Raven21

What's your secret to success? Did you eat at all? Did you exercise 24/7!

Holy cow! You are now my idol! Congrats!

I was once at a party and a woman I barely knew proceeded to tell me how she had lost a ton of weight. Perhaps she was just trying to be nice, but it didn't feel that way at the time. I guess I assume people just know its a forbidden subject to discuss a woman's size unless she is thin! I was so embarrassed that others may have overheard. Like they hadn't noticed I'm huge and now they would.. I wanted to ask her why she brought the subject up. Like "are you suggesting I'm overweight?" Hahahahaha, I should have. Now who's embarrassed? Perhaps it would have been different if we had ANY sort of relationship but she was just someone I saw occasionally at my daughter's basketball games. She was the girlfriend/mistress of one of the girl's dads. And did she really think I had never tried diet and exercise? What kind of idiot did she take me for? I hope to see her again in a year. She may have been thin, but her face was nothing to brag about.

So I'm 5'7" with about 100 pounds to lose. Just curious what kind of progress/timeframe I might expect. I know I play a big part in my success and I plan on being a poster child for following directions. I see people losing 100 pounds in a few months, but I'm guessing they probably have more to lose. If you had about 100 pounds to lose, what did your first few months look like in terms of success? Thx!

Sounds like you're good to go! I live in MI and have Aetna. Aetna requires 6 months of doc supervised or 3 months multi (psych, nutrition, exercise, doc), which I'm doing. The coordinator at the bariatric center said if I had BC/BS of MI, they could have scheduled the surgery! The kicker - my husband's company switched from BC/BS to Aetna in JULY! Oh well, I figure I can use the 3 months to get into an exercise routine. And the more I lose now, the less I have to later.

Start out slowly now. I'm just trying to walk more (even got a pedometer to give me a sense of accomplishment). I took a yoga class, which was awesome. And I tried a water exercise class (very basic) which was good too. I figure I'm not going to go from sedentary to aerobics without having a heart attack or breaking something! Anything I can start now, before surgery, will help my stamina later.

Local Community Ed programs often have yoga classes. I just went to my first one last week and I loved it. Sure I was probably the only one there sweating like a pig, but it felt really good to be doing something! I figure it's a gentle way to start moving again. I can't go from sedentary to aerobics overnight! Afraid I'd either have a heart attack or break something. So glad I found yoga. And water exercise classes!

Good luck. We all feel your pain. I'm only in the first month of my 3 month insurance game, but if all goes well I should be sleeved before year end! Maybe you will too!

Joy, you are young and have time. Try doing it naturally. Try hard. This option isn't going anywhere. If there is any doubt in your mind, satisfy it first so you'll never look back.

Joy, you are so young and so beautiful. Don't let weight ruin you life. I have been sitting on the sidelines watching my life go by for too many years waiting until I lose weight. I've missed so much. Don't wait until you're my age to find a way to beat it. Whatever way that may be!

I hate it too. I spent forever trying to find that one exercise everyone claims to love. It's not out there for me. I'm trying to vary my routine with swimming, yoga, biking, walking. Sounds like you are doing the same. It's a box we have to check. I got a pedometer so at least I feel some reward when I park at the back of the lot, take the stairs, etc. I started writing my exercise down so I feel a sense of accomplishment. I also don't want to leave any days with empty boxes. Good luck and keep trying! And if reading and computer stuff counted, I'd be anorexic!

I can lose weight, but I always gain it back, plus about 50%. I've been doing this since I was in my 20's. I started at 10-20 pounds overweight and dieted my way to 110 pounds overweight at 50. For me, it's not a diet. It's a total lifestyle change that will be facilitated by this very effective tool to assist me. After every diet that worked, I thought no problem, I'll just eat for awhile and diet again. And here I am. I don't know what is right for you, but please try not to get caught up in the yo-yo dieting!

You will all do great! Can't wait to hear about your success!

Hello! I have Aetna insurance and I am just about to start my 3 month pre-surgical program. According to the guidelines, BMI over 40 is enough to get approved. BMI over 35 but not 40 requires 2 documented comorbidities. I have them, just haven't gone for the sleep test to officially prove the sleep apnea, haven't been to an ortho to prove the knee problems, etc. I'd rather avoid it if I possibly can. My BMI is about 40.6, so I should be ok. My question is this, on what day do they consider my BMI to be the ONE they will use? When I start the 3 month program, I would hope I'd lose at least 5 or 10 pounds, if not more. If I do, it will put my BMI at less than 40. I certainly don't want to try NOT to lose weight just to keep my BMI up!

Seems so crazy to me that I may have actually found the "magic bullet!" I know it's a tool and the majority of the work falls to me in terms of eating right and exercising. But that has never been my problem. My problem is over eating to the point where exercise seems impossible and hopeless. Diets have been nothing but a way to gain even MORE weight when I was done. The thought of being full without over eating seems like a dream! I know it's crazy but I have never really been able to mentally connect the fact that, in a nutshell, consuming yummy chips makes my life a living hell. Logically I know it does but there's a gap between logic and my brain when it come to food. Now I'm going to be installing an internal switch that is going to connect it for me. At least for some period of time, which is why I need to make sure I change my exercise, eating, and habits before the switch gets turned off! I need to have all these new lifestyle changes cemented in! How long do I have before the weight loss slows down and I am "able" to eat too much?

Lol! At least you won't be drooling over flan anymore after that experience!

I was afraid of the RNY because of the malabsorption issues (Tylenol does not work for me, I need Motrin) and just the whole abnormal rerouting of your body. The sleeve seems much more simple to me. Having said that, at this point I'd consider pretty much anything that will get me out of this hellhole I've been living in. I hate hating myself.

How awesome for you. I can't wait!

In another post, someone mentioned fat people bashing other fat people. The fat on fat thing is an interesting phenomenon. I'm embarrassed to say I don't really like fat people that I don't know. I think it's because I don't like myself and I blame myself for the condition I have allowed myself to deteriorate to. I look at them and see me. But when I had lost weight in the past I was very, overly friendly to them. Maybe because I knew how they might feel about themselves and could sympathize when I "wasn't" in the same situation. Am I alone? First psych appt. tomorrow. Is she going to have a field day with me?

I haven't been able to even get it off for at least 2 years. There's a permanent indentation around my finger that it sits in. Kinda scary sometimes.

The pre and post op stuff is the surgeon's call. All the appointments and stuff are usually protocols from insurance companies and they are all different.

Pick up a 100lb weight and put it down and see if you don't think it's a lot! Keep up the amazing progress!

Some say you lose more with the bypass. My friend had it 5 years ago and is still within 10 lbs of her goal.

Who is the woman in the first picture? It sure doesn't look like you! Congrats! I think I could be forever happy looking like your second pic!

It's not too late to get back on track! Check in frequently if you need support!