pnw218

My suggestion: put your family on a "root hog or die" meal plan for a while : ) google it: Davy Crockett used the phrase and Western frontiersmen were often in dire economic straits and had to root around for whatever they needed to survive. Ok, maybe a bit drastic but you get the point : ) It won't kill them to eat pb & j for a couple of weeks, dine on frozen dinners (there is a great variety out there) or eat pizza. Maybe they can eat what mom eats and take up healthier habits also?? When my older two kids were little and I was a single mom, I made their plates with a variety of sandwich type makings, fruit, etc - and then let them decide how to eat it. Item by item or as a sandwich. They thought it was fun. I will admit that I have only cooked a couple of times in the past four months, and most every time has been for a party we were having at home. My husband is an excellent cook and my 15 year old daughter knows the above saying well. She knows the basics about cooking and eats alot of bagel sandwiches and salads. Good Luck! Enjoy your mushies!

I cried saying goodbye (or see ya later) to my favorite foods the week before surgery. At the same time, I was so very excited to be thin and healthy again. Today is four months for me. I would not go back and change it. I do still wish I could have lost weight on my own, but it wasn't going to happen. I feel great. Size 8 pants are loose; I started in 16's. Size small and medium shirts fit perfectly; I started in XL's. I am eating pretty much what I want on a daily basis within the guidelines, as a whole. However, when I want a snack or treat, I have it. My loss is slow and steady, and I am totally good with it. I am getting over the mental issues - being frustrated over how little I can eat, how long it takes. Even have a drink once or twice a week. My biggest meltdown was at the clinic, after I was prep'd for surgery. Fortunately, the dr was kind enough to add a little valium to my iv, and all was good : ) You will definitely have ups and downs, physically and mentally, before and after surgery. All normal. The old saying is true tho ~ nothing tastes as good as thin feels : )

have you been with the same bank for a long period of time? any local credit unions you can join? maybe put up something as collateral? a vehicle or ?? Getting someone to cosign could also be a possibility, altho be very careful with that option. If you default, your cosigner defaults as well. Won't make them very happy. Have anything you can sell? Any type of side work you can do from home? Maybe watch someone's child while you are at home with your's? Maybe someone can loan you the money? Sign a promissory note with terms to protect yourself and the person who lends the money. Have you tried applying for any loans? All they can say is no : ) The interest rate might be lousy but if you can pay just a little extra every month, the interest will be lower in the long run. Good Luck! It is an amazing surgery ~ I hope you find a way!

hmmm - you are leaving the hot side and coming to the cool side! : ) Will be curious to hear how you like St. Francis. I don't think I have talked to anyone who has had surgery there. Are you traveling alone? How long will you stay in the hospital? Good thoughts for a fast recovery - both the sinus infection and surgery!

LOL Such a terrible issue to have, huh?? : ) I was hoping that I would lose a little there to stay in proportion with the rest of the body as it shrinks. Only recently have I begun to notice any change beyond less back fat. I had a lift in 2007, so they are fairly solid, not like they were post baby. lol I will see what happens but am hoping to avoid another surgery. Not so concerned about a smaller size, just don't want saggy : )

4 month update! 152.0! A loss of 41 since surgery, 47 since last summer. My BMI is just about 6 pounds away from overweight to normal!! My back is doing decent; feeling better after 3 months on the cpap machine. Has it really been four months?? And at the same time, I feel as if I never had surgery. I still have to remind myself at times to drink slower, take smaller bites. According to Cornell, I can now add crunchy vegies! Yea! That has been the last thing I have been missing as an afternoon snack! Overall, I feel very good; the mental is even getting easier. It doesn't bother me as much to shrug off the food as it was in the beginning. I fixed brunch for a dozen family and friends on Sunday - and didn't feel short changed. I continue to lose about a pound a week. Have little if any saggy skin. Tummy looks great. It feels good to exercise and I will be attempting to keep up with the high school teens in their summer weight conditioning program, 4 days per week. I will either be in great shape by the end of summer or 6 foot under. lol One of best things lately? Getting my picture taken and not hating it!! :001_cool: It was very depressing last fall when my granddaughter was born. I greatly disliked any photos of myself yet wanted the memories. OH! And people are finally noticing! It is awesome to hear - really helps to make it all worth while. The size 8 pants I bought a week or two ago are already a little loose. *bummer* :wink1: Five weeks until we cruise ... will wait until just before we go to buy a few new things. The family is loving it - they now think it is their duty and privilege to have bites of my meals!! So much for leftovers!

Thanks girls! And Sam ... you will be carrying a to go box soon! LOL And I did go back to the hotel room and eat one hoho! Felt fortunate to get home and on the scale this am and was down! Usually I gain when I travel! : ) Excited to hear from you next week after surgery! Fab ~ we should schedule lunch sometime in the next week or two?? School is about out and my assistant can work extra days since she won't be subbing. Have to say that 6 hours in the Montgomery Airport is about 5 hours too long! After several delays, flight changes and an airport change, I finally made it home at 1am. Then slept until 130pm! Glad we had closed the office today and I didn't have to go in : )

you will probably find some info if you search his name in the above box or start a new thread : ) I don't know anything about that dr. sorry!

will be interesting to hear your results!! I am at the 3.5 month mark and haven't been losing any more than normal. Hoping that continues! good luck with your experiment!

so well written green bay! : ) and exactly as it should be! too bad not everyone is like you girl! :biggrin0:

oh Kathy!! You didn't post this! LOL beware of the posts you will soon get! Hopefully only those who have personally used him will answer - whether they had good or bad or indifferent experiences. I know you have stumbled across the "other" threads since posting this so you know the drama that can follow : ) Talk to anyone who has used him and then make your own decision. You are the one who has to live with the results of the surgery. I had a great experience from start to finish. You can read about it at: http://verticalsleevetalk.com/tell-your-story/3651-mexico-bust.html I will answer any messages sent to me privately as well. Good luck to you and anyone else doing research! The sleeve is an amazing tool and I hope it becomes more available and well known to others who can benefit from it!

NIKKI!!! your arms look amazing! that was my only complaint when I was buying a few new clothes this weekend ... my arms are a little flabby. Curves will have to do it for me for now tho. Hopefully I can move up to "real" weights in a few months! GREAT JOB!! you should go on the Oprah show as an inspirational person! We should all start writing her letters!! : )

I only have one question ... where are we eating?? I am starving all ready!! LOL oh! and please make sure the place has a/c ahead of time??? :biggrin0:

LOL Fab! anything else cause gas for you?? : ) You have lost a few more pounds, haven't you?? like about 6?? yea!

It seems to me that someone would really have to go crazy with what they were eating to gain back alot of weight. I am curious to see how I will do on a cruise next month. I will be 5 months out. I don't think I will be able to eat too much - but do plan to eat dessert with every meal! However, I will also be taking the stairs instead of the elevator : ) My issue now ... is wanting a healthy treat in the afternoons. I was going to go back to the Atkins lo carb bars but they have so many calories! Any ideas what is worse: calories or carbs??

I can do a little soda! Settles better if it is a little flat but it is nummy! It does make me burp tho : ( LOL

I haven't had any gas at all since immediately post op. The only discomfort I have had (other than eating too much or too fast sometimes! LOL) is if I am due or overdue to poop. sheesh! where else can we talk about poop so easily??? I have had a few fries and bites of burgers. Might sit heavy in my stomach but hasn't caused any real pain or gas. Good luck! I hope you get it figured out soon!

Seems like there is not alot of solid data because the surgery for weight loss is only about 5 years old. What I have heard here and read other places is the part that is left is the leathery part that isn't as stretchy as the part they remove. Regardless, it seems hard to believe that it would stretch quickly. I can't eat alot at a time, 2-3 ounces, unless it is more slider type foods and it still takes me an hour to eat anything over 3. So - by the time you lose your weight, maybe it will have stretched a little, but you will be in a maintenance mode and eating a little more anyways. We will always have to eat healthier ....

Amazing job Jim!!!! You should be very proud of yourself!! It is great to hear how many people are able to decrease their meds and medical issues by losing weight. That alone should encourage insurance companies to pay for the surgery. So stupid that many don't. Even for me, with a lower starting BMI, my insurance company has spent well over $50,000 in the last year alone for related issues with my back, sleep apnea, etc. Even my non-related digestion issues have disappeared post-op! Congrats again on your weight loss and exercise! You are a huge encouragement to others!

me too! LOL It must just be part of the deal : ) for me, it is mainly after I eat. Some people have said before that they thought it was a signal that they were full. It is mostly annoying if I am out to eat or with other people. It does disappear after the meal settles. I am hoping it eventually goes away tho!

that is so cool! I miss my gma so much! We were so much alike! Six months before she died, we took an Alaskan cruise - another one of those things she wanted to cross off her bucket list. She wasn't real healthy at the time and had just gotten out of the hospital ... but she still got up at dinner to dance with the waiters during their songs!! LOL I was with her when she took her final breath. It was so very peaceful. I am glad to hear you have such a great grandma and she will be with you! This surgery is an amazing tool!!

So glad so many changed from lapband to sleeve! Even if it was at the last minute! LOL I changed about a week after I scheduled my surgery .... so glad that I did! I knew nothing about the sleeve surgery. Started reading about band issues and those who did sleeve instead on another website - thank goodness! cg ~ are you flying thru Charlotte on the 10th?? I will be there briefly on the 8th and 10th, but probably too late in the day to run into you at the airport. cg and rebel: Hope your surgeries go smoothly! I am getting very close to a shopping trip in San Diego! Juanito's bf works at the Michael Kors store there .... he promised to dress me when I was done losing weight! Juanito is the English speaking sweet guy who will review your paperwork and interpret for Dr. A. He is truly a sweetheart! If you need anything or have any questions, he is great about getting answers and making sure you are taken care of : ) If you tell him that you are really nervous before surgery, he will also tell the dr so you can have valium in your iv!

congrats 4Me! sounds like you are off to a great start! I will agree - I was starving for the first couple of days after surgery! Once I was able to have something tho, it helped alot. hope your recovery continues to go smoothly! Mommaof4 ~ you are doing very good! congrats on the loss! texaschick ~ it does get very scary as it gets closer! typical no matter what kind of surgery it is : ) ask for a little valium in your iv, it really does wonders to relax you before surgery!