Who Dat 70461

There are many various Protein supplements. You can try the unflavored protein powders and put it in just about anything. There are some really good protein bars, but be careful, they can be just as bad (some worse!) as candy bars. Need to try different protein drinks/shakes, there are some really good ones out there, just gotta find the one(s) you like. If you have a Vitamin Shoppe or GNC near you, they usually have sample sizes (you don't want to buy a 5 lb. jug of the stuff, just to find out you don't like it. ). We buy the Premier Protein ready to drink shakes from Sams and the Gladiator powder from smoothie King, which mixes really well...good stuff! I am almost 9 months out and my wife 7 months, we may drink one every 2-3 days now...much easier to get protein in foods now. Good luck!

Awesome progress! You look great...less the whole 49'ers jersey & tee! Got 'em in the discount bin, huh???

60 lbs?!?! Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods fella) would be ecstatic...think of the recipes! (Sorry...couldn't resist! )

Awesome progress!

As James Brown sang, "I feel good!"! Sleeved May 8, 2013...326 lbs. Whole host of good stuff to accompany the weight...high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, aching joints, etc.! Heck, if I were a horse, they would've just shot me! LOL As of this morning, 222.2 lbs.! Oh yea...no high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, aching joints, etc.! Now if I were a horse....well, in the essence of keeping this post clean, we'll just say I'd be one heck of a ride! Sorry, I'm just in a great mood! I wasn't going to post anything, for fear of sounding vain, however my wife reminded me that I would peruse this site for hours when I was first considering surgery. I would read the posts, look at the pics and be amazed at the transformations, thinking, "Wow, wish I could do that.". Guess what? If you are doing the same, I'm living proof that you can do it too! It hasn't been easy (As most will tell you, surgery is only a tool...you gotta put in some effort.), but I'll tell you this...it has been life-changing! I now workout 5 days a week...although I take weekends off, I still make it a point to do something active (biking, walking, swimming, yard work, etc.). Which being active is much easier when you're not carrying around all that extra fat! I no longer view carbs as evil, now they're fuel! I eat whatever I can tolerate, but now in moderation. We spent Christmas at Disney World and the rides are so much more fun when you can fit in them comfortably...you can actually breathe! We walked the various Disney parks for 9 days and felt great! No cramps...aching bones...sore feet (Okay, I'm lying a bit, the feet were a little sore, but that was due to all the walking and running from ride to ride! LOL). When we go out to eat, I ask for a booth! I CAN FIT COMFORTABLY IN A BOOTH! Well, in case you couldn't guess by now, this surgery has been everything I hoped it would be, plus some! My wife was sleeved exactly two months after me and is just as giddy! Although my surgery, recovery and journey have been textbook, my wife had a little lengthier recovery. She had two hernias repaired and it took her a bit longer to get going, but once she did...wow! I hit my goal about 3 weeks ago and she hit hers 4-5 weeks ago! There are no guarantees in life and your journey/results may not be the same as mine. However, if you are considering it, I pray you have an even better outcome than me! Oh, and if you do...please aspire to inspire before you expire!

Good luck! Get ready, you're in for an awesome ride!

Living in South Louisiana, spicy food is the norm. I'm almost 9 months out and haven't had any issues with spicy foods yet. Of course, crawfish season is just around the corner and it isn't good unless you have tears running down your cheeks and your sinuses are flowing (TMI, huh?! LOL), so I guess that will be the real test!

How cool is that!

Awesome!

MIJourney, I forgot my wife's pic...I am a terrible husband! My bride of 23 years and I, livin' it up at Disney...first pic was February 2013, second was December 2013. I'm down 104 lbs. and she is down 70 lbs.

Can't help you with the questions about England, however as far as traveling post surgery... My surgery was May 8, 2013. On May 27th, I drove from new Orleans to Miami, back to Orlando a week later...walked around Disney for 7 days (we can't go within a 100 miles of Orlando and not see Mickey & Minnie! LOL) , then drove home to New Orleans. The only thing I did differently than previous trips was stopped every few hours to get out and walk around for 10-15 minutes (was concerned about potential blood clots). In that it is a long flight, you may want to walk the aisle every hour or so. Good luck with your surgery (you are in for a fantastic, life-changing journey!) and nave fun on your trip!

Don't worry about it too much, the liquid is far more important than the protein intake at this point. My wife had difficulty hitting her fluid goals the first 3-4 weeks. I agree wholeheartedly with the previous post... The worst is over for both of you. Each day will get better! The time goes by so quickly when you look back at it." Good luck and hang in there...I promise this will all be a distant memory before you know it!

The anxiety is normal. This is major, life-changing surgery...if you weren't nervous, then you should panic!! This part of the process was undoubtedly the most difficult for me. However, it is all a distant memory now! You are in for an awesome transformation! Just follow your doc's orders to the letter, allow your body time to heal, don't (DO NOT!) let the number on the scale dictate your feeling of success or failure (If you feel better and your pants are baggy, to hell with what the number is! LOL), move around (walk...exercise when you're ready) and I promise, the weight will melt off! Good luck!

Fantastic! As for the other 56 lbs...you got this!

I was sleeved May 8, 2013 and my wife had her surgery July 8, 2013. Glad we did it close to the same time, so we could support each other. I hit my goal 3 weeks ago and she hit hers about four weeks ago...lovin' life! Good luck to you & your better half and Godspeed for a quick/easy recovery!

Fantastic progress!

Ditto the previous comment...if you don't do it first thing in the morning, it will not get done. Regardless of how hard you try or say you'll do it after work, there will always be something that prevents it. Now listen, I am not a morning person by nature, but after many failed attempts at getting into an evening workout routine, became one! I used to wake up at 5:45, shower and rush out the door to work. Now I get up at 4:15 (I know, "4:15, that's nuts!"...but it gets easier over time.) and workout for an hour. I've been doing this for almost 3 months now and actually look forward to working out! I give myself a break on weekends...still exercise, but sleep in a little later. As the weight comes off, you'll find your energy level increases exponentially! Regardless of when or how you do it, just make sure you do it! Good luck!

Nice to chew food again, instead of only drinking it, huh?! I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point. My wife and I were both sleeved (me 8 months ago, her 6 months) and had very different experiences. Mine was textbook, surgery, recovery and the whole fluids, mushy, soft food, regular food bit. My wife on the other hand had a tougher recovery and took much longer to handle regular foods. I have no problem getting daily Protein goal, while she needs a Protein Drink or two to hit her goal. We have tried just about every protein drink available and really like the Premier Protein (ready to drink) from Sams, as well as the Gladiator protein (bulk container from smoothie King). I can drink one of the Premier Protein drinks in 2-3 gulps. My wife will nurse one for an hour or so. Good luck!

Don't be disappointed, you're more than likely still swollen from surgery. I only lost 5 lbs. the first week, but at three weeks was down 26 lbs. My wife was sleeved two months after me and had very similar results. It's been a little over 8 months for me, 6 months for her...I hit my goal 2-3 weeks ago and she hit hers 4 weeks ago...lovin' life! Hang in there, I promise it'll happen! Good luck!

You'll be there before you know it! Good luck!

The before pics were taken February 2013, after pics in December 2013. Don't rush the process. Follow doc's orders (no, it's not okay to cheat a little...follow the plan!) and as soon as comfortable, get to moving around (which will be much easier without the extra lbs., I promise!), whether it's walking, swimming, biking...whatever, just do it! You're in for one helluva journey! Regardless of what others may say or think, you aren't taking the "easy way out"...it's going to be work, but you can/will be able to do it and come out on the other side loving life!

Fantastic progress! You look great!

Anticipation leading up to the surgery is the worst! However, the process itself will be over before you know it. I'm a little over 8 months and it is amazing that it all seems so long ago! You are in for one heck of a journey! Follow doc's orders to the letter and walk as much as possible after the surgery (trust me, it'll help the recovery go much easier). Good luck!