ILKrista

So, I'm not sleeved yet, but I'm definitely looking to the future. I've got big plan that when I hit my goal weight I'm going somewhere tropical and beachy... Say Tahiti or somewhere along those lines. Of course, I'm also picturing a hot Latino man on the beach with me:lol:... Hey a girls gotta dream. I'm curious what other people's big plans are for when they hit their goal weights. Krista

You might also check on obesity help. They have a very large forum devoted to plastic surgery. There is also a website called "Make Me Heal" devoted to plastic surgery.

A very highly recommended surgeon in Mexico is Dr. Sauceda. There is an entire forum devoted to him on obesity help. http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/Dr_Sauceda_Patients/ I am still saving up $ and trying to lose the last 15 pounds, but I've been researching doctors & he seems to be the most highly recommended in Mexico to specialize in people who have lost more than 100 lbs.

So I am 15 months out & lately I have been feeling like a failure. I have gone from 260 (Jan 2011) to 142 (now)... but the last month & a half I have been doing terrible. Before I was running 3-4 times a week & really sticking to the high protein, low-carb diet. After an unpleasant break up with my boyfriend, the running stopped & I have been eating crap (M&Ms, doughnuts, etc) I feel gross, bloated & fat. I've even been avoiding this site because I feel guilty about it. I am about 20 pounds from my goal & I consider it a miracle that I haven't gained 10 pounds with all the junk I've consumed. I've decided I need to do the Atkins induction for a couple weeks to get myself back on track. It really makes me realize that like any addiction, I will have to fight not to revert to old habits & fall off the wagon, so to speak. I know that I can do this. I just need to dig in & find that inner strength.

I gained about 15 when I quit smoking. I saw my doctor about a month and a half before the scheduled surgery... his attitude was that he was glad that I quit smoking, but that was no excuse for gaining weight. I had to take it back off if he was going to do the surgery. I spent the month & half really strictly dieting to get it off so I could have my surgery. I would suggest you talk to your doctor now & see what his response is. That way you still have time to loose the weight if you have to. Good luck!

It is really hard for me to believe that it has now been 6 months since I had my surgery, but here is is, August 23. When I got sleeved on Feb 23, I was so worried that I wouldn't survive the surgery & that even if I did, I would end up failing with it just as I had with ever other diet I'd ever been on. I saw how successful others had been & was inspired by all the information they shared about their experiences, but I just couldn't let myself believe it would work for me. Well, 6 months later, I am still a work in progress, but it is definitely working. Most of the time I consider myself to be an average loser. Certainly, I am not one of the people who is losing 20-30 lbs a month. But I've been very consistent in my weightloss so far & it has really started to add up. The stalls are frustrating, but I just do my best to keep working through them. I try to eat low carb, high Protein, but I am not super strict about it. I might have tuna on crackers or the occasional beer. For the most part I do low carb, high protein, with a few cheats every now and then. I am militant about going to the gym. I started off walking & have slowly worked myself up to jogging 20 minutes straight. I go the the gym religiously 3-4 times a week where I do at least 30 min of cardio & weights. I also try to work in a zumba class once a week. I don't know what else to say other than that it really can work if you are willing to work it. It has not always been easy, and there have definitely times when I wish I hadn't had the surgery (usually when I am craving a huge cheeseburger or bread or something & I know I can't eat that with my little stomach). Those moments pass quickly & 98% of the time I am thrilled that I had the procedure. I am happy with my results & hope that at the 1 year mark I will have reached my goal. I am including some pictures because I know how motivating it was for me to see the progress people had made. So as embarrassing as it is to post my heavy pictures, here they are.

Hmmm... So I have always had body image issues, especially when heavier. In fact, I didn't date for nearly 10 years because I felt like I was too disgusting. Now that I have lost over 100 pounds, I definately feel much better about myself... with the exception of having all the loose skin on my stomach & the sagginess of my boobs. I have been dating a very nice man for the past couple of months, but I still flatly refuse to take my shirt off for any reason... I really feel like if he sees what I look like, he will not be remotely attracted to me. I am planning to have plastic surgery next year & he has been very understanding about the whole thing, but how the heck do I overcome this? Anyone have any experience with dating & the loose skin issues?

I am definately saving for plastics & right now Mexico is looking like my best option. The cost really varies by doctor & I would suggest you research & find one who specializes in massive weight loss patients. The one I am most seriously considering is Dr. Sauceda in Monterey, MX. http://www.medicaltourism.com.mx/mtad.html If you go to the Obesity Help website, there is also an extensive forum dedicated to him (and plastic surgery in general) & you can get a look at his before & afters and talk to others who have lost 100+ pounds & had him for plastic surgery. I'm still about a year from being able to afford anything, but I'm already doing a bunch of research on doctors.

As open as I have been about telling people I have the sleeve, I lied by butt off and told them that I was physically unable to eat breads & sweets... it would make me vomit. No one offers me anything anymore. LOL.

When I was traveling for a couple weeks, I bought some of those kids with tuna, crackers, mayo all in a little box with a spoon for mixing etc. You could always skip the crackers to keep carbs really low. I also had apples/bananas with peanut butter. String Cheese. Slim Jims. It isn't an idea diet, but for a week or so, you could probably make do.

If I were you, I would look at the part of this forum that is dedicated to people who had the band & have now had to switch to the sleeve because of complications. Show your wife this. I initially thought that I wanted the band because it seemed less drastic. But research convinced me the sleeve was the better way to go... The long-term complication rate for the band was too high for me.

I was putting together a digital photo album from a trip I took to Ireland in October. I started to get frustrated because my friend had taken this great picture, but some skinny woman was standing in the middle of it, ruining the shot. I looked at the picture at least five times before I realized the skinny woman ruining my picture was ME! LOL.

I had to have a colonoscopy about 6 months after the sleeve surgery. Because one of my big issues was cronic constipation, I had to do 48 hours of nothing but clear liquids & do the same prep that you described having to do for yours. I don't know if it was the extra day of no food that made the difference, but I was flushed out by the time of my procedure. I really feel for you because that MoviPrep is sheer hell to get down. Good luck!

I'm curious what others do to reward themselves for their successes now. Before my surgery, I rewarded myself for things with fast food and junk food. I went to the gym & exercised? Good job, lets go to Portillos/Culvers/Burger King/etc. Since my surgery, I have been trying to reward myself with things other than food. I Celebrate a good month of eating healthy & going to the gym by treating myself to a facial or massage or something like that. My friends think this is such a waste of money to spend $100 a month on a treat like that, but I figure I realistically probably spent close to that on fast food before the surgery & I know I spent a lot more than that a month on cigarettes. So, I'm saving money Does anyone else do anything to reward themselves for a job well done? What are you doing? Krista

Check at your library... mine had 5-6 on the topic.

I was told that statistically, 20% of people who have WLS will gain back what they lost within the first 5 years... but that means 80% keep it off! With just diet & exercise 99% gain back what they lost and only 1% keeps it off. Yes, WLS is not 100%, but the odds of success are so much better! Some people have to dwell on the negatives.

Here's a link to my before's & almost there's: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/gallery/member/3897-ilkrista/ I'm still 10-15 pounds from my ultimate goal. At the heaviest, I was a size 24-26, XXXL tops. Now I am a size 8-10, M tops.

Well, I don't consider myself a huge drinker, but I do go out at least a couple times a month for drinks. What I've experienced is that carbonated drinks take me a long time to finish otherwise I feel uncomfortable from the extra gas or I end up burping all night... not fun. If I do shots or drink a strong drink quickly, I will get drunk fast. There seems to be no kinda-tipsy for me anymore. I'm either sober or wasted. My advice is to start slow & see what works for you. If you are going to drink a lot, have a trusted friend with you to watch out for you because it may affect you differently than it did before the surgery. I've learned to make a drink last me the entire night unless I plan to crash at someone's house that night.

My stretchmarks have become the bane of my existence. They didn't look so bad when I was heavy, but now that I'm close to goal, everywhere there are stretchmarks (thighs, stomach, boobs, & arms) the skin is sooo saggy. Saggy like my 85 year old grandma saggy. So depressing. I'm now saving for some plastic surgery to pull the skin tight. I don't care about the stretchmarks... it's the saggy skin that's making me crazy!

Best advice is to type 'marijuana' in the search bar. I know this topic has been discussed before & you'll see lots of differing viewpoints.

I bought a goal little black dress right after I had my surgery. It was a size 8 (I started as a size 26 and even as a fifth grader I was a 14), so it seemed like the biggest dream goal ever. I wore it for Valentines day, almost a year after my surgery. It may be the only time I ever wear it since I really don't have a lot of places to wear that type of dress, and I'm still losing, so I'm not sure it will be my final size. But for me, the cost ($40) was worth it for that moment of putting it on and seeing it finally fit. I don't think there is anything wrong with buying a goal outfit... just don't go crazy and buy a goal wardrobe. lol.

For the past couple nights I have been awakened because my knees hurt. Last night I suddenly realized they hurt because there is no fat cushion between them when I sleep on my side & the bones are pressing against each other. LOL. Wish the fact was coming off my stomach, but I'll take it.

I swear by Goodwill. I think I've re-bought my wardrobe about 6 times & I could have never afforded it without Goodwill. You will probably be dropping to a new size ever 4-6 weeks, so I don't think investing in new, high quality clothes would make much sense until you are around your goal weight.