JayhawkJess33

This is why I LOVE belonging to this board! Everyone here gives WONDERFUL advice! I completely agree with it all - take your own drink and do what you can. Drive separate if that is an option so that when you reach your limit, you can go without feeling stuck or frustrated. You will feel great having gotten out but also great that you could make your own timeline and do what works for your recovery! Let us know how it goes!

BJ's is a wholesale club similar to Sam's Club, Costco, etc....I think they are only in the south as I had never heard of them before I moved to Florida. That recipe sounds delicious - will definitely be giving that a try! I am heading to BJ's this morning anyway so I'm adding the veggies to my list! Thanks for sharing!

What an inspiration you are to us all!!! I am soon-to-be-sleeved and so anxious to get to the losers' bench - I am just tapping my foot waiting for my next appts. and was kind of in a funk earlier in the week. You have renewed my optimism and excitement about getting sleeved!!! I am on a self-imposed "pre-op" diet, which is really just lower carb, higher protein, more veggies and absolutely getting in all my water every single day. I am down 10 lbs. so far and have at least 3-4 weeks till surgery (don't have a definite date yet) so I am hoping to be down quite a few more preop. You have done phenomenally well for 5 1/2 months out - I hope I can be as successful! That really is an amazing drop in sizes too - SOOOO exciting! I am a nurse as well (but I stay home full time with my little ones now) and last time I was in the workforce I was in 2XL scrubs and I am a little heavier now than I was then so I can sure imagine how amazing it would feel to wear MEDIUMS!! Keep up the great work!

So very very exciting! I am hoping for a date next month and I know I will be BEYOND excited when I am as close as you are! We will all be thinking of you - check in and update us when you are able!

That. is. awesome! I can't WAIT to get to sizes that I haven't seen in many years! 33 lbs. in 2 weeks is phenomenal! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

CONGRATS on your super first week! I am close to your age (33) and have also struggled for much of my life with my weight. I am soon-to-be-sleeved (hoping for my surgery date mid-Feb or early March and just can't wait to begin the journey as a post-opper! Sounds like you are doing great - how has your recovery been? Is your hunger gone? Has it been terribly difficult to get in your Water and/or Protein? Keep up the great work!

Mrs., you have done an amaaaazing job for your first month out! 36 lbs. is fantastic! I am not sleeved yet - hoping for a date in February - but I hope, hope, hope I can lose in the range of what you have in the first month! I will be thrilled if I can do that! I know the big amount is daunting when you are still near the beginning of your journey but don't let anyone tell you that you won't ever be at your goal - you are in control of that and look at all you have accomplished so far! Having them tell me that would only make me want to get there more! You can do it! I have around the same amount to lose as you. I am 5'10" and have about 125 lbs. to lose. I am also a Kansas girl - maybe we can be sleeve buddies even though I am a little behind you! I live in Florida now, but will always be a midwestern girl at heart! Good luck going forward! Jess

This is a great idea! i'm a newbie soon-to-be-sleever and am loving all the information and support on VST! I am a 33 yr. old Kansas girl transplanted 9 years ago to Florida. I've been married for 9 1/2 years to my wonderful husband, together for almost 16 years. We have 3 great kiddos - ages 7, 5 and 2 - 2 boys and a sweet and sassy princess :biggrin5: I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2000 and am a forever Jayhawk, hence my screen name. I have a degree in psychology and went to nursing school post-graduation and became an LPN. I worked as a nurse until my second son was born and have stayed home full time since. I have a small online business where I make and embroider children's clothing and other gift items. We have one silky terrier who is rarely away from my side and two cats who believe they rule the house. I was active in sports throughout high school (softball, track, cheerleading, swimming) and started putting on weight my first year in college. I never lost more than about 20 lbs. when I would try and diet and even if I lost that, it went right back on, plus a few more. When I got married in 2002, I was 225 lbs and although I wished I was smaller, I was still comfortable in my own skin. Then we moved to Florida, away from all my family, and I gained about 15 lbs over the next year and a half and then got pregnant with my first son. I kept my weight gain reasonable during my pregnancy and lost all my baby weight within just a few weeks of having him, plus another 5 lbs. but by the time I got pregnant with my second child I was up about 10 lbs. Again, I kept my weigh gain reasonable during pregnancy and lost almost all of my baby weight soon after he was born, only to gain back about 15 lbs of it. By this time I was around 260 and stayed around that weight until we got a big surprise and found out we had another baby on the way. Same story - reasonable weight gain with pregnancy but after the third baby, I had more trouble taking off the baby weight and have bounced around between 260-287 for the last 2 1/2 years. I have lost about 20-30 lbs a couple of times but can't seem to keep it together to lose more than that or keep it off either. I have researched WLS for a long time but really just got serious about it as an option for me in the last few months. My mom was obese for years and had gastric bypass about 10 years. She has done great and knows that it saved her life. In being connected to her process over the years after her surgery, I have seen how true it is that WLS is just a TOOL, not a magic fix. It is in no way "the easy way out" as many people view WLS. My mom lives with us now and is a big part of my support system and a great source of advice since she has been through so much of it. I attended a few seminars and chose my doctor a few weeks ago - I will be having my surgery with Dr. Domkowski in Sebastian, FL. My insurance won't cover any weight loss surgery so I am self pay and my doctor's office is kind enough to schedule several of my appointments in one day since I am a bit of a distance away. I am scheduled for my surgical consult, psych eval and nut appointment on Feb 8. I'm hoping I will have a surgery date soon after that as I am anxious to be a sleever!! I have started my own pre-op diet - nothing too crazy, but lower carb, higher Protein, smaller portions, etc... and have lost 10 lbs so far :biggrin5: I look forward to getting to know you all and finding some buddies being sleeved around the same time as me for support!