Allow me to introduce myself!

[tsmith5110 11]

Hello all!!!

My name is Thomas, or Tom or Tommy! I am 34 year young and currently live in North NJ (Bergen County). I am married for just over 5 years. I have been obese my entire life, and late last year I decided I wanted to take the steps to a better life and a healthier life. I am going to be having the gastric sleeve procedure done, on July 22nd (just found out my date this morning). I am extremely excited!! I have done WW in the past, other diet fads, nothing really worked or stuck. My first time I did WW as an adult was about 8 years ago and the reason I started was prerequisite for gastric bypass surgery (had a date, but did not have the surgery). I never had the surgery because I was doing so well on WW, I lost almost 100lbs in less than a calendar year, and then life happened and food was there and I gained it all back and then some!! SO NO MORE!!!! I know food will always be there, and life will too, but this will help me to deter myself from food!!! Plus, I am hoping it gives me more energy and motivation to get to the gym!!! My goal weight is 200lbs, but as long as I can get to 220, I will be happy!!!

Thank you all for taking the time to read part of my story (have to leave some mystery behind me), and I look forward to connecting with as many people as I can! Cause I have tons of questions!!!

Tom

[Miss Mac 6,262]

Welcome, sleeve brother. This is like...the craziest forum ever! If you have been lurking around, you know that folks can get intense and passionate about their opinions, but there is a lot of wisdom and compassion here. And opinions and tact do vary. I have been on this forum for a year and a half and check in ever day. Good luck with your surgery. I hope you have an uncomplicated recovery and visit us often.

[naturegirl 320]

Welcome to the group. Good luck with your bariatric journey.

[fau2nvy 28]

welcome.

[tsmith5110 11]

Thank you all!! Where is everyone from?

[laguerr13 993]

Welcome, I love this forum, and have connected with several people who have encouraged and mothered me along the way, after hitting 388lbs in January, I just woke up and said no more, so between that and peppering for this I got down to 368lbs, then with my pre surgery diet and 4 days left to go I am at 349lbs, my wire has been my biggest supporter and advocate through this process, she is a hottie(big motivator for me) blonde blue eyed South African girl who was a size 6 when we met, very active and health conscience, but as my date gets closer I see that she is questioning my decision and becoming very concerned for my safety and well being, but as for me I am happy and confident as can be about all this, already experiencing some great moments from the weight I have already lost, less back and knee pain, and caught myself bending to tie my laces the other day, the diet for some reason this time has been very different for me, I'm loving the foods I can have, and not feeling the hunger, I cheated once with some Cookies and milk, and I paid for it cause of the sugar, and I loved it, I am looking forward to life and a second rebirth, I live in San Antonio TX. And there are so many things I wanna do, we plan to live by the beach in the next few years, so I have many ways to get motivated, don't get discouraged when you hit the rough spots, everyone on here seems to hit them, and remember "don't ever let the scale dictate your life"

[michellemartin961 29]

Welcome to this site! I'm a newbie but did have my sleeve 5/26/15 so now on the other side of the journey ????. Yes there are some passionate people here but to everyone's credit the caring makes up for some of the stronger opinions and sometimes we need the kid gloves off to shake us out of the dumps ????.

I too live in San Antonio. Your wife is doing what spouses do when facing a loved one's surgery. Keep including her in all discussions and encourage her questions for your surgeon and team. My family was and is very supportive and soon my sister will transition from the band to the sleeve herself! That will make my daughter, sister, and I being sleeved with an aunt banded. Family thing going on lol ????????.

My gentleman friend has also been supportive and very helpful post surgery. His daughter had the sleeve last year. I also have a very good friend sleeved in 2013. That is the key to success....support!

Best of luck!

Michelle

[RaginCajun 177]

Hi Tom -

You are making a brave choice. Brave in that you are young with most of your life ahead of you. Speaking as someone who is 55+, I can only say that if this option was available 20 years ago, I would have not blinked an eye and had it done.

One thing tho, just know that WLS is a 'tool in the toolbox' as they say. It requires continued diligence and passion to work with the tool.

I mention this because food is still there. And the entire benefit of the sleeve can be un-done if you eat constantly, even if in small portions (referred to buy NUT's as 'grazing).

The great news is that during the critical 12-18 months post-op, there is no physical hunger. Because the chemical that makes us hungry is produced by the stomach, and 85% of the stomach has been removed. Keep emotional hunger at bay (aka: Head Hunger) and you will achieve awesome results.

But, longer term, its still a need to understand there is no 'getting back to normal'. That 'normal' is what got us to where we needed the WLS to begin with. So, we have to create a 'new normal'.

Best of luck to you!

-RC-

[Miss Mac 6,262]

tssmith5110, I am from a suburb of Chicago, called Alsip. I was not born here, but I have moved here on purpose three times. I guess I really am a South-sider (sometimes called Sox-siders) at heart.

[NellZ 4]

Hi Tom, my sleeve gastrectomy is scheduled for June 22 as well!. I'm 32, close to your age. I'm excited to know I won't let another year slip away with missed-out opportunities due to my weight. let me know how your surgery goes-- one week from tomorrow!! Can't believe it!