Cody's mom

@@deedadumble, thank you, someone else recommended Monterrey as well. I'll look them up. You look fantastic, great work!

@@sherry24184, thank you, I'll check him out on line..

Funny, I don't find Tijuana a risk, but more highly trained quality surgeons than we have here. I would choose Mexico over anywhere for any surgery or dental work, but I would prefer going to someone that someone else has used. I had a very successful sleeve done in TJ for a very inexpensive price, but price isn't my concern, it's getting quality surgeons, and I know they are in Mexico, much more so than here.

From what I've seen so far regarding prices, it's less than half for the surgeries I've researched to go to Mexico, I also trust the surgeons in Tijuana a lot more. I'd like to find someone with knowledge of the surgeons there to find a good one.

Last December I considered having the lapband done (I'd never heard of the sleeve). I was at the end of my line, I was huge, I was ashamed and I was embarrassed to be seen. I was at my lowest point. After doing a lot of research I decided the risks were too high, the problems too big for someone that works over an hour from the closest town, and triple that from a decent hospital. So I continued to live with my disgust for myself. One day I stumbled across the gastric sleeve, and it interested me. When I stepped on the scale last spring and saw something that was beyond belief, I decided I had no other choice, I booked an appointment with a surgeon in Mexico, and off I went. That was September 14, and I'm now half way to my goal weight, and no longer suffering the issues, problems, and pain I was prior to the surgery. There has not been one second that I've regretted my decision, not one. When I was in Tijuana having my surgery there was a lady with her husband having the sleeve done, her husband had a band done 15 years ago, and I asked her, why not the band if your husband has had such success, and she said after watching the problems her husband had, she would never, ever consider a band.. Yes, he lost his weight, but not without lots of problems. I hope I never have to be a chronic yoyo dieter ever again, and this tool has offered me the success I couldn't do on my own anymore. I wish you luck, but my thoughts are, do what ever you have to, to live a happy life, and keep trying, try everything, and anything, it will be worth it in the long run.

@@sonosuzy it looks like you're having the lap band done, and that is somehting I would never consider and would be too afraid of, but the sleeve, I have absolutely no regrets, so far I love it and miss nothing what so ever from my life before the sleeve.

Believe me, it's better to eat to live, than to live to eat. It takes work. If your happy with yourself and your life, don't do it.. Personally I was so ashamed and embarressed how I looked I stopped living, this was my last attempt to regain my selfworth. It truly is a lot easier than you'd think, at least it's been for me. I'm only half way to my goal weight, it's been a slow but steady ride, but it's something I want, so I'll get there. Good luck!

Be happy you're losing and not gaining. Weigh yourself once a week and stop obsessing, you've lost 60 pounds, what is there to complain about?

No problems, up walking as soon as they'd let me, no pain, no problems (okay, it did feel like I had done massive amounts of sit-ups, but that was it). Still haven't found a Protein drink I like, but that's about the worse of my problems and woe's. I was able to drive, shop, etc a few days after surgery, and sadly doing laundry and vaccuming right away as well. I'm not one for laying around so I was back to my normal life as soon as I got home (I went to Mexico). Everyone is different, but those that had it done on the same day I did, we were all up and mobile in just a few hours and have had absolutely no problems.. Good luck!

@@sunshine69 I had surgery Sept 14, I had a hard time walking the pain in my feet would cause me dread to do anything. I'm 53 and was fed up with being out of breath and feet that would hurt. If I did a little activity I could hardly make it to the bathroom in the middle of the night my feet would hurt so bad. Doing the slightest of activities would cause me to pant out of breath like a dog who ran for miles. This past Friday I spent the entire day shopping and went for a hike out to see my horse which was about half a mile, then did several loads of laundry (up and down many flights of stairs), and really didn't notice till I went to bed that night, there was no pain, none! That alone is the biggest Christmas present..

I was sleeved September 14, and I enjoy a drink now and again. I drink Advocaat and 7-up, the Advocaat has a little Protein in it (small amount), but I also drink a lot of mineral Water as well, so I just add a little vodka, some pomegranate juice and Ice to my mineral water and it makes a nice light cocktail. But it's still the calories you have to track, it doesn't matter if they're in solid or liquid form, they all count. I had my first alcohlic drink two months after surgery, just one or two, and didn't have any adverse effect, but I'm just as happy to drink straight mineral water with ice and lemon as I am to have an alcoholic beverage. Moderation is always the key!

I'm three months out, and although I'm not a big fan of pop, I've had a few in drinks, but I still like carbonated water, and it doesn't bother me. I only have one glass at a time, and don't guzzle, I really enjoy them.

@@LipstickLady, where do you get these crystals, I have a hard time with water still and can not do artificial sweetners. I can't do crystal light, or dasani or any of those.

@@LipstickLady, me too, I always have my little heater on..

@@AvaFern, well said, and agree'd and I do it all as well.

Had I known I wouldn't have had to give up all the wonderful foods I love and enjoy I would have done the sleeve long before I did it. Had I known it wasn't a death sentence for my relationship with food, and that we could still be friends, I would have done it sooner, had I known how easy it was I would have done it sooner. If only I knew last December what I know now, I would have done it then. But fear of the unknown kept me from doing it and putting my life on hold for yet another year. I'm so glad I've done what I did. Had I only known then, what I know now!

@@RedSalamander, seven days (and had to drive nine hours to get to work), but I cleaned my house, grocery shopped, and worked my horses at five days out. I went shopping on the streets of Tijuana and costco two days out. I never felt fatigued, or sick, or had gas pains like some do. I was happy to get back to work and get into a routine again, it took my mind off everything. They say to restrick your lifting, and I tried, but I have a 85 pound pitbull who needs help with his bum getting into my truck so I was hoisting him in. Everyone is different. My friend went back after ten days and had no problems.

@@fluffy4now, I had surgery on Sept 14, 2014. I had prime rib ten days after, and have it once a week (I work in the oil patch and all meals are made for us). I had turkey, gravy and all the fixins last Sunday, and tomorrow is steak and shrimp night. This sleeve is not a death sentence, it's a means of controling your intake. I can not stand Protein shakes, and wish so much I could find one that I could drink without it coming back on me, but I can't, so I eat what is put in front of me in camp. I eat VERY small amounts, and guess what, I'm happy with that. Prime rib night use to happen, and I'd almost eat the arm of anyone who got in my way, now I just sit back and enjoy it. I even have yorkshire pudding and gravy if I want it (might only be a bite or two, but that's all that I need). I have lost 35 pounds todate, and have another 40 to go. I love that I'm happy with a few bites of everything instead of being able to out eat every man in the dining room. I'm happy that my stomach doesn't stick out further than my boobs. So this isn't the end of enjoying food, it's the end of un-natural eating. As for the other things you enjoy, trust me you won't be struck with a bolt of lightening if you eat them, use caution, but enjoy life!

@@Sleeve101, it's funny how one's body differs from another. I was one of the lucky ones, and wonder what determines how this pocedure differs from person to person. I'm older so I thought it would be really difficult. My weightloss has not been as successful as yours, but again I'm struggling with getting in my Protein, I hate, hate, hate the shakes all the ones I've tried, and haven't really enjoyed Water again either. We all have different struggles, but in the end, this tool will change our lives and let us live again. Smile101 just needs to know that a little short term pain may give her long term gain.. Best to you and your journey! Smile101, I don't think there's one of us that hasn't invested piles and piles of money on magic potions, lotions and snake oils to get thin, I could write a book I tell you. If a persons fitness level and weight was determined by the things we've purchased from fitness clothes, to workout equipment to diet meds, we'd all look fabulous! I've probably invest the amount equivalent to a house. Lets hope this is the end of it all!

I feel bad for sleeve101, it sounds like she's having a rough go, and some people do. Mine was easy, I was shopping as soon as I got out of the hospital, working my horses, cleaning my house and grocery shopping within a few days, and I ate a prime rib dinner ten days after surgery. I skipped all the diet plans set out because of the remote location I work in (I drove nine hours to work a week after surgery), so I had to adapt to my work conditions, I ate what the cooks made. Some people have a rough go of it, and others are able to carry on with out missing a beat. All the ladies that had surgery with me on the same day, are pretty much the same as me, we all jumped up and went shopping and to the beach as soon as we could, and aside from one or two having a few gas pains, went on with our lives pretty easy. So it is different for everyone, but just so you know, it is easy for some, I was shocked at how easy the surgery and recovery was, I was expecting it to be so much more difficult. Everybody is different.

We live in a life of food, we don't eat to live, we live to eat. We go for dinner, we go for lunches, there's sample tables everywhere we go, so it's difficult to not indulge, but this tool (the sleeve) will help so much. I was a self pay in Tijuana and it was easy. I had started to hide from everyone including friends and family because of the shame and embarrassment, so for me there was no other choice, I had stopped wanting to live all I wanted to do was hide. I think finding out who you are, and who you could be would be an exciting journey, and finding out the new things you can do would far out weigh your fears. "You're never to old to be what you could have been" (and that includes being thin and healthy). I wish you luck!

I still drink ice tea and very little water. Water made me sick as well.

There are so many of us that were more afraid to lose our relationship with food than to lose our relationship with life. The sleeve isn't a death sentence, it's a tool to start you on the way to living again. You will be able to eat all your favorite foods again, you just won't want to sit and gorge yourself and this makes it easier to make better food choices. Make health and happy decissions for yourself, and learn to live again. Best of luck!

@@iamblessed1225, there is absolutely no way I would be able to stick to that diet for even a day. Why not eat the whole egg? There are so many great things you can eat why not enjoy food, the sleeve is not a death sentence, and if you try to stick to an unrealistic diet, things will not go well. Best of luck!

@@Krystal0528, I love the beef jerky idea, it would also make you thirsty thus drinking lots of water...