Neoteric Verve

It's hard not being a little vain. I'm still 294lb (down from 441lb). My waist went from a 58" to 42" and shrinking. I wear 2xl instead of 4xl & 5xl. That's good and all. But I never fully prepared for the freedom. To walk into a restaurant and sit comfortably in a booth. To get on rides at a theme park. Walk into a store and buy off the rack. The self confidence rose. I settled before. Now I realize I don't have to for the sake of being with someone.

To live life on your own terms. To not always be the biggest man in the room. To actually have a woman turn her head and give me a double take. To be wanted and not just needed.

My God this is beyond awesome! It's truly a blessing. My surgery was well over a year ago (Sept 2011). I'm loving this!

Y'all are so awesome. Thank each and every last one of you for the support. It really warms me to know that there are truly great people out in the world... and they all seem to be here at VST!

How tall are you?

6'3"

Well I am down 135lb and dropping slowly now. Looking into possible skin surgery. About 30-50lb from goal. I eat WAAAY less but I always have tons of leftovers after going out. If I want to avoid food shopping for a few days I can now just go to Claim Jumper's and order off the menu. Leftovers there last me 3 days, lol!

I am about 11mos out from surgery. I know I can eat more but not when I eat Protein first. I am about 30-50lb from goal and still lose 1-2lb weekly eating "normally". For a reference, I can now eat 75% of a Sonic Single w/ cheese but I find that when I do I unknowingly eat LESS calories daily (around 1000-1200). When I try to eat more sensible I eat around 1500-1800 calories daily. On those days I eat the "hospital-portioned" Cereal for Breakfast with 2% milk, lunch comprises of a chicken breast with whatever vegetable is in the cafe at work, dinner is random as it can be nothing or up to one chicken satay (for example). Interspersed throughout my day I drink Water and Honest Tea and eat a Smuckers Uncrustable and maybe a light & fit yogurt. As a Nurse Aide I move around quite a bit on a twelve hour shift so getting to a meal isn't always easy or possible. In those instances I go with the cereal, yogurt and uncrustable at work and have a form of protein at home. Is there any way that I could get my doctor or anyone to measure my stomach capacity?

It has been a while since my Sleeve (which I've named Steve). Sept 23, 2011 will always be remembered by me, long after I forget my own birthday! What I want to know is this: How long after surgery should I begin to look seriously into skin surgery? To date I am down 135lb but I am still at 306lb. Now, in talking with my doctor, having hydrostatic bodyfat testing and looking visually at myself my goal is 255-270lb. That's merely 36-51lb away. By my guesstimation I have around 15-20lb of loose skin on me. I am in no danger of rash or infection, but the skin is not appealing.

I could really use the advice of VST as y'all have first-hand knowledge of what I mean. Some of you have gone through it. My areas of "looseness" are probably typical: arms (bat wings), inner-thighs, pannus and chest.

I've been up and down. Not my weight (it's still going down) but It's been 38 weeks since my Sleeve surgery. I went in at 441lb and as of this morning I am 313lb. I have a little ways to go and now I think it's time to amp up my workouts. I haven't posted in a while (sorry) but will at least try to log on 1-2x's/wk.

The Sleeve can definitely get you to where you want and need to be! While there are plenty of Sleeve success stories here on VST (myself included) the decision is ultimately yours. I wish that you make a very well informed decision and that you do what is the absolute best for you.

LoL! Yes, Lissa Im a guy.

I eat normal foods. Just in lesser quantities. I don't limit what I eat just how much. So I can eat anywhere from 600-1900 calories daily.

And I'm not complaining. I had at one point a goal weight of around 220lb and now.... Well my first "real" goal is to get under 300lb and go from there. Coming from 440lb I think hitting that would be incredible. As of today I am but 28lb away from 299. If I play it right I could be there by the end of next month. Six weeks to drop 28lb shouldn't be too hard (I hope).

One thing's for sure, I am getting tired of buying new work clothes (ok not really). It amazes me that at the times where I feel I eat too much I actually lose the most. And will someone explain to me why/how it's easier to eat carbs as opposed to Proteins? At this point I am 29 weeks removed from surgery. I am up to eating 1,400-1,900 calories daily. Once I think I went over that but that was months ago. I feel normal. And really, that's pretty much all I wanted. One day my body will catch up to my new eating habits and I'll be golden.

Not nervous. Ready to be done and to learn how to eat better with the sleeve. Praying for a fast recovery.

Not to worry, the hard part's over. You can handle the rest with ease. Congratulations on the first day of your new life!

The surgery is incredible. I started at 440lb and now I'm 335lb. Starting now I'll be going back to my kettlebells. They really help blast the pounds off! VSG truly is the most liberating thing I've done. I feel so accomplished.

The surgery is incredible. I started at 440lb and now I'm 335lb. Starting now I'll be going back to my kettlebells. They really help blast the pounds off! VSG truly is the most liberating thing I've done. I feel so accomplished.

Beyond AWESOME!!!! I am down 105lb since Sept 23rd, 2011. Iam 335lb as of today & feel now that my body will settle around 265-270lb. I see that I'll need a body tuck one day but not until I get under 300lb (preferably around 285lb). Best damn decision I ever made. Highly recommended to all!!!

Drainage is fine. Especially from the excision site. In a week from now you'll be good. Watch as you transition to more solid foods not to overdo it. You may get those dreaded "slimes". Not too bad but mostly annoying ealy warning system telling you to stop eating.

And I have faced and come to grips with a lot of situations in my life. I found out who my friends really were. I see the true status of my relationships, ALL OF THEM.

I also decided not to pursue nurse anesthesia school. I decided to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering. I have had tremendous changes in my personality. Or is it that I now released my self-imposed inhibitions? Down 95lb and lovin' it. This wouldn't have been possible this soon without the Sleeve. I feel like I gave myself an extension on life. One that was never there at 440lb. I have a ways to go but at this point I know it's actually possible to get there. I spent so many years dreaming of a life of health and personal satisfaction but now it's a reality that I can see coming.

I love myself more and it shows in my outward behavior and appearance. I am very excited every day. I look forward to being a PhD and doing something to help advance mankind. This is the destiny I was hoping for. The future once a pipe dream. I am here to make some sort of change to help not just myself.

I thank the following:

Francis W Teng, MD

the members of VST

family and friends that supported me

I now have a vital tool to help regain my path in life....

I'm trying to gauge how much (or even if) I will need in way of plastic surgery...

I'm going to get some shrimp RIGHT NOW!!!

Thank you all. I recently stopped consciously making my food choices & let my body do the talking. Turned out that it acts normal but never goes overboard. I drop around 2-4lb a week.

BAZINGA!!!!!

I weighed myself today. Five months (exactly) removed from my VSG it made me very happy to see I was 90lb down and 90lb to go. If I keep up my regimine I can be under 300lb before my birthday!!

We do what we can when we do what we do!

Greg. DUDE!!!!!!!! The 150lb is beyond awesome!! And we're both about 95lb to goal. Sweeeeeeet!