PdxMan

Go over to the band to revision forum and read about everyone's nightmares with having the band. If that won't convince you ... Sleeve has been awesome for me. Can't see how it couldn't do everything you needed it to do.

People tell me I look 10 years younger now ... There are pictures in my gallery under my profile ... you decide.

My wife made me a little embankment with pillows in bed. It was awesome. Totally supported my from all sides. Slept and relaxed there. Thanks Honey! :wub: (Yes, she reads the boards)

I jokingly said my goal weight was whatever weight I am when my moobs are gone. I hated having them and feel so much more like a man without them. Congratulations on your loss

Wow ... Raw oysters at 5 weeks ... I wouldn't try it. I couldn't do solid meats (steak) until I was 6 months out. I blended chicken and tuna with a fork until then. And with crackers? Did your NUT say crackers were OK for you? I can't imagine they would, but I have heard of crazier things. Have you asked your NUT this question? Seems like a meal closer to 5 months than 5 weeks.

The endoscope and bougie are most likely about the same size, so, no big deal.

How old are the kids? I don't think you could ever go wrong in finding some hobby to pursue with your kids. Whatever age they are. Whether it be fishing, woodworking, model building, gardening ... What are their interests? You will never regret spending more quality time with your kids, and they will love it, too.

Totally understandable. I think you would have to be numb not to be nervous. I wasn't so nervous about the surgery as I was about the lifestyle change. But let me tell you, it has been great. I am no longer a slave to my cravings which would drive me crazy sometimes. I feel like I have control over that aspect of my life and it is so ... liberating. I think that's the word I am looking for, but there are so many other words to describe it, too. Also, if you want to aid in your surgery recovery process, start excercising now. The better endurance you have, the better off you will be when it comes to your recovery. It can be as simple as walking or doing band exercises on your couch. Start doing something now.

Well, after having the surgery I turned into a runner. You can check out my blog HERE. If you go into my profile (click on my name), on the left hand side, scroll down to gallery. I have before and after pictures there. As you can see, I have lost over 100 pounds and think I look the better for it. I know I feel better. Yes, I do have extra skin, but it is better than being morbidly obese, for sure. I am 13 months post op now and will evaluate plastic surgery when I hit the 2 year mark. By then, whatever bounce back my skin will do will be done by then. For 99% of the population, an exercise regimen will be a good thing and will aid in your appearance. Good luck

Don't know how to reply without getting flamed, so I'm just going to pray for you. I truly wish you the best on your journey.

I think I might have you beat. I went from deciding to have the surgery to actually having the surgery in 30 days. I was self pay, so I was able to skip all those hoops, but, same as you, I woke up and said enough was enough. I need a permanent solution to this roller coaster. Congrats on making a decision to take some action. It has been great for me.

Once I was able to get to pureed foods. My NUT suggested I increase my carbs to get some energy back, so I had veggies in my smoked ham/lentil soup that I pureed. Also, chicken veggie soup and clam chowder, again, pureed. I started to feel human again.

You basically have to change the way you eat. We can no longer eat at the same pace we did pre-op. food must be chewed more thoroughly now and at a slower pace. What you are experiencing is called sliming. You just have to find the pace that is right for you. I always put my utensil down after a bite and evaluate how each bite felt before taking another. This is true even after a year. I can't wolf down food like I used to and to be honest, quite happy I can't. Yes, it does feel like some days I am eating all day long, but I know that my caloric intake is still nowhere near what it was, so I am OK with that. There is no reason to push yourself. Do you really want to go back to the same eating style you had pre-op?

5 weeks out I was eating purees. Any Soup ... I pureed it. My fav was smoked ham & lentil. Great Protein, healthy carbs and bold flavor. I also did chicken veggie a lot, too. I transitioned to turkey chili and also enjoyed clam chowder, but the ham and lenil was my go-to. I was so desperate for flavor and that fit the bill. As time moved on, I pureed less and less to transition my stomach to more solid foods. Worked for me.

Spinning is great because you can go at your own level. Don't worry about the spastic person next to you cranking it as hard as they can trying to out-do the instructor (there's one in every class). Just go at the pace you feel comfortable with and try to push yourself occassionally. That is where you will see the gains in your fitness and endurance.

I believe Candyman is also a truck driver. You can search for him using the search function.

Soooo ... whilst not a woman ... I did have my moobs, which, are completely gone now. I know it's not the same, but I would definitely wait at LEAST a year from having sleeve surgery before considering ANY kind of plastics. You may be quite surprised at how your body responds to the weight loss. I've have read posts on here where women have completely lost their boobs down to A cups and others who have lost only a couple cup sizes. Most of the complaints are about the pancakes left on their chests and they are actually looking at getting them enhanced. You would hate to have a reduction only to have to get them filled up again a year later.

Do you have a nutrition store in or near the town you live? There are many protein powders out there you can mix with water/soy/almond milk. I would drop by there and find a whey protein powder.

I think any way you look at it, >150 to lose or < 150, the sleeve is the best choice. If, after awhile post sleeve, you feel you are not able to follow the rules of the sleeve and want to go the malabsorption route, you can have a switch or RNY. But for me, one year out, I still have excellent restriction and know beyond a doubt that if I had another 100 to lose, the sleeve would help me be successful. And all my plumbing is right where it's supposed to be and my pyloric valve functions as God meant it to.

I'm summarizing your quote. I hope I don't take anything out of context. Please correct me if it do. Also know that I am not angry, upset or anything. Just having an exchange of ideas here, so let's not get heated. Might be a good time to mention THIS article again. As far as speaking into a vaccuum, I used to be a Hoover, for sure, but not anymore! (get it ... Hoover ... ) But I interpret your posts as saying if I do not also mention that I had surgery to aid in my eating less and being able to exercise, than I am ommitting the truth which, is lying, therefore affecting my integrity. If this is not your intention, then I am misinterpreting your posts for sure.

No, I understand that ... but my question was, if I don't tell people about my eye surgery, and now I can see fantastic, you are saying that is an ommission of the truth and a loss of integrity? That my shoulder surgery should be mentioned before I play tennis because my serve is not like it was before. I had surgery which made it better. The sleeve is not solely responsible for my weight loss. It is a tool that assists me to do exactly what I am telling people who feel it is OK to inquire about something I consider personal. Now, if I said smaller portions and exercise and they followed up with, "And that's it?", then you cross into the area of integrity by ommission or telling them something else, I think. But I am not going to explain every tool that I use in my life to get by day to day. As I said, if you feel you do, then God bless you, but it kind of feels like you are getting on a soap box here.

It really depends on where you start, but I have seen many people, myself included, lose 100% of their excess weight. I think it depends on how much excess weight you have and for how long you are able to maintain strict compliance with the lifestyle. Whether it is sleeve or bypass, someone 4 months out can do an awful lot of damage to a tub if ice cream ... and their weightloss.

Maybe I'm just thick, but I'm not exactly sure how to interpret your post. So, if someone comes up to me and says, "You look great, how did you do it?", if I don't tell them I had surgery, then I have no integrity? I had lasik surgery 10+ years ago ... about a week ago, I'm at the swimming pool and someone comments to myself and another person what a beautiful sunset it was. I agree, but the other person says that he can't really tell because he doesn't have his glasses on. So then, I am obligated to tell him that I had surgery on my eyes and that is why I can see the sunset without using eyeglasses? Is that true? I am a tennis player and my serve was suffering from shoulder pain. I had surgery to remove a quarter inch piece of bone which did the trick. After healing, my serve was smoking fast and far more accurate. After each ace, does my integrity suffer because I don't explain that I had surgery? Prevarication is to intentially mislead ... is that what we are doing? A co-worker approached me about my weight loss because she was concerned about my health. We had recently had another co-worker leave work because of cancer and the treatments were not allowing her to continue. I think she had a valid reason to ask me and I responded the way I mentioned above. Again, she agreed and was happy that I was healthy. Now prior, I had neighbors ask me and I told them the truth. I was then drilled as to why I can't do it on my own ... don't I have any willpower ... haven't I ever watched biggest loser ... It is what I am comfortable with and that is all that matters. Everyone should do what they feel is right and not feel obligated to be the WLS poster child if that is not what they are comfortable with. If that is your thing, then go for it. More power to you. Seriously. ** edit ** Now, if someone came up to me and told me they were needing help with weight loss or related issues, or wanted me to help them do what I did, then no doubt, I would tell them my story. But until then ...

Why, thank you. It has been the easiest, hardest, most rewarding thing I have ever done ... and I feel great!