gmanbat

I see this as my Spring time. Time to take off the big heavy coat and have fun in the sun. The coat does not come off quickly but it must and it will. There's an energetic guy under there and he will be free. You will meet your goal, Favoredone. It is your destiny. What you see in your mind will show up in your body.

I have several things that subdue the gushing. One is that my roux n Y wife draws most of the attention, her loss is more dramatic than mine. Another thing is that people remember me before I blimped so they just think the old Gman is back. Some of them didn't think I was very fat anyway. My resting pulse drop of 30 beats per minute testifies otherwise.

We have a tussle with our insurance company, Medical Mutual of Ohio, every time we get an operation. They always balk at paying for the anesthesia. When my wife had roux n y they refused, then said ok. When I had my gall bladder out the same, and now they are refusing to pay the anesthesia for my sleeve. They are saying the anesthesia people at the hospital are not submitting the proper paperwork but it makes me nervous to be on the hook for $2,600. I'm a tough guy but I don't think I could have just bit on a stick while Dr. Lalor cut me, blew me up with air, stapled and cut and sewed me up. Even my machismo has it's limits.

Update: My little wife has a way with the phone. She can mask her anger much better than I can. She called the insurance company today and explained the situation to them. Today we got a reasonable person on the line, thank God. They checked to see if the operation was originally approved and, of course, it was. Then they said they would just mail them the check. No hassle about correct codes, etc. My wife called the code illiterate anesthesia people and told them they will get a check within 2 weeks. They were satisfied, my thumbs are safe.

Also, remember muscle weighs more than fat for it's size. I have noticed that intense exercise sessions are normally followed by a weight gain. That's where the tape measure trumps the scale. Muscle takes up less space than fat. You could very well be gaining weight and losing fat at the same time. Some pro bodybuilders are pushing 300 pounds with 10% or less body fat.

That fussy little dude that resides somewhere in your system who decides when to give up the fat doesn't like famines, it seems. He gets tighter than Joan River's face. I'm with Ajbailey72, more small meals keeps the little jerk happy. Also, you said you take 3 pills, 3 times a day. Chewables are much easier to take, regular pills can bring on the pain early on.

2 months out and my roux n Y wife and I have been doing the Chinese lunch buffet take-out thing. For 6.50 we get a box and a Soup bowl with a cover and fill them up with the soup, veggies, and tasty chunky chicken stuff from the buffet. We can make a lot of meals out of one visit. When we get it home it is a challenge to just get the small amount we need out at a time. One time of bringing hot and sour soup back up pretty well cured me of over-eating. We get green Beans, broccoli, onions, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, etc. all tasty. I go easy on the fried rice even though it sits well in Da Bouncer, (my sleeve). The only worry we have about it is the sugar used in some of the meat concoctions like General Tso's. I think it is insignificant, wife thinks it isn't. What do you think? Any of you other sleevers do something similar?

I got a letter from the hospital anesthesia people today trying to bill me for $1600. They said the insurance company refused to pay. Last week I got a letter from the insurance company saying they were sending a letter to the anesthesia people wanting more paperwork before they pay. I don't know if the insurance company turned it down a second time or the anesthesia people just have not sent in more paperwork yet to get it approved. I tried to call the anesthesia people, all automated, no people to talk to. I will call the insurance company tomorrow, maybe they know what is going on. Tomorrow I have a follow-up with my surgeon, I will let him know what a mess the anesthesia people are and the insurance company, too. Maybe he can kick some butt and get this resolved. This is getting old.

Ouroborous, Thanks, very interesting. So you are saying taking an exercise to failure is the ticket. An old Nautilus principle is "one set done right", one set for each exercise done to failure. Any further sets were a waste, like hammering a nail after it is already in. How do you feel about multiple sets? I am concerned with the overall time involved in my workout time. In my experience a long, drawn out workout depletes me too much. I even seem to lower my immune system and get sick which derails the whole thing. That is why the heavy weight/low reps tactic appealed to me, although at this point heavy weights are out of the question anyway. I have a simple exerciser called a Bodyblade http://www.bodyblade.com/bodyblade-home/ It is quick and takes muscles to falure very quickly. It is used a lot in therapy and warm ups but I think it is a great main workout item. I do the bodyblade, knee bends, push-ups, I swing a kettlebell around a bit, and do a small workout on a Bowflex type machine. That's about all I can do right now but it is plenty, I think.

I went through the same trepidations. The balance sheet of gains and losses tipped toward getting the operation. 2 months out I do not regret my decision. Those things that I thought I would be devastated without were not that important after all. The gains of losing, so well expressed by the previous posters, far compensated me for any deprivation. I can still enjoy eating, having a dinner with the wife, etc.. The difference is the volume, not the taste. Think about it, once the food has cleared your mouth it doesn't give you any more tasting pleasure it just makes your belly full. I get that now, just sooner. So I eat slow and savor the flavor.

I checked out Vitamix before I got the Ninja. Just couldn't justify the $449.. Paid $159. for the Ninja set. Vitamix is great, go for it if you have the money. I suggest you read reviews on both.

Absolutely! My roux n y wife got a strange indirect complement in church the other day. This lady which we have been sitting behind for years said hi to me then stared at Debbie for a long time. I had a feeling she was wondering why I came to church with a strange lady. To preempt any possible rumors we talked to her after church and verified that my woman was indeed my wife. :wub:

Good posts! I have had diverticulitus a number of times before the surgery so fiber has been on my mind. Benefiber Flax seeds Brocolli Beans Prunes all good. Here is something I swiped from a prune website but applies to any good fiber food: The insoluble fiber in prunes binds Water inside your intestines, creating larger, softer stools that move easily through your bowels. This effect can prevent and treat constipation, helping you avoid chronic disorders such as diverticulosis, diverticulitis and hemorrhoids. The soluble fiber from the fruit combines with bile acids in the intestines, forming a gel that's passed in your stools. Your liver pulls cholesterol from its stores to make more bile acids, and then absorbs excess cholesterol from your blood to rebuild its cholesterol stores. The net effect is a reduction in your blood cholesterol level that lowers your risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack or heart failure. Read more: http://www.livestron.../#ixzz1p8Hazz6k

When I stall I tell myself I can't fail. Proper diet+exercise+water= fat loss. It is a scientific impossibility to fail! If I do those 3 things in proper proportions I WILL reach my goal!!!! Anyway, I sure hope so.

I gurgle after I drink Water. I just hit myself hard in the gut and say shut up. Kidding. Exercise after surgery is a tricky thing. You don't feel like doing it but if you don't do it you will feel less like doing it and get on a downward spiral of weakness and stalling. I guess you have to be a nasty drill sergeant and kick your own butt into activity.

Sonja!!! Way to go!!!!

Ya, I am rebelling on this one, too. I do a 5-hour energy drink and a double expresso a day. Both of them are low volume and easy to get down. The biggest argument I've heard is that it dehydrates you. I've read studies that say that is false. At most you break even. I don't drink it to hydrate, I have bottle and bottles of Water for that. Another argument is that gases expand your stomach from the caffiene. Not in my case, I think. coffee has an acid content that can get to you if you drink too much. My double expresso fits in an itsy-bitsy cup. Too much will mess up your sleep, for sure. I do it in the morning. As you can see, I've built up a wall of arguments to support my habit. But I am open to change....

If you have the bucks I recommend the Ninja Kitchen System 1100. It seriously kicks backside. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ninja-Kitchen-System/16513417#Product+Reviews

I don't know why some say 3 meals and that's all and my NUT, along with many others, says 5-6. I am doing 5-6 and steadily losing weight. Many non-surgical weight loss programs say 5-6 as well.

Congrats!! Speedy recovery!! !

Ooops...sorry brandymarie81. You know, I saw your warning to men but curiosity got the best of me and I had to scroll down. Anyway, I hope you get some support on this. :ph34r:

My prayers for you, Sleeve 4 me.

Thanks for the "down the road look." We get hung up on scale feedback and time periods too much I think. There will be a year later, 2 years later, etc.. I look at the amount of food I eat and know that there is no way I will not reach my goal regarless of any stall times I encounter. We have years of being lean and mean ahead!

Prayers for you.

Da Bouncer. If he don't like it, he throws it out.