Matt Z

Was just checking in and updating some of my photos, I'm 12 years out from my first surgery and 4 years out from my revision.

Depends on how you heal, but 10 days after I was on the elliptical machine for like 10 - 30 mins a time, several times a day.

Better photo to highlight the losses, since you can see my side view better. I feel pretty damn good. Migraine and anxiety disorders causing a feedback loop that triggers each other, but that's another story. I can do so much now it's amazing. I just love going out and doing stuff. I don't mind when people look at me, I don't instantly think they are all "omg that fat guy is gross". I've gotten lots of looks and smiles now. I feel like I did when I was 18-20... less the back pain LOL

I went from 370 down to 183 at my lowest... currently sitting between 185 - 190 at 18% body fat. I have minimal issues with skin, sure there is some extra, and I hate how it looks, but it hides very easily. I've got other photos in my profile that highlight the changes. But at the end of the day, it's going to be 100% personal, everyone's skin is different, where they carried their weight, how their skin reacted to the weight etc etc etc.

There are actually not more compilations with the bypass than the sleeve, this is incorrect. Also, the sleeve is 100% non-reversible, because parts of your anatomy end up in the waste. The bypass is actually reversible in certain situations, the reversal is tough and has it's own complications, but it is possible and does happen. Honestly, I'm really happy that I didn't go with the sleeve (I was a band revision and my surgeon *will not* do band to sleeve due to the increased staple line failure risk) I'm over a year with my bypass and I still am so very happy with it. To each their own, just, make sure you are basing your decision on facts, not feelings. Good luck! The bypass will prevent GERD, the sleeve has a chance of causing it or making it much, much worse. Stick with the facts and figures over feelings... because feelings associated with things we don't know much about... are generally not accurate. I was afraid of the bypass too at one point, because I had the wrong information. I got the band. I really wish I had just gotten the bypass from the get go and not waste so much money on 2 surgeries only because I was afraid of something based on the wrong information. My personal experience here. Good luck with whatever you chose to do!

Here is my updated before and after set. 140.4 lbs loss between the first and last columns. I'll be looking into plastics as some point, but it's not *needed* really, just not overly jazzed about how I look naked. But I'm so happy with how I feel and how I look clothed.

If there is ANYTHING that the RAVE culture has taught me is... it doesn't matter what you look like, how old you are, how "lame" you look... it's all about doing your own thing and accepting everyone else doing their own thing. PLUR Peace Love Unity Respect.... really an amazing crowd to have fallen in with. I was big into techno and rave / edm music pretty much forever, but even though I grew up in the 80's and 90's with the rave scene budding all around, I never got a chance to go to one... until I was 40! Now I go every chance I can!

Current medical research is showing that the human body needs between 90 and 110 oz of water a day. And that's for NORMAL humans. This doesn't include increased need for exercise. The human body uses water to process fat. So, if you aren't giving your body what it needs just to do it's normal day to day, fat loss is going to suffer, greatly. Not even getting into the whole persistent dehydration state thing. Do your best to try to hit 128 oz of water a day. I know it seems tough, but just do your best and you WILL see the benefits of doing so!

This is misleading. Required, No. Beneficial, Yes. No amount of anything will ever change the fact that, the larger your muscles are, the more energy they will burn, full stop. Also, after WLS, with Visceral fat loss leaving muscles and connective tissue with extra slack due to the missing fat padding, you *NEED* to exercise to tight up loose ligaments, tendons, etc.

Congrats and Good Luck!

Never let an interaction with 1, affect your interaction with all. I can't even dance around all the things I'd like to say because it will *ALL* come out wrong in this wonderfully PC world we live in. But, not all men think that, not all men act this way, etc etc etc etc stereotypes are bad no matter who we are taking about, etc etc etc. Take each interaction as it's own. Not sure what this guy is "bringing to the table" in your interaction (meaning his thoughts, feelings, history, moral compass, etc etc etc). I've got a friend that has no idea when girls *ARE* hitting on him... even when it's beyond obvious that it's happening. So... that's my 2 cents.

Pound the water, get into the habit of consuming upwards of 128 oz of water a day if possible. Not only will it help ease and prevent constipation, but your body uses water to process fat. If you don't get it the minimum it needs (current research shows 90-110 oz of water a day is the requirement for a normal human) the fat loss *will* suffer. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn't when you start working at it. Good luck!

Thanks. There are a few reasons that sorta came together at the same time that are forcing me to limit/reduce my time here. I'm going to try to retain some level of interactivity... but with what's come up, I don't have too much of an option other than reducing my BP time. Same, I'm still doing my light IF fasting from 6pm - 8am typically. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But the scale is pretty much just floating between 207 and 213, body fat % dropped to 23.1 and is holding. Curious if I'm going to get another minor "whoosh" or if this is it. Part of me is ok with where I'm at. When I was 17, I was 200-210 wearing a 36-38 pant. Today, I'm 210.7, 23.1% body fat and wearing a size 36 pant.... and I'm 40. So, I'd say being the same height, weight, pant and shirt size I was when I was 17, when I'm 40... isn't anything to scoff at. Hope everything works out for everyone. I will be around still.

No worries! Give them a call, I wouldn't worry about "bugging" them, honestly I had to keep tabs on everyone constantly in order to make sure things were getting done in a timely manner.

Congrats!