Neese

You're so right! I, like most people on here, associate holidays with food. Personally I think I let food completely take over holidays. Hopefully I do get it sooner so I can put more time and effort into decorating and talking rather than obsessing about how much I can eat and what Ill have for leftovers. You are so right, it is going to be a HUGE step and it's going to give me a lot of insight into myself. Here's to new traditions and an amazing gift that we are giving ourselves :cheers2: Congrats and good luck on your surgery. I know you will do great!

I am kind of hating on your workplace requiring everyone to be off during the holidays. You are a lucky duck! :tongue4:. I work at a bank so we get major holidays off so that's helpful. Not to mention I have amazing insurance (knock on wood) and amazing accommodations/benefits for paid/medical time off. I haven't told my boss, just my assistant manager, what I am going thru. To look on the bright side this is our new selves with: our new beginning for our amazing new year. :Dancing_tongue:

Thank you!!! your thoughts and prayers mean SO much. Your advice means just as much and I value it. I never even thought that the holidays may be a difficult time physically, for what I am going thru, but looking back I will have shared it with the people who mean the most to me. I am usually a positive person but sometimes I get anxious and it's difficult to see past the smokey mirror. You really helped put things into perspective. I'll be happily on the losing side soon enough. :dance:

Haha! Funny you should say I have started to eliminate foods since over 6 months ago when I was researching the sleeve. I used to eat a decent amount of McDonalds, Chipotle, and Wendys. I can proudly say that I have not eaten at any of those places in months. I did try to eat Chipotle just this past Friday, though, and it physically made me feel ill so needless to say I didn't finish!! My only weakness now is Chick Fil a and sweet tea with lemon, other than those two vices I eat fairly well. :angel_smile: I don't necessarily think that food funerals are destructive for everyone. Some people it is literally a way to say goodbye and have the last hoo-rah and they can be done with it. I, however, feel as if that would take me 10 steps back and have me reconsidering the surgery all together. I will keep an eye on your updates until the surgery. Im excited for all of us holidaysleevers!!

Thanks and congrats to you as well!! It's so exciting to know that the new year will actually mean weight lost rather than just another disappointing diet that I set myself up for! I also said that same thing about the surgery being a present! (Lucky you it's a double gift!!) I guess I am just worried, like everyone else, that I will be miserable. I know myself pretty well to know that I maintain a positive attitude and this IS a positive thing for all of us. Im so excited for you!!

My husband and I talked about it and he tried to to suggest everything under the sun other than THIS specific surgery. We have been married for a little over a year but have been together for a total of 7 years. He is my very best friend so I understand what you're going through. He didn't like anything about the sleeve from the fact that I would be altering my stomach down to the fact that I would have incision marks on my stomach ( I still don't understand that one haha). Anyway, I did the same thing that kemo46 suggested. I showed him videos, read reviews with him, showed him all of the paperwork, and had him do the seminar with me online so he could see that the benefits really do outweigh the risks. I do think this is deeper for your husband than just the surgery, as most have pointed out, he may have hidden insecurities that he is not able to display. As I told my husband watched, "you have watched as I have put weight on over the years and the health risks associated with that didn't bother you, me trying to better my health should make you proud." Needless to say he is my number one fan right now! Your husband sounds like your best friend, I can assure you that he will come around one way or another. Just remember do not compromise your health because in the end that's truly all that you have. :waytogo: I am proud of you!

Congrats to the both of you. I know being in your new shirt is an exciting prospect. I am sure you two will do wonderful! Congrats again!! :whoo:

Im with you from the 3rd one down [:

I think a lot has to do with insurance and another big chunk is specific surgeon/bariatric programs requirements. Oh that's right I forgot about the seminar. I did mine online and took a test. I also had my initial consultation that I forgot to count. I'm so jealous of the other posts regarding surgery dates being received. Will keep an eye on your posts maybe we will have our surgery dates around the same time! We will be there before we know it! It IS worth it (:

I think it all depends. I have to do: Psychological Evaluation, Nutrition Consult (my surgeon requires going to a nutritional class before the consult), and 6 Consecutive Months of Weight Management (which includes bloodwork). So that is 10 total appointments so far for me. I guess they don't realize that we have jobs haha. My sister in law had hers done in Texas through Aetna and she only needed 4 months w a nutritionist and psych. I guess it all just depends. I just keep reminding myself that the end me will be psychologically and physically better to handle the surgery and afterwards with all of these appointments. Good luck!!!!