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I should follow up my post with saying that I still get my Protein in, minimum of 65-75 grams per day, so after that is when I may fit in that special something that I just have a craving for but can't really eat much of. Getting in your protein will prevent you from wanting the junk food. Just dont substitute that pan of brownies in instead of that chicken breast! That is not what my point was and dont think neilsleeve was getting at that either. Point is eat right but dont be afraid to treat yourself in moderation if you can tolerate it. One of my favorite junk foods is ice cream but over the past 2 weeks, I discovered I can't tolerate it and was sick for a few hours the 2 times I tried it. Tried it once and felt bad, tried it again just to verify it was the ice cream and not something else...sure enough, same results even in moderation. I guess I will hang up the ice cream indulgence for now. Boooooooooooo!

Neilsleeve, nail on the head my friend, nail on the head! I feel the exact same way and am approacing the "diet" thing the exact same way. If I want it, I eat it...just WAY LESS! I am 2 months out, eat just about anything I want when I want it. If I am craving something, I will take a bite or two, it satisfies me, then stop eating it because I am not hungry for it anymore. Did I take in 20-30 extra calories, probably....is it going to hurt me, absolutely not, in fact, I will burn off 20 times that when I ride my bike or go play with my daughter, or go do something physical that I couldn't do previously. It is all about using your head, staying diciplined, and living your life, not deprivation. I am not going to spend my life being terrified of food!

Malisima69, I know what you are feeling as I felt the same, as many above have mentioned. But, if you are dedicated and you are diciplined as it sounds you are prepared to be, you will not fail the surgery. I, just like you had a few months to prepare and I took every word the doctor and nutritionist said to heart and listened to them! And, I am getting the results to prove it with 95 lbs lost and I am 2 months into my surgery. I lost 50 from March to July and then 45 since the end of July when I had surgery. I am 40 lbs from goal and feel great. Now, there were times I felt like I was failing because, as I have always done, I weigh myself daily, usually 2x a day (morning and night). I will go a week at a time with no weight loss and then 5 lbs drops off over 2 days. This is how I have been the entire time. Initially, I lost 10 lbs in the first week after surgery then went 2 weeks w/o losing a pount. I felt like I was going to be the failure you fear, but that broke and I started losing again. I lost 20 in the first month, and then 20 in the second month, and now another 5 in the past week. Like I said, nothing for about 4-5 days, then 5 lbs drops over 2 days. Then another stall for 4-5 days and then another 5 lbs off. It goes in spurts for me and can be a little frustrating at times. But, I am measuring it based on how my clothing is fitting me, how I look in the mirror, and how I feel. Even when the lbs are not coming off, my clothes continue to fit looser and looser so I know I am losing inches. It is a mystery to me as to where it is going if I am not losing weight other than to attribute it to muscle gain through extra physical activity (walking and biking)....but I dont care as long as I look and feel better. If I stay at 220 lbs and my waist gets smaller and my legs get smaller and I look and feel better, so be it! Trust that it will work and do your part to help it work and you will have great success with it. You can't fail if you do your part to make it work for you. I can attest to this as I went on vacation 2 weeks ago and knew for sure I would gain a little back as I was not careful as to what I ate or how often I ate. I did find that I just couldnt eat to excess and came home from the beach with a 2 lbs weight loss. AMAZING difference from past experiences with vacation. TRUST IT! TRUST IT! TRUST IT!!!!! DO YOUR PART AND IT WILL WORK!

This little girl right here....

This sounds like a sciatic nerve. It is the large nerver bundle that runs through the pelvis and down the legs. What happens is, you irritate and get inflammation in the nerve bundle and it can cause numbness in your legs and feet. Perhaps you have a slight narrowing where the nerve bundle runs through the pelvic area and the exercies you are doing are causing the irritation? I only know this because I hurt my back about 4 -5 years ago and my left leg went numb. This is the message that the doc relayed to me.... Until I lost weight, I periodically had numbness in my toes on the side of my left foot. I was constantly irritating those nerves in my hip on the left side.

Thanks for all of the compliments everyone, it really has been a great journey. Yeah, I am down over 90 lbs but to be honest, it doesn’t feel like it. It wasn't until I posted these pics that I realized how much of a difference there really is. This was the first time I have put before and, I guess you can call it "After" pics together. I use the term "after" loosely because it just hit 2 months over the weekend. The funny thing about this journey is that I didn’t realize that all of my aches and pains were the result of carrying that extra weight around on a frame that had always been sub 200 lbs. Well, except for the left knee issues but that is a sports related ACL tear problem. But, even with the ACL tear, the weight loss has nearly stopped the knee pain as well, only when it is over used does it hurt. It is definitely nice to be on normal foods now! It is actually easier when I am at work because I pack the right foods in the morning and that is what I eat all day. Still eating about 5-6 times a day but the meals are so small, just enough to take the hunger away without feeling uncomfortable. Lots of Greek yogurt (Chobani Apple Cinnamon is amazing!), low fat or light string mozzarella cheese, EAS Protein drinks, and then usually a lean meat of some sort throughout the day and I am good!!!! I just returned from a weeklong vacation in the Outer Banks and traditionally, I gain 10 lbs from that week. There is so much food in the beach house that all you do is graze all day. Even if I tried, I couldn’t this year, it was awesome! I actually came back 1-2 lbs lighter and I was not too careful about what I ate (it was vacation!!!!). Now that I am back, I am back to being very disciplined once again, the sleeve makes it very easy to be disciplined! I am not exercising like crazy though; my schedule just doesn’t permit the time to go nuts in the gym. But, I am riding my stationary bike daily and I walk a lot at work since our building is 1/5 of a mile long. Now that winter is coming and the days are getting shorter, I will dust off my Bowflex machine and start hitting the weights a little more, at least that is the plan. I am also mountain bike shopping although that may wait until spring as I don’t want to have to sit and look at it for the next 6 months waiting on the weather to break. For those not sure, or on the fence, the sleeve is an amazing tool that when used correctly provides outstanding results. Less food, increased energy, and a renewed lease on life are the upsides. The first day or so following surgery weren’t what I would call "awesome" days, but barring complications, the recovery is quick. I highly recommend having it done robotically if you have that option!!! I had surgery on a Monday and could have easily returned to my desk job by Wednesday or Thursday, but instead, I had to wait until I was cleared at my 1 week appointment. The worst of this whole process....the drain tube. I would not say it hurt; it was just weird, especially them pulling it like a rip cord when it was time to remove it at my 1 week post-op appt. Ok, sorry for the rambling mess that this probably comes across as but I just wanted to share my experience to this point.

Ok, I am 2 months and 2 days post-op and about 6 months out from my initial consultation with my doctor. I am down just over 90 lbs, 50 pre-op and now 40+ post op (in 2 months). I just looked back at pics from my sister-in-law's wedding and can't believe how big I was at the time. I was somewhere around 315-318 at the time in this wedding pic and am now down to the mid 220's with about 40-45 lbs to go to goal. I know others' pre and post-op pics were big inspirations to me so I want to share my transformation as potential motivation for others. But, the biggest inspiration is the little one and my wife in the last two pics. Don't mind the cheesy OBX gear we are wearing in the second pic, we were intentionally doing the "tourist" thing the day we left....lol

So I need to clarify that it is not 84 lbs since surgery, it is 35 before the 2 week pre-op Optifast diet, 20 lbs in the two weeks of Optifast, and then 29 in the 6 weeks since the surgery. Either way it is 84 lbs since the end of Feb/beginning of March. I feel great and am about 45-50 lbs from goal at this point, 185 was my HS athletics and military weight (6 ft tall). I keep thinking to myself that I took the easy way out becaue I have worked my butt off in the past to lose weight, and always have, just could never keep it off. Now I am losing with only basic gym time and I never feel hungry. Although I am only down 4 inches on my jeans, it is deceiving becasue I have always had big muscular legs that carry a lot or weight in them so I tended to be much heavier than I looked. In fact, my family was floored when I was up to 317 at one point, they all thought I was around 250. Anyway, it is nice to shop for normal clothes instead of being forced to wear the limited options of a 40+ inch waist. Not sure if any of you experienced this but my clothes went from possibly being too small but not looking terrible, to not fitting at all. I dont feel I had a period in there where the stuff fit me correclty. The little NSVs are awesome, shopping for "normal" clothes, people noticing and actually willing to say something because it is noticable, the complete lack of desire to eat the wrong foods, and the amazing amount of energy I experience now. I am looking forward to participating in the obstacle course 5k races (Warrior Dash, Run For Your Lives, etc....) that my wife has started doing but I am going to be very cautious on that since I have a twice torn ACL (a big contributor to the sedentary life that led me to 317 lbs). I am just excited by the fact that I WANT to do these things. I have that desire now, it is awesome! No pics yet, just never think to take them, but I will get some in here soon.

I had my surgery on the 23rd but not down much from surgery day, down 14 lbs. Im not upset by that since I'm down 70 lbs with pre-op starting last Feb. I didnt think I would be losing at a very high rate after surgery since I lost so much up front. But, I feel really good and have no pain anymore. Been back to work since day 7 after surgery and have been fortunate that getting my Protein and Water has not been an issue. Now, that doesn't mean I can get much more in but at least I'm able to take in what I need. I start pureed/blenderized food on Monday so that will be a nice change of pace! I will be on normal food by the time I go on vacation in Mid September. I will be three weeks on Monday and will be playing in a golf outing this Sunday. Already tried hitting with a full swing and have been completely pain free. Doc said to listen to my body for determining what I can do but dont over do it so thats my plan.

I am in the same place as you although I am only 2 weeks post op as of today. My 2 weeks on Optifast leading up to surgery, I lost approximately 18 lbs, then another 11 lbs in the first wek while on the liquid diet. Now that week 2 has come and gone, I have not lost a thing this past week. I know from my caloric intake and protein intake that I cant possibly go without losing weight but it may just be different than what others have experienced. I know how you feel and sometimes think the same way, but i just keep telling myself that it will come off.... Now, I am down 70 lbs since February so my weight loss may be slowed since I lost the initial weight before surgery that many may not have lost until after. Regardless, I feel that once I can start rigorious physical activity, I will lose and keep the weight off.

So I am about 9-10 days out and I have a golf outing at my 3 week mark. I spoke to the nurse practitioner and they all want 4 weeks before starting any real exercise but I feel extremely good, never did have muscle pain, just annoyance form the drain which went away 1 week post op. The nurse said that I should listen to my body and to stop if it hurts if I wanted to play after a few weeks. I also have a little tenderness right now at my incision sites but nothing big. With well over a week of more healing, I want to play. How soon has anyone tried to play (if anyone) after their surgery and what was your experience?

I am not sure, my doctor seems to be a little more strict across the board on how we recover so..... Could just he that he is overly cautious but this is standard for my Bariatric Care Center.

Well, Monday, July 23rd is quickly approacing and I go on a clear liquid diet starting sunday. So far I have actually enjoyed the Optifast diet since I chose mostly the peanutbutter/chocolate and the chocolate bars. I think they taste pretty good, maybe I am weird!? To this point since I had my first consultation at the end of Jan, I am down 52 lbs and roughly 8 BMI points as of this morning. Only about 80 lbs left to goal! I hope that continues through after the sleeve. Only really one thing bugging me about this whole process is the fact that I can't lift over 15 lbs for the next month. That means I cant pick up my 1 year old....that will be harder than passing up any food out there! Anyway, I am looking forward to the big change next week, time to take it head on!

My doctor said 4 weeks because of the risk of infection at the incision sites. Showers only for 4 weeks, no "soaking" of any kind....

I am having my surgery on the 23rd and just started my 2 week pre-op Optifast diet on Sunday (8th). So far so good but yesterday was rough, I was truely hungry and the shakes were not cutting it....think I drowned myself in Water to compensate. Anyway, I thought I did a good job losing weight on my own over the past 4 months but have dropped 9.5 lbs since starting Optifast on Sunday. I really didn't think I would lose when on optifast because I had lost weight already, boy was I wrong! Good luck to all of you, gonna be a wild ride!

Well, I finally got my date, July 23rd. Although it is only 2 months out, it feels like it is so far away still. I just want it to get here so I can get started! I have had good luck with weight loss already just from changing my diet (down to 278 from 317 lbs) but they are still going to make me do the Optifast for 2 weeks prior, which I was hoping to avoid. Oh well, comes with the territory I guess. Not really looking forward to the Optifast diet even though I have really cut back on my eating!

I am scheduled for July 23rd with Dr. Zografakis in Akron, OH. I'm excited but it still seems so far away....

I've only told my dad/step mom and my brother/sister-in-law since they are my neighbors (yes, we have the family "compound". My wife is actually a surgical RN and works with the doctor doing my surgery, might be a little tough to get that past her...haha. Like others, most will be supportive but not worth that one person who isn't.... Fortunately I have been sticking to a very strict diet over the last 2.5 months since getting in the program and I am down 35-40 lbs. My weight loss now will mask the effects of the surgery so quick weight loss post surgery will not really be noticed.

I like this topic because I think it may be one of the most surreal aspects of this whole process. I am not sure what everyone else's situations have been over the past but I was never a big guy, I'm 5' 11" and ranged between 155-185 from the time started high school up through the time I was out of the military (4 years active duty) and into college. Since then, I have ballooned to 315 at the beginning of Feb. It will be weird and I do not ever feel like I will ever think I am skinny even WHEN I reach 175-185 again. I will clean out my closet and it will be a strage sensation to shop for normal, in-style clothes again because being bigger, selections are limited, especially for guys!

I think my out of pocket is going to be around $2500.... And that is with my wife being an RN at the hospital where I will have my surgery.

It was at 10:00 am. It was such a quick procedure and I was "goofy" the rest of the day, or at least into the evening.

I just had to fast after midnight prior to the endoscopy, so not too bad.....

I had mine last week and was told no driving, operating machinery, mowing the lawn, and not to make any financial decisions or write out checks of any kind....seriously, they actually told me no finanacial decisions or paying bills! I dont remember any of mine, I was out cold but was technically put in "twilight". Mine was scheduled for 10:00am and think I was being released just after 11:00am but was in no condition to do anything. I could not talk when I initially wok up, in my head I knew what I was saying but my mouth was not connected to my brain yet so I just stayed quiet...haha. Since it had been 12 hours since I ate, we stopped at Panera Bread to eat lunch and I was able to order my own food, but my wife had to ask me a few times if I was ok while eating because I was in a daze just staring at my sandwich! We got home around noon and I went to bed and slept hard until 5:00pm and then had no issue going to bed at 9-10 that night. I just had some bloating for about 2 days following and no pain of any kind from the biopsy.

I, much like a few of the posters in here, was not always overweight until a long stretch in my late 20s and early 30's at which time I packed on a little over 100 lbs. Now, over that time frame I have lost a few times, once in the 50+ range and another in the 70+ range (when my wife and I were having a beach wedding). And, each time I lost, I gained it all back plus some. I can still to this day lose weight at will but as Disney posted, I have to work out with both weights and cardio for about 1-2 hours EVERY DAY! I begin to gain almost immediately following breaking my routine....which to this day is not a realistic workout schedule! I have a family to support and a 9 month old that I would like to spend s much time with as possible before she grows up and I missed out! This last reason is my main reason for electing to go with surgery, I need to have some semblence of a life outside of the gym if I dont want my family life to pass me by.... I have learned that whil I can do it on my own, I cant maintain w/o losing major family time (because I have to work, no choice there). All that said and done, you need to evaluate your own reasons for wanting/needing the sleeve because if you are not comfortable in your own skin, no amount of advice given here will help you!