Hi Everyone,

I am celebrating year 5 of having a very successful weight loss surgery! I was 63 when I had sleeve surgery done, so it is never too late to have weight loss surgery!!!!

This was very best choice I have ever made in my life. I had my Weight Loss Surgery in Oct 2008. After a lot of investigating and considering all the doctors and places I could have my surgery. I made the choice to have Dr. Aceves in Mexicalli Mexico do my surgery. I was a self-pay, and believe me I really checked out every option there was. I was an older person and I really took my time to figure out what was best for me. I talked to a lot of different people who had already had weight loss surgery about who their doctors were.

It wasn’t something I rushed into. It took me about 6 months before I knew for sure that I was going to the right place for me. I also made the choice to have VGS aka the sleeve. I lost of total of 105 pounds and it took me 14 months to do this. Was it easy, yes and no? The 1^st month was the hardest month I had to do. After that it just kept getting better and easier each month. It is NOT a magical cure. It is my tool to allow me to use to reach my goal. The big question you are thinking is have I maintained my weight loss goal? The answer is YES, I fluctuate between 5 to 7 pounds sometimes. I still eat healthy, make sure I get enough Protein and stay away from too many carbs. It accurately is a lifestyle change NOT a diet. It is easy for me to live like this and eat like this for the rest of my life. I have some really delicious meals and I never feel deprived at all. Do I eat deserts, yes and it is made healthy and is extremely good. Do I eat deserts every day; the answer is no. I love all the lifestyle changes I have made in my life and it will always work for me.

I was the person who hated to exercise. Now I do something every day. Last Sept, I thought I would just see if I could walk 7 days a week for a month and I did just that. Well that became a good habit and I walked EVERY DAY for one YEAR without missing a day. Yes, I walked outside when it was raining or not nice weather—I am always coming back home, so I will get dry if I get wet while walking. I walked between 3 ½ miles to 4 miles a day. Five years ago, I could have never walked that much. Find some type of exercise that you like and it will be easier to do. Start out slow and then add to it. You don’t have to do it 7 days a week, but do something at least 3 or 5 times a week.

I want you to know that you too can become successful at weight loss. I am 68 now and life is so different for me. If you are thinking about having weight loss surgery, I am living proof that it does work and you can do it too.

Suzanne Beaty

Sleeved Oct 21, 2008

Edited October 22, 201312 yr by Suzannesh

Thanks so much for checking in with your continued success!!! Congrats!!!

Thanks so much for sharing this, Suzanne! I have also chosen Dr. Aceves, and I'm a self-pay. I've been investigating weight loss surgery for almost 20 years, so I knew when I found Dr. Aceves, I felt good about his practice and outcomes. But today, I started to have my doubts. Am I crazy for going to Mexico? No, I'm not, it's an informed decision in which I feel extremely confident. But those doubts can creep in!

My surgery date is November 21, and I can't wait!

Thanks for checking in. Your journey gives me hope and inspires me to stay the course. Congratulations on your continued success!

Suzanne,

You are a true inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing your story.

As a pre-opper, reading stories like this reinforce the decision I have made and motivates me to continue on the path to healthy living.

Thanks, again! Take good care.

Thank you SO much for checking in here! Your experience is SO valuable for all of us. Not a lot of 5 year vets checking in. GREAT JOB ON YOUR JOURNEY! So PROUD of you!

Soooo glad you posted! I had my VSG 9/11/13 and am 57. It is great to hear that you have lost weight and maintained a healthy lifestyle for 5 years and started at the age of 63! One concern I have had is that weight loss slows with age, but I am happy to lose slowly but steadily! Do you mind my asking how your body has adapted over the five years, specifically if your skin has tightened up and weight redistributed? I am thinking that I may have plastic surgery after I have reached goal. But wonder if I should give it a while to let my body redistribute and change.

So much of the stuff you have done is amzaing, but this

....

I walked EVERY DAY for one YEAR without missing a day.

....

This is remarkable. Very few people are able to accomplish at this level.

Congratulations on your success. Your work has really paid off.

And thanks for posting this to help inspire others.

You are an inspiration!

Thank you so much for sharing your success! Congratulations! I find your story so motivating.

Thanks so much for checking in with your continued success!!! Congrats!!!

Thanks so much for your comment! Hugs, Suzanne

Thanks so much for sharing this' date=' Suzanne! I have also chosen Dr. Aceves, and I'm a self-pay. I've been investigating weight loss surgery for almost 20 years, so I knew when I found Dr. Aceves, I felt good about his practice and outcomes. But today, I started to have my doubts. Am I crazy for going to Mexico? No, I'm not, it's an informed decision in which I feel extremely confident. But those doubts can creep in! My surgery date is November 21, and I can't wait![/quote']

HI, WOW, I can hear what you are saying with the self doubt. On the airplane going there I did the very same thing. I want you to know this is very NORMAL. You will have a bag full of mixed feeling, of being excite, happy, scared, 2nd guessing yourself, asking yourself if you are crazy. You will also think maybe I can do this on my own! Well if that were true you would have been successful by now. These are ALL NORMAL FEELINGS. So many of us have had all these feeling plus more I am sure. You are making the right choice. You are in excellent hands. I received better care from Dr. Aceves and his entire staff than I have ever had any place in the USA. I am here for you every step of the way. Here is my E-mail Suzannesh@aol.com PLEASE send me an email anytime you have these feelings. I check my email 4 and 5 times a day. I am more than happy to help you along the way. YOU can do this and your only regret will be that you didn't do it sooner. How many more days of your life are you will to give away being fat and unhealth? Yes, I say fat, because I was fat too. It is time to take back your power and start your new life! Hugs, and thanks for saying what you said.

Suzanne

Thanks for checking in. Your journey gives me hope and inspires me to stay the course. Congratulations on your continued success!

Thanks for the very nice words. I really appreciate your words and thoughts. Keep doing what you are doing and you are going to be just as successful.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Suzanne' date=' You are a true inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing your story. As a pre-opper, reading stories like this reinforce the decision I have made and motivates me to continue on the path to healthy living. Thanks, again! Take good care.[/quote']

Hi, Awww gee thanks. I am a regular person, who has changed my entire life. You can and will be just as success. I want people to know that having this surgery does work and it can last forever. You will never have a regret, maybe only that you might wished you would have done it sooner. Healthy living feels good in so many ways.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Thank you SO much for checking in here! Your experience is SO valuable for all of us. Not a lot of 5 year vets checking in. GREAT JOB ON YOUR JOURNEY! So PROUD of you!

Hi,

Thanks, I have always tried to stay in touch with how I became fate and how I became successcul. Weight Loss Surgery has changed my entire life and all for the better. Take it one day at a time. You can be just as successful. I want people to see 5 years that it is still working for me. It has to be a lifestyle change and NOT a diet. We have all failed at many diets. Thanks for you kind and sweet words.

Hugs,

Suzanne

Soooo glad you posted! I had my VSG 9/11/13 and am 57. It is great to hear that you have lost weight and maintained a healthy lifestyle for 5 years and started at the age of 63! One concern I have had is that weight loss slows with age' date=' but I am happy to lose slowly but steadily! Do you mind my asking how your body has adapted over the five years, specifically if your skin has tightened up and weight redistributed? I am thinking that I may have plastic surgery after I have reached goal. But wonder if I should give it a while to let my body redistribute and change.[/quote']

Hi,

I love your questions. LOL, they only place I would like to have some plastic surgery, and that has to do with age. The rest of my body is fine. I think that my walking has been great for me. Everyone will look at their own body and have to make the choice if they want plastic surgery. It took me 14 months to lose the wieght. I was just fine with it. I think that exercise has been so very helpful to me. I do NOT like running, it is too hard on your knees and hips. Walking works great for me and it is easy to do. But, everyone has to find some form of exercise that the like and will continue to do it. I am going to start doing Yoga soon too. Always feel free to contact me at my E-mail Suzannesh@aol.com with any question that you might have along your weight loss journey. I am always here for you.

Hugs,

Suzanne