charitymarroquin

Hey Everybody! I'm so happy I found this message forum. I am 27 yrs. old. I'm originally from Tennessee, but my home is now in Nicaragua where I work as a missionary. You can check out my website if you like: http://www.missionariestonicaragua.org. I have been living here the last 4 years. Got married here, my husband is from Nicaragua and I have a 2 year old daughter. I have been overweight my entire life. I have hypothyroidism and I have been on diets since I was 10 yrs. old and up until the time I moved here. I never was successful. I would go on a diet with my parents and they both would lose, but I wouldn't lose a pound. It was so discouraging. When I moved here to Nicaragua I kind of quit trying. It was so hard, especially here. It's not like the states where we have so many dieting resources and foods. Here it's so complicated. Plus my husband and I are in charge of the entire foundation here. Free school for over 300 children, 30 feeding centers, working with pastors, children's home (my husband and I are responsible for 5 orphan children that live with us. Hopefully we will have more children soon). Needless to say we stay pretty busy, so when I eat it's just whatever I can get. I don't have time to cook a special meal for me. Probably about 2 months ago I heard about the Lap Band and was pretty much sold on it. The problem was that they do not offer it here in Nicaragua and the cheapest place would be Costa Rica which is about a 12 hr. drive from us. Finally realized that it is just too far for follow up care, plus started to research it and realized about all of the problems with it and so many people eventually having the sleeve anyways. So about a week ago I went to a doctor here to talk about the sleeve. Of course I don't have insurance, so I am self-pay. Plus I do not receive any kind of salary for our work here. I found a doctor here at a really good hospital that speaks English and I found out that I can have the sleeve done for $4,500 - $5,500. I've been praying out how I can get it done and my Mom told me a few days ago that she would pay for it! I'm so excited! I'm so tired of being overweight. This doctor told me that he could do the surgery on Oct. 20th! Please be praying for me that God would direct me. I really want to be sure that this is His will for me. Also I would love to keep in contact with different ones of you that are going through this process as well. God Bless!

Hey! Are any of you guys using the Nintendo Wii to exercise? Do you think doing it everyday is sufficient exercise? I have a Wii and the Wii Fit. It seems to be pretty good to me, but I have only used it a few times. Also I hope to have the sleeve next week. I'll let you guys know which day it's going to be. I believe on Tuesday.

Well Guys! I haven't been on here in a long time... Sorry... Time sure does fly and I've been staying so busy... On Tuesday it will be a year since I was sleeved! October 12, 2009. 90lbs lost! I am a completely different person. I still have a ways to go. Probably the last 4 months I have just been holding my own, which I know isn't good, but hey at least I haven't been gaining and it is possible to maintain right? I have went from a size 22w to a size 11/12! I just bought me a pair of jeans that were an 11 the other day! How exciting! Now I do need plastic surgery. Especially on my arms and thighs. Hope I can get that done before long. Also my gallbladder is full of stones. My doctor recommends taking it out, but right now I'm not going to worry about it since it's not bothering me... I know... I do need to get it out... I don't know if it is a result of getting the sleeve or losing weight. Wish I knew... I am a missionary living in Nicaragua. I know I should have lost even more weight that I have, but my life is so hectic. I have a 3 yr. old daughter, plus another 12 children living in our home. We have a children's home... I actually have 5 babies that are in diapers! Life is great! It's worth it! Where are all you other guys that had your surgeries around my time? I don't see you all on here. I see Tiffykins! She has been a role model for me from the beginning. I notice that I can eat more than most people that have had the sleeve. I don't know why. I guess it's not that bad of a thing if I don't gain weight. I still want to lose about 25 or 30lbs. I need to get back on track. Time to finish this!

Hey Tiffy! Glad to hear that you made it through surgery ok. How are you feeling now? Hey Carolyn, I know I need to do something... :-( I don't have insurance though... but here in Nicaragua it is alot cheaper, but it is still going to be around a $1,000. Which when you are missionary and do not receive a salary still makes it difficult... I have been thinking about trying a gallbladder/liver flush to flush out at least some of the stones. Have anyone here tried that? And I don't know it that is safe or ok after being sleeved. It's pretty nasty. You drink Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil and Salt Water and different times. But if it worked it would be better than surgery. Do you think it's ok for me to try it?

Hey Tiff! So sorry to hear about your gallbladder... :-( I just found your post tonight. I will be praying for you. Hope the surgery goes well and that you have a quick recovery... Believe it or not I just returned from the doctor and he had me do a ultrasound on my gallbladder and said that mine is almost totally full of gallstones... :w00t: I don't know what I should. :thumbup: The doctor here in Nicaragua says that I need to have it. The sooner the better. I don't know if that is what I should do or wait until I am having problems... I feel fine. I haven't had any pain or anything... Oh well... I guess I'll have to figure it out. Let us know when you get back from the hospital. Praying for you!

Hey Everybody!!! I know I haven't been on in a while. I have been staying so busy, but I wanted to give all of you an update on how I am doing. I am a little over 3 months out. I have lost almost 50lbs. and this last week I weighed in at 199!!!! This is my first milestone. I think it is so comforting to know that I will NEVER see 200lbs again! I have went from a size 22 pants to a 14. I was wearing 2x tops and now I can wear a large. I am getting rid of all my "big" clothes! I haven't been exercising and I haven't been drinking Water like I should. I also haven't been eating enough Protein. I hope to do better to lose the rest of my weight. I know this last stretch is going to be harder than the first half, but I know I can do it!

Thanks Everybody for the congratulations! Everyone on this board has really helped motivate me through this! Together we can make it! 150lbs here I come!

I am a little over 3 months out and I have lost almost 50lbs. But, I haven't been exercising or drinking enough water. I need to get on track better, but I am happy with what I have lost. I'm about halfway there! Of course I think this last half will be a lot slower than the first half, but I know it will happen. Just this last week I went under 200lbs! I was so happy! It's amazing to know that I will NEVER weigh 200lbs. AGAIN!

Hey Chancie!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! That is a big thing! Wow! I have 5 more lbs. before I get there. I am so excited!

I'm 11 days out and my doctor nor my nutritionist said nothing about coffee. Can I drink it now or do I need to wait?

Hey Guys, I haven't been able to be online much. So busy... I'm 6 weeks post op. I've lost 30lbs. Seems like It's been slow at times, but I'm believing it's going to come off. Been kind of confused on some things. I'm living in Nicaragua. I went to see my surgeon yesterday. I told him that I was using Protein shakes for Breakfast that I had someone bring me from the states. He told me he didn't want me drinking Protein Shakes... He said that they are too many calories in liquid form and won't fill me up or hold me as long and it is better to eat food and eat protein instead... QUESTIONS: 1. HELP! I know most of you use protein shakes. Also I really wasn't told to stay away from carbs... They did tell me to make the protein a priority... What do you think? I feel so confused. I know I have to count the protein shakes as calories, but if I have one in place of breakfast I don't see anything wrong with that. They actually hold me quite a while too. At least until lunch. Also I feel like I'm cheating alot. The food is so different here and it is so hard to diet. 2. If I eat 4 chicken nuggets at McDonalds am I going to mess myself up? They have 190 calories. Not bad on calories if that's all I eat for that meal... Also I can get them for a buck. We spend a lot of time on the road and it's so hard for me to eat out. When I can eat a salad it will be easier. I hate to go to a place and order a whole meal and just eat such a small portion of it. 3. If I eat some of my calories in carbs am I going to hurt my weight loss? 4. My surgeon told me not to use a straw or chew gum. Is this forever? 5. Can we use airborne? It is in those tablets that dissolve in Water. It kind of bubbles, so I didn't know if we can. Sorry to have so many questions.... :wink0: I really appreciate all of you and all the advice you have given me!

Thanks Guys for all of your replies! I really appreciate all your input!

My goal it to be in Onederland for Christmas! 15 lbs. to go!!! I can't wait!

Hi, I am 1 month and 2 days post op. Everything went well with my surgeon, but afterwards he had me start going to a nutritionist for her to tell me what I should be eating. Before the surgery my surgeon told me in 6 weeks I should be eating normally. I went to the nutritionist two days ago hoping to move from Mushies to something more solid and thought in two weeks I would be eating normal food, but small portions. Instead my nutritionist gave me a weekly menu (as normal). I hate this. I can't still to a weekly menu for every meal I eat. She did add a few more foods and told me to start eating 3 oz. of chicken or fish for lunch and dinner and said she would see me in 6 weeks. 6 weeks! Here I thought I was almost done with the post op diet? I think I am going to stop going to her. I'm the kind of person that I would prefer to know what I can and cannot have and how many calories or something and I will plan what I eat. Maybe some of you that are about as far out as me can help me with what you are eating? Anything I try seems to go down ok for me. I wonder if there is any harm in just trying different things? Any advice would be appreciated! THANKS!

Hey! I'm 27 yrs. old. I am 5 weeks post op. I started out at 245lbs. and I have lost 25lbs. so far! I don't think I'm going to lose weight as fast as some people. I have a very slow metabolism, but I know it will come off! The best thing with the sleeve is knowing that this weight will NEVER come back! That's the greatest thing for me. I've already had to get rid of a lot of clothes because they are too big. I went from a size 22 to a 18. I can't wait to get to onderland! Hopefully within a month! It's kind of like a dream, I can't imagine it really happening. lol I can try to help you with your ticket. I went to Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy.... Chose your ticket there and you set it up there. Then you copy the codes they give you. Then you go to your profile here at verticalsleevetalk and click on customize profile. Then click on signatures. Then copy and paste the text there. That is the only time you will have to do that part. In the future you update your ticket at the tickerfactory and it will automatically update here. Hope this helps.

I am 1 month post op and I am amazed how well all my incisions sites have healed. They are just a little light scar. Not that visible. The only one that is darker pink is where I had the drainage bag. Is this where they took out my stomach? All the other incisions areas are the same tiny size.

Hey! I'm doing great! It's been a little over a month since my surgery and I have lost 25lbs! I'm so happy I got the sleeve. I haven't had any problems at all. That's great you are missionaries too! Are you based in Costa Rica? If so, you'll have to come visit us in Nicaragua. We're not that far. Also you can check out our website: http://www.missionariestonicaragua.org The Foundation we work with is: New Hope Children's Foundation God Bless!

Hey! I am 4 weeks post op. I lost 20lbs the first 2 weeks, but after that I had almost 2 weeks of not losing a pound! It was so horrible, but I got on the scales yesterday morning and I dropped 5lbs! I'm hoping it keeps going this time. It was really worrying me too, but I had read so much on here about people having stalls especially earlier out. I also tend to weigh every morning. They say it's best once a week. Hang it there! You will start losing again. You have to with the low calorie intake that you are on.

Hey Guys! I've been feeling a little down. I lost 20lbs. after my first 15 days, but I have almost 10 days that I have not lost 1 pound! :crying: What's going on? I guess it is since I started on mushies... But why? I'm not eating much. Probably all day it is around 1 cup of food. Not that many calories. I'm only drinking Water. One day I cheated and ate a very small piece of cake, but besides that nothing else... Help! :confused1: