BANANA PANTS!

I stocked up ahead of time. I used orange flavored Isopure to make Jello (used it in place of water) for really high Protein jello. Made it and tried it pre-op and it was a staple for me after. I also bought some random Protein shake (premade) at GNC and used 1/2 pack of sugar free hot chocolate in it and blended with ice. It was really good - and that was helpful b/c I hate the taste of protein shakes! As soon as I was off clears I bought Soups and blended them until liquid enough that a spoon would not stand up in them - that made them thin enough to easily digest. I stopped using the shakes and other protein supplements about a month post op (when I went to the solid foods phase). My dietician really pushes no liquid calories and eating three meals a day. It ended up being really good advice and a good way to train someone like me who likes to graze! Good luck - you are in for an amazing adventure!!!!

I had the sleeve this past December - never had the band so cannot speak to that - but I can tell you that I worried and fretted that the sleeve would not work. Prior to surgery I did not know anyone who had been successful with the surgery - all three people I knew who had WLS failed. I secretly feared and fretted that I would fail too - but I have to say that I am now pretty sure that will not happen. First - it is impossible NOT to lose weight initially. Secondly - the process of increasing the diet as you go through the different weeks post-op has really helped me to build new habits. Finally - I think for me - I just had to stop worrying about failing. Trust in the sleeve. Many more people are successful than fail the sleeve. While it is important to know the signs that you may be going down a bad path - trusting that you are going to be successful will reduce lots of unnecessary worrying! Good luck to you - you are going to LOVE the sleeve!

The great thing is that you are so motivated for the surgery! Hang in there - it will come faster than you think!

YAY! December 17, 2012 was the day my life changed forever! 266 highest weight, 250 day of surgery, and today I am 189! I remember reading posts here before and right after surgery and thinking it just would never happen - I couldn't imagine myself as successful - I couldn't imagine that damn mermaid moving on my ticker...But it has and it is working out great! Cheers to all of us!

You look amazing and you sound so happy! Congratulations! How much of your total weight (102 lbs) did you lose prior to surgery and how much since surgery? That century club is begging me to join - but I have a little ways to go yet!

I loved your post! I feel the same way - sooooo happy I had the surgery! It just made me smile to read what you wrote! Hope all is well and you get below that 200 soon - I was so excited to finally reach that goal - and not a day goes by that I don't think about never seeing the 200's again! For the first time in years that is an actual reality!

Virginia Hospital Center has a good support group. It meets the third Thursday of the month at 7pm. There are some regulars and then new people each time. It you are near Arlington - or driving through - I would definitely check it out.

I used to be a utilization review nurse. It will go through - don't worry. Your doctors office will be on top of it and would have already brought up any red flags should there be any. As long as you are sure it is covered on your insurance plan and you meet the criteria - you should be fine. FYI - keep calling - sometimes your kind pestering can cause someone to take an extra step and push things through a little faster! Good luck - you are getting ready to take the most amazing adventure!!!!!

If you were a cancer patient and 2 years into remission - would they tell you that it will likely come back??? NO! The medical profession still has a long way to go in terms of acceptance and understanding of bariatric surgery. Personally - I think it is a personal bias that certain individuals have in addition to a major lack of understanding of the physiological and psychological issues associated with WLS.

CHRONICALLY AWESOME !!!! I'm so stealing that term! I just posted a new bolg entry - but had to go on steroids this past week. Guess what? NO WEIGHT GAIN!!! I actually lost 4 lbs. So happy that I did the surgery - I'd be doing a happy dance (if I could) right now!

For the last three weeks I've felt a little blah - well a lot blah. I have MS and unfortunately had a relapse. For those of you who don't know - that means going on IV steroids - the very ugly little suckers that made me gain all this weight in the first place. I usually gain 10-15 lbs during the time I am on steroids. Well, I am happy to report from the other side and tell you that I actually lost 4 lbs this past week while on the steroids! I absolutely LOVE my sleeve! I did have some wacky food cravings - but found that I could eat so little that it wasn't hard at all not to gain weight. The second cool thing - today I wore to work the suit I was wearing on 9-11-2001! Seriously?!?!?! And what is even better is that it looks awesome! There are a couple of pieces of clothing that I have kept over the years - mostly for sentimental value - but I always said I was going to wear them again when I lost weight. I cannot believe that it is actually happening! 6 month face progression...So amazingly happy!

Thank you so much for posting! I really needed to see this in order to make my decision. I'm going to start the process now - as I know my insurance will hem and haw for a few months before they finally approve it. Clothes just don't fit right up top right now because my boobs are too big for the rest of me! I started at a 40DD and I'd like to be a nice little B!

I am now half-way to my goal. I had about 140 total to lose. My healthy weight is 125 - so I would say I am about 1/2 way there - but looking at an uphill road for the last half! I am just going to keep thinking about it as an adventure and will enjoy the ride/struggle...

I am officially six months into this journey and I couldn't be happier. I am half way to my ultimate goal. I've had a couple of ah-ha moments lately. This past weekend I went shopping and realized that just because something fits doesn't mean I have to buy it. In the past anything that fit was an automatic purchase as there were so few things that actually fit. Now I can pick and choose! That made me so amazingly happy this weekend. I am also now fully aware of how my body drops weight - this will be a losing month and next month will not. I tend to stall with every 10 lbs now - but I am moving in the right direction and that is what is important. This picture is of me the day of surgery and then at 6 months post-op! -69 lbs!!! BIG GOALS: Get rid of the "Big O" - I want to be out of the "obese" range for BMI (about 4 more points to go on that one) Have lost more weight than I have to lose - that will be in two more pounds - but it is a day I am so looking forward to... Get rid of any and all clothing with an X after the size (it's an emotional attachment - none of them fit me any more) Do a zip-line - that's been on my list for a while - gonna knock it off this summer I'll post more when I have time to think about them. Life is simply too busy right now to think straight. Oh - one interesting thing happened last weekend. We went to a party and after my boyfriend mentioned that it seemed like I really had a good time. I told him that before my surgery I dreaded these kind of events because I felt so self conscious and worried about taking up too much space in the crowded room, and I simply got tired of standing all night. Now I have none of those thoughts/worries/issues. He was surprised to hear me say this - I guess I really did suffer in silence for years!