Dub

Getaways are by far the BEST treat yo self treats! Somehow myself and one of my best nurse buddies at work got the same 5 days off at the end of the month... So we're going to Myrtle Beach! And we don't even have to use our PTO! Enjoy your trip.. Hope you bring something home to put on the grill I did. I will. Life is good.

I had to learn what 1/4 cup of food looked like. Then I had to learn what 1/2 cup of food, my current goal, looks like. I did this at home with the various stuff I grill, cook or otherwise prepare. A set of measuring cups will be your friend. In short order you'll be able to spot the volumes as they sit on our your freshly arrived plate of food in any restaurant. Once you see the portion size.........grab the knife and wield that puppy like a weapon. Slice off what you know to be the allowable amount. Take your time and eat that amount only.....and get a to-go box for the remainder that will give you future meals.

@@Lexigurl82 first and foremost let me give ya a hearty Hells Yes for being a fellow Georgian. Much respect. You know heat & humidity and have endured. On a bigger level, let me say that you have my further respect for getting your sleeve and making the changes you wanted to make. I am saddened by your story. It is full of pain. You've endured a lot and that is evident. I am sorry that he didn't come around and instead chose to go a different route. He'll be reminded of how bad of a move that was after it dawns on him that it's too late. You have your priorities right, though....being a mother and also getting her health under control. Both will be rewarding in ways that you'll see down the road. Now, however, you are just making an investment in something that will become more tangible and pay great future dividends. He'll be left with whatever flames he can conjure up. You, however, will be a prize......a real treasure....that worthy dudes will come after in force. Stay the course and keep your priorities in order. You are doing right. Right will be done by you and to you. Hang tough and stay true to yourself.

Dayum..........I feel for ya. And yes....I felt some of the same pains. Hell......at almost 5 months out......I still feel some oddball pains. One could safely say that this dude's life is full of random oddball pains. Some of are my own doing.....trying to be a superhero in the gym or elsewhere....these are what I consider "good" pains. I caused them....I can pinpoint how they happened.....all is good. All will be well. Some, though, are the random pains that leave me scratching my head and going, "WTF?". I am so not joking. I frequently scratch my head and ask myself that very question.

@@BSanchez2016 Please considering slowing your roll, my young hombre. All is well. All is good. Take a deep breath and relax. You are at the tipping point........making a big decision about where to head next and what the implications are. I'm gonna drop some truth on you, boss. You didn't ask for this....but here it is, regardless: Every major decision I've successfully made in life......every good choice.........every single life goal that I've achieved.......has been when I took the advice and was inspired by A WOMAN !!!!!!! They are called the fairer sex for a reason, buddy. Dudes promote broscience and much of that deals with how to increase the size of our toolage and whatnot. It's true. We all wanna be bigger, faster, stronger........... It took a woman's encouragement for me to see that faster isn't always better. "Slow down, Pedro....the race isn't over until everyone reaches the finish line". It took a woman's intuition to help me see the benefits of having wls. It took a woman's encouragement & feedback to know that I'd done the right thing.......and was doing the right thing. Women, my friend, make the world go 'round. Know this. Accept this.....and roll with this. You'll be better for it. Now....I'm not a preacher. Therefore I'll come down off the pulpit and stfu. My hope for you is that you relax and get some good and solid advice for the questions in your head at this time. I know they are many and they are wide ranging. It's a very difficult time.....making the decision on wls. I feel for ya, mayne. I was right there just a short time ago. I truly get the concerns over having good wood. Trust & believe that I get that......but mainly trust & believe that your wood will be gooder once you drop any unneeded pounds you may be toting and embrace your health and fitness. It's all good, bro. The wood is gonna be all good. Guess what? You'll know when the wood's all good, too......know in the best and most sure way......because a WOMAN will tell you.

Dayum..... That didn't take long to escalate. So here's the deal, @@BSanchez2016 .....I'm a big dude, too. I'm not as big of dude now, though....thanks to the magical powers of my new sleeve and simply following my doctor's gameplan. I can happily say that my junk not only remained intact, but it's benefitted from the weight loss, too. Is it any bigger ? I simply don't have those stats to compare........and old Dub ain't posting any pics of his junk on the web.....so you'll simply have to take my word for it. Is it any bigger? In my estimation, yes...it is. The base pad of fat that you mentioned has diminished in size. This translated to more usable wood. Is it any better? Again, in my estimation, yes....it is. My vascularity is at a whole new level now. Blood flow throughout the body is amazingly improved. All over the body. My rooster will crow at the drop of a hat......a slight breeze and it's cockadoodle do. It's like being 21 again. I'm a simple dude, too. I'm all about the simple pleasures in life. I can't accurately rank the benefits in order of importance.....but I can tell you without hesitation that being 100% satisfied with my junk and knowing that the rooster will crow and stand up proud and loud......yeah man, it may not be my number one benefit.......but it is close to top of the list.

You have done great !!! Excellent post!

Thanks. Past couple days have been a rewarding reminder that I'm on track.

Great! I have a friend whos going to Raleigh to do it as well. I understand your pain, with Bojangles, it was my best friend too lol. Best of luck on your surgery, you're going to do great! Ah........good old Bojangles. I haven't had a Cajun fillet biscuit in six months or more. Never thought I'd be able to say that. When I hit Bo's now.....it's to get a large unsweetened ice tea or some of their roasted chicken bites. Crazy thing is that I don't even miss what used to be a frequent staple in my diet. Also.....former North Carolinian, here, too. GO PIRATES !!!

Welcome aboard. You jumped in ring in a big way. Sounds like your results and experience is very favorable at this point. Sounds good. I hope that everything continues to unfold very smoothy for you.

Well done. You are killing it. Huge respect for you going after it.

Yesterday's Breakfast was a midmorning Bariatric Advantage Protein shake. Today....not sure. Crashed early last night and woke up crazy early today. Morning coffee came really early, too. I may hit a local 24/7 spot for an omelette this morning.

Very, very impressive ! Man, you have really done great. Amazing year for you. Running in 10K races ? Are you kidding ? Could you have ever seen this happening a year ago ? Outstanding results, boss. Outfreakingstanding.

Biotin use here. My hairline on the forehead is already becoming a five-head. No want of any more thinning. I'm pouring the coals to the biotin supplements. Norelco Body Groomer makes short order any unwanted hair in any other area.....quick, easy and effective.

Very well said. I've found this to be the case. I'd go through my short 2-week pre-op liquid diet over and over again with ease if it gave me the benefits that it has. It seemed like it was so difficult then, at the time. It went by quickly and started the accelerated pace of losing that I was grateful for. Hang in there and stay on your plan. The benefits are very much worth it. It gets loads easier once you are post op. Much, much easier.

I've found that stalls happen quite often, in fact. I used to get freaked out by them....now....at 4+ months out....no biggie. I think you may have nailed it on the huge calorie deficit and your body hanging on. For me, in those cases, I look at the type of calories I am getting....protein being the main component, obviously, but so are type of macros along with the Protein. Initially I had tended to use more dipping sauces and such. I'd also use various creamers and flavorings in my coffee. In those early days my coffee was heavily cut with these, too. Now....I drink it in almost the same way I did before....strong. If I'd have a stall in the first couple months I would carefully measure and account for every gram of carbohydrate. It was interesting that I was drinking more carbs than I ever realized....plus the dipping sauces thrown in, too. I do much better now. I stick with the volume of food that I'm supposed to be eating at this point. Meals only. No snacking. Lots of Water in between. The scale does hang on for days at a time....even fluctuates upward on occasion but then will drop to a new low. It can be a weekly pattern.....or I can go multiple days of losing. It's just too hard to predict or pattern. I've been the type to weigh almost daily. Is it a good idea ? It works for me and it's among the first things I do when I get out of bed. I don't let what the number is freak me out. I just take it and roll with it. I need this in my head as I begin my day. Keeps me focused and on point. This weight loss has been a gift from God. I have a new lease on life and am in awe of the many benefits that simply getting shed of unwanted weight has had. Good stuff. Grateful for this. It's a lifestyle change that has taken root and I am the better for it in every single way. It is hilarious when I see the look on waiter's faces when I order. I'll nurse a drink or cup of water......and then order a meal that's basically an appetizer or a salad and eat the protein toppings from it.....or Soup and eat only the meat from it. Takes me just as long as whoever I'm dining with to eat their salad and full meal. I get asked if I am feeling good or if something wasn't to my liking quite often by the staff. I go out of my way to assure them that everything is perfectly tasty. Sorry.....early morning ramblings of a sleever who's sipping on a killer cup of java and super hyped up about the coming day's fun.

Remind me again why we can't use straws ? I forget. Could take 'em or leave 'em. I grabbed a diet lemonade from Chic-Fil-A the other day....next day a hyoooge tea with Splenda from another local chicken spot......straws in both.....used them due to being in my car and driving.

The "Coffee Nazi" (that's what my daughters call me) does this: I HAVE MY COFFEE EVERY MORNING!!!!! I just figure it into my day's menu. That is one thing my Nut. and surgeon knew from the start. We as a team, planned around my daily coffee with half and half. The alternative of me not having my coffee would not be pretty. No. Not pretty at all... We are so on the same page. That is how I proceeded. I knew I had the right surgeon when he said, "Sure you can....I have 2 cups a day....why can't you". I knew right then he was my guy ! Damn.....this sounds like a divine drink. I need this in my life. Morning coffee is almost as good as afternoon margaritas...........

I was leaving work yesterday after a long day. Tired. Ready to get to my vehicle and make the interstate commute home. Was already thinking about my playlist for the ride home. I am a production supervisor in a large manufacturing plant. At one time, I seemed to know everyone there....and know them fairly well. The place has expanded and grown significantly over the years. Lots of new faces. So, I'm walking down the main aisle with my tired mind lost in my thoughts about my music and a couple phone calls I needed to make to arrange some schedule changes. Waving at and speaking briefly with some folks as I walked on by. Nearing the main plant entrance I hear a horn blow and look back and see a dude riding up on his material handling cart. He's a big guy, too. Appears to be fairly tall, young and really, really heavy. He's taking off his work gloves and extending his hand. We introduce ourselves and he said he's seen me around the plant and I'd been losing a large amount of weight and he was simply hoping I'd share how with him. I was straight up with him and gave him a fast rundown of the my sleeve surgery process and how, where, why it unfolded like it did. I was 100% honest with him and broke down the costs and how our insurance was not so great.....covering only 50% of the actual surgery cost, but not the related tests and things that are required. I told him how it was actually significantly cheaper for me to have self funded the deal. Crazy scenario, but true. I urged him to pursue a couple different avenues for finding out further information on how to fund the surgery. He had very specific questions as to what I could eat, what I could take for meds and what I could drink. He wanted to know what days off were like and what working days felt like. We talked for at least 30 minutes and I tried to think of the the things he'd not asked that I could answer, too. He thanked me profusely and I can say that I instantly felt like the last 14 hour workday was erased.....I had recharged my batteries. I felt absolutely great. I can only hope that he'll be able to sort things out and find out the information that he needs to find out to better make his battle plan. So....I'm almost out the main entrance....but then veer on a new course. I stopped off at the nice gym we have at work and spent 30 mins working out before refilling my 30 oz Water bottle and getting in the car for the well hydrated ride home. Life is good. I am grateful for each day....but yesterday was really cool. I looked at this guy and could see in him the same desire to change that I had......the same confusion as to how......and I'm hoping that things will line up for him. I know that our HR department and our benefits are lacking in regards to wls. I need to study up on the various financing options and have this information readily available....contact info and such so I can be better prepared for the next such conversation I have with potential wls candidates. Thanks for reading my ramblings. I hope that today brings another such conversation with someone like this young guy. I hope that each of you have this experience and can feel a sense of calm and relief in the person you are talking to. It is a powerful moment and one that is very rewarding. To date, it's one of the very best NSV's I've had.

It's the little things that really hit home as cool NSV's. Last week.....getting dressed at the gym.....crossed my legs and couldn't believe how easy it was. Now....when I go out to restaurants.....I always request a booth. Last week at work I even sat at one of our booths in the cafeteria. Everyone complains about how small these things are....yet there I was....sitting there and was completely comfortable.

On a daily basis I enjoy the Beans I love.....brewed strong how I enjoy it. I use Splenda and whatever creamer that catches my eye in the grocery store. I go with sugar free creamers or half&half. I sometimes use Fairlife milk as creamer, too. They make some amazing milk !!!

That is great. What an awesome experience.