SML1997

You're absolutely right. They should not throw stones. And she was definitely in a glass house.

I just want to see what others felt have been there biggest OMG moments after surgery.
Mine was this summer....we went on a family vacation this summer to SoCal. First OMG...the plane ride. I FIT!!! Last time I flew I overflowed out the seat and had to use a seat belt extender....this time, fit comfortably between the arm rests and no extension. I even had slack left over once I cinched the seat belt down!!!
Second, we went to six flags....and again I FIT!!!! Last time I went to six flags I had rides I embarrassingly had to get off because I couldn't fit........this time, FIT ON EVERY FREAKING ONE OF THEM!!!!
And the final OMG, I'm not ashamed to say the sex with the wife is amazing!!! Its like when we were dating 14yrs ago....holy crap, I mean I know how much rolls and all that get in the way...but just don't realize how much until they are gone. :wub:
I know that last on maybe a little much for some, but sorry....I'm just gooshing with good things!! The wife is actually getting a bit tired of me pointing out all the things I can fit into now that I couldn't before.....activity wise, not the sex.....

Congrats on the surgery date. I am on September 27th. I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery.

UPDATE: he was cheating on me that's the real reason he wanted a divorce.. Thank god for phone call records... I knew it just needed proof! So Monday I WILL FILE FOR DIVORCE! he's so scandalous... Good for nothing son of a -----, it's ok he will get his!! God is justice in time he will try to come back , but noooooooo... This girl is DONE... I'm learning to love myself and start fresh - it will b hard but I can do it... Plus there's plenty of fish in the sea:)

A little bit of tough love here, but let's add things up: he's a drug user (yes, marijuana is a drug), he's cheated on you, he's emotionally abusive, he's controlling and doesn't want you to spend time with your family, he's a financial disaster, he'd rather you be big than thin, he's emotionally erratic, you're waiting for him to physically hurt you before you can divorce him, and you think giving him children will help things. Seriously, how many red flags do you need here?

Not much advice here... but I did want to wish you good luck on your surgery. I am having my sleeve on 9/27/2012. So we're in the same week!!! I am so excited. Not nervous at all, but I am sure I will be on the day of.
Take Care and Good Luck!!!

So, I was on a first date yesterday. It was a lot of fun, we met for coffee, talked for a couple of hours, and then parted ways. When the evening wound down, I walked her to her motorcycle which was parked out in front of a skeezy dog park in downtown Seattle. Lots of drunks and sketchy folks hanging out.
When we got to her bike, after a little more small talk, we had a nice good night kiss. A VERY nice good night kiss. In fact, it turned into a bit of a make out session in full public view (prompting, I **** you not, a round of applause from the bums drinking in the park!). As we were drawing apart, ready to go our separate ways, she had her hands on my waist, and she commented "wow, nice abs!"
I have never had ANYONE in my ENTIRE LIFE say "nice abs" to me before.
THANK YOU, SLEEVE!
(edit: realized I was being overly defensive about my life choices... without need. Changed the tone!)

I am soo happy to report that I am doing well. Been walking, even cleaned my hospital room. Staff is amazed at my progress. God is soo good!!

Thanks! Everyone's journey is different, everyone has different experiences. But I would be willing to be that anyone who loses lots of weight, gets much healthier, and starts feeling good about their physical selves is just going to EXUDE happiness compared to before those changes! I bet you'll feel lots of the same things.
It. is. AWESOME.

That's awesome man!!!! Looks like you're living life to the fullest, just like we all should. Congrats to you!! In 4 weeks from today, I wil be sleeved as well. Looking forward to experienceing some of the same things as well. Thanks for sharing.

(No pictures this time. I HATE photos; I'm so damned pale and washed out that I always look corpse-like and OLD in my photos, whereas in real life I'm looking pretty damned HOT! )
So I was sleeved in May 2010. It's about two and a quarter years out. I started at 338 lbs.
At that weight, I was miserable. I was sick all the time, everything hurt all the time. No clothes fit properly, unless I just bought everything in tent-like proportions. I had multiple chins, moobs (man-boobs), rolls and rolls of fat around my waist, a fat ass, fat legs, everything. I felt awful. I couldn't walk very far without becoming winded and my feet hurting. I couldn't stand upright for very long without my lower back aching, and my thighs would chafe like I was being scourged by the Furies.
And my self-esteem was just awful. I felt slovenly, ugly, unsexy, unsexual, unmasculine, frumpy, and ashamed all the time. I felt -- fairly realistically -- that no woman would look twice at me, let alone want to take me as a lover. It was okay, though, because I was in a monogamous relationship, so I didn't need to "date." How disrespectful that is to my girlfriend, I can't put into words. But that's a separate issue. That's between us.
Fast forward, past VSG surgery, past two years of steady weight loss, careful eating, ups and downs, plateaus and sharp drops, past fitfully starting and restarting my fitness program, to today.
Now, I work out at the gym almost every day. I like it. I look forward to it. It's how I start my day! It's still challenging, I'm still exhausted, but I look forward to it. I usually lift weights, but some days, like today, are all about stabilizers and athletic performance -- today was focused on speed and agility, on building muscle memory. My trainer agreed with me that I'm still pretty uncoordinated, but also was impressed at how fast I improved; he claimed that maybe, under years of sloth and a sedentary lifestyle, just maybe I was a natural athlete who never developed his abilities! I'm not sure I'd go that far, but I think that I have a lot of potential, and better late than never -- let's leave it at that.
I'm getting ripped. With my shirt off, my chest and shoulders and arms ripple with muscle; they have a lot of that classic bodybuilder look (without that nasty veiny zero body fat/covered in baby oil thing). I realized today, and pointed out to my girlfriend -- that I'm actually developing a six pack. Me! Mr. Fat-ass! Mr. Lazy! A six pack!
I'm down to just a hair over 200 lbs. That means I've lost over 130 pounds, and (more importantly) am maintaining it (and, in fact, am still losing, slowly). At the same time, I'm steadily building muscle mass (contrary to myth, muscle building is slow, but all my measurements show a steady gain). My stamina and energy are the best they've ever been. EVER. Even when I was a kid, and I'm 42 now! My latest testosterone measurement was 611 ng/dL, which is pretty phenomenal. Reference range is 300-800, so this puts me on the high end, about on par with a kid in his 20's; this is just stunning for a man in his 40's, and bodes very well for my continued sexual and physical well being into middle age and old age. It will protect me from injuries, keep me strong and fit, and even boost my mood and libido going forward.
My self-esteem is way up. My girlfriend and I opened our relationship up to other partners (if you want to discuss open relationships/polyamory, I'm available to talk, but please don't post here, that's not the point ), which means I'm dating again. And I'm having FUN! I'm finding that women that I used to consider "out of my league" are now tongue-tied around me. I messaged a woman on my poly-friendly dating site; I thought she was super sexy and probably way too pretty for me, and she responded that she hadn't contacted me because she thought I was out of her league. I mean, holy crap, Batman! Who'da thunk it!
But it's not just vanity. I'm finally, finally, finally coming to accept that I'm a handsome, interesting, attractive, sexy, sexual, masculine man. Along with being wicked smart, with an IQ approaching 200, I'm becoming something of a jock. I'm hiking, bicycling, running, lifting weights, and soon I'm going to start swimming laps at the local pool. I go out to concerts and clubs, I date, kiss, make love, have fun. I'm fit, in shape, and healthy as an ox. Yes, I'm middle aged, so my only regret was that I couldn't have found this when I was 20.
But you know what? I'll take it. I'll take it! This is the life that I think many people wish they could lead. And in a lot of ways, I owe it all to the sleeve!

lol yup! my parents are straight from jamaica my dad currently lives in Mandeville we had a restauraunt growing up. hence the weight sticking on years and years!!!

Hello All,
I am currently in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the Sandals resort and yes... I am on VST from my room. (That' s how addicted I am to this very supportive and knowledgeable forum. LOL) Anyhow, I am having descent time out here, but even it this unimaginable beautiful place of peace and tranquility I realized that true happiness lies from within, not your environment!!! I am pre-op and will be having my surgery exactly 4 weeks from tomorrow and all l can think about is "How much more fun would I have if I was post-sleeve and somewhat near my goal?" I am sure some of you out there have felt the same way. I find myself not being involved as I would like to be, but I am glad that will soon change. I promise to myself, not only get the sleeve, but to work hard to change my life for the better at the same time. Next time I come to "Paradise" I will be bringing Peace and Tranquility with me....
Thanks for listening!!!
Peace and Blessings everyone!!!!

I had surgery this morning and I feel ok. Its not as bad as I thought...just a little nausea...ugh.

OHMYGOSH, that's where I want to go on vacation when I meet my goal weight!! I've been ranting for years about how I've always wanted to go to the Carribean, see blue Water and white sand, but I was always "too fat".
How we limit ourselves!
Thank you from sharing your insight from "paradise"

I just want to add another word of encouragement here. I've read many of your posts--kinda tough to miss a looker in a tux--and you've always been there to cheer others on, give someone a compliment, a kind word, whatever. So, today, when I read that you're four weeks away from your surgery, well,it just really shows how much you've been willing to give to others during your journey. That's pretty inspiring. I'm so glad you're in a beautiful spot that's giving you time to reflect and re-charge.
You're right--peace and tranquility are things we have to carry within. Thanks for reminding me of that and for being so supportive of all of us here. We may have failed in the hunger games alone--but we succeed in the sleeve life together.
Another reason why I'm on this site every single day--and why I'm am a fiercely DeterminedGirl

hey i am pre op as well! my last nut appt is september 5th then hopefully my approval and surgery date will be near!!! i am so jealous you are in the beautiful land of jamaica!! enjoy it and live it up!!!
im just as addicted to this site and the sleeve is going to change our lives for the better. i can't wait!! good luck to you and in your journey.
also i hope your not on your liquid diet and if you do decide to cheat please have some rice n peas w/x oxtail gravy and fried plantain for me please? k thx!!?!

Thanks a bunch. I am definitely doing my best to enjoy this opportunity because this just doesn't happen all the time. Thanks for sharing... Take Care...

So glad you are having this opportunity and build in one for post, too!
I am planning a working trip to Florida in November and am just starting to let it in that I might actually look pretty good while I am there. New place, new people who will only know my new self.
I also will make sure I have a pool to work-out in and an exercise room to continue my journey!
Happiness is from within, but there are paradises to travel to. Enjoy! Bring photos to share!

Ten hours to go. Funny how nervous I've been. Now that it's time I feel so excited. I start a new life tomorrow. Bring it on!!!!

I just got back from a cruise to the Bahamas so I know exactly where you're coming from. I did let my friend take a few pics so I can use them as "before" shots since I usually hide from the camera. I just made myself relax and enjoy it, but I admit I am looking forward to next year when I will be wearing a much smaller swim suit. And I won't be hiding from the camera. I did notice that everyone was so busy having fun, they weren't really paying attention to other people. I hope you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation in Paradise.

Hello All,
I am currently in Montego Bay, Jamaica at the Sandals resort and yes... I am on VST from my room. (That' s how addicted I am to this very supportive and knowledgeable forum. LOL) Anyhow, I am having descent time out here, but even it this unimaginable beautiful place of peace and tranquility I realized that true happiness lies from within, not your environment!!! I am pre-op and will be having my surgery exactly 4 weeks from tomorrow and all l can think about is "How much more fun would I have if I was post-sleeve and somewhat near my goal?" I am sure some of you out there have felt the same way. I find myself not being involved as I would like to be, but I am glad that will soon change. I promise to myself, not only get the sleeve, but to work hard to change my life for the better at the same time. Next time I come to "Paradise" I will be bringing Peace and Tranquility with me....
Thanks for listening!!!
Peace and Blessings everyone!!!!

Having my peeps call me " bones" and wear slutty clothes, crossing my legs, more sex sex sex, have men eating in the palm of my hands, having the upper hand to chose who I want, fit in tiny chair lol, I can keep going

I'm sorry if this comes off as a brag post but I'm just so dang excited!
I came across a picture of myself from last Christmas (only 8 months ago!) that blew my mind. I don't remember EVER looking like that! Here's that picture along with one I took this past weekend. Please excuse my deranged smile, I was excited that that shirt fit me. Haha. -137 pounds!