gmanbat

http://voices.yahoo.com/loose-skin-after-pregnancy-five-ways-lose-flop-5831324.html Pretty good article for those of us who have lost massive weight as well. I am 64 and anticipate just living with my saggy belly. My age precludes any major elasticity solving my problem. I also don't anticipate being called upon to be a Matthew McConaughey stand in.

Having been on many forums I have experienced trolls and flamebaiters. It is hard to conceive for a normal civilized person how utterly devoid of compassion and class they can be. To them we are insects that they like to torture. They get off on hiding and fooling us, a proof to them of their intellectual superiority in their loser living in mom's basement mentality. It is a possibility that these brats can show up here and mess with us. There are also people who sound like trolls who are not. Not everyone can express themselves in a convincing way or are computer literate enough to know how to research. Many do not know how to build a profile or see a need to. We need to be respectful of folks who struggle with English, many of us who have it as a native language struggle with it as well which is apparent to those among us who are closer to it's mastery, ( no, I am not referring to myself ). The trouble is we don't know which is which. Folks love playing detective. I say leave the detective work to the able mods and administrators and take people at face value. If you suspect skullduggery report it to the forum cops. The harm done to an innocent person who sets off false troll alerts like a cheap security program is worth avoiding, even at the risk of letting a Dr. Dimento have his "fun".

Brickhouse, I read your blog. How are you doing? I had prostate cancer and did chemo.

Welcome! I am not from India but spent a month in your beautiful country many years ago in Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram. It sounds like you are doing well and have a good outlook. I am glad you realize it is better to not be in a hurry. I got rid of diabetic tablets, blood pressure medicine, and the C-Pap for sleep apnea. Good wishes to you!

Wishing I lived in Japan so I could buy clothes where the Sumo wrestlers shop.

Good post. I had it very easy but I want you to stay. Those contemplating this surgery need a balanced look. I've always supported Iggy for that reason and because I like her. Don't be put off by folks that get hot because you bust their illusionary bubble. They are trying to assure themselves it won't be that bad. People hate discouragement. But everyone needs reality whether they like it or not.

I found and read the thread that our honorary guest, Laura, referred to. It is :http://www.verticals...9;t supportive It is an excellent thread on the subject. After reading that thread I almost wished I had posed this question in the general area. The women gave such insightful answers. Hey guys, OK if we throw this open to the ladies?

I'll write you a special permission slip...To all men whom it may concern, Laura.........and signed Gman.....there ya go. Ya, if I'm being redundant I'd like to know.

I have a relative in his 80's that is still jealous about his wife. She has never given any indication that she would step out on him through their many years of marriage. She is not ugly but not someone you would think men would be hitting on. The problem is in him. He is insecure and harbors a deep seated lack of confidence which he masks with over confidence. When he kids me about Deb looking great after her weight loss and that i should be worried I just tell him that I am so egotistical that I can't concieve of her ever wanting to step out on me. When you drive a Rolls Royce a Volkswagen doesn't tempt you. So what am I saying? Build up his ego, girl. When he thinks you are sold on him he won't worry about you buying into something else. You know how to do it without him knowing what you are doing. I have discovered that women are light years ahead of men in the subtlety department.

Yup, all of my personalities chimed in. It sounds like you are talking sense to you. This is a serious move, a drastic move. Many of us have determined that it was the best move we've ever made. Some of us had major difficulties and regret doing it. Like all things in life, there is a risk. You must weigh out the risk of a lifetime of failed diets against the risk of major surgery. I am sure you have already considered these things. Yes, you are doing this primarily for you. I also did it to be around longer for my loved ones and have more energy and life in me so I could serve them better. I also thought it might be more fun to be slim...and I was right. Here's my pics: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/67006-gmanbat-and-wife-ba-pics/

Best wishes. Keep the smile on.

I have been criticised and made fun of for many things during my life: red hair, freckles, too skinny, long hair, looking like a hippy, for being a druggie, for being a Christian, for being a preacher, for reading my Bible, for driving junk, for being old, for being fat, ...you get the picture. Sometimes by family, sometimes by strangers. Somewhere along the way the opinions of others cease to matter so much. The fact is...it is your life, not theirs. People love power. Affecting you is a demonstration of their influence which makes them happy. Acting is a vital skill. If you listen attentively and seem to take to heart their advice you can go away and do what you were going to do anyway. Unless they have a 357 Magnum pointed at you you don't have to implement their wishes.

A good thread on vitamins: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/24472-recommendations-for-vitamins/ My prayers and best wishes for you on your surgery.

What we did did not involve secrets. We gleaned our wisdom from docs, nurses, and the vets who have gone before us. We, however, did not always follow that wisdom. We stumbled and bumbled all along the way. What we did do was come back to the right course and learn from our mistakes. It also helped that we could nag each other. Deb has had lots of practice because I have always been quite naggable. The thing that stands out the most is...don't let the scale stress you. My body got the picture...lose fat...it took over a year and still a bit more to go but it obeyed...in it's good time. Enjoy the drops you have...keep working...be positive.

I have avoided a lot of fights in my long life because of my philosphy of fighting. I see fighting as an intimate encounter. I agree to touch you,... hard.., and you agree to do the same to me. We might even go to the ground and roll around. Doofuses that insult and try to get a rise out of me because they want to fight strike me the same as a man trying to flirt with me. I don't want to be so involved with you. Homey don't play dat. Now if you try to hurt my family we WILL have a close encounter. Don't waste your energy on hate.

Thanks so much to all of you!!! She is the one who got us started on this, I was dead against it. A friend at work had RNY and got her interested. When a support meeting turned me 180 degrees I liked the sound of the sleeve better, I felt that after cancer I needed all the nutrients I could get and didn't need the malabsorption afforded by RNY. Her being her and me being me, we both did what we thought best. It turned out to be right for both of us. You know, after we took some of the after pictures this morning and I was trying to post them it was pretty slow. My Debbie kept interrupting me because she was changing clothes and having me take more pictures of her in different outfits. This from a gal who used to dread having her picture taken or looking in a mirror. I love it when she loves herself and happiness shines from her face. It is not arrogant pride but a sense of triumph I see. She conquered the great enemy of her life. She makes me think I am quite a guy to have the love of such a wonderful woman.

My Debbie was the gift coordinator and party giver of her workplace. When she got surgery and also when she retired from work....nada. She made note of it but totally forgot it. We moved to Florida, now laying in the sun, giving each other gifts, partying on our own.....who needs 'em. Go on with life...expect nothing from them..let anything the least bit classy that they do be a surprise.

I waited a month but I'm 64. I'm over a year out and still baby my stomach muscles. Having a less than perfect gut is better than hernias. When I do push-ups it is still delicate.

Go up to where you see your name at the top right, click on the arrow pointing down, click on settings, click on change my photo, upload it, there ya are!

That leak test stuff is nasty. You might have thrown it up even without surgery. Everyone is different, hopefully you will normalize quickly. I didn't throw up at all until I started on solid foods and then it was because of too much and/or too fast.

In the initial stages protein is king. You need it more than anything at this stage and through the rest of your life, but especially at this stage. If you stick to the plan, you will lose the fat. Many of us have failed diets so much that it is hard to believe that it will work this time. The ghost of failed diets past haunts us. This time you have REAL science on your side. I was a guy that most everyone, even my surgeon, didn't think would make goal. I guess they thought I was too light-hearted about it all. What they didn't see was the mean, stubborn guy inside of me that loves a good fight.

I go up in weight EVERY time I have a good workout. I go down initially, (due to sweating), and then up 2-3 pounds the next day. I understand most of it is Water in your muscles, they need it to get repaired. It is part of what the "pump" is. When I quit working out for a week my weight goes down, normally below my last low weight. The water in the muscles has drained out, fat has been evicted and muscles are built, ready and able to burn more calories and keep fatty out. The scale tells the truth but you must interpret it's findings. If you eat right and exercise the fat will come off. I am not working for numbers, I am working for health.