BKMama

Does anyone have any of these books? Thoughts on them? They are in my packet from the nutritionist and she "strongly suggests" I get at least one. :-) Eating well after weight loss surgery by Pat Levine recipes for Life after Weight Loss Surgery by Margaret Furtado The High-Protein Cookbook by Eckhardt and Defoyfd Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies Thanks in advance!

Did you have to have it removed or was it just time for it to come out?

I'm in Chicagoland too, it's great connecting with others from the area. Jaspersgirl, who's your surgeon?

Oops, duplicate.

So we can eat cereal with milk? I assumed not since it goes against not eating and drinking at the same time . This will be such good news if so.

You look great! Thanks for sharing your advice too, it's greatly appreciated.

Is anyone done with it and want to sell (or loan/give) to a newbie? I'm going to go ahead and buy it if no offers, but figured I'd ask. Thanks!

Yeah, I hadn't looked at the price (duh! LOL). it was less than $20 even with shipping. It's on its way. I don't know why I assumed it would be expensive.

Wow what a transformation. You should be so proud of yourself. Great job!!!!

There is the African American Sleevers social group, which has a discussion portion....but it's kind of hard to get to: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/123-african-american-sleevers/

It would really turn me of the be required to buy something from a doctor. What if you don't like it or simply can't afford it? Everyone likes different things when it comes to the protein. Alexian Brothers does have a great reputation though.

Hey Kayte - I worry about this with my husband but it's funny. As big as I am, I have smaller boobs (barely a D cup) and definitely suffer from noassatall. I'm hoping and praying that slimming down and exercising will give me some curves. Anyway, I know I don't want to get too thin because he just doesn't like really thin girls...everyone has their preferences. I would say, just make the most of whatever you have left. Show him what the thinner body can do that the "thicker" one could. The different clothes you'll be able to wear...things like that. Reading this board and looking through before/after pics, it seems that most of the women kept their overall body shape. If you start off curvy, you'll likely stay curvy but just with smaller proportions. I'm a square, so I need to make some curves! LOL And a bit of a tangent, this whole "I'm thick" movement has done us a bit of a disservice if you ask me as far as health. Many of us passed up "thick" many, many pounds ago (myself included!!). LOL It's great to have fabulous self-esteem no matter your size, I admire women like that...but we have to be honest with ourselves that our health is in danger.

Yeah, that's the other reason in going to suck it up. I'm always exhausted. Always. 6 hours of sleep or 10. It's so frustrating. I don't even know what waking up refreshed feels like. My insurer rents for 6 months too. Seems common.

That's awesome! Congrats!!

An insurance company can't dictate you get treatment. However, with the hospital I'm working with, if you are diagnosed with apnea you MUST bring your machine with you to surgery or it will be cancelled. So I would check on that. And honestly, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but using the machine prior to surgery is for your benefit. If you have apnea, it means that while you're asleep from the anesthesia you will stop breathing. Why risk that? I'm annoyed about the CPAP ( I flip around like a fish when I'm sleeping so I already know it's not going to be comfortable LOL) but if it's one more thing that will help me get through this surgery successfully then I'm going to suck it up. Once we drop the pounds, there's a good chance we won't need them anymore.

thank you! it's very similar to the crockpot turkey chili I make now. Wendy's chili tastes slightly sweet to me...haven't figured out how.

Cool, I definitely will. do you do the support groups at all? how are they? I really liked Dr. P the psychiatrist. We had a great session. You're doing great with your weight loss, by the way!

Hi Lewanda, i can't wait to watch your journey unfold. If you're going to give it 110% then you'll rock it!! It is so funny the comments "you don't look that big". I know people think it's a compliment but it really isn't. I get it all the time, even at doctor's offices when they try to use the "normal" scale (that only goes to 300 pounds). I'll say "that isn't going to work for me" and they look puzzled. I can't WAIT until that is no longer an issue!

Hi Jim! How cool that you and your wife will be doing this journey together.

Oh my goodness, you all and these darn letters making me cry. It's like you reached in my head! Beautiful, just beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Do you mind sharing?

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for this conversation. I haven't set a goal weight yet, but chances are it will put me very close to needing to lose 200# if not at it. I'm still pre-op, but this thread gives me so much hope!

JaspersGirl, I'm having my surgery at NMH.

LOL! I hear you! I sent a picture to my husband and told him I was moving in. All of the wires were annoying but I was able to fall asleep (but I'm exhausted most if the time). I actually slept better the 2nd time (the titration) with the cpap than with the snore censor thing they had up my nose the 1st time. Anyway, as others said they hook you up to monitors for everything from brain waves, snoring , leg movement, chest movement (breathing), heart rate, pulse, and oxygen level. Try your best to relax, avoid any caffeine that day too. Just think of it as another hoop too jump through that will get you closer to goal. :-)

Congrats!