feelin-lika-cow

I started this process at 280 pounds in November. I had surgery January 22 weighing in at 254. Today I am 3 weeks 1 day and I weight 225! I am so excited!

My surgeon said the exact opposite of what some of you are saying. He said that it will certainly stretch your pouch when consumed often, especially if you try to drink it the same way you do Water. I don't think that one sip would do it, but why open that can of worms when there are so many much healthier things to drink out there. It's been three years and two months since I last had a soda and I rarely miss it. Even when I do, I know it isn't something that I need or really even want.

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.

Kinda of topic but oh well. Does anyone feel more full with Water than food. I can only do 2 sips of water but I can sit and eat about 3 ounces of Beans or food. I do take my time but I just cant drink anymore for about 30 minutes if I do it comes back up and I cant hold it sorry TMI but Im kinda worried that seems odd or at least I haven't heard of this happening to anyone Im 3 wks out I can't get all my water in. It takes me half a day to drink just a bottle of 16.9 ounces

Wow you all are doing awesome!! I'm so inspired : ) I'm no where near any of you at almost 4 wks out & the scale seems to be at a stand still. I kinda figure it's my body trying to play catch up with all that has transpired since Jan 14.

Last week 169.2
This week 165.8
3.4 lbs lost
5.8lbs till goal weight !!!
117lbs lost since my journey started on 11/28/11 with surgery on 5/2/12

Not losin much last week in the last week, but I know I'm not getting my Protein in either. I have tried & tried again with food & just end up with a huge stomach ache....Not worth the pain so I got some nectar lemonade protein & trying that. So far so good, no chalk flavor yet! Wish me luck, I'm going for 60 Gms protein today!

Thank you!! And love always you not alone here...it's just the start of bathing suit season here & I'm not sure why mine still doesn't fit!! I wanna see a scale with me on it say 150!!

How's my january post-oppers?! I'm down 24! Yay

I started out size 2x and 20. Today 4 months and 1 week out I am a size m/l and 8/9 juniors

As of this morning I have officially lost 175 lbs...OMG!!!!
It's been a great week for weight loss!!!!!!!
All this 21 days before my one year surgiversary!!!!!
It can be done!!!!!!!!!!

It's seems like I can smell things 10x stronger since my surgery and a lot of them make me sick to my stomach anyone else experience this?

I have no energy for life's demands now :-( If I went back right now I'd have to juggle-- (3) 12hr shifts, my 3 kids, cooking, a husband and getting my son to baseball practice. I am not ready.

I strained it during all liquids and was fine. Never had any problems w it bc it's so moust

So I know it's a great tasty source for Protien (27g) and I've puréed it and added cheese for more protein...I'm 8 days out and my guidelines say puréed foods are ok...anyone else tried it?

Yep! I am partially looking forward to it and also dreading it. We had a company party tonight that I had planned to attend but just couldn't muster up the energy. How in the world am I going to take a full day in the office?!?!
Good luck on Monday!

This is what I mean.

Joining in on the post-op group. I feel amazingly well and my pain is minimal. As I said in the pre-op post, the coolest/weirdest part is how I can only hold a sip every 15 minutes. I feel actually full as if I had eaten 6 plates at a Chinese buffet. I look forward to all the posts, I never imagined that an online support group could be so comforting.

K...I'm going to let you girls in on a little secret! I'm 10 days post-op and had 60g of Protein yesterday. Syntrax makes amazing, heavenly protein power in a double stuffed cookie flavor among others. It tastes like a really unhealthy fattening oreo milkshake!! It's amazing and has been a savior!

I am 8 months post op and although I still think a lot about food it is now about what food is going to allow me to reach my goals. In other words your focus changes and how you look at food. You start seeing it from the point of view as food for fuel. You can choose regular, upgrade or premium. They all have their pros and cons and it is now up to you to choose the best for you and your situation that day.

Amen! I feel the same way. But that's the point of the dieting, in my opinion, to teach u that food is ur choice and it only has the control you give it. keep up the good work!

My surgery is in 12 hours. In 12 hours I am becoming a loser! In 12 hours my life will no longer be as I know it. In 12 hours Im going to get some good drugs. In 12 hours wow I am really having surgery. It is here it felt like tomorrow would never come, and now it is only 12 hours away. Just letting it sink in, now if I could just stop going to the bathroom, I could fully enjoy this moment : )

Me day of surgery 10/3/12
Me 12/24/12
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