Beanzilla

Hello! I'm scheduled for surgery in late August of this year, and I just sent in my heath questionnaire. I'm going to Mexico, and in doing research and contacting different places, one of them told me that by BMI was too high to have surgery. Um, what? Now I'm afraid that that once this place sees my forms, they will tell me the same thing. I'm hoping that if that is the case, since I have a couple of months, maybe they will let my try to lose some weight first. See, I can lose weight if I work really really really hard at at, but the problem is keeping it off. And if I think about eating, I will gain 5 pounds. Seriously, it just happened, right now. I will be crushed if I can't get this done. I've struggled with my weight my entire life, and I can't keep going on like this. This is not living. It's gotten to the point where I can't walk very far without being out of breath and my back hurting. I'm tired of being stared at by strangers, and being laughed at by them. I'm tired of worrying if I'll be able to fit in the seating wherever it is that I'm going. I don't want to just be pretty eyes, or nice lips. This sounds so silly, but besides looking good and being healthy, I want to run. Just run for a mile, or two miles, and feel that stitch in my side and my lungs and heart pumping, wind whipping my hair. I'm huge, I know this. I don't want to be this way anymore. If I could lose weight with diet and exercise, um, yeah, I would be doing that. *sigh* Thanks for reading. I'll update once I know something.

Good luck! I've been on my pre-op diet for 2 weeks now. My surgery is 8/23. The first few days were really difficult for me, because I'm at work most of the time and my co-workers get take-out every day, but now it's not so bad. I've lost 17 pounds so far, so that has motivated me to keep going.

Somehow I missed this forum before. I saw the Christian one, and was like "what the hell!" So yay! I'm glad not the only non-believer here. I used to have a bumper sticker on my mini-van that I used to own that said "We're all going to hell and I'm driving the bus." I'm going to be sleeved in August, I'm married, no spawn (and never will be), bisexual.

It's mostly vanity for me. I want to be tiny! I want to feel good about how I look, like what I'm wearing, and not worry that I'm taking up too much space. Yes, my health is important, but wearing clothes sized in the single digits would be so exciting!

When I was going to go through insurance (long story, not going into it), I would have gone to Henry Ford's Bariatric Center with Jeffrey Genaw or Arthur Carlin. Both are highly respected. I ended up deciding to go to Mexico for my surgery because of insurance issues. Here's the link for Henry Ford: http://www.henryford.com/body_academic.cfm?id=39922 Good luck to you!

Yes, yes, yes, SweetTee! I love shoes too! I have so many gorgeous shoes that I haven't been able to wear in a few years. I almost sold them last year. I'm really glad I didn't! And I can't wait to buy new heels!

I liked the chocolate from Unjury, but I hated the strawberry, vanilla, and unflavored. I thought they were gross. I haven't tried the broth because the idea of drinking something warm when it's a million degrees outside is not appealing to me. I really liked the cocoa-mochaccino from Champion Nutrition and the chocolate truffle from Nectar Sweets. I have other samples coming that I'll be trying soon.

I want to run! I want to wear cute clothes, shop at "normal" clothing stores, wear a dress or skirt, wear shorts, go to the beach, go anywhere I want and not worry about whether or not I will fit in the seating, ride a bike, and wear high heels again. I miss wearing high heels! Ooh ooh and knee high boots! I want to wear knee high boots. I also want to plant a huge, beautiful flower garden and a little vegetable garden, and do all the work myself, because I can.

Thank you for starting this topic. I've been wondering the same things!

In the building I work in, it's all tiny women that use the handicap stall. I've never been a fan of them, unless the regular stalls are super small. They kind of freak me out, though I'm not sure why. They don't feel as private (which is dumb, I know). Oh, and I'm short, whith short little legs, so the height of the toilet is uncomfortable.

Well, it's kinda funny...then again, I use humor quite a bit, so I find it funny. The first time it happened, I was like "really? I'm so freakin' fat I can't wipe my butt? Really?" It's one of those things people take for granted. Who knew that could be a problem? And then there's the creativity involved in figuring out how to reach, and, um, yeah.

It was a combination of things that all just added up. I hate looking in the mirror, and have been isolating myself because I feel too embarrased to go out in public. I got over 400 pounds. Several people commented to me how great I looked in my wedding pictures and "what happened?" (I was still overweight in those pictures, but not by that much). I can't go grocery shopping without my back hurting. I can't walk far without being out of breath. I sweat a lot, without much effort. I have a hard time fitting in movie theater seats and always worry about seating anywhere I go in public. I HATE clothes for fat people. I hate the way my face looks. I hate the way my body looks. I'm sick of losing, gaining, losing, gaining. I feel like the "real me" is hidden because of my weight. I am not living life. I'm 32 years old, and I have so much to do, so much to see, and I'm hiding in my house. That's no way to live!

Thank you! I started easing in my pre-op diet a couple weeks ago. At first I replaced Breakfast with a Protein shake, and now 2 meals are replaced by a protein shake. Some days I follow the diet fully, but not all. Once I actually have to follow the diet, I know I will. I have to. I haven't weighed myself, but I feel better already, and my skin has cleared up some. Luckily the Protein shakes are filling, and maybe this is psychological, but I haven't been wanting to eat as much, and I haven't been wanting to eat the bad stuff I used to.

I have problems with diarrhea and IBS too, and like you, a cause wasn't found. I went almost gluten free, and it seems to have helped. Hopefully it will help you too!

I'm so sorry your husband and his family are treating you this way. They sound like very unpleasant people, but I'm glad you are taking steps to distance yourself from unhealthy people. It takes a lot of strength to do that, and that strength will help you through this process. I'm getting sleeved on August 23rd as well. My thoughts will be with you. I wish you the best and continued strength through this.

Pre-op diet: 2 protein shakes per day, and a healthy salad for dinner with a protein, and a little bit of lite dressing, one month before surgery. 1 week before, all liquid diet, no pop.

People are afraid of change, and I think lack of knowledge sometimes makes people say/do some really dumb things. To echo what others have written already, you have a support system here (which I know is not the same as having one in person), and you are doing this for you. Hopefully people will start coming around and being supportive after your surgery. Good luck. I'm lucky that so far everyone has been really excited for me, which also bugs me a little because it kind of makes me feel like they all secretly met and were like "yeah, she's huge, she needs to do something about it." But I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and I'll just be happy people are supportive. My husband has been supportive too, except he still isn't understanding that my diet has to change, and I have to keep explaining it, which is frustrating. But I think he is scared, and when he is that way, he gets goofy about things. See, his ex lost a lot of weight, and her personality changed (and she started having afairs left and right), so he is afraid the same will happen with me. I've had to reassure him that I will still be me, but I'll just be smaller. Me 2.0, if you will. The only problem I've had is people giving me grief about going to Tj. I just tell them that it's safer than Detroit, and I go to Detroit all the time. That usually shuts them up!

I have to do mine for a month because my BMI is so high, but I'm starting now, since it can't hurt to lose as much weight as possible before hand.

All of those things are so true! I will add that it will be nice to be stared at because I'm a hot chick with a bunch of tattoos, instead of because I'm a huge chick with a bunch of tattoos. It would also feel nice not feeling trapped in my body. I'm afraid my boobs won't shrink though. Several years ago I went through a divorce and lost 150 pounds from the stress (I gained it back, and more), and my boobs did not shrink. Band size went down, but cup size remained the same

This evening I tried the unjury chocolate Splendor. I didn't think it was going to fill me, but it totally did, and it was pretty tasty with no weird aftertaste or grit. I love chocolate though, so I might be a little biased. I had purchased the starter kit, so I could sample the different flavors. I'm hoping I like the others ones as well, so I can have some variety. I guess just try different things and hopefully you'll find something you like. Nothing is more annoying than having to completely change you diet and hate what you are changing it to. Good luck!

You are so inspiring, Brandymarie! I have about 280 pounds to lose and I'm terrified I'll be in that percent that don't see results. But reading your posts and other's posts is giving me hope! My surgery isn't until 8/23. Congrats and I wish you continued success!

August 23 with Dr. Garcia in Tj. I have about 280 pounds to lose. That's a huge number to think about, so I'm trying to break it down into smaller goals. I have to do the pre-op diet for a month before, but I've started easing into it now, cutting down on caffiene, and cutting back on other things, so it's not such a huge change.

This makes me so sad for you. At least it's nice to know that there are still some copassionate people out there. I'm scheduled for surgery in August, and I'm stressing about the flight. I borrowed money from people to pay for an extra seat because I know I won't fit, and I didn't want to risk being forced to buy a ticket they day of, or not be allowed on the plane. I'm not looking forward to the stares or having to deal with asking for an extender. *sigh* But, we must remember the outcome....this nightmare will be over soon. Best wishes to you *hugs*

I'm covered in tattoos too, and I always know the difference in stares. Recently, I went to my husband's synogague with him (he's Jewish, I'm not), and I was getting rude stares from some of the younger people, so I was self-concious all night. Then, at the end of services, I was sitting outside waiting for my husband to finish some business he had to take care of, and a bunch of little old ladies kept coming up to me telling me how much they love my tattoos. They looked at me like I was a person, instead of some monster, like the other people did.

I am definitely going to try this! Thank you. And thank you to everyone else for the ideas and support. I am approved to have surgery with Dr. Garcia, but there will be extra fees because there will be extra proceedures, which I completely understand. It also made me feel better that he is taking extra precautions for my safety and well-being. I am going to work to lose as much weight as I can before my surgery date. Weee! Now I'm getting excited!