BobScott

Well, it's been a bit... how are you doing?

I have not taken the time to share my story, as a matter of fact I have still not changed my Facebook pictures, or the ones of me at work. food. I believe I had an actual addiction to food, the same as an addict, I didn't see it as an issue... But now I realize that I had a problem. I eat to live now, instead of living to eat. The surgery helped by taking away the cravings, but I worry that if I reintroduce things like breads, fried foods, and other crap, I will develop the addiction again, just as if an alcoholic was to just have " 1 drink". It is a disease, with horrible side effects including low self confidence, depression, and humiliation. I have made it my mission to find healthy foods, and replace all of my old favs, with healthy... And what I call, feel good foods. An FG food is one that I can eat comfortably, and they just basically feel good. for me, my list of items that I probably have a little of everyday would include... Chobani Flips. (190-210 cal, 12 gram protein)... These are my go to, if I haven't eaten in a while and am hungry, I can put this down a bit faster, and the size is pretty perfect for a meal. Love them all! Pickles- (0-5 cals) I love the spicy pickles, but I can eat them all. Pickles have become a regular snack in my life. Spears, slices, whatever, they all rock! Soup, soup, and more soup!!! My souls have been a huge part of my success. I make a huge crock of soup and it lasts me weeks. You can freeze some, but always have some in the fridge ready to microwave. I make a few varieties, but the basis is always the same. chicken broth base, cut with Water. Chicken or Cod fish, yep... I said fish! My family hates the smell of my "fish soup" but I loved it! However if you are not a big fish can just go with chicken. Vegetables- carrots, onions, mushrooms, kale, spinach, and even Brussels sprouts... Whatever you like and then I would spice it up with Cayenne and red pepper flakes, I even used Sriracha at times. This soup has been a staple for me since the 3rd month post, and I still make a lot here and there now. It was just great for me to grab a coffee cup, fill it, microwave it, and enjoy it. I pushed myself to walk, and then I started "1 TED" lol. That means 1 thing every day. If it was parking in the back of the parking lot when at a store, or walking down the street and back when going to pick up the mail, I would just push to do 1 thing, which then would keep except use in the front of my mind. Get an Apple Watch or Fitbit, make goals and hit them! What I learned is that we are capable of so much! When you are used to walking around with an additional 100 plus, your body has been working out for a long time. Now when the weight is gone, you still have that strong frame. Put it to work! I made some new friends that are athletic, I try and play Pickleball ( the game kicks ass, combo of tennis, volleyball, & ping pong) instead of cardio... I want to transition to a healthy lifestyle, not a 30 minute gym session that I won't be looking forward to. Think of your weight loss as a super power, but only if you stick to the guidelines. This works for me, and I believe it to be a super power... Let me explain. Since the weight loss, the world has been easier for me. I can go to an amusement park and get on the rides. I can fly on a plane and not need an extension. I can walk into a crowded bar and not start sweating my ass off! I can buy clothes at a normal store, and with actual brand names on them. I can tie my damn shoes, and without holding my breathe! I can sit in any chair, and not just the ones without sides... I can even sit in the plastic ones. Woman treat me so differently! I am no longer just the funny guy... Even though I haven't changed! Life has just become much easier, much better, and much healthier, and I never want to go back, so I will continue to treat it as an addiction and will not look to be able to re introduce "everything" back into my eating habits, but instead I will work to find better foods. The nice thing about eating less, is that you can afford to buy smaller portions allowing for better quality foods. Take advantage of that! I always have almonds in the house, and I love veggie chips, especially the jalepeno, but now I grab a handful and walk away... If I want another handful, I will go get it at 30 cals, per handful, but I am going to force myself to get up and walk to the kitchen to get a handful I feel so lucky to have had this surgery, and if I can help you in anyway let me know! I hope you have found this helpful, I know that writing it has helped me... So thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey All, So today is a very special day... 1 year ago today my life changed forever. Yes... It is officially my Surgery Anniversary, and with a last push over the past few days I achieved what i thought was not possible. I lost 201 lbs in 1 year! My doctor was amazed at my visit, and they are going to do an article on me Although i am extremely proud of the weight loss, the more important lesson that i learned is that... Anything is possible! This year, i am going to make bigger changes, and just remember when i thought that being thin was not a possibility!

Hey Annie, It gets so much easier with every week. The important thing is to take the time, to make the best of the AMAZING OPPORTUNITY to retrain your stomach properly. I am going to hit a year next week (Surgery was Feb 23rd) and i have not had any Pasta, Bread, or Rice. I have no cravings for them at all, and i do supplement each as mentioned above. The first 6 months are important for sure, you are worth every minute, and every step though!!! Make sure to walk, and enjoy the experience with every small victory!

I think it is time for an update! Less than a month away from my 1 year surgery anniversary, and I am down 195lbs! I just weighed in at 185... which is pretty crazy! I hope you have all had an amazing journey since we spoke. Let me know how things have gone since I originally posted in October! Thank you all for your comments, they are the fuel that have made the life change easy Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I just wanted to take a second and thank everyone that commented on my post. It warms my heart to feel as if i have had any positive impact for anyone! Wednesday will mark my 9 month anniversary of my Surgery. I am down now 180 lbs, which is only 10 lbs away from losing 1/2 of my starting weight of 381. I am thinking that i am starting to level off, but... i am content with whenever my body thinks its time to do so. I am starting a Meetup group to try and do some virtual coaching and speaking with others that are going through this journey. I feel that it is important for me to share the good word... lol. My life has forever been impacted, for the better, and i just hope that others can use this amazing surgery to help them realize their own potential. If you are interested in seeing my videos ( Which are still being worked on) or maybe joining a Meetup ( In person or virtually) let me know. I want to help, i feel it is my duty to do so... Thanks again to all of you, and please... Let me know how you are doing on your Quest. especially if you are in the first couple months Post-op. Let's compare notes

@@facebro29 I see it's been a month since your post. How are you doing? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats to you all! It is the greatest thing you can do for yourself! Enjoy the journey, and keep the focus... in just a short few months your world will change forever! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am sure that this wasn't the best thing to receive, but I thought no it speaks volumes of the misunderstanding that goes along with our disease of obesity. When I told my uncle I was going for the surgery he said, "Can't you just cut down on what you eat?" He didn't mean it in a negative way, in his own way he was trying to help me. I am certain that your boss didn't mean anything negatively, but they just don't understand what you are going to be dealing with. Just remember that you didn't go through this for anyone but you! They will give you the best gift ever when they are praising your transformation in a few short months. Don't let the little stuff bug you, just remember that they don't get it unless they have been through it. You wouldn't ever give a bottle of whiskey to an alcoholic, but yet... what we have is not seen the same way to the outside world. You Rock!!! And you don't need them to understand, you have all of us! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

When I got home from the hospital, and the pain was still a big part of my day, I looked at my situation and realized that my life needed to be different. I was initially embarrassed that I couldn't do it on my own and needed the surgery, and this embarrassment was motivation to not squander this opportunity to hit the "Reset Button" on my habits. I never have looked to be able to re-introduce bad foods, but instead I have looked for replacement foods, and activities. This is the new Football Sunday spread. Lol. Once I started losing the weight, I fell in love with the new "superpower" of a small stomach! I never wanted to have the craving monster come back in my life, so I have convinced myself that my addiction to crap needed to be treated as the disease it is. So I have sworn off of all trigger foods, and basically anything non-healthy. No breads, candy, Pasta, etc. I have never heard of an alcoholic program that has a goal of reintroducing social drinking.. lol. So why does our program have the final goal of being able to eat some of the foods that put us in trouble in the first place? Once you can find your "feel good" foods, things get much easier. For me it was home made Soups, yogurts, Fish, pickles, and almonds. Once you decide to eat to live and not live to eat, it just gets easier. One day at a time, the future is so bright! Surgery was Feb23rd this year... I was 381 and now 214 as of this morning. Down 167lbs Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Havasumoma I am so excited for you! The enjoyment of losing the weight is that much better because of the journey. Just remember the lows, and embrace them as fuel for everyday success. No regrets, we are who we are because of our past... but the future is up to us! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Btw- if you are interested in how to make the tuna Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I just wanted to share with you all how awesome the future is. Just think of the amazing new foods you will learn to love. Football Sunday here is me preparing some Ahi Tuna, getting a bag of veggie straws, and my wasabi almonds. I also do enjoy a few beverages during the game Glutton free spiked seltzers. 110 cals, 5% alc... I have these over ice to allow for it to lessen the carbonation. They do the job!!! Lol. It's just a new mindset, and I love it! You will too... Happy Football Sunday everyone! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@willdamanager I have some, but the skin around my stomachs can be hidden, and my arms are just my reason for hitting the gym. Everyone is different, but no matter how much loose skin I end up with... this life is so much better my man. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Looks like I can't past a URL. Lol. youtu.be/SIkp8Nc5_Dw you probably have to copy and paste this one. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[\URL] Sent from my iPhone using the [url=https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=87332]BariatricPal App Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I can't wait to hear all of your stories! Just stay focused and your day will be here before you know it. Take it day by day and enjoy the small victories along the way. I look back at my pics when I was down 100 lbs and at that point I was inspired and focused, but also very content with what I saw! Now, after losing another 65 lbs from then, my 100 lbs down pick is the new before pic... lol. What I am saying is that time will pass and you will continue to lose weight, but don't worry about the end game, enjoy the journey! It will give you time to adjust and enjoy your new life! I just got off a plane for the first time since surgery, and I must say, it was a bit emotional. I put together a video on the way... feel free to check it out! New body, new life, same me Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

#Allie Smith you can totally do this!!! I know that your head is in so many places right now, but trust me... it will all be worth it, and your journey will be amazing. You deserve this, just remember that... I can't wait to see your transformation! If you ever need ideas or support, I am here Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@joy4you I am so happy for you as you are about to get out of the hellish place obesity is. It will be tough at times, but if you can truly give in to the fact that you have an addiction, and push to stick with healthy foods, you are going to be successful. The surgery will take away the cravings and get you started, then it is on you! Which means it's on us I would love to help in anyway possible, just keep pushing yourself in the first few months. Once you lose the initial milestone, and people start noticing the difference, it keeps getting easier. I believe in you!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Lucky2Lose Thanks for sharing your story... When we constantly fail at weight loss, it can defeat us to the point of complete surrender. I didn't tell many people i was getting the surgery, and you know what... No one even noticed i was losing any weight until i had lost over 70 lbs. Without the tools this surgery gave me, i would have given up... AGAIN! I didn't know what to expect, i chose the sleeve, because i didn't want to change the plumbing in my body, but i knew i needed something more than the band. Once i started losing, i used my addictive personality for the power of good... lol. And i would push myself to walk more, and challenged myself by buying the pizza for the family and picking it up, bringing it home, and sitting at the same table as my family would eat it. Everyone has their skeletons in the closet, and everyone has their problems, the only difference is that ours shows on the outside... Give in to the fact that you need help, and then never look back! Embrace that we are living in an age when a surgery like this is possible, and enjoy a win for once! I challenge you to post an outfit you want to wear, then let's circle the date on the calendar and get this thing going! We all have it in us, We just need to do something... For US! I believe in you!

@@Lucky2Lose Ahhh... Don't you go crying now... lol I appreciate it very much. I am very happy for all the years that i was a big boy. It taught me to be kind, and look deeper than the outer layer. I am excited for the future for all of us...