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I'll certainly do so. I'm hoping that one of the Navy SEAL recruiters will take note of my participation in said events. I'm really putting a lot of stock into them opening up a Geriatric Bariatric Division........damn.....I know I'd not last but a day or two......but it I would make it count. Just joking folks.....not trying to raise the hackles of active or former service members. They have nothing but my full respect. But, an old dude has to have hopes and dreams, no ?

No promises......but......but.....it's more than a thought..............it is a REALITY that may be well within your grasp. And don't think it's going to take forever for it to occur, either. The one thing that I wasn't really ready for were the paces of the bariatric process. The initial visits, seminars, webinars, insurance requirements, ancillary medical checkoffs, etc.....seemed to take forever to matriculate through. But then......once your ship makes port.......its a fast and wild ride from there. The benefits of your decision to have this surgery will overtake you quickly. Get ready to feel amazing..........

Heck yes.....and you look incredible doing it, too. That is great !!!! Now there is a thought......doing a 5K but not running. Okay...I'm exposing my ignorance here......didn't realize that was an option....seriously didn't realize that. You may have just perked up my interest in such events. My knees are shot and the trauma of running at my current weight wouldn't be good. Maybe after I knock down another 70+ pounds....we'll see....but walking a 5K event.....that's of interest now. I'm gonna look further into this. A buddy has been after me to do a Tough Mudder event with him in a local swamp. I told him, "Sure, bro.....no problem....just leave out the gators, the cold and all that running and jumping and I'll give it a go". The after party is where I think I'd really shine, though.......Everyone hoses down.....hits the showers and then goes on a pub crawl. This is the leg of the race that I think I can stand tall and turn in some good stats.

You are going to continue to feel that joy and happiness over your decision and your progress. I'm very happy for you. It is an awesome feeling to know....truly know....that all the tools that are needed to beat weight issues once and for all.....are now hardwired in.

I'm starting to feel like a pic ho......but for so damn long I feared cameras. Here's a family pic taken 6 months ago followed by a pic taken this week. In case you can't tell who is who......I'm the one in the orange shirt....looking like The Great pumpkin or whatever. Fun stuff getting rid of this weight. Long way to go, but I can see getting there now. For so long I just couldn't grasp how.....how to get it off and fight every single day to keep it off. Now....it's feeling natural and attainable. So damn grateful.

In total agreement with the second opinion suggestions.

I've had a couple abdominal hernia repairs over the years and have experienced gas pains with one of those surgeries. Last October I had VSG & umbilical hernia repair done. I had absolutely ZERO gas pains from these. ZERO. The only pain I had was from the hernia repair. That was it.

The sternum thing sorta freaked me out when it began showing up, too. Dang thing is pronounced.......but it's just bone/cartilage that was always there....just now not as padded with fat.

I'm 47 and have lost around 170 with 70 or so more left to go before I feel I'm close to where I want to be. Severe advanced arthritis in both knees. Bone spur in left foot outer edge, surgically repaired tendons in right ankle, spinal stenosis and a few other ailments that nag me........all of which have been very much improved since losing this weight since last June. There are days that go by that I take nothing for pains......nothing. This is crazy when one considers how much Advil and other stuff I used to choke down every single day of my life. I can't wait to get the rest of this weight off and see how it feels then.

Nothing much I can't have if I so choose now at 6 months. If I were to lose my desire to lose weight.....I could entertain virtually any menu item from any restaurant.....however the quantities involved would be on a very limited scale. For instance....I probably couldn't finish a BicMac or such sandwich....no more than a slice or two of pizza......etc. My restriction would kick in and stop me from doing large quantities. I have no desire or any cravings to do such damage, though. I really just have the "want to" for the stuff I now really enjoy: fish, chicken, steak, pork, eggs and some greens & salads. After being away from sugary mess for a while I no longer give any interest to their direction. There was a time when Snickers bars held high sway over me. Now, I could walk past a sea of them and not have a desire to eat one. It is nice to only eat what is needed to sustain and fuel my body. It is super nice to not think more of food than what I should. It's something your body needs......but shouldn't be something that your mind craves. I'm so damn grateful for my sleeve. Nothing much I can't have if I so choose now at 6 months. If I were to lose my desire to lose weight.....I could entertain virtually any menu item from any restaurant.....however the quantities involved would be on a very limited scale. For instance....I probably couldn't finish a BicMac or such sandwich....no more than a slice or two of pizza......etc. My restriction would kick in and stop me from doing large quantities. I have no desire or any cravings to do such damage, though. I really just have the "want to" for the stuff I now really enjoy: fish, chicken, steak, pork, eggs and some greens & salads. After being away from sugary mess for a while I no longer give any interest to their direction. There was a time when Snickers bars held high sway over me. Now, I could walk past a sea of them and not have a desire to eat one. It is nice to only eat what is needed to sustain and fuel my body. It is super nice to not think more of food than what I should. It's something your body needs......but shouldn't be something that your mind craves. I'm so damn grateful for my sleeve.

Sleeve + umbilical hernia repair = 9 small incisions.

I learned a while back to request a preop sedative like Valium. Every surgeon I've asked this of granted my wish. I'd get one to take before leaving the house and one to take upon arrival . Sure makes it a much more pleasant and relaxing preop session.

Outstanding ! You are doing an unreal job already. Wow.

Not sure if I'd refer to them as "men". Now....if a dude had 1/2 his arse ripped off by a grizzly bear....then sure....go right ahead and roll with the padded gear......but outside of that.......hell, what do I know ? Funny damn post, OKC !!!!

Outstanding !!!!!

@@liposuction68 I sure did try their chicken soup powder as well. It was a welcome change when I was on the liquid only phase. My only gripe about it is that you can't get the Water really hot and eat it like I normally would with hot soup. Flavor was great, though. Premier Protein pre-made shakes are exactly what I stuck with post op....very thin and went down easy and 30grams per serving. Good stuff. I am looking forward to trying the banana flavor. I've heard it's quite good. The absolute worst tasting Protein Powder that I tried so far was Unjury's strawberry. It did not agree with me and one sip was all it took. Other folks here like it, though. It's the only powder I've had any objections to. Quest is not making several powders that I'd like to try soon, too. Chike makes some outstanding powder, too. Certainly one of my favorites brands for sure.

Clothes. What a total and complete change of feels about them for me as well. I hated clothes shopping in the past. Hated buying crap from Casual Male or any other big & tall store.....or bigger & taller. Now....it's so much easier. Any store has my pants or shirts in stock.....whether it's a clothing store, a sporting goods store or even Walmart. The new sizes are much, much cheaper than before, too. Levis, Dockers, Izod, Polo brands but at cheaper prices than I was paying at the no-brand b&t stores. I actually enjoyed the last shopping trip I went on. This may have been the first time in history that I can say this. Unforeseen NSV. You look great !!! It's gotta feel good to wear fitted clothes again and rock 'em like you are. Well done. Nooooooooooooo not the butt.........

probably air and cigarettes.....lol.

It worked just fine for me. I did not, however, try it in coffee. It mixed in well with everything else I tried it in.

I never could do the puree thing. Seemed like I'd simply open the door to foods I was trying to get away from. I stayed with the Protein shakes through that phase until I could get onto more solid Proteins. The list my bariatric center gave me was fairly short and not much more appealing than what I'd been doing on liquids. lol.

Great story and such a funny reaction from your coworker. Great strategy to suggest the knife for doughnuts. I've never considered doing that.....a portion of a doughnut vs the whole freaking thing at once. So glad to be past that mess, too.

@@kranky813 is 100% correct. It gets so much easier. You have to allow yourself time to heal. This takes a while. You will get there. Be patient and try to relax. All is well.

Awesome !!!! You are going to do great.

I've had that happen in work lunch meetings. I've simply said that I am simply not very hungry......feeling fine....just not hungry.

Outstanding !!!!!! You are doing great. Great momentum and great progress.