LittleBill

@@Hiraeth it probably does. Mrs. LittleBill would do a Lorena Bobbit move on me! @@Redmaxx You laugh, but I remember where you wrote that you work for DoD, so I just might believe you.

I have a story there, too!

This might be hard to believe, but I have a really funny story about an event such as this.

@ I had to get rid of my Wilderness Tactical belt because it was just going so far and no further. I bought a couple of leather belts from Springfield leather that are identical but different sizes, and not real expensive compared to other belts of the kind we need. I figure when I arrive at my terminal weight, I will get a real nice one again - maybe alligator to go with the alligator holster for my Colt 1911.

@@Detroit_25 Ob la di, ob la da, I take off bras! La la la la la la la! Well, only one person's bra these days, but I am allowed to. But back in the day when I was still young and a bad man...

@ When you think about it, its a snap!

@@sgc I'm sort of there right now too. I just suck it in if I am around other people. So far it is working out. I figure things will sort themselves out eventually.

@@izzy13 Thank you, and I hope your progress is going as well as mine is, or even better!

@@suzzzzz Good points. We need to be ready to educate others, but not at the expense of ourselves. If we can share with others without worrying about how it will affect us personally, it goes a long way toward "advancing the cause".

Water heaters are part of my life. We don't actually have one, as we have a summer/winter system with our furnace. BUT, my parents have a water heater, and their very acidic water kills it on a regular basis. My father hates strangers coming in the house, so guess who gets to do the plumbing? Yeah, that's right. You got it in one, right?

Back in the bad old days, that would have been a sign of a different sort. And, I was an expert at one handed removal. But I have reformed since then. Just ask Mrs. LittleBill.

Nooooooo!!!!!! Sugar alcohols, regardless of cravings, are going to make you squirt like George Jetson on steroids. Don't ask me how I know this.

Around here, free Protein means road kill that hasn't been hit so bad that some of it can't be salvaged. Good for you. I hope you do well with it!

I am not going to be any help at all. But, I want to contribute something. Mrs. LittleBill will often ask me, "How does this look?" I say fine, even before I have looked. I have the bruises to prove it. Good luck, and there are many people here way more qualified to help you than me.

I was all excited, because I am terrible about cleaning closets out. I figured I had plenty of clothes to last me through the winter. I was wrong. I dropped 4-5 sizes in pants within WEEKS, and had to go out and buy some more. Right now I am shopping at Walmart instead of Casual Male, figuring I am only going to get a few weeks out of smaller sizes anyway. Pants have slowed down a bit. Belts cost me a fortune, but that is because I carry a lot of stuff around on my belt, and I need a good one no matter what.

Being a guy, I can't actually offer a testimony, but congratulations on your pregnancy. It may not be easy, but I am here to tell you that once that baby pops out, it will be worth it, and it STILL won't be easy. We had three daughters, and I would do it all over again. Good luck with it. I hope you and your little one do well.

@@jaynamy3 If you have the picture stored on your computer (I am assuming you are using a computer, since I am old), click on the button for "choose file" under attach files and then click on "Attach this file". That will upload the picture to this site without having to use links to somewhere else.

I was as close as "don't matter" to you in starting weight. My high weight (as far as I know) was 481 lbs. I dropped 67 of those pounds just by going to a 2000-2500 calorie a day diet pre-op. Today marks three months post-op for me, and I am down 125 lbs. It does work, and it can work for you. And if it doesn't give you the results you need, the sleeve sets you up for the duodenal switch. Losing 44 lbs (20 kg) by February might be tough. I started out losing a pound a day, but that slacked off fairly quickly. Looking back at my timeline, I lost at an average of 7.6 kg a month pre-op. But every one of us is different, so I say go for it. What do you have to lose, except weight? I do not have any advice on books, or even reflux. I had a very slight case of reflux before I started this process. It required one Prilosec every two to three days to control it. My doc says he fixed a very small hiatal hernia, so small it did not even show up on the endoscopy, so that may help. Right now I am still taking one Prilosec a day as a preventative against acid as my stomach continues to heal. Good luck with it!

@@Torriluv87 Thank you! I tell Mrs. LittleBill what a lucky woman she is on a regular basis. She just rolls her eyes.

Good luck! I hope it goes well for both of you!

This is a common phrase around here. "Best wife [or husband] I ever had!" Yes, we need to see pictures of the truck! You know the rules of the internet. Pics or it didn't happen!

I've been writing thank you again and again here. I just want to say that I am overwhelmed by the kind words on my progress (and on my work too). It is good to be a part of this community here. Thanks to all of you.

Thank you, and yes, I have been peddling my stuff to anyone who will give me money for the last 24 years.

Thank you everyone! Here are a couple of pictures of things I've made, and which I teach others to make.

@@Raymia Thank you! Yeah, I know. I was in high school back in the early 70s, and was only allowed one shop class in 7th grade because I was in college prep. I am essentially self educated. I tell my students I already know all the things they are going to do wrong because I've already done them! And I have. What kind of furniture did you build?