gmanbat

In what other human endeavor is taking "the hard way out" better just because it is harder? Do you program your Garmin to take the hardest route, the one more likely to result in you not getting to your destination, because it is "more noble"? Thinking is hard for those that hate to do it. Even if the sleeve was the easy way out, which it is not, calling it the easy way out without any logic, argument, or justification and out of pure prejudice is the easy way out!

I learned the hard way about Water. Before I was sleeved I went to the emergency room on 2 separate occasions and spent good money only to find out I was dehydrated. Dizziness and weakness were pretty intense and I thought it was something more, my normally high blood pressure dropped dangerously low. The best thing to do is set out your water for the day, at least in your mind, and drink it. You need water to get rid of fat, too. You may have to carry a bottle around with you all day and trickle it in, drinking it all at once is not optimal. It's a small price to pay for the strength and weight loss afforded by staying wet and wild.

Lack of sufficient Water is the main culprit, insufficient Vitamins and not enough food also plays in. I had many bouts of fatigue during my rapid unloading period. I decided that if I am tired anyway I might as well make it for a purpose. So I started hitting the exercise with a passion. I still had bouts of fatigue but less often and mostly because of the exercise. The muscle mass and strength gained makes the rest of my life more enjoyable.

You are pretty close to being just out of surgery it seems. That swollen stomach doesn't want anything down there but you have to be the boss. It will get better. You are doing the right thing but you must not be distracted while you drink. Just wet your mouth over and over with tiny sips, the Water will get down there. It is against a lifetime of conditioning to eat and drink small. Concentrate. It is somewhat like going to one of those goofy countries that have cars with the wheel on the wrong side and folks drive on the wrong side of the road. I spent 6 months in South Africa and when I came back I nearly had a head-on collision because I got accustomed to bizzaro world. :ph34r:

Ya, I bragged to my wife about my cow analogy and she reminded me about the 4 stomachs and all the regurgitation they do. Not one of my more brilliant literary moments it seems My wife is the queen of headshrinkers.

Chewing is a big deal with this sleeve thingy. Long chewing makes for better tolerance for the food you eat and also makes for more time between bites and gives your little bananer belly a chance to deal with the previous bite. We must change from anacondas into cows.

How nice of you to get sleeved on my birthday! I think folks are saying it's the day the world will end, too. If the Mayans were so smart why are they extict? Anyway, the best advice I would give is give yourself time to heal. Don't panic if you can't even drink a thimble full of Water at first. That kind of freaked me out. I was a guy that could easily down 2 large pitchers of beer and then go out for late night junk. You are not going to starve or die of dehydration. Especially not with those IV's in you. Hit the button a lot, let the morphine do it's job, no shame.

Well done, Bawse52! Same here on the weight gain. Got down to 2 pounds from goal and now I'm 5 pounds up from that. The only change is that I stepped up the exercise. Has to be muscle gain. My clothes continue to get too big, I have to replace several pair of recently purchased, not cheap pants, ....what was I thinking?

I have yet to post in the chat room but I have been there a number of times. It reminds me of the party line* my family had when I was a kid and lived on the farm in Iowa,(except more interesting). When I had absolutely nothing to do I lightly picked up the phone and listened to what the farmers were saying. Never anything worth hearing unless you're into talk about the best feces to use for fertilizer. * party line: more than one customer shared the same line. You had different rings so you could tell when someone was calling you.

Ya, I like telling folks about it if the situation is right. I am not at all ashamed of getting sleeved and I am glad to share if the hearers aren't jerks. Trolls exist not only on forums and I hate to feed em. You know, when you are blessed by something or someone you get an itch to tell folks. I guess it's a missionary complex. Way to go, Lissa.

I elected to get the sleeve. I did on Jan.16, 2012 The results are that I am 2 pounds from goal and full of vinegar as you can tell by the deceptive title.

I have stalled quite a number of times. Just when I start thinking, "Well, maybe this is all I am going to lose" and start adjusting to the fact, I drop some more. Oddly, I broke a couple of stalls by going on vacation. I haven't figured out why but my theories are: More walking, less eating between meals, and eating more, (I know they contradict but theories are like that ). I have accepted the fact that the science of weght lose contains many unknown factors. The last 10 pounds have been SLOW. I am looking and feeling good so it doesn't bother me. I am concentrating on getting in shape and healthy even though I weigh myself a lot. I know muscle puts on weight and I think I lost muscle mass during the rapid decline which I am putting back on. My wife says I'm a stud-muffin and I try not to argue with her when she is right.

My heaviest weight I estimate at 340 but I started counting it at 330. So my total loss thus far is between 108-118. Not bad for 10 months considering how difficult it was to lose weight before the operation.

That tube is pretty small, not like the one they make you wear for extended times. In all my prostate treatment; radiation, hormones, chemo, it was the catheter and bag that I wouldn't want to repeat. Us fellers are pretty sensitive about junior in many ways. It was a bit surreal to have a pretty nurse pull that thing out of him. My brain didn't know which train to get on.

The one I had through the operation wasn't bad. The one I wore for 2 weeks after diagnosed with prostate cancer by a urologist who was concerned about my kidneys was very unpleasant.

Ya, I used to make fun of those tiny, ultra-expensive portions the big chefs on the Food Channel dished up. Now they look about right. I guess I'm getting classy.

For me variety is the key. I have a couple of core exercises, push-ups and knee bends, two sets of each, 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, I walk and run with kettle bells, bodyblade, walk through theme parks (I live in Florida), swim, bicycle with granddaughters, and anything else that seems fun. Moving is more fun the more the excess weight drops off. When you work off that last 40 you may be surprised about the difference it makes in the rest of your life. I have always dreamed about taking my old, experienced mind and put it in that body that I had when I was young. This is pretty close to it. P.S. My wife made a rare valid point, (kidding) lack of proper hydration can take the energy and motivation out of a person. Sometimes when you think you have it covered, you don't.

Should Wls Be Performed At An Early Age? Yes, that's why I got it at 62.

My wife got the bypass, I had prostate cancer and didn't want the malabsorption, I need solid nutrition. The band is too high maintenance and seemingly has less success. My doc leaned toward the bypass for me, I leaned back toward the sleeve which he gave me. He underestimated my determination to lose. 2 more pounds and I send him a picture,

When I despair because of my wrinkles my picture of Keith helps me out.

I did a lot of thinking about food and eating. I turned food into a woman in my mind and had a talk with it. "Look, sweetheart, I have been way too into you and there's been way too much of you into me. That changes now. From now on you don't dictate, you WILL NOT be allowed unlimited access, you will be quality when you do come in. I know we can't split up altogether but you are going to have to take a back seat to many things and people that I love more than you. From now on you will give energy to my life, not destroy it. Now give me a kiss, you tasty thing. Awww,... don't cry!" (Oh, that was me )

I looked at your before and after pictures in your profile. Maybe she means "sick" in a colloquial sense, like "sick-good"...otherwise suggest to your friend a support group. Here's one that seems appropriate: I Have Bad Eyesight Personal Stories, Advice, and Support from 200 Members

So she knew you had an irreversible operation and decided to chew you up anyway for not doing it "her way". I would take an operation any day over spending any time with that unbelievable self-centered clod.

You are awesome, Iggychic! I pray that everything works out for you. I am glad that you have the guts to tell your story as a very needed balance against ultra-positive cheerleaders like myself. This operation is not a haircut, suffering and death are possibilities like any other major operation. If cosmetics are your only motivation, folks, I advise you to rethink your life. Let Iggychic's words speak to you.

Oh, man, I would love that. As I went to her freezer and loaded up her steaks in a bag I would say, "Ya, I am stalling because I don't eat enough Protein, thanks for helping out."