Pepper Paul

This thread is very comforting. I'm scheduled for surgery on 3/11 and an hoping to only take 9 days off and not tell my job I'm even having surgery. I have a job that I can sit or stand and walk as needed so it looks like if everything goes as planned this shouldn't be too much of a stretch!

I have two friends who have attempted the Tri-a-Try a few years ago. One is a cop and the other is a fireman. Both are in pretty good shape. Neither could finish the swim. You're not Judy swimming, you're swimming with a lot of other people and both said it was way harder than they thought it would be. I figure I'll take their lessons to heart and concentrate on the swim, and maybe the bike and run will take care of themselves! Haha

I am with casp and suelee for a March 11 surgery date. My claim was submitted to Aetna on Friday and I was approved on Monday. Yay! I go in on 2/21 to get the info about my 2 week pre-op diet. That will only give me 4 days to get ready for it.

My claim was submitted to Aetna on Friday. Yesterday morning I got a phone call that my surgery was approved. Two business day turnaround! I guess sometimes being really fat pays off. Suck it all you low-BMI people! I am now he proud owner of a March 11 surgery date. I'm a little concerned because we have a vacation planned to go to the Grand Canyon on April 1st and then to my mom's house in Arizona on April 8th. Obviously I should be fine to fly by then, and walking around the Grand Canyon shouldn't be a problem (no plans to venture IN the canyons. Just hike around at the top). But what about swimming while visiting my mom's starting on April 8th? I will be exactly 4 weeks post-surgery.

Thanks for the reply. I did mean just getting in to cool off and splash around with the kids. I also realized that when we get to my mom's house I will be five weeks out from surgery, not four. I will be four weeks out when we leave for the Grand Canyon. I'm hoping to have a quick recovery and some stamina built up by then to be able to do a lot of walking while there!

This sounds pretty cool. How far out of surgery were you before you felt like you could start this (no necessarily DID start it). For the last few years I've really wanted to do a Try-a-Tri that is near where we camp every summer in July. It's a 400m swim, 13.1 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run. How soon will the average sleeved feel up to starting to train for this? My surgery is scheduled for 3/11 which only gives me 4 months until the event.

Wow! There are a lot of success stories on here, but I haven't seen too many that are literally less than half the size they used to be. And to be two years out and maintaining it is even better. Way to go!

15 pounds in 21 days? Actually sounds like you're doing pretty great to me! Keep it up and good luck with the water. I hope it gets easier for you soon.

Congrats. You look pretty fantastic!

You look great. How did your ink fare with the weight loss? That's something thing I'm worried about. Again congrats!

Sorry about your boobs. Glad you could take a shower and are slowly starting to feel better. Here's to a great 2013!

Wow, smokin'! Where's the before photo so we can ooh and aah about your transformation?

All of your jokes were starting to put ME in a funk. Until I read Liz's muffin joke. Not sure why, but it was really funny. I actually lol'd. I'll have to be sure to retell it to my daughters. Although I'm sure they would actually like all the jokes in this thread. I hope the new year starts out great for you Liz and things take a sudden and drastic turn for the better! We're thinking about you every day. My turn. What do a mole and an eagle have in common? They both live underground. Except the eagle. Sorry if this brought the funk back!

Hey Fiddleman, I'm going to be having surgery probably next month and just realized that I'm in your area. I'd be interested in some of your clothes to get me through the transition period. I'm starting out close to the weight you started at. I haven't figured out exactly what city you're in, only that you're in the Seattle area. I'm in Burlington, about an hour north of Seattle. Let me know what you want for them.

Guess I should have said all three of you. Somehow I missed one! Glad you are both doing well. How about you RRR?

Hope everything went well for both of you today!

Congrats in sticking with it! I'm going to wait until after the surgery to tell my parents as well. I just don't want to deal with the disapproval of getting the surgery, and nothin they say is going to change my mind anyway. Glad you finally got your approval!

I have also been quietly following your story and am glad you're starting to feel better. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be to spend Christmas in the hospital. Thinking of you and hoping your recovery goes quickly from here on out. Thanks for sharing your story!

This thread is very helpful. I have a job where I can sit or stand or walk around as needed and was hoping I could get away with just a week off. This is encouraging!

They were right, you are too small. Best to wait until you pack on another 75 pounds and have more co-morbidities. That'll show them! Seriously though, you know yourself and your weight battle better than anyone sitting in that meeting. If its right for you, do it. Best of luck!

That's a great resource, and one I wouldn't have thought to use. Thanks!

Interesting and I've never heard of this before. Sounds like a good practice though!

A few suggestions: * No manic laughs * Don't talk to yourself * Do not refer to yourself in the third person * Above all, NEVER show the psychologist the photos you took of her family and pets Avoid these common pitfalls and you should be fine. And for the record, I only had those photos because I thought her dog was cute!