Decided on the sleeve but still have a couple questions

[mikeross 216]

With the majority of the stomach removed what would happen if years down the road you developed some type of illness that would require operation of a part of the stomach, example being stomach cancer considering one has a strong genetic predisposition.

I read many contradicting stats on various forums and WLS websites regarding the amount of caloric intact for men within the first year of the sleeve operation. I have read men claim to be eating 1500 calories 1 year out to maintain their weight and also have read where you will only be able to eat 500 calories a day.

Lastly, I worked out a lot in high school and college, many many years ago lol. After reaching goal I would love to work at lowering my body fat % down and start bulking up again with lean muscle. Is this even a possibility with the sleeve procedure? I ask because I had to eat lots of Protein to maintain my muscle math many years ago when I was training. I know many members on this forum are active and work out daily but are any members hear working out strickly to build large muscle mass.

I have chosen and consulted Dr. Cirangle @ LAPSF to do my sleeve. I am still doing as much research before I commit to doing the procedure so expect many more questions from me.

If I do choose to do this I will make a very detailed and documented thread with tons of pictures about the whole process and after the surgery. .. I guess I will use the thread as a journal for myself.

Thank you everyone for the help and info they add to this forum? It really is the best and most informative forum I have found so far.

[BeardedItalian48 3]

Hello------

I can only speak of what I know. I know that I am glad of going to Mexico Dr. Aceves and paying HALF what the states cost. I know that the care I got there was far far superior to any hospital I have ever been in. Now regarding calories and muscle building, to maintain muscle while working out you must have Protein as you stated...to me I still have a stomach not as large so again to me it would seem that if I wanted to build I would ingest protien...like before. I am no expert. Regarding the cancer of the stomach...I too am predisposed for cancer, however, I am losing the weight and doing other things for my HEALTH. I refuse to allow the thought you threw out to enter. The way I figure it is HEY I am doing better weighing less....

[Malaika 50]

Mac and Jahut will be the best ones to answer the question about Protein and bulking up - they are both runners and Mac is training for a 1/2 Ironman ...

Mac's surgeon was also Cirangle - and I know she thinks he's wonderful.

[MacMadame 81]

Dr. C is crazy about Protein. If you want to bulk up, he'll be right on board with that. :001_smile:

I consume an average of 120 g of Protein a day. My calories are around 1600-2000 depending on the day. I think anyone who is only consuming 500 at one year out has other things going on and I wouldn't consider that to be the normal experience. I'm almost 10 months out, btw.

I know WLS guys who also do triathlons who eat 2000-3000 calories a day. They didn't have a sleeve, but it's really not that different. You can eat a bit more at a time with a bypass at one year out, but that just means we need to eat more calorie dense food and/or more often.

I start the day with a Protein shake made at 1.5 strength. I generally end the day with protein hot chocolate, but not always. It depends on whether I've made my protein goals or not. In between, I have 2 more meals and 2 more Snacks. I can't eat a ton at any one time, but I can eat enough. If I needed more calories, it would be incredibly easy to get them, just by changing the types of foods I eat. I still go for reduced fat cheese, for example, and don't eat a lot of nuts. So I could do full-fat cheese or have nuts more often for my snack.< /p>

As for stomach cancer, your chances of getting that go down dramatically. If you do get it, they do the same thing as they'd do if you had no sleeve. They cut out the part with cancer. My aunt had stomach cancer and the first time they cut out most of her stomach and the second time they cut out the rest. You can live without a stomach. You just need to chew your food to mush.

The only thing you wouldn't be able to do is certain operations where they wrap a piece of stomach around your esophagus. I think they do that as a cure for certain types of hernias and/or GERD. But there are alternative treatments that you can have instead.

Also, there is a blog feature on this site... that might work better than a thread for documenting your journey. Threads get buried easily.