Neoteric Verve

Two words sum up all of my emotions. I worry that this is not the way. I worry about what will become of my relationship. I'm worried my new body will illicit changes in me I never imagined. I worry because the procedure is irreversible. There is no turning back. I'm also worried that if I stay the way I am life will get progressively worse. I'm scared. Scared to stay where I am. Scared to move forward. The closer I get to September the more I worry in silence. I fear this unknown. I'm 36 years old and weigh over 400 pounds. I'll certainly not live a long life at 400 pounds. Not many 400 pound 80 year old men around. This should be enough to keep me focused and motivated. I am worried, nervous, constantly second-guessing this decision. I'm scared....

I can't believe in 18 days my whole life changes.....for the better!

Also, they required an Upper GI and H.pylori test. Aetna wants two years of BMI history along with the other things.

First off, WELCOME to VST!!!!! There's a plethora of information here and people with cast knowledge of Sleeve Gastrectomy. 4 1. I was approved following the first set of guidelines in their Clinical Policy Bulletin #0157 outlining the 3-month process. a. I saw my primary doc for nearly every month for six months prior and had three years of BMI history documented + weight management discussions. b. three consecutive months of nutrition counseling & exercise counseling. c. a single 1-on-1 with a nutritionist (NUT) d. I am also 400+ pounds with a BMI of nearly 60. 2. I was afraid of this too but reading this site I saw someone reply by saying (paraphrased) "Why would you WANT to go back to the way things were?" Also, eventually over time the stomach will stretch to some degree, but not to its original size. 3. While I have not had my Sleeve yet, the issue of leakage is probably a non-issue as the surgeon does a leak test before you are discharged. Well as far as I know this is true. I'm still nervous and sometimes scared of getting my Sleeve. But I'm more scared of not being around in 10 or 20 years because of my size.

I hope you get back to a comfortable routine and out of pain soon. Congrats!!!

The COUNTDOWN is ON!!! I will keep you all posted. On Tuesday I begin my pre-op diet. 17 days of pre-op nutrition. I wonder if I have time to do a liver cleanse? I think I will on say, Sunday and then keep it light (diet) on Monday so that when I go in to do my paperwork on Tuesday (Sept 6) I'll feel better prepared. I seriously can't believe I got approved in less than 24 hours. Next month it's gonna actually happen! My life is gonna change, FOR THE BETTER. I'm still a bit nervous and scared but I also realize that this is all for my greater good. I really want to thank everyone here here on VST for your words of encouragement and helping to alleviate my concerns and worries. Thanks a million for it all. I have gained so much knowledge and information just reading posts here. I'm still gonna read and peruse the boards for information. And soon, I too will be on the "Loser Bench" with all you other excellent people!!

If anyone was a patient of Dr Teng, what all did you do on the "Signing Day"? I feel like the kid who's next in line for his favorite ride at Disney World.......

Good luck tomorrow (today if you're on EST) to Wishes, Wannagethealthy, CoffeeBean, HollyB

Try teh bars called "Ohh Yeah!". They're pretty good.

Thank you, ladies. My surgery is September 23rd. I am still in disbelief on how close it is..

Two words: Kettlebell Swings. I'm doing drop sets of 20, four times a week until my surgery on the 23rd. And for a professional-level arse kickin' Tabata Kettlebell Swings Take said kettlebell (25-35lb) and proceed to swing it for 20 seconds Rest for ten seconds Repeat 7 more times for a total of 8 rounds (4 minutes) Do NOT underestimate the simplicity: the wet pool left on the floor is your sweat

Y'all are awesome! I feel better and realize the best way to face the unknown is to charge head on right into it. This is going down in September. I have these feelings because I worry about food. Why? What I do when I get hungry (and only then) is have specific food cravings. This is good. Good because if this hunger thing is greatly diminished then this takes care of the majority of my obesity problems. I feel nervous still but mostly anticipation.

I appreciate everyone of you. I still do feel a bit worried. But I'm still over 90% leaning toward getting my Sleeve. So much so that I have considered naming it. Now I do have doubts still about whether or not this is what I am supposed to do. I believe life is a series of cause and effects. Some reactions are positive while others are not.

So many what-ifs. I am worried that post surgery, my wife and I will no longer be. Does anyone else you know have or have had this feeling? I honestly believe that my wife prefer me to be XXXXXL so nobody else will even look at me. She supports me to my face but I have heard her talk to her friends about me not needing it. But yet it's perfectly ok for her to get the Sleeve. Does that seem fair? Not to me. I tried talking with her but she is so far unresponsive. What am I to do?

To say my plate is full is a gross understatement. Like I mentioned, I work 36-48hrs weekly, I have a rather tumultuous relationship with my in-laws, my wife and I are at odds over various topics and I am trying to get the first step towards graduate school. My goal is to get into medical research. I'm trying to get the "sequence" started. 1 year of Biology, 1 of General Chemistry, 1 of Organic Chemistry, A year of General Physics, One semester of Biochemistry and a semester of Calculus. Yes, at my age (36) I am getting ready to go to medical school and hopefully become a research physician in biomedical endocrinology. Thank you, Robert K Jarvik, MD!! Between you, my ADHD & OCD I have what my psychologist and I have coined "Linear Spatial Parity". And don't even say I'm too old. Dreams never go away, they nag you more than a kids wanting McDonald's. Well, I have just begun the process. This fall was to be the first steps. General Biology 1 & General Chemistry 1. Can I sacrifice a semester? In the grand scheme of things, yes. I didn't want to but my health is of paramount importance. I think it would be odd to do endocrine-related research with cardiomyopathy and liver cirrhosis. If I don't fix my body that's where I'm headed. Sound body=Sound mind, right? I hope sincerely that I have put my priorities in good order. Health, Family, Educational pursuits. It all begins with great health, for without it I can't adequately do the other things. Thanks everyone for your insight and perspectives.

Congratulations on a successful surgery. I hope you have a speedy recovery and that you garner all you desire from the Sleeve.

The classes I want are sciences (Biology and Chemistry). I wish there was an online alternative but there isn't. That's why I'm split on my decision.

Instead of a foley catheter, ask for a condom catheter. Not as invasive and works just as well.

It's gonna kill some of us. I was recently talking to my brother and told him I was getting WLS, The Sleeve in particular. The guy is 6'1" and weighs 500lb. Already a BMI in the 60's I believe (or very close) and is on dialysis and a Type II Diabetic. I for years have urged him to do something. He always replies "you're nearly my size, who are you to advise me?". And I've tried my share of diets, exercises, hypnosis (yes that too) and anything else to lose weight. When VSG came into my life I was again interested in WLS. Before, I had no favor with Gastric Bypass or the Lap-Band. When my doctor began her rundown of the various ones she bored me until she began talking about the Sleeve. I got very interested. Started doing my "homework" and decided to inquire further with a surgeon. Well, long story short, I'm on my way. My brother says that if he wanted to lose weight he could and would. Also he points out that he's in good shape. ARE YOU SERIOUSLY F'N KIDDIN' ME????? He meant it. I wanted to choke him. Bro, you're 50 years old. You weigh 500lb. On dialysis. Diabetic. What part of those last three are cool?? Which one makes you think you're doing just fine? He feels that a real man doesn't need surgery. I should be able to just drop any amount I need to and keep the days rollin' on. It's that kind of mentality that is going to kill some of us. Even beyond surgery, we won't go to the doctor to get routine check-ups. Are we too macho for our own good? Do we float around in our lives with a false sense of invincibility and chinks in the armor? I can't get my brothers to get checked for prostate cancer, breast cancer (you damn right I get checked for that too), and to have a general confab with a REGULAR physician every six months. To me, one year is too long in between Dr-Patient meetings. If something pops up in January I sure as hell ain't gonna wait until December for it to be detected... I believe our (as men) thought processes sometimes get in the way of our potential longevity. What do you guys (and gals that roam here) think? What can I do to help not only my brothers but men in my community to get the necessary screenings and checks? Now I could be completely wrong in this next statement (correct me if I am). Aside from a "Y" chromosome and a reverse Testosterone:Estrogen ratio, men and women are virtually similar. So why do women on average live longer? It could be a biological phenomena but I think it's simpler than that. They don't have foolish male pride and they openly COMMUNICATE. Now these are stark generalizations but only serve to prove a point in that some men are afflicted by them. Some of us really believe that whatever problems we have will eventually work itself out of our systems. Yes, brother, it's called death. You gotta please stop the machismo and get real about longevity. I looked around. There aren't many 500lb, 85-90 year old men patrolling the retirement golf courses or anything else for that matter. We have to do better. We have to do it now. Put aside pride. Be proud of living. Now is where some would say "do it for your kids if you can't do it for you". I say this is the PERFECT time to be selfish. If you can't do this for you then you have no hope of doing it for anyone else. Sorry for the elongated rant, but my brother had me a bit cross this morning. I hope he changes his mind. I wouldn't mind having him around for another 30-40 years...

How long post surgery do I have to put martial arts on the shelf? I was thinking 4 weeks but will I need more? I think the rigors of the classes can only help in stripping fat off my frame. As noted previously, I practice Krav Maga (Israeli combat martial art) and the training is somewhat brutal. Will my stitches heal in 4 weeks to be taking direct shots to the gut? We do full-contact sparring. If I can't do my KM what else could I do? Walking along really doesn't get the job done.

I still can't believe you had the energy to get on here and post 3 HOURS AFTER SURGERY. Congrats on the toughness!!! I sincerely hope I don't want, need or get a foley...

Raine, it's awesome IMHO. I won't compare it to any other art. But the level of street preparedness is off the charts. Now while they preach that you should always avoid going to the ground (because on the ground = dead) my studio does teach ground fighting skills. Find a center in your area and have a look-see. It is an exceptional discipline.

Fast, quick but not easy. I know these exercises work, I've been using them. Just not in this sequence. The technique they describe is essentially drop sets of alternating movements. Try them and see if you can rev up your fat loss, I am doing it right after this post. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A few months ago, I asked Alwyn Cosgrove, C.S.C.S. -- one of the world's top trainers -- to create a cutting-edge fat loss program for Men's Health. And, of course, he obliged. But a curious thing: One of the workouts in the plan featured just two exercises. That's right: When asked to create a super-effective, calorie-torching routine, Cosgrove gave us a workout that had readers do only a kettlebell swing and a squat thrust. This confused some folks, who wondered, "How can you lose fat with just two exercises?" Cosgrove's response: "Running is just one exercise, but no one questions that when it comes to burning fat." He makes a good point. And in fact, once you understand the philosophy behind Cosgrove's routine, you start to see why it works so well. But first, an explanation of the actual routine itself. Here's how it works: You do 15 repetitions of the kettlebell swing (you can also use a dumbbell for this), followed immediately by 15 reps of the squat thrust. (See below for descriptions of both exercises.) Without resting, do 14 reps of the swing and then 14 reps of the squat thrust. Continue this pattern until you complete only one rep of each exercise. This is called a countdown workout. Sure, that's just two exercises, but do the math: If you complete the entire routine -- from 15 down to 1 -- you'll do 120 repetitions of each exercise. That's 240 repetitions. And these aren't just any exercises: They're movements that challenge your entire body. They're also done at a fast pace. On average, it'll only take you about three seconds per rep. So you'll do those 240 reps in just 12 minutes or so. That'll light your muscles on fire, and have you gasping for air (in a good way). If you think that sounds too easy or too fast, I suggest you try it. You may find you can't even finish. But that's okay -- you can just start with a lower number, like 8, and work your way up as you improve your fitness. (In fact, I recommend this strategy.) What's more, if you want an even greater challenge, you can always take a breather and repeat the routine. Remember: Whether you're running or lifting, your muscles require energy to help you move. And this workout forces more of your muscles into action than you'd ever use while jogging for the same duration. It'll also boost your metabolism for hours after your workout.What's more, unlike jogging, these aren't joint-pounding exercises. So this is actually a "low-impact" workout that you can do at a high intensity, making it ideal for overweight folks. The best part: You can do the routine without even leaving your house, since all you need is a single kettlebell or dumbbell. How to do the countdown workout: Do 8 reps of the kettlebell swing, followed immediately by 8 reps of the squat thrust. Without resting, do 7 reps of the kettlebell swing, and then 7 reps of the squat thrust, and so on, until you work your way down to 1. A reminder: Don’t overdo it. If your form breaks down during the routine, just stop there. Then next time, adjust your starting point so that you can work all the way down to one without having to stop. As you become better conditioned, start with a higher number. An important note: This isn't a complete workout program, but it is a great routine that you can do almost anywhere, anytime. And it's a fantastic substitute for 15 minutes on the treadmill. Kettlebell (or Dumbbell) Swing go here to see how it's done>>>
 http://bcove.me/apyhhsnj Bend at your hips and hold a kettlebell (or dumbbbell) with both hands at arm’s length in front of you. Now rock back slightly and “hike” kettlebell between your legs. Then squeeze your glutes, thrust your hips forward forcefully, and swing the weight to shoulder height. Allow momentum to swing the weight—you're not trying to actively lift it with your arms. Reverse the movement, so that you swing the kettlebell between your legs again. Make sure you don't round your lower back at any time; it should stay naturally arched when you bend at your hips. Continue to swing back and forth. Watch the video below to see fitness expert David Jack show you how to do the kettlebell swing with perfect form. Squat Thrust aka burpees is demonstrated here >>>>>http://bcove.me/hnxv7ehf 
Stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Bending at your hips and knees, squat down and lower your body until you can place your hands on the floor. Kick your legs backward—into a pushup position—and then immediately reverse the move and quickly stand up from the squat. That's 1 rep. To make the exercise even more challenging, you can jump up from the squat instead of simply standing up quickly. Watch the video below to see strength coach David Jack do the squat thrust.

Thanks everyone. I still try to talk with him but I think it's falling on deaf ears, So after I get the Sleeve and drop some serious weight maybe he'll take notice.