Thinmint

It has been 2 Years since the sleeve went in. I was 311 and today I am 168 and will never look back. I find that I chew my food until it becomes vapor, eat very slowly and stop as soon as I feel anything. By the way I eat all day long..... Love it Love it Love it. I call this success. I don't often come back to the website so I may not see the comments but for those who are interested this is the best thing you can do. My boss had it done as well but I believe he continues to stretch it and has stopped loosing weight and needs to loose more so you can cheat it if you want my method is working with excellent results. I went from size 50 to size 32-34 the skin is starting to respond some and tighening up but I would be in 32 on everything if it were not for the extra skin....

I am getting ready to go to a Family re-union and no one knows I have done this - it has been hard to hold back but in a few more days they will have some EYE Candy. Last time we got together was about a year ago, and I was at my heaviest. I have sense lost 105 lbs with only 11 lbs to go to reach my 2nd goal. The first goal was 100 lbs. 2nd goal is to weigh 195. Check out the pictures from last week. I think I am going to tell them I was on the biggest looser and they should watch the show to see me next season. Pull the string some until it is time to go. I will let you know how it goes. :thumbup::thumbup::lol0:

Don't worry about all the rules you see, the reason for the water limitation is you will just get full quicker, so what you might have to eat smaller meals more often. I am in week 22 and eat whatever I want and drink with my meals and I have lost 101 lbs as of today. If you go to my blog and read my story of having the surgery you will see what I went though. Short version I never felt the surgery ever, in and out in the span of 4 hours. I would do it over in a second all the thoughts I had about not doing it were not founded. This is truely the way to go..... Good luck in your journey and take lots of pictures and you will see your self melting.

I have reached the 100 lb mark and only have 15 more lbs to go for Goal #2. It is harder to loose now that I am close to the goal, but I am loving it. I will get those 15 lbs and be at 195 lbs where I was when I got married 28 years ago. I love working out can't wait for the day to start. I found that if you workout first thing in the morning your day is awsome, yes it is hard at first because that means getting up about a hour earlier and going to bed and hour earlier but let me tell you how great it makes me feel everyday. Can't tell you I loved it at first (whole month) but now you could not pull me away from it. Hope everyone is doing great, if not hang in there and try the morning exercise.

WOW - seems like it is just melting off...... Love it. I took some pictures the first guy is busting out of his Jeans the 5th guy is in 2 pants sizes down and the last guy is starting to shrink in the new jeans. You have got to check out the album for Pondurosa to smallville. This is exciting...... can't wait to bust into the 250's

The best decision you will ever make - I studied the choices for a year and this is the best. It was actually created to help those get down to a safe weight to have the bypass..... but lots of them never came back to get the bypass because they were doing great. This process has not been around that long. It is predicted to soon replace the band as a better choice.

Can't wait to see what you do......

Remember this is for the rest of your life so don't stress about it. You can eat whatever you want and I do..... just not very much. I had a cake donut today it took half a day to eat it but I sure enjoyed it. Also you can view the surgery on line to see what they do - if you listen very closely to the doctor doing the surgery you will note that what he says aobut how normal you should be when it is done. [nomedia=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcYH5lWa9Rk]YouTube- Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy[/nomedia]

I was self pay as well and my doctor did a pre diet consult with me. Protien shakes in the am and Noon then a normal lean and green meal. However with the lean and green meal take my watch off and put it on the other side of the plate and make everything last 1/2 hour so whatever it takes to make the meal last 1/2 hour do it. So I cut things up very small and ate very slowly. What I found is I was full before I finished what use to be the 1st round. See my picture album and you will see side by side picture every week pre surgery through 17 weeks now and I am at 95lbs lost so far and feeling wonderful. It will not be as bad as you think the protien somehow makes you feel less hungry and trust me after the surgery you will feel full very quickly and that is a true blessing.

My doctor said eat what ever you can stand and don't worry about all the pureed foods and replacement meals. I have never pureed any food since surgery. I have had great success and eat whatever I want. Of course I can only eat small amounts but at least I feel full and that's the success part.

Well I had the sleeve done - This is the story. Left for Vegas on Tuesday got off the plane and headed for my appointment for Pre-surgery - everything was a go. So my wife and I hit the strip and I played black jack and won.... not much but still won. We ate normal and I did not drink alcohol. Went to bed on time for a 7:00am surgery at a surgery center. We had signed up on one of those package deals where the hotel is included. So we were up and headed to the center (by the way rent a car it is better to have the freedom to go) I went in and filled out some more forms and headed to the prep room. Met the anesthesiologist he went through a few items and the nurses were wonderful. Then I saw my Doctor (Thomas Umbach ) not long after that I was being wheeled to the surgery room. I was give something that made me feel very sleepy but could understand everyone. Then told to breath deeply two breaths and I don?t remember anything except being woke up saying surgery went fine and it is done. This was about 10:30 or so I think. Surgery was about an hour and recovery 2 . I took some pill for pain and they started me walking. It did not hurt to walk so I kept going after hearing everyone on this site telling me how walking really helped. Dr Umbach also installed a pain drip system that hung around my neck and had some small tubes planted around where the surgery took place, with a big ball that would dissipate in 3 days, this provided a pain free experience. I was released at noon to go back to my hotel which I walked and slept and drank water (very very very small sips) the fist night I had some small discomfort felt like acid reflux so I called the doc on his cell phone which was nice about 10pm and he said I could get some pepto or any over the counter acid reducer I wanted. My wife drove out to get it and also got liquid Tylenol which I recommend very much. I burped a lot and had to raise my arms when drinking water to get it down. The doc said for the first day my stomach would be swollen and until it went down it would be a bit tough. It was, but by the end of the next day it eased up. Sleeping and walking is the trick and the Tylenol made everything right as rain. On Friday we went back for a follow up with the doctor, and everything was perfect so we said our good bys and we headed for the Hoover Damn wanted to see it. I even drove ? I don?t feel the surgery hardly at all it is the drinking that lets me know it is there. So we got back from there and got our flight out back to Kansas City ? Because I have traveled so much we both were in first class so that was nice, bigger seats if you know what I mean. This is the first day back home and since the 2 weeks prior with the protein shakes to today I am down 27 lbs. I am just starting to feel hungry this whole time prior I have not had a desire to eat. I have force the drinking because I know that is good for me. I hope this helps with those who have not taken the plunge yet. I plan to keep you up to date on the progress. My doctor told me to walk everyday so my wife and I are headed to the gym in a little while, course I will be on slow mo for a while. Thanks for listening and hope it helps someone else.

I am at 17 weeks and have lost 95lbs and don't have any muscle issues - is that common??? I am working out 6 days a week so that may be helping.....

It should be OK because they will load you up with antibiotics because of the surgery. I was also sick but my surgery went fine. By the way if you have acid reflux please get an acid reducer because you will notice the acid more and sooner. I thought I would not need the acid pill any longer but that is not the case. You can read my blog on (I did it) to hear the story from start to finish on the surgery itself.

Wow 17 weeks out and I am in Size 38 just think a whole foot. I am on my 3rd Belt and a whole bunch of pants..... Thanks for Walmart I keep changing every 4 weeks. If you want to see a side by side pictures for the whole 17 weeks check out my pictures and weight Graph.

Wow is all I can say, the sleeve is the best decision for weight loss. Dr Umbach Rocks (Las Vegas) To see the weekly pictures with the same pose check out my picture album and Weight Graph.

Below is a copy of my experiences and if you go to my pictures you can see a sideways view of my progression over the weeks. Well I had the sleeve done - This is the story. Left for Vegas on Tuesday got off the plane and headed for my appointment for Pre-surgery - everything was a go. So my wife and I hit the strip and I played black jack and won.... not much but still won. We ate normal and I did not drink alcohol. Went to bed on time for a 7:00am surgery at a surgery center. We had signed up on one of those package deals where the hotel is included. So we were up and headed to the center (by the way rent a car it is better to have the freedom to go) I went in and filled out some more forms and headed to the prep room. Met the anesthesiologist he went through a few items and the nurses were wonderful. Then I saw my Doctor (Thomas Umbach ) not long after that I was being wheeled to the surgery room. I was give something that made me feel very sleepy but could understand everyone. Then told to breath deeply two breaths and I don’t remember anything except being woke up saying surgery went fine and it is done. This was about 10:30 or so I think. Surgery was about an hour and recovery 2 . I took some pill for pain and they started me walking. It did not hurt to walk so I kept going after hearing everyone on this site telling me how walking really helped. Dr Umbach also installed a pain drip system that hung around my neck and had some small tubes planted around where the surgery took place, with a big ball that would dissipate in 3 days, this provided a pain free experience. I was released at noon to go back to my hotel which I walked and slept and drank water (very very very small sips) the fist night I had some small discomfort felt like acid reflux so I called the doc on his cell phone which was nice about 10pm and he said I could get some pepto or any over the counter acid reducer I wanted. My wife drove out to get it and also got liquid Tylenol which I recommend very much. I burped a lot and had to raise my arms when drinking water to get it down. The doc said for the first day my stomach would be swollen and until it went down it would be a bit tough. It was, but by the end of the next day it eased up. Sleeping and walking is the trick and the Tylenol made everything right as rain. On Friday we went back for a follow up with the doctor, and everything was perfect so we said our good bys and we headed for the Hoover Damn wanted to see it. I even drove – I don’t feel the surgery hardly at all it is the drinking that lets me know it is there. So we got back from there and got our flight out back to Kansas City – Because I have traveled so much we both were in first class so that was nice, bigger seats if you know what I mean. This is the first day back home and since the 2 weeks prior with the protein shakes to today I am down 27 lbs. I am just starting to feel hungry this whole time prior I have not had a desire to eat. I have force the drinking because I know that is good for me. I hope this helps with those who have not taken the plunge yet. I plan to keep you up to date on the progress. My doctor told me to walk everyday so my wife and I are headed to the gym in a little while, course I will be on slow mo for a while. Thanks for listening and hope it helps someone else.

I wanted to let everyone know who visits this site how I feel about the sleeve. I got my sleeve done in Las Vegas by Dr Thomas Umbach on 2/24/2010. (About 12 weeks ago) IT IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOULD DO IT AGAIN NO QUESTIONS. I have actually felt NO pain from the surgery at anytime. I have lost 78 lbs in 12 weeks now I would say I also work out everyday as well. Check out my pictures and you will see a weight chart and weekly side by side pictures. For those that are on the fence as I have read don't be on the fence go for it. I never really feel hungry but I eat because I know I have so many proteins to get in. The stats speak for themselves. This is one excited guy......