4MRB4PHOTO

As the wise sage Confucius said: "It is better to be pissed off than pissed on". That was the worst fortune I ever found in a fortune cookie.

This is a quote taken directly from "The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery" (ASMBS) from their web page: https://asmbs.org/patients/benefits-of-bariatric-surgery "More than a decade ago, The National Institutes of Health, better known as NIH, reported that individuals affected by severe obesity are resistant to maintaining weight loss achieved by conventional therapies, such as consuming fewer calories, increasing exercise, commercial weight-loss programs, etc.). The NIH recognized bariatric (weight-loss) surgery as the only effective treatment to combat severe obesity and maintain weight loss in the long term." If they don't accept this then commend them on their brilliant medical knowledge, they are obviously smarter than the NIH & ASMBS. The easy way out is not to do all of the preparation work for surgery, going through the surgery, having your stomach reduced by ~80%, the recovery period and a lifetime commitment to eating differently and exercise. The easy way out is to do nothing, live a shorter, lower quality life, have lower self-esteem and physical ailments.

I am 6'0" tall and large framed. I was wearing a 50/52 and am presently wearing 40/42 pants (woo-hoo, I can buy this size in any store).

Hello, I am new here and relatively new to being sleeved, which I had done on 7/28/14. My highest weight was pushing almost 380 pounds. I was hovering between 350-360 pounds for many years. I was turning 50 years old (actually "young" ) last year and wanted to take hold of my weight issues, which I struggled with for a good portion of my life. I was tired of feeling weak, having low stamina, low self-esteem and wanted to no longer have type-2 diabetes (~2+ years), sleep apnea, higher BP, higher cholesterol and low-T. Most of all, I was worried about something happening to me and not being there to support my family and leave my children without a father; the only thing worse would be having a debilitating disease due to my morbid obesity and becoming a burden to them. From the end of February last year, I started dieting leading up to my surgery. My total weight loss pre/post surgery is ~115 pounds. I no longer have type-2 diabetes (my glucose numbers are normal, my A1C was in the upper 4's for the last 3 readings), my sleep apnea is greatly diminished, my BP is normal, my testosterone levels are "very good for a 50 year old man" (per my endocrinologist), my cholesterol numbers are normal, I have much more energy, greatly improved self-esteem (I don't mind pictures taken of me anymore) and more NSVs than I can shake a stick at. My only regret is not having this surgery a few years back, everything after the surgery has been positive. I am looking forward to this longer, healthier and better quality life I am giving myself. So if you are reading this and contemplating having the surgery, research about it as much as you can, make sure you are prepared to make this lifestyle commitment and, like the Nike ad states, "Just Do It". Your life will improve too. Have a great Day.

I was turning 50 years old, the same age my father had a severe heart attack and we almost lost him; he was obese too. I no longer wanted to feel tired all the time, having low stamina, aches and pains, sleep apnea, higher blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol, a lower self esteem, etc.. Most importantly is what would happen to my family if I am no longer here to provide for them and nurture them and watch them grow as adults. The only thing worse would be having a life debilitating disease that they would have to take care of me. I wanted to live a longer, healthier, happier and better quality life. That will happen now that I had my VSG surgery and am on my weight loss journey. I only need to eat to live, not live to eat.