I just started this journey Monday with a seminar. I'm 28, 5'5", and 256.4 lbs. 43% BMI. I have a lot of questions/stressors. Money? They swear it will not pay...but will it pay for some? I've heard both sides.

I decided on a sleeve after going to look at a Lapband (band seems less successful). I could easily lose 100+ lbs (goal would be 120-125 gone)

I'm worried I'll do this and be able to cheat around it or not get good results. Can someone give me advice? Or calming thoughts. I guess I need a mentor...? Is that how this works? Newbie here. I don't want to live my life a slave to my weight anymore.

Surgery doesn't do it all, but the restriction sure helps a lot. I've found that my tastes have changed and I naturally gravitate towards food that is good for me. Although I eat a little, it feels like I've eaten a big meal. This is not like being on a diet at all.

I think if you want continuing and lasting success, changing your relationship with food is the ticket.

My insurance covered the sleeve. A few phone calls and you should be able to find out if your insurance covers it.

I'm 2 months post op so I'm not an expert but I will help however I can. I was/am afraid that I could eat around the sleeve. I definitely have my food demons and am slowly working my way through them. It's harder to eat around the sleeve early on but I know it's possible later on. If I eat bread or any fried food, I have a lot of pain. This is a great negative reinforcer. I sure won't touch bread for anything (and I LOVE it).

I had a hard time understanding what it meant when people say it's a tool and now I'm starting to understand. I could drink milkshakes and eat chocolate all day long and not lose any weight. But if I follow my doctor's diet (which is so much easier when you don't get hungry), then I lose weight. When I lose weight, I feel better and then workout. Then I lose more weight and want to keep working out.

I have lost weight slowly since surgery but I haven't gained any weight and I would never have gotten this far without surgery. It does take work but it doesn't feel like a diet that I can just go off of. If I fall off the wagon, I still get stuffed after a few bites of food.

Best of luck as you make your decision. P.S. When I went for my first consultation, I wanted to check on the Lap Band and quickly found out that my doctor was taking them out frequently due to people having complications and wouldn't put anymore in.

I just started this journey Monday with a seminar. I'm 28, 5'5", and 256.4 lbs. 43% BMI. I have a lot of questions/stressors. Money? They swear it will not pay...but will it pay for some? I've heard both sides.

I decided on a sleeve after going to look at a Lapband (band seems less successful). I could easily lose 100+ lbs (goal would be 120-125 gone)

I'm worried I'll do this and be able to cheat around it or not get good results. Can someone give me advice? Or calming thoughts. I guess I need a mentor...? Is that how this works? Newbie here. I don't want to live my life a slave to my weight anymore.

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My insurance doesn't pay for any type of weight loss surgery, so I was a self-pay (about $9800) ... But it doesn't hurt to try!

Can you cheat around it? Well, yes. That's why there are overweight people walking around who have had wls or who have lost and gained. It is simply a tool to help control portions. You still have to make healthy choices and put in the work. But if you educate yourself, and stick to the plan, you can do amazing.

By the way if you want the sleeve to just keep you from eating a lot or eating badly, you should not have surgery. Until you can come to grips with why you eat the way you do, you wont succeed. WLS is about changing your lifestyle, the very basic things that you do everyday. You want to eat a chocolate bar, the sleeve wont stop you. If you eat slow enough you can graze right around the clock and gain weight. You have to want to diet and exercise forever. Read a lot of the posts here. You will learn a lot about what is required of you.

Hi I'm here and I am going to have the sleeve done on Tuesday the 9th, you are not alone I will be here for you.

Check your insurance. Mine covered every thing except for Dr. Office co-pays. There were steps (hoops) that I had to go through. Testing, counseling, six months of seeing a dietitian. But all of that was fairly simple. It did take me a year to do all of this,but that was also because I wanted a summer surgery because I work in a school.

Yes...this is so True!

I began my journey back in March, had my surgery, November 18, 2014 and it is the BEST! TOOL YES! WORK OUT YES! CHEAT YES! (BUT I GET RIGHT BACK UP AND KEEP IT MOVING!) Insurance took care of mine too. Highest wt. 230 / 194 last weigh in. I only weigh once o month...it keeps my sanity. lol