Dave_NW

So now that you're postop, maybe you should get them to change your name to "SleevaDiva." Has a nice ring to it. Dave

Yes. But there isn't as much to hang onto. :w00t: Every guy wants to feel as though he can "measure up" in the locker room, so one pleasant side effect of weight loss is an increase in, um... "stature." Dave

I was amazed by you on my first day here, and I'm still amazed by you. If my journey turns out to be half as successful as yours, I know I'll be in good shape. Thanks! (Not sure what I'd do with the jewelry, though. :001_tt2: Dave

Wow, way to go! Do you have before and after pictures anywhere? 58 pounds in four months is excellent! Dave

Good luck, Mary! See you on the other side of recovery! Dave

Let me add my heartiest congratulations! You deserve to feel very, very proud of yourself. I hope six months after my surgery I feel the same as you do now. Way to go! Dave

Hi Clive! Welcome to the Forums. You're in the right place, and will learn a lot here. I know it's mostly women who post here, but there are a number of guys who post, too. I haven't yet had my surgery, but hope to do so within the next few months. Keep reading the forums, and check profiles on the men who post here. A lot have links to other sites with more about their stories. Good luck! Dave

Maybe you should have said, "Well, maybe my NEXT husband will think it's worth it!" And let him sleep on the couch for a few nights. Sorry, but he was pretty insensitive. Let me ask: Is he thin? I'm guessing he is. Dave

Thanks, Kathy. I may have to check whether something like that is happening around my area. I'm a lousy dancer, latin or otherwise, but I totally subscribe to one of life's "no apologies" concepts: "Dance like no one is watching." :001_smile: Dave

I'm looking forward to having that experience. I email with a lot of old friends, but we don't exchange pictures, so I'll be curious to hear their reaction when they see me. Next Wednesday is my appointment with the surgeon - surgery could be as soon as four weeks after that. Cross your figners! Dave

Gary, can I just say how great you look? Your numbers are amazing, and the pictures tell an incredible story. I hope I have your kind of success! Dave

Good luck! But if you don't mind, what is Zumba? (I could Google it, but I'm lazy. And I think your answer would be more interesting. ) Dave

Fran, welcome to the Forums. You've found the best place to get the answers you're after. The stories here run the gamut from rank beginner, to those who are well past reaching their goal weight. The stories are as varied as the people who wrote them. I invite you to read as much as you can. Don't stay within just a few forums - I've found many treads cross-relate to other forums, so it pays to browse around. There are folks who read the forums voraciously, and who are quick to reply to questions. And if that's not enough, go visit the chat rooms, where you can have a live conversation with people who may already have answers to your questions. And don't be afraid to ask questions, even if it seems like nobody else will know what you mean. This place is very supportive, and you're bound to make a lot of new friends here. I've been here a short time, and feel like I've known some of these people forever. I can assure you, your current state of mind is quite normal. Everyone has a million questions. As you learn more, you'll find answers to a lot of your current batch of questions, and you'll find new ones to ask. Relax and enjoy the ride. This is the first step to a whole new you. Best of luck, Dave

Ok. Makeup, lip gloss, and a front hook bra. Check! What else does a guy need? LOL! :001_tongue: Seriously, is there a list for a guy? Other than underwear, slippers, and maybe something else to wear besides the drafty hospital gown, I'm kind of drawing a blank here. I haven't been a hospital patient since I was 13... :confused1: Dave

I completely agree with you. It may sound weird, but my life is ALREADY better, and I haven't even had surgery. Why? Because I finally have a plan, and a way out. I know things won't be perfect, but they're bound to be a damn sight better than they are now. I can't wait. Dave

For me, it was a matter of bouncing back and forth from one to the other to the third choice, then finally moving from wanting the band to wanting the sleeve. (I have yet to have my surgery.) I decided on the sleeve after weighing how I perceived the band as temporary. I wasn't seriously committed. I think a lot of folks do the same - "if I have trouble I can have it removed." My weight gain has been progressive, and consistent for a long time. Nothing about that sounds temporary. Once I got used to the idea that my commitment needed to be a permanent choice, the decision to have the sleeve made the most sense. That, and knowing I wasn't having something artificial implanted into my body. (Have you SEEN the videos of what a band looks like inside of you after a few years? Holey crap!) I'm content the sleeve will let me live the most normal life - just as a much thinner me. Dave

Ericka, by now you're done. Hope things went well. Post your status soon! Good luck! Dave

Good luck, Tim! See you on the recovery side of the operating room. Dave

I think a lot of folks go from possible surgery to possible surgery until they find the one that suits them best. I know I did that. I was totally convinced the band was for me, until I spoke with some people who'd actually had it. The more I read about it, the more I realized it wasn't for me. So I switched to the RNY surgery. Until I spoke to some people who'd had it. None of them appeared healthy, and every one of them had had complications of some sort. It was pretty scary stuff. (And I have an Aunt who had it, and she's a mess.) Then I talked to a bariatric surgeon who is also a patient. He had the sleeve. When I asked him why he chose the sleeve, he said it was the right choice for him. I stepped back and considered my goals and needs with that perspective, and it became a no-brainer. With luck I'll have my surgery before the end of the year. And then all these "losers" here will have to slide over and make room for another "loser" to join them on the bench. :crying: Dave

Whew, thanks! I was worried. This guy does like his salsa... :001_tongue: Dave

Wow! That's impressive! I'm looking forward to hearing whether he makes it to TV! Good luck to you both! Dave

Tim, I think some people learn by observation. After you've had your surgery, and she sees what you're dealing with, she'll come around. She may truly be jealous at this point, but not because she doesn't want you to succeed - it sounds like she's just placing her personal frustration in front of the situation. After she sees you working your sleeve tool to manage your weight loss, and she sees how eating is different for you, and how it's not a magic bullet, she'll come around. I'm sure of it. What I'm doing at my house before my surgery is making sure everyone who'll be affected by my surgery knows I'm going to be handling things differently than I do know. food will be different, meals will be different, and I will be different. I've warned them in advance, and everyone is ready to be there for me. We'll see whether they follow through. But as already been said, use this forum as a resource. I find folks here are amazingly supportive. I've also spent some time in the chat room talking with those who have already been through it. I'm learning that those who have had the surgery are quick to want to help others succeed. So you'll find plenty of support, if you ask for it. And that includes me - I haven't had surgery yet, but I won't be far behind you, if all goes well. Just let me know if I can give you a guy's point of view on things. Good luck! Dave

Susan, is it going to be any kind of problem, you being a sleever and him being the next (potential) food network star? Kind of like the fox in charge of the henhouse? Dave

I wasn't here when you posted that challenge, but after reading your post, it seems to me like you need to shake up your life a little. It sounds like you're bored. So if "everything is back to normal" with the few exceptions you named, and you aren't happy with things, then it's time to make a change. Even a small one, but you need to start somewhere. What have you always wanted to do, just for you, but felt you couldn't because you were overweight? If you're an exercise person, maybe it's time to change up the routine. If you walk or hike, why not tackle a different route? Try lifting weights, or swim a longer distance, just to see if you can do it? I'll bet you can, but you won't know till you try. Is your house perfectly arranged to your liking? Maybe it's time to clean out those old closets, get rid of clothes you know you'll never wear again, and try to declutter things some. And if that's already been done, maybe it's time to paint the kitchen, to refresh things some, and to reflect your new relationship with food. You know you've wanted to do that for a long time - maybe now is the time. Nothing needs to be dramatic or expensive, but even a small change can make you feel empowered and rejuvenated. Just be sure it's a personal victory, so when it's done, you are the one who benefits from it. This weight loss journey is about you, so it's time to start giving yourself the rewards of your efforts. Hope this helps, and congratulations on your weight loss! Dave