t_rob

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=3]I'm still trying to figure out how to use this forum... so please be patient. Welp, I'm finally a post-op baby :) I'm eleven days out now and so far my total weight loss with pre-op diet and post-op weight loss is now 39 pounds. FYI, twenty of those pounds were post-op. So there you go. As for the surgery and side affects, it was pretty chill. I would have to say, my roughest days were day 2 and 3 post-op, and that was because of the surgical gas that they put into your abdomen. Just to be straight forward, that crap hurts a little. Walking helped a lot, but not enough. But just expect a rough day 2 and 3. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about it. I actually found vibrating my stomach up and down with my hands, softly yet quickly, in the area of the gas pain helped to dissipate the pain quickly. I know. It sounds like buffoonery, but it worked! (lol). The other hard part was the God forsaken clear liquid diet. Ugggggg. I am so glad that I have reached the full liquid stage. The first few days of the clear liquid was cool. But after a week, I got SICK and TIRED of Isopure! Even though I mixed in that Crystal Light, I really can't stand that crap anymore! And DON't EVEN mention the word BROTH or I'll scream! OK. now that I've got that off of my chest :) Phase two, I started eating cream of wheat and cream of potato soup while adding my protein into my soup and cream of wheat. That worked for a few days. But then while I was in Von's one day, I seen they had a hot soup area. They had this tomato and basil soup. Now that is actually good! Way better than blending cream of potato. No blending required. As for my protein, I have switched to protein shakes. Much better! Finally a workable program. Can't wait till next weekend (20 days out) when I start my soft foods. That will bring a little normalcy back into the picture.

[color=#222222][color=#222222]As for improved health, I was already blessed prior to surgery. No high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no diabetes, no etc., etc., etc. I did however have pain in my hips, knees and ankles. And I'm feeling much better in those areas. I feel great so far. And I feel a hope that this will be my last journey into the 300 pound club. I've been here several times before. Losing the weight has never been a problem for me. Even though, it did get harder every go round. But keeping it off is just as hard. Starving myself and working out like a mad man in the gym just wasn't healthy. And it definitely was not something that I could keep up. To my surprise, everyone has supported me in this decision. At first, I was a little hesitant to tell certain people. But after a while, I felt like, to hell with it. Of course, I did have one idiot (my younger brother in-law) who said he felt I took the easy way out and that he was a little disappointed. But I informed him that I was disappointed in him for his ignorance. "The easy way out." Are you serious! I didn't know having surgery was ever considered an "easy way." After watching me struggle with weight for over 17 years, he had the nerve to twist his mouth with some crap like that! Whatever you do, don't let no-one come at you with that bull! No-one. No husband, no wife, no mother, no father... no-one. Becasue you're not doing it for them! So just brush your shoulders off and keep it pushing. Anyway... on to the next. That's all I have for now. Until I get into the 200 pound club at least. O, and happy journeys!! Holla!![/color][/color][/size][/font]