lucky8mb1

People shouldn't be asking about my personal medical procedures, so I shouldn't have to "lie" about anything. I didn't tell anyone, aside from husband, and 10+ months later it's still that way. It's no one's business. I think the real issue here is that we are considered the "liars" for not divulging our surgical plans, while the person who asks us about them is not scrutinized in the least. It's so not an appropriate thing to ask! They are the ones out of line, not us! I also want to address a common statement I see on posts like these. Those who feel comfortable telling everyone, say they do it because they're not ashamed. I don't share because I'm ashamed. I'm just a private person.

I had a very easy surgery and recovery. Back at work a few days after my procedure. I'm now 10 months post-op. My weight loss isn't super fast, but it's steady - and it's right where I want it to be. I work a demanding job that takes a lot of my time, have two young kids, work out, volunteer, etc. I haven't slowed down at all. In fact, I'm more energetic than I ever used to be. My post-sleeve eating habits have worked their way into my life easily and without making me feel depressed, deprived, etc. I can live this way happily for the rest of my life. Eating small amounts of healthy food and occasionally indulging in a bite or two of something yummy - and being satisfied with it. It's what I always dreamed. Enjoying food like a "normal" person. Not obsessing over every morsel I put in my mouth, having feelings of guilt, etc. Just simply enjoying food without the binge factor looming over my head. I also have had no vomiting and can eat anything. No sensitivities at all. Now, hair loss. Don't count your chickens before they hatch, lol. Mine didn't start up until a few months in. It's pretty bad. I'm not wig-worthy or anything, but it's been significant for me. It slowed down once before and started back up again, so I'm hoping it's ready to slow down permanently in the very near future. Anyway, there are plenty of us who have had it "easy". I try not to get on and talk about it too much because I know everyone has a different journey and some experience struggles, but I definitely don't feel guilty - and neither should you!

One night for me.

I have a desk job, but it's a very demanding one and the timing didn't work for me to take more than a few days off. I had my surgery on Monday, came home Tuesday, spent Wednesday recuperating at home, worked from home Thursday, and was in the office on Friday. I was fine both physically and mentally.

I'm also private. Only my husband knows. It's now almost 10 months and 94lbs later and I'm happy to report my personal business is still my own. If people are speculating about my loss, they're doing it behind my back, which is fine by me. I can't be worried about what people say behind my back. It's not worth the effort. If they ask me to my face, I will answer like newat52. There is so much oversharing and inappropriate meddling these days! Frustrating!

16lbs in 2 weeks. Some liquid, some solid.

Can you get a second job? Even if it's just long enough to raise the money you need...not necessarily something permanent.

My favorite so far has been Chike. Mainly because it's a thicker consistency that tastes more shake-like. The others I've tried are more watery, which is something I have a hard time dealing with.

I can't vouch for others, but I've had sugary "bad" foods, with much much more sugar than that and have never experienced dumping syndrome.

Haven't updated in a while....I'll be 9 months post-op tomorrow and with today's weigh in I'm down 90.6lbs. I still have 47lbs to hit my surgeon's goal and what I call my "realistic" goal of 160. I wouldn't mind making my way down to 145, but we'll see. I'm starting to have some real issues with my deflated body, despite weights and cardio. My breasts have shrunk so considerably that I can't wear most of my tops because I can't fill them out. My batwings are a mess. My panni is not going away. I'm starting to have saggy britches because my once very very large butt is now big only in a good way, and my legs look like saggy tree trunks. Overall it's tolerable for now, but when I hit 175-ish I will probably start seriously researching plastic surgery so I'm ready to go when I hit 160. Panni, tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast augmentation and lift, and I'm not sure what to do about my arms. The scars freak me out, but the situation I've got going on now is not cute. I bought a size 14 pair of work pants this weekend and they fit. They are still a teeny bit too tight in the thighs for me to wear them out in public yet, but 10 more pounds and I'll be golden. My 16's are already starting to get loose. I can't believe I'm so close to the century mark. I haven't been this light since I got pregnant with my second, almost 7 years ago. 30 more pounds and I'll be the lightest I've been since getting pregnant with my first 9.5 years ago. I feel great and I must have hit one of those periods where my body caught up with the scale because the past week or two I've been getting tons of comments. They come in waves like that. I'm back to caring about how I look. Dressing in cute clothes, putting on makeup and jewelry, and walking with confidence. I'm almost at that point where I'll be getting looks because I'm hot versus because I'm so big. I'm happily married, but a little positive reinforcement from a stranger every now and then never hurts the ego. I've had such an easy time with this entire process. My surgery was uneventful, my recovery was super fast and easy, and I'm still able to eat any type of food I want. I still enjoy a few bites of "bad" stuff now and then. I'm not the fastest loser out there, but this rate has been perfect for me and it's allowed me to live my life as a normal person when it comes to food - for the first time in my life. No guilt, no shame, no obsession, no constant calculation of how bad something is. Just enjoying small bits of what I want to eat and moving on to other things. I'm so happy about my choice to have this procedure. Looking back 9 months later, I can't believe I let myself live as miserably as I was for so long. I was on anti-depressants thinking I had depression. I was seeing a therapist because I was so angry. I was snapping at my kids and my husband all of the time. Looking at photos of me back then, I just always looked so...angry. Anyway, I just wanted a chance to log my thoughts right now for posterity. I'm super excited to see what the next 6 months brings. I'm really hoping to see goal by spring so I get my plastics done before summer!

My policy excluded bariatrics entirely and since my husband and I have the same employer - there was no switching onto his. For me, looking at an individual policy was too risky considering all of my other potential medical needs. I'd rather have my partially employer subsidized insurance because for things other than bariatrics - it's not too bad. I just bit the bullet and self-paid in the US. It was about $12k for the doctor and hospital fees. I was able to get all of my pre-op testing covered by my insurance by going through my PCP. This helped cut my costs a bit. At the time, I wasn't crazy about putting out all of that money - but now I'm so so glad that I did. Good luck to you. I hope you're able to find a solution that works for you.

Yes. I lost 16lbs during my pre-op diet and all of that was weight I gained between my initial consultation in October and my surgery in December. I even had a week long vacation at an all-inclusive resort that ended literally 2 days before my pre-op diet started. I was a mess. Looking back I can't believe I did that. I was convinced I'd never get to enjoy food again. Well, this year I went back to the same resort, spent 10 days there, enjoyed small amounts of everything, and I came home 3lbs lighter. I still enjoy everything now that I did then - I just don't eat nearly as much of it.

I'm almost 9 months post-op and about 90lbs down and my husband is still the only person to know. I only took 3 days off work and had an easy recovery. My weight loss has been at a rate that could be achieved in many ways...not just surgery. So there hasn't been any speculation - at least not to my face. I'm a private person. I don't broadcast any of my personal medical information or procedures to people - elective or not. Still very happy with my choice to keep my personal life personal.

I think about $12k, give or take. I was sleeved in the north Houston area.

You look great! Can I ask where you got your dress in the after pic? I love it!

Chike "Very Vanilla" has been my favorite.

For me, it's consistency. I've had a few powders that tasted good, but they were too thin/watery for me - even with milk. The only one I've had that fits the bill for taste and has a thicker "shake like' consistency is Chike.

I also think that sometimes you're losing weight but your body isn't quite keeping up with the changes and then all of a sudden you get a lot smaller. This is purely anecdotal of course, but I notice that's how comments work. I've been losing steadily for a while now and haven't had any comments from people. This past week I've been getting multiple comments every day about how "skinny" I'm looking, and I've had to put away 3 pairs of size 18 work trousers because I have saggy bottom going on. It's like my body has finally caught up with the last 20-30lbs I've lost!

I'm a teeny smidge under 5'5" and was 298 as of 11/26/12. Surgery was 12/10/12 and I now weigh about 212. I'm a solid 16 right now in pants, but can fit into some size L and 14 dresses, though sometimes snuggly. I figure I'll be in a 14 pant in about 15-20lbs at most, which will likely take me about 3 months, so about a year from my surgery date. I, however, lose on the slow side. Steadily, but slowly

I had a very quick and easy recovery and now 8.5 months post-op I still feel amazing. If not for my now lack of dependence on food and continually shrinking body - I'd never know I even had surgery. Congrats!

Nothing for me. Which is both a blessing and a curse....

As everyone has mentioned, it depends on you and your job. I was sleeved on a Monday, left the hospital Tuesday, was working from home Thursday, and was in the office on Friday. I have a demanding Director-level job so it's difficult to be out of commission for longer than a couple days at a time. But it's a desk job so that's how it was possible for me.

I'm 8 months out and still have several per week. I've never been one to eat breakfast, but my nutritionist said it was important I eat throughout the day, so I typically have one in the morning to get my protein intake off to a good start and keep my metabolism chugging along. I actually enjoy them!

For those looking for a support group on the north side, I had my surgery at Conroe Regional back in December and they gave me a handout for a support group that meets there. I can't find the paper right now, but will look for it.

I see you've already scheduled your appointment, but my surgeon was able to bill my initial consultation to insurance so I only paid my co-pay. I also had my pre-surgical testing done via my PCP (blood work, x-ray, EKG, etc) and that was covered by my insurance as well. I was self-pay for my surgery, as my insurance company wouldn't cover any sort of bariatric surgery. Just wanted to put it out there as an option!