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Be careful in your selection do not choose too young and take only such as have been reared in a good moral atmosphere. Some wives insist on keeping husbands in a pickle, while others put them in hot water. This only makes them sour, hard, and sometimes bitter. Even poor varieties may be made sweet and good by garnishing them with patience, well-sweetened with smiles and flavored with kisses to taste. Keep warm in a steady fire of domestic devotion and serve with peaches and cream. When thus preserved, they will keep for years. This is from Carla Emery’s book The Encyclopedia of Country Living.

Well on Monday, November 26th, 2012, Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Overseas, agreed to cover the cost of my gastric sleeve surgery. Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, November 29th, 2012. God is good and wonders never cease! For months I have had to call everyone involved in this process and see what was needed, what was sent, what was recieved, and what still needed to be done. It was like hearding cats! I was sure it would crash and burn, but yet it didn't. On Thursday, I showed up at Ascot Hospital for my surgery as planned! I was delighted. I wasn't worried in the least. I guess was practiced enough at surgeries, but the time I arrived. My last surgery was only about 10 weeks ber fore the gastric sleeve surgery. I had a huge hernia repair down earlier at Auckland City Hospital under the public medical scheme. This surgery had to done under the private pay scheme, because I was too old to be put on the public scheme list (over the age of 50). Thank God I kept my private health insurance, even after I became a New Zealand resident. I came to my WLS through the back door for sure. Less than 2 years ago, I had an emergency removal of my gallbladder and a golf balls sized gallstone. Upon awakening from surgery I sneezed. I felt something pop, like a suture pulling. I was told that I was wrong about what I thought had happened. However, in December, while sitting on the toilet, my resulting hernia made it's first appearance. I named her Helen. Helen developed into a nasty b***h! My bowel was pinching more and more through the ever growing hole in my muscle wall. I did a lot of research into hernia repair surgery. Low and behold, I found out that post operative hernias were very common place. Additionally, I became convinced that I would have a very poor prognosis of having the hernia repaired long term, if I did not loose weight and the pressure behind the repair would reopen the repair. LIght bulb moment went off during this time. I am 56, have been overweight forever, didn't have diabetes "yet" or high blood pressure "yet". Diabetes on both sides of the family, large polycystic ovary syndrome women in my gene pool, and an overweight younger sister (like me). Knew I was unable to do the very hard work it would take to loose even a small amount of weight, and keep it off. Had givien up talking about and thinking about ever being able to loose weight. Had suffered believing that WLS was the easy "cheater's" way out of a problem I had made for myself, because I was lazy. Blamed myself almost to death. Somehow relized that if ever I was going to do this at a time without all the complications that were looking me straight in the face, it was going to be now. It might me my last chance at a good quality remainder of my life. I took the plunge on this "ah ha" moment. I was never more sure that I had made a good decision in my life, than I was when I made this one. However, I had to prove that I was a "good candidate" for this surgery to my surgeon of choice. I have clinical depression as well. I had to improve my very poor mood and make a go at a trial diet (Optifast), develope and exercise plan (cross trainer 5X week for 30 min.) and develope a mental health support plan that worked. I did it. I got the consent of the surgeon to operate on me. He did my hernia repair 1st. 10 weeks later I had my gastric sleeve surgery on November 29th, 2012. I just got home from the hospital today, December 3rd, 2012. I am doing very well. Amazingly well. Decided to start this blog off today. So this is my first entry. I will come back again to tell you about how my first 4 days post op have gone. I have been keeping a diary and some photos too. I have a lot of thoughts about how big a deal ths surgery is going to be for me. Maybe I will process this with blog. Stay strong and be well. Saltmistrose

So, this is my first blog ever! I've been a member of this site since for several months and as of today I am 5 months post-op with a total weight loss of 112.6 lbs. I'm super excited about the results, and wonder if I'm average, behind or ahead in my weight loss. I know it's not good to compare with others, because we're all different, but I still wonder. I am sloooooooowly incorporating new foods into my diet and I still get an upset stomach most of the time when I do. Honestly, I stick with soup, oatmeal, fresh veggies, protein bars and protein shakes. Beef is a definite no-no, turkey and chicken are okay in super small survings and I haven't attempted pork. I miss my diet coke terribly, but Crystal Light is my new best friend. I love it that my patient's notice the difference (I work in out-patient radiology) and I have the absolute best support system in my co-workers. My family is pretty supportive, but there are always issues with family... I love feeling better in general, not getting winded walking up a flight of stairs, wearing my car seatbelt without choking, fitting in a restaurant booth comfortably and seeing my waist and collarbones again. I was always overweight, but I actually weigh less now than I did when I graduated high school 21 years ago! I just wanted to drop a little note tonight to my fellow sleevers. We're all in this together and, from what I read, most of us are overjoyed with our surgical decisions. Keep up the good work everyone!

I was banded June 22, 2012. I have lost 45 lbs, as of Sunday morning Dec. 2nd I have reached my first major goal- 199!!! Onederland!!! I can't believe it! I had be stuck on 201 for most of November and felt like I would never get below 200. I had a fill on Thursday that I feel like got me to the green zone. My band had major restriction, I really have to pay attention to how I eat now. I don't get hungry often and it takes a cup or LESS to get me full- WOW! When I hit 199 I was so excited, I got on the scales 5 or 6 times just to be sure. Yep, 199.2. This morning my husband ask me what my next major goal was, since this had been my goal since surgery. I was at a loss, in my dream I wanted to get to the 140's, but was never really sure I'd reach that. Now that I have hit my first major goal, my mind is reeling- where do I go from here. What is possible? I feel more confident now that the 140's is possible, but realistically it's far off, so my next goal is 175! This journey isn't always easy, but it is always worth it. Having people tell me I look great. Finally being below 200, which I don't really remember being ever. I feel fairly sure I was childhood, but never during my teens was I below 200. With my last feel getting me to retriction and my finally hitting 199 I am feeling renewed and motivated to kick this journey into the next gear. Never in my life have I so enjoyed laying my fork down before my plate is clean- now that is a satisfied feeling!

I am 4 hours post op and just got to my room. I am VERY VERY tired. pain wise I am doing good.. i am sore but it is not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I have a REALLY dry throat so I am munching on some crushed ice.. Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishes now to start this lifelong journey

If you have ever been around a kid for more than 5 min I am sure you have heard them say why at least twice. I was always the kid who ask why, it just does never worked on me, drove my mom nuts! Well I am still like that, I always want to know why. Since having surgery I am reading about nutrition and fitness all the time, to find out how and why my body works with food. One article I read said a calorie is a calorie and should be counted, while yes that is true, it isn't the whole picture. We all have heard and been told 200 calories from chicken is better than 200 calories of ice cream. But why is that if a calorie is a calorie? Well here is what I have figured out..... We need our protein and fiber- it helps us stay full longer. Some say hey ice cream has protein- I'll eat that, but that is where we need to know more. One of the best things I have learned is I can make my food work for me!! How awesome is that! When we eat foods high in protein, fiber and complex carbs our bodies must work harder to digest them, therefore, our bodies will will burn more calories digesting them. While I guess I knew this, it never really dinged until I read an article about that. When I did WW years ago things like fruit and veggies were hardly any points, yet they do have calories. However, your body must work harder to digest them therefore their calorie counts are almost null and in the case of veggies like Celery it is null. So now what do I do with this information..... Well, I am all about what I eat working for me rather than sticking to my hips. I am upping my fiber, making sure the carbs I take in are complex, and making sure I get my recommended protein in. I can still eat yummy food and things I love and lose weight. Yes, I will have to adjust. I highly recommend going to your favorite resturants website and looking at the nutrition part. Some like Wendy's and Burger King you can adjust the meal to see what calorie counts would be. It is amazing what just leaving off cheese or mayo can do for lowering the calories. Now I AM NOT saying eat fast food daily, but what I am saying is if you are craving that whopper - go get it, but adjust it- leave off the mayo, cheese and pickle and the calorie count will come down nicely. We (I) got to be obese by eating what I wanted and not paying attention to what I was putting in my body, but with a little nutrition knowlege we and ADJUST ourselves and our food to work for us. Holding up my water bottle..... Here's to Success!

I always a fairly active person. I would go to work, if I needed to talk to someone in my building I walked to them instead of calling. I came home and stayed moving until after dinner. I thought I did good. Well...... My MIL came over Thanksgiving and one of my gifts was a Fitbit One. After figuring out how to use the little sucker I realized- damn I've been lazy. The first day I was shocked at the results. That is all the calories burned, that is all the steps I took, that is my active score- WTH. Since the first day with it I have found myself looking for ways to increase steps- I park further away from stores, between projects at work I get up and walk around the office circle. I stand up and sit down to get things rather than rolling my chair, I stand and pace while on the phone- all of these things helped me increase my steps and calories burned. I know you may think oh just a little bit won't matter, but hey gotta start somewhere and every calorie burned is not going to hang on my hips. It has really opened my eyes to reality. Reality- I think that is something each of us in order to be successful need to find - the reality of who we are. We got fat by not thinking, mindlessly eating crap. Now that we have a tool inside of us, it's time to be realistic. You can fail the band- you can drink milkshakes other high cal things and gain or you can be realistic and look at what you are actually putting in your body. I love food, we all do that is why we got here, but the reality of it we can still eat good food and lose weight. Yesterday I went for my 5th fill and saw the doctor who operated on me (normally I see his wondeful assistant- also a surgeon). He looked at my band under floro gave me a little fill and told me this may do it- get me to the green zone. He said everything looked perfect and I was doing great. Well today, I know I got that fill. I am tight, but not to much, it's just right. A cup full of food is either perfect or to much. There is no way in hell I can over eat when eating real food (not sliders) with out tossing it all back up. This is a great feeling. I feel motivated and encouraged after being down about my plateau. Plus I finally dropped below 201 this morning after being at that for a month- 200.6 - 7 oz until ONDERLAND!!! Basically, what I am saying is, we ALL can do this, we ALL CAN lose weight, but we must be realistic with ourselves and our support group (family, doctors, nutritionist). We must make a choice to do what is right- to eat healthy.

I had an appointment for a fill yesterday I am 163.7 Not bad i am about 13.7 away from my goal of 150. He commuted on my great ab mussel he said he could feel them the problem was that they were covered up with alot of skin and said it time to talk about plastic. He said normal he waits one full year but in my case since i am so active he did not think he had too. My main probelm is my upper arms the skin rubs every time i move my arms and is very ichy and i have a nice little rash. It gets worst when i sweet so i would relly like to have my arms done. I am going to Fl for 3 weeks in Jan and I just relized i have no summer cloths my shorts were a 14/16 along with my swim suits and now i am a 8/10/12. I guess i have to go shopping down there and pick up a few pair of shorts. I have now lost 75% of my exess weight he said the last 25% will be the hardest he said that alot of it is Skin and till that remove it might be hard. I landed up with a fill. I also saw the great fellow who took care of me in July when i got too tight because of kindeny infection and then prolapsed my band. She said I gave her a very interesting first week . She also commited on my port sticking out now so it not hard to find when she last got it she had to go under floro to find my ports she said nope now you so skinny i don't have to even look for it. I also found my hip bone. This is huge I was laying on my side and i felt the bone I had no idea what it was but then relized it was bone. I look at how my life has changed I could not walk up my own stairs in April and now I teach Zumba and I work out all the time. I have a new creeer as a personal trainer / group exercise teacher and I would never been able to do any of this with out my band. I love my band and I am very thankful for this chance to live my life.

My mother in law and sister in law came be spend Thanksgiving with my husband and I. My mother-in-law had called last week and said she wanted to take me shopping to get some clothes that fit. Considering she has never done anything for me in the 5 years I have been with her son, I was shocked. On Friday us girls decided to hit the mall about 5pm. Being a big girl I have always gotten clothes from Walmart, Belk, place like that where I could hit a sale and get them cheap. Like it really matters what you put on a hippo- it's still a hippo- that is how I felt. Well my SIL said I need to go to Talbots. I had never been there. When we walked in they were busy and the sales girl was so helpful. My MIL told her I had lost 50 lbs and needed some clothes and that price wasn't an option- WOW. She told me to find something nice. The sales girl said she herself had lost 100 lbs in the last few years and she knew what I was going through- she looks like a stick now, amazing transformation. She was helpful picking out clothes that I would have never before tried. By the time I finished I had one pair of pants and 3 tops. The pants were Women's Petite 14- WOW, I never remember wearing a 14. The clothes fit me perfect, like they were made for my body. What a difference the right cut and fit can make. I looked at myself in the mirror and was able to smile and was happy with how I looked- wow. Feeling like you look good does give you confidence and a spunk in your step. The next day I wore one of my new outfits and my hubs was like wow you look hot. I was so excited. With that and the new earrings my MIL purchased for me at Swarski crystals I felt like I was Julia Roberts in the Pretty Women except for the hooker thing. I will be visting that Talbots again for sure!!! Anyone who lives near Raleigh, NC - I totally recommend going to Talbots at Southpoint Mall- awesome staff!

This may sound silly but i just reized something. A few weeks ago i was doing an abbs class but not only were my abbs hurting but also my butt. I relized that i was no longer sitting on fat but there was a bone there thats what i am feeling. I know it a small thing but to me this was huge it been coved in fat for so long i did not know there was bones there. Then a few days ago i was doing yoga the other day we we doing this thing were you bed your back back and i relized that i had ribs and i could feel them they were not coved in fat they were sticking out. I then spent a good 10 min feeling my new decoved ribs. it funny how small things along this joury make you so excited