Malin

One change at a time...that's what I'm attempting. Don't make all the changes all at once. One at a time and slowly works for me.

oh WOW! I would love one of these! We had an 'old school' pressure cooker when I was a kid and it terrified me. (ok, maybe I was a weird kid...) I bought one a couple of years ago to face my silly fears of blowing up my kitchen and I NEVER used it. This one looks very safe and convenient!!!

Well, I haven't been through WLS yet...but, I didn't have a period when I was in Basic Training in the Army. It was a major shock to my body--lack of sleep, drastically increased physical activity and STRESS! I imagine as much as a shock WLS is to your body, not having a period is very possible.

When I was back in college, I was working out at a local gym. There was an older woman on the treadmill next to me. We started talking, and I forget what we had been talking about ...but she looked at me and said "well, you are big but you have such beautiful skin." SERIOUSLY?

@Dknal2 And we have the same surgery date!! *high fives*

Heya, fellow 'Bama sleever! I just said this on another thread but I'll say it here too. I get this all the time too: "you're not that big, do you really need this surgery?" I'm 5'4 and I'm 215. Just like you, I'm sick of losing just to gain it back. I was in a 5k running program and working out with a physical trainer this summer, you'd think I'd lose weight. Nope! I Angeline Jolie had a double mastectomy, and she didn't even have breast cancer...YET. Key word there is 'yet'. She knew her chances of breast cancer were high, and she didn't want to risk it. And the press called her brave. I'm similar but a bit different....she doesn't have cancer, but I AM obese. I don't want to get worse. I don't want to hit 250 or 300, and it seems like I'm doomed (my parents were both very obese). I am making this choice for my future. I'm already on a CPAP for sleep apnea, cholesterol meds and my blood pressure now is terribad. I'm sick of diet pills (I think I was becoming addicted to them) and there's not a 'diet' I haven't tried. I'm making this investment in myself. My husband isn't against it, but I think he doesn't completely get it. So, I hope from reading the replies from this thread you know you're not alone in this, and we have your six (as we say in the Army).

I'm at 215, I'm only 5'4 so my BMI is higher, BUT...I completely relate to the losing and gaining it back within a few months. And like someone else had said on this thread, I question myself if I REALLY need this surgery (and believe me, people have said "You don't look like you need this"). My body has been adjusting very well to gaining 10-15 pounds a year and keeping it. Anyone remember when Angeline Jolie had a mastectomy even though she didn't have breast cancer yet? I'm getting this surgery for the same reason she did, she knew her chances of cancer were very high too. Both of my parents were seriously obese. My mother had a gastric sleeve a few years ago. I don't want to hit 250, 300 and become even worse off than I am now. Yeah, I have to self pay since I haven't been over BMI of 35 for 3 years (just this past year I hit that mark) . But it's an investment in myself and my future.

I'm wrapping our Christmas tree in the clothes that I can't donate and it will be doused in gasoline. I plan to throw matches at it because it will be one heck of a fireball. I will dance around it like the lunatic that am right in the middle of the front yard. I plan to have the fire out by midnight because those clothes don't have a future in my coming years. well-said! Let the burning rituals commence! let's not forget the MOM JEANS. I think I'll stick bottle rockets in the pockets and make it a real show!

Yes, thank you for starting up this little corner of the forum for us crazy holiday sleevers.

w00t! December 5th is popular! I'm very excited. I'm a little obsessed! I've ordered some post-op Protein Drinks, making some comfortable clothes for after the surgery (ones I can easily alter) and working on breaking bad habits. It's hard but I'm excited. Even facing down a holiday centered around food, I'm excited to get this process started.

oh...and getting a swimsuit from Victoria's Secret and not Lane Bryant.

Non-elastic waist pants. I almost want to have a ceremonial "burning of the fat pants" but perhaps someone out there shopping at Goodwill really needs some elastic-waist work pants! There's a pair hanging on the back of my closet door right now. I had bought them from the Gap several years ago. I can't wait until they're in my rotation again.

hope you're ok, @Aggiemae. Hope you're out of the hospital soon!

That's good to know actually! Thanks for posting that. Honestly, if I could I would have this surgery tomorrow! I'm ready to Git 'er done. Even during this holiday season. I'm also afraid of the additional expense this surgery is going to be (I'm financing it as my insurance won't cover it). But then again, I think we're going to save on NOT eating out so much!

Fears-- I'm afraid of complications, like I'm going to be that one in 1000 with a leak or worse. I know I've said on this forum before that my dad died after having a gastric bypass in 1982. Again, the procedures have come A LONG WAY since then, but surgery is surgery. Things happen. My dad got some sort of infection that became sepsis. Not like this is my first surgery. Heck, I had a breast reduction--that's probably a more complicated surgery than a gastric sleeve. They pretty much cut your breasts all up, liposuction and sew you back up again. A gastric sleeve should be a breeze compared to that, right? It's one thing to read 'there can be complications' and another knowing what I've lost since my dad died. But I know I don't want to get worse--I already have sleep apnea, cholesterol, and arthritis.

Hey all! Since we are going into this during the most challenging month of the year, what are you all planning to do to channel your energy/focus away from food?

Uber is a good idea actually. And you are truly blessed to have so many people caring about you. But I completely understand. Logistics do not have to be hard..but the more well-intentioned people get involved the more complicated it gets.

I can't say this is my 'surgery story' as I have not had my surgery yet, however this is my story. Whenever someone told me they were having weight loss surgery done, I felt compelled to talk them out of it. I felt it was my duty to do so. See, my father died after having a gastric bypass in 1982. He was only 31. He had broken his arm after a fall at work, and he was told he needed to lose weight to prevent another accident. Given the devastating impact his death had on our lives, I felt I had a righteous mandate to preach the dangers of weight loss surgery. DOOM. DISASTER. DEATH. Yeah, needless to say I was judgmental and unsupportive to people I knew who sought this treatment. As an interesting turn of events, my mother--the woman who lost her husband in 1982, underwent a gastric sleeve a few years ago. The night before her surgery I let her have it. Blamed this on her trying to impress her boyfriend. Gave her a guilt trip--heck, I gave her the guilt all-inclusive grand tour. But, oh, how I was wrong! The first time my children saw her after the surgery (a few months later), they did not recognize their own grandmother. I hardly did. Her sleep apnea (her snoring was the stuff of legend) is practically gone. She more active in her 60s than she ever was when we were growing up. Now that my cholesterol, apnea, higher blood pressure and my weight are worsening, I have done more research, seen friends have remarkable success with this option and have decided this is an option for me. And when I read some of the stories on this forum of family not being supportive, I wince. That was me. Now I'm looking at the world with new eyes. I'm seeing how food regulates our lives, the worst of it is everywhere. Just this weekend it really hit home how long we have to sit through too many commercials for coke, popcorn and M & Ms at the movies. I'm seeing that obesity IS a disease, and I need a better weapon to fight it. My surgery is in early December. I'm ready to get started. Here's to optimism, strength and tenacity to all!

Maybe I'm showing my age by quoting an 80s song in my topic title! Since we're all in pre-Op, maybe y'all can relate... I've been working focusing on one change at a time, and the current change I'm working on is...CHEWING. Small, deliberate bites are my focus. And WOW, I didn't realize that I really haven't been chewing my food. I practically inhale my food!! I wonder if I've always done this. Perhaps I started this back when I was in the Army and we had 5 minutes to eat. I remember some people vomiting because they made us eat so quickly. (And really, what tactical training purpose did gulping down food serve?) This morning as I was doing my new 'chew' I got full/satiated quickly, and I didn't even finish my all my food! And my stomach felt really good. But I really have to restrain myself. It's hard! When did chewing become HARD?

Here in a few weeks I'll be saying the same thing @@jpaps20 Chewing is awesome! But it's hard to re-learn/un-learn habits for something we do without thinking (Chewing) . I'm trying to do all I can NOW here in Pre-OP to make post-op easier. My doctor isn't putting me on a liquid diet or anything now (just the day before). Not drinking liquids while eating was last week. It still feels weird!

She's my spirit animal too. I don't know her from Adam or what her voice sounds like but if I ever get the urge to eat something stupid post-surgery I'm going to think "What would Lipstick Lady say.." Maybe I should make that a motivational bracelet...W.W.L.L.S?

*politely held in laughter as to not upset the special snowflakes*

At least the Spammers are good for a laugh. Their English is fascinating. I've tried reporting a couple of these posts, but it seems it's getting worse! My cleavage, premature ejaculation, size and energy levels don't need your wonder cream/pills, people.

Heck, why not? Current weight: 215 Goal weight: 190

..uh oh, I REALLY hope the butt doesn't go first....since I don't have much anything back there. My legs just stop and my back takes over from there. It's so sad.