Suzannesh

Hi, You DID NOT put this weight on over night. I does take awhile to get it off. It took me 14 months to lose 105 pounds. Stop putting yourself down,that only makes it worse. Go back to tracking just what you are putting in your body. I know it takes time, but aren't you worth it? I kept my calories at about 800 per day and NO more than 20 to 25 carbs per day. You might be shocked if you track everything you put in your mouth just how many calories you are eating everyday. Bump up your exercise and do some other kind of exercise. Change things around, find new ways to cook so of the things you eat, stay busy and stop thinking about what you are NOT doing and think more about what you are doing. If you are older it takes longer to lose the fat, if you are a woman it slows down the closer you get to the goal you have have set. Just tell yourself that you have the time to get the weight off. Hugs, Suzanne

"The more obstacles I overcome the more skills I develop." This is leap year; we will have one extra day in 2012. How about taking that “ONE” extra day and changing your entire life. It will take you just one day after doing your homework on Weight Loss Surgery to make an appointment to have the surgery. So many of us have tired all the conventional ways to lose weight; such as diet and maybe some exercise. I can’t count the number of diets I have been on in my life. I wasn’t one who enjoyed exercise because it was hard work. Now I love it. How many of you have been where I have been? I got to the point where my health wasn’t going to get better, but worse probably. My back hurt if I stood too long and I had a pain in my leg that would not go away. I have no idea what symptoms you could have, but I am willing to bet for most of you, you have had some of the same problems I had, plus a whole lot more maybe. Here is what changed my entire life. On Oct 21, 2008 I have a VSG or better known as “sleeve” surgery. Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico did my surgery. I can tell you he is an incredible doctor along with his very brilliant staff of nurses and doctors—who speak English exceptionally well. He does his surgery, in a hospital that has fewer infections than most US hospitals. I highly recommend him. Dr. Aceves actually cares about each and every one of his patients. You will never see 2 doctors 3 times a day when you have had surgery in most hospitals, but you do with Dr. Aceves and his staff. :thanks: What I want you to know is there is NO shame in having weight loss surgery. This gave me the “tool” and restriction to attain my goal of losing 105 pounds. I have kept it off now for 3 ½ years. You can have this kind of victory too. Take that 1 extra day and change your complete life. Send me an E-mail I will be thrilled to response to any questions you might have about the process of Weight Loss Surgery or anything you would like to know. I know I had 100’s of questions when I first started my investigation into this process. :dita: Put yourself first for the first time in countless years. I want you to know that you are worth the effort and you can be successful too. Hugs :coolgleamA: Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Post Date: 2/6/12 6:19 pm Hi Everyone, I have posted something like this before. I thought it might be a good time to repost this and see if it helps anyone. Things aren't always as they appear. Sometimes what seems to be the end is really just a new beginning. Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. I remember a time when it felt like nothing could go right. The whole world appeared to be teamed up against me. But I kept on moving forward, even when I couldn't tell exactly where I was going. I found in life it's not about attaining a goal. What's most important is who we become during our pursuit. I happen to like who I have become. If every day is starting to feel like a struggle and your desires appear to be getting further and further away- Stop. Take a minute to breath and read through these Encouragement Quotes. I love quote and I am alway reading them. These of some things I have put together to encourage you when you are having a hard time, or your weight loss has slowed down or it has stalled, or someone is “bullying” you, or they are giving you a hard time about having weight loss surgery. Or you are just having a BAD DAY. We all have had some of these things happens to us during the process of weight loss or the planning of having WLS. I hope they are a little helpful. 1.Learn from others who have been down that road and popped out on the other side- successful, empowered, and matured as human beings.—Unknown Author 2.When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hand on—Franklin D. Roosevelt. 3.When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile—Author Unknown 4.The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning—Ivy Baker Priest. 5.It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves—Edmund Hillary. This happens to be one of my favorite quotes and it has gotten me through a lot of tough times in my life. 6.If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick up one of those pieces up and begin again.—Flavia Weedn 7.Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. –M. Kathleen Casey 8.It is not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line.—Ashleigh Brilliant 9.Rock bottom is good solid ground, and a dead end street is just a place to turn around—J.R. Cobb Some things I want you to consider—just some thoughts of my own. Success is not a race, be patient. Success leads to success. Success is always a work in progress. Success doesn't come to you--you go to it. Success is a journey, not a destination. Focus on the process. Some people dream about success... while others wake up and work hard at it. Success is achieved and maintained by those who try-and keep trying. Every day is a good day to SUCCEED! When you get to a plateau, think of it as a landing on the stairway to your goal. Hugs,

Hi, I thought they were pretty powerful. Sometimes just that little boost is helpful, or just what you need to continue on with your success. Thanks for the comments, Suzanne

Hi, You are welcome and I am happy if this was helpful in any way. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Each day you will become stronger. NEVER allow anyone to put you down or bully you about your choice. It take more courage to have WLS that to remain the way you are. Look them in the eye and tell them this is ALL about you and NO one else. You have earned the right to have this surgery and you are going to be very successful at it. The 1st month after the surgery is the hardest month that you will ever have to do. It is only 30 days and you can do anything for 30 days. I am always right here to answer any and all of you questions that you might have. There isn't anything we can't talk about. Your cravings do go away, and you learn to eat healthy and make healthy food choices. It is all a relearning process. It sounds like you want this more than anything else, and that will help you become very successful. I am just an E-mail away. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, What are you going to do to change your life in 2012? I am sure that the thing most people have said is “I want to lose weight.” So if you are sitting out there reading and absorbing anything and everything you can to educate yourself about weight loss surgery. Congratulations to you. That is your 1st step!!! That makes you like so many of us that did the same thing before we had weight loss surgery. For me, I just didn't wake up one morning and say to my family and friends “Oh by the way, next week I am going to Mexico and have weight loss surgery.” I started thinking about it at least a year before I had weight loss surgery. I had a friend who had WLS, and I must have asked her 500 questions. She was so helpful to me. Honestly there is nothing wrong with asking every questions that comes into your head. There are NO bad questions. I checked out doctors in the US and Mexico. I was one of the lucky ones, I had the money to pay for it in the US or Mexico. So why did I go to Dr. Aceves in Mexico? In my opinion I wanted the very best I could find, and someone who had done many WLS and that were successful. I did a LOT of research—almost 6 months worth of it checking everything I could think of out. The next thing was what kind of hospital was I going to have my surgery in? For me it HAD to be in a 1st class hospital. I started checking—NOT all hospital are created equal in Mexico or the US. Many doctors charges less in Mexico—why? Because they do not use a hospital and they do the surgery in a clinic and then send you to a recovery house to recover after surgery—There was NO way that I would ever go to a Clinic for WLS—there really is a reason why they charge less???? Dr. Aceves has a state of the art hospital along with highly qualified staff who speak excellent English. His infection rate was less than any US hospital too. Maybe 2012 is the year that you might care enough about yourself to GO for it and have WLS. You have earned the right to put yourself first, I am willing to bet that you spent most of your life taking care of everyone else. I did that too. I know that for some of you, it is about the money. Honestly I have an answer for you. There are places that will loan you the money so that you can have this surgery—I can hear what you are thinking—I can't afford that. Well, we all seem to be able to afford “car payments.” So why not make “body payments.” Your are going to be living is this body for the rest of your life. Now is the time to make your body healthy and happy. So, as I said your DESERVE to have this WLS. Please NEVER give up on your dream of having WLS. I had a “Sleeve” and I just love it. It is the tool that will allow you to lose the weight. It is NOT a miracle cure. You have to work at it, like making healthy food choices and YES adding some exercise to the mix too. It is possible. I was the person who really didn't like exercise—now I love it. I walk all the time. I am now trying to add some swimming or Water aerobics. You can do this, there are so many people out here on these boards who are here to help you with your questions and anything you want or need to talk about. Make 2012 your year to become healthy and to lose the weight. You will be the winner and your entire life will change. I am always here anytime you have any questions and want to talk. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi Everyone, Just some thought I was having. Are you feeling deprived when it comes to eating? When I first had WLS and got through the toughest part—the first month. I thought oh my gosh; I am NEVER going to be able to eat like I used to eat. I actually moaned the loss of this food— but,not for long when the weight stated coming off. And thank goodness I couldn’t ever eat like I used to—this was the purpose of the weight loss surgery. These are stages that you may go through. What I want you to know is 3 ½ years later I NEVER feel deprived. I also learned at least for me, just knowing that I could have a few bites of something or to be able to just taste it really met my desires and needs. So each of us have different ways that we learn to eat our meals in a healthy way. For me I always try to get my Protein in 1st, then the veggies, fresh or frozen, and a small amount of fruit. Now if I want some kind of desert, I have learned to make some that I can have—no sugar, and low carb, and it really tastes good. For the ones that I can’t eat a lot of because of all the calories in them, I just have a sliver of it, or 2 small bites and savor the taste of it in my mouth for a little bit—I don’t swallow it right away; I enjoy it. I do not inhale the desert, I let my mouth and tongue savor the texture and how it feels in my mouth. So this is what works for me and why I never feel deprived. Let’s talk about food and how you deal with it. It is very important that you keep track of what you put in your body. I would love to hear how you handle things that you eat and if you feel deprived or not? I know for so many considering WLS the main thing other than the cost of the surgery, is you just area’t willing to give up some foods. To me that is an addiction to food. You do have to make some healthy food choices to be successful at WLS and to maintain your weight loss. But, it really isn't’t that hard because you have a restriction and you will be eating small amounts of food. Please don’t allow these things to control your life. Take your control back along with the thought of being healthy and feeling comfortable in your own body for the first time in a long time. Ask us questions about food, and any other things that you are thinking about that are stopping you from having Weight Loss Surgery. You too can be a success story. We are all regular people on here who have fought the same battles with weight as most of you have. It requires work and effort on your part—but ask yourself “area’t you worth the effort?” Start making your dreams come true. NEVER give up on yourself and put yourself FIRST!!!! We are here to answer your questions and support you all the way.Dr. Aceves was my doctor and he is the very best you can find any place to do your surgery. I highly recommend him. Please ask any questions that you might have. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi Everyone, I just wanted you to know that I had Dr. Aceves do my "sleeve" surgery Oct 21, 2008. I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. If you are considering Dr. Aceves I am here to answer any of your questions that you might have. I am one of the few people who still post 3 1/2 years later. I know I had thousands of questions when I started my search. I believe in this surgery so much and I do have a 3 1/2 years of success behind me and know that he is the very best doctor you could ever have do this surgery. I know it takes a lot of courage to get to the point of wanting to have the weight loss surgery vs the being overweight, and unhealthy for the rest of your life. It was the very BEST thing I could have ever done for myself. I am here to answer any and all of your questions. I am very honest about what it was like from the start. Hugs and I wish you great success in your journey. Suzanne

Hi Everyone, So many of you are newbies and have just had WLS or you are sitting out there thinking about having it. I used to be one of you. I had my sleeve surgery done on Oct 21, 2008. After 6 months of research and asking a lot of question from tons of people on different boards and checking on the Internet, I made the choice to have Dr. Aceves do my surgery. So if you ask me who would I have do surgery, I will honestly admit he is the “top of the line doctor.” Yes, I am very prejudice about him. This experience is the only thing I have to judge by. I had excellent care in a top of the line 5 star hospital by and extremely skilled group of doctors and nurses. I saw 2 doctors 3 times a day while in this very clean hospital. My point is that yes quite a few doctors do advertise on a lot on different web sites and they do cost less than Dr. Aceves. I don’t honestly think when it comes to my health that I want to shop around for the best price—think about it. If it were clothing or something for my home, I will always shop around for a good price, but when it comes to my health and the rest of my live I will NEVER shop around for a price. I want the very best doctor I can find. Please check these doctors out before you have WLS. So many of them are doing their surgery in a clinic—no more than an office and then they send you to a hotel to recover or a revocery house. This is dangerous and not anything I would want for myself. I know if you are a self-pay it is difficult to come up with this much money. There are places that loan money for these types of surgeries. They charge a higher interest rate. You are worth every dime you are going to spend. Consider it body payments. We make car payments, why not body payments? Weight Loss Surgery it a BIG step to take and you have been thinking about it for a long time or you just had it. I want to say congratulations for making this step. There are a lot of emotions and changes that scare you and excite you all at the same time. These are really normal feelings to have and to have them all at the same time. Just remember that there are a lot of great people on this board who can answer your questions and help you out. All you have to do is ask. We got support from others when we had out WLS. I can’t say it ENOUGH times. The 1st month after WLS is the hardest month you will ever do. It is a time for relearning—and when I say than, I mean it is time to let your brain know that from here on out you are in charge. Your old brain will want what it used to having—all the foods that made you fat, and when you don’t do it, it honestly will try to convince you that it is going to starve if you don’t give it to them. We call this “head games.” Or “head hunger.” And you will be convinced that you are not getting enough to eat even if you feel full or know that you are full—that is that ugly brain working on you. You are going to need to make some BIG lifestyle changes. These things are doable. And in time you will love your new lifestyle changes and becoming healthy. I am not saying you will never have something that you love to eat, but in small amounts and not all the time. I NEVER feel deprived at all. There are a lot of things to think about. None of us are hero’s we are just regular people who wanted to lose weight and we did or are in the process. You can do this, and I have no doubt you are going to be successful at it. If you have any questions or just need to talk I am always an E-mail away. I have NO regrets at all, only I should have done this year’s before I did. I just had to have my head in the right place to make it work for me and it did, I lost 105 pounds. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, You have the right attitude and that is half the problem. One day at a time, and it does take a little time to get your strength back. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, it will just keep getting better and better. And YES this is the chance that you have waited for. You will lose the weight and it will stay off.This will be a new adventure for you and you will never have any regrets EVER!

Hi, You have the right attitude. It goes in stages and you do actually mourn the loss of the food. But, I promise you that each day it gets a lot better. After the 1st month is over, you will have some new experiences. Listen to these words and remember when you start eating real food. TAKE TINY BABY BITES and chew, and chew and chew and chew until the food is like liquid when you swallow it. I know it sound easy, but that was the hardest thing for me to learn to do. For most of my life I took big bites and talked and shoveled the food in my mouth and hardly chewed it up. That is a the biggest learning curve you will have. And it takes FOREVER at first to eat food because you are chewing forever. You will be just as successful and I am, I know you want it bad enough. I am always here if you have any questions or are struggling along the way with anything. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, We told you that the 1st month is the hardest month that you will ever have to do. I am sorry you had a reaction to the tape. But, look at it this way. It is over and it is time to move on and put that in the past. It is very difficult to get in all the water--so here is what I want to say--STOP stressing over it. Stop keeping track for a little while and do this: Keep some kind of liquid with you all the time and make it a habit to sip baby sips all the time. It makes it a whole lot easier. Now you said you are tired all the time. I want you to go to your PCP and have them run a blood panel. I want you to have your potassium levels checked. It should like this just might be the problem. I had this and all I had to do was take some potassium pills and I felt a whole lot better. It might not be that, but to be on the safe side have all your blood levels checked to make sure that everything is OK. Did them test them while you were in the hospital and before you went home? I knew when I left Dr. Aceves my potassium was low, so I had it checked when I got home--sure enough that was my problem. The surgery is doing what is is supposed to--you DO NOT have an appetite and food will taste different for awhile. You will never feel hungry and you will feel full really quick. You are experiencing what we call "head hunger." You old brain is missing the food you are feel sad about it and actually mourning the loss of NOT ever being able to eat like you used to. Would you rather be fat or wasn't it your goal to lose this weight and become healthy. That is what the surgery was all about. I promise you it gets better each day and when you start feeling better it becomes a lot easier. This is a lifestyle change and you will love your "sleeve" and look back on these days and say they were all worth it. This is NOT a miracle cure and it doesn't happen over night. I would think you would be thrilled to lose 23 pounds. When was the last time you lost 23 pounds in about 20 days????? Hang in there and keep posting so we can help you. Hugs, Suzanne

The difference in where you have your surgery I have been doing a little information gathering in the past few months. I learned that there are Doctors who charge a lot less for their surgery because they do them in a Clinic--NOT a hospital. Then I was shocked when she said they are doing it as DAY SURGERY and the doctor wants her to go stay in a hotel close to the hospital once they release her from Day Surgery—just in case something goes wrong she can return to the hospital quickly. Or they send them to a recovery house that is NOT staffed by a medical staff, and the conditions of these recovery houses are not what I would call clean. The doctors have only asked their patients to say in a hotel for a few night or the recovery house for a few nights before they go home. Many times you are not close to a hospital either. PLEASE, ask all kinds of questions..this is your body and your life, you have every right to have these answers. If you are paying less, most of the time it means you are getting less care and services. BE CAREFUL. This just reaffirms why I went to Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. I was cared for so differently. I spent part of one day getting all my tests done—which I am sure in the US they do the same thing. I had the opportunity to see the hospital and I also saw how often and how much they cleaned just being there for 3 hours for the tests. I was given paper work to fill out the night before surgery. I met with a doctor the night before the surgery (he comes to the Hotel you are staying in) the doctor who explained the surgery and how it is done went into great detail and asked if I had any questions and then spent more time answering my questions. In the morning, I was assigned my very own nurse who was taking care of me—she got me ready for the surgery. That morning I saw the two surgeons, and the anesthesiologist, who again answered ALL my questions that I forgot to ask the night before. They explain exactly what they were going to do and what I would feel like when I woke up. They would have NEVER sent me to a hotel to recover. I spent 4 days and nights in the complete fully equipped hospital seeing two doctors 3 times a day. I was given a battery of test before they would consider sending me home. On the 5th day. I was tested 3 times to make sure my sleeve had NO leaks. I was driven to the San Diego Airport and I flew home. This is the kind of care you should EXPECT AND DEMAND if you are having this kind of surgery. You need to be doing your recovery in a HOSPITAL. So the next time someone makes the comment to me about why would I go outside of the US for this kind of surgery this is EXACTLY WHY. When you want the best you do your research and find the best. That is just what I did. If you are having WLS PLEASE ask the doctors, the hospital and those involved what their care is like, and what they will be providing you during your WLS. YOU have the right to have the best care possible. Yes, there is good care in the US, but I have never been treated as well in any US hospital as I was treated in Mexico. Their infection rate at the hospital I was in was far less than any US hospital. Things that I pay attention to. You NEED to be your own advocate when it comes to your Health Care. NEVER SETTLE for anything less than the best when it comes to your health. For me I know without a doubt that Dr. Aceves is the very best doctor you could have do you WLS. He and his staff care about you, have the highest standards, they have a staff of doctors and nurses who are highly rated. I speak from experience, if you have any questions please feel free to ask me anything about my WLS. I am more than happy to share my thoughts with you. Suzanne Sleeved 10/21/2008 Lost 105 pounds

Hi Everyone, All addictions have one thing in common- they numb you out to what is happening in the moment. They offer instead, an intense sensory experience which either absorbs all of your attention or distorts reality. You may think you’re having a real moment, but you are not, because your addictive activity, such as food, drinking, or drugs, is actually disconnecting you from your true emotions and, therefore, making it difficult for you to connect with others around you. My food addictions always came along when I am happy or miserable and sometimes bored to death. Then when we get to the time in our lives and we feel like we can never lose the weight because we are so fat, we think what the heck let’s just eat anything and any amount we want, We know honestly that is NOT the answer. “People who are hungry for more real moments often us addiction to get a temporary hit of happiness” But because the feeling of happiness that that we get from our food addiction is only temporary and then it becomes a vicious circle of always eating the wrong things and overeating. So the happiness is only temporary, you can’t feel good without the bad behavior of abusing food. This is how you get hooked into you addictive behavior of using food for comfort. Addictions are so socially acceptable in America that, often people don’t even realize that they have one, especially when it comes to eating food. Food is NOT something that we can simply say I am never going to eat again. If it is an alcohol addiction then you can say—I am never going to drink alcohol again. Food is something that we are going to have to deal with for the rest of our lives. For me I had to make a lifestyle change. It is like going back to school. I had to start reading labels, planning my meal and using a journal and keep track of everything I put in my body. If I didn’t have “bad” foods in my home that would tempt me to eat them—then they would not be a problem. I learned to make healthy choice including snack and what I craved. If it was something sweet like a desert I learned how to make some healthy ones. It take a lot of effort and a immense amount of time, to plan my meals, shop for my food, and read labels and keep track of what I was eating. I know it takes a lot of time to keep a journal, but it will really be helpful to you. I use this site: http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/ . I know there are other sites that people use. Do what works for you when it comes to keeping track of your food. You also need to exercise. Having a food addiction is NOT an easy thing to deal with. Start asking yourself when you want something to eat—do I just WANT this food or do I NEED to eat this food. Most of the time it is you just “want” to eat the food. Find something else to do—like posting on this board and talking with other about their addiction. I wish you nothing but success, but I want you to know that this is something that we all will struggle with. I am here to help in any way I can. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, You are so welcome. It was my pleasure to be able to write this and express some of the things that I have been through. I know for many of us, it just seems to be a battle. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I really enjoyed reading your reply. You get, it and understand it. There is half the battle right there. In the past I just thought I was an overeater--nice term for addicted to food. Now I call it like it really is. Food was my addiction!!! I have learned in over 3 years with my sleeve, to overcome it. It isn't easy, it is an on going control thing. I NO longer allow food to control me. I NOW control the food. It is a good feeling. There are times when I have a Cookies and a few bites of something I am really wanting. The answers is, just a few bites always seem to satisfy my need. I no long have to eat it ALL. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I enjoyed reading your reply. I hear what you are saying about being on that "high"--enjoy it while you can. It just takes planning on your part and time to plan what you are going to be eating. After awhile you actually crave and want more of the good and healthy foods than the junk foods that you used to eat. Learn some new recipes and ways to convert your cureent recipes into a healthy one. I like cooking more now than I ever did before. I also read a lot more labels that I ever did in my "fat days." LOL Hugs, Suzanne PS you are so beautiful, I loved your profile picture!!

Hi, You are so right. We are always going to be paying attention to what we eat. I am 98% true most of the time. There is that 2% when I am not. But, I have also learned that sometimes just 2 bites of it is all that I need. I have learned that instead of eating something I really don't want, it is just better for me to go ahead and have 1 or 2 bites or a very small amount of it really just satisfy my desire or need to have it. I am happy that you enjoyed what I posted. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, This is great news that you no longer crave these thing. I tend to be a person who grazes, so I have to have some healthy Snacks to graze on. I don't miss a lot of deserets, but like you I will have a bite or two and I am just fine. I am glad that you enjoyed my post. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi I know the feeling. I had some of the some things happen to me. My husband was 200% there for me. It was my grown children. They still 3 years later will not acknowledge my 105 pound weight loss to me or ever say anything about it. I guess I should be happy that we are all talking and enjoying each other. They were so sure that I would die, fail, and starve because of the miss information that they got from the wrong places. I did prove them wrong all accounts, and so I guess it is hard for them to say gee Mom, I guess you did know what you were talking about. It took me 6 months to make up my mind and educate myself about weight loss surgery and what doctor I was going to go to. I know JUST how important support can be, I am here for you every step of the way. Where are you having your surgery? You are doing something that is going to add 20 years to your life and your are being your very own HERO! Never look back--only look forward. There isn't anything you can't do because you are strong and a survivor and you want to change your life. I am very proud of you for making this choice. It takes a LOT more courage to have this surgery than to continue to do what you have been doing right now and that is being fat and unhealthy. Yes, I call it fat, I was fat, and I know there are a lot of nice ways to say it, but fat is fat there is no getting around it. You want something better for yourself and that is great. This is my private E-maile: Suzannesh@aol.com. If you send me an E-mail, I will send you my phone number and you can call me ANY time of the day or night that you need something. The closer you get to your surgery date, you will experience ALL kinds of feelings and emotions. That is very normal. I experience happy, sad, couldn't wait to have it done, scared to have it done all at the same times sometimes. I what if'd myself so much that it made my head spin. On the airplace going to Mexico, I was second guessing if I was doing the right thing. So when you have these feeling or emotions you aren't any different than most of the rest of us. You are pretty normal. I am here for you. There isn't anything that we can't talk about. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi Everyone, If you’re tired of starting over when it comes to weight loss, stop giving up on yourself. Today is the day that you can change this. If you have been unsuccessful at one diet after another maybe what you are trying to do is just never going to work for you. Believe me I have been there and done this for many years. For so many of us we have an addiction to food. Food is what comforts us in the good and bad times in our lives. Does this sound like what you have been doing for countless years? Make today the day that you promise to change your life. If you have had WLS and you still struggle with food choices, that is something that so many of us have to deal with on a daily basis—(remember I said food is our habit or addiction.) When I am faced with this I ask myself do I NEED to eat or do I just CRAVE to eat or graze all day. Grazing is pretty normal for a lot of people—make the food something healthy like veggies if you are going to graze. As time goes on it becomes a little easier too. We are making lifestyle changes; we are not on a diet. If you have NOT had weight loss surgery, then it is time to think about making plans to have weight loss surgery. Never feel that you have failed if you can lose weight on your own with a diet—you have an addiction. Please do NOT feel ashamed about having weight loss surgery. You are the hero who is going to come along and save you own life. Care enough about YOURSELF to do just this. If you have questions about weight loss surgery, start asking questions right now. I had Dr. Aceves do my WLS in Mexicali, Mexico. I just love his hospital and staff—yes the do speak exceptional English. This is a first class complete hospital (not a clinic) that Dr. Aceves has and Dr. Aceves is a brilliant surgeon when it comes to weight loss surgery. When it comes to my health I want the very best I could find for myself and this was my choice. Hugs, Suzanne Sleeved Oct 21, 2001 Lost 105 pounds

Hi, Thanks, I want everyone to know that they can be successful at weight loss surgery. We are here to be your support. Sometimes you family just are unbale to help the way that people who have already been down this road. I am always out here if you have ANY questions at all. NEVER give up on your dream if being healthy and at your goal weight. I am glad you liked what I had to say. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, This is great news. Now if this ever happens again, you do know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! We all have had these. Yeah! keep doing what is working for you. Hugs, Suzanne