gmanbat

Prayers for you, Ruffus!

Hi Blessedw2, I am nearly 64 so I am near the older end of the spectrum. Some of our concerns are the same some different. I am very young... do I want to make such an alteration at this age?! I feel I do, but is it what's best for me? What if it makes more problems down the road? What don't they know about this procedure?! What are your thoughts on a youngster having this done?? Do you wish you would have or glad you didn't (or did) My first answer would be a question: what have you done thus far to fight the fat? If you can defeat it some other way, that would be better. The operation isn't magical, it just helps you eat less. With a sleeve your stomach fights you, HARD, when you eat too much but some of the hunger causing gehrlin is reduced. If I could have just eaten what I've eaten for the last 8 months without the operation the result would have been the same. That being said, I truly think I could not have done it without the tool of the sleeve, the hunger would have defeated me. I am not that informed on the "down the road" picture, I will leave that to my comrades. I will answer about your age as though you were my daughter or granddaughter, your health is the most important thing. Getting rid of obesity needs to happen as soon as possible, it gets harder the older you get. The longer you are obese, the more comorbidities will arise. Your age is a big plus with this procedure, that young body can heal quickly and your muscles respond to exercise better. Your skin is more elastic as well, although some sagging could be permanent. My wife and I both had WLS, we have fun trying to convince each other that sagging is success. I don't want criticism from people. I hate bringing attention to myself and I'm afraid people will talk. I know they will. I'm not sure how I would handle this situation. People will ask me what I'm doing to lose weight. Do I tell them exercising and eating less (which is no lie) or do I tell them about the sleeve?? As you look through this forum you will find this question is quite common. This operation is nothing to be ashamed of. If you really believe that, to tell or not to tell is no longer a problem. I tell those that I consider worthy of my time, the rest get a sketchy response or no explanation. This is, after all, MY BUSINESS. Extra skin: I'm not sure what to think about this subject... I've had 2 children so I already have a poochy lower tummy. I don't want to have issues with skin rubbing and flopping out. I also don't have the kind of money to spend on cosmetic surgery. Not sure about this one... You are young, it is likely your skin is elastic and will shrink. There are no guarantees that it will completely, though. I read your husband as a real man, one that would not be put off by loose skin. Real men love deeply, he sounds like one of those. I think you have nothing to worry about. I will be praying for you to make the right decision. It looks like you are pretty committed already. If you go ahead you know the folks on this forum will be pulling for you and helping any way we can.

I used to fast quite a bit, up to 7 days on just Water. The hunger was intense the first few days but I can tell you that most of it was head hunger. Water drinking helped a lot with the physical part. That was long before I had surgery. Of course, I was distracted by prayer and Bible study which was why I was on the fast to begin with, to concentrate on God. I can tell you, distractions are your friend in the battle against hunger.

I envy you guys that are doing the right thing and measuring. I confess that I have never measured except a visual estimate. My stomach helped me guage my portions REAL quick. Maybe it's a "man thing" or maybe I'm just stupid but it's like asking for directions for me.

Hang in there, Carly! Distracting myself by non-food related activities helped me. Maybe look at a magazine, catalog or website of clothing with models in it at your goal weight? I went to Macy's and looked at all of the way-too-small suits and said, "I'll be back" in my best Terminator voice. 7 pounds to goal, warming up the car now, getting ready to blast through the police station wall!

Excellent to say the least, Kevin! Wow!

Online here: http://www.torani.com/#/

That is the first time I ever heard a NUT talk against Protein drinks. Fruits are not pure sugar, that's for sure. There are nutrients there. Lots of fructose in some of them, though. In another post someone commented on the diversity of opinion on nutrition you find in the bariatric world. When is your operation?

The fat on your body is just a layer of cells like your skin. How the layer of fat got thick is irrelevant. It does not define you any more than your skin color, and your skin color certainly does not define you, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us that. The essential you is not fat or skin layers, it is your character, your mind, your spirit. It sounds like you have a great husband who sees that. You can change the fat layer with your essential you. Be your own friend, give yourself the same breaks that you would anyone else that you love. I believe God loves you, too. And He knows you better than you do.

Good for you, blackdoll80! My granddaughters use to push me around in a wheel chair at theme parks. Now on our morning walks they struggle to keep up with me. And that with me throwing around a 15 pound kettlebell as I walk. I have noticed the whole family getting much more interested in exercise since I started getting intense with mine. Good just keeps getting gooder!

My pre-surgery trainers made it clear to me that I was losing a part of one organ but gaining a new one: a bottle of water. Small sips taken regularly and often seems to be the gold standard.

You scared me there for a minute! I had visions of the episode of Survivorman where he was trying to get through the outback and showing you how to "recycle".

Serious stuff: Symptoms of Dehydration in Adults The signs and symptoms of dehydration range from minor to severe and include: Increased thirst Dry mouth and swollen tongue Weakness Dizziness Palpitations (feeling that the heart is jumping or pounding) Confusion Sluggishness fainting Fainting Inability to sweat Decreased urine output Urine color may indicate dehydration. If urine is concentrated and deeply yellow or amber, you may be dehydrated. When to Seek Medical Care Call your doctor if the dehydrated person experiences any of the following: Increased or constant vomiting for more than a day Fever over 101°F Diarrhea for more than 2 days Weight loss Decreased urine production Confusion Weakness Take the person to the hospital's emergency department if these situations occur: Fever higher than 103°F Confusion Sluggishness (lethargy) Headache Seizures Difficulty breathing Chest or abdominal pains Fainting No urine in the last 12 hours From Web MD

You know, guys do this catty stuff sometimes. How much money you have/your job, what you are driving, how your woman looks, golf scores, baseball knowledge, athletic ability, what your kids amounted to, how you lost your weight, anything can be the motivation behind superior look-downs and sly little grins and giggles. When I am in the presence of one of these insecurity maskers I take advantage of the next available opportunity to remove myself from their presence and take note to avoid it from then on.

Speaking as a happily married man but nonetheless aware of the beauty in his world let me just say .

I have a problem getting protein bars that aren't also loaded with sugar. I can handle sugar better than my Roux N Y wife, she gets heart palpitations, claminess, headaches, and light-headedness.

Welcome!!! Make yourself at home! :)

I thought it looked like Florida, the moss is a clue. I noticed you are in Florida Sleevers. I'm in Dade City, a transplant from Ohio. I love it here, the scenery, the critters, and the "air you can wear"..the whole thing.

Ya, don't know what I was thinking. Like there wouldn't be many Kim Barnes type people in Indiana or California. If you were Desmerelda Grondonclasenstinklemeyer we might have had a match.

Darn, ya got me thinking about lentil soup now and I just got back from the grocery. I hope I can hold out until next week's shopping without taking a special trip for it.

If you need training in how to avoid answering questions just watch the debates. :ph34r:

Unfortunately clothing is not the only thing that no longer fits after weight loss. Love your friends, try to keep them, but don't let them steal your dignity or the joy of your victories. If they abandon you, don't abandon yourself. There are multitudes here that get what you are going through.

WOW!!! Pretty to prettier=you!

This one has my vote. If they happen to see your scars at the country club shower room just say, "Oh yeah, my doctor has REALLY aggressive methods!"