Hello al! As you join the group, please drop a line here to introduce yourself or just say HI! I'll get us started.

I am Museum-Mama. I am a thirty-something mom of one and, yes, I do work in a museum. I am getting sleeved because I am tired of being tired. I want to be healthy and keep up with my kiddo. My goal is to lose 75 lbs.

So, how about you? Feel free to be as open or simple as you feel comfortable.

Ciao for now,

Museum Mama

Hello, I'm babybearmum. I have a 2 yr old son. I'm 28 and have been married for 3 years. My husband is super supportive. I'm so thankful for that. I've been looking into the sleeve for several years and after being diagnosed with sleep apnea I was ready to take this step. I wish everyone here the best of luck, a speedy recovery and a healthy new life!

@babybearsmum, thanks for introducing yourself! Looking forward to getting to know all of you as we lose together!

I am Art. I've been 'big' forever, and while I have successfully lost weight a number of times (and for long times) I have always regained heavier than before. With a BMI of 50, I have 200# to lose. I am married with 2 grown sons, 2 grown daughters and a grandbaby on the way.

Hello, I'm Joshua.

I too am tired of being tired. Everyday I feel miserable. I feel like I'm being pulled down constantly by my own body.

Right now I am about 350 (I'm 6'4") and I am hoping to get down to a healthy weight (200-225).

I am scheduled for June 19th.

I am hoping that by this time next year I will be living life instead of just simply existing.

Hi! I'm Karmen

I'm also a thirty something mom of 3 (2 girls 13 & 15 and one boy 8). I couldn't lose the weight after my last pregnancy and I was also in a very abusive relationship so I turned to food for comfort. Managed to leave the abusive relationship but not the unhealthy one with food. My weight went from 135-140 to 252. I gained about 40 lbs in one year (after I quit smoking) that's when I said it's enough.

I am in good place, in a healthy relationship and I want to start living life the way it's supposed to be.

Before considering surgery I tried many programs, pills, exercise programs and I was able to lose some weight and then regained it back and some more.

I wish you all good luck in this journey and I'm so glad we have a place to turn for support.

Hiya everyone!!! I am scheduled for June 12, 2013. :wub: I am a former Lap-Bander . I had the lap-band done in 2005 and did very well with it (got my weight to around 1175-185 lbs. which for me, was awesome) I was rear-ended by a texting driver and my spine, nerves, neck and everything got all banged up, including the lap-band. I had 9 injections of steroids put into my spine to try to take some of the pain away and was put on meds (I'm a naturalist so I don't exactly dig that) and the WEIGHT FLEW UP!!! I weigh more now than before the band. I do best with eating leafy/greens and meats & seafood. I need portion control. I am excited to soon get full on small portions. That does NOT happen for me now. I could probably eat a whole horse if I allowed myself. I am looking forward to supporting each other!!!

Hello from upstate NY!!!!!! I am a 39 year old mother of an 8 year old beautiful daughter, a wife of 5 years, and an elementary school teacher . I have always been a big girl with a bigger personality! I am also, a failed lap-bander! As my daughter grew, I realized that there were a lot of things that I wanted to experience with her.However, I felt limited because of my weight and size. I decided to take charge of my weight and end the self doubt once and for all. I was banded in May 2009. I lost 85 pounds quickly. Unfortunately, I had a major slip in Feb 2012. I had a second surgery but after.... my lap-band just never worked correctly. I have since, switched surgeons and have become more informed of surgical options. I will be sleeved on Monday June 10th! I am so excited.

I am looking forward to going on amusement park rides with my daughter without experiencing the fear of possibly not fitting. I want to get on an airplane and not hold my breath and stomach in while buckling the seat belt. And..... I CAN NOT wait to go horse back riding without feeling sorry for the poor horse that has to carry my big behind on his back!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL! I can not wait to be sexy and sleeved!

Hello from NJ! As a failed lap-bander, I am so looking forward to turning things around. I am 53 and have 120 lbs to lose. I have sleep apnea, arthritic knees and spinal stenosis so I want to get heathy so I can enjoy life again! My surgery date is June 17th and I've never been so excited to go to the hospital! Grateful for this second chance. Good luck to us all.

Hi everyone, my name is Bec and I'm from Brisbane Australia!!!

My story is I have been married for just 3 years and I have the most wnderful husband. also have PCOS and have not been able to fall pregnant. I've been big all my life and I've tried everything and yeah some diets work for a while then I just put it all back on with a lot extra So I was told that the sleeve would be great for me. So after 2 weeks of googling my husband and I thought it's the way to go. So no more yo yo diets So I'm getting sleeved on 3rd June!!!!! So excited. My weight as at Saturday was 140kg (308lb) and my BMI is 52 which is just about at my heavist I've been. My goal is 50kg (110lb) in 12 months that will bring me to 90kg (198lb) but my dr said I'd be losing way more. He reckons I'll get to 65-70kg (143-154lb) but I'm happy with my own goal. So after I lose this weight we're hoping to getting pregnant and becoming a mum at long last!!!! Also I just want to be comfortable in my body and to be able to do anything I want. The biggest thing is to buy clothes at normal size shops!!!!

Anyway I look forward to chatting to everyone and sharing our journeys with each other and supporting each other too.

Cheers

Bec

Hello!! I am Busybeingme! I am 35 yr, PreNursing student who lives near Annapolis MD. I am a full time wife, student and CNA. I have been married for 10 years and been with my husband for 18 years. We have two furry faced children, BamBam and Gracie (cats) I have PCOS so we have been unable to conceive children on our own, and infertility is not in our price range. In March of this year I went in for gastric sleeve surgery. When my surgeon went in he found a mass on my stomach, and nodules on my liver and spleen. It was decided at that time not to proceed with the sleeve surgery. After 7 days in the hospital and 3 weeks on home health care lots of blood tests, Cat scan, MRI and biopsies later... I am Cancer Free, Disease Free! So now I have a new date of JUNE 19th!! I am super excited about having this surgery. My journey started back in Aug on a day trip to Kings Dominion (Adventure park in VA) I went with some coworkers.. at 330 lbs I was unable to ride all but ONE roller coaster. I simply did not fit... that is when I decided to simply do something about my size. Until this point in my life, I was really not interested in having weight loss surgery. That day, waiting for my friends to ride coasters and me watching I knew I had hit rock bottom... so, I started looking into the lap band... I knew an old coworker who had it done... so i started to research... Then I found my ANGEL MD his name is Dr. Gandsas. I went to his seminar and knew what I wanted... Gastric Sleeve. My husband went with me and he said... "Lets do this together..." I have wonderful support system.

This is basically my second time going through this whole process so id be happy to help with any pre surgical questions or concerns... Happy to meet you all!!

Cant wait to be on the other side.... BBM

I am 26 years old with three kids (two boys 5 yo & 2 yo, one girl 1yo) and a husband of two years. I am from Louisiana and my surgery date is June 3rd. I need to have this done to get healthy for my family. I have a fatty liver which may not seem like much, but my mom found out she has cirrhosis from her having a fatty liver for so long! I am a nervous wreck thinking about surgery. Yes I have had other surgeries before, but this is different. I wish us all a long healthy life!

Hi from New Orleans! I'm one of the older folks on here. I'm 51 and single. I'm a school administrator, and I booked my flight today for my surgery. I'm going o Tijuana to have surgery on June 6th. I'm so excited! Really wish it were tomorrow!

Hello from Louisville, KY!

I'm a 43 year old single, aircraft dispatcher that is "mom" to 3 "fur babies". After seeing several unflattering pics of myself last summer, I decided I HAD to do something. I no longer like the way I look in clothes (let alone naked--YIKES!!). With a BMI of 37.76 and metabolic syndrome (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol) plus Hasimoto's Thyroiditis, I realize that I am one of the smaller patients that insurance will cover. I'm looking forward to being sleeved on June 3 and start my 2 week, pre-op diet (of 3 protein shakes and one meal a day) tomorrow. I'm looking forward to getting off of some of my medication and also shopping for and wearing normal sized clothing. In previous years, I hated being called a loser....and now, I'm hoping that in the weeks after surgery, I'll be a LOSER for life!

Hello from Des Moines, IA

I am a 42 year old mom of a teenage boy and wife of 15 years. I've struggled with weight off and on all of my life and I'm just tired off it! I've lost the same weight so many times that it didn't seem worth trying anymore. Then I went to Boy Scout camp with my son and the concern on his face when I struggled to breath on the hikes just killed me. That's when I knew I needed to get serious about getting healthy, not just losing weight. I want to enjoy my life and not end up missing great opportunities as my son grows up. I am looking forward to going to camp next year and being at the front of the line on those hikes, challenging the boys to keep up

Hi-

I have been considering WLS for awhile. Always putting it off for so many reasons and letting other people's opinions inform mine. Enough already! I am doing this for myself. I want to be healthy. Stop with the aches and pains. I am on schedule for June14th...totally freaking out and excited. In honor of the journey, I am doing my first 5k on May 24th!