bigtom1948

Hello and welcome back. I am still hanging in there but weight is too. Spoke to doctor about it just yesterday and because I am older he said I should expect the weight loss to be about 2-5 pounds a month. I am finally at a stage where I feel restriction with most meals and I am not hungry all the time. I confess that I am probably eating more than I should to facilitate rapid weight loss but I will be happy with an average of a pound a week. Sorry that you had it rough and hope that the recent gyn surgery is not causing you distress. Good luck to us all. Tom

The UnderArmour and Spanx shirts are great but $40.00+ is a bit much to spend. Others of this type available in sporting goods stores are about the same price. I did try those Insta Slim Shirts advertised on TV and they are very plain but do the job just as well for $20.00 each. I don't work for them I was just a customer. Here's the link: https://www.instaslimshirts.com/ Here's the Undershirt Guy's Review of the product http://www.undershirtguy.com/insta-slim-review-initial-thoughts-of-the-insta-slim-crew-neck-slimming-undershirt/ Here's a site offering coupons for the Insta-Slim shirts http://www.whatsyourdeal.com/instaslim-coupons.html# Hope this was helpful

Dear Dave, I completely agree with what you are saying but (there always has to be one ) the drinking with meals seems to be washing my food through my stoma and allowing me to eat more food before my brain gets the signal that I am full. You're right in that water has zero calories so more food was being taken in than I needed hence the stalling and now weight gain. I currently spend 2 hours 4-5 times a week at the gym doing mostly cardio exercise and I don't want to do any more than that right now. I am on day 3 of avoiding water with meals and its very tough for me to do but I have noted a decrease in food intake due to this small change. I hope that I did not give the impression that I believed that the water caused my weight stall and gain if so I apologize to anyone that thought that was what I was saying. I absolutely was overeating and the water flushing my food through was making it possible for me to do so. I will continue with withholding the fluids during meals at least until I see the doctor again in 10 days I really hope that this breaks the stalemate and that I begin a cascade of weight loss. If this happens I will know for sure that the no drinking guideline is one that I will have to follow. Thanks, Dave, for the good thoughts and well wishes, I really appreciate having you root me on and also for the sharing of your personal experience. I'll certainly let everyone know how it turns out the Tuesday, August 9th after I see the doctor again. Tom

Great that you are taking action, its never too late to do it. I am 63 as of tomorrow and wish I had done this sooner. The doctor will probably advise you that due to our age (over 60) you can reasonably expect 2-3 pounds a month in weight loss. Younger folks do that per week when that start the program and taper out as they get closer to thier goals. 40 pounds makes a real difference in how you feel and your general health and you will notice it. Best wishes and Good luck and lets hope that you have a faster than average metabolism so you can reach your goal as soon as you possible. Let us know how you do.

Well had a long chat with my surgeon after a 7 pound weight gain on my 5 month follow up two days ago. This issue came up as I told him I routinely drink 24 or more oz. of water with every meal. I havn't been loseing anything for 3 months and he was surprised that I was drinking like that. He thought I was following the no drinking with meals guideline and confirmed what others have said that drinking with meals is the # 1 reason for non weight loss. This highlighted a real dilemma as adjustment to this non drinking mode is scary and a hard habit hadn't been able to break. I can look back on it now and without bullshi**ing myself that I have been eating much more than I thought I was and in effect self sabotaging my weight loss goal. Sheesh! do I feel dumb! The doctor gave me lots of non judgemental encouragement and re-eductated me on the band basics. For the past two days per his instructions I have avoided drinking 15 min prior, during and 30 min after meals. God its hard. First couple of bites of my first meal after seeing him I realized that along with the drinking issue I was taking too large a bite and not chewing long enough thus I got stuck for a few mins. I waited for the food to pass and thank God it did. I then resumed eating with much smaller bites and lots of chewing and the meals now take a lot longer. Now I'm the last one done. I have noticed already that I feel full sooner and stay satiated longer and don't need a snack between meals (I was browsing a bit too, lotsa bad habits I now see) Perhaps these adjustments will make the difference and get the scale moving. I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks to see how I am doing and hopefully the scale will show improvement and joy back to mudville... So to all of us who like to slosh our food down and derive comfort while eating that way I can really relate. If this turns out like I think it will with the weight coming off quicker I'll be sure to share that info. Gosh it's had to give up the fluids while enjoying the meal but I am determind to get slimmer and this may be the key to why the weight hasn't been coming off. Heck, I am sure that its a major part of the problem. Good luck everyone.. Tom

Try to avoid the tempation of daily weighing it'll drive ya buggy. Once a week is enough due to normal Fluid retention or release the scale can bounce up and down 1-3 pounds day to day. Sounds like you have the diet thing under tight control and from what you describe it's way less than 1,000 calories which could leave you malnourished so I suggest that you discuss your diet with the doctor or his support team to be sure you are eating healthy and in the proper amounts. The goal is to reach a specific weight and maintain it so severe dieting could sabotage the ultimate goal. In my case the doctor has stated to not expect more than a 1 pound a week loss due to my age. That is dissappointing to me as I want instant slimness but I understand the slow weight loss can mean permanant change and perhaps lessen the saggy skin issues that rapid weight loss exacerbates. You are just starting out so don't fret too much. Eat healthy foods and eat enough to satisfy and nourish your body while you lose. Use the expertese of the dietitian and the doctor to guide you through this first stage and set the goals for a safe and reasonable weight loss. Good luck...

Yeah I can really relate, it's super tough to stop drinking with the meal. I have been better lately and do note the amount of food I can eat is waaay less wo/water so my stall/palteau is probably related to eating more than I thought I was so although it's really hard I will try to do the right thing good luck to you on doing it.

Slime 1st till the small remnant of food that's stuck goes down or out. Very unpleasant to be sure. Small bites and chew chew and dare I say chew some more cuts down the risk. I'm sorry it happened to you though, i'm sure it wasn't fun.

Most insurance copmpanies will cover the removal of excess stomach skin if that tissue results in severe rashs so as you are losing weight and if you develope skin issues (rashes, fungal infections) have your surgeon document it so that you have a paper trail to support your claim. When you are near your goal consult a qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, avoid cosmetic surgeons unless your Bariatric Surgeon knows him/her and can recommend him/her wo/reservations. The insurance company will require you to stay at goal for a period of time to see if you will be stable long term. (that time varies among the carriers) There are two surgeries generally done: 1) Panectomy or removal of excess stomach fat and skin wo/ abdominal wall muscle tightening and which does not usually include repositioning of the belly button or removal of pubic fat pad. 2)Tummy tuck for removal of excess stomach fat and skin w/ abdominal wall muscle tightening (if needed) and the repositioning of the belly button. Some doctors will include the removal of excess pubic fat pad. In addition many long term overweight males may find the penis and testicles partially or completely encapsulated by a pubic fat pad 5 or more centimeters thick. This often requires surgical removal to free the trapped genetalia. For younger males trying to have children this is very important as such trapping can increase tempreture to the testes making them infertile. Some insurance companies will only pay for the panectomy (if covering at all) others will pay for either one. Most other areas of the body with residual skin post weight loss would most certainly be considered cosmetic and probably not covered. In regard to costs it is unfortunately whatever the market will bear and that depends on the region you live in, the number of doctors performing this service and the degree of compitition in the market area for those self pay services.

I have/had a lot to lose 150# altogether to reach goal so I asked my surgeon about that and he said to expect to go down 1 or 2 sizes as well as moving to normal width so I am holding off on new shoes for a bit I can say that I have to lace the ol tennies a little tighter and there is now more toe room with the 50#'s I have lost so far so I think i'll be needing some new Nike's

Well because of my age, 63, the doctor says I can expect the weight loss to be a slow process. I am losing about 5 pounds a month and have officially crossed from a BMI of morbidly obese to severely obese woo hoo. Thats really nice and all but I really want to be skinny.... (don't we all )

Great work, congratulations to you.