Lissa

You should be tooting your own horn! You may have made goal, but now you want to be healthy too! Go, Go, Go!!!

I spent yesterday rearranging my sewing space and I finally decided that I can sew some clothes for me again. I pulled my sewing dummy out of the closet and realized I haven't changed her measurements to match mine in quite some time. Imagine my disappointment that my sewing dummy is now BIGGER than me, even at her smallest settings.

Perhaps talk more in depth to your surgeon? One of the gals in my IRL support group has Barrett's and has done amazingly well with her sleeve.

I drink LOTS of decaf unsweet tea myself. I use way too much splenda, equal, stevia, etc, but I get my liquids in and that's what counts. Congrats on your weight loss!! You're looking fantastic...and I'm sorry to insult your beloved Cherry Cola by thinking it was Dr Pepper.

Yeah, Debs! It's a horrible feeling to be smaller than my Dummy. I guess I should call her by name, Violet. She served me well.

Drink some cranberry juice and up your water intake for the kidney pain. It will help tremendously! I can't help on the stricture, but I know that others have had it.

Good luck! You may also want to look for posts from TJ Mama. She's been wheelchair-bound for years and is working her way up to walking...and making GREAT strides! You may be able to correspond with her for ideas, or get good information just from reading her posts.

The nut is probably offering something that she knows won't affect anything for your surgery. Take her advice! I had to have IV potassium before a c-section and that stuff burns like crazy!!!

I had my rings re-sized UP when I got married. Since the marriage is iffy, at best, right now, I'm holding off on having mine re-sized DOWN yet. I sometimes put them on just to see how big they are...and I'm glad I don't wear them every day. I'd be in danger of my rings sliding off my finger without me noticing it.

This is reason number 2,593,323 that I love the sleeve! It creates EYE CANDY for us girls!! BTW, do you miss the Dr Pepper like that big guy thought you'd miss it?

Welcome back! I've been somewhat slacking on posting here as well, mostly because I just started a new business venture and I'm buried under it. I have employees for the first time EVER!!!

I had the same thoughts pre-surgery, too!! Now, I'm reaping the benefits of the lost weight, including liking ME more. I think people DO judge us because we're fat, etc, but there are some downsides, too. I've had two friends jump ship because they don't like the changes in me. And, in some ways, they are right. I'm less likely to accept someone treating me as less than (fill in the adjective here), simply because of my size. I'm a smart, capable, funny, loving human being... and I'm working on accepting those things about myself. You will find that there is a huge mental journey attached to this weight loss, but it's SO worth it! Good luck! I can't wait to see what your "next year" looks like!!!

I'm SO sorry for your loss! I lost one of my besties in January, so I know how much the sudden loss hurts! (((Hugs)))

You can click on a poster's name and see the pictures they have uploaded in their profile.

Cantwait, Your starting weight and stats are very similar to mine! Congrats on reaching Twoterville!!

I was allowed decaf after the first week.

I'm right at 239/240 right now and I'm losing sizes even though I'm not losing big chunks of weight. For me, I think it's due to exercise. Take your measurements. They are a much more accurate guide than the scale.

Hi TigerBelle, Welcome to VST!! I'm thrilled to see that you've started your journey and that you're considering VSG. IMO, VSG is the number one weight loss surgery, but I may be a little biased. I was sleeved August 30, 2011, at 337 pounds, down from 352 thanks to my preop diet. I'm 5'8, so my BMI was mid-50's. (It shows on my ticker I think). In just over a year, I'm down nearly 120 pounds and I have a whole new lease on life. VSG saved my life. My comorbidities read like a med students worst patient ever: arthritis, sleep apnea, DVT, pulmonary embolism, joint problems, asthma, etc. Almost all of those are resolved now, although I do have to have my gallbladder out in the next few days. If I were choosing a date based on your travel plans, I think I'd move the October trip to next year and be sleeved now. Yes, you enjoy those trips, but your health is SO important and you'll enjoy the trip more when you've dropped a chunk of weight and are able to move more freely. If you're sleeved in early October, you'll have your honeymoon period over the holidays and get to enjoy this year's holiday season by dropping a ton of weight. What a great Christmas present to yourself. You could feasibly be down 30-50 pounds by Christmas and New Years, just in time to buy a great new dress to flaunt your slimmer figure. Perhaps Valentines Day of 2013 could be the best one of your life! Good luck, whatever you choose!

Looking really good!! Check out that collarbone!! Congrats!

I got new glasses just before surgery, then had to go back to wearing my old ones by October, 2011. I just decided a few weeks ago to put the new ones back on and now they work very well. I don'[t know if it's sleeve related, but that was my experience.

Let us know how they taste. Below is the nutrition info from the GNC website 160 calories per bar 35 calories from fat 28 carbs per bar 10 grams of Protein per bar 4 grams of fat per bar Serving Size 1 bar Servings Per Container 5 Amount Per Serving % DV Calories from Fat 35.00 Saturated Fat 2.00 g 10% Trans Fat 0.00 g Polyunsaturated Fat 1.00 g 0% Monounsaturated Fat 1.00 g 0% Cholesterol 15.00 mg 5% Sodium 150.00 mg 6% Total Carbohydrate 28.00 g 9% Dietary Fiber 10.00 g 40% Calories 160.00 Total Fat 4.00 g 6% Sugars 6.00 g Protein 12.00 g 0% Vitamin A 0.00 1% Vitamin C 0.00 0% Calcium 0.00 3% Iron 0.00 6% ** Daily Value (DV) not established † Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs: Calories: 2000 2500 Total Fat Less than 65 g 80 g Sat. Fat Less than 20 g 25 g Cholesterol Less than 300 mg 300 mg Sodium Less than 2400 mg 2400 mg Total Carbohydrate 300 g 375 g Dietary Fiber 25 g 30 g Calories per gram: Fat 9• Carbohydrate 4•Protein 4