Dub

My starting weight on July 1, 2015 was 478 lbs. Sleeve surgery was on October 13, 2015. My weight today is 294. I've still got a long way to go. The sleeve has been working really well and is very easy to live with.

It's good that already understand the importance of the pre-op diet. It's for your safety. You are taking an active role in your success. I selected amoung the allowed Protein powders and pre-mixed shakes. I chose to drink the Pure Protein Shakes because they were more thick and satisfying. I pounded down the Water in between and all went well. Sure it's not a heap of fun......but it's just two weeks. Stay focused on other fun stuff and get your mind off food.

It's really not so difficult once you get past the first month or so. Everything, in fact, became much easier for me by the end of the second month. I've got 99 problems but Water intake is not one.

I don't either.....usually. I guess we are lucky that way. I'd hate to give up on hot sauces and spicy rubs.

Oh yeah.....son's are good for "helping" us out, right ?

Sounds like that ice cream sandwich is a bad choice then if you are trying to lose. Snacks, in general, may be a bad idea. Just my opinion and I reserve the right to be wrong.

Thanks. If this helps you our your loved ones pass the word. I will. Watching it right now, in fact......

I think that it'd be a horrible thing for me to eat. I say that because I'm in weight loss mode with a long way to go remaining ahead of me. I looked over at your starting weight of 277 and your current weight of 130 pounds and I say....."Heck yes.....roll with it !!!" You've kicked arse and if those are what you want to eat.....then all things in moderation. You've lost 147 pounds. Only you know whether or not you can eat something like this and not trigger bad eating habits. Congrats on your weight loss results.

I suppose at some level, most folks have a bit of judgmental views about wls. At some level. It's been a learning experience for me. Sure...learned lots about nutrition and such.....but learned heaps more about myself. I was one of those who was ill informed over wls....even though I have a close family member who has been highly successful with it after their surgery 15 years ago. Highly successful. It took a unique set of circumstances to stack up in my life for me to seriously consider wls. I't temporarily lost the ability to "just go to the gym and diet and get the weight off" as I'd done in the past. The health issues mounted....and it became abundantly clear that losing a huge amount of weight would be the first step towards addressing the issues. Here's the bottom line for me.....I've done well in losing and getting temporarily fit before. I can kick into gear with the best of them.....until I couldn't. I became interested and focused on the wls as an aid.....educated myself on it as best I could......went through a couple surgeons and found the right one.....and took his advice on the optimum surgery for me. Everything has unfolded as he predicted. I'm very grateful. The coolest thing about all this is that I've already passed the point where I've stopped in the past. I'm more fit now. I'm more lean. I feel better. My health metrics are much better. I'm in a great place.....yet I am not satisfied. I will continue to get to my goal fighting weight and live there. I look at myself and do so much differently than I have in the past attempts when I'd gotten 2/3 this far. Then I was happy and ready to enjoy myself. Now....I'm grateful for the progress, sure.....but it's just a pleasant observation on the way to where I'm really headed. I couldn't see the intricacies of wls.....couldn't really understand it.......did pass judgement on it.......until I lived it and my eyes were opened by my own experiences. I'd always kept my opinions to myself....glad I did as they were based on ignorance. I feel that on balance, there is insufficient mental preparation for patients prior to surgery. The nutritional part is fairly straightforward.....but the mental game is one that must be the foundation and build on solid ground. I am tremendously grateful for Dr. Stapleton. She works with the patients in my bariatric center and is a vital resource. Her pre-op training is thought provoking and really helped me prepare. I'm being educated in wls each and every day and have been humbled by the experience. I now see my back injury some 13 months ago as a gift. It was the final straw that gave that last push I needed. WLS followed 7 months later and I'm significantly lighter now and can see maybe hitting my goal weight prior to my one year surgiversary. Cool thought.......

I don't get it either. I've never known eggs to be foul. Burnt popcorn, though.......horrid stuff. Happens all the time where I work. The break area has pair of microwaves....each a different size and wattage....one has rotary feature....other does not. People are always goofing up the cooking times needed between the two. The struggle is real.

Well sir......your results and health improvement are excellent. You have me intrigued. I'll be giving this a look on Netflix later today. Thanks for the suggestion. Glad you are getting back to where you want to be.

Same here. Add in a lot of sodium and it's swole time the next day or two. I simply keep my system running smoothly on a high water intake and try to limit salt. Carbs are limited already due to my weight loss goals.

My Breakfast now reflect where I'm at.....smack dab in the middle of weight loss mode.....so there are few carbs....and yes, I sometimes have leftover grilled foods. This morning I had two fried eggs over easy and three slices of bacon. I used salt free Chef Paul's seasoning and Tobasco Sauce on the eggs. Some mornings it's just a Protein shake to drink on the way to work. I'm not going to have any types of breads or oatmeal until I am beyond my goal and living at maintenance. Then....a frequent breakfast will be a piece of well toasted wheat bread with a pair of fried (over easy) eggs on top. Good stuff. Please help me understand your boss's rationale for such rules ?

My nutritionists keep saying the same thing....over and over about diet sodas. "No Greg, you can't have them". I asked my surgeon about the matter during my 6 month post-op appointment. He told me to have at 'em so long as my sleeve agreed with them. Just hearing that I could was enough for me. I've yet to try one, though. I am happy with my coffee and Water and occasional tea. Two of the most successful wls people that I know.....both have been at their maintenance weight for years.....both drink a real soda....one likes real Mountain Dew and the other likes real Cokes. They each drink a very small amount....no more than one a day, but they sip on them throughout the day. Again.....I stress....both of these ladies have achieved their weight goals years ago and have been living that way ever since. Looking at them you'd never know they had wls. Never. I've come to a certain level of understanding concerning my nutritionists rulings on things.....they are always gonna give the safe advice and promote the generic advice they give to every single patient. They are consistent if nothing else. The two in my current program suck outright at one-on-one advice so far. The nutritionist in first bariatric program I started with last year was much more thorough and everything was one-on-one and customized to my needs and goals. My surgeon, though, is all about me as a patient and focuses on where I am....not where a group of us are. There are folks at all degrees along their weight loss process on here. They advise all sorts of strategies to gain advantage over their weight loss endeavors. It's all about finding what works for you and finding the daily pleasures that you enjoy and can do so without adverse impact to your health. I'm sure I'll knock back a Diet Dew at some point.....but for now I'm content just knowing that it's been okay'd by my surgeon. It's just not something that I yearn for like I did in the past. Pre-op found me killing those things in silly quantities. It's been a fun process....learning about myself all throughout. Some of the discoveries are funny.....some scared the crap outa me....some just leave me wondering what the hell was I thinking.........

Low carb diets are highly effective in weight loss. I mean, you can't go through it overloading on cheese and other stuff that will raise your calorie intake above the amount you burn every day. It does keep hunger at bay and eliminates carb cravings and will allow you to remain in a calorie deficit in a much more agreeable way. I followed my nutritionists diet plan prior to surgery. Oddly, it was not a diet that I would be following later on when post-op. Lots of grains and such....the opposite of my way of eating now. The weight loss was okay, however, I was freaking hungry the whole time. I transitioned over to low carb 1,500 calories per day and the hunger went away and the weight loss kicked into gear. I was visiting with my parents and sister last weekend and they were trying to plan restaurant trips and cooking menus....I urged them to relax....it was all good as I could eat in any restaurant and be just fine. I told them in simple terms that my way of eating is equivalent to ordering a meaty entree and just leaving the side dishes alone. They understood. Once they saw how simple it was they started talking about doing the same. My dad seemed really enthused about adopting the low carb way of eating, too. You are doing great as you approach your surgery date. You will be grateful for every pound you lose now, too. I can't understand why some folks want to wait until they are post op to lose weight. The goal is to lose....not wait to lose. You are going to do great. You've already made the mental changes necessary.

the progress you have made is inspiring. I always look forward to seeing your posts. Thank you very much. I'm glad to be around to post...........'being around' wasn't a safe bet a year ago. Comorbitities were piling up and dragging me down. I'm grateful and trying to set things up so I can do a better job for the next half of my life. I told Chritinamo7 about my NSV on Mothers' Day, Dub, so I'll share it with you now. My daughter and I were going through my mothers hope chest in the attic on Sunday. In there were all of the baptismal gowns and my wedding gown. Talk about ancient!!! After much whining and pleading I tried it on. I don't know which was more wrinkled--the gown or my skin, but the NSV was ---IT WAS TOO LARGE!!! The last time I wore that gown was 44yrs ago this month. I only fit into it because I went on a "starvation" diet for weeks before my wedding. Wow! Wrinkled or not, it felt good. First time in a long time---I felt----really happy. Simple feeling shouldn't be soooo hard to accomplish. I had almost forgotten how good it feels just to be happy. I may try it more often. Hell yes you should !!!! Putting that dress on had to bring a big smile to her face as well. Great story has me grinning. Being surrounded by such positive people is a blessing. What a great friend to show such enthusiasm for your progress. Very cool. I don't think I kept anything from before. It's all gone.....at least I think it is. It's time to go through the closet again. Long gone are the 6x, 5x and 4x shirts. I'm now buying shirts in 2x and wearing some of them. It's a funny process.

My surgeon tests patients right up until the surgery. Any in your system is grounds for cancelling the surgery.

I drank the cowboy shyt outa some Diet Mtn. Dews during my pre-op with the approval of my surgeon.......well...perhaps I drank a few more than he allowed. Those and gallons of Water each day in between my 3-4 Protein shakes and all was well in my world. Check with your surgeon. Also, at my 6 month post-op appointment, he also told me I could have Diet Dews again if my sleeve tolerated them. That was 3+ weeks ago and I've yet to try one. coffee, water and the occasional adult beverage is all I care to drink.

the progress you have made is inspiring. I always look forward to seeing your posts. Thank you very much. I'm glad to be around to post...........'being around' wasn't a safe bet a year ago. Comorbitities were piling up and dragging me down. I'm grateful and trying to set things up so I can do a better job for the next half of my life.

I have abused my body in many ways.......yet my sleeve still has been a major tool in getting back to where I need to be...... Just taken.....late in the day.........

Waiting sucks.....but get that "stress eating" under control now.....or you'll be doing the same thing later on for whatever reason presents itself on any given day. There is no such thing as comfort food. Go walk some laps around the neighborhood when you are stressed.....or do some situps or pushups..........

Yes, it's possible. All things in moderation with the sleeve is what I've found to be the case. Note: The sleeve may offer restriction with food...........not so much with drank. You've been warned. Proceed with caution and enjoy yourself. I didn't lose the weight to become a monk...............yet I don't want to lose control of myself, either. Balance in all things. Yes, it's possible. All things in moderation with the sleeve is what I've found to be the case. Note: The sleeve may offer restriction with food...........not so much with drank. You've been warned. Proceed with caution and enjoy yourself. I didn't lose the weight to become a monk...............yet I don't want to lose control of myself, either. Balance in all things.

Don't feel bad, man. I'd lost around 120 lbs by last New Years Eve. No action from wife of 23 years. It was well into the new year before any action was forthcoming. I quit asking for it. I figured she'd come around when she did.....or she wouldn't. She finally did.....and when she did.............it finally occurred to me that the issues were mainly hers....not mine. I wasn't the one who was the roadblock. Good stuff to know.

Had sleeve surgery in mid October last year. Saw my mother at Thanksgiving and again the week after Christmas. Haven't seen her since. This past Saturday I just happened to be sitting at "her" table at my parent's favorite Breakfast restaurant when they arrived. Mom walked in and saw me sitting there, turned around and told Dad there was somebody already sitting at her table. Dad laughed and told her to look and see who it was.....she turned back....stared for a second and I couldn't help but bust out laughing at her. Funny stuff when yer own mom doesn't recognize you. It was a great trip home and that was an awesome way for it to begin. Good times seeing the family.