ahanson82520

I was at 340. Now 195 so if my math is right roughly 43% of body weight. But by the way I look and feel it was 100% of my excess weight. ????

I was 44 and now 32. I am really happy with where I am now so I'd have to say 32 for me.

Like a lot of people here, I can not do anything high in fat, greasy or fried. It just doesn't work for my pouch.. often times he has a mind of his own. Also I can not tolerate any bread. I just get a sick feeling. Having said that, I do eat almost anything I want except white chicken meat and pork. They don't work either. I do eat a lot of sushi, turkey, homemade turkey chili, hard boiled eggs, kale and other greens. Also, Oscar Meyer makes a Protein pack with nuts, a cold meat and a few pieces of cheese that, when you're in a rush will do in a pinch. I get them at Safeway.
When my wife and I go out to eat, we will decide on what we are having and then order one plate and split it. It is funny, they always bring the dish to me, and they put the extra plate down in front of my wife. We just look at each other, swap plates and I take a bit of hers and I am good. It is about Portion Control and choice in my opinion.
I guess for me it was a matter of finding things that #1 I liked, and #2 my pouch liked and #3 were healthy. It isn't often that we get a second chance so I try my best to make sure what I eat is healthy and good for me.
Good luck to you.
Andy H.

Like a lot of people here, I can not do anything high in fat, greasy or fried. It just doesn't work for my pouch.. often times he has a mind of his own. Also I can not tolerate any bread. I just get a sick feeling. Having said that, I do eat almost anything I want except white chicken meat and pork. They don't work either. I do eat a lot of sushi, turkey, homemade turkey chili, hard boiled eggs, kale and other greens. Also, Oscar Meyer makes a Protein pack with nuts, a cold meat and a few pieces of cheese that, when you're in a rush will do in a pinch. I get them at Safeway.
When my wife and I go out to eat, we will decide on what we are having and then order one plate and split it. It is funny, they always bring the dish to me, and they put the extra plate down in front of my wife. We just look at each other, swap plates and I take a bit of hers and I am good. It is about Portion Control and choice in my opinion.
I guess for me it was a matter of finding things that #1 I liked, and #2 my pouch liked and #3 were healthy. It isn't often that we get a second chance so I try my best to make sure what I eat is healthy and good for me.
Good luck to you.
Andy H.

I had RNY and didn't do the sleeve, and I can tell you that #1 I would do it over in a heartbeat and #2 ABSOLUTELY no regrets!

Been a little ruff. I'm moving really well she having a little more trouble. She had a previous hernia so they had to put in extra stitches. Had some bm issues. Today we got bumped up-to puréed. Today is a good day.????

Like a lot of people here, I can not do anything high in fat, greasy or fried. It just doesn't work for my pouch.. often times he has a mind of his own. Also I can not tolerate any bread. I just get a sick feeling. Having said that, I do eat almost anything I want except white chicken meat and pork. They don't work either. I do eat a lot of sushi, turkey, homemade turkey chili, hard boiled eggs, kale and other greens. Also, Oscar Meyer makes a Protein pack with nuts, a cold meat and a few pieces of cheese that, when you're in a rush will do in a pinch. I get them at Safeway.
When my wife and I go out to eat, we will decide on what we are having and then order one plate and split it. It is funny, they always bring the dish to me, and they put the extra plate down in front of my wife. We just look at each other, swap plates and I take a bit of hers and I am good. It is about Portion Control and choice in my opinion.
I guess for me it was a matter of finding things that #1 I liked, and #2 my pouch liked and #3 were healthy. It isn't often that we get a second chance so I try my best to make sure what I eat is healthy and good for me.
Good luck to you.
Andy H.

Having just read this entire thread from the beginning, I would like to thank everyone who posted. I'm having my RNY in five days (on the 10th) and all of you have very happily reinforced my decision! :-)

I have NO REGRETS and WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT! No it has not been easy or perfect. I have had trouble and trials, however I was able to get off both my blood pressure medicine and GERD/GI medication from DAY 1! I would not have been able to do that with the sleeve.

It is interesting you have the issues with the Florida heat. I had issues with that too... now it is the opposite. My wife used to freeze in the summer and winter. I would keep the air conditioning cranked so high in the summer and in the winter the heater turned so low... and I used to sweat like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs all the time.
Now, I never sweat and I look forward to the summer heat. And this winter, lots of fires and warm clothes... Enjoy the new you... you're worth it!

So went for my year and half check up today. Dr gave my before pic he had taken on e day I decided to have rny. I just wept... Oh how my life has changed!!!
date of surgery 02/21/12 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

I am going to add some info, and I will probably add more later.
I am 36 years old, morbidly obese, and a type II diabetic. At my heaviest, I weighed around 380 lbs. More recently, I have been hovering around 300 lbs, but my diabetes has been virtually uncontrollable.
So, I decided in late August 2013 to attempt to qualify to have gastric bypass surgery. Long story short, and in what seems to be a miracle giving some other peoples experiences with doctors, insurance, etc, I was approved to have surgery on Oct. 1st.
I am writing this post as one of the first things I am doing since returning home today from the hospital.
My surgery went extremely well and I am fairly mobile with only a moderate level of discomfort/pain.
During my first day at the hospital (the day of surgery), I took two separate walks around the hospital, (one about a third of a mile, one about two thirds of a mile). During my second day, I took a one mile walk, and a one and a half mile walk). Everything I have read on the internet and gotten from my doctor has made it clear the best thing I can do to get this process to work is to walk as soon and as much as is possible, and that is what I have been doing.
I am so stoked for this process and I am going to do everything I can to make this work. I owe a lot of credit to this board, which I have been reading (but not posting in) for the past month or so as I researched what this would be like.
I look forward to using this forum to document my journey.

I have put off for a long time posting about my GB experience. But I had my 10 week post op appointment today and thought I would post about my journey to this point. My hope is that this will be inspiring to those of you who may be considering this procedure or those of your who may have just had it done and find that your are struggling with some aspect.
I started off last July at my heaviest... 334lbs. I am only 6'1" and my BMI was nearly 45. I should mention that I am 40 years old. I began with the dietician and lost all the way down to 316lbs the day of surgery. My surgery was on November 5, 2012. As of today, I am down to 246lbs. The most amazing part in this whole process is getting to shop for new clothes. Now I am a guy, and I have never EVER been into shopping for clothes. That has changed. I find it exciting that I used to wear a size 42-44 pants and 3XL shirts and now I wear 34-36 pants and XL and some L size shirts. But that isn't the best part.... the best part is I am off of ALL my meds. I don't take any blood pressure meds, not more diabetes meds, not more thyroid meds and because I don't have massive headaches constantly I don't take any more pain meds. My energy levels are through the roof and really feel great.
The process after the surgery was really the hard part. I started out thinking that it would be easy. I had read all of the literature. I had watched all the videos and most importantly I had lurked around the forums to see what I could see and learn what I could learn. I felt prepared. I have learned that I can read all about people sipping Water all day, I can imagine what that will be like, but in reality, I found that early on - it was a struggle. But as I sit here today, drinking my Decaf iced tea... it isn't such a big deal. I figured out what works for me and I made it happen. The same goes with my eating. I found the foods that work for me. And I found out the ways that I can eat them without ticking off my pouch. Did I just say "ticking off my pouch"? You bet I did. That is the other part I had to learn. Often times it seemed like early on, my pouch had a mind all of it's own. One day it would be ok with a food, the next time I had it, the pouch will have decided that it wasn't a fan of the particular food and it would complain. Nothing too drastic, but I got the message.
Where I am going with this is pretty simple. It is tough. It isn't easy. But if each and everyone of us who decides that this is the route we want to take to get our lives back, can be a little more prepared for the ups and the downs, then I have been successful in sharing with you. It is important to remember that we all will have good days and we will have bad days. In my short 10 week experience, the good days are becoming great days and I can't remember the last bad day I had. For most of us I suspect that life after GB surgery, goes on and things will become easier and easier with each day that passes. And that is the part to remember. We have all suffered through the nausea and all the other issues that we have had to put up with, but remember, we made this decision and in my case, I made the decisions that led me to be overweight in the first place.
I want to wrap up with you by sharing my thoughts on how I have managed to cope with missing my good friend - FOOD! I quickly learned that for me - food was an addiction. Just like an addiciton that one may have to Cocaine or perhaps even cigarettes. Once I realized that my biggest problem was an addiction, I began to "treat" myself like an addict. Food became something that I did for survival and for nourishment whereas before - food was something I did for sport. I can no longer ever go back to "sport eating" again. I have worked too hard to get the weight off and I will keep the weight off. I refuse to be one of the twenty percent of us that put the weight back on in the next ten years.
So I have spent a lot of time rambling- and if you are still reading at this point then good for you. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me tell the story and share with you. If you are reading this and having issues or questions about your own weight loss, give me a shout. I don't know all the answers and lets face it - I only have 10 weeks experience at this. But hey - were all in this together aren't we?
I have attached a couple of pictures... the first one is taken of me and my son when he left for college in August of last year. The second was taken a few weeks ago when I was at 260lbs. I haven't taken any since. But I will soon.
Take care,
Andy H.

I have put off for a long time posting about my GB experience. But I had my 10 week post op appointment today and thought I would post about my journey to this point. My hope is that this will be inspiring to those of you who may be considering this procedure or those of your who may have just had it done and find that your are struggling with some aspect.
I started off last July at my heaviest... 334lbs. I am only 6'1" and my BMI was nearly 45. I should mention that I am 40 years old. I began with the dietician and lost all the way down to 316lbs the day of surgery. My surgery was on November 5, 2012. As of today, I am down to 246lbs. The most amazing part in this whole process is getting to shop for new clothes. Now I am a guy, and I have never EVER been into shopping for clothes. That has changed. I find it exciting that I used to wear a size 42-44 pants and 3XL shirts and now I wear 34-36 pants and XL and some L size shirts. But that isn't the best part.... the best part is I am off of ALL my meds. I don't take any blood pressure meds, not more diabetes meds, not more thyroid meds and because I don't have massive headaches constantly I don't take any more pain meds. My energy levels are through the roof and really feel great.
The process after the surgery was really the hard part. I started out thinking that it would be easy. I had read all of the literature. I had watched all the videos and most importantly I had lurked around the forums to see what I could see and learn what I could learn. I felt prepared. I have learned that I can read all about people sipping Water all day, I can imagine what that will be like, but in reality, I found that early on - it was a struggle. But as I sit here today, drinking my Decaf iced tea... it isn't such a big deal. I figured out what works for me and I made it happen. The same goes with my eating. I found the foods that work for me. And I found out the ways that I can eat them without ticking off my pouch. Did I just say "ticking off my pouch"? You bet I did. That is the other part I had to learn. Often times it seemed like early on, my pouch had a mind all of it's own. One day it would be ok with a food, the next time I had it, the pouch will have decided that it wasn't a fan of the particular food and it would complain. Nothing too drastic, but I got the message.
Where I am going with this is pretty simple. It is tough. It isn't easy. But if each and everyone of us who decides that this is the route we want to take to get our lives back, can be a little more prepared for the ups and the downs, then I have been successful in sharing with you. It is important to remember that we all will have good days and we will have bad days. In my short 10 week experience, the good days are becoming great days and I can't remember the last bad day I had. For most of us I suspect that life after GB surgery, goes on and things will become easier and easier with each day that passes. And that is the part to remember. We have all suffered through the nausea and all the other issues that we have had to put up with, but remember, we made this decision and in my case, I made the decisions that led me to be overweight in the first place.
I want to wrap up with you by sharing my thoughts on how I have managed to cope with missing my good friend - FOOD! I quickly learned that for me - food was an addiction. Just like an addiciton that one may have to Cocaine or perhaps even cigarettes. Once I realized that my biggest problem was an addiction, I began to "treat" myself like an addict. Food became something that I did for survival and for nourishment whereas before - food was something I did for sport. I can no longer ever go back to "sport eating" again. I have worked too hard to get the weight off and I will keep the weight off. I refuse to be one of the twenty percent of us that put the weight back on in the next ten years.
So I have spent a lot of time rambling- and if you are still reading at this point then good for you. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me tell the story and share with you. If you are reading this and having issues or questions about your own weight loss, give me a shout. I don't know all the answers and lets face it - I only have 10 weeks experience at this. But hey - were all in this together aren't we?
I have attached a couple of pictures... the first one is taken of me and my son when he left for college in August of last year. The second was taken a few weeks ago when I was at 260lbs. I haven't taken any since. But I will soon.
Take care,
Andy H.

I have put off for a long time posting about my GB experience. But I had my 10 week post op appointment today and thought I would post about my journey to this point. My hope is that this will be inspiring to those of you who may be considering this procedure or those of your who may have just had it done and find that your are struggling with some aspect.
I started off last July at my heaviest... 334lbs. I am only 6'1" and my BMI was nearly 45. I should mention that I am 40 years old. I began with the dietician and lost all the way down to 316lbs the day of surgery. My surgery was on November 5, 2012. As of today, I am down to 246lbs. The most amazing part in this whole process is getting to shop for new clothes. Now I am a guy, and I have never EVER been into shopping for clothes. That has changed. I find it exciting that I used to wear a size 42-44 pants and 3XL shirts and now I wear 34-36 pants and XL and some L size shirts. But that isn't the best part.... the best part is I am off of ALL my meds. I don't take any blood pressure meds, not more diabetes meds, not more thyroid meds and because I don't have massive headaches constantly I don't take any more pain meds. My energy levels are through the roof and really feel great.
The process after the surgery was really the hard part. I started out thinking that it would be easy. I had read all of the literature. I had watched all the videos and most importantly I had lurked around the forums to see what I could see and learn what I could learn. I felt prepared. I have learned that I can read all about people sipping Water all day, I can imagine what that will be like, but in reality, I found that early on - it was a struggle. But as I sit here today, drinking my Decaf iced tea... it isn't such a big deal. I figured out what works for me and I made it happen. The same goes with my eating. I found the foods that work for me. And I found out the ways that I can eat them without ticking off my pouch. Did I just say "ticking off my pouch"? You bet I did. That is the other part I had to learn. Often times it seemed like early on, my pouch had a mind all of it's own. One day it would be ok with a food, the next time I had it, the pouch will have decided that it wasn't a fan of the particular food and it would complain. Nothing too drastic, but I got the message.
Where I am going with this is pretty simple. It is tough. It isn't easy. But if each and everyone of us who decides that this is the route we want to take to get our lives back, can be a little more prepared for the ups and the downs, then I have been successful in sharing with you. It is important to remember that we all will have good days and we will have bad days. In my short 10 week experience, the good days are becoming great days and I can't remember the last bad day I had. For most of us I suspect that life after GB surgery, goes on and things will become easier and easier with each day that passes. And that is the part to remember. We have all suffered through the nausea and all the other issues that we have had to put up with, but remember, we made this decision and in my case, I made the decisions that led me to be overweight in the first place.
I want to wrap up with you by sharing my thoughts on how I have managed to cope with missing my good friend - FOOD! I quickly learned that for me - food was an addiction. Just like an addiciton that one may have to Cocaine or perhaps even cigarettes. Once I realized that my biggest problem was an addiction, I began to "treat" myself like an addict. Food became something that I did for survival and for nourishment whereas before - food was something I did for sport. I can no longer ever go back to "sport eating" again. I have worked too hard to get the weight off and I will keep the weight off. I refuse to be one of the twenty percent of us that put the weight back on in the next ten years.
So I have spent a lot of time rambling- and if you are still reading at this point then good for you. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me tell the story and share with you. If you are reading this and having issues or questions about your own weight loss, give me a shout. I don't know all the answers and lets face it - I only have 10 weeks experience at this. But hey - were all in this together aren't we?
I have attached a couple of pictures... the first one is taken of me and my son when he left for college in August of last year. The second was taken a few weeks ago when I was at 260lbs. I haven't taken any since. But I will soon.
Take care,
Andy H.

I certainly hope that the only direction is down! I'm down 40 so far, and I am 3 weeks out from surgery. Down two sizes is trousers which is great! How about you?

I have put off for a long time posting about my GB experience. But I had my 10 week post op appointment today and thought I would post about my journey to this point. My hope is that this will be inspiring to those of you who may be considering this procedure or those of your who may have just had it done and find that your are struggling with some aspect.
I started off last July at my heaviest... 334lbs. I am only 6'1" and my BMI was nearly 45. I should mention that I am 40 years old. I began with the dietician and lost all the way down to 316lbs the day of surgery. My surgery was on November 5, 2012. As of today, I am down to 246lbs. The most amazing part in this whole process is getting to shop for new clothes. Now I am a guy, and I have never EVER been into shopping for clothes. That has changed. I find it exciting that I used to wear a size 42-44 pants and 3XL shirts and now I wear 34-36 pants and XL and some L size shirts. But that isn't the best part.... the best part is I am off of ALL my meds. I don't take any blood pressure meds, not more diabetes meds, not more thyroid meds and because I don't have massive headaches constantly I don't take any more pain meds. My energy levels are through the roof and really feel great.
The process after the surgery was really the hard part. I started out thinking that it would be easy. I had read all of the literature. I had watched all the videos and most importantly I had lurked around the forums to see what I could see and learn what I could learn. I felt prepared. I have learned that I can read all about people sipping Water all day, I can imagine what that will be like, but in reality, I found that early on - it was a struggle. But as I sit here today, drinking my Decaf iced tea... it isn't such a big deal. I figured out what works for me and I made it happen. The same goes with my eating. I found the foods that work for me. And I found out the ways that I can eat them without ticking off my pouch. Did I just say "ticking off my pouch"? You bet I did. That is the other part I had to learn. Often times it seemed like early on, my pouch had a mind all of it's own. One day it would be ok with a food, the next time I had it, the pouch will have decided that it wasn't a fan of the particular food and it would complain. Nothing too drastic, but I got the message.
Where I am going with this is pretty simple. It is tough. It isn't easy. But if each and everyone of us who decides that this is the route we want to take to get our lives back, can be a little more prepared for the ups and the downs, then I have been successful in sharing with you. It is important to remember that we all will have good days and we will have bad days. In my short 10 week experience, the good days are becoming great days and I can't remember the last bad day I had. For most of us I suspect that life after GB surgery, goes on and things will become easier and easier with each day that passes. And that is the part to remember. We have all suffered through the nausea and all the other issues that we have had to put up with, but remember, we made this decision and in my case, I made the decisions that led me to be overweight in the first place.
I want to wrap up with you by sharing my thoughts on how I have managed to cope with missing my good friend - FOOD! I quickly learned that for me - food was an addiction. Just like an addiciton that one may have to Cocaine or perhaps even cigarettes. Once I realized that my biggest problem was an addiction, I began to "treat" myself like an addict. Food became something that I did for survival and for nourishment whereas before - food was something I did for sport. I can no longer ever go back to "sport eating" again. I have worked too hard to get the weight off and I will keep the weight off. I refuse to be one of the twenty percent of us that put the weight back on in the next ten years.
So I have spent a lot of time rambling- and if you are still reading at this point then good for you. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me tell the story and share with you. If you are reading this and having issues or questions about your own weight loss, give me a shout. I don't know all the answers and lets face it - I only have 10 weeks experience at this. But hey - were all in this together aren't we?
I have attached a couple of pictures... the first one is taken of me and my son when he left for college in August of last year. The second was taken a few weeks ago when I was at 260lbs. I haven't taken any since. But I will soon.
Take care,
Andy H.

I have put off for a long time posting about my GB experience. But I had my 10 week post op appointment today and thought I would post about my journey to this point. My hope is that this will be inspiring to those of you who may be considering this procedure or those of your who may have just had it done and find that your are struggling with some aspect.
I started off last July at my heaviest... 334lbs. I am only 6'1" and my BMI was nearly 45. I should mention that I am 40 years old. I began with the dietician and lost all the way down to 316lbs the day of surgery. My surgery was on November 5, 2012. As of today, I am down to 246lbs. The most amazing part in this whole process is getting to shop for new clothes. Now I am a guy, and I have never EVER been into shopping for clothes. That has changed. I find it exciting that I used to wear a size 42-44 pants and 3XL shirts and now I wear 34-36 pants and XL and some L size shirts. But that isn't the best part.... the best part is I am off of ALL my meds. I don't take any blood pressure meds, not more diabetes meds, not more thyroid meds and because I don't have massive headaches constantly I don't take any more pain meds. My energy levels are through the roof and really feel great.
The process after the surgery was really the hard part. I started out thinking that it would be easy. I had read all of the literature. I had watched all the videos and most importantly I had lurked around the forums to see what I could see and learn what I could learn. I felt prepared. I have learned that I can read all about people sipping Water all day, I can imagine what that will be like, but in reality, I found that early on - it was a struggle. But as I sit here today, drinking my Decaf iced tea... it isn't such a big deal. I figured out what works for me and I made it happen. The same goes with my eating. I found the foods that work for me. And I found out the ways that I can eat them without ticking off my pouch. Did I just say "ticking off my pouch"? You bet I did. That is the other part I had to learn. Often times it seemed like early on, my pouch had a mind all of it's own. One day it would be ok with a food, the next time I had it, the pouch will have decided that it wasn't a fan of the particular food and it would complain. Nothing too drastic, but I got the message.
Where I am going with this is pretty simple. It is tough. It isn't easy. But if each and everyone of us who decides that this is the route we want to take to get our lives back, can be a little more prepared for the ups and the downs, then I have been successful in sharing with you. It is important to remember that we all will have good days and we will have bad days. In my short 10 week experience, the good days are becoming great days and I can't remember the last bad day I had. For most of us I suspect that life after GB surgery, goes on and things will become easier and easier with each day that passes. And that is the part to remember. We have all suffered through the nausea and all the other issues that we have had to put up with, but remember, we made this decision and in my case, I made the decisions that led me to be overweight in the first place.
I want to wrap up with you by sharing my thoughts on how I have managed to cope with missing my good friend - FOOD! I quickly learned that for me - food was an addiction. Just like an addiciton that one may have to Cocaine or perhaps even cigarettes. Once I realized that my biggest problem was an addiction, I began to "treat" myself like an addict. Food became something that I did for survival and for nourishment whereas before - food was something I did for sport. I can no longer ever go back to "sport eating" again. I have worked too hard to get the weight off and I will keep the weight off. I refuse to be one of the twenty percent of us that put the weight back on in the next ten years.
So I have spent a lot of time rambling- and if you are still reading at this point then good for you. I appreciate you taking the time out to let me tell the story and share with you. If you are reading this and having issues or questions about your own weight loss, give me a shout. I don't know all the answers and lets face it - I only have 10 weeks experience at this. But hey - were all in this together aren't we?
I have attached a couple of pictures... the first one is taken of me and my son when he left for college in August of last year. The second was taken a few weeks ago when I was at 260lbs. I haven't taken any since. But I will soon.
Take care,
Andy H.

Thanks for taking the time to write that. I still have a wAys to go before surgery. One question at 10 weeks what stage are you at eating wise and what are some of the things you can have and can't have? Thanks

Thanks for sharing your story with us...You looks great..Keep up the good work..

Great weight loss
Sent from my iPad using RNYTalk

Thats awesome progress

WOW. IM SO PROUD OF YOU. Good job and thanks for sharing ur journey. You look great! I'm sitting here crying with joy and probably a little fear because my surgery is tomorrow morning. I feel the same way, I feel as prepared as I can be but realize I have no idea what's In store for me.

Andy, Holy Crap Dude! You look amazing and your weight lose is unreal! I am so happy for you!!!!!
**internally fighting the little green monster** LOL

Awesome! Keep it up. I just had surgery last Monday and it seems as if it might be a slow losing process for me as I haven't lost any weight since surgery. But, I remain hopeful and very thankful that I have no nasuea, throwing up, weakness, etc. I'm able to eat my foods listed in my guide and consume my Water. I'm off my bp medicine as well....left the hospital with instructions to come off.
Thank you for sharing. Very inspired.