Paul11011

I am unable to add photos to my existing albums. I keep getting a pop up that says action failed. Any ideas?

This process is definitely a mental battle. The sleeve or any WLS for that matter is only a tool to cause a physical limitation while we learn how to provide our bodies with the energy source it needs. Too many of us used food to fill other voids and to deal with emotional ups and downs. Without the food there it is a reality that we will feel those emotions more than we're previously used to. Instead of eating a piece of cake to help us get past the wife's most recent aggravating action, we're going to have to learn how to deal with these situations in other ways. We can do it though, we are MEN after all.

Yesterday I had my 3 month (11 week actually) check up with my nutritionist, surgical PA and exercise physiologist. Everything went very well and they were all pleased with the progress I've made both on the scale and with the changes I've made to my diet and workout routines. A couple of things of note that I want to share: Weight on 11-23-2010 (initial consult): 492 Weight on 1-10-11 (Surgery day): 456 Weight on 3-28-2011 (3 Month check up): 383 Cholesterol on 10-13-2010 (Labs done with PCP before contacting surgeon): 221 Cholesterol on 3-28-2011: 170 Days of exercise per week pre surgery: Yeah right! Days of exercise per week since surgery: 6 (3 days of cardio, 3 days of strength training) Normal breakfast pre surgery: 6 scrambled eggs with cheese and 6 sausage links. Normal breakfast post surgery: 1/2 cup egg beaters with 1 oz cheese I thank God every night for the change he has brought into my life and the daily opportunities he gives me to be successful.

If you buy the clothes, you must have the big hair and tight rolled jeans....and post pictures to prove it.

32 for me.

As I began looking at the sleeve I found some videos on Youtube and found them fascinating. I asked my surgeon if he would be able to record my procedure and he was more than happy to. Here's a link to an edited down version of my surgery. Total run time was about 50 minutes and I've cut it down to about 12 minutes.

Very cool! Congratulations.

Thank you all for the positive comments.

After losing 60-70 lbs I noticed that I was waking up with an unbelievably dry mouth. I went into my sleep Dr and told him what was going on. He adjusted the pressure on the machine down. He explained that with the weight loss I no longer needed that higher pressure to get down my throat so I was instinctively opening my mouth, the air would rush out and dry out my mouth. I'm now at 109 lbs off and am starting to have the same dry mouth thing, might be time to get the pressure reduced some more. Wow what a long story to summarize a point. Keep your Dr aware of the changes you're seeing. They may not require a complete sleep study and will likely have some ways to help you with the trouble you're experiencing. I would not recommend going off the CPAP without first consulting with the Dr to see if you can find a solution. I know I can not wait until I get to ditch that damn awful thing, but it needs to happen in a way that does not sacrifice health. Oh another thought, if you're not getting restful sleep, it could negatively affect your weight loss. Good luck.

Another vote for a GNC product, whey Isolate 28....strawberry. Blends well, tastes great. http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3235539 http://gnc.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pGNC1-5123376_gnclabel_pdf.pdf

Sounds reasonable to me. Looks like I get to announce membership too. Since initial consult on Nov. 23. 2010 as of March 21, 2011....108lbs gone. Congradulations by the way, sorry I did not say so earlier.

I lost 36 lbs on my pre-op diet.

Ok, fill me in on the century club. Are we going post op 100 or do we count from initial consultation?

I know how you feel. I'm down 108 since my initial consultation with the surgeon and 72 since surgery, but have another 150-160 before I get to where I think I want to be and that will still be considered obese (BMI of 33). At times it does seem daunting. I'm approaching it using mini-goals, for instance. When I lose another 25 it will be the smallest I've been in 4 years, another 40 after that will be be the smallest I've been as an adult. It's not about where we've been it's about where we're going. Best of luck to you.

You can have too few calories. If you do not have enough calories your body will go into conservation mode because it thinks it's starving and you will not lose weight. That is one of the primary reasons people go into stalls. I know it seems counterintuitive, but you must have calories in order to lose weight. I do think that your machines are off on the amount of calories you're burning. "The most effective way to lose weight is to consume fewer calories than you expend, creating a calorie deficit. But if your calorie intake dips too low, says Lummus, your body could go into starvation mode. "Your body will start to store fat because it thinks it is not going to get anything," says Lummus. "You will be at a point where your body is kind of at a standstill." Lummus says that when your body goes into starvation mode, your metabolism slows to a crawl, burning calories as slowly as possible to conserve its energy stores. This is why people who cut their calories too much may reach a plateau and stop losing weight. " http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/fewer-calories-stalls-metabolism.aspx

Well Howdy neighbor (Jenison here). Have you been to the Monday night surgical peer support group at GHP? IF not, why not? Monday 5-6pm, great group!

I can not express how valuable it has been for me to have a workout buddy. Though I am very excited about my new exercise routine as part of my journey, there have been a couple of times where if I were left to my own devises I would likely have found myself too busy to get in my workout. Having that other person there to help me be accountable, and I him, has kept us on pace with our 3 times a week strength training. Even better part about my workout buddy, he's my 17 year old son. Commitment to exercise and quality time with my teen: priceless.

Calorieking.com is a great resource. http://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-beverages-smoothies-strawberry-banana_f-ZmlkPTE3ODQ0NQ.html (?) Nutrition Facts Calories 330(1379 kJ)% Daily Value 1 Total Fat1g 2% Sat. Fat0.5g 3% Trans Fat0g Cholesterol5mg 2% Sodium55mg 2% Total Carbs.77g 26% Dietary Fiber4g 16% Sugars70g Protein3g

What! 2 weeks? We were doing it on the gurney in the recovery room....LOL. Official paperwork I received at discharge and they were not gender specific, said 2-3 weeks as comfort allowed.

Well this afternoon at about 4:30pm one of my first goals on this journey was achieved. I have now passed the 100lbs lost mark. This is from my initial consultation date on 11-23-2010. I lost 36 lbs from that date until my surgery on 1-10-2011 (9 weeks ago) and have lost 67lbs post-op for a total of 103lbs gone. I know I have a long road yet to go but man this feels great!

EWWWW! Let's hope. LOL