gmanbat

I was 6'4" when I was a teen, 6'2" now. I have accepted the gravity of the situation.

I go to restaurants more for the companionship than for the food. I pick what's best from the menu, split it with my wife if she is there, and take the rest home. In the holiday season our fridge gets stuffed with left overs and take home boxes.

Had a neat experience working for my nephew on a seawall here in Florida. A guy was hauling 120 yards of dirt in to fill the seawall using a Bobcat, and brought a couple guys in to help. Lets just say his helpers were really good at sitting and talking and not so good with a shovel and wheelbarrow. I was in the trenches throwing dirt like a madman...the job had to be done. When my nephew showed up, (he is a very direct talking person), he sized up the situation and let the guys have it. He said, "You think you might start working today sometime? See that guy down there? He's 65, had cancer, and he keeps on working when I am huffing and puffing. What's your excuse?" Kinda made me feel good. Before the sleeve I could barely climb the stairs to my bedroom. Thank you, God.

Good one, PdXman! A well lived present is better than regretting the past or worrying about the future. If the present is lived well enough the other two will be taken care of. Gratitude about what you have is a great part of it.

Try the sub-forum again, there was an error. No password is required now.

Welcome! It's quite a roller coaster to begin with but some normalcy comes back soon. The changes down the road are going to make you smile a lot!

It is disappointing that folks can't see the big picture. We are not rival soccer team fans beating each other up after the game like empty headed barbarians. We are human beings, many of us hurting very badly, on a journey to freedom. We have quite enough abuse from the ignorant world that casts aspersions on bariatric surgery in any form. We need each other. I pledge never to degrade anyone's choice of surgery. That said, I will respectfully give my viewpoint if asked. All I have is my viewpoint. I have no definitive answers. I believe answering questions can be done in such a way as to not put down the other roads. That is not to say that undeserved slander and vilification will not be read into such replies. Let us encourage one another and pull together as a team. I admire in sincerity all who have had wls whether lap band, sleeve, bypass, or other. In such a large forum there will be immature people who seek to elevate self by pulling down others. Hopefully the good will generated by the vast majority will drown out the negativity.

Vegas is fattening. Remember Elvis? Kidding. You may be right about the sodium and water. Give it a couple days.

Well said, Alex. First rule of war...know the enemy. We are all piling up on obesity, not each other. No friendly fire.

A lot like driving...isn't it? At first we realize we have to turn around and go the other way. Changing direction requires a major effort on the steering wheel. After driving somewhat wildly for a while we settle on the confines of the proper road. Letting loose of the wheel now would be disastrous,.. eyes on the road...hands on forever. However, corrections do not come as hard now as long as diligence and clear thinking prevail.

My computer and this forum...can't imagine what it would have been like without it.

Awesome! What model juicer do you have?

I like your doc. This is not a diet. It is a permanent proposition. This surgery lays a new foundation for the rest of your life. Sloppy foundations make for wrecked houses. We need to give time for quality workmanship. Let your body do it's job. Solid healing time pays off. The same goes with your exercise program. Start slow, no pain. Add a little bit as time goes on. Consistency, not speed, conquers fat and ill health. This was a departure for me. I always pushed it too fast and ended up injured. No more.

You just rang the bell! Pick anything from the top shelf! WLS only changes the body, it doesn't help with the fat in the head.

Welcome to the world of the middle-aged man. The body reassigns head and leg hair energy to ears, nostrils, and eyebrows.

Avoiding injuries is more important than rapid advancement. I thought of my slow start as laying a sure foundation for the rest of my life. I didn't do any ab work for a year, not even full push ups. My surgery area felt ouchy so I avoided it. I do not regret the caution. Turned out good.

Ya know, ladies teach me stuff all the time. I was ready to pile up the ammunition to let the sister have it but the intuitive ladies saw the real deal. I re-read the post and I agree.

I suggest going over your diet and adding more nutritious food. Adding is easier than subtraction. If you get enough really good nutrition it lessons the cravings for crappola. Also, up your water intake.

This is a forum in cyber space. There is nothing more the original poster can do but apologize.NO! We can do a LOT more! PEOPLE CAN THINK BEFORE THEY SAY THINGS! ISN'T THAT THE EXACT MESSAGE WE'RE TEACHING OUR KIDS WITH ANTI-BULLYING? SAME THING! ADULTHOOD DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT OR CORRECT!(Whoops, I didn't think my post through. Removed by the anti-sarcastic side of me).

Sometimes passive aggression works real good, did for Ghandi.. I have taken that approach with folks that are slyly implying something. "Isn't surgery the easy way out..why didn't you just diet?" "Because I'm not strong like you and I am very weak in character. I have no will power and control over what I do. I get scared of myself sometimes and fear that I will go nuts and beat the snozzle out the next person that questions me about my actions. Thanks for asking."

@@chrissy34x Hi and Welcome!!! It hurt me like crazy to drink at first. They gave me a little pill cup full of Water and said I had to drink it before I could go home. It might as well have been 5 gallons. This from a guy who used to chug-a-lug like an elephant. This is a slow train to start but once it gets going you will love how you are actually getting some where!

@@sbailey1, Not to worry, this is very common. Many factors at play here, your body is complex and it takes a while for it to get it's "ducks in a row". There are many posts like yours and have yet to find anyone who the sleeve actually didn't work for. It is a creepy feeling though. It is the fear all of us have down deep. We have been to a lot of dead ends. This is a horse of a different color, though. My weight loss was down, up, stall, down, up, down, etc. in about a year and a half I reached goal, check my signature. I am past two and into my third year...fat stays off. I work at it with diet and exercise....it is not easy but it is possible...before it was impossible. You will succeed!

Oh, George...not the livestock!

Every warrior knows that fear comes with war. You need enough to keep you sharp but not so much that you run away. You got guns. You got training. Never give up...win.

This is a forum in cyber space. There is nothing more the original poster can do but apologize.