BarnGirlWK

Those victories are best! Enjoy it. And enjoy continued success.

I leave for Mexico tomorrow morning! Only Clear liquids today on the menu.

I board the plane to San Diego tomorrow morning. Gastric sleeve surgery Sunday morning. It's been a blur, honestly. July 29 decision made, deposit paid. Less than a month and I'm having surgery. No time to panic. Oh, except I have not packed yet!

you are so right, @bikrchk. I like your take on this. And maybe I'll get to that point, too. Sharing and being open about it. Just not there yet. It is still too personal and close to the surface for me.

I didn't tell anyone anything. When/if they start asking about or noticing my weight loss, I'll say, "Oh, yeah. That. I went to the fat farm a while back!"

I've been reading a lot of articles, as I'm sure most of you have. But I am a little concerned that most of the ones on gastric sleeve surgery say that it aids patients in losing 50-70% of excess weight. Why not 100%? I have read the success stories, the goal weights reached, and it seems like it is possible to lose 100% of excess weight. But is it really possible for everyone? Even me? I don't only want to lose 'some' weight. I want to be rid of the extra weight my body does not need or like.

Thank you for sharing! This helps to know!

Thanks for the info! Sorry you're feeling tired. And, yes, having real food may help with that. I will be in the hospital for 2 days and then move to a hotel for 2 days before heading back to San Diego, where I am actually staying one more day! So, maybe that will work fine. 1/4 cup of food in a meal? Wow! I find that hard to imagine! Physiological changes upcoming! And also the visual cues. Half a cup sounds like a ration in an orphanage or something!

@@PrincessSparkle and @@shar1972, can you share with us your Mexican experience? How are you since you've been back? How is the weight loss going? Looking forward to hearing. Thank you.

@Fullofitx3: believe it! You are living it! Way to go! Woot, woot!

Interesting @@moonlitestarbrite - that does help, too. Thank you.

I tried Quest Peanut Butter cups Protein 'snacks'. Gross. Dry as a popcorn fart!

Behind the eyes and the smile of the person in the mirror is someone I love. Someone I know well, respect, admire. I know her strengths. That person will always be in the mirror. Behind the body of the person in the mirror is someone who has been in my life for a long time. I know her struggles and insecurities and worries and weaknesses. She shows them to the world in unspoken ways. She has served her term in the mirror and has started the journey away. I let her go with love. Thank you gowalking, you are right. We will soon find out.

So, there are three of us on the same plan with A Lighter Me and Dr. Elias Ortiz. Me Aug 24, Shastasmom Sept 4 and Cody's mom Sept 13. Glad we found each other.

@@Juba and @@Cody's mom: may I ask how you claim the surgery expenses on your income tax return? Thanks.

Thank you, everyone. I have to admit that since my decision to do this (3 weeks ago), it has been a whirlwind, with surgery now only a week away in Tijuana. I'm stressing out a little today. Can I ask another question? Is it just the fact that you have a smaller stomach and will consume less food that accounts for the weight loss, or is there more to it than that? I'm not trying to make it more complicated than that, but I feel like there's more to the story. Maybe I'm asking, what is it about gastric sleeve surgery that makes it work? I'm a regular exerciser, and plan to continue with that, so I can't see that being an issue.

Hi Cody's mom. I leave Calgary on Saturday, surgery on Sunday. Dr. Elias Ortiz via A Lighter Me for $4,400 US. Yes, WestJet flight is extra. Yes, hospital and hotel are included. This all happened very fast for me. Booked and paid deposit on July 29 and Surgery Aug 24, less than a month total! I find myself stressing out a little today, for some reason. All good, though.

@@Amyly2n, I hear you. Why is it that overweight people, large as they can be, are so 'invisible'? It is sad that others mistake you for some other overweight person because they did not take the time to get to know your individuality and know that you do not have blue eyes like Tanya; you do not wear pink lipstick like Marilyn; you do not wear glasses like Cassandra does yet you're the same person. Sad. For them. Never mind. You're on the way to being more than memorable.

Sandi, what form of Biotin will you purchase? What dose or strength was recommended? Thank you.

Dr. Elias Ortiz through A Lighter Me

tiredmama: thanks for the link to your blog. I checked it out. Aren't you going to add a weight loss status to your comments? I appreciate the other insight, but what is still my focus (pre-op) is what weight loss looks like at your stage.

Hi there I have tried many, many, many weight loss methods since I was 19 years old (the first time I joined Weight Watchers, but not the first time I was 'fat'). That's 30 years of the weight loss insanity And while I had success on many of them (temporary success, obviously), the one thing that was never addressed was "Why am I overweight in the first place?" Weight loss programs focus on losing weight. Some of them have a 'keeping it off' element, but not many do. So, the focus is on reacting to the symptoms rather than causes (starting where it started with the weight gain). Why did the weight gain start? Is it ALL because of lack of willpower or self-control? Is it because of genetics? Is it emotions? Hormones? Why are some people predisposed to putting weight on when others face similar situations and are not so predisposed? Why is weight loss so hard to maintain? I doubt very much that I'm overweight because I'm lazy, don't try hard enough, can't control myself, etc. Which are easy judgements from people who have never had a weight issue. I look forward to your posts.