Suzannesh

Hi There, What does stress do to you? For me stress would always cause me to eat. And I would eat all the wrong things, but at that time I found it comforting. That was in the past. I have been tested with stress over and over the past few weeks. I have learned that I now deal with stress in a different way. food is not my source of comfort. I tend to want to exercise, and my exercise is walking. It is amazing how walking makes me feel so much better, and dealing with the stress is easier. I have walked EVERYDAY for the last 8 months--never missing a day--I used to walk 4 to 5 days a week. In Sept 2012 I challenged myself to walk everyday for a month. It just became a habit, and now I am still walking. I am sure there are many of you out there that have your own ways of dealing with stress. After having sleeve surgery with Dr. Aceves in 2008, my life has change 100% for me. It seems like we as society do everything around food. We have Holiday’s, and it always involves food, we go out with friends and it is always involves food. Sometimes we tend to give food to our kids to make them happy too—food seems to be the answer for everything in the world we live in! I just want you to know that all of these things can be managed, and you can learn to deal with being around food. You have to make a permanent lifestyle change. That change means eating healthy foods, eating small amounts of food. I suggest that if you are going to any social event or meeting with friends, try to plan ahead. If you have some idea of the food that is going to be there, that is helpful. You can also offer to bring something—make it a healthy snack or food that you can eat. Introduce other people to good healthy foods that taste yummy too! Yes, I have a desert now and then, but only a small amount of it. I never feel deprived. So if it is stress or a Holiday, these events all very doable. The best way to deal with them, is to make a plan. You can eat before you go, bring things to where you are going that are healthy and taste good. It is amazing once people figure out that you can eat healthy, and the food can taste great too, it solves so many issues in life. It takes time to learn to deal with these things, but I am always here to help you and support you and to cheer you on to become successful in your weight loss journey. Don’t let fear paralyze you. We are all out here to help and support you. I had some wonderful people help me when I was having a difficult time. I laugh now because if anyone would have told me that a nice long walk would feel better than food when I was stressed out, I would have thought they were crazy! It works for me. What do you do about stress and attending social events that involve food? If you are sitting out there trying to make up your mind about have Weight Loss Surgery, it is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. NEVER ever give up on your dreams to lose the weight you want to lose and become a whole new person that is happy and healthy!

Hi Everyone, Are you scared about having WLS? I was too, and I am willing to bet that 99% of all of on this site were too. We have talked ourselves in and out of going ahead and taking that big step at least 75 to 100 times. We have been convinced that there is something weak or wrong about having weight loss surgery and that is really all wrong—it take a lot of courage to have weight loss surgery. For so many of us we have a disease and just like any other disease we need some form of treatment. If you needed surgery for something you wouldn’t think twice about going to the hospital and having that surgery because if you didn’t you could die. Well the same this will happen from be fat, we are going to die faster from being fat than we are from weight loss surgery. I know it is scary and the unknown is what scares us the most. Never give up on your dreams of losing this weight and being able to keep it off. It will require WORK and EFFORT on your part to be successful—it does not just melt off of you. You will be given the tool (WLS) to achieve this. You are on the right track if you are thinking about it. I did it 2.5 years ago and lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I am here to help you, answer any questions you might have about WLS—I had the sleeve. You are WORTH the effort it will take. It can happen and your only regret you will have is that you didn’t do it sooner. Hugs,

Hi, First of all this is ALL about YOU and no one else. You do not need anyone's approval to do this. You have earned the right to be healthy and happy. You have to do what is best for you. You will never regret doing this. Everyday you wait is a day that you are giving away that you will never get back. It is OK to take time and do your research. Ask 100's of questions, be comfortable with your choice. Be safe and know that I am always here to answer any of your questions if I can help. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Everyone, What can you expect before you have weight loss surgery? What can you expect once you arrive at the Hospital? What can you expect the 1st month after having weight loss surgery? First before you have weight loss surgery you can expect a basket FULL of feeling and emotions. You will have a bag full of MIXED feelings along with emotions. This is quite normal for most of us. I think the biggest fear is the unknown. We are excited that we made the choice to have weight loss surgery. Then the closer you get to having WLS you feel all of these feeling and emotions. You will think I can’t wait to have the surgery; I am scared to have the surgery. You will have all these feeling plus a lot more. Some of the feelings and emotions I had were: happy, sad, scared, excited, fearful, alarmed, anxious, nervous, worried, pleased, blissful, ecstatic, delighted, content, glad, lucky, and fortunate. And some I probably didn’t mention. You will second guess yourself, and ask yourself, is this what I really want to do? Yes, it is!!! You may think I should be able to do lose this weight myself without having WLS. If we could lose the weight on our own and keep it off, believe me we would have already done it! So I want you to know having all these feeling and emotions are very NORMAL, because most of us have had all these feeling and emotions before we actually had weight loss surgery. Now when you arrive, I can only speak from my experience, because I was a self- pay patient, and went to Mexicali, Mexico for my surgery. I know flying there on the plane, and I kept asking myself “am I nuts going to Mexico to have Weight Loss surgery?” Believe me I had done a lot of research before I made my choice and I actually worked with some who had been there before me. Then I arrived in San Diego, and I was waiting for the driver Ernesto to pick me and others up, and I kept think, what if he doesn’t pick me up and here I am sit in San Diego? Well here he comes walking down where you pick up your luggage with a BIG sign with my name on it—I felt so much better when I saw him. There were about 4 other people in the van all going to have Weight Loss Surgery too. We had a great time talking, and the 1.5 hours of driving went by fast, as we all got to know each other. I have remained friends still with these people, and that was 4 1/2 years ago. We went through a lot together and we were all very successful at our weight loss and have kept it off. Once I got the hospital and actually saw the hospital, all my fears went away. I was greeted by the nicest and warmest caring staff I have ever met in ANY hospital. This was a Sunday, and they were doing all our tests that afternoon so we would be ready for surgery the next morning. After we all got our test taken care of we were driven to an extremely nice and beautiful hotel. We were each given a really nice room. They told us that we could eat anything we wanted for dinner that night. We got together as a group and ate dinner that night. So of course we all ate just want we wanted that night. We had a small amount of paper work to fill out that night too. One of the Doctors came to the Hotel and spoke with us as a group and answered any and ALL of our questions about the surgery we were going to be having. We were also given some medication to take before we went to bed, so we would sleep well. I was so excited, I really didn’t sleep that well. We were picked up the next morning at 7:00 AM—NO food that morning because of the surgery. The driver took us back to the Hospital, where we were checked in with our own nurse who speaks excellent English. We all had private rooms that big with a TV. Our rooms were all close to each other and that made it nice too. They didn’t tell us the order we were going to surgery, but that we would have surgery that morning. The nurse gives you some nice drugs to relax you while you wait. After surgery they tell you that you can get up and walk when you feel ready once you get back to your room. I was up and walking around 2 hours after I went back to my room. I felt good. They manage the pain extremely well. They only pain I felt was in my shoulders and that is from the gas that they pump into your abdominal area, so that they can do the surgery. They did 3 tests on my new stomach to make sure I had NO leaks and that everything was working well before they let me go home on Friday morning. I have never received such excellent care as I did at the hospital I was in. When you arrive at home please prepare to have the foods that you will need when you get home after the surgery. The 1st month is the hardest month that you will EVER have to do. It is retraining your brain, and learning to eat a small amount of food. Your brain was so used to eating large amounts of food, and now you are not able. This is what my doctor had me do. Please follow the directions that YOUR doctor wants you to do when it comes to eating. For me it was 10 days of NOTHING but clear liquids—that is the worst stage, but it does get better after the 1st 10 days. The next 10 days were creamy foods, and the last 10 days is mushy foods. You do this to give your new small stomach a chance to heal. Look at your thumb—the size of your thumb is about all you can hold when it comes to food or liquid in your new stomach. They made your stomach small, and now it is swollen from the surgery. It will get better as time goes on, and you should be able to hold about 6 to 8 oz. of what you are eating or drinking. You REALLY need to learn to sip Water ALL the time you are up and awake. You do not want to get dehydrated. It truly is a job trying to get the amount of water in that you need. Carry the water around with you so that you remember to sip it all the time. I remember thinking to myself “what in the world have I done to myself?” That only lasted about 2 hours when I realized that what I did was save my own life. This will be the hardest month you will ever have to do, but it is only for 30 days, and you can do anything for 30 days to get to where you want to go! You have done the right thing. It is pretty normal to mourn the loss of eating all the things you used to eat. In time you will be glad that you can't eat all that food. I NEVER FEEL HUNGER anymore. I am so glad I do not feel hunger. I know I need to eat something, so I eat. As time goes on, you will discover that the lifestyle changes that you are making are pretty easy. I never feel deprived. I just eat small amounts of food and now and then YES, I have a treat. Sometimes just having one bite of something satisfies my need for that food. If I have a desert, I don’t have a large piece of cake, just a small amount is all I need; only 1 cookie, not the whole bag full. I have learned to bake things that taste yummy and don’t have all the calories and sugar that I used to think I needed to make it taste good. Your taste does change a bit after having Weight Loss Surgery, and that is good, because sometime things just taste too sweet; so your taste does change some. Just remember I am always out here to help and support you. You are making the right choice for you. This is ALL about YOU and NO one else. If you have any questions please just send me a note and I am more than happy to answer any and all your questions. NEVER look back, you are going to love who you are about to become!

Hi, Yeah, then I have been successful if what I wrote inspired you. I have quite a few posting on here, check some of them out. They may motivate you a little more. I agree take your time and ask 100's of questions from everyone. Feel comfortable with your choice. It took me 6 months to make up my mind. So you are doing all the right things. I am always here if you have any questions for me. I will always be honest and tell you the truth! I wish you great success on your weight loss journey. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I think you have a great attitude and are doing all the right things. You will be amazed at how much better you are going to feel in just 6 months. As the weight starts to come off you become more motivated. I am always right here if you need anything or have more questions. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, You are very welcome. I had some great help along my journey and I want to be able to help others too. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, We are all doing great and have maintained our weight loss. You will do will too. I am glad that you are making the choice to do something that will only bring you good things! Hugs and take care, Suzanne

Hi, I am so glad that what I said helped you. I am always out here if you are having a hard or difficult time. You can always send me a private message to Suzannesh@aol.com. I read my E-mail everyday. Hugs, and I promise you, that this is going to be OK, and you are doing the right thing. Suzanne

Hi, Sorry to say I am not going to be there. I just wanted to let you know I traveled alone, and honestly it was good. I never had to keep anyone company. I met some of the other patients and we because great friends. You will meet them once you get there. Relax everything is going to be just fine. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, Aww, you are in fantastic hands! I wish you great success. They will take excellent care of you. I was sleeved in 2008 by Dr. Aceves and lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. Tell him Suzanne say's Hi! He and his entire staff are the very best you could have had for this surgery! Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, I went to Mexicali, Mexico and they did ALL the pre-op testing the day before the surgery. I went to Dr. Aceves, and the pre-op testing is included in the cost of the surgery. I would think that it would be important to have the pre-op testing to make sure that everything is OK before they did the surgery. The only thing that is NOT included in the fee for surgery is the cost of your air fare. You fly into San Diego, CA, and they send a driver to pick you up, take you to the hospital to have your pre-op testing. The drive works for the hospital. Then after the Pre-op testing is done, the driver take you to the 5 Start Hotel where you spend the night before the surgery. They have a driver take you to this hotel along with others that are having surgery the same day you are having it. You do have to pay for your own dinner that night, and it is about $12.00 at the most. They pick you up in the morning and take you back to the Hospital check you into your very nice private room with an TV and your own bathroom, and you have the surgery that morning. You are doing all of your recovery in this fully equipped hospital for 4 days. While you are doing your recovery they test you a total of 3 times to make sure you have NO leaks and that everything is working great. You go home on the 5th day, and the driver takes you back to San Diego which is about 1 1/2 hrs drive to the airport in San Diego. This is all included in your cost of surgery, your hospital and hotel and drive and testing and any medication they give you. They also send you home is pain meds if you need them. I think the fee is about $8,750. But you can check with them to find out for sure. I wish you great success on your journey. Pick the doctor and facility that works best for you. Hugs, Suzanne

No way. I love my sleeve. I had it 4 1/2 years ago,lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I have watched people who have had Bypass surgery gain it back. I wish you Great success in what ever your choice is.

I think I am doing just what Rule # 12 says. 12. Recommendations or reviews of surgeons, hospitals, products, or services are welcome if based on the reviewer's personal experience. The reviewer must have no financial interest in the subject being reviewed. Violations will result in the posts being removed and a possible permanent ban of membership. "I can’t speak about any of the other doctors because Dr. Aceves is the only person I have had experience with." The post I made before this one DID NOT mention Dr. Aceves at all. So sorry this bothers you, I would suggest that maybe you might not want to read any of my posts. I also wish you great success in your weight loss journey like I do for many other people. Enough said. Suzanne

Hey are you trying to make up your mind about having Weight Loss Surgery? What is the scariest part about having Weight Loss surgery? The UNKNOWN is the biggest factor about having weight loss surgery for most of us. We know that we have failed in one way or the other at trying to lose weight from our past experiences. We may have lost it, to only regain all the weight back again. Then we beat up ourselves up emotional because we feel we have failed at another attempt of weight loss AGAIN. I have been just where you are right now. You are sitting out there trying to figure out if weight loss surgery is going to work for you? Well, I want you to know that I am in my 60’s, and I had tried for at least 30 years to lose the weight on my own after having two children. I could lose it, but I would regain it back again. I felt like such a failure. Here are the things I know for a fact now. I had an addiction to food, and I had a disease. If you went to the doctor, and he said you have a disease, and we have a cure for you, you would do it right away. What are you waiting for this is your answer to have WLS. For me, my cure was weight loss surgery. It is NOT the easy way out. It requires work and effort on your part! It is the tool that allows you to get to the right weight for you and to keep it off. You will make lifestyle changes in how you eat and what you eat. You will need to do the same thing for the rest of your life, and it is so easy to continue to live like this. Do I feel deprived? NO, not at all; I eat healthy and I have yummy things to eat. I eat small amounts of food and feel good about what I am eating. I do treat myself to some desert now and then. I have also learned to bake some great deserts that are health things that I can eat and are very yummy. You will always have to watch what you are eating. This is NOT a miracle cure. I also exercise. I walk for my exercise 3 to 4 miles, but I sure didn't start out walking that much at first. Some people don’t exercise. I used to be the person who hated to exercise; now I really enjoy it. Here is the best part about have WLS, I never feel hungry! :wub: So if you are sitting out there contemplating having weight loss surgery, I urge you to make the choice to save your own life and have a whole new life as a thin and healthy person. If I can do this, so can you. I am always here to answer any and all of your question if you have any! You are slowly killing yourself with food and a fork! I went to Dr. Aceves, and he is an amazing surgeon who has such as big heart! His skills are superior and so are all his staff’s. I can’t speak about any of the other doctors because Dr. Aceves is the only person I have had experience with. The hospital far exceeds anything I have ever experienced in the USA. I highly recommend Dr. Aceves and his staff if you want the very best care you can have! Hugs, Suzanne

Hi I think you are doing the right thing, and it is very normal to have a bag full of feelings and emotions. I wrote this a few weeks ago, and you might find it helpful. I am always here if you need anything. Hey are you trying to make up your mind about having Weight Loss Surgery? What is the scariest part about having Weight Loss surgery? The UNKNOWN is the biggest factor about having weight loss surgery for most of us. We know that we have failed in one way or the other at trying to lose weight from our past experiences. We may have lost it, to only regain all the weight back again. Then we beat up ourselves up emotional because we feel we have failed at another attempt of weight loss AGAIN. I have been just where you are right now. You are sitting out there trying to figure out if weight loss surgery is going to work for you? Well, I want you to know that I am in my 60’s, and I had tried for at least 30 years to lose the weight on my own after having two children. I could lose it, but I would regain it back again. I felt like such a failure. Here are the things I know for a fact now. I had an addiction to food, and I had a disease. If you went to the doctor, and he said you have a disease, and we have a cure for you, you would do it right away. What are you waiting for this is your answer to have WLS. For me, my cure was weight loss surgery. It is NOT the easy way out. It requires work and effort on your part! It is the tool that allows you to get to the right weight for you and to keep it off. You will make lifestyle changes in how you eat and what you eat. You will need to do the same thing for the rest of your life, and it is so easy to continue to live like this. Do I feel deprived? NO, not at all; I eat healthy and I have yummy things to eat. I eat small amounts of food and feel good about what I am eating. I do treat myself to some desert now and then. I have also learned to bake some great deserts that are health things that I can eat and are very yummy. You will always have to watch what you are eating. This is NOT a miracle cure. I also exercise. I walk for my exercise 3 to 4 miles, but I sure didn't start out walking that much at first. Some people don’t exercise. I used to be the person who hated to exercise; now I really enjoy it. Here is the best part about have WLS, I never feel hungry! So if you are sitting out there contemplating having weight loss surgery, I urge you to make the choice to save your own life and have a whole new life as a thin and healthy person. If I can do this, so can you. I am always here to answer any and all of your question if you have any! You are slowly killing yourself with food and a fork! Hugs Suzanne

Me again, I wrote this a while ago and it might be helpful to you. I have been asked so many times on this board about what Protein drinks are good and some sample meals that I used during the first month and things I did after the 1st month. These are very valid questions and I know when I first started out I had all the same questions. Again this is long so please print this out if you would like. Protein Drinks. My all-time favorite is: Premier Protein Drink. It comes in 11 oz. drink boxes already mixed. There are 30 grams of protein in each box, 160 calories per box, 1 gram of sugar and 5 grams of carbs. The flavor I buy is Chocolate—that is all I can find at costco. I get mine at Costco and I understand that you can get them at Sam’s Club too. You can order these on line at Costco and Sam’s club. They are also available at this Web Site. http://www.premiernutrition.com/product.html I pay about $25.00 for a carton of 18 drink boxes at Costco in the city where I live. I drink one of these every morning for my breakfast and nothing else and it has been almost 3 years since my “sleeve surgery.” The next Protein Drink that I have tried is called: Matrix 2.0 Mint Cookies made by Syntrax. You can check this out on this Web Site. http://www26.netrition.com/syntrax_matrix_page.html The cost for 2.16 lbs. is $22.99 plus postage. Item # 39-0963 On www.ObesityHelp.com they have a lot of different information about Protein Drinks and they list so many different brands and people have rated the ones they really like check this site out. It has a lot of information about almost all the protein drinks that we find out there. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/nutrition/a,prodsearch/searchtype,1/criteria,11/ I hate Isopure. It does NOT taste good to me—I know that some people like it. I call it Isopuke, and it reminds me of pond scum. I have been told if you buy it at a GNC and don’t like it and still have your receipt they will refund your money if it hasn’t been more than 30 days since you purchased it from them. I guess they will do that with protein powers too—ask before you buy what their policy is about returning something if you don’t like it. So if you want to try it remember this. There always seems to be a GNC in most Malls. Suzanne

Hi, I have been down this road too. I had sleeve surgery in 2008. I lost 105 pounds and have kept it off. I love and drink Premier Protein drinks. You can get them at costco or Sams Club. I still to this day drink one every morning for Breakfast. They have chocolate and vanilla. Try putting the Protein Drink in a blender with a few ice cubes and that dilutes it some too. If I get the Vanilla, I put a few frozen strawberries in the blender with the protein drink. I really like the Premier Protein, and they have 30 grams of protein in each drink box. They come in a red and white box, and there are 18 drink boxes in the carton and they are about $25.00. It may take drinking 3 or 4 of them to see if you like them. I hope that is helpful, and I am always around if you have any more questions. Suzanne

Hi, I have read what you wrote and you believe I am advertising and promoting my surgeon? Did you read my entire article--I am sure I posted about the fear of the unknown! I guess you only sampled a few of my posting. I have spoken about other doctors too, when asked about them. But, MY experience is with the only doctor that did my surgery and that is Dr. Aceves. Also, I have helped 100's of people who have gone to other doctors in the US and Mexico on many Weight Loss Surgery boards. You do seem to have only part of the facts. I have help more people than you will ever know. So you are very WRONG about me and what I do when I post on this board. Why do you feel threaten because I posted a positive thing about Dr. Aceves???? Yes, I had said nice things about him before too, but that is NOT all I post. He made a big difference in my life, and like many patients who have a positive experience with their Doctors, they say how they feel about them too. My direct quote is just this "I can’t speak about any of the other doctors because Dr. Aceves is the only person I have had experience with." Never once did it speak badly about another doctor or say that you should ONLY go to Dr. Aceves. So please get all your facts straight before you make a post like you have posted about me. Do you want or need a list of the people I have helped who did NOT go to Dr.Aceves? I have been sitting out here on these boards a lot longer than you, and you have NO right to judge me until you have all the facts! I did notice that NO one agreed with you. Suzanne

Hi, I became a big label reader when I started this journey. Check and see how many Carbs are in the Atkins Protein Drinks and how many grams of sugar they have. I know how hard it is to find a protein drink that you like. I agree 100% don't buy a lot of anything, because your tastes do change. I wish you great success in your weight loss journey. Hugs, Suzanne

Hi, It might be the Protein Drink that you are drinking. What are us using for a Protein Drink? I have used Premier Protein Drink, and you can buy it at costco and Sams Club. I had the surgery over 4 1/2 years ago, and I still drink this for my Breakfast every morning. You might want to try another kind of Protein Drink. Sometimes an All Natural Fruit Popsicle without any sugar would help settle my stomach after I had surgery and it felt upset. You can always send me a private E-mail to Suzannesh@aol.com. Let me know how you are doing.

Hi, This is all great advice. I was 63 when I had my WLS. I think it was the best thing I have ever done for myself! Hugs, and thanks for sharing Suzanne

Hey you! Why are you still sitting out there “thinking” about having Weight Loss Surgery? I know you are sure you should be able to lose the weight on your own! Well, if this were really true you would have done it by now. Some of us have lost it, to only regain it back again, and then we beat ourselves up over doing this. You have a disease, and it is called fat, fluffy, overweight, and obese. We can call it whatever name we want, but it is a disease. If you had any other disease you would go to a Doctor immediately. Well, this is a disease, because we are unable for many reasons to gain control over it. There is NO shame in having weight loss surgery. It is NOT the easy way out! It does require work and effort on your part. However it is the answer for many people. You are going to kill yourself faster from using your fork putting this food in your mouth all day long. What are you scared about? It is OK to be scared, I was too. We have an addiction for food, and we use food to self-medicate for 100’s of reasons. I know I have been where you are right now. 4 ½ years ago I had weight loss surgery, and I lost 105 pounds and I have kept it off. I urge you to consider taking back your life and putting yourself in control of “YOU” again. There is nothing that feels as good as being healthy, and to eat well. Please stop and care for yourself enough to change your life. I am always out here to answer all your questions and help you with anything you might want to know. It is OK to ask lots of questions, and you should do that! I was the lady with at least 1,000 questions. I love this quotes: “"Don't sacrifice your future for a momentary pleasure" Stop and think about this quote for just a few moments.

Hey, These are all normal fears. Yes, you will be able to go out and have dinner and have a great time with your husband. You will be make better food choices and eating a whole lot less, but you will not feel deprived at all. Not everyone will lose their hair. I lost some hair and my hair was already thin. I got a cute wig, until my hair came back. He is the great part, I now have a natural curl in my hair that I never had before, and I love it! And it is a bit thicker now, so it wasn't all bad. I can't say I have sagging skin. Not everyone does. I had very little pain, and they managed it with pain medication. Take some Gas-X with you because some of the pain is caused by the pain of the gas that they put in your area so that can do the surgery. You will NOT really experience real hunger. Your biggest problem will be "head hunger" Our brains really go to a lot of effort to try to make us think we are hungry--you are NOT. You will swear up and down that you are, but honestly you are NOT. You can only hold about as much of food as the size of your thumb because of the swelling of your stomach. So the liquid fill you up. You will miss chewing because you are on the liquids for 10 days or how ever long your doctor wants you one them. The 1st month is the hardest month you will EVER have to do. I am always here if you are having a problem or need to talk. You can send me a private E-mail: Suzannesh@aol.com Hugs, and congratulations to you!

Hi, Are you lurking out there reading all these posting by everyone trying to absorb as much information as you can about weight loss surgery. I used to be one of you too. I knew I need and wanted to do something about being fat. I had struggled for 30 or more years trying all the kinds of diets there were—yep you too—I knew it. I had my greatest success with Weight Watchers, and to this day I feel for so many people it is the healthiest way to lose weight. I saw over the year too many people including some of the Weight Watchers group leaders gain the weight back—and me too. I became interested more and more in Weight Loss Surgery the more I lurked around on these boards seeing what people had said. I even thought to myself are these people really real or is someone paying them to write all these stories about their success. I really was fortunate enough to have a very close friends who went to Mexicali, Mexico and had Dr. Aceves do her weight loss surgery. She was an RN and I worked with her, so I knew what integrity she had as a nurse and trusted her judgment. I wasn’t sure this was what I wanted to do yet. So after watching her drop the pounds and become more healthy each day, I started asking her a million different questions. She was great and pointed me in the right direction of making me do some research and see what I came up with and what kind of Weight Loss Surgery did I want for myself? I must have spent 6 months reading everything I could find about weight loss surgery. I knew that I wanted to have the sleeve surgery and I knew without a doubt that Dr. Aceves in Mexicali was the ONLY doctor that I was willing to put my trust in. I also called and talked to the people who worked for him and asked them all kinds of questions. I bet they started referring to me as the “Queen of Questions.” Not really they really are happy to answer all your questions this is a life changing event that you are about to do. I talked with my husband about doing this, and he was so very supportive. He answer to me was “I know you well enough to know that you have done all kinds of reading and research.” He said if this is want you want go for it. Not everyone was supportive of this and I know it was because they really had NO idea of what kind of surgery I wanted to have. I was also 63 when I made this choice. What I want to say for you “newbies, or those lurking out there with just the thought of having weight loss surgery.” It is OK to do just want you are doing. But, don’t wait forever to do something about it. Every day that you live your life unhealthy, fat, uncomfortable in your own body, is a day that you are giving away. STOP giving any more days of your life away. It is time to take control of your life instead of food controlling you. Take back your power, be the person that I know you can become. I know that if you are a “self pay person” that is a lot of money to pay to have surgery. It will be the best money that you could ever spend. You are adding years back on your life. You will spend less on food, health care, medications and so many other things. If at 63 I could do this, I know that you can do this too and be very successful. I am very prejudice about Dr. Aveves. He is the best there is when it comes to this kind of surgery, and don’t you want the best you can have when it comes to your health and the rest of your life? I know I sure did. I went alone, I wasn’t scared to go to Mexicali, you are picked up at the airport in San Diego and driven by a very nice man in a van along with a lot of others who are about to change their lives just like you are going to do. They take excellent care of you in hospital with everything that you would ever need. I am here to answer any questions that you may have about having this surgery and Dr. Aceves and his team of talented staff. The care you receive it top rated and better than anything you will ever have in the USA. If you are waiting for your insurance to pay for it, they drag it out for 2 years or more and so many of them then tell you NO. So don’t give away another day of your life. Do something for the first time in your life and that is put yourself first! It has been 4 1/2 years ago and I am now 67 and have kept off the 105 pounds. I will say that I exercise 7 days a week, and I walk between 3 and 4 miles. I have walked now for 185 days in a row, and NEVER missed a day. It has become a GOOD habit, and I love walking! Hugs,