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Thanks for the link!

Both of you look amazing! What an inspiration!!

That's the stack o' cash he used to pay for his awesome new body.

Cubbies -- I don't know if the GW Boutique has men's clothes. I'm pre-op, and designer clothes don't fit me quite yet, so I haven't tortured myself by going in. My husband has to dress professionally, and I buy a large lot of his dress clothes at thrift stores. Brooks Brothers, Jos. A. Bank, etc. can regularly be found on the rack for just a few dollars. My favorite thrift stores are Thrift World and Thrift City in Lewisville, as well as Thrift Town in North Richland Hills. If thrift shopping is not your thing, we regularly hit up the fine menswear clearance racks at Belk and Dillard's. Surprisingly excellent prices. Burlington Coat Factory and the JC Penney outlet at Grapevine Mills also have great prices on men's clothes. Whenever you're at goal, I highly recommend the Traveler Oxford shirt from Jos. A. Bank. Their shirts are excellent and will last a very long time, and their Black Friday prices are great. (They're pricey the rest of the year, but Black Friday prices are low on shirts, slacks, and suits.)

I love it! What a great story!!!

If she comes to visit while you're still on a puréed diet, and she notices, just tell her you're on some crazy diet you read about. A huge population of people will be on some crazy diet right at the new year, so your "diet" wouldn't even be out of the norm. You still don't have to tell her about the surgery.

Kind of like that. I've been under general a few times, and for me, it's not exactly like waking up from a sleep. Usually, you've actually been awake for a little while before becoming alert and more aware of your surroundings. For me, I remember being awake, then I'm aware of being awake again, though still groggy, and I don't remember any if the going to sleep/being asleep/waking from sleep part. I take a great deal of comfort knowing the anesthesiologist or CRNA monitors me and my vitals during surgery, then a recovery nurse monitors me following. The loss of physical control is something I don't love, but I take comfort knowing someone is right there and responsible for me throughout.

So sorry for your loss! My dad died in 1997, and my mom died last year. Losing a parent is so hard. I'm so glad she got to see the success on your WL journey. What a blessing.

Hey there -- welcome! I'm north of Dallas, and hoping for a surgery date before the end of November. My packet is being pulled together now for insurance, and will be submitted after my final NUT appointment on Nov. 5. My sleeve will be placed in Grapevine. Your hospital may not offer a support group, but there are several available in the Metroplex. Here's a list my NUT gave me. Edited to say I'd be open to coffee sometime! It would be nice to have a local(ish) sleeve buddy.

Your comment here reminds of an article I read recently on the "myth" of the eight hour night of sleep: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783 If you're sleeping, but not feeling rested upon waking, perhaps research the symptoms of adrenal fatigue and see if they apply to you. Emotional and physical stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, and the above suggestion of possible overtraining might be that physical stress. Just a thought...

Love this post, and so looking forward to many of the things you've mentioned, Terry H. Thank you!

Wow, you both look amazing! And you -- so slender!! You're stunning in that dress!

I'm so sorry to read the mass is a malignant tumor, and I'm honestly surprised they're doing the sleeve still. Best of luck to you as you move forward for both the sleeve and cancer treatment.

I spotted PB2 at the Vitamin Shoppe. It's also available on Amazon.

So glad to hear!!

Yaaaayyyy!! Your pic has given me such hope! I'm pre-op and look like your before pic now. Fingers crossed I get somewhere close to your after pic. You look AdOrAbLe!! Enjoy the beach!

Wow, Bluto -- NOTHING to be embarrassed about. You look amazing! What a remarkable difference in just three short months! You should be very, very proud of yourself! Congrats!!

My name is Amanda. I'm gearing up for a November sleeve. After an appointment on Saturday, the NUT said she'd have the insurance coordinator begin preparing my packet, then she would attach her final notes after my appointment on November 5 so everything could be submitted to insurance same day. My BMI was 41.1 at the initial surgical consult, and it's been hovering at 40 and change since, so I'm hoping Cigna will give me a quick approval. Following that appointment, she's given me the green light to work on losing so that she can make the case with the surgeon to shorten my pre-op diet from two weeks to one week. If things go as she's indicating they might, I believe I'll be sleeved before the end of November, Just so ready to get this show on the road!!

Welcome, Kelly! I'm also hoping to be a November sleever. I've completed nearly all of my insurance requirements -- just have that same final nutritionist appointment. My stuff will hopefully be submitted to insurance on November 5th (the last day I see the NUT). I'm sorry you're concerned you haven't lost the required weight. What will happen if you haven't? One more appointment? I'm actually in the opposite boat -- I haven't lost much since my first visit, maybe 8-9 pounds, but the NUT told me not to lose any more until I'm submitted to insurance. My starting BMI was 41.1, and is now 40 and change, She's worried if I drop any more, insurance may balk since I don't have the automatic comorbidities. (I have comorbidities, just not the ones that qualify me for surgery without appeal.) I'm in this very weird place of not being able to gain *or* lose, which feels crazy and frustrating. Good luck tomorrow! I'm anxious to hear how things go, and excited to watch your journey!!

You look amazing!

Hey Cady -- Congratulations on your pregnancy! There are actually a couple of threads on here about breastfeeding post-surgery. Seems like it can be done without issue (but I imagine diligence with protein/vitamin/water intake is necessary). Here they are: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/51310-success-wpost-op-breastfeeding/ http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/62875-breastfeeding-mommas/

You look adorable! You should be very proud of yourself!!