Rootman

I didn't start ANY type of exercise till post-op but YES, it has helped (some) fill out saggy skin. I've added some muscle in the past few months and I notice my arms don't flap as much and my chest is tighter too. My legs are a bitt less flabby as well and I can actually see definition rather than just sag. Granted I am doing more aerobic exercise than resistance / body building. Hey, if you do it then GO FOR IT. It certainly can't hurt at all.

Yes, not the best choice,, they are however fairly good for portion control - as long as that's ALL you eat. One of the meals, PLUS bread, PUS dessert, etc and you are not really doing yourself any good. Shop around and read labels, some of the prepared meals are fairly balanced. Just eat them sparingly and have plenty of other home cooked stuff.

Yep, wut they sed You're doing fine - just keep at it!

It's all just a matter of individual taste, what's good to one person tastes like barf to another. I really hated about 6 different brands I tried and settles on the Boost! shakes (available nearly everywhere in the USA). Their not the best as far as Protein content but SOME protein that I could get down without a struggle is netter than none. Just keep trying different brands till you find one you like.

I second riding the bike - I would imagine that most toddlers would enjoy the back seats that can be mounted on bikes, maybe even the little trailers they have now. Also some free weights placed on the counter and used after every meal help. I have a 20# dumbbell right next to my chair (probably a bit big for you) and use it after each meal. 30 reps each arm. Maybe some arm / leg weight would enhance your regular daily routine.

Yes I did. It is pretty slim and pretty basic. I think it's best for something like besquared above mentions - giving to a spouse so they can understand what you are seeking or going through. To be honest I was a little disappointed, it was a bit repetitious and not really written very well. It was worth the $14 or so I spent on it (If I remember the cost right). I perused thorough it in one evening ad then gave it to my wife to read.

Congrats on the remarkable success! I too have had my share of comments. Some odd, some funny and some just rude and nosy. It's funny to watch old TV shows - and some not THAT old - and see "comically fat" people who by todays standards are not really fat at all. We're so accustomed to seeing people of size it is the new "norm". For me personally, there are a few guys I used to admire for their "thin" size who are now fatter than I am. It's all a matter of perspective. Just don't lose yours!

I agree with CLK above, it seldom matters. The bougie is just there to ensure that the Dr. does not accidentily close off the stomach or make it too tight by running THROUGH the stomach and THROUGH the pyloric valve to hold it open, the staple line does not snug up against the form, it's just there to provide some clearance.

I drink diet Doctor Pepper, maybe 2 or 3 cans a week and also a diet Ginger Ail and feel no eeffects at all that it hurts my diet. I've lost 170 pounds and have kept it off.

Boy did I - and still do. HULK SMASH! I had a problem with testosterone that was diagnosed years ago and had to start shots. Well as I got thinner the amount I was taking was too much (less body for the same amount of hormone) and the level shot up way too high and man was I pissed! So get your testosterone level checked. I still find myself more aggressive and vocal then I did before. My T level is back to normal, and just a little lower than what the doc wants but I'm leaving it at that. I am not sure what the root cause is. I certainly don't feel deprived any more as I am about 16+ months out and can eat pretty much anything I want, I don't crave anything and don't really miss it.

Mine went down OK, at least as fast as I could gag that crap down That was probably the MOST unpleasant thing about the whole sleeve process.

I thought mine was up to date but found that it had expired just months before I was to leave - of course I didn't bother to pull it out and check it till then I paid an expediting company, it was highway robbery at something like $400, the companies expediting fee and the governments expediting fee. Sucks, but I had to pay it to ensure prompt delivery. I got BOTH the passport AND the card in like 1 week.

I'd vote for the dehydration idea too, or the reaction to the pain meds. If that doesn't pan out then try some tea tree oil soap it works wonders.

I second what EMily said above, the apptitite is reduced but eventually you DO get hungry, but I don't nearly get as completely starved like I used to. What many of us fight is head hunger, we are so used to eating and have such poor eating habits it's hard to break them.

Just went to my yearly physical, I was sweating bullets as I have been eating a lot more than I was back when I had my first labs done a year ago. I was afraid I would be back in the poor results camp after a stellar report last year. Well . . . it's dang near PERFECT AGAIN! BP was 120/80 (in the doctors office, I have a lot of "white coat syndrome" issues) cholesterol was 133 - actually LOWER than last year, triglycerides was 64! Fasting blood sugar was 88. All the other blood tests were right in the good to excellent range. Man, why didn't I get sleeved years ago! I cannot endorse this surgery enough, it has RADICALLY changed my life and health. I may fall over dead tomorrow but at least I'll do so as a fit and healthy person rather than a fat blob.

I know that WLS can cause a lot of emotional upheaval so it may not be the CAUSE of your troubles it certainly plays a part in your emotional health. You are wise to seek professional help. We all wish the best for you and sincerely hope for a resolution that is best for you and your family.

Yes, if you are having the typpical endoscpoic surgery. There is one larger incision maybe 2" long and several - 3 or 4 smaller incisions. Depending on your skin type they may fade to be barely noticible. There is a "spider" surgery that some offer, it has one incision by the belly button and hides the scar. Not every surgeon offers it though.

Same experience ad NoExcuses above, weird aftertaste and I actually prefer the bitter sweet taste of saccharin. Jury's still out if it's actually "better" for you or not.

I have it too. Started out years ago and now with 170 pounds off I am currently taking 1/8 the amount I started out with. Same hormones and less body mass equals more hormones per pound. My low was 124, which is less than a lot of WOMEN have - yes ladies you have some of the big T too, just as men have some of the big E in them. I agree with the SweetP's brother, while the injections are a pain (literally) they are not THAT bad and the are less risky to those around you as the cream would be. One side effect I HATE is the hair, I had little chest hair now I have loads, and hair all over the place as well, ears, nose you name it, it sprouts hair now

Yep, I had it too, had to spit a lot and kept getting a frothy spittle in my mouth. My guess is that it's a side result of ketosis, when the body is actively burning it's fat stores. I also get it now - though not as bad - the few times I've eaten too much, I get the overly stuffed feeling, the frothy rolling spit and if it's too much for me I vomit. Once I do it's over and the spit stops too. In this case I wonder if it's not the body interpreting the too full stomach as something being caught in the digestive tract and it produces so much spit to try and wash it though. ust my guess.

I eat a pretty good diet so I only take only a few Vitamin supplements. We in the first world countries have th e,most expensive urine in the world - because that's were MOST of the vitamins / supplements we take end up going. Tu-Th-Fr-Sa_Su I take a 1 a day Multivitamin, generic Mo-We-Fr I drink an EmergenC drink, partly to acidify my urine to help prevent kidney stones - which I am prone to get, it's also chocked full of vitamins too so that's why I skip the multi on these days. Every other day I take 2 Calcium citrate tablets Alternate days from the calcium citrate I take 1 Iron tablet. Calcium and iron should NOT be taken together, iron prevents the update of calcium. Nightly I take melatonin and 5-HTP (also one 5-HTP at lunch) to help with sleep, I've had insomnia for ALL my adult life. Supposedly to help cholesterol: I take 3 oz of red wine at bedtime. I eat 1 square of Gardellis 70% chocolate a day

Same as PreciousCargo - HellYah! Simple math, same amount of hormones - less body mass = effectively raised hormone level. I have low testosterone and probably have all my life, age and obesity made it worse so I started injections. I am now on 1/8th th dosage I started out at since losing 170 pounds, just because of weight loss and exercising.

Ouch! Sounds painful <pucker>!!

Yes, the trouble is that they are all only 1 gram per pill, so if you want 20 grams you need to scarf down 20 pills - very expensive. The protein shots are cheaper although some maintain that they are the wrong types of protein and are not readily adsorbed. They are better than nothing and until you can get enough protein in through your diet they are better than nothing..

Yep, count me as a gonner to I'd be 100 years anyway.