BarnGirlWK

Great topic, and of great interest to me. Thanks for posting and updating.

This is important. Researching and deciding on WLS. For me, it is more than important, it is huge. Maybe the biggest thing I've every done. Of course nothing else matters (as much). And look at all the support here!! The insights. The tips. The encouragement. Stay focussed, don't neglect the rest of your life.

@amsterp: your pre-op preparations are designed to help reduce the fatty tissues around the liver and the spleen to assist the surgeon during surgery. Most of us who are candidates for this surgery have an excess of this fatty tissue. Believe me, you are helping yourself and your surgeon by following the pre-op guidelines. Friday will come, your surgery will go ahead with ease thanks to your prep. Hugs

Earlier I meant that I have tried hypnosis for weight loss with no success. 10 years of weight loss troubles even after you thought it would help to have lap band surgery. That would be devastating. I'm afraid I would give up. But, never mind looking back for too long. Look where you are now. You are slim, healthy, beautiful and happy. You're living the life you were meant to live. I sure appreciate the insight and the sharing you've done. This is important. Thank you

Thank you! I mean it. I love knowing what COULD happen. And, I am aware that it does happen. And I don't want it to happen to me. My reaction is to say "I'd die", meaning from shame, embarrassment, etc., but that isn't want I really mean. I mean, I would feel awful about myself and would easily believe the 'lack of responsibility' you mention. I would be devastated. Mortified. So, did you get to goal weight with the lapband? And then the weight crept back? Darn it all! I just don't know what to think. Even though I don't consider myself an overeater, I realize that I must be to some extent to be in the pickle I'm in. But with only 15-20% of my stomach left at the end of the surgery, surely that tool in itself will be the one that finally grants me weight loss success. I think I am aware that I will need to work at this every single day, but I also think that I'm hoping it won't actually be that hard. Is it easier for you as time goes on? Or always a struggle? I appreciate that you don't feel like you've won the weight loss lottery, but is it truly a struggle? In what way? To not overeat? To make better choices? Feeling full isn't an issue, is it? OMG! P.S. I've not hypnosis for weight loss, too. No success.

Hi Lindseyzzzme I'm doing my sleeve surgery through A Lighter Me in Mexico. Like you, I have only a two-day pre-surgery liquid diet. I am currently pre-op with surgery in Tijuana on August 24. So, I am consuming only Protein shakes and salad with protein until three days before surgery when I switch to full liquid. Day of surgery, nothing. Where is your surgery? There are different requirements via different surgeons. Different though processes, I guess.

gowalking; Wow! Thank you so much for chiming in. I guess, personally, I dread this: Getting to goal, and letting the weight creep back in. And I suppose that is why I think (I know) we really have to have a look at why we're overweight (heavy, obese, morbidly obese, plus-size, etc.) in the first place. 142 pounds gone! Gone!!! You rock! And, well, I guess nobody said what really happens once the weight is gone. There has to be some grieving, mourning, closure, ending. You are taking some very important actions to clear your addiction. I wish you strength. CowgirlJane: you've got a lot of insight, I feel. I'm glad you are staying connected to hear what others have to say. You inspire. Can I ask? Is it really, really possible to put the weight back on after bariatric surgery? Really? Now I feel some apprehension, honestly. I do not want that to happen. This is a very personal, very large step for me. And I would feel more than shame or failure if I not able to maintain the loss.

Hi KatieD6982 Well, I posed the question so that we do have some awareness around what got us in the pickle in the first place. Yes, life throws us curve balls and bumpy roads. You've already taken the first steps, so good for you. When is your surgery?

Hi Squizzo There is truth in that. I have never lost more than 40 or so pounds in one try; have never got to goal weight to re-set anything. Like you, I'm optimistic that THIS TIME, I will get there. I want it so darn much! You've made an important decision for your future healthy and lean self. Congratulate yourself.

Well, I'm a little younger than you are. I was NOT a chubby kid. I was of normal weight right up to about 14 years old. And I have only been 'this heavy' for about 6 years. I guess I'm trying to ward off any of those ailments. And others. There are days that my body hurts so much (from exercise the day before) that it is hard to find a pain-free way out of bed in the morning. Carrying extra weight affects my ankles a lot, my knees somewhat, and my hips somewhat. Especially during exercise. I do hike at this weight, too. And I'm going to ride horses again when I'm at my goal. I'm a city girl, but I can find horses to ride. I'm part of the chuckwagon community here in Alberta. I'm around horses plenty, just don't ride them. The picture is one I would be proud of, too. Size 4 shorts and a junior's one size fits all top. Woo-eee! You look like you've never had a weight issue. And I see no excess skin. What did you do with it?

I'm from Calgary, Alberta. I have two sisters and a niece and a nephew and a Dad. And aunts, uncles, and cousins. I am interesting, smart, loyal, hard-working, a great friend, dependable, adventurous, silly, funny, fun. I AM more than my weight. I AM more than my surgery. I have dreams, goals, desires, hopes, frustrations, tears, love, forgiveness, ambitions. And starting now, I'm living for them.

feeling comfortable naked (in the right situations) wearing blingy western wear - (why is western wear sized so small?) not wearing shapewear shopping in ANY store, NOT the plus-size stores not being the heaviest person in the family seeing what I look like at a normal weight feeling comfortable in a swim suit doing exercises without my belly being in the way being complimented on the way I look (rather than 'you have nice eyes') shocking people or not being recognized

I will google that, thank you CowgirlJane. I am very impressed with your results, too. Wow! 150 pounds in 14 months, and you are maintaining below your goal weight. I'm assuming you followed the post-op diet to a 't' and were very focussed on your goal. How does life 150 pounds lighter feel? What are the differences between your life then and your life now? What is your age (range)? Thanks, again.

It does not matter what you decide to do. There will be someone to advise you against it. Whenever you make changes, especially positive ones, the people in your life must change how they relate to you. And they get uncomfortable about that because YOUR change is what is the catalyst for THEIR change in the way they relate to you. And they did not see a need for change at that particular moment They already know how to relate to you as an overweight person. As a person changing habits and lifestyle, they now need to relate to you as a healthier, slimmer person. And there will be some who won't want to. So they encourage you to stop where you are, or go back to where you were so that THEY are more comfortable around you. I have found that others in my life are more comfortable around me when I'm heavy. When I'm dieting or changing my lifestyle and they still want to be around me, they need to accept my choices, and possibly examine if there are any changes needed in their own lifestyles. For some, it is way easier to stay where they are. And even we have been there for a certain amount of time before we decided to take action.

I'll get my two cents in here. For me, weight loss is emotional. Very emotional. It is personal. I recognize that we're all different. But we are all human beings. We all started perfect, normal, ideal. I'm not even consciously aware of when I started to gain weight. I was not a heavy child. I was a normal weight child. I believe I am not meant to be heavy. I do recall my 16th birthday and being appalled to realize that I had nothing to wear that made me look good for an evening out. In our household, junk food was not allowed. Babysitters hated coming to our house. Yes, I had tasted soda pop and potato chips and chocolate. But not at our house! And it tasted good! Very, very good. And when I was 13 years old, I started babysitting, and had some of my own money. Guess what I bought with it? That's right. Junk food. I was also an emotional person. Still am. And I was never close to my mother, though I dearly wanted to be. She just didn't want it. As an adult, I recognize that was her doing, not mine, but it still affected me. But I found some comfort in music and in the taboo foods. So, is that where it started? Food replacing affection? But I saw other kids eating it. Why weren't they getting heavy? Why was I? I actually didn't really know that my weight was not normal as a teenager. Until seeing cousins one summer who I hadn't seen since the summer before. And in greeting, the cousins happily pointed out that I "GREW"!! And then the 16th birthday with nothing flattering to wear. The other kids at school ranged in sizes, so it wasn't apparent that I was overweight. Though, there was some name-calling "Cow" in junior high. Oh, and my mother decided that she would also call me a 'big, fat, cow' whenever she was irritated (mostly at the sight of me). So, there was the stigma now. I am being likened to a cow. I got through high school all right, (though another emotional time during my parents separation and divorce), and made my first registration at Weight Watchers at age 19. I was done with being a cow. By the way, my two sisters were not overweight at this stage. And, yes, I lost a little weight before I gave up on the effort because I felt like I wasn't part of things. That was almost 70 pounds ago, the first time I joined Weight Watchers. Are relationships partly to blame for gaining weight? I mentioned my relationship with my mother. And, of course, teenage siblings can be cruel. And their friends, too. Where my friends, some overweight, too, accepted me, fed me, supported me. And go on in life to my naïve feelings for someone not being reciprocated; to no real interest shown to me by a man; to an abusive marriage, which I entered full of love; to divorce; to losses of loved ones. To where I am now. I want to get off the cycle now. I'm ready. I don't want to have (emotional) excuses that make it okay to be overweight. I want to stop the insanity. But I really do feel that you have to look at why you are overweight to begin with. Then you can heal. And normalize.

I'm in my 40s and have made the decision to end the weight loss/weight gain insanity! Yay me! I do not want to face the health conditions associated with aging AND being overweight: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetic risk, joint problems, etc. There were times when I felt I was getting too old for this option, but when I kept researching and found patients in their 60s, I thought it would be okay for me, too. I've never been at a 'normal' weight as an adult. And dare I believe I will now find out?

I have my surgery scheduled on August 24, 2014 with Dr. Elias Ortiz. I'm going through A Lighter Me. Thank you for posting this as the suggestions do enhance the information that was available to me in my client package. Keep the packing light. You will be handling your own luggage on the way home, so keep it light for lifting. Keep it simple and downsize where you can. It was also recommended to take $1 US bills for tipping and such. I plan to enjoy a little shopping while there, so will have some small denomination cash for taxis, too. Your profile does not say where you live. I am coming from Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Hi @@mom2bubsnboo I am going through A Lighter Me from Calgary, Alberta to Tijuana. My surgery is coming up on August 24. The whole decision/deposit/scheduled date all happened in the blink of an eye. When I did contact them, I asked for their first available surgery dates, so I literally have no time to think about it. I just pulled the trigger. I'm optimistic. I'm hopeful. I'm nervous - but not in the least about going to Mexico. This all feels right. Your profile does not say where you live.

I'm in Calgary. I would love to keep a support network going for us Calgarians. Please check in regularly and update. Perhaps one day and meet and greet? I don't know about a 'Calgary Program' that was mentioned by @kelliecalgary. I just did my own research, selected to go through A Lighter Me and pulled the trigger. What is 'the Calgary Program'? I am pre-op, with surgery scheduled in Tijuana on August 24.