InProgress

GAP. Is it possible? Could I someday shop a regular store? Oh the possibilities! I actually saw somewhere on here today where they suggested The Melting Pot main meal for after. I started thinking, small portions, low Cal cooking method, high protein, forces you to eat slower... My only problem would be the sacrilege of leaving without chocolate.

Leslie, I know, right? Last time I took my daughter to Plato's I looked through the XL stuff and realized that there is a small possibility that I might be able to wear some of that stuff some day. I can't even fathom that! I would love to meet up! I have so many stinking questions and just want to bounce all of my thoughts off of someone, you know? I am actually hoping to get to Cinci at the end of August for a shoppping trip (if I can find a weekend free of volleyball tournaments). Of course we'll have to find somewhere other than the Melting Pot to meet up.

I'm starting to get excited from reading all of your posts. I can't wait to finally get my date! Some of you are practically there! I'm so happy for all of us.

I am SO happy for you! Good luck and keep us posted when you can, please. Get us "firecrackers" started off right. All right, guys, here we go!

This is awesome! It seemed to me like everyone was from out West on here but we have quite a few July East Coast sleevers. I'm from SouthWest West Virginia so I'm really close to you Ohio folks. We should definitely keep in touch for support. Also, I go to Cincinnati and Columbus on a regular basis (and not JUST to go to Plato's Closet for my daughter!) so if you make any great food finds, please let me know. I could really use some good portable snacks since I work full time and go to school full time as well as being an 'active' mom (she's active and I'm her mom!).

Thanks a lot girls, now I'm going to have to start designing a logo. LOL.

I was ALL ABOUT posting in June but I am currently so bummed about the way things have progressed I'm afraid to get my hopes up. I got officially approved last Thursday afternoon (I know it was afternoon because it was the 2nd of my daily calls to the insurance company - thank goodness they don't check THAT behavior for the Psych eval!) but the insurance girl at my surgeon's office (who also does the scheduling) is on vacation until next Tuesday. She had told me that I'd be able to have it in June and I scheduled vacations, a church trip, a concert... all kinds of things for July! Now I'm afraid to even guess when everything will happen! My authorization runs out August 19th so it has to be before that but I'm stressing like crazy about trying to schedule a trip before or after surgery with all of the pre and post op appointments, etc. Ok, enough whining. Someone posted here about having their fridge stocked with all the Clear liquids possible. What types of things has everyone been buying? I am still trying all of the various Protein powders but I'm wondering what everyone else is planning to use in the beginning. I'll be fine once I get to the eggs, grilled chicken, string cheese phase but until then what does everyone else have planned besides cream of wheat, sugar free pudding and strained cream of chicken Soup?

I am beyond ready! I am actually the one who started the first June thread because I thought that'd be my month. Now it appears I'll (hopefully) be a firecracker instead. My approval from Highmark BCBS (WV) is only good through August 19th so I hope they hurry and get me scheduled! I'll let you all know when I get a date. Please continue to keep us posted as everyone goes through surgery!

I don't even have words! I'm so happy for you and quite honestly, happy for all of the rest of us who can see your success and know that it IS possible, you know? You're an inspiration and while I want to congratulate you, I also want to thank you. Yeah, you're rocking your sleeve, but also - you just rock!

yay, Yay, YAY!!! I'm so happy for you. Give me 2 years to lose and hopefully I'll be joining you on the mommy after VSG train! Congratulations, seriously. I'm so happy for you!

Ok, so I know that everybody's recovery time is different. That's apparent from all of the back to work threads. I'm still waiting (not so patiently) for my date but I'm getting antsier as vacation time gets closer. I had expected to have surgery this week or next (which is obviously not an option at this point) and am planning a beach trip for July 18th and a whitewater rafting trip the first weekend in August. Apparently I won't be able to do the banana boat in July now (Insert EXTREMELY sad face here! ) but now I'm beginning to wonder about swimming at all. My insurance girl had told me I could swim as soon as the drain was out. I know it's not a great plan to be out in harsh surf and get knocked over, but I'm thinking floating in the waves sounds like a great plan. However, I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm being overly optimistic. How long did everybody else wait to swim and be active again? I thought we were (supposedly) able to be back to normal (and even working out) in 4 weeks but I read something today where someone felt bad after overdoing it this weekend and I think she was at about a month. I had to cancel one family vacation this summer already due to work issues - I can't devastate my family by doing it again! Does anybody have any insight?

Ok guys, I just had to post. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping against hope that I'm a June sleever! I should finish my 6th fat camp visit on June 13th and the insurance girl at my surgeon's office (who is A.Ma.Zing.) said she should be able to get my stuff in to the insurance that day. She says she's received approvals from my insurance in as little as 24 hours and has all of my stuff ready for both insurance and scheduling of surgery. I may not make it in June but I'm cautiously optimistic that at least by the first of July I will be starting my new journey. Anyone else thinking about June? My doc does surgery on Wednesday and Friday so I'm looking at the 22nd (a REAL long shot), 24th or 29th. Insurance: Highmark WV (formerly known as Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield) Surgeon: Dr. Blaine Brace Btw, did I mention? YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I just wanted to whine for a minute. I know that it will all work out. I know that I'm lucky to even be able to have this done at all. I know that I am very blessed. But I also know I'm currently annoyed and that you guys are the only ones who can truly understand. So yesterday morning I had my 6th (and final) fat camp appointment and I was beside myself with excitement! I almost posted from the exam room. LOL. Everthing went fine and I took my "flow sheets" to the surgeon's office - and that's when things started making me cry. Ok, so I wrote a bunch of stuff but then decided to delete it because it sounded like I was being too negative. Suffice it to say I thought I was going to be able to get my surgery this month and now it's looking like the middle of July. I know 2 weeks doesn't seem like much but with my tight schedule, I am just really bummed out. I know it'll all work out. I just really had my heart set on it. Plus, my step-sister is getting married in October and for the first time in my adult life, I've been asked to be in a wedding. The funny thing is, she doesn't even know yet about the surgery so finally someone is overlooking my size and asking me to be part of their special day in spite of it and I'm really bummed at the delay and what it will mean to dress sizing. LOL. I have to get a move on with the weight loss so I don't have to "accidentally" ruin any wedding pictures. The good news is I've talked to my friend who has agreed to train me after surgery and he has said that we can start the day I get the go-ahead from the surgeon. He's going to train me personally twice a week and give me workouts to do on the off days. Plus he will do weekly weigh-ins and measurements so hopefully I can keep seeing progress even IF I hit a stall. <= Note the BIG IF. I'm trying to be as optimistic as possible. At any rate, thanks for letting me vent - even the venting I deleted. I still feel better. Thanks so much to all of you for posting on here. This forum has gotten me through the last 6 months relatively sane.

I agree with you guys completely on that. I actually worked with this guy up until I started my WLS journey. While working with him I lost over 40 pounds and lots of inches. Unfortunately his schedule changed and honestly, I got used to that extra couple hours sleep in the morning. At this point I am hitting the gym again but haven't started in hard core with him yet. I guess there's no time like the present! Thanks again for listening to me vent.

I think that's the point! We get to discover the jewels that we can be.iknow that for me, I've been fat for so long that I don't even remember the person I have hidden under all these layers of fat. My eyes will be emeralds when I actually look people in the eye. Ruby lips when I realize people will actually notice if I wear makeup. Topaz hair that I fix. And of course an amethyst purple bra and panty set just for me. And my hubby.

I guess I'm WAY late to this party but I have to chime in. I am 20-16 and don't plan on joining my 30s any time soon. Class of 92 and oh! The hair! I am pretty sure the hole in the ozone layer is directly over my small town. We will be having our 20th reunion next year and though I can GUARANTEE I will not have my cheerleading/majorette/softball/flirty figure back by then, I will definitely look a LOT better than I do now! I get sleeved (hopefully) next month so by the time the reunion comes around I should be feeling pretty dang fine. I won't be as skinny as the others but compared to what I am now I will be feeling like the queen of the school. As far as fashion goes, my 14 year old daughter wore ripped blue & white striped jeans with a tank top and oversized (off the shoulder) white tee shirt and Tom's (which were $2 at Family Dollar when I was in school!) today. I could've saved myself SO much money if I had just saved my clothes!

Do you guys realize that June is NEXT MONTH?! I am beside myself with excitement! I thought my 6 months of fat camp were going to creep by and now I feel shocked that they are almost over. I am so excited, nervous and shocked all at the same time. Get those scales ready everyone - and for any "veterans" reading this - make room on the loser's bench for us!

I love this thread! I am around 350 now and hope to get sleeved next month (though it will probably be near the end of the month). At any rate, my step sister is getting married in October so I'd like to be below 300 by then. I would LOVE to be at or below 250 by the end of the year (I want a bike for Christmas but swore I wouldn't torture one with a butt that weighed over 250!) but that's pushing it quite a bit. So by May of next year Onederland would be my ultimate goal but I think that might be a pretty big stretch. However, when I set my mind to something I even surprise myself. So yeah, my official goal is to be below 200 pounds in one year. It'll be interesting to revisit these at that time!

* I want to read. Sorry.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I'm from WV so I'm within driving distance of you guys. Please keep us posted on your progress. I'm looking at late June/early July so u want to read everything I can!

That is too funny. I only had to have the nutrition class but I have to go to the doctor every month for six months where we talk as much about his diet as mine. Lol. I must say I'm glad to be seeing some June sleevers on here besides myself. It makes me feel like it's finally almost here! I do think the wait was good for me but I would've been happier with 3 months. I think that was enough to mentally prepare.

Yay! I'm glad someone else is with me. Btw, my surgeon's name is Blaine Nease. Not brace. Stupid phone. Lol.

Foxgirl, how is the compression garment working for you?

I agree with most everyone else on this thread but I have another option to add. Have you talked to your surgeon? If the surgeon suggested the place for the psych evaluation, chances are they already have the report and probably do regardless. Many insurances don't require the psych evaluation - it's the doc who does and he/she has the power to ignore it! I stressed over my psych evaluation & my husband even suggested I not go during pms. Lol. I think our moods do fluctuate on a daily basis and I've honestly never met anyone (male or female) who doesn't have that issue. Regardless, (and I know this sounds bad but I'm typing on my phone so bear with me), your doc wants his money and the psych wants his. Obviously the psych would like more of your money but the surgeon wants his now. I know that's coming off condescending and I don't mean it that way. I'm just suggesting that you call your surgeon and explain the situation and see if that precludes you from having the surgery. You may be able to do counselling while you're prepping for surgery or he may ignore it altogether. It's worth a shot. Good luck!