Sheila

What a way to celebrate the new you with a brand new life. Congratulations!!! I wish you and your new little family all the best.

I'm 45 and waiting on my surgery date.

I am in the same boat as you are. I didn't want my co-workers to know because I work with lots of nurses and doctors, and I didn't want to have to explain over and over and over again about what I am doing and hearing all their opinions and concerns. It is just to hard. So, I have begun telling my co workers I have started new eating habits, cutting down on my portions, watching what I eat, trying to be good. I have also told them about going to Belly Dancing class and the fact I just purchased the new Zumba DVD set. I have also told them I will be going on a vacation in June or July, just don't know when yet, so when I am gone for 2 weeks, they won't think anything of it. So after my surgery (I can't wait to get my date) when I start losing weight, they will think it is because of that. I will tell them the truth, I am watching what I eat closely and exercising more. Honestly, I do not think it is anyone's business but my own about how I am losing weight. In order to have support, I have told only a few close people to me. My husband of course, my daughter, my best friend, my husband let it slip to his best friend who has been sworn to secrecy and one co-worker who figured it out one day. She knows if she ever told anyone I would never speak to her again and she can't have that because she relies on me way to much as it is. I have also told my manager because I have to have permission to be away for the surgery. Other than that, no one else knows. I want my weight loss to be a big surprise to my family back home in Texas and Oklahoma. And my husband's family in Vancouver, well they are such petty people, we are just going to show up on day and have me all thin and see what they say. Good luck with your decision. You tell whomever you want and the rest of the people can be kept wondering why you are looking so gorgeous. Just my two cents worth. Sheila

Ev, I too work in the medical field. I am not a doctor or a nurse, but I am around them every day. I also have access to all the medical literature, but I have purposely chosen not to look at it. I did not want to freak myself out. What I have done is I watched the surgery on YouTube (which I found totally cool), I have talked to many people who have had VSG, I have prayed about it, and I know I have made the right decision for me. One thing you have 100% control over is when or if you have this surgery. If you are having doubts, put it off for a little bit. Make sure this is something that is right for you. Only you can say that for sure. Schedule appointments with a bariatric surgeon, ask loads of questions, become as informed as possible. I think what I would do is stop looking at medical journals and statistics. Find out from people who have gone through it. And if you decide this is not for you, you are no worse off. Just take your time. I hope you come to find peace in whatever decision you make for yourself. Hugs, Sheila

Welcome. And I wanted to say after looking at your family photo, you are one gorgeous chick! If you are this hot now with your extra weight on, just think how Smoking hot you are going to be once you lose all your weight. I too am waiting to have my surgery. I live in Canada and because they pay for the surgery, I have to wait for a date. Things move a little slower here. But I have my fingers crossed that I will have a date in June or July. Keep us updates on your progress. I always give the advise on read lots of different topics because there is alot of information on this forum. Just about any question you may have, someone has asked it and you will find the answers to it. See ya when you are a skinny minnie! Sheila

Dance, I am going for my psych eval on March 2. What kinds of questions do they ask you when you go in for this? I am not nervous about it and I know I will pass, just curious. Just like to be somewhat prepared. Thanks.

First off, Welcome Ev. And congratulations on making a decision to become a more healthy you. I can't say I have been nervous about surgery. What my big worry has been all along is if I stay the weight I am I will be facing all the "for sure" complications down the road. I already have diabetes, I have high cholesterol, I have osteoarthritis in both knees and feet. Even though heart trouble does not run in my family, I have been very scared of having a heart attack due to my weight. I am 5'6 and weighing 300 (at my heaviest) was just to much. When I hit that mark, I knew I had to do something. Surgery is always a scary thing. Yes there are some complications that can occur, but you have to ask yourself, are you willing to live with the possible complications from surgery or know that staying overweight will definitely cause way more serious complications later on down the road. I have not had my surgery yet, but with fingers crossed I will get a date soon. There are tons of people who have had their sleeve and are over a year post op. Read their stories, ask them questions, they can pretty much answer just about any question you have as well as or in some cases better than a physician. I know you will be fine, and once the surgery is done and you are past recovery, you will be so happy you had it done. Good luck and continue to read the forum. It will help put your mind at ease. Sheila

I love this thread. I have never been much of a "fashionista" because I always thought I looked horrid in clothes. I current wear a size 26, and the jeans I wear are already getting very big on me. Last night, I was able to pull them down without unfastening them. I think my "size" goal is 10 - 12. If I can get into a 10, I will be definitely be doing the happy dance. :dance: I can't remember the last time I have wore a size 10, probably was a young teenager 13, 14. Not quite sure. I just turned 45, and I am determined to be one hot 50 year old! Lildiva, I have never been much of a diva myself, but I can see myself turning into one and I am ready willing and soon will be able.

It is so hard to believe that my baby girl is turning 25 years old. It just seems like yesterday she was running around kissing everyone before she left the room at the age of 2. She has turned into a beautiful, independent, funny, woman. I am very proud of her. We took her out to Japanese Village to celebrate. Ugh! I ate WAY to much. I did have to go visit the little girls room and I weighed myself "naked" to see exactly how much I gained tonight, and it was only 1.4 pounds, so it isn't TOO bad. Luckily, there are no celebrations coming up that will require me to eat to much. I know Valentines Day is c oming, but we will have a subdued one here at home. I started a new topic on General Sleeve Surgery Discussion called Offical weigh in - Saturday Mornings. I am using this topic to be my accountibility to myself and everyone on the forum with my weight. I just started today. I have officially lost 25 pounds, yay for me. After my Endoscope on the 14th, I had went more than 24 hours without eating anything, and my weight reflected 266, but it was a false reading. But today was a true reading because I have been eating, but I have lost down to 266 and lost a total of 25 pounds. I am so happy and proud of myself. My surgeon has to be happy with me too. I want to lose down to 250 prior to my surgery and if I keep going the way I am, hopfully I will make it. I have started my belly dancing class, so cool and fun, and on Tuesday I will hopefully be receiving my Zumba DVD's, and I will be learning those 2 days or more a week. I am going to work at losing as much weight as I can before my surgery date. I have my pyshc eval on March 2 and my next follow up on March 8, Hopefully my eval report will be ready and I will learn my surgery date. My fingers are crossed, Until time next, S

Well, thank you. Couldn't have a better name. Maybe we Sheila's will rule the forum. Sheila

Exercise and I do not get along. I have never ever liked exercise. But my intelligent brain tells me I need to exercise so I have to reconcile that with the dislike of it. What can I do? Well, my solution to the problem is to find something I think is fun and work that. I tried to think of the things I like to do. Read - no good, not enough moving, surfing the internet - no good, the only work out I get is with my fingers, so I thought back to when I was younger what did I like, I loved dancing. I grew up in Oklahoma and I would go country dancing. I loved it. I lost weight because of it, it was fun and I was good at it. Well, now that I am living in Canada, not to many places to go country dancing. So I looked around to see if there was some other form of dancing I would like, BELLY DANCING jumped off the page. It is a good core work out. Strengthens the tummy muscles and the back muscles, it is fun, sexy, and you get to wear those jingly little scarves around your waist. So my friend, who is NOT getting sleeved, and I joined a 9 week class. We had our first class last night. It was so much fun and harder than we thought. But we are going to keep at it and become experts or at least try to become experts. Well, this is my idea of exercise. Sheila

I would love a chance to meet everyone, but unfortunately I will be unable to travel as I am hoping I will be recovering from surgery and my surgeon said I will be unable to travel for up to 3 months postop. If I was going to come I would vote for the Keys as well. I have never been there and it sounds like a lot of fun things to do.

I just bought the DVD set and it will be here next week. I am really looking forward to trying it out. I will have the house to myself most nights as DH works at the office late. And if he is home, he is upstairs on the phone with a business partner. I figured if I can get the moves down at home, then I can join a class later. I don't like trying to learn in a formal class and being so over my head. This way works best for me. So doing Zumba in conjunction with my Belly Dancing class I should be well on my way to getting back into the exercise mindset. Sheila :clap2:

Well last night was my first class ever. So I might have questions for you when I get more into it. I did find some of the moves a little difficult but I am assuming once I practice and get more used to it, I will be fine. I am going to continue to take classes, but I want to make sure surgery and classes are not in conflict with each other. I guess Belly Dancing is a no no right after surgery. I will have to keep that in mind. I am glad to hear there is someone else out there that is into this as well. Yay!!! Sheila

I am just starting my journey, no date set for the surgery, but have been reading the forum for the past 3 days. I have been hearing some talk about hair thinning with the surgery, can someone please let me know what to expect in that regard. My hair has always been thin and if I am going to lose hair, I should prepare for that. Thanks.

I was just curious to see if anyone out in Support Land can answer this. Maybe one of the nurses or physician's who may be on the sight. Once I have my surgery and I have my staple line in, will that prevent me from ever having an MRI again. Not that I want one but as everyone knows, things happen and it may be necessary in the future. Sheila

Hi Leann, my nameis Sheila and I live in Calgary, and I too am just starting this journey. I have had my first 2 consults, I have had my Endoscope and I am about to have my pysch evaluation. I am hoping to get my surgery date as soon as my pysch eval is over. I don't think it will be until June at least, but at least I will know when the date it. I would be happy to be your buddy. My husband has family in Vancouver so we make trips there often. We can exchange either email address and/or phone numbers so we talk. My email address is sheila.pinkney@shaw.ca If you would like to email me we can get to know each other better. Anyway, think about it, and let me know Sheila

As I wait for my surgery, I find myself with a mixture of emotions. When I think about how much better my life will be once all this weight is off me I feel almost giddy. I know it isn't the only answer, but it is the first step to a new and improved me. I find myself thinking about all the things I will be able to do again, walk the dogs, ride my bike, go dancing, go hiking, just live a more active life. I have been so seditary for so long that I am welcoming going out and living life instead of just surviving it. Then I imagine all the new clothes I will be able to fit into. I am so tired of dressing like a circus tent. I want to wear cute sexy clothes. Instead, I wear clothes right now that hide how I look, I want to look young and beautiful and sexy. I also am savoring the anticipation by trying to earn being able to have this surgery. I am working hard to lose weight prior to the surgery. I am trying to train my eating habits so that I am able to maintain when I hit my goal weight. I want to be worthy to God for bringing this great opportunity my way by not letting him down by failing. I am slightly nervous about my life after surgery. I am not nervous about surgery, but how I will adjust to my new life. I have lied like this for so long, I am unsure if I will be able to accept that I am no longer fat. It is sort of like if you have been poor all your life and suddenly win the lottery. Will you still feel poor inside or will you be able to adjust to not ever having to worry abount money again. I am worried I will always think of myself as the "fat chick". I am pleased with myself because I have lost a total of 24 pounds since November 30 and I hope to lose another 24 to 25 pounds prior to my surgery because if I can, I hope it will make reaching my goal that much easier. I start belly dancing class tomorrow and hopefully that will help my continual losing weight along with what I am already doing. I have my pysch evaluation on March 2, and hopefully, I will get my surgery date soon after that. I am so ready for the "NEW" me to begin. Look out world, because here I come. S

Congratulations on your surgery date. I am sort of jealous because I am still at the beginning of the process. I am happy for you. I am sure you will do great, and you will be a new healthier thinner you. Sheila