JeffA70

Has anyone found a change in their urine color? Mine has been dark orange since the surgery, even while in the hospital on IV. At first, I shrugged it off as just 'body's in shock,' etc., but I'm on Day 7 post-op now, and it's still dark. Of course, the obvious cause is dehydration. I've been drinking like a fiend...got in 60+ oz yesterday. Got 50+ oz the last three days. I don't "feel" dehydrated. I mentioned the color to both the surgeon and his nurse yesterday at my one-week post-op visit, as well as a nurse who called to do a follow-up, and everyone is saying the same thing. Drink, drink, drink. No pain, no other real symptoms, per se, but weird. Anyone else experiencing this, or ideas? Thanks!

It truly is, brother. My big things were to take up running. Did my first 5K 10 months after my operation. Last year, I did a 365-miles-in-365-days challenge and nailed it, and among those miles were three timed runs. Exercise has become therapy. The best, though, was doing one of those mud obstacle runs. Didn't skip any obstacle and ran the whole thing (OK, plodded along at the end ). I was at the top of one of the big rope-ladder obstacles and realized that I literally wouldn't have been able to do this at 362. It was a great moment. Rock it, dudes.

Waitresses always seemed like the most awkward to me at first. They often act (understandably so) like you thought something was wrong with the meal.

I've found maintenance is about 300% harder than the honeymoon stage. But nothing good ever came easy. The only easy day was yesterday, and the monkey is always on our backs.

I think it'd be more unusual to go through everything we do and NOT have some non-physical changes like you described. I'm not psychologist, but this is how I see it....food was (and is) part of what defined us to ourselves and others. It gave us comfort, was part of our identity, etc. Whether you were the big guy who smoked racks and racks of ribs for, like four people (my hand up for that one), or the guy who cooks huge meals for others (ditto) or who uses treats as rewards (ditt....oh, crap ), your old relationship with food is part of your relationship with yourself. So, that's one part of it. The second part, at least for me, was that suddenly, I was wearing clothes I couldn't have fit in in high school, twenty years ago. You can't go through that kind of change without wondering whether down is up, up is down, or what's normal anymore. People treat you differently. There's praise, there's watchful eyes, there's snide comments. I lost one of my best friends because of the surgery. He just went full d-bag on me. Why? Dunno. His problem. But it all contributed to a lot of mental work I had to get through myself. Therapy is great. Self-therapy in healthy ways, like running, lifting, or even for me long hikes can help. I took up running, and it's a good way to refocus and get your mood swings and emotions out there. No harm in talking to someone about any of it. TOTALLY. NORMAL.

Congrats to all. You're going to rock it.

I am fine with a 'normal' celebration that involves food. Just can't overdo it.

Your relationship is going to change. If it was good before, hopefully it'll stay good, but it might have been good because of a shared love of what food does for you both. If it was bad before, well, it's not likely to improve. If your dynamic was based on a kind of detente that you were both fat, that will change when she's suddenly 'the fat one.' Mine's always had a weight issue and likely always will. I loved her then, and I love her now. I think there's a consistent, likely subconscious degree of sabotage going on. She's taken up baking more, for example. To me, this is a normal but unhealthy response. She can see people talking to me all the time about the weight I've lost, how great I look 'skinny,' etc. The solid sex advantages of the weight loss aside, this procedure can truly strain relationships.

Moobs are my biggest hangup physically. I'll have to focus on weights.

Hey all, Haven't checked into the forums in a while, as as my 18-month anniversary comes up and I've been dealing with challenges, thought I'd pop in to do some reading. So happy I did; think this will have to be part of my maintenance. Have been slipping since the fall in the weight category...was down to 209 at one point last August, stabilized at 215-220 for several months in the fall, was up to 238 over the winter, and seem to be camped in the 230-235 range now. Winter was rough; couldn't get out to run. Spring was nonexistent here in the northeast, and then my knees hurt running, so the exercise has been more elliptical and less running. Hoping to get back down to 220ish and maintain along there. I'm 6-6, so when I see the 209 photos, I think I went a wee bit too far. But it was scary how the weight came back on, and now life is about finding a balance. I can basically eat anything...the only thing that hurt my tiny tummy is apple peel...and this is obviously good and bad news. Liked the links to the 5:2 plan. Will have to give that a try. All a head game. The only easy day was yesterday. - Jeff

Oh, it's still a win. No regrets about having it done.

Amen. I was actually thinking this AM that since I popped back on here, I've been much more focused.

Thank you. Really appreciate that!

I can't tell you how much this post means to me. Right now, I'm up 30 from my all time post-surgery low, and about 20 from where I should be. I'm also about five above what my goal was going into the whole thing. Since January, I've had six straight months of average weight gain, and don't truly understand why. I'm exercising more than ever. My eating is poorer, but not to the level that I would think would cause that. I simply don't understand what's happening, and it's heartening to hear you had and beat that same type of situation.

I had my first stomach bug post-op a few weeks ago and was so scared. My old self had diarrhea constantly and my new self is almost always constipated, so it was shocking to have both ends going on. The amount I vomited was amazing... My stomach can't possibly hold this much!!! I did call my surgeon to see if there was anything I needed to be aware of in regards to my stomach and the vomiting. He said basically let it move its way through. I did, and all was well after a day.

Thanks all. Didn't mean to post and disappear. Been busy. Appreciate the tips and support. The fact that my skinny clothes still fit is perplexing, as I feel I've gained so much from my low. No one's commented on the gain. Part of wonders if this is just where I should be. I just dunno.

Definitely get buzzed faster here, but I also find it passes faster. I rarely drink...maybe a sip of my wife's here and there. Have had two beers since surgery. One Guinness and one Blue Moon. Nursed both over an hour and I was fine in terms of the carbonation.

18+ months out and I can still see my scars, especially the one that's highest. I think the rest appear like bruises, but I know what they are. I've been waiting to tell people that they're from when I was shivved in prison, but no one's asked.

Oh yeah, I use MyFitnessPal daily. I'm aiming for the 1,800-2,200 range daily. Currently working up to a mud run too, so doing push-ups, dumbbells, etc. in training. It's the 7pm - 11pm witching hours that kill me. Rest of the day is fine.

That's just awesome. Creative visualization...make it so! You're going to rock your sleeve and I can't wait to see your posted pictures from Paris.

Good luck tomorrow. The catheter is no big deal. I was so worried about it, and honesty, it was kind of a relief to just go without getting up. Not saying I'd want one all the time, but it was no big deal.

As we all go for our one-year followups, what things did we learn? Here's a summary of mine: My appointment went well. Dr. is very happy with things. I’m at 221 on his scale (218 on mine), which is up a few from the 218 I was at on his scale in July. No surprise, as I've been gradually creeping up since November 1, when I stopped jogging outdoors and switched to elliptical. Plus, the holidays. We talked a lot about the mental issues, the need to not be fixated on the number, the physical changes, etc. He says I’m a model patient, for what that’s worth. He says that it’s largely a head game from here, which I know. He asked about how much I’m eating, which we went over, and he cautioned me about eating to the point of being full. He said that while my sleeve will never stretch out to the old stomach, if I repeatedly eat to full, I will condition it to stretch more. Good lesson. He also cautioned me that I am now in a lifelong fight with my body, which wants to get back up to 362 lbs. He told me that I should not be surprised that in 5 years, I will have gained 40 lbs., although he also said that I’m doing so well, and seem to have the right attitude, plus my age and gender, that I may not. He said that should I gain the weight, we can then talk about bypass but, interestingly enough, he also said, “By then, they will have figured out that much of this is hormone-related, and maybe they’ll treat that way then.” Go to support groups, keep exercising, blah, blah, blah. How about everyone else?

The only easy day was yesterday. Look at it this way... If you stick with your plan, you'll lose the weight. You were going to have a lifelong struggle anyway... Better to fight it from a low weight!

Mine as well!!!

The Emotional First Aid Kit is vital. Can't recommend it enough. For general food and diet issues, I love: "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals" by Michael Pollan Not about surgery or dieting, but a really eye-opening read about what we eat. "Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It" by Gary Taubes I really loved this book and its low-carb view. I'm convinced that empty carbs are the ultimate enemy. "Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food" by Jan Chozen Bay Really, that's what we're trying to do. "Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think" by Brian Wansink Really, that's what we're trying NOT to do.