SalOdyssey

Sadly, I cannot relate. All my friends thin, thick, overweight and everyone in between have been great and super supportive. As someone who has lost 337 pounds both naturally (254) and the rest after WLS, both sides are challenging, and are NOT easy! Whomever says surgery is the easy way out, is an ignorant fool and I have no issues calling those people out if/when I see them. Luckily its only been 1 or 2 two and not people I really know. Feel free to message me on the FB with any questions. I am usually quicker to respond there. See signature below for links. Best of luck!!

I am approaching to being exactly HALF of who I once was. Absolutely NUTS!! Don't ever give up! This odyssey has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. Almost 34 months and still going. There have been set backs, and heart breaks, but I am a better man and person today because of them. https://www.facebook.com/SalOdyssey/photos/a.486137994869340.1073741828.485792314903908/709575305858940/?type=3

Thank you!! It really does feel amazing. Never in my life did I think I could feel this good. Thank you!! Best tips for me is high protein/low carb, and mix it up. So for me I go higher carbs on the weekend, and then go low carb during the week. So usually during the week I stay 50g of crabs of less. Weekends I up to it 50-75g. I like to do that cause it keeps my body guessing, and doesn't allow it to get into a routine. Another tip, don't deprive yourself. There are many great protein/healthier alternatives to things these days. I want pizza, I sue FlatOut Protein wraps and make a pizza. I want a cookie, there are plenty of protein Cookies out there to enjoy. But even when I say don't deprive yourself, I make sure it fits in with my daily allowances. The BIGGEST tip of all, just keep going. Don't ever give up. Ever need any advice message my Facebook page. Be happy to pass along what I can. Thank you!! Thank you!! The news segment was good, although after following up multiple times with that surgeon they failed to call me back and give me a price. Luckily for me, I have consulted with others, and the price of 100K USD is pretty closed for all of them, some more, some less. The Go Fund Me has been very slow going, but I am super grateful to those who've supported me. Every pounds I lose gets me closer to skin surgery. Most of the Dr's I saw said I could start immediately upon getting to 280-290, as they estimate between 65-80 pounds of excess skin, and with its removal would get me in goal weight range of 200-225. Because my starting weight was so high and for so long, I don't have to wait 6 months like some to start, as the surgeons have said my skin will not retract at all or extremely little. So the surgeons have told me when I get to 295 to come in for a follow up, since they're booking 3-5 weeks out. That would allow me to get to 280-290 by the time I go in for plastics, that's hoping I raise enough funds. I do agree, it is a great reminder of progress from where I was to where I am now. I knew the skin would be a physical issue that I had to deal with. I never gave much thought to the mental/emotional aspect it would cause. It's just hard to do some stuff when you have up to 80 pounds just flopping around, but I still have progress to be made, and I won't let that be the reason it gets sabotaged.

Try canned chicken too. If you can have mayo add that as well. Chicken falls apart when you smash it with a fork.

Feel better!!

If I stall there are several things I check, water/liquid intake, carbs, calories, and Protein intake. If and when I stall if one or more of those things are neglected, the scale stalls. Daily I drink 80 ounces of Water plus per day. Carbs under 50 grams. Calories between 800-1200. Protein 80-115 grams. **DISCLAIMER: Those ranges are good for me, check with your Dr for yours.**

Put me in the class with A LOT of excess skin. I started my weight loss at 688+, WLS at 433. As of last weeks weigh in, I am down to 358. Plastic surgeons estimate I have between 65-80 pounds of excess skin, which will cost 100K USD to remove. It would be done in 3-6 surgeries in staged succession. Sadly my insurance carrier doesn't cover it, so I am raising money through Go Fund Me (if you're interested in helping me, PM me). It is a constant daily battle and struggle to deal with the excess skin. Showering, drying, creams, lotions, etc. All to help keep the skin in as top, clean shape as I can to ward off irritation, but sadly failing at it. I've heard and seen people use spanks and compression garments, but with me there is so much the garments don't really do much. Good luck!!

433 day of surgery.

Had mine in July in Florida.

I know I mentioned I am public with it, but if you stay private or go public, there is nothing wrong with either method. It is whatever someone is comfortable with.

Been very vocal about it and have been able to help others. See my signature below if you're interested in following along.

Here's a story that was done my my local media. http://www.wtsp.com/news/health/after-extreme-weight-loss-local-man-still-suffers/348549254 Please feel free to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @SalOdyssey.

Thank you!!

I'm doing low carb, under 50 grams total.

Well Hello!! Thank you!

Thank you!!

Here's a story that was done my my local media. http://www.wtsp.com/...ffers/348549254 The journey is long, hard, and sometimes overwhelming, but don't let those things deter you! I've been at this 33 months on the 11th. Lost 322 pounds to date. 254 of that on my own. I have about 80 to go till I can immediately start plastics. Stay strong all!! Please feel free to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @SalOdyssey.

Need advice, anything I can do to maximize weight loss? Seem to be all over, one week 5 pounds down, another week 1, another week 3, then 1, then down 6. Any tips to stabilize it? Just curious.

Thank you!! I hope so too, even if its too late for me. People who've gone through this huge life change to get healthy shouldn't have to live with another anchor. Thank you! I absolutely will! Be sure to follow my FB page, as I post a lot on there, food, thoughts, etc. www.facebook.com/salodyssey.

Feel free to shoot me a message on my FB Page, @Salodyssey. Happy to answer any questions or pass along any tips I've learned.

Little in, little out. If your Dr approves, stools softeners, Fiber or Miralax.

For what it's worth, some of my closets friends are women. These are women who I've confided in, and they've confided in me. These are women I highly respect, and who I believe respect me. I have about 4-5 very close women friends compared to 1 solid guy friend. For some reason, I just seem to jive with women easier.

So I've consulted with another plastics Dr locally where I am. He seemed really great and in tune with what I require to have done. Will still probably see a few more, and then decide on who I am ultimately going to use.

Hello all, Some of you have followed my story for a while, well I am at a point now where the excess skin is truly becoming a problem. I had a couple of plastic surgery consults, and it is estimated I have anywhere from 65-80 pounds of total excess skin. All the plastic surgeons agree, I won't have to wait the 6 months from reaching goal weight since my skin will not retract much due to my high starting weight. I started my weight loss at 688+ pounds, and weighed in this past Saturday at 379 pounds. The plastic surgeons are all pretty much in agreement that surgeries could start in the 280-290s. My goal is to be between 200-225 once all is said and done. This is where I need your help, I've created a Youtube video about my skin, and set up a Go Fund Me account to help raise the 100K I will need to get the 3-5 surgeries done to ride me of the excess skin. At my current pace of losing, that could be as early as March/April of 2017. I have reached out to the media and various TV shows, and its been radio silence. I started raising the funds now, because I anticipate it taking some time. Sadly insurance does not cover this for me. I ask this simply, if you can donate, please do. If you cannot donate, please share the 2 links I will post below to your social media accounts and help me share my story. Whatever method you chose, THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! If you do share it on FB, Instagram, or Twitter please tag me @Salodyssey. Would like to acknowledge you for doing so. Thank you BP!! Youtube: https://youtu.be/ 2I01aVFMgPA (just remove the space between the / and 2 Go Fund Me: http://www.gofundme.com/SalOdyssey

Congrats!!