nj8988

Gallbladder surgery hands down. Doctor recommended not eating "normally" for 3-4 weeks.

I had the 2nd visit (w/ Dr. Pirello), and after speaking with him, I felt so incredibly comfortable with the idea of the surgery. He has confidence in what he is doing, and as a guy, is able to relate with some of the challenges with food. Also gave me realistic expectations when dealing with the approval of the insurance company (Cigna). You can tell he isn't someone who does the job for the paycheck.

I am very similar. Absolutely no one will know until I actually have had moderate success. I plan to tell my employer I am having my gallbladder taken out. When it is obvious that something happened, I intend to only tell friends of mine who are in similar situations (morbid obesity) in order to educate them and give them hope that it is not permanent. Question for you guys though, when you dieted, did you also keep that a secret? I often did diets with the aforementioned friends, and my biggest requirement was that they not share the fact I was dieting with anyone. Seems like a lot of people are just willing to put that information out there, and I always seemed very withholding when it came to discussing food, eating habits, etc unless it came to discussing with a professional (Nutritionist, surgeon, PCP, etc). Did you all treat dieting the same way?

I am in Charlotte, and will also be using Dr. Pirello in Sep/Oct, how was everything?

82 lbs is a BFD, just keep heading in the right direction.

Charlotte, having it at Presbyterian Matthews

Well done, you look like a completely different person.

Unflavored protein in sugar free Jello, and don't chew.

I tried the 4 hour body diet back in February, and had pretty decent success with it. One of the key elements is something called a pAGG stack, which is Policosanol, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Green Tea Extract and Garlic. You take a pill 3 times during the day (before each meal) and then one at night without the Policosanol. You take it 6 days a week, then off one, then continue. Every 8 weeks you take a week off. Anyways, it really seemed to work for me, and was wondering if anyone used it to supplement their sleeve and new way of eating. Thanks! More on pAGG http://www.fourhourbodycouple.com/2011/02/02/what-is-the-pagg-stack/

I don't plan on telling anyone other than maybe 1 or 2 friends who also are obese, just so they know there is something the can help them. When people ask, I do plan on saying "I just eat less now", because in reality, that is the true reason the weight comes off. Making the stomach smaller does not make you lose any weight, its eating less (because the stomach is smaller) that actually causes it. I feel the only true "cheating" or "Easy way out" would be one of the procedures that does not restrict eating, but bypasses most of the small intestine requiring high calorie intake in order to avoid nutritional deficiency.

I tried it, and it just tasted like orange juice with a little grit to it. If you'd rather not taste it, I would get unflavored whey, and put it in jello. Swallow the jello without chewing it too much if the texture of whey gets to you. That is what I plan on doing the first 2 weeks after surgery.

I think it's all about how you spin the situation. I look at doing this at a young age (25) is so much more beneficial than if i waited 10 or 20 years. So much life left to live, and this increases the quality of it exponentially. I've always felt if I could just get down to a normal weight, that I would have absolutely no problem maintaining it. I honestly have no worries about gaining it back once I lose it.

Hey Cait, I am Nick. I am 25 and definitely shooting towards getting surgery in September. I am just ready to get started actually living life, and cannot wait. Never loved food, but did love feeling full, and can't wait to have a smaller stomach to fill up.