Hello Ladies!
I hope you are both doing well and had a lovely Thanksgiving! I wanted to let you know that I am officially at 50 pounds lost! I feel amazing! The sleeve is my dream life! It is not a panacea, I am continuing my therapy with a psychiatrist who specializes in weight loss surgery patients. 🙂
I am 20lbs over what I had lost with the band. I haven't weighed 210 in about three years! I can fit into a size 16 jeans very comfortably now, and I have bought a few 14's as well! (I was a tight 18/2XL at surgery time). I went shopping last night and I can fit into size large at many stores! My boobs unfortunately are still gigantic so that makes it a little difficult! Hopefully they will shrink soon.
I love that my co workers are constantly saying how amazed they are at my weight loss. I know it won't be easy forever, but it still has seemed like a piece of cake. Saying "no" is so much easier these days. Food has lost that "fun event" feeling it had before for me. I am used to the new, smaller portions I eat now and rarely eat until stuffed like I did at first. I learned my lesson with the band….absolutely no ice cream, milk shakes, mashed potatoes, or cream soups for me this time around! (No slider foods!) I've been eating a lot of fat free Greek yogurt which is yummy and has lots of protein.
I've had no hair loss yet, though I confess I would love to lose some! (Ahh!) I have SO much hair! My hair dresser keeps laughing when I tell her that its possible that I might start losing hair! She says it won't matter on me! 😉
I will try and take some pictures this weekend. I did something two weeks ago that I haven't had done since my wedding day over four years ago. I arranged for my husband, me, and our two dogs to get family pictures taken for Christmas. I should get them back today or tomorrow, I will pass them along. 🙂
Thank you so much for enabling me to change my life for the best it could be! I am a happier, healthier person!! No blood pressure meds for me now either!!! I have had it checked since at the doc twice and it's been NORMAL! Praise The Lord! My outlook on life has improved dramatically! I have more energy, more happiness and my husband and I barely fight anymore. I can't see this going anywhere but better and better as I continue to shed the weight that's prevented me from living life to the fullest.
We are going to Hawaii in June and I can't wait!!! I will feel proud of myself whatever I weigh. I know I will feel marvelous! Four years ago my family went and I weighed 180. I hope I can weigh that or less this time around!
Enough blabbering! Thanks for your support ladies, and god bless BELITEWEIGHT!!! 🙂
xoxoxo
Erika L
Update! This is me, Erika from the pic above! I am now back in the 100's and feeling better than ever! I am finally getting into exercising (some back and hip issues have stalled me tremendously in this area). I am seeing a chiropractor and massage therapist to help, and doing daily stretches and strengthening exercises.
I have had hair loss, but I upped my protein and it has really helped. I had my vitamin levels checked and I am doing great, actually better than pre-surgery!
This surgery has CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel like a new person. Every day I wake up feeling like I actually have hope and true happiness about ME! I haven't had that in so long. Clothes and shopping have always been a passion of mine, and the bigger I got, the harder and more disappointing it was to go look for clothes. Well, now I am just going crazy! I may not be "skinny" yet, but I am wearing a 12/14 and M/L clothing! I can shop at regular stores now, and not be worried that their largest sizes won't fit. I am free. I have lost the fat suit that had trapped me and held me back for so long. I have a new found confidence in myself and JOY in daily life!
I know that this weight isn't "lost," (I won't find it again!) It's gone forever! (It would take some serious effort to gain it back!!! And I am too happy and too committed to this to do that!!)
If you have any qualms about this surgery, call me, email me, contact people on the referral list and talk to us about how awesome it is. Belite will help you achieve your goals, and literally transform your life into something you may not ever have thought possible! (Remember, I'm not getting paid to write this, it is 100% genuine and from my heart.)
Hugs all!
Erika
erikaj@aol.com
Erika!! I was so excited to read your update here… Thank you so much for taking the time to write and of course be sure to keep us posted… send updated photos anytime and I’ll edit and put them up!
Take care,
JoAnne, Jamie & the BeLite Crew!
I was just approved for revision surgery, I should know more tomorrow about the exact date. I am nervous, a little. How was the recovery?
I am having revision the end of July. Very apprehensive. Thanks to everybody for your input about surgery
It's so nice to hear about successful revisions. I am going on Tuesday for band removal and sleeve put in. I am so scared of going through all this and not having any results as I did with the band. Thank u for all your stories. It does help calm my nerves a little