2Big2Skate

That's how the shakes help you lose weight! They make you hate food!

Congrats on this big first step! It's wonderful news that you're able to take decisive action and make such a major decision to improve your life! I'm worried when I hear you say you hope the surgery will make you stop hating yourself. This surgery is a great health improver, but there's no guarantee how you'll feel about yourself afterwards. You could easily end up skinny but unhappy. I'd guess we all come into this with pretty low self image due to all of our previous failures at weight loss. But I would recommend taking some time to understand what's contributed to your self image and weight issues to this point before actually having the surgery. For most people it's not just stomach capacity that led to the weight gain. For those of us using insurance, we had to sit down with a psyche professional and they usually poke around and try to unpack these issues for each of us. Your doctor can probably recommend someone similar that works with MWL patients. I think it'd be a great benefit to you if you reached out to them for some counseling before making your mind up. I hope I don't sound preachy. I would just hate to see you spend all that money and go through everything and end up unhappy. I will pray for you and I hope you get to a really great place!

Being sweaty IS gross. I just let my shadow grace the floor of a gym for the first time in about a decade myself. And get this... the cardio machines have TVs in them now! And thats not all, they have little blower fans. Personal A/C so when I ride the bike I dont get so hot. Mind. Blown. I wish you all the best. And I hope you find ways to burn build muscle and burn calories!

I thought for sure this would be some NSV around flexibility! Enjoy getting your blog on!

I'm penciled in for Halloween lol! My disguise will be a gassy dude with half a stomache! "TAKE THE CANDY PLEASE! ALL OF IT!"

Good questions. A lot of people believe your body can only go where your brain has gone first. Use this time to change your habits and visualize what your day will be like when you have so few calories to take in. Visit this site for support and motivation. Join a gym and get the energy levels going in the upward direction. Embrace the definitive way you're taking control. There are an ocean of what-ifs out there, but the probability is that continuing on in the unhealthy body and lifestyle would make you sicker and unhappier than you'd ever be with the surgery. Just a few ideas for you.

Right on! You're doing it! No looking back now. Stay focused and you'll do great! Use your local support groups too. The hospital should have one, or you can find others nearby.

There may be some foods that send the wrong signals to the stomach, even if blended into a liquid. For example I know fatty foods slow down how fast the body moves things along to the intestines. (Why fried foods go so well during a night out drinking!) Best to ask the NUT.

Congrats on this great achievement!

Trust the professionals to do their jobs. You'll do great!

Not only that, but its impossible to look manly with your lips puckered up to sip a teeny bit of liquid. The only acceptable straws are on one of them beer dispensing helmets.

I bet youre on pins and needles! I wont be submitted for a while, but I dread the wait. The control these people have over our lives is amazing.

I wonder how much the material they removed weighed? I know, dumb thought, but that's how my mind works.

I'm looking forward to playing sports, being active outdoors, and having flexibility again. I'm looking forward to "getting around" a lot better. And I'd like to go to the beach again! i avoid it like the plague now.

I have a small sliding hiatal as well. My doc recommended just doing the sleeve and not repairing the hernia.

Congrats! I didn't have to have an endo either. Which I'm thankful for!

Yup same as with Adkins. There's a different chemical reaction going on in your body now. And it gives off the stinkies.

Looking good bud!

Yea I'm in the same boat. My portion will be significant at the end. But what's the price of an additional 20 years of healthy life? Of seeing my grandkids? Of being able to do the things I want? The way I look at it, I took loans to take risks like buyin a car or paying for college. And they had a less certain payout on the far side. If I have to, I'll make payments on the sleeve. Ask your surgeons "go to" assistant (likely the one that handles the insurance submittals) about payment options or financing. I bet they can point you in the right direction.

That must feel great! I'm so happy for you!

Didn't all the spartans in "300" die?

For me, I think the joy in accomplishment is doing the best with what you have. If we measure ourselves against others, we see that there's always someone bigger, faster, stronger (and YOUNGER) lol. You sound really fit and healthy. There's a lot of people out there who's switch places with you in a hearthbeat, as you are right now! Personally, I wouldn't play with fire when it comes to basic body composition. Our systems are all linked and planned to work in concert. Your muscle mass has to be supported by your bone density, vascular supply, nutrition etc. Best of luck in your competition!

Its kinda extreme, but can you find a surgeon near where youre going and ask to sit in on one of his support groups? Youll meet some locals that can give you great tips on whats around that fits your dietary restrictions. Just a thought. I wish you luck (and strength!)

Yea I cant wait till cleaning up in the bathroom is a simple and quick process. That's the shame that led me to consider WLS. "this is taking way too long!"

Free work food has been a failing of mine for over a decade. I see it as a challenge, and that's part of my psyche make up. Growing up we competed for food, so I eat like a tornado and take pride in my consumption. Total backwards stupidity I know... Luckily, I took a new position in the same company and I moved away from the conference area where the free food always gets dumped. After I (hopefully) get sleeved, I'm sure I'll still have that temptation. They say they cut off the part that produces the FEED ME NOW hormone. I hope thats true, but if its not, my thought is to keep fluids up while not eating calories so the system never feels empty. And its so small it should be easy to keep water in it, right? I'll just be water cooled, like a small engine block...