Dan S

Keep up the good work. I can totaly relate to the clothes issue. What I do is go the local Amvets and they are pretty well stocked with pants and shirts. I figure I can deal with used clothes until I get down to my goal weight. Then I will splurge on some good stuff. You're doing great. Thanks for your post. Dan S. Highest Weight - 284 Current Weight - 214 Goal Weight - 180 34 lbs to go.

I haven't posted for awhile. My VSG was performed about 5 months ago. It has been a great 5 months. The surgery is continuing to change my life. For the first 3 months of that time the weight came off pretty fast. Things have slowed significantly the past two months. I'm still losing but it's taking more effort now. I think a big reason for the slow down is I have been busy at work and haven't been able to find the time to exercise regularly like I was before. That seems to be a big factor with or without surgery - becoming more active. This week I recommitted and exercised 5 times and the weight came off. I lost 3 more pounds and am now at my lowest yet - 70 lbs down. Last week I had to punch another hole in my belt. That's the third hole since I in-grew (the opposite of out-grew) this belt :tongue_smilie:. I have gone from a 48 to a 36 waist. 12 inches. Wow! I'm about ready to go back to Am-Vets and get some smaller clothes. We have a good one by our house that seems to have decent clothes and I have been trying to spend less on clothes until I get down to my ideal weight. My goal is to reach that by the end of the year. Then I will go for the good stuff. I guess that's what some of our tax refund is going for this year:biggrin0:. It's not just about the clothes, though. It's about the quality of life. I'm sleeping better. I'm still using a C-Pap machine, but I wake up in the morning and feel well rested. I've even been waking up earlier, without effort. I've been happier and more pleasant to be around. Just ask my wife. I am out there with my kids and have more energy to spend with them. I can do a whole day of yard work now (as opposed to 1 or 2 hours before I would die) without being exhausted or my back going out. Working out in the yard is now one of my favorite things to do. According to my doctor, getting healthy could increase my life expectency by 15 years! If those 15 years will be anything like the last couple of months have been, the VSG could very well be the best decision I have ever made (except for marrying my wife. She's a peach.) If you are considering having a VSG, do it!:thumbup: If you want to change your life and realize your full potential, do it!:thumbup: If you want to be there for your loved ones now and in the future, do it!:thumbup: I can only say good things about my experience. Reading all the successes and advice from this web site has been a real boost. Thank you all for your stories. Dan S VSG - 3/15/10 Highest Weight - 284 Current Weight - 214 Goal - 180 34 Pounds to go! Who knows, maybe I'll have to adjust my goal to 170.

Barbie_70, Its a small world. My daughter just married into a Swedish family from Sundsvall. Their kids are going to speak Swedish and English and my wife is learning Swedish now because she doesn't want to miss anything. Some of it is rubbing off on me. Fun stuff. Best wishes to you with your surgery. The 30th will be here soon and you will do great. Just do what the surgeon and your doctor say and everything should be fine. I remember being nervous too. I just stuck to the diet and got up and started walking as soon as possible after surgery. That seemed to help the recovery a lot. Please ask if you have any questions. Everyone thank you for your support! Dan S Highest Weight - 284 Current Weight - 214 Goal Weight - 180 34 Lbs to go!

Hi MidwestGirl. I'm almost halfway there too. You are doing so well. I wish you the best in your efforts. I bought new clothes that are too tight, but I figure they won't be for long. Isn't this fun. Best wishes to you all! Dan S.

I second everything Tiffykins said. Just stick with the program! It's a little harder before surgery, but after surgery the sleeve will help you. Just eat slowly and listen to your stomach, not your head. You'll get there. Just be patient and good things will happen. Dan S Sleeved: 3/15/2010, One of the best decisions I ever made.

Frankie, Congratulations on doing so well. You and I are in about the same boat. I am about a month post op and have been able to lose 31 pounds since then, 51 pounds total. It feels so good to finally be making progress after so many years of failure. Sounds like we both made the right choice. I know I did. Good luck in continuing with the program. I'm sure you will reach your goal soon. You already have such a little way to go. Dan S. Sleeved: 3/15/2010, One of the best decisions I ever made.

This morning when I weighed in I passed the 50 pound mark. Things are happening so fast. I'm almost halfway there. Today I put on size 38 jeans. My fat pants were 46. We have a good Amvets by my house so I have been buying interim clothing from there until I get closer to my goal. Then I will buy the good stuff. I'm feeling more healthy than I have in years. I know that if I were living like I am now, I would have probably lost weight anyway, but the sleeve is such a good tool. It is training me on quality of food and portion control. That's what I need. Exercising is going well too. I'm slowly starting to jog. Today I did my usual 3 mile rout but I ran about a mile of it. With knee and ankle problems in the past I didn't think I would be running any more but with so much less weight it is easier. My goal is to run the whole 3 miles. Thanks for all your support. I've enjoyed following everyone's stories, successes and challanges. This is a great website! Dan S

I think the hardest thing to get right in my head was the fact that this is a life-long lifestyle change. No more big meals. No more Mountain Dew.:closedeyes: No more rich fatty diet. A lot of no's. A lot of negatives. The thing that made it doable is that I began looking at it as an adventure rather than a sacrifice. I get to learn a whole new lifestyle. A lifestyle that will be full of new joys that I haven't known for years. Little things like picking up a coin that I dropped without having to do a big exhale and a kind of sideways- slanted-squat thingy to get to it. Hallelujah, I just bent over and picked it up without any effort. I know, a small thing. But it meant a lot to me. As far as pre-op, specifically sticking to the diet, I had a hard time. In times past I would get discouraged and stop trying. What made it work for me this time was just starting every day new without any regrets. "One day at a time". I didn't do perfectly, but I did stick to it. From about Mid-November to my surgery date, March 15th I lost about 20 pounds. That was good enough for my surgeon. The last thing I think I will say is that I had to do a lot of giving up of control of my life and give it to my Psychologist, Nutritionist, doctor, surgeon, etc. Doing what they told me to do. It was tough at first but the way of living they have been teaching me is starting to become second nature. It just took a little time. Now the sleeve is keeping me honest. It tells me when I over do it. I wish both of you all the best in your pre and post op experiences, and especially that the surgery will go well for you. Dan S

Goodlife, I'm sure your back will get better as you lose. I'm already noticing that my flexibility and ability to move around is getting better. I've had back problems too, but not for awhile. I hope things go well for you. Faith2010, Congrats to you too. It's nice to hear from someone that is in the same boat as me. Here's to the next 50 pounds! Ouroborous, Your time will come...soon. Just stick to the recommended diet and you will lose weight. I lost 20 pounds before surgery (over about a 4 month period). Now with the sleeve it is so much easier. I hope you have as good an experience as I am having. To everyone else, Thanks for your kind words of support. It makes all the difference. Dan S. Sleeved 3/15/2010. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

Congratulations tbtroy78. Just take it slow and easy, but they are right. Keep walking. On my second day in the hospital I walked around the ward three times throughout the day. I was sleeved a month ago and have tried to walk every day. A few days have been missed but overall doing pretty well. Being more active has really helped in losing weight. I hope things go as well for you as they have for me. Have a great day. You'll be home before you know it. Dan S Sleeved March 15, 2010, one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Hi everyone. It has been awhile since I posted but things are going well. I continued to jump through hoops to convince everyone that I was serious and sane in my decision to have the surgery. Finally the day came. Last Monday, March 15th, I had a VSG and everything went well. I am so excited at the possibility of being at my ideal weight within a year. The liquid diet before and after surgery was difficult for me but I lost quite a bit of weight already because of it. Now, since yesterday, I am on the stage 3 diet of blended foods. After one day, I think this will be easier. There are a lot more choices and I get to chew again! After loosing 39 pounds my wife and kids are excited and so am I. Other people are starting to notice too. It feels good. I have more energy, I can bend over and tie my shoes, my clothes are no longer tight, in fact I will probably need to buy new clothes in another 10 or 20 lbs. Life is good. I have been off work for almost 2 weeks now and have had lots of recovery time. I've been walking every day and as of yesterday am back to 3 miles. Everything seems to be almost back to normal, except for the itching. The laproscopic wounds are healing nicely, but they itch like crazy. That's why I'm up so early this morning. I woke up at about 3 and couldn't get back to sleep. I'm trying to lightly scratch around the incisions and that works for awhile but not for long. Oh well, if that's the worst problem I have, things should be ok. I am extremely pleased with my decision. The results are amazing and I am slowly learning how to live with the sleeve. I have enjoyed reading and getting support from all of you in your posts. Thank you. Have a great day and here's to good health! Dan S

My BMI was 44.5. Now it's 37.1. I still have about 60 pounds to lose to get to my ideal weight. Morgandobes, I hope everything goes well for you. Sounds like you've had a rough time with the lap band. I was thinking about that for awhile, but opted for the sleeve because of all the good things I've heard. So far it's been great for me. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Ouroborous and TbTroy78, Congratulations on your decision to get healthy. I was pretty scared when I went into surgery, but the doctor and his help really gave me the confidence that they knew what they were doing. It's always hard to turn your life over to someone. Loss of control, being totally out for a couple of hours. I got over the phobia and am really glad I did. The experience was definitely worth it. I can't speak for everyone but my decision was the right decision for me. I'm eating healthy and it's easier than I thought it would be. I find that the cravings that I used to have are more manageable. The sleeve lets me know immediately if I have overdone it. I have thrown up a couple of times and have had some discomfort when pushing the limits. I've learned not to do that. I tend to learn things the hard way. I'm excited for your upcoming VSG's and wish both of you all the best. Please ask if you have any questions.

Thank you all for your replies. I wish all of you continued success in becoming the person you want to be. Things just keep getting better for me. I'm down 47 pounds today! Yay me! The encouragement goes a long way for me. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Sleeved: March 15, 2010. One of the best decisions I ever made.

Contratulations! I have a way to go before I'm no longer obese, but things are going great. I appreciate your support and encouragement. I hope things continue to go well for you. Have a great weekend! Sleeved March 15, 2010, one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Merry Christmas to all. I hope your day is filled with joy.

Hi everyone. Yesterday I met with my weight management doctor and he said I am right on track and I can look to having surgery sometime in February. I made an appointment with the surgeon for Tuesday 12/22. I also have an orientation meeting at the hospital on Monday 12/21. Things are moving right along. I'm getting excited now. I also met with a Psychologist yesterday and she talked about the results of a test I took to determine my state of mind. She said I was more depressed than 90% of the people that come in. I told her I thought all people who were struggling with being overweight were depressed. She said yes, to an extent but with my stats she said that it looked like a person that would have trouble with weight gain even after surgery. That scaires me but we talked about it for awhile and I think we're ok. She also strongly supported the Lap Band surgery and said that the device has greatly improved and it's much safer than the other options. They have lost patients with the other surgeries, but never with the Lap Band. I know there are risks but from what I've read on this site, the Lap Band just doesn't seem to last long-term. She kept saying that the VSG is such a long incision and the stomach acid could impair the healing in the lower part of the stomach. She said I should bring up all these things with my surgeon on Tuesday and see what he says. I know there are risks but the VSG still seems to be the best alternative for me at this point. Thank you all for your support and advice.

Thank you all. Lots of good advice. Don't get me wrong. The psychologist was very good, and I do have depression issues that could be a problem in the future if I don't adress them now. She also was sure to let me know that even though she leans towards the Lap Band, in the end it's my choice. She had a lot of good advice and I learned a lot in our session. I was glad to meet her. Overall the process has been very positive for me so far. Here's to it continuing to be that way.

Thanks all. Keep 'em coming. It's so great that we're all in the same boat and working through the same issues. I think the Psychologist was so worried about the risk because alot depends on me. I have a wife and 7 kids that would be out of luck if something were to happen in surgery. I can see that, but I want to be thin and healthy and have longevity for my family. Is the risk worth it? So many of you say yes. I want to say yes. I want to live a happier more fulfilling life. I want my children to know a more healthy, happy, energetic, involved father. I hope my meeting with the surgeon will help me say yes. I want to have the surgery and make these dreams become a reality.

Thanks for the encouragement. I hope everything goes well for you. The 29th will come so fast. Best wishes for a quick recovery and wonderful after-VSG life. You're right about insurance companies. Lots of hoops and waiting. But if everything works out it will be worth it.