BigDaddyJoe

I've been getting that lately as well, including from my wife. I still want to lose another 5-10 lbs, I only just today got to within the 'normal' range on the BMI chart, I want to get a little lower in case I bounce back a little in maintenance.

Yes, my restriction definitely varies also. Some days I feel like I can eat more (but don't, I usually stop at about the same amount), and other days I can only get in a few bites.

Excellent article. Doctors should print it out to give to their patients.

What exactly is expected of you? I know all doctors are different, and some have some pretty crazy expectations before surgery. I only had to do one week of a pre op diet. Before that week, I made sure to eat everything I loved that I knew I wouldn't be able to eat for a while. Doctors requiring people to do long term restrictive diets before surgery, when they have most likely failed at them in the past which is what led to them doing something drastic like surgery, just seems counterintuitive to me. They 'sell' the surgery as a tool to help people be successful where they have failed in the past, so why set them up to feel like failures before surgery? That being said, The surgery IS a tool, but it doesn't do it all for you. You still have to make the right decisions about what you put in your body. It becomes much easier, because you become much less interested in food, at least in my experience. There have been times where the sleeve has saved me from myself, where I would have completely sabotaged myself if I was only doing a diet. As an example, fairly early on I was stuck in a 2 week stall. I was frustrated that the scale wasn't moving and questioning why I put myself through this. I was driving past Taco Bell and decided to stop and get some. I was only able to eat a half of a soft taco. Hardly sabotage. In the past, I would have engorged myself with food and given up on the diet. The next morning, I woke up and was down 3 lbs.. I'm now 5 months out and down 85 lbs., and at my doctor's goal already. I'm amazed at how well I've done, and think it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. You won't even remember this pre op stuff a few months from now, so don't let it get you down.

Congrats! I wasn't nervous at all, actually thought there was something wrong with me because I wasn't nervous. I knew I was making the right decision, and am so glad that I did it. Good luck to you, you'll get past the nerves and be on the loser's bench soon!

I wasn't able to get over 800 a day for the first 4 months. Now I'm 5 months out and getting about 1,000 a day. I get about 80g of protein a day.

I thought I wouldn't want to tell anyone. I only told a few people beforehand, and got tired of hearing "but you're not THAT big", or "you could do it yourself", so I stopped telling people. A few days after surgery, I woke up at 5 am, and it was bothering me that I had lied to people about why I wouldn't be around for a week, and would be lying to people if they asked how I was losing weight. So I typed up a long note explaining what I did and why I did it, what the surgery is, why I chose it over other surgeries, how I was doing, etc., and posted it on Facebook. I got a ton of support. Now, if anyone asks, I'm honest about it, and actually enjoy talking about it. I haven't gotten any negative comments, and have gotten a lot of questions because people are curious. I'm glad I decided to talk about it, but it was a very personal decision and I understand not everyone will make that same decision.

I sent an email to Bell Plantation, because I've been wanting to try the PB2 for a while now. This is the response I got back: Joseph, First, thank you for your interest in our products! We love when customers like you feel confident enough to express your opinions, ask questions and make suggestions. It means you trust us and that’s our goal. We do not have free samples available to the customer. However, you may visit a store close to you, that sells our product, and purchase a single item or they may even offer sampling there.

I had severe reflux also, and that has been cured by the sleeve. It counts as one of the comorbidities they use to qualify for the surgery, so I'm confused why it would disqualify you from getting it.

Yes, I would like to lose a few more in case I end up gaining a few in maintenance. I don't ever want to see a number starting with a '2' on the scale again!

I got on the scale this morning, and I am now 190 lbs, my surgeon's goal! I had gone camping for a week with my son's Boy Scout troop, and did pretty much EVERYTHING wrong. I tried my best, but it was hard. I didn't get nearly enough protein, water, ate too fast, and ate not the right things. I got home and was down a lb. But then, the next day I was down 2 more. And the next day (today), down another. I have lost 84 lbs from my top weight. My wife and a few other people are telling me I am starting to look too skinny. I don't agree, I'd like to lose another 10 or so lbs. I'm still not even considered in the 'normal' range yet, 189 is the upper end of the normal range for 6'1".

I feel like I wasn't normal because I wasn't nervous at all, and felt like I should have been. I have a wife and 3 kids that depend on me. But I knew I was doing the right thing, and was doing it for them, so I had peace in my heart.

Great idea, tap!

I'm 5 months out, and I've had 4 separate stalls that lasted 2 weeks each. I'm still down 83 lbs in 5 months, even with the stalls. Don't sweat it, it's just your body adjusting.

Thanks! I don't really have any secrets, other than following my doctor's and nutritionist's advice. High Protein, low carbs. I use the elliptical machine a few times a week, and just recently started adding in some weights.

Ok, I'm almost 5 months out and have done very well with my sleeve. I've lost 80 lbs and am only 4 lbs away from my surgeon's goal. My question is this: I just bought new pants and they were a 32 waist. When I was last at this weight 20 years ago, I was not wearing 32 pants. I was probably 20 lbs less than I am now the last time I wore 32. It is no fluke of the brand of pants or something - I have to wear a belt with all the size 34 shorts I bought just a couple weeks ago. I'm not complaining, just trying to make sense of it. The only explanation I can come up with has to do with how our bodies still go through changes even when the scale isn't moving, like when we're stuck in a stall. Maybe my body is actually smaller than what the scale says, and the weight is just waiting to be released? Any ideas?

I love eggs, and am glad I do because we have chickens in our yard. I can only eat 1 at a time now though.

My tastes have changes significantly. I no longer like sweet things too much. And now, the spicier the better. I used to like mildly spicy things, but now BRING ON THE SPICE! I read about a study where they performed sleeve surgery on rats, and the rats naturally chose higher protein, lower carb foods when given the option after surgery.

1/2 a taco is not a lot of food. That was at about 2 months after surgery. I can eat a whole taco now. I only told a few people beforehand, and got the same reactions from all of them - "You're not THAT big", and "You can do it yourself". I made the decision to stop telling people, because I had already made my decision and they weren't being helpful. People who are not overweight don't and can't understand the struggles we've gone through. Now, when I tell people, I show them my before and after pictures and explain all the related health issues that have been resolved. They all say I did the right thing and think I look great. After seeing the pictures I took with my shirt off, they all say "I honestly never saw you as being that big". I guess I dressed well and hit it well. Everyone I've told afterwards has been very supportive. Some have more questions, and I'm more than glad to answer them.

First of all, nice MINI Cooper! I had a chili red/white '03 Cooper that I had to get rid of when the third kid was on the way. Now I have a True Blue/White '12 Cooper Countryman, and love it. As far as your concerns, they are valid. Your whole relationship with food will change. I no longer enjoy eating, I do it because I need to. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, sometimes it gets me down that I can no longer go to buffets and enjoy large meals like I did before. On the other hand, it is because of this that I have lost 80 lbs in 4 months, gotten off blood pressure medication, cured my sleep apnea, have a ton more energy, am in 34 jeans for the first time in 17 or 18 years (and probably will be in 32's soon!). I couldn't have done it by myself. I've been able to lose weight doing various diets, but was never able to sustain it. There have been times in this journey where I know I would have sabotaged myself in the past, but the sleeve wouldn't let me. For example, I was in a stall for a couple weeks, and feeling down, and just wanted Taco Bell. I got Taco Bell, and was able to eat half of a soft taco. Hardly sabotage. Before, I would have just kept eating. I say to go for it. I don't regret it. It will be an adjustment, for sure, but one for the better.

So awesome, isn't it? I recently arrived in Onederland myself, and am at 196 now. Still can't believe it.

My wife was going to Walmart yesterday, and texted me at work to ask if I needed anything. I said 'new clothes and sneakers'. I wasn't expecting her to actually buy me anything, but she asked what size pants I was wearing now. I had to close my office door so that I could check the size of the jeans I'm currently wearing. I told her they are a 36 and would fall down without a belt. I never even realized that I was wearing a 36 until I checked yesterday. These are old jeans I still had in my drawer from years ago, and are the only ones that aren't ridiculously big on me now. She asked me what size I was wearing when I was at my biggest. I said that I never really knew my 'true' size. I was wearing 42 or 44, but was wearing them under the belly, not at the belly like you're supposed to, so was probably bigger. She picked me up 4 pairs of shorts, in 34. I thought 'no way are these going to fit'. Well, guess what - they did! I haven't been a 34 in probably 17 years, I'm guessing. Can't believe I've come this far in only 4 months! This is the best thing I've ever done for myself (besides marrying my wife).