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I had a 12 lb loss last month! I had a Dr appointment with my PCP due to my continued back problems this week. I wont bore you will All of those. Anyway- my blood pressure was 120/70. Unbelievable considering it was 160/111 the last time I went to my PCP. I've lost about 89 lbs. I watch very closely what I'm eating and the quantities. Having the LapBand has been the best decision of my life. OHHH. Plus. My mom bought me an outfit 4 sizes smaller than what I was wearing prior to surgery( as incentive) and guess what? IT FIT ME! My Mom and my two daughters where jumping up and down and screaming with me!! Best Christmas present ever! Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of the New Year!

Please forgive me. I really need to get all of this out of my head, however, I'm emotionally exhausted after my appointment today, and this is probably going to be long and rambley. It's more for me, than you anyway, but if it helps you, great! After a sleepless night, I met with my Surgeon this morning at 9am. A one hour appointment lasted almost 3. They weighed me (350.4 ), took my height (5'8" ) and before photos (glad I did my hair and makeup, because I certainly didn't expect that ). Side note: when I was younger, I had surgery to correct scoliosis; after surgery, I was told I was 5'7 3/4". As an adult, I'm usually told I'm about 5'6", and assumed shrinking. Today, they measured me at 5'8" on the dot. I felt the thingy on the top of my head, lightly, but unlike usual, I really tried to stand up straight (and proud). Though I'm rather dubious about this, I'll stop saying I'm 5'6" and go back to saying I'm 5'7 3/4". Anyway, about the appointment. A nurse took down all my stats, bp, pulse, temp. I questioned her over my bp and pulse; both were remarkably NORMAL, which couldn't possibly be... I could have sworn my heart was going to beat out of my chest, I was so nervous about the appointment. Then she proceeded to log all the meds and vitamins I had brought in as per their request. The majority of the vitamins I don't take on a consistent basis... maybe if I did I would be healthier. When the nurse was done with me, the surgeon came in. I'd met her briefly before, at the orientation several weeks before. She shook my hand and sincerely asked why I looked so familiar When I told her I went to the seminar, she remembered me, which was surprising because there were well over 25 people in attendance and I didn't speak with her after as others did, I just thanked her and handed in my application. That simple act put me at ease though. I forget how the simplest acts can often mean the world to others. She went over my medical history, why I was considering surgery, and we talked about the enigma of obesity and how researchers are getting closer and closer to understanding why some struggle with it and others don't. She says they are right on the cusp. Which is exciting, and nice to meet a doctor who really understands this is more about more than just 'will power', I mean, hell, I'm one of the most stubborn people you'll ever meet, cut my nose despite my face, so I know will power, I have will power... just not always over food. And, I don't know why. It's like a switch. She examined me, and felt up my liver. I was amazed she could feel through all my chub, but she said she could, and she was impressed it isn't as enlarged as she would expect it to be for my size, and because of that, I don't need to lose as much weight before surgery as she originally thought. She says 20#. I told her I wanted to lose 50# before surgery. She said, "Ok, 25#"! Lol! She also commented because I carry my weight 'all over' (not an apple or a pear) I'm relatively healthy. I ended up having well over 30 questions, and really thought my surgeon was going to be seriously irritated with me. She was just the opposite, saying she appreciated the questions, they were smart, and being better informed will help me have appropriate expectation. She actually remarked she felt I was intelligent and highly motivated and should do well with the surgery. We discussed what my weight loss is expected to be. It was a little disappointing. She said, based on their calculations which include height, age, current weight and ?? I am only expected to lose 60-70% of my excess weight at the one year point. That would put me at 220#. She did say she would like to see me below 200# and it would be hard. She also said I should lose 50% of my excess weight in the first 6 month, and after a year, you really don't lose more weight, it becomes about maintaining the weight you've lost. A bit disappointing. I have unrealistic dreams of being 135#. Lol! So what comes next? Well, because my BMI is over 40 and I have co-morbidities (high bp and sleep apnea), my insurance doesn't require I go on the standard 6 month weight loss program prior to surgery, as soon as I get through all my pre-op appointments, lose my 25# and am medically cleared, I can proceed to surgery!! They gave me a very informative notebook I need to take to all my appointments: Labs Treadmill Stress Test Venous Duplex Test (looks at legs for clots) Mammogram Upper Endoscopy Psychological Evaluation Nutritional Consultation (my ins. doesn't cover seeing the Dietitian beyond this appointment because I am not diabetic) Evaluation/Clearance from my PCP The Upper Endoscopy will be interesting. I have gerd and if there are any changed to the tissue of my esophagus or if I have a hiatal hernia, they wont do the sleeve. Due to physical issues, I use a LOT of nSAIDs, which with the RnY, you can NEVER take again. So it's imperative I get cleared for the sleeve. All I can do is take a deep breath and keep moving forward. THE END.

Yeah I am at a plateau..... I am not to upset about it but damn it! I am so close to my high school weight it not even funny! I also found out that my Wii Fit has been lying to me as well this difference is 3 pounds but when I used the quick weigh option it will acturate. I will a little disappointed at first but then I realize that this has been the lowest I have ever been in years! Okay confession time I admit I haven't been making the best food choices and lately I've been adding wine as a food group. However I've been working out either 45 to 1 hour each day. My plan of action Stop drinking wine every night and cut it down to twice a week. Change my workout routine. Review my fitness pal diary to review my eating habbits. Start planning my meals through out the week and remember Protein Protein and Protein I need to get to ball going anyway I have to train for my first 5K run in April. I am still happy with my weight loss and I know for a fact I will never weigh over 200 pounds again! This is a promise I made to myself God is good and I still love my band! Thanks for reading!

Frequently Asked Questions - What was the last straw the made you choose weight loss surgery? I was at my lowest point physically and mentally in July 2012. I knew that my health would continue to deteriorate and I'd only become more and more depressed if I didn't make a change. Some people claim that weight loss surgery is the easy way out, but I needed the extra help from WLS to dig myself out of the hole I was in. It's kinda funny that society ridicules you for being overweight and then ridicules you again if you don't lose the weight "the right way." If you like/dislike my videos, please thumb up or down, and leave a comment about how I could improve the content. Your input helps me become a better Youtuber. :-) Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve! Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/102076899634252886094/102076899634252886094/posts/p/pub Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frankensleeve-Vertical-Sleeve-Gastrectomy-VSG-Community/289332951205311 Twitter https://twitter.com/frankensleeve

T minus 2 days.... Wow, am I dragging ass right now & it's only 7:15pm. I've had nothing but liquids today: Crystal Lite Strawberry / Lemonade drink, SF jello, SF popsicles, and chicken broth. Mind over matter. Mind over matter. Mind over ... you get the idea... So, tomorrow I have my pre-op & physical appointments. I'm guessing they'll take my weight, blood pressure, maybe EKG & blood work?, And, of course, I'll find out how much this is really going to cost me. The lap band should be covered, but I think only at 50%, whereas the revision will hardly be covered. I'm looking at something like $12 - $15K out of pocket. At this point, I don't even care. I know I'll be paying it off for years & years, but its ok. Looking forward to a permanent healthy lifestyle.

I’ve had weight issues my entire life. I’ve dieted and exercised successful... for short periods of time, before the cycle began again, bringing with it depression and self loathing. There are so many reasons I overeat. It’s a distraction, tasty, comfort, protection… and it’s killing me. This is the second time I’ve considered wls. The possibility of death scared me away. This time around, I realize that If I don’t lose weight, I’m going to die anyway, and it will be slow and painful, not to mention, the life I’m living now... it’s not living. I went to a wls orientation a few weeks ago, and this coming week I have my first appointment with a surgeon. From there, I'm not exactly sure where this is going to go. I know there are evaluations, approvals, insurance approvals, procedures that I have to get through before I can have surgery. Right now, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can so that I can make an informed decision for myself and if I do go forward with surgery, I wont be so horribly surprised by what happens after.