!

Kariwimms, how is your intake? Can you still only eat small amounts? That is important; that is the tool part we use to help us lose the weight. Go back to the shakes and low bad carbs. You can lose the rest of the weight. We're all with you on this journey.

Thats real possitive stuff there about being a letter writer kariwimms, I believe this is a better alternative to the lap band or by pass and held out 6 extra months to be aproved, finaly was, earlier than I thought it might be but I have gotten ready quickly to do it on the 11th Dec, great that you got by some challenges, I have joint probs and especially knee troubles now too. Can't wait to lose the weight ! I have changed allot myself already and am aware and fear what your talking about to some degree that I with certainty will eat some things bad for me.

Keep staying good with the diet, lots of luck.