Paul11011

I was going to post, but Becca said everything for me.

Thank you. Yes, I'm 10lbs away from the goal that I originally set at 220lbs. When I sat that number, I never thougth I would get to it. I was thinking if I could ever get under 250, I would be totally happy. Such a strange view of things I had at nearly 500lbs. Now that I am so close, I am really looking for some input. I don't know where I should shoot for. My wife would be content if I stopped now. I want to look and feel my best. I don't know how I would look sub 200. I will post some more current pictures and please give me your thoughts. If you think another 30 would be good, or more or less, let me know. I have not been this weight since I was in the 6th grade. I have no idea what I should look like. As long as I have the keyboard warmed up, the clothes sizes I'm buying now almost scare me. I'm wearing Levi 33 inch waists and buying button up shirts that are larges. I bought some new underwear the other day, mediums. I could have bought a small....a small I tell ya. Unfreaking believable. Thanks again for all the supportive comments.

Thanks for the Facebook suggestion, I'll look into it.

Thank you. I feel terrific! The only secret I have is that I've stuck pretty religiously to the nutrition structure I was given to follow. I have increased my activity and exercise too, but I could really be more dedicated to getting in more exercise. I have to believe it is simply a blessing from God that I have been as successful as I have been.

Already am my friend. Currently sitting at 46.7% of the weight I was on Nov 23, 2010 (my initial consult with the surgery center). Thank you all for your encouraging words and support.

Sorry I'm just replying to your question. Ok, don't hate me now. The closest thing I have had to a stall is one 1 week period of no loss. Yeah I'm an oddity.

I can not believe it has been 9 months already. I am still incredibly thankful for the progressive I've seen. I can only equate my nine months with the much more famous 9 month period we all know, the progress towards birth. I feel that my journey has very much been a rebirth. I am no longer the person I used to be. Not only am I physically smaller, so many other things are different about me. I have a better attitude about life, feel more confident and resolute in who I am and what my capabilities are. I no longer look first for reasons I can't do something, rather now I'm wondering what can I do. My loss of the emotional crutch I had in food has caused me to be more emotional and deal with those emotions. It has been a wonderful and eventful journey. Here's a wrap up of where I am today: Total weight lost since initial consultation (Nov 23, 2010) -256lbs Weight loss since surgery (Jan 10, 2011) -220lbs Current weight, lowest since 6th grade 236lbs Current weight as a percentage of my beginning weight 48% No longer taking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and no longer wear a CPAP. I have shed all the co-mobilities I had at the beginning of this journey. Thank you all for reading and for providing me a very valuable outlet and support on my journey.

I can not believe it has been 9 months already. I am still incredibly thankful for the progressive I've seen. I can only equate my nine months with the much more famous 9 month period we all know, the progress towards birth. I feel that my journey has very much been a rebirth. I am no longer the person I used to be. Not only am I physically smaller, so many other things are different about me. I have a better attitude about life, feel more confident and resolute in who I am and what my capabilities are. I no longer look first for reasons I can't do something, rather now I'm wondering what can I do. My loss of the emotional crutch I had in food has caused me to be more emotional and deal with those emotions. It has been a wonderful and eventful journey. Here's a wrap up of where I am today: Total weight lost since initial consultation (Nov 23, 2010) -256lbs Weight loss since surgery (Jan 10, 2011) -220lbs Current weight, lowest since 6th grade 236lbs Current weight as a percentage of my beginning weight 48% No longer taking blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds and no longer wear a CPAP. I have shed all the co-mobilities I had at the beginning of this journey. Thank you all for reading and for providing me a very valuable outlet and support on my journey.

Well said Mike. You give an accurate picture of what to expect as one continues forward on this journey. It is so exciting to be a little ways out and look back on what the path has been. Congratulations!

Thank you for your kind comments.

Good point. From what I've found and this is in reference to a normal stomach, it takes between 6-8 hours for the contents to move into the small intestines. If we can evaluate that time purely on a proportional reduction in capasity for our new sleeve that would mean the food is still in there for 1-2 hours. So as long as one is drinking when they are supposed to be, 45-60 minutes after eating, maybe there wouldn't be a concern with Fluid pressure expanding the stomach.....where's my physiology professor when I need him?

The sipping will go away and you can resume normal drinking. As a previous big gulper I would ask that we all really think about that prospect. Most sleeves are designed to be about 4oz in capasity. Really think it's a good idea to try and flood as much liquid into that space in as little time as possible? Ever see a water balloon? I don't think pushing our stomachs to their limits and the repeating will yeild favorable results. If one wanted to stretch their stomach back out, what would be a recommend way to do it? I seem to think, fill with water, stretch to limits, empty and repeat would be pretty darn effective.

On Nov 23, 2010 I met with my surgeon for my initial consultation, on that date I weighted in at 492lbs. On the date of my VSG, Jan 10, 2011, I weighted 456lbs. Today I weigh 245lbs. That brings my total lost to 247lbs and my post op total to 211lbs. Here's why today is a milestone for me: today I weigh 49.8% of what I did back on Nov 23, 2010. I am officially less than half the man I was! I know this journey is not about the numbers on the scale rather it's having the opportunity to live a fuller more healthy life, but man I gotta admit, this one feels pretty good. Thanks for reading Y'all.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and encouragement. I wish I had a secret to tell. I'm following the instructions I've been given and trying to make sure I live my life thinking of food as required energy. It's not emotional support, entertainment or a friend of any kind. Thanks again y'all!

So this last Saturday (Sept 10) marked the 8 months post op point for me on this journey. I am still amazed at what a process it's been. I have had success well beyond my wildest dreams. As is often the case nothing is ever completely positive. There have been some bumps to work through that I never would have predicted before surgery. Primarily dealing with relationships. Relationships with both people and my relationship with food. It has been a learning experience in so many ways. In snapshot form: I've lost 242lbs since my first consultation on Nov 23, 2010. I've lost 206lbs since my surgery on Jan 10, 2011 I'm now smaller than I have been since the 6th grade. I have never been this size as an adult. I am in the smallest pants and shirts I have worn since who knows when. I have cleaned out my closet of the old clothes and this time instead of storing them in the basement to use when the weight returns, I am getting rid of them. I'm beginning to feel on the outside like the person I have always believed I was on the inside. I am so fortunate that I'm still seeing benefits and confirmation, almost daily, of my choice to have the sleeve . Thanks for reading. Take care y'all.

So this last Saturday (Sept 10) marked the 8 months post op point for me on this journey. I am still amazed at what a process it's been. I have had success well beyond my wildest dreams. As is often the case nothing is ever completely positive. There have been some bumps to work through that I never would have predicted before surgery. Primarily dealing with relationships. Relationships with both people and my relationship with food. It has been a learning experience in so many ways. In snapshot form: I've lost 242lbs since my first consultation on Nov 23, 2010. I've lost 206lbs since my surgery on Jan 10, 2011 I'm now smaller than I have been since the 6th grade. I have never been this size as an adult. I am in the smallest pants and shirts I have worn since who knows when. I have cleaned out my closet of the old clothes and this time instead of storing them in the basement to use when the weight returns, I am getting rid of them. I'm beginning to feel on the outside like the person I have always believed I was on the inside. I am so fortunate that I'm still seeing benefits and confirmation, almost daily, of my choice to have the sleeve . Thanks for reading. Take care y'all.

Thank you all for your re[lies. We are in the process of working through the issue and have had some good conversations.

Thank you all for your comments and support. My wife is not a surgical candidate since she has lost the 50lbs on her own. She originally had about 100 lbs to lose and since she's lost 50 already, she would not be a candidate based on BMI, lack of co morbidities, etc. I met with the behaviorist at my surgical center today and he was very helpful. He provided some very valuable insight and some great suggestions. Ultimately though he helped me to realize that the feelings she is having, while connected to my choice to have surgery, are not my fault. I full understand the struggle she is having, I just never imagined it would happen. Meg, thank you for sharing your view with me. It's encouraging to know that this does happen with others and we're not an isolated case.

I have an interesting predicament. My wife was fully in favor of me getting the sleeve. She had been trying to get me to have WLS for a year before I finally admitted to myself that it was the right thing to do for me. Every step of the way she has been supportive and encouraging. She has been the one that has taken my progress photos and seen how incredibly life changing this has been for me. She is very happy that I had this surgery. She is also trying to lose weight. She determined that she would not be the fat wife. We had always been a heavier couple, me much more so than her. She has done a terrific job following a better diet and exercising. She has lost approximately 50lbs in 8 months as a result. She is also right by my side when I meet people that comment on my weight loss and want to hear about my story. She is there for the excitement such as was expressed by a lady at church this morning that was so happy to see me "melting away" while ending the greeting by telling my wife that she "looked good too". She has heard me talk about the loss of cravings, how even when I want to eat more I'm limited physically and how what I call "hunger" now is no where near what it was before surgery. She is supportive and would not wish me to fail, yet she is struggling with how successful I've been, with the attention I am getting and feels cheated that she, in her opinion, has to work so much harder for the loss she sees. I do everything I can to reinforced to her how wonderful I think she is and how great she has done. It is little to no comfort for her. She has told me that seeing me be as successful, with no real difficulties, has made it that much harder for her as she tries to lose. She has become resentful and jealous of how well the sleeve has worked for me. She tells me that another compounding effect of this comes in that i have a surgical support group I attend weekly and a couple great outlets for on line support, where she feels left alone in a situation that not many can relate too. Even on the forums that I frequent, there really is not a great spouse support structure, let alone a spouse trying to loose weight while seeing her husband virtually disappear. I have known for some time that she was getting sick of hearing my stories and being around for the "OMG you look so good" comments so I have not been sharing some things with her. I see no use in "rubbing her nose" in my good fortune. This is yet another thorn in her side because I now seem to want to "keep this part of my life separate". Well yeah, duh, you don't want to hear about it and it makes you feel worse about yourself and makes you resent me. No **** I don't want to tell her about successes. Oh and as a side note I really enjoy talking to others about this process, love helping other WLS patients with whatever information I can provide for them and would like nothing more to be able to have a career working with WLS support groups. I feel like I'm living in the quintessential catch 22. I don't know if there are any answers or anything I can do to make the situation better, but I'd sure love some input. Thanks for reading my rant.

Lol...yep meant it to be at least a little funny. Thanks for getting a laugh out of it.

In addition to the shrinking of the stomach and liver allowing for more room for the surgeons to physically operate there is one even more important reason for the pre op diet. A reason that causes me to believe that those surgeons not requiring it are damn fools or are looking forward to doing your revision work. By following a pre op diet you demonstrate that you can actually follow a diet. This is an absolute necessity for continued success after your WLS. I just recently encounter a prospective WLS surgery patient that was dropped by her surgeons. She gained weight during the preop diet and admitted to not following it. She's now trying it again with a different group and I'm pretty sure she learned her lesson. This aint the easy way out folks.

I am beyond thankful for the success that I've experienced thus far and praise God for this opportunity to have a longer healthier life. The dilemma I have recently discovered is I've begun to question myself about the amount of enjoyment I get in talking about my WLS journey. I have always enjoyed sharing my story with others for a number of reasons. The most predominate reason though is that I have found so much encouragement form others as I was looking into and beginning my journey and I hope to be able to provide that encouragement to others. I really love sharing the adventure with others. With weight as the topic I feel I have been to the near extremes, I was never on a public service special but I had gotten to the point where some of the basic life functions where cumbersome to say the least. Maybe the depth of sadness I felt at those times in my life are now being counterbalanced by the happiness I now feel. I've had better than average success with this WLS surgery and I feel like I'm in the best possible position moving forward with the rest of my life. I'm still seeing scale and NSV regularly and feel badly that others have struggled where I have not. So my question is this justified, is it ok to still be so happy and excited. Am I providing any value by continuing to tell my story or am I an attention ***** destined to turn into a daffodil?

Awesome that you're getting the attention you deserve for your success. Now the package that the attention came in....well I'll leave that up to your interpretation. Congratulations on a huge NSV!