BryBro63

You'll do great!!! Follow in your wife's footsteps, stay organized, and follow advice...your surgery date will be here before you know it...in everything you're doing, the date will sneak up on you!!! Wishing you great success!!!

Official results: Starting weight - 316 Surgery weight - 269 Goal weight - 180 Current weight - 178 "Cushion Weight Range" - 180 to 185 (as suggested by my nutritionist) I think I may have finally found that sweet spot as far as maintenance...exercising about 5 days a week, burning usually between 550 and 650 calories a day, and taking in between 1500 and 1600 calories a day. I do a little grazing, but very little...I'm sure not to keep anything but healthy stuff around, so when I do snack, it's healthy snacks!! So far so good, but my only issue now is trying to regain muscle lost during weight loss. Had some conversations with my nutritionist and my surgeon as well as did some research, and the best plan of attack is gradual weight training every other day, so I've started this as well...just wanted to share, and I'd love to answer any questions if I can!! Wish me luck!!! BTW, January 2014 Sleevers...updates?? Keep in touch, Folks!!!

It seems January 27th was a very popular day!!! So glad to see all doing so great!!! Is anyone out there who made goal weight having a hard time adjusting? I am!! Trying not to lose anymore and trying not to gain anymore seems kind of tricky!!!

My surgery was January 27th. My starting weight was 316, surgery weight was 269, and last week I just surpassed my goal by 1, pound and hit 179!! Now the hard part...keeping it off!!! A bit scary, but up for the challenge!!!

That was my exact same path, and I changed my mind and got the sleeve for the exact same reason!! I just hit my goal weight this week, and I have absolutely no regrets!!! I wish you the best, and hoping for great success!!!

Congrats!!! Which procedure are you having, and what persuaded you to go that route?

Believe it or not, the time does go by quickly... Before you know if, you'll be frustrated about what you can and can not eat!! And by the time you reach this stage it will be a GOOD thing!!! Just keep walking every chance you get!! You'll feel so much better, and the pounds will go very quickly!!

I finally thought of a regret I have about the surgery...I wish I had gotten it done SOONER!!! If I did, I'd probably be at my goal weight now!!! This has been the coolest life-changer I could have ever done, and I'm not really sure why they say that men have such strong reservations about having the surgery. It sure has saved my life, and made things much, much better!!! Life is good....energy is good...health is good...sex is BETTER...even style of clothing is better, since I'm not as limited since I no longer have to go for the bigger sizes!!! This is good!!!!

Is it too late to get in on the challenge?? I am usually very good at keeping track of all my weight, miles, etc. through MyFitnessPal...so if allowed, I can play catch-up!!

Wishing you the best!! See you on the Loser's side!!

I agree that there are some who do indeed ask questions that would appear to be strange, but at the same time I would not want to discourage any persons who truly are asking questions for the right reasons or who truly have been misguided or misinformed by those persons in medicine who aren't as caring or as professional as most are. I personally feel that any good question deserves a good answer.

Done!

It's absolutely normal, Mr. Esslinger...I had the same issues at one point with anything in the dairy family. To help, you can indeed take the lactaid pills or something similar to it. I myself took the generic version at first to see if I could handle it...they worked so well that I stuck with them, and now I don't need them as mush now that I'm 6 months post-op. Now my issue is I get gas from taking Fiber chews, which I need to combat minor constipation...a small price to pay for the relief that I'm getting! Congrats on your surgery, and I wish you the best of losing!!!

I've received a few comments on losing too much from family and friends, but there's currently only 2 opinions I really care about...the comments from my wife, and my primary doctor...my wife and I agreed upon my goal weight even before I started the journey, and that hasn't changed at all. My doctor thinks the 'standard scale' is way outdated, so she feels that if I were to use the standard, I would truly be underweight, so she also agreed upon my goal weight. For my height, I should weigh under 164lbs...but my planned goal is 180...I started getting comments once I hit the low 200's, but I knew I wasn't done. Don't let the comments of others steer you away from what truly matters...what matters most is how YOU feel!!!

That's wonderful...or should I say 'Onederful'...CONGRATS!!!!

Ria1202, looks like you're doing really wonderful!! And sounds like you're great role model, with some truly great advice!!! On behalf of everyone new and not so new to the WLS thing, thanks!!! As far as Onederland...it's truly a great feeling and a great milestone which deserves celebration!! In my case, I had not seen that weight on my scale for a very long time... and coming from someone who at one point had to buy a better scale because the one I had didn't go high enough to measure my weight, it's definitely an important goal in the WLS process...something worth embracing!!! Wishing you the very best...much deserved!!!

I think the main reason you need to stick with the phases is for the proper healing of the sleeve than anything else. Certain foods can get caught in the stitches or irritate the surgery area, or could pull the seam where the stomach was cut. For instance, trying to eat apples with the skin, the skin can get caught. Since the digestive system was not changed due to the surgery, it may not affect your weight loss, but the portions and the types of food that you eat now very well could affect your progress. Let everything heal first, before trying to eat regularly again.

Certain meats taste very 'metallic', if that makes any sense...especially turkey sausage. But also strangely enough, turkey BACON tastes great to me now!! Also coleslaw was something I couldn't stand pre-surgery, but post-surgery it tastes very good to me!! Not sure what's up with that!!

I think one of the best pieces of advice I got and I can give is to try your best to stay organized. If you're anything like me, you'll have alot of questions on alot of different issues. Also you'll be going to quite a few appointments, as I'm sure you've already started since you're going through the process. I received alot of documentation, as well as did alot of research...it may be good to get a folder or a binder to keep everything in one place. Another bit of advice would be to get the MyFitnessPal app, and join the community....you'll meet alot of great folks, and it's a good way to keep your food and exercise organized!! Congrats, and wish you the best in your journey!!

It will take awhile, but I'll bet your habit will catch on with the rest!!! In the meantime, keep up with your own good habits...surely they will benefit you in the end!!

I've heard a lot of good things about Trader Joe's, but there are none close by me!

yay! I'm sleeved day 10. Feeling good Congrats to you both...wishing you the best success!!!

As hard as the temptation gets, stay away from the scale!!! Once a week, tops!!! There's nothing more frustrating than weighing in on a daily basis and seeing the fluctuations...and this happens pre- as well as post-surgery. As long as you do your part, the weight WILL come off...trust me!!! I'm not almost 6 months post-op, and I STILL have to fight the temptation of hopping on the scale frequently...and whenever I go back to the bad habit, the frustration gets me down!! Follow the doc's and the nutritionist's instructions, and you'll truly do great!!! Wish you the best success!!!

My question would be once you've lost the weight and the balloon(s) are removed, is there anything that would prevent you from regaining the lost weight back? That would personally be my biggest fear...which is what got me in my situation in the first place. If you are a person who has the discipline to keep the weight off once it's lost, then this truly sounds like a great solution!!

Congrats!!! Wish you the best!!! I can honestly say this is the best decision I ever made, and I hope the same can be said for you as well!!