Mrbig77

Also... Slow and steady should be preferred... Because rapid weight loss usually leads to excess skin. I've had virtually no excess or hanging skin Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

I almost a year out... I've lost 124 pounds total. 412 down to 289lbs. Stalls are normal and as someone else said, necessary. It's not always all about the scale... Sometimes you can see a change in inches when the scale doesn't move. I've gone from size 5x/6x shirts to a 2x/3x. 54 waist pants down to 46 waist. If your lifting weights that can also affect things... As you loose fat and it's replace with muscle, that affects the scale. The weight will come off... Just follow your doctor's orders and you will be fine. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

I had to find a new way to enjoy food... I would devour a ribye pre sleeve... I had to learn to eat much slower and savor the new portion sizes. It's totally normal and takes some getting used to mentally.

In my research I have found that the type of "lifer" you are combined with age really matters.... Meaning more on the athletic side versus traditional obese. I have been big all my life.... But more on the athletic side. After college i began to gain more and more weight... I was 260 in college and over the course of 15 years post graduate i got up to 412 pounds... I lost a little, then gained it back and repeated that cycle for a while before opting to get sleeve. That being said, I'm 38 and have virtually no sagging skin, BUT i workout and excersise like crazy. I lift weights and do everything in my power to avoid it... I'm down about 112lbs (299) and couldn't be happier. The skin was a big concern of mine. To each is own... Some people would rather have sagging skin instead of being big... Mentally i don't think i could have handled that.... And I'm just being honest... I was definitely considered obese but i was confident with it. My suggestion is GO HARD! Hit the gym, lift weight in order to build muscle while loosing fat. See if you can line up surgery to take care of the excess skin if it becomes to much for you to handle... Your doctor can assist you with the proper verbage that might allow for insurance to pay for it. Good luck

Wow.... Same here... I think your body is actually deficient in something else and it's manifested in the form of sweets... I usually drink water to try and curve this before the issue gets out of control. Excersise also curves my cravings for sweets also

I honestly kept it to myself for the majority of the people i know. I told 1 or two people and that was it. You have to get comfortable with it first before you can explain our tell people... Most people will be surprisingly understanding and supportive... The ones who aren't just X them out of your circle

Surgery date: April 22 - 412 lbs April 30th - 387lbs May 26 - 365.7lbs June 18 - 345.6lbs July 21 - 334lbs Next appointment is July 21 - by doctors estimates I should be 338lbs, but I'm actually at 330lbs now. The progression has been relatively smooth. I have followed the doctors recommendation 98%. Biggest issues/challenges and adjustments have been: 1. Chewing food up more and eating slower ... Previously i guess i was eating fast and virtually swallowing food whole, lol. 2. Recognizing when my new stomach is full and mentally accepting that it only takes 1/8th the amount of food that i previously ate to get me full. 3. Taking all of the Multivitamins The Benefits (which far outweigh any issues) have been: 1. Better health 2. Reduced medications 3. Weight loss 4. I look and feel better 5. For the first time i can goto the regular section in clothing stores and fit 3x shirts instead of 6x. I can fit 46/48 Waist pants instead of 56 waist. This was and has always been a goal of mine... I wanted to be able to walk into a store and buy regular clothes. I haven't come completely off of all meds, like some have but I'll take a 50% reduction any day... Also, some of the strengths of my meds have been reduced. (250mg to 150mg, etc. ) My doctors office has been great... The support system is awesome. Helping me with finding healthier Snacks and meals. Emails and questions answered and returned promptly. I think the after care is 75% — 80% of the battle. To date i don't have any loose skin... I have been in the gym working out potential problem areas and I have been very successful. I am by means no expert... But If i can answer any questions or help make this journey easier for anyone, just message me.

Still losing. 8/28/2015 weight-310 I've officially hit the 100lb club. Surgery - April 22 - 412 lbs April 30th - 387lbs May 26 - 365.7lbs June 18 - 345.6lbs July 21 - 334lbs August 28 - 310lbs

I don't even order food when I go out anymore.. I eat off of one of my kid plate. My family's dine out bill has been reduced by $25.. because I'm no longer having 15 oz steaks and drinks. I'm loving it.

The sugary drinks don't have to be soda, Kool aid, my doctor considers sugary drinks anything other than water and zero calorie power ades Gatorade ... He's not a fan of real fruit smoothies either.... Natural sugar can also affect weight gain.

I've noticed my short stalls come from decreased water intake and increased juice and sugary drinks... Not necessarily to many calories but just not enough water veggies. I was at 330 something for the longest... I had to be honest with my self to see what i might be doing differently from when i was loosing more.. And the washer and veggies seemed to be the culprit.

Honestly, i stall slightly... But that's when i increase cardio and water intake. I also don't mind it slow and steady... For me it has made loose skin non existent Your doing great Tex

Bravo ! Great work

Not sure how I messed this up but I had to fix my surgery date. Lol Surgery - April 22 - 412 lbs April 30th - 387lbs May 26 - 365.7lbs June 18 - 345.6lbs July 21 - 334lbs

Thank you, I'm sure you will do fine... Changing your mind set is the key... If i crave sweets or something similar... I drink water or eat something healthy and this fills me up and i don't have that craving anymore.

3 weeks post op and everything seems to be going great. I am down 58 pounds total. But 10 of those came as a result of the 2 week liquid preop diet. First two days were the most challenging. No pain, just slight discomfort due to wanting to burp... It passes pretty quick though, within a week. I was able to do mostly anything i wanted after surgery, just a little slower. Walking, driving, etc. I've graduated from the liquid diet, to canned fruit, chicken, potato salad, Soup, greek yogurt. Taste buds seemed to have changed slightly. Chicken salad, potato salad make me nauseous now.... I used to love it. A few other things that i used to like aren't appealing anymore... As i am able to eat more i will know. Eating slower and chewing my food up really really really good are one of my challenges as i was a fast eater prior to surgery. The other challenge was recognizing when I was full... Doesn't take long to figure it out though, you will get tired of throwing up, or tired of the discomfort of having one to many spoon fulls.... And having to make yourself throw it up to get relief. Taking Vitamins and staying hydrated (minimal 64oz water) is critical.... If you become dehydrated, guzzling down Water to recover isn't an option. I've gotten slightly dehydrated a few times and other times haven't had alot of energy, which are probably the same thing... But both situations were a result of me not getting the proper fluids. Sip all day, this is the easiest way to stay hydrated. I've been working out to minimize excess skin. Haven't seen any yet. I'm glad i went through with the surgery... I have seen some of the YouTube videos where people say that they no longer like food and life isn't fulfilling anymore and all of that other stuff... but I'm happy to report that this has not been the case for me.

Sleep, lol. Along with drinking lots of water. I didn't have the headaches.... But i did feel tired and had less energy

Do you think you might be dehydrated? I felt like that when I wasn't getting propper fluids

I was given nausea medicine, don't know if that stopped me from feeling that way... But when they took the patch of when i left the hospital, i never got sick. I hope you feel better soon

Also the two week liquid diet is to shrink your liver so the surgeon has an easier time performing the procedure. I lost 12 pounds during my two weeks. don't sweat it. If you have to excersize a tad bit, then do what you have to do. you in the home stretch now.

The feeling of failure is probably normal.... i guess depending on why you have that feeling. For me i felt that bariatric surgery was cheating and I felt bad that i couldn't loose the weight or keep the weight off myself or at least do it consistently.... hitting 400+ pounds along with the health problems associated with the weight is what finally made me decide to have the surgery. I also felt like I could possibly be fixing one problem and trading it for another. I was happy that my health and weight related issues would be under control .... but i was worried about my post-op look. call it silly, or say that I'm worried about the wrong thing.... but as i put in an earlier post... I have a wife and she married me big... not the way i feared i could look. This was a serious thought of mine. Unfortunately I don't see that aspect of the surgery talked about. The stereotypical bariatric candidate is fat and sloppy and seems willing to trade their soul to loose weight. they are happy no matter how they look afterwards, so long as the weight is off.... This wasn't me. I didn't want to be one of these people who lost weight and then looked worse than i did prior surgery, if you know what i mean. excess skin, dis proportioned body ,etc etc. I caught some flack for having that concern... but nevertheless it was an honest concern of mine... I wasn't one of these people that was fat and sloppy and embarrassed to be big. I was clean cut, well dressed... big sexy if you will. I carried my weight well.... so like i said earlier, this was a major concern of mine. I can tell you that all of my worries were seem to have been for nothing... the weight is coming off and i am very satisfied....I'm 3 weeks post op and I couldn't be happier. My blood pressure is controlled (without medicine) and as more weight comes off I look forward to some of my other health issues being taken care of. Surgery is half the battle, though... changing your life style for good is the other half... working out, eating healthier, etc etc. The liquid diet isn't that bad. fight through the first couple of days and you will be fine. if your doctors office is good your approval shouldn't be an issue.... your insurance company has guidelines in place and your doctors office should work with you to make sure that those guidelines are met. i had my surgery done in Atlanta... by Doctor Del Mazo and I didn't have any approval issues.... they told me what i needed and i made sure i had it, what i didn't have or couldn't get, they assisted me with it. PM me if you have any more questions... sorry if i went off topic.

I originally posted this in the regular sleeve forum and realized that it should have been in the mens forum. 2 months until surgery. I am really starting to worry about excess skin. I've heard women have issues with this more than men. I am currently 6ft 5 inches 410 pounds, athletic build. I carry the weight well. I was 265 in college from 1994-1998 and the lightest i have been post college was 330 (year ago) . I am wondering if i get down to my expected weight which is around 265 is it realistic to have no excess skin? I don't mind lifting weights while losing; i just don't think mentally i could deal with LARGE amounts of the excess skin I see on women.. Don't really see it on the fellas much, but then again, i don't really see the men posting revealing pics like that. I've played sports all my life (football). A year ago i actually dropped about 70 pound and i got down to 330. I didn't have any excess skin then so the doctor said my changes are probably excess skin is not a deal breaker, just an honest concern. Id rather educate and prepare myself, instead of being caught off guard with anything. I look at some of the videos people have posted titled "i wish i had known this before sleeve surgery" or "my regrets after sleeve surgery" and i don't want that to be me. it's not vanity, but it is. I'm trying to come to terms with all potential issues before surgery and this is one of them for me. I've started practicing eating slower, not mixing liquids and my meal, dietary changes. Make no mistake, Health is #1 blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain, heart trouble.... Being here for my 5 kids and wife. That being said, I guess my question should have been worded differently.... Maybe what can be done to minimize excess skin and how men with my similar body type have been to dealing with excess skin. I'm not a swim suit model that's worried about how she is going to look in a two piece bikini ????... But i am a dad and husband that wants to know how much skin i may have to deal with.. how unsightly will it be... How much my wife will have to deal with. And what strategies men have used to minimize it or eliminate it. I'm just being honest Any feedback would be much appreciated? I read FAQ but I'd like to hear real life testimonials.

2 months until surgery. I am really starting to worry about excess skin. I've heard women have issues with this more than men. I am currently 6ft 5inches 410 pounds . I carry the weight well. I was 265 in college from 94-98 and the lightest i have been post college was 330 (year ago) . I am wondering if i get down to my expected weight which is around 265 is it realistic to have no excess skin? I don't mind lifting weights while losing; i just don't think mentally i could deal with some of the excess skin I see on women.. Don't really see it on the fellas much, but then again, i don't really see the men posting revealing pics like that. Any feedback would be much appreciated? I read FAQ but I'd like to hear real life testimonials.

@@BLERDgirl - definitely not a deal breaker, just an honest concern. Id rather educate and prepare myself, instead of being caught off guard with anything. I look at some of the videos people have posted titled "i wish i had known this before sleeve surgery" or "my regrets after sleeve surgery" and i don't want that to be me. @@jenn1 - it's not vanity, but it is. I'm trying to come to terms with all potential issues before surgery and this is one of them for me. I've started practicing eating slower, not mixing liquids and my meal, dietary changes. Make no mistake, Health is #1 blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint pain, heart trouble.... Being here for my 5 kids and wife. That being said, I guess my question should have been worded differently.... Maybe what can be done to minimize excess skin and how men with my similar body type have been to dealing with excess skin. I'm not a swim suit model that's worried about how she is going to look in a two piece bikini ????... But i am a dad and husband that wants to know how much skin i may have to deal with... How much my wife will have to deal with. And what strategies men have used to minimize it or eliminate it. I'm just being honest

More info : I've played sports am my life (football). A year ago i actually dropped about 70 poundsand i got down to 330. I didn't have any excess skin then so the doctor said my changes are probably