Paul11011

Holy crap! I did not get any notifications of these posts. Sorry folks, I wasn't ignoring you. Thank you for your comments. My date of surgery weight 456 to one year post op 200 was only a 256 lbloss. Only .

Thank you. I am still getting used to seeing the "new" me in the mirror. I still expect to see the other guy.

Get your butt down from that tub, you're going to hurt yourself! You look (and I bet feel) terrific, great job!

Pic in blue shirt is highest known weight, 496lbs.

Congratulations Holly! Here's to continued success on your journey.

Great list! Keep this close to you (literally copy it and carry it with you) and when you're tempted by crap food or don't want to work out, take this list out and remind yourself of why you're on this journey. Just seeing it in print will be a great motivator.

Wow, it's been a long time since I have been here. Post sleeve life has been good. Ups and downs and unforeseen events but the majority of it I would not trade if I could. Weight is still an important part of my life but it does not hold the control over me that it did while I was obese or even that it did for the first 18 months post op. I was fanatical about doing everything right in order to shed the weight as quickly as I could. It worked by following the recommendations of my surgical center professionals. I have since realized I can not live the rest of my life so regimented and constrained. That does not however mean that those things that were recommended and I proved worked will be abandoned. It is really about using those tools I learned, in addition to my surgical tool, to manage my weight for the rest of my life. My weight is under my control I am not under it's control. I started my journey on Nov 23, 2010 at 492lbs. One year post op (Jan. 10, 2012) I was 200. Today nearly 2 years post op. (Jan 7, 2013) I set here at 196. This is about 6 lbs heavier than I want to be. I had gotten to a low weight of 177 around September 2012. I was still 4lbs away from "ïdeal" weight but my body fat was under 9% and I felt like crap. For once in my life I made a conscientious decision to be heavier. That concept is still surreal to me even as I type this. I found that I felt the best and looked the best in a range between 185 and 195. I am using a target of 190 as my new life goal. Now is where I get to make myself feel better and preface that this is all weight before any removal of loose skin so in all reality my "real" body does weight less. My best guess based on others I have seen that have had removal is that I have at least 25lbs of skin that could go. Will I ever be able to get the skin removed so that I can actually see what my "real"body looks like? Who knows, I doubt it. And yes there is a bunch of extra skin. I like to make jokes about it, after-all who doesn't want a butt that looks like a Shar-Pei? The reality though is that it sucks. I have bags and folds that are a constant reminder of the size this container used to be. I can dress it well but in my birthday suit it is not a pleasant sight. Uhhhhggggg! Is the extra skin burdensome enough to regret the decision to have surgery, nope, never. The surgery is still the best decision I have ever made. One statement of advice to those looking to go through this that have significant others (in the pre-politically correct days I would have said spouses). Be very aware of what THEY are going through as you are on your journey. This affects them too and often in a blindsiding way. Even the most supportive and enthusiastic partner can get lost in the waves of attention that a successful WLS patient will be seeing. And trust me, when they get swept under and begin to feel like WLS has unexpectedly become their whole life too.....the results are not good. I hope you all are doing well and I will be back more often. I had forgotten how good it feels to simply put into text what is swimming around in my mind. Take care Ya'll!

You have exemplified my new favorite saying, "Just because you can do it, does not mean you should do it." You are going to need to change your mind and view of food. For that reason alone stay away from testing the waters. Follow the nutrition plan you were given.

While you're still newly sleeved, take advantage of that "honeymoon" period to make the behavior changes you're going to need to make to carry you through the rest of your life. At first you're going to see changes and rewards come quickly, use these as motivation and reasons to stick with your plan. Journal your food and activity. Learn about metabolism , basal metabolic rate (BMR) and how muscle building positively impacts BMR. Understand that this is going to be work, this is not the easy way out.

Awesome, you look amazing!

On Wednesday I had my 1 year post op visit with the PA (Todd), Dietician (Kristen) and Behaviorist (Scott). I am still sitting here in shock that it has been a year already. I find myself lost in what I can only describe as a surreal state. My physical life is so different today than it was a year ago. I feel better in ways that I never could have imagined. I had a conversation with Todd today about needing to be aware of getting ill (extended flu as an example) because at my current body fat %, I could run a real risk, with such an extended illness, of my body fat get too LOW….TOO LOW….are you kidding me? Does Todd not realize he’s talking to a lifelong super morbidly obese person? How can I even conceive of my body fat getting too low? Surely he is talking about someone else; he cannot be talking about ME. Wow! I guess my life has changed. The meetings with both Scott and Kristen were nice reminders of what I need to focus on and continue to focus on as this journey continues. The first reality is that it will be continuing. I may be at a much lower weight than I was at the beginning, but this is nowhere near the end of the process. I will need to continue to be deliberate and diligent in order to be successful long term. This is a life journey and I can only strive more towards conquering those demons that are still there and need to be actively battled. Complacency and disregard for what I have been taught will only allow those demons to reappear. I feel so fortunate for the things I have learned and the people I have gotten to know over this year. Jan. 10, 2011 (Surgery Day) / Jan. 4, 2012 (1 Year post op checkup) Weight: 456 / 200 BMI: 65.4 / 28.7 Body Fat %: Approx. 44 / 12.9 Health Required Meds: 3 / 0 Neck Measurement: 24” / 15 ½” Chest Measurement: 70” / 44” Waist Measurement: 72” / 40” Hip Measurement: 51” / 40”

On Wednesday I had my 1 year post op visit with the PA (Todd), Dietician (Kristen) and Behaviorist (Scott). I am still sitting here in shock that it has been a year already. I find myself lost in what I can only describe as a surreal state. My physical life is so different today than it was a year ago. I feel better in ways that I never could have imagined. I had a conversation with Todd today about needing to be aware of getting ill (extended flu as an example) because at my current body fat %, I could run a real risk, with such an extended illness, of my body fat get too LOW….TOO LOW….are you kidding me? Does Todd not realize he’s talking to a lifelong super morbidly obese person? How can I even conceive of my body fat getting too low? Surely he is talking about someone else; he cannot be talking about ME. Wow! I guess my life has changed. The meetings with both Scott and Kristen were nice reminders of what I need to focus on and continue to focus on as this journey continues. The first reality is that it will be continuing. I may be at a much lower weight than I was at the beginning, but this is nowhere near the end of the process. I will need to continue to be deliberate and diligent in order to be successful long term. This is a life journey and I can only strive more towards conquering those demons that are still there and need to be actively battled. Complacency and disregard for what I have been taught will only allow those demons to reappear. I feel so fortunate for the things I have learned and the people I have gotten to know over this year. Jan. 10, 2011 (Surgery Day) / Jan. 4, 2012 (1 Year post op checkup) Weight: 456 / 200 BMI: 65.4 / 28.7 Body Fat %: Approx. 44 / 12.9 Health Required Meds: 3 / 0 Neck Measurement: 24” / 15 ½” Chest Measurement: 70” / 44” Waist Measurement: 72” / 40” Hip Measurement: 51” / 40”

Help me get some understanding of what support you have been provided by your hospital or surgeon. Did you get a meal plan for follow up? Have they ran labs so you could know which Vitamins to be taking? If it helps to get your fluids in using the products you mentioned, that is fine. It is very important to be getting in at least 64oz. Dehydration is a bad thing.