ShrinkingBiker

Congrats! I'm down 27 3 weeks out and a total of 41 since pre-op! It's so awesome feeling isn't it?

The first 2 weeks I did get grumbles but it wasn't really hunger.. I think it was a mix of gas and stomach healing.. I try to weigh out all of my food to between 2-3 oz so that I don't make myself too full / sick. I also try to plan out meals.. I try to have 3 "meals" per day and 2 Snacks. I'm only in puree right now, but i will run you through typical day.. Wake up have Water and take my heartburn med. about 20 minutes later 2-3 oz of Breakfast (egg, roast beef hash, or oatmeal) kill off a bottle of water between breakfast and lunch Snack (yogart or cottage cheese) if I feel the urge, usually skip Lunch (tuna, leftover, soup) Water between dinner depends on what I want.. Tuna, seafood salad, stew, chili Snack weight watchers snack sized fudge bar or SF ice pop Water and sometimes a fruit juice like Cran Raspberry, cran grape or apple. It doesn't look like a lot of food.. and I am early on (3 weeks today) but I am never really hungry, and if I feel like I am, I usually try to take a couple sips of water before getting food and that usually kills the hunger. Some days I only get 32oz of water, but most days I get at least 3 or even 4 16oz bottles. I found that our tap water does not agree with my stomach for some reason, so we go to costco and get bottles. I'm going to get one of the britta filters and see if that helps.. I just hate using all those bottles.

My first visit counted toward the 6 months.

you will do great. Best of luck

good luck. See you on the loser bench

congrats

Your relationship with food will change.. Isn't that why we are all here? Yes, at times it is hard, but for me, seeing my chance of diabetes go away is better. Having my wife tell me I haven't been snoring in the past 2 weeks puts a smile on my face. Seeing the scale read less and less each week solidifies to me that I made the right choice. I always had a bad relationship with food. Unlike other things that are bad for us, food is one we can't "quit" but we can utilize tools to help guide us towards making better choices. I'm not on the boat of "you can never have this or that again" I believe that you should have treats once in a while.. But having 4 oz of something is much better for you then having 1-2 pounds. Having a happy meal down the road is much better then having 1 large fry, large coke, 2 burgers and maybe a nugget.. You can still enjoy food, you will just be enjoying very small portions of it. I had the same thoughts as you.. My wife said a few times that she was worried that she didn't want me to do something I would regret when I am unable to eat big meals and have a good time... I'm 3 weeks out and down 41 pounds since I started pre-op diet (lost 14 on pre-op) and am sooooo happy I made this choice for myself. It is all up to you, but I think if you don't do it in a year you will be kicking yourself.

It depends on a lot of factors. your location, the time it will take, is it something you will be adding to a portfolio for future work? We know this is for a brochure for a doctor, so it will not be a large circulation, not sure on the size of his business though. You could ask for a flat day rate of $250-1000 or you could see what they are offering and make that choice.. I would Iron that out before Friday though. He may think you are doing this for free out of gratitude.. Which should not be the case, after all you paid him for his services.

I made the choice on a few reasons.. First, my doctor said the band at some point would probably need to be removed.. Another surgery. Second, I've seen people I know with the band that just ate right through it and while they lost weight they also gained at least half back. Third, the sleeve was a safer option in my eyes once passed the healing stage there where less complications compared to the other two options. My doc said the band can cause irritation to the stomach where it is wrapped, and RNY has dumping syndrome, and can cause issues with absorption of needed Vitamins. There where other reasons (didn't really want something implanted it me) but I am very happy with the choice to get the sleeve, and I can't wait to hit my goals and have a happy and healthy life once again. No matter what your choice, I wish the same for you

same.. mine has steristrips and clear plastic over them.. granted they only lasted 5 days, but just normal showering (not too long) should be fine.

Welcome! I was sleeved on 4/20 and was 6 lbs heavier then you at my peak (before the pre-op diet) Today I am down 40 lbs already! It is the best choice I have made next to asking my wife to marry me. It has it's moments of struggle just like anything else, but it is a very effective tool to help us get healthy and happy again

I have and still struggle with this. I'm about to move into soft solids.. The only thing that has worked for me. (my mind is still thinking big portions my stomach is NOT) is to use a kitchen scale and only put 2.5 oz or less on my plate. It's not so much that I am eating too much (I did that the first couple of times) it's that I put too much on the plate and can't finish it. Try starting out with 2oz see how you feel, and increase it by .1 oz each time until you find your bellies sweet spot where you are not too full but you are satisfied. It also depends on consistency of the foods. I had roast beef hash today that I got 3oz down, but chilli with meat last night I couldn't finish 2oz. It's really a guessing game, but I think it will get easier as you go further out. I've read that it is 6-8 weeks before swelling is gone and you get the true size of your new pouch.

I did a lot of reading before my surgery and this the the first I am hearing about this.. If anything my anxiety have improved a lot.

I don't get any more gas then normal now, but the first few days getting rid of the stuff they pumped into me was pretty bad. In bed though, my wife and I have our own horn section at times.

It gets better and better here on out. Glad you are feeling well(ish) angain!

I did for the few days or so.. nothing tasted normal and I felt like my tongue was coated.. I thought it was a side affect of the meds / anesthesia. It went away for me.. how far out are you? It could also be ingestion as well. Any issues with heartburn?

I bought a bunch of those small ziplock storage containers. It really helps.. I did toss the remaining cream of wheat though.. It just doesn't do well in the fridge for me. Turns into a solid brick. Soups though.. It takes me like 4-6 "meals" to finish off a can.

You WILL lose weight after the surgery.. How much, and if you keep it off it up to you, but I can tell you this is the best tool I have had to help me with my struggles. It helps making those big changes we have to make not as hard to do.

here is what my sheet says.. Ground lean meats (Meatloaf, meatballs, hamburger) poultry or fish cooked moist and soft chicken or beef stew Chili Tuna, chicken or egg salads scrambled eggs Beans Soups soft cheeses yogarts soft veggies (avoid corn, asparagus and salads) fruits without skins or seeds mashed ripe banana citrus without membrains high Protein Cereal like kashi hot cereals like cream of wheat and oatmeal mashed potato whole grain crackers, wheat thins, saltines, cheese its / nips avoid bread, Pasta and rice and anything you where allowed on liquids as well.

I am in the same boat. been on them for a few years and no problem. I did get off wellbutrin since surgery because the pills where too big.

Hope it went well Bertie. Was thinking of you today.

no test for me.. just asked questions about my life, my past, my weight and why I wanted to do this. Approval was sent the next day.

I was at your weight, and I'd love to know what other men have lost that where this size also.. So far I am a little over 2 weeks out and at my peak I was 326 before pre-op diet. I am now at 289 and able to fit into size 40 jeans. I was just barely fitting into 42's before probably should have worn 44's. My goal is 185 which is about where my brother sites who is the same height and looks like me.. He wears 32-34 jeans.

I was worried about comments as well.. My wife knew my plans all along and was super supportive. I told my step father, and he wasn't overly excited, but I explained my reasoning and he came around. I then told my mom and she asked questions but has been so supportive. I mentioned it to my sister at christmas and my middle brother knew since the summer. I didn't tell anyone else until the sunday before my surgery. That's when I told my father, step mother and youngest brother (I wasn't going to even tell them but they invited us over for St. Pats dinner so I had to explain why I wasn't able to eat the food and would be just having salad) I am sure that my father had a bunch of things to say, but he didn't say them to my face.. That's kind of the way that family works though.. Everything is said to others not the person they are talking about.. Kinda frustrating. Friends and extended family didn't know until after the surgery when my wife posted from the hospital.. Then I made her call my grandmother ASAP to let her know what was going on.. I just didn't want her to worry and I was going to let her know when I was better. It's a personal choice.. I would let those know who you feel you will need support from, but it's really nobodies business but yours.

Not a problem.. Water goes down easy for me, and it's always by my side. I try to take a couple sips every 10 minutes or so.. I was also begging for water in the hospital though.. maybe I'm just a water needing kinda guy.. lol I must have went through about 6 cups of ice chips in the little time I was there. I know it's gross.. but your urine will tell you a lot about dehydration.. you should strive for clear.. the darker it is the more water you need. I think at our stage in this, water is key.