Rox

I too believe in pain killers - if I hurt the day I leave the hospital to fly home, you bet i'll be insisting on liquid Vicodin!!

I agree, get rid of them. I too have a frugal side. Some of the women on here do Goodwill, thrift shops, or consignment stores, while losing weight and dropping sizes.

I read the book on my kindle and was very impressed - I can never know too much when it comes to this surgery. There were things that I learned from the book that weren't anywhere else.

I am going to Mexico for my surgery, so a psych eval was not a factor. However, I do see a therapist, when I told her, we went round and round about it. She told me that if I needed her approval to have this surgery that she would deny me. Luckily she could not do that. Her biggest problem about me having this surgery is that she doesn't think I am "big enough". Anyway, surgery is next Tuesday.

I quit smoking for this surgery, I refuse to start up again. Smoking interferes with healing. I am having a good portion of my stomach removed - and the part staying behind will have a staple line to heal. I'm not taking any chances with the healing process.

But look how far you have come!!!

Laura Ven and Lipstick Lady - if I should ask, 5 days post-op if I can have cheez whiz and crackers, please feel free to bash the hell out of me, and I would not even require that you be nice about it!!

Your surgeon has one opinion on how much you should lose and you have your own, but in this case you're the one in control.

OK here goes, first of all you look really, really, good. This is your journey, you can't compare it to anyone elses. It would be like 5 different woman wearing the same dress, we'd all look different. Different earrings, different shoes, different nail polish. Well that's how the sleeve is, everyone has the same tool, but everyone responds, and uses the tool differently. So there is no "right" amount of weight to lose in any certain time frame.

It is really the "new" you because you just do not look like the same person. I hope you don't feel offended by that, but you really don't look like your "before" at all. Wow! what a transformation!!

I checked your profile and you look pretty young. Just let those nasty stitches work themselves through, and then use Mederma. Those scars will fade in a couple of years and you'll barely be able to see them. Then, rock that bikini!!

Wow!! what a difference 5 mos. makes. You look wonderful

You could strain the cream soups and then add an unflavored protein powder to them to get more protein, also Unjury has a chicken broth protein powder.

Oh my gosh - how scary for you!! You and your family are in my prayers. Get well soon.

ha,ha,ha,ha, I thought you meant your favorite song by the band Journey!!!

No toast!! Let your sleeve heal!! Aren't you about 5 days away from mushy foods?? Just hold on!! In three weeks, remind me of this when i'm dreaming of English Muffins!!

You have done an amazing job with your sleeve and erratic weight loss - but you made the sleeve a success. Now you know why you had the unbearable acid reflux (am pre-op and have it really bad).I know this is not the outcome that you wanted. If I were you, I would work on putting on a 20lb buffer, for the Sept. surgery

Why don't you settle in the middle at 165, I mean you are 5'11", and unless you plan on walking the runways, 165-175 would give you good lee-way.

This surgery forces mindful eating on a person. I can eat mindfully without the surgery, but I can't keep it up long enough to lose significant weight. Then, when I would get tired of mindful eating, my body and I would quickly gain the way back, and then some. For some reason, if it took 4 months to lose 20lbs, it only took 7 wks to gain 25lbs. I have resigned myself that I will have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life

Soooo - that means that I am a genetic mutant??!!!??

Definitely find someone that you have confidence in - it's hard enough to figure out what triggers overeating - and if you're not with the right therapist, progress won't happen

Go to the Mexico forum - many people discuss their surgeries and surgeons

Hell Yeah!! I'm doing the same thing before my surgery - mani/pedi, roots,I want to look good for this surgery!!

Way to Go!!

If you're obese, diabetic,smoker, african american, jewish, and over 60. I would worry. I don't take this lightly, my cousin and best friend died last Nov. from this horrible cancer. I wouldn't wish this type of death on my worst enemy.