Catracks

I was always athletic too. I do have to say that the desk job combined with my inability to Portion Control really did me in. Loved your story. i will be sleeved on Wednesday.

Hi everyone! My name is Vance. I have really enjoyed looking around in this forum. What a great place of encouragement and comradery and I hope I can add as I go through my journey.
I was very athletic growing up and even played semi-pro baseball. About 20 years ago I started my first sit down desk job, and there began my upsizing. I gained several pounds every year until it reached a point this past summer (2011) where I ballooned up to 330 lbs. With three wonderful children and a beautiful wife, I decided it was time to do something about it before something worse happens. I decided to meet with Dr. David Kim, weight loss surgeon in Dallas, TX. After a great meeting, I decided I wanted to go for it. The sleeve was going to be my surgery and after my insurance approving it, I started my liquid diet. I lost 34.5 lbs in just a few weeks and weighed in at 295.5 on my surgery date, 12/31/2011. Surgery was good with not any difficulty. Today is day 8 and I just moved to Phase 2 of my liquid diet. It's going pretty good. Getting in my Protein and Water and currently down to 281.5 (down 48.5 lbs pre-op / 14 lbs post-op.) I'm a little head hungry, especially when I see pizza or fast food commercials, but I just sip on my Water and I am okay.
Anyways, I just wanted to say hi to everyone. When I registered for this site, it suggested I post my story, so there it was. I hope to be an encouragement to others as I have already been encouraged by you all so far.
Thanks!
Vance

I'm at work and will be tomorrow as well. My friend said I should take a few days off prior. I said, "What for, so I could obsess and be tempted by the fridge all day?" No thanks.
Good luck Paola! I'll see you on the other side -- the LOOSERS BENCH!!

This is how I'm coping with it. I'm staying busy and I constantly have something in my stomach. Either I am drink Crystal light, drinking a Protein Shake or drinking broth. Mine is strictly liquids and clear ones other than the Protein Shakes. Late at night is the worst. I'll drink another broth and go to sleep. By that time it's morning and I'm never really that hungry in the morning. I have another Protein shake and pack my broth and shake + Vitamins for work.

I echo what the others have said - I simply didn't want something as drastic as a bypass and have my guts totally rearranged. The sleeve is simpler and in most cases just as effective.
Oh, and not everyone wants to drive a Cadillac, I'd just as soon "drive" something just as nice and costs a lot less.

How cool is this? Im 5'1"and my goal is 130-135 too. The surgeon said 110, but I know my body and 110 is gaunt on me. I weighed 244 a couple weeks ago. I'm older than you 46, but we are virtually twins.
Here's the advice. I make a double Protein shake in the morning, drink one and put the rest in a shaker bottle for lunch. I get my crystal lite and Vitamins together and get my packets or make my broth and pack them for the day.
I never really have an empty stomach. At about 10:30 I get hungry so then I drink broth. I went to a Thai place and asked them to get me the broth out of the Tom Yum Soup. At 1:00 I have another Protein Drink. At 3:30 I have another serving of broth. All this is interspersed by drinking the Crystal Lite stopping :30 before the Protein Shake.
Evening is the most difficult. I drink the remaining Protein. I wish my plan allowed me one high protein evening meal, but it's all liquids. If you feel like you need to eat, Sip some more broth.
There are a lot of recipes for Protein shakes and the best are from Theworldaccordingtoeggface.com.
Keep busy. Get your surgical info, lists for what to bring to the hospital and post-op food in order. I've been cooking and saving broths, Soups and stews.
Make sure you have stuff for your clear liquid, full liquid and pureed stages. Have your Vitamins ready too. I also bought a heating pad (for pain), a 1.5 cup food processor and a mini muffin pan (for pre-op food).
I also worked on an exercise plan and got free weights and exercise DVDs right out by the TV. I am going to walk, hike and do Tae-Bo.
Also, at night when you really want to cheat -- if it's late enough, simply go to sleep. Take some hot broth with you or herbal tea if allowed.

Hope you all don't mind my posting something that might not fall under a "success story" or "NSV"... but I just can't help but want to share!
I have been with my significant other, Mike, for nearly a year now. He is the most wonderful man, and we've talked about getting married some time in the near future.
The other night, Mike, and I took his four young boys on a Polar Express train. I don't know if you all are familiar with the story, but it's one of my favorites. They have an old train near Flagstaff, AZ, that you can take. All the children wear their pj's and bathrobes and they serve hot cocoa and Cookies. Well, as we're chugging along, Santa makes his way down the train giving the children sleigh bells. After he passes us, we have the four boys curled on our laps and Mike brings out a tiny box and says Santa left this for me. He opens the box and says "My dearest Sara, will you marry me?" I asked each boy what I should say and they yelled "YES!". So...
I'm officially engaged!
And the thought of wearing a wedding dress and not being embarrassed by my weight or pictures is just icing on the cake!

Tuttle, my surgeon has a weekly support group. Also you could turn to the person who gave you your psych eval.
I think I will still be able to enjoy food, but there are lots of things to turn to. There is God, church, people, pets, volunteer work, hiking, crafts, books. I've heard it said that a person with an addiction replaces it with another so make it a healthy and happy one.
I suppose these are only words because I do not know what clinical depression may feel like or if you are even there. I do know what situational depression feels like. I have had to give myself a stern talking to and get myself involved in something.
This seems to be my solution for everything these days. Go to Theworldaccordingtoeggface.com. She is gastric bypass, but the food and restriction about the same. She loves to cook and still loves to eat -- just not in quantity. She knows how to make up for it in quality. Her recipes are awesome!!
Hope you feel better. Keep us posted.

I just had an idea. Please do tell me if this is tacky. I got a bunch of tupperware as a Christmas gift (I love it because I got tons of small sleeve sized containers). Anyway, how about stashing a small tupperware container in your purse and pack your own food away. That way the wait staff has no idea that you have a lot of leftovers.
Men -- a backpack? your GF/Wife's purse?
I think this is what I'm going to do.

I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO YOUR POST! I hated shopping, NOW I LOVE IT! I feel like a model in the dressing room EVERYTHING looks good, I just can't afford to buy it all LOL!



OMGOSH I'm jumping out of my skin right now because I feel like I'm about to give you the best news ever, ready????...



YOU WILL LOVE SHOPPING TOO I PROMISE!!!



AND YOU WILL WEAR THAT WHITE DRESS AND FEEL FABULOUS IN IT!!!!!!



Remember to post a picture of you in your white dress OK???

I had my Protein shake this morning. Not too shabby: 8oz skim milk, 1 scoop of chocolate Protein powder and a tsp of Torani SF chocolate Syrup.< /p>
So here I am at work. I feel pretty good actually. It sounds stupid, but I sort of feel lean and mean LOL!
The only problem is an intermittent feeling of slight nausea. Anyone had this? Do I need more Water? Does it go away? My instinct is to have some warm broth, but I'm trying to wait until lunch as I left my midday Protein Shake and Jello at home in the fridge (yeah, stupid!) It's almost 10:00 here.

My first impulse is to want to talk you into it because of all the success stories and the people who say that their only regret is not doing this sooner. Also know that you have a great support system right here.

There was a time when I knew I was overweight, but not yet unhappy with myself. You are right to be weighing this. This is irreversible. If you are not ready and have no health problems, do not be afraid to put it off. As an analogy, think about this as you would marriage. Isn't it better to call it off even the night before then go through with something that you might regret.
Now me -- I know I'm ready. Yes, I have these little niggling thoughts about never being able to pig out again, but then those thoughts are squashed by the fact that I know I will still be able to enjoy food -- just a lot less of it. I dream about fitting into the nice clothes I used to wear. I dream of being able to hike to the tops of mountains again. I dream about being able to ride without straining the poor horse. I dream of getting on rollercoasters without wondering if they will be able to secure me. I dream of wearing a bathing suit and going boogie-boarding. I dream of being able to go to a wedding or a party without freaking out over how I look. I dream of being able to slide effortlessly into a booth. I dream of a day when my high blood pressure, sleep apnea, pre-diabetes and fatty liver disease will disappear. You may not have these now, but they will come.
You do have a lot to think about.

I would be VERY happy for a reduction from 40D to 32B. My husband wouldn't be too thrilled, but these things get in the way of everything!

I just found out that I was approved today! I know how you feel. I feel like dancing! Now I just need that surgery date!

I would only use this at a buffet or places that charge you to split meals. Children's menus are usually crap consisting of hamburger, hot dog, chicken strips, grilled cheese and mac and cheese.< /p>
I don't mind leftovers AT ALL. My plan is to ask for a "doggie bag" immediately, set out my portion and bag the rest. I would give my Soup or salad away - unless I planned to only have a bite or two.
I also keep in mind that the restaurant is under no obligation to accommodate me. Of course, I am under no obligation to return with my family and Yelp would probably hear of it.

I can't get my wedding ring off anymore. They may have to cut it off if (NO, WHEN) I get the surgery.
You are my sisters and brothers. I pray for all of us to be healthy this time next year. Rootman, it looks like you are all but there already. You give us hope.

Feeling cold is so much better than me being fat ans=d not being able to tolerate the heat of a California summer anymore. I used to always be outside. Now I huddle inside with the A/C on.

Feeling cold is so much better than me being fat ans=d not being able to tolerate the heat of a California summer anymore. I used to always be outside. Now I huddle inside with the A/C on.

Being an inch from the steering wheel and barely able to reach the pedals.
Not even bothering to go to amusement parks anymore because it's so embarrassing to be sent off a ride for not fitting properly.
Being afraid to go out for dinner and being put in a booth that will not accommodate me.
Getting in and out of said booths.
Being asked to be an extra in a film, but do NOT want to have your fat self in a movie forever. Also, being afraid there will be no costume that fits you.
Not wanting people to take pictures of you and having your family pissed at you when you delete/destroy really bad photos of yourself.
Not going swimming because any thought of getting into a bathing suit terrifies you (and you don't even have one that fits anymore).
Wearing the same 3 pairs of pants because you simply cannot motivate yourself to buy the next largest size.
Not being able to put on sandals because reaching around fully to the left side of your foot is now a memory.
Not looking good in ANYTHING.
Skin problems that I am fairly sure that are related to obesity.
Being too tired to do ANYTHING after a full day of work that you used to love like taking care of the house, the garden ...
Being too uncomfortable and self conscious for sex (sorry if TMI).
Feeling guilty for over-eating.
Not being able to horseback ride because your neighbor needs you to be under 200 pounds for the horse's sake.
Be terrified of connecting with old friends because they will see you like ... this.
It really goes on and on ...