TheCurvyJones

I will be sleeved by Dr Alvarez on 12/21... 35 days from today! Reading these glowing reviews gives me so much comfort. I have never had surgery before so I am nervous about everything-- the pain, the nausea, going under, coming out, the gas, the entire experience. At the same time I am ANXIOUS and just ready to get to post op already. I think a great benefit is that I have been a lowcarber for years, lots of paleo eating as of late. I'm just flabbergasted at how I can eat so clean but still lose so little and feel like I am fighting for every single ounce and the SECOND I put something into my mouth that is off plan, i bloat up. Ridic! I'm ready for this! I'm ready for my good choices and hard work to actually produce some results.

No, I heard that people were not very happy with that program so I opted not to go with them. I applied through medical financing.com and was approved for 8500, And was turned down at a few other places. You may want to check to make sure that they will fund surgery through your doctor but I believe they do most of the Mexico surgeons.

I did not have Dr Ponce but my credit is........interesting and I was approved through MedicalFinancing Co. One thing you have to be prepared for are the fees to borrow money. At least with Medical financing I required a security deposit (which would come back to me when the loan was paid off) and loan fees. In total I will pay about $2800 in loan fees. $1700 of that will come back to me. These are NOT rolled into the loan and they won't fund the doctor until you pay it. If you're going through his office direct, the guidelines might be less stringent.

I bought my flights today... From here to Houston, hang out for a day, then Houston to San Antonio with my travel companion and then back to Houston/Georgia. Will be a whirlwind weekend! I am stalking the post op forums because I want to know EXACTLY how I am going to feel for the first few days. It seems like Dr. A's patients are okay a few days out. I should be fine, but you never know, ya know? I want to be ready! Being prepared eases my mind and my nerves. According to the finance company they will fund around 2 weeks out, so the beginning of December. And then it'll be REALLY REAL. I am weirdly enjoying the liquid diet. I cannot stand trying to decide what I can eat, what I should eat vs what i WANT to eat but shouldn't eat, what time I should eat. I just have a selection of things I've purchased and I have that and I am good to go, even at home. I am about to have some soup and run some errands. I order my passport tomorrow. I need to make a list of things to buy to pack and things to have in the house when I come back. Because my parents will be in town, I am coming back to Atlanta instead of hanging out in Houston.

Yeah maybe. I have to ease my way into that 10 day liquid diet. Mostly because I want to eat ALL OF THE THINGS right now and this is keeping me from doing that. Like right now I really want to go to Zaxby's and get some chicken strips.

I'm really appreciating the Post Op updates!

Totally1 Not only do I probably know more about nutrition than they do, but I probably eat better as well. I know all about low fat low carb high low glycemic superfoods that rev your metabolism.... so while you much on Cheetos and ham with mayo on white bread when I've eaten a grilled chicken salad with olive oil and lemon juice every single day for lunch this week--- save your lecture about 'just eating less and exercising more'. If 'Put the Fork Down' worked, we would all be thin.

By excited, do you mean freaking out because I have never been under anesthetic? If so then yes. Actually I went to the dentist once for tooth extraction and whatever they gave me knocked me the #$&*# out! It is vain but I am looking forward to looking good. I am embarrassed by how much I want to be annoyed by male attention. I get none right now. I want to know what it is like to not be able to cross a room without people looking. I have no illusions that I will have a hot body but what I will have is a shape that is not a size 20 and THAT I am okay with. I turn 40 in March of 2014... and people can snark and comment and judge all they want but on that day, I will not weigh 273 lbs like I did this year. I will not fight to lose and gain the same 40 lbs. I will not cry because I see people losing weight at a great clip and I am in pain from trying to work out and gaining and losing the same .4 lbs every week and not eating anything GOOD. For that kind of progress, I'd rather eat a pepper and onions sandwich or a pizza or donuts every Friday. MOST OF ALL when I go out with my girls I will not be the fat chick in the back trying not to notice that the dude is complimenting everyone but me. I will not shy away from pictures because I feel like I look like a beached whale next to everyone else, despite having dropped 30 lbs. What world do I live in where I lose 30 lbs but I am still fat? Never again, if I can help it. So yeah. Excited. NERVOUS. But really looking forward to the after picture. I am on liquids through Wednesday of this week. 39 days to surgery. 29 days until I have to be on the 10 day liquid diet, so I am preparing myself. it's actually not too bad. Meal times are a breeze. I hate having to decide what to eat. I do better with limited options, LOL.

But think back to your last diet... how much had you lost, 8 weeks out? When is the last time you lost 30 lbs in two months. I think that's PHENOMENAL! Also, check your clothes and your inches. I read somewhere (probably nowhere, maybe I made it up) but we don't lose lbs and inches at the same time. When the scale stops moving, I check my inches. Always a change. Can you wear smaller clothes? Are your baggy clothes super baggy? Fat pants looking ridiculous? Feet flopping around in your shoes? How do YOU FEEL? Breathing better? Climbing stairs with no pain? Can stand without a backache? Lots of NSV's to look for that have nothing to do with the scale. I am PRAYING for at least 30 lbs in two months... I think you're doing great. As far as hunger, I have heard the more protein you get in, the longer you stay full. Keep on keepin' on.

40 days to surgery.... and I've been keeping myself busy so that time doesn't stand still. Keeping up with caring for my skin, trying to improve it. My Clarisonic Mia came in and i've used it twice. pretty cool. Using my Ambi and Garnier lightening creme on the dark spot on my face. Not seeing much yet but it's been just a week, so I have a ways to go before I see something. My parents are coming to visit next month... they said they were coming, I just wasn't sure when or IF they were coming for sure. They will spend Christmas Eve and Day with me and then go spend time with my Aunt and the rest of the family. They live south of town, about 45 minutes from me. I didn't even have a bed for the guest room so I had to scramble to order something. I also ordered a table and some chairs since I didn't have that either. I'll be putting that together this week and finishing up the bedroom. That will be RIGHT AFTER surgery! My mom had Bypass in 2001 so she gets that I don't plan on being the life of the party. At least I will get to see them. I have no idea what to get to have here at the house... I won't be able to eat any of it. Is it bad that I am kind of relieved? I don't really like holiday food. I stuff myself with the few options that I like and then hate myself for it. This year I won't be able to do that. Anyway, on with the preparation...I tried the Celebrate NS vitamin powder you mix in with a drink........ewwwwwww. no. No way I am doing that twice a day. As far as I can tell, Dr Alvarez only requires his patients to take a multivitamin. I got some Wellesse liquid multi and also one with vitamin c and D vitamin, and also some liquid protein. I figure I'll take all of that that I can get and if I can add it to something else, that would be great. I ordered a couple of genie bras, an electric kettle (for making unjury protein soup) and a cup warmer to keep it warm since it gets cold so fast. I also ordered a warming pad... is that what you call it? I can't remember. I got one, anyway. I want to also get a binder because I heard that it helps, especially when on the plane. I am liquid dieting Sunday through Wednesday this week. Actually I started yesterday but I went to brunch first. Dinner was soup and later on I had an Atkins shake and I've been drinking my water. Thursday is our company Thanksgiving dinner and I want to have some of that but I will probably get back on mostly liquids. I still want to hit the 230's by the time I get on the plane. I will be on full liquids by December 10th.

.. and jumping in. Waiting to hear about approval from my surgeon and a surgery date for December, tentatively the 22nd of December, less than 60 days away! I am DW. I am black and I live in Atlanta GA. I'm having my surgery done by Dr Alvarez. I'm currently 248lbs. My heaviest was 273... I get to this point where I lose 30 to 40 lbs and then nothing happens. I haven't been below 230 in years. Looking forward to this journey!

December 21st. I will definitely post about how things are going!

That's awesome that she's so supportive! People are actually kind of ticking me off. "You did research this, right? Are you going to be able to let anyone know how you're doing?" Naw, I just picked a guy out of the phone book in some 3rd world country and decided to let him poke some holes in me and mess around all up in my guts and I also decided to spend 2-3 times as much as other people to have it done, just for the heck of it!

Forgot to mention that my weigh in yesterday was 247.0, down from 251. Not too shabby. I did very well on the test days. Next week I'll probably do Sunday - Wednesday. Eating is so much less stressful when i don't really have to think about it. I think I may actually enjoy the 10 day liquid diet! Spoke with my lender yesterday and verified all the loan info. He said it will fund a couple of weeks before surgery, so around the first week in December! w00t! Till then I am just really trying not to buy a ton of stuff until I come back. Who knows what I will actually use/need/like and I don't want to waste money. Right now, just concentrating on getting to surgery. I told my boss yesterday (one of the two people ONLY) that I am going to tell about surgery) and he's excited. 44 days!

Yes, just for lighter weight on my bones and feeling more comfy on the plane, I want to be under 240 when I hit the table. 8 lbs to go. Whatever I lose after that is gravy but I want to see 239 or lower when I get on the plane in December.

Great, let me know!!!

I got.......a lotta packages yesterday. An Unjury sample pack, Celebrate vitamin thingys you put in water (I HATE pills, they stink, the smell makes me vom) and some biotin. I shoved it all in a corner cause I had it all shipped to work. Didn't have the chance to look thru anything but I will take a look tonight. I contacted the loan people cause I hadn't got my final docs yet. She said they don't usually look at files before they are 45 days out from surgery so they would probably look at it next week. And I think my birth certificate is on the way finally so I can get my passport. Trying the vitamin water additive thingy today. They make water taste so... vitaminy. Last night I met a friend for dinner but I was still 'practicing' my liquid diet. I had a few bites of Caesar salad and some tomato soup. Other than that I have been liquid since Sunday. I am not too jazzed about eating lunch-- I have some broth here and an Atkins shake, but I might pick up some baked chicken for dinner. I don't want to 'not eat' for 45 days. Hope to chat with my boss today about surgery and then I will reserve my airfare while I have the cash.

I'm looking for a WLS friendly PCP if anyone recommends one!

Dr Alvarez in Las Piedras Mexico. I'm scheduled for Dec 21st!

I'm in Marietta!

Hi all, I am looking for recommendations for a great Primary Care Physician. I am not loyal to anyone right now... if i need a doc I go to the ER otherwise I see whomever. I am going to be looking for someone who is tracking me post surgery to make sure I am doing okay. As well, I am nearing that age where I need to get all the womanly things - mammogram and such. Anyone have a great PCP that they can recommend? I'll do some research and see if they're included in my plan. I have BCBS of Georgia, POS if anyone else does. Thanks in advance!