matt1912

Great work Kate!

Here are my stats: 1) Height / weight starting our wls programs: 5'8" - 298 lbs 2) Weight day of surgery 280 lbs 3) 11 week post op weight pounds lost/gained: 215 lbs - 83 lbs lost 4) Goal weight: 170 lbs 5) Your biggest success this week: 6.5 lbs 6) Your biggest struggle this week: Finding time to get workouts in

9 weeks post op - 76 lbs down Playing in a USTA State tennis tournament at the highest level - played 4 matches since Friday at 9:30 am. Won 3 -lost 1 Overall: stamina good, energy level good, sustainability good, and hydration is good. Believe in your healing, the frustration and pain we go through at first will go away. Like a friend typed the other day "small steps, small bites" You will recover and be faster, lighter, and healthier. Keep fighting my fellow VGSers

On April 17th of this year I had my VSG. Two weeks prior to surgery I was on 100% liquids with the last week all Clear Liquids. Surgery happens. 2.5 weeks later I was still HATING this decision. food and LIQUIDS hurt when you swallowed more than a thimble full. It was a constant fight against 38 years of practice. I lost many battles. Then something happened. I swallowed instinctively and NOTHING BAD HAPPENED. I remember thinking, "Oh shit! I'm about to pop staples and die from some septic gunk coursing through my veins." Staples held, nothing bad happened, I lived - and still am. In fact I'm much better. See below: April 17, 2014 - Weight 298 lbs. (45.6 BMI) June 23, 2014- Weight 224 lbs (34.1 BMI) TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS- 74 lbs. A1C on Surgery Date- 6.7 (6.5 + is Diabetic) A1C on June 16, 2014- 4.6 (5.7 and below is normal) Post Meal Glucose Level on Surgery Date- 210 mg/dl (DIABETIC is 200 mg/dl or greater) Post Meal Glucose Level on June 22, 2014- 99 mg/dl (NORMAL is <140 mg/dl) Waist Size Pre-Surgery- 46 in. Waist Size June 6, 2014- 36 in Shirt Size Pre-Surgery- XXL Shirt Size June 6, 2014- L Shoe Size Pre-Surgery- 10 wide Shoe Size June 6, 2014- 9 med Addendum: Additional non-quantifiable changes post surgery: chicken Nuggets were amazing before. They now smell like Satan's dirty underwear. Salmon - Pre-Surgery- yucktastic Now- an amazing fish Ice Cream is impossible to eat now. (kinda bummed about that one...not really) Knee/foot pain from tennis - largely gone Existing on less than 1000 calories a day is not as bad as you may think Gatorade is physically easier to drink than water (I know, that is hard for me to believe too) My libido is more...noticeable. Any one out there have any comments, recommendations, or accolades to throw my way...Lets read em. Post in comments.

Woke up...put on shorts, no shirt, ear buds - ran 2 miles on treadmill. My energy level in the mornings is amazing. Love it.

@@mysleeveid13 Booths at restaurants used to piss me off - there is the rule about no elbows on the table, however there is an unspoken objection to my gut being on the table that i noticed alot. Not good psyche mojo! So, now - When asked, I say "I'll take a booth please." and slip my ass right in there. Just because I can! Small victorys are meaning a lot to me now. more so than I thought they would.

@bigjoe59 Thanks for the kind words. Im 5'8" and My goal is 170-160 lbs

@@Texas Jess thank you ...very kind of you to say so

@@Bluesea71 I can offer that. I posted an update reciently with things that have changed that I didnt expect. (see below) I was wondering if any of you have found things Post-Surgery that differ from Pre-Surgery chicken McNuggets were amazing before. They now smell like Satan’s dirty underwear. Salmon – Pre-Surgery- yucktastic Now- an amazing fish Ice Cream is impossible to eat now. (kinda bummed about that one…not really) Knee/foot pain from tennis – largely gone Existing on less than 1000 calories a day is not as bad as you may think Gatorade is physically easier to drink than water (I know, that is hard for me to believe too) My libido is more…noticeable Anything similar going on with you?

@@butterflypinup thanks...im totally cool with unfiltered discussion Congrats on all your success

I was sleeved on April 17th and have been looking for a group that is around the same time frame as me. I have noticed that there is a lot of ladies posting here, so if this is a girls club i will bow out... Here is my progress so far: April 17, 2014 – Weight 298 lbs. (45.6 BMI) June 23, 2014- Weight 224 lbs (34.1 BMI) TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS- 74 lbs. A1C on Surgery Date- 6.7 (6.5 + is Diabetic) A1C on June 16, 2014- 4.6 (5.7 and below is normal) Post Meal Glucose Level on Surgery Date- 210 mg/dl (DIABETIC is 200 mg/dl or greater) Post Meal Glucose Level on June 22, 2014- 99 mg/dl (NORMAL is <140 mg/dl) Waist Size Pre-Surgery- 46 in. Waist Size June 6, 2014- 36 in Shirt Size Pre-Surgery- XXL Shirt Size June 6, 2014- L Shoe Size Pre-Surgery- 10 wide Shoe Size June 6, 2014- 9 med Before and Current

Small bumps are to be expected. Keep on doing what you know you need to do. Look at averages not dailys!

I had dizziness for a while, mainly when I bent over and stood up quickly. When my caloric intake was low i would get lightheaded a bit. Usually, eating some yogurt or downing a Protein drink and sitting down for 10-30 mins made it subside. It passes with your ability to take in more food. Hang tough!

@@barbbcute I love living like this. Thanks for the kind words

@@mike4235506 be honest with dietician - they need to knwo where you fail and where you feel success go easy...in the mean time - buy a fitbit best thing i ever did.

@DeniseNCC1701 They smell like death...really

Ok @mike4235506 Im here for ya I was sleeved on April 17 - 9 full weeks ago. Here are some stats so far: April 17, 2014 – Weight 298 lbs. (45.6 BMI) June 23, 2014- Weight 224 lbs (34.1 BMI) TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS- 74 lbs. A1C on Surgery Date- 6.7 (6.5 + is Diabetic) A1C on June 16, 2014- 4.6 (5.7 and below is normal) Post Meal Glucose Level on Surgery Date- 210 mg/dl (DIABETIC is 200 mg/dl or greater) Post Meal Glucose Level on June 22, 2014- 99 mg/dl (NORMAL is <140 mg/dl) Waist Size Pre-Surgery- 46 in. Waist Size June 6, 2014- 36 in Shirt Size Pre-Surgery- XXL Shirt Size June 6, 2014- L Shoe Size Pre-Surgery- 10 wide Shoe Size June 6, 2014- 9 med Areas that have changed the most: Neck Circumference Waist/Belly/ "mountain of fat around penis" area Bicep Circumference Thigh Circumference Chest Feet I know and agree that everyones expierence is different - however the patterns in guys are pretty consitent with the ammount in each of those 6 areas varying from man to man. Stick to the diet, DO NOT RUSH ANYTHING, and relax...you will be fine. BEFORE AND AFTER: MSG me with any questions you may have - ill be happy to share

B12 Sub Lingual Flinstones Chewable My labs are great

Before After Sleeved April 17,2014 -74 lbs

@@StayingStrong Here is what i ate yesterday: My Protein shake isnt listed on there...I suppose I missed that, who knows. I use a Fitbit to track a lot of things: food, exercize, fluids, active (working out) times...i think it helps to see your progress toward the daily goals on your wrist when ever you want to check it. As a tennis pro, I play tennis daily. I lead a very active lifestyle, but never could lose weight. My VGS is exactly what i needed. If I am short of my goal each day I have a treadmill at home and crank the music and get to stepping. It is doable! I had severe doubts early on, but now... I believe. I now own 4 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts - donated 20+ years of clothes to Goodwill. It was cathartic! I highly recommend it! The feeling of not allowing yourself to go back is healthy. It least to me it was. @@BeagleLover thanks for the positive message! I appreciate it!