Shea

You're Pretty in Pink!! You look fantastic girly!!!

Hello. I'm also a single mother. I have a five year old and 12 year old. I'm 30 years old. I'm also a college graduate and yet I'm still single but overweight. What's important for me is to enjoy life to the fullest. We take vacations every year, some twice a year and I can't enjoy them. Last year at Disney World was awful because I didnt have the energy to walk the parks, nor did I fit in on the rides very well. This year I wanted to do a Disney Cruise but said "UM NO" I wont feel comfortable in a bathing suit and I want to enjoy myself. Something had to give. I'm saving the cruise for next year once I get my surgery and lose some weight. I'm also in my sisters wedding next May which I want to look good for. What's selfish about wanting to be healthier for your son. You are young just like me and we need to be there with our children enjoying life with them. This is their golden years, the years that they will remember when they get older and you dont want those memories to be mom always tired, and mom not being able to play with him. I'm still a few months from surgery for having to do the six month diet first but I'm half way through it. My insurance is paying for my surgery, well 80% of it. And despite the negativity from my family and friends I feel that this will help me live a healthier, more energetic, and worth while life. And of course I will feel more confident when I do meet that right person. I want to feel sexy in all my clothes and believe him when and if "he" tells me I'm beautiful. Right now I have to love myself before someone else can, and although I love who I am I dont love what I look like. We as mothers always feel selfish when we want to do for ourselves because we spend a lot of time taking care of others, but as one mommy to another, GIRL IT"S TIME TO BE THE BEST MOM YOU CAN BE ON THE INSIDE AND OUT!, AND TREAT YOURSELF FOR BEING A WOMAN, LADY, AND SOON SASSY SINGLE MOMMY!!!

WOWOW I love it. You look great in the cheerleading outfit. It must feel like a million buck to be in your daughters middle school clothes. That's so inspiring. GO GIRL!!!!!

Hello. I'm one month 4 of the 6 month diet. It has not been easy for me. I love chocolate but I'm not doing too bad. I do exercise regularly but the head hunger is what I'm trying to get in check before surgery.The only good thing I can say is the time as flown and I've learned a lot while waiting. Im hoping to be sleeved in mid to late september if I go ahead and get all of the other test completed this month. I dont have any co-morbidities so I'm getting sleeved based on my BMI alone which has to be 50 to approved by my insurance company which my BMI is 50 exactly, well was 50 when I started seeing my PCP for the supervised diets which is what I think the insurance goes by when they approve you. Wishes I wish you a ton of sucess and and keep us posted. I'm one month behind you so I'm going to need someone to mimic after when it gets becomes my turn. I wish everyone else good luck as well and try to keep busy to make the time fly by.

You look great girly. Lose 15 pounds where??? You look picture perfect to me honey. Keep rock'n your sleeve!!!

I'm glad your home and doing well. Keep us posted on your well being and weight loss. Congrats on everything going well so far!!

With the 36 do you have a lot of acid reflux? Is it still enough restriction? I hear most people getting the 32 but some people say that's too tight. Do the doctors go over the staple line with something else to secure it, I forgot the name of the solution they put on the stables for added security? I went to my 3rd doctors appointment yesterday and she told me that she thought the band was better for me the sleeve was way too drastic and there isnt enough evidence to whether the sleeve will last long term. I still want the sleeve because of the issues I keep reading about the band even long term health issues.. She told me that they have made the band better and there is less complications. There are issues with everything but I just feel that the sleeve is better with preop complications, and has less over all side effects. I was real dissappointed but I'm head strong so I'm not easily persuaded unless I find value in the information.

Also what size are your sleeves?

Hello, I'm from Lexington and I'm going with Dr. Weiss. I wont be getting sleeved until September. I have to finished the 6 month supervised diet. I'm super excited though. I love reading your stories, and learning from your experiences so please keep posting them.

WOWOWOWOW is all I can say. I've always wanted to run. You truly are an inspiration and you look AMAZING!! Keep work'n it girl!!!

Hello, I'm plannong on getting the VSG at Bluegrass Baraitric Surgical Associates in Lexington, KY. I'm leaning toward Dr. Weiss. Has anyone used him before or gotten your procedure done with Central Baptist? Please let me know how your process and procedure went. Thanks.

Thank you SkinnyGirl. Congrats on your surger and I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Did it take you long to get a surgery date? What was his pre-op diet like?

Hello. I'm not sleeved yet but I wanted to get an understanding about something. I have someone that I date, not serious yet. It's hard for me to get serious because I've heard that many relationships tend to breakup or get rocky after one loses weight and I want to wait until after surgery to get serious. I know many people can be insecure over one thing or another but I always thought the other partner would think whatever made us happy would flow into the relationship and we would then be happier in the relationship. For me when I lose weight, I will feel sexier, would want to wear the cute "skinny girl" clothes, and cute hills and just be too cute for my own good, not to mention wear cuter intimate clothes becasue I would have more confidence in my body. So please tell me what are some of the reasons why relationships get rocky after weight loss, and what can you do to prevent this from ruining a good thing?

You're so right PCOS_CHICK there a lot of issue before getting sleeved that we may still have after being sleeved that may contribute to our outlook on our relationships. I think for me I would still have a self conscience issue, I can see me still not wanting people to see me naked or comment on my body because I would just think they were just being nice and not being truthful. Then on the other hand I could think I'm hot after surgery and then go after the hot doctors I work with here. HAHAHA. That would be great. Anyway there are a lot of issues that do follow us on our journey that we have to deal with.

It's so sad to hear that losing weight brings in a lot of other issues we hadn't planned. I do hope that the relationships that are rocky get better. it's truly sad that once we decide to do something to save our lives and makes us healthier, that it can ruin a relationship. I know some people have problems regardless and break-up but it's just sad when it's due to weight loss.

WOW Thank you for your responses. It was very interesting about the friend issue, I hadn't thought of that. I heard some stories about losing sexual desires after surgery, and being so wrapped up in the new you that you pay less attention to your partner, and of course the partner getting insecure and jealous that we may leave them for someone else. It's hard to tell what will happen in the future, I guess I will just have to make sure I pay attention to my actions and changes, and keep being the same loving, caring, and intellegent woman I am and hope for the best in my relationship.

Before I get serious I want to make sure I know what to do to make sure it's solid, and he's in it for the right reasons. Like many said if he loves you for you then it's great, but if he is insecure I want to know before hand. I liked the comment that "if you can think it then you can talk about it", these are the things I'm trying to figure out so I can approach the relationship in the right way asking the right questions from the beginning. I'm a single parent and bringing someone in my life is already an important decision because of my children so I just want to take my time and only be serious when I feel like I have that true soul mate, someone who will love me big or small, thick or thin literally and be able to handle my changes.

Hey girl, I live in Lexington, Kentucky and I have Humana PPO, is this what you have? I was wondering if they would cover the sleeve. I have a BMI of 47 but I dont have any co-morbidities, I havnet been tested for sleep apnea yet though. Do you have to have co-morbidities?

Okay. I'm on the 6 month supervised diet. (Forgive me if this subject has already been asked). I have been doing well with the supervised diet. If I do too well with that make the insurance company think "Oh she's doing great on her own, she doesnt need surgery" or will they still approve me because I followed the prerequisites of the insurance? Even if I lose 40 pounds I will still have a BMI over 40 but I'm just nervous they will think I can finish the weight loss on my own. I dont want to set myself up. Thanks. Shea

For me I decided to tell my mom and close friend only but even that didnt work out well. They are the two closest people to me and neither of them agreed to the surgery. My mom is worried I will die, my friend is worried that it will erode or make me sick. Neither of them are educated about it they've only heard horror stories, and although I've tried to explain, what they've known to happen to others outweighs anything I have to say because to them I'm making excuses and I dont really know what's going to happen. I've decided not to talk about it anymore. I have no supoort so I will just do it on my own, and even go to the surgery alone. When you're trying so hard to do something, the last thing you want to hear is negativity from people who are uneducated about the issue, and it's worse when it's people you love and you would really like to support you. I'd rather just keep my mouth shut and prove that my actions speaks louder than their words.

See now you dont have to feel like you're going through this alone anymore. How about when you've lost the weight you can model for your hubby Congrats!!!

Thank you for all your advice, and you guys said the same thing my doctor said yesterday. She said that she wondered the same thing at first, and as other people have come to her for the 6 month supervised diet she has found out that it doesnt hurt you to lose a lot because in reality that's what the insurance company wants to see. She said they know people can lose the weight it's the maintenance that is the concern because most people regain their weight. She said so dont worry, work hard, and when you work hard the insurance company will say "this is the candidate that will be perfect for the band because she's willing to do what it takes to lose and maintain, and therefore will be sucessful. The insurance company doesnt mind paying if they are sure the patient is going to be sucessful and make the band work for them" I'm so encouraged to teach myself to eat less, and exercise now, so when I get banded it will be a lot easier on me. Good luck to everyone.

I also have Humana PPO. How did go for you??

I too am on the six month supervised diet. For me I'm learning to make healthier choices, and I'm trying to train my mind to stop eating when I'm satisfied, and to say no to my favorite fatning foods or to not consume so much of it. This has also been a good time for me to get use to a good Protein drink, and to start a small exercise plan. I own an elipticle but could only do five minuets at first now I'm up to fifteen minutes. I do count calories, and my doctor told me to try to stay at 1200 calories. I've been used to eating over 2000 calories a day so that seemed hard so I just cut down to 1800 calories at first, then worked down to 1500 calories and now I'm between 1200 and 1300 calories. I just think this is the time to get your mind in the right place to face the hunger and craving issues, to find foods that you can live with eating, and to work on finding the right exercise plan that you can live with. Take it slow and work your way to find what works best for you and your lifestyle. I'm learning to cook healthier and choose healthier foods at the grocery, although healthier foods are so much more expensive. My doctor told me those who are sucessful in their efforts before surgery will more likely to be successful after surgery because you're already conditioning your mind, and your habits, and the lapband takes hard work and dedication that we will already be use too. At first I was like " I dont want to lose a lot of weight because I didnt want to be ineligable for surgery" but as I read other posts it only helps you later and the insurance goes by your starting weight which for me was 282. I've lost seven pounds in two weeks. I'm only a month in the diet but it took me two weeks to get my mind right, but once I did it has been good so far. Best luck to you!

Hello. I'm currently on the 6months PCP diet wait before insurance will approve the lap band. The issue that worries me is I'm healthy other than weighing 282 lbs. I dont have any health concerns. I'm worried that because I dont have any issues like high cholesterol, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure, the insurance company wont approve me because they may not think it's a medical necessity. Have any of you have any problems with getting approved being healthy, just overweight?