Just-A-Gem

I was 50 lbs down! I just posted a progress update with pictures in the success stories forum!

At surgery I was 302 lbs, 5' 7.5" wearing size 24 and 2X tops. I am almost 5 months out and I currently weigh 232 lbs and am wearing loose 20s, tight 18s and XL tops from the normal section. My pant sizes are going down slowly. I've had two vertical c-sections in the past 5 years and I have quite the "spare tire". When I measured that presurgery the tape measure was too short. I was about 63" at the hips. Now my hips are 53".... so I am steadily working toward those smaller sizes. Can't wait!

Yup. No worries at all. Some people's swelling goes down faster than others and that's a good thing. Anything to make it easier to get that water in.

Gotta say, I'm totally on board. I weigh-in every Friday and no more. I didn't even buy a scale for home and use the one at work on Fridays because I know in my previous weight loss attempts it has proven to be a source of demotivation for me.

Mmmm... Popcorn.. Okay. I am 4.5 months out now and I have had popcorn 3 times starting at 2.5 months. I don't keep it in the house because it's something I binged on pre-sleeve and I don't need that temptation, but on my occasional trips to the movie theater I always get a small bag. And YES, I butter liberally. If I'm going to cheat, it's going to be worth it. It IS a slider for me. I can eat a small bag in the rough 2 hours that I am in the theater and I have to go lighter on the butter if I'm not intending to share the bag because the fat content will nauseate me. I love me some popcorn. I did buy one package of the Orville Redenbacher Movie Theatre popcorn for when I was watching my friends kids and I really enjoyed the little I had of that, but don't regularly stock it.

I'm in! Starting weight: 235 lbs. Goal weight: 190 lbs!

There is another topic on this somewhere out there. I am gemintherough on MFP too.

I have some things to say on this. He IS very experienced like you said and: 1) The armed robbery was in late August. I was there September 2nd for my surgery. It was at the recovery house and it was an inside job, which is why the person was able to get in. They dealt with it though and the staff that is there now is amazing. 2) Most surgeons do several surgeries a day. He doesn't do above the norm in my opinion. 3) He doesn't speak very good English, but his staff does and they will translate for you. He's working on it. 4) I live in Houston. There are TONS of surgery centers here no bigger than a strip mall unit and usually laparoscopic procedures can be done in them as outpatient procedures. The same is true in many other cities. 6) You go to a recovery house where there is a nurse that will take out your IV port and your drain. There are 2 nice full bathrooms, 1 half bathroom and there is one large room with 5 single beds and 2 other smaller rooms with 2 single beds. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are kept cool and dark in the evening. Plus, Sylvester will give you massages (tip him well, he works there for room and board but it not paid.. ) 7) There are many other facilities that if you travel to you'll have to take out your exterior incisions or have your doctor do so. Not sure what you expect. I had my husband take mine out after 12 days. It took 5 minutes and was no big deal. Overall, I am pleased with my experience. Dr. Almanza is friendly and the nurses were EXCELLENT. I even have one "friended" on Facebook. LOL. I had a not-so-great reaction to the general anesthesia, but that is not their fault.