mrchris

I'm not a modest or necessarily private person. While I certainly don't go out of my way to share things, I wasn't going to hide from it either. To be honest 95% of the people in my life didn't care how I did it (nor should they) they were excited it has worked well and were excited that I did something to improve my situation and health. A couple of acquaintances did make the occasional comment. One of them is a neurotic *****, so when she made a barb at me to the effect of "if you learned to stop eating you wouldn't need to do something so drastic" to which I replied "if you learned to keep your legs shut, you wouldn't be such a ****" She got the point. I don't mention that to say you should be a jerk or get in peoples faces, but to point out that not one person on this planet is perfect. We all have our issues whether it food, exercise, smoking, drinking etc. One can stop smoking or drinking cold turkey, you can't stop eating cold turkey. Besides for many of us once the whole diabetes/metabolic disorder gets rolling even eating what would otherwise be normal meals isn't enough to necessarily lose weight. It's much more complex than just diet and exercise. Thankfully most of the people in my life are very supportive and very positive people.

No, they are there permanently. If they were to work loose they'd probably go the other way into your abdominal cavity and not into your stomach. And because of their shape and sharpness they are not something that would pass through well at all. They are made from titanium, designed to be permanent and will easily outlast you.

Well after being sleeved in November I had managed to keep things trucking a long really well. No typical 3 week stall, good strong weight loss, etc. Well it's now been 2 weeks since the scale moved. I really can't complain as I am down a lot (over 100lbs) which isn't bad for 4 months out. But I've still got 24lbs to goal and I wanted to get there by my birthday in late May. I know it's still achievable but I really had hoped not to deal with the stalls. Strangely even though I'm 4 months out my sleeve is still pretty tight, I don't think I'm clearing 4 oz per meal, well I know I'm not. Diet is about the same it was 6 or 8 weeks ago when I was still losing pretty rapidly. Honestly I went into this figuring if I even lost 60lbs I would be happy, and I'm well past that. I feel good and look pretty good where I am now, but after cruising along thinking I'm almost to goal it's mildly frustrating.

Same thing for me for a couple months after. Finally about the 10 to 12 week mark I started feeling back to a normal temp, now I'm fine but we've had a couple of warm days already this spring and it hasn't bothered me like heat has before. But I'm also not shivering cold like I was right after surgery.

Yes but I can relate. My wife is a very slender and beautiful women (and I definitely married up) but one of her best friends growing up, knew him since they were 3, did the lap-band a few years back and lost 100 pounds. He was married to this mean little troll of a women (no offense to the trolls) and after losing the weight and starting to attract the attention of other women he eventually had a brief affair. Wife found out and they shortly thereafter divorced. So for her having that happen in someone she knows that well is stuck in her head. I'm the kind of guy that despite my weight before surgery, I had spent most of my life at a normal size, even when larger still looked good enough and my personality is such that I still get hit on, get phone numbers etc (without trying to). And add to that I am professional photographer that has been pigeonholed into glamour more than any other genre and that means I spend lots of time in studios or on location with naked or nearly naked women. The two facts put together left her really questioning this at times and it meant she wasn't always as supportive as one might hope for. As to dating, no I can't imagine it at all. A French philosopher back in the 1700's once said (and I'm paraphrasing) All husbands are basically the same, you should keep the first one you have. Now yes there are exceptions for the physically violent and truly mentally or emotionally abusive. But by and large none of us are perfect, we'll say and do stupid things usually out of fear of letting our guard down or looking weak and emotional.

Well as was mentioned a few posts ago, while this doesn't sound good for the husband it really is just one side of the story. I've been married 21 years, been through years of marriage and personal counseling. And after all of that I realized that one significant factor is that men can have some very child like behaviors when scared or nervous (notice I did not say childish behaviors). And women can read things into situations when they are much more simple for men. Not saying at all that this is the case, just that perspective and benefit of the doubt might be worth a thought. Men often times, and even more so without good role models/examples like a strong father figure, don't know how to react to the fear and uncertainty when something like this surgery is happening to their wife. If they have no understanding how to cope, articulate or someone to share it with it gets bottled up. Eventually it works its way out in less than healthy ways. Couple that with someone having their own anxieties and nerves about the upcoming procedure and its sure to become exactly what the OP described. Maybe the guy is a total asswad, maybe he's frightened out of his mind and because of specifics in his life has no way to know how to deal with it? And to the person commenting about Walmart and having been a cashier, I don't know the OP's feelings on Walmart but I hate the place with a passion and will not go even if a life depending on it. Has nothing to do at all with viewing "service industry" differently. I was in the grocery business for 22 years before going back to school and getting a degree and a new career. Started at 15 as a box boy and progressed through nearly every position in the store, spending my last 15 years as a grocery store meat manager and ultimately meat buyer at the DC. It was impossibly difficult customers that pushed me to go back to school and get out of that industry. But my issue with Walmart has more to do with it being crowded, dirty (the one nearest me your shoes stick to the floors to the point you can step out of your shoe without intending to), The combination of Walmart smell plus the McDonalds inside combine to make an intolerable odor. And I can't shop there without at least 5 people asking me for "gas money" every time I walk across the parking lot. I'm at a point in my life where I can shop wherever I want and would rather spend more for a pleasing experience than subject myself to that to save a little.

Don't sweat it, I was the same way and then some. I could drink 20oz straight away.

Well I can't speak to the restaurant choice, but I can tell you this. For many, many years I've said that if hell were customized for each individual then my time would be equally divided between Walmart during the holidays and a Chuck E Cheese on a Saturday. I would piss, moan, b***h and then ultimately refuse to go into a Walmart for anything, for anyone. I'd rather get a male brazilian bikini wax than go into a Walmart.

I had surgery on a Thursday morning, home Friday and worked a full 8 hour day on Monday. Felt great, no pain meds, no need to not have worked. Never stopped after that. Doc had told me that I might not feel like working that fast but that I wouldn't hurt myself at all if I did.

So let me set the stage before asking the question. I've never been a mouthy, cocky, arrogant person. But I've never been afraid to speak my mind and I've got a bad habit of jumping into the fray if I feel a need to. For example if I see someone shoplifting at the store I'll grab them by the ear and drag them to a manager or security. If I'm at a bar or restaurant and someone smacks their wife/gf I'm more than happy to knock them on their ass. At 6'1" 350ish this wasn't a big challenge and although I've never looked "intimidating" I've rarely been challenged simply because of size. I've never been one to pick a fight but I've always been one to stand my ground. Walking through bad parts of town or even downtown late at night has never concerned me and my wife and many friends always want me to accompany them in those situations for that very reason. So now the question, having the surgery and losing the weight do you ever feel more vulnerable? Like physically vulnerable? I'm not like scared out of my mind over this but you lose a certain edge giving up the size. For myself I've decided to enroll in Krav Maga lessons, I figure along it's good exercise (along with the gym) but also very practical and might alleviate those concerns. And I'd rather have the ability to defend myself and never need it rather than risk a confrontation going wrong. Am I the only one who has thought this?

it lasts a while.... I'm 4 months out and I am pretty much fine all day long but first thing in the morning before getting up, wowsers. I roll over and it's a rooty tooty morning.

I'll probably regret bringing this into the conversation.... Something else that can help it look bigger, get the shrubbery waxed! Wife just reminded me it's time to get it done again. A year or so before the surgery I lost a bet and had to get a men's brazillian wax (sugaring actually but same basic thing). Sadly it was bottom of the 8th Mariners playing whoever, Mariners up 11-0. I said there was no way they could lose, she disagreed and whoever lost had to get waxed (easy enough for her, she does regularly anyways) freaking Mariners blew an 11 run lead and lost! Well it hurt like a son of a beach.. But the wife liked it, certainly was different, I was amazed at how many women wanted to see it. Wife was reading through this and suggested that losing the weight helped it's view a lot, but that getting rid of the hair and making it all baby smooth again would help some too. It's not as bad as you think and you would be surprised at the positive response from most of the women!

it's not uncommon to have a little lactose intolerance after a sleeve (I was even before it) lactaid pills right before hand can help a lot. Outside the lactose intolerance cheese was one of the easier things for me early on. It's the four tortilla that gives me grief.

Honestly like most people here I don't care one way or another... What I don't get is this need to set people straight or correct them? If you don't like what Laura has to say then simply ignore her. Kind of like **** on tv or the radio, if you don't like it change the channel instead of attacking whatever it is you don't like. You might think it was private and well intended but the thought process to need to fix someone else because they do something you don't approve of is not healthy and that was the root of the current issue. Live and let live, you don't want to say or do certain things on the internet, great, don't, but if someone else does let them be and either ignore them, change the channel or move on.

Nothing wrong with flirty... Some people just need to lighten up. Besides what's the point of this surgery, getting healthier and happier if you aren't going to enjoy it by having a little fun?

Hey I've done really well, down 110lbs in 4 months. While mentally I'm okay saying I can "have a muffin" I'm still not going to eat it. Though I'll admit I had one small chocolate chip cookie last week after the wife baked a batch. You would have thought it would be delicious but I've gone so long without sweets that it was sickly sweet and kinda gross. Now what I do love and seem to have for like 10 meals a week is some of my fantastically awesome homemade chili. Even though I'm past the point of needing things the consistency of chili it just tastes good, goes down easy, meets the diet requirements, etc. Strangely enough I did try to a soft taco with a flour tortilla and that was difficult. Corn chips/tortillas are not a problem but the flour went down kinda hard, felt like a rock in my stomach for a good 30 minutes. I can't imagine what that muffin would do!

I never would have guessed a discussion about tacos would be so active! thanks to this though I'm craving Taco Time and a Costco blueberry muffin!

I'm 4 months out and I can't quite finish one of them unless I go really really slow. I can't see myself every eating two of them.

BCBS of IL and had it the same day. Very fast and painless.

She doesn't care at all (thinks its pretty cool actually) it's more a matter of do you care

Be careful what you wish for I might just have to after the kids go to bed!

Well what's an erection or two among friends? Actually I'm surprised no one has posted before and after penis pics, or at least some after pics....

Not that I should probably admit this here... But a friend of mine (cute friend, but as I am married, just a friend) was asking me about this the other day and I mentioned this thread. She laughed and asked "how could it get bigger". I explained it really doesn't get any bigger but an 80 story building looks bigger and is more "visible" when surrounded by single story homes. But surround it with 60 story buildings and it doesn't look like much. She couldn't quite grasp what I was explaining (figuratively not literally) and asked to see it. I obliged and explained (pardon the TMI here) that before I could grab it at it's "visible" base with one hand and all you could see is hand. With the weight loss and it being very noticeable in that area I can do the same thing with both hands and still have some left over. I've never been particularly modest and in my pre-obese college days was nekked as much as I could be and get away with. Needless to say she seemed well, impressed by the end result and couldn't stop talking about it. As I said earlier I had forgotten what I originally had. But it has become a bit of a problem because not only is it much more noticeable it also is reacting a lot more like it did when I was younger. Instead of needing some effort to wake the giant up, he's bolting out of bed like a like a 16 year old ADD patient with a double Red Bull. Of course that's a bit of a problem at times as well. Sometimes he's got a mind of his own at the wrong times. But yes, market it this way and every man with a qualifying BMI would be signing up. Before and After pics (you can blind-fold the dudes for privacy) on a big billboard? As

Honestly the whole process went really well. Surgery was on a Thursday, home Friday and I was up, showered and shopping by myself on Saturday morning feeling great. Off pain meds Saturday other than regular childrens liquid tylenol and off that on Monday. That Monday I drove myself to the docs office to have the incisions checked, visited a couple clients and felt nearly 100%. Then on Tuesday night 5 days post-op did a 4 hour shoot and another 3 hour shoot on that Thursday 7 days post-op. Never had an issue. By the 2 week mark I was cleared to full activity including weights and anything else at the gym I wanted to do. If I could lift weights 2 weeks after I can't imagine not being able to shoot a wedding many weeks later.

Well as a fellow photographer I can tell you that I did a 4 hour glamour shoot 5 days after surgery and had no issues at all doing it. There should be no issue at all 4 to 6 weeks out unless there is some serious complications.