OKCPirate

I realize that testing hormone levels via blood tests are kind of hit and miss, but as a guy, I can tell you it was really critical. Pre-surgery my testosterone level's were really low. So I was receiving supplementation, the first few months following surgery the T levels spiked during the hormone dump (rapid fat loss led to everything stored in the fat cells to bounce into the blood stream). Now everything has leveled off. If I had just done a "one and done" blood test we would have missed this. And too much T can cause blood clots, and actually make it difficult to do aerobic exercise. If you don't have insurance, check online, there are places where you can get the blood work done affordably, and you can take the results to your doc and NUT.

I missed this thread because I wasn't that heavy, but it is all great stuff. Had lunch with a buddy who could use this and it is very inspiring. all of you great work and it inspires me to greater heights.

@ I bought two new office chairs because of that problem. The best was a mesh one. But the standing/adjustable desk was the best investment I have made to take care of the problem. BUTT, that has been the biggest skinny problem. I can't sit for long now. My GF and I have turned my small stomach into an advantage, we just split meals. I have always been hot natured, and have never been really cold. Ladies, when ever you get annoyed at shaving your pits, bend over and trim your toenails...not having to plan for that ordeal makes the whole thing worth it

hehehehe. I'm Asian so unfortunately I can eat really fast with them. /cry Pre-surgery I could eat egg drop Soup with chop sticks.

@@acm21_ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21426373 http://www.attn.com/stories/9894/when-to-use-painkillers-or-marijuana Two most interesting articles I have found. My SO has horrible knee pain, so that's what got my attention about this.

I agree, it is not always a failure of morality or character (though for some it is). Obesity I think it is more akin to a broken bone, or something which requires physical therapy. We don't blame the victim, and understand there is self work required for recovery. The danger with the "disease model" thinking is that when we think "disease" we either go "get pill get cured" or "it is incurable." Possibly too simplistic in the analogy, but I think it is sound. The research is growing on causes of obesity and more and more we are realizing that there are many factors which contribute to this problem, from genetics, bad marketing of food, and many things about the body we didn't know or understand. I get it. I'm just throwing out a caution flag on the rhetoric.

Dr. Stapleton, I'm really not nit picking, but why would you call obesity a "disease" as opposed to a "condition." I think a case can be made for those who really messed up their internal set points with years of yo-yo dieting it might be akin to a disease, but for some it is choice. The disease model is used in a number of complicated dependency issues, and while I agree there are some complicated brain issues with compulsive behaviors which can get so out of control that human rational will power is ineffective for creating change, for some though this is used as an excuse for inaction. It is an important semantic difference to me. It's what makes WLS a tool to me, not a magic wand or cure. I still have to work the program to get the results. Something for consideration, rhetoric, labels and words matter.

@@randij69 - as you probably should be tonight. Tomorrow will be a game changer. On the plus side, it is damn nice on the other side. If you are still up read through this...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ Give you some perspective as to why you are doing it. Wait until you can clip your toenails with out planning...it's really dang cool.

Alex, the only thing I would add is be grateful. I can go out to dinner with my SO and we just get one entree. She doesn't eat much and I can't. When you start adding it up, that is a significant financial savings (by my calculations it pays for a Mexico surgery in a year).

Yep, I am getting to the point of "fat revulsion." Thanks for the reminder.

I'm glad everyone has been respectful too. Be careful with the claims in the popular press on health benefits of wine. It's actually much more complicated than "the flavonoids protects you from cancer." Here is an interesting presentation summarizing some of the major studies: http://kisefront02.ki.se/sites/default/files/alcohol_women.pdf The health benefit might be from one glass for women...but that ends with more than one. There is a very slight increase in morbidity as you drink more. But so little that British health officials said to effect "nothing alarming, just warn people to be careful." The most interesting question some researchers are asking is "wine drinkers seem to be more social, and having friends seems to be more important than the wine itself." Wine has been a medicine for 5000 years. Paul in the bible told his protege Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach. But I'm under no illusion that having a glass is going to make me healthier. Hanging around with friends and enjoying laughter might be great medicine, but that is not my motivation ...my motivation is I really enjoy it. Enjoy life, but don't fool yourself over this, I can look at my own family and see the dangers of abuse of alcohol and drugs, but I also enjoy the relaxing properties of drinking. Just be a responsible adult and keep your eyes and mind open.

@@Connie Stapleton PhD - Thanks for the clarification. I understand the warnings and advice to abstain to maximize success. The tone just comes across like this scene from Mean Girls: The term toxin is loaded, pejorative and a bit misleading. Tylenol is toxic. Vitamin D is too. Both can be hard on the liver and fatal in high doses. But these are acceptable risks in moderation. Alcohol is rough on the liver in high doses. It can be fatal in the most extreme cases. There are risks in sex, driving, and even walking on a treadmill, so I heed the cautions. And to be clear, when I discuss this subject with fellow WLS people, I do share my cautions based upon my experience, research and warn of possible red flags and dangers signs to watch for. It is a danger area. Alcohol may have put me in a stall, but that's why I am abstaining for a season to test this out. In short, I don't disagree with your message, just the words (rhetoric in the classic sense of the word). Thanks for what you do, and I do have a great deal of respect for those of you who work with people in recovery from substance abuse. It is a tough job, where you know most are not going to succeed and it is often heart breaking work, so take care of yourself too (this is a major part of my sister's work, and I always remind her "there is a reason why the airline tells you to put on your own oxygen mask before you put one on those around you, and don't forget it.").

But if you are going to talk about alcohol, you have to include the best political speech of all time and the best on the subject: Read it here: http://www.rdrop.com/users/jimka/whisky.html John Grisham reads it for you here:

I keep thinking about a quote from a minister when the temperance movement began in the US in the 19th Century: "very little good comes from the absolute shall." I've always taken the approach of explaining the pluses and minuses of recreational drugs. Why the positives? Because people are getting something out of it if they are using it, and to ignore that would be less than honest with my kids. It's in the honest cost/benefit analysis that helps guide them so they can make the positive decisions that I do hope they will make. Alcohol has been an on again, off again struggle with me (before and after WLS). Some WLS patients have a sip of wine and feel intoxicated, and I have a tough time feeling it at all unless I drink a great deal. So to change and relearn my relationship with alcohol, I used some techniques from this site: https://hamsnetwork.wordpress.com/. I also found me keeping my eye focused on bigger goals makes it much easier to say "not now" than scare tactics. But everyone is different. Some need hard fast rules, others need general guidelines. Personally I agree with Dee Hock: "Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex intelligent behavior. Rules and regulations give rise to simple stupid behavior." Understanding addiction, substance use and abuse is incredibly complex. It has never been aided by alarmist media treatment. There are no simple solutions. I am always amazed at the dismal success rate of "rehab." I am also amazed that the vast majority of drug/alcohol users go through life with scant few problems. I have felt that my kids stayed out of trouble because there was always clear communication, acceptance, tolerance, encouragement and lack of judgement in the family. "Absolute Shall's" just don't work for me.

A couple of fun pics, when I shaved my chest and stomach right before heading to Mexico for surgery and last week heading out for a run

@@work2Bskinny - holy cow, you look great. I hope you are proud as all get out

That is a tough issue right now. Most medical facilticies are using a government funded medical record data base that every government agency can tap into. So explaining your drug use could come back to bite you down the road especially if you want to purchase a gun... Form 4473 line e asks if you have used Pot, if you answer "no", but your medical record says "yes" there may be a knock at your door. BTW HIPPA is no more. Unless you go to a doctor who uses paper record keeping and you don't use third party payer (ie insurance) your personal information isn't private. [smile...like me]

@@CowgirlJane - I don't know why people say that exercising eliminates excess skin. I was fit fit fit as I exercised alot that while losing weight and moving into maintenance and I still had excess skin. Actually, considering I lost more than half my body weight, my excess skin wasn't too bad! Exercise is awesome for so many reasons, but it doesnt shrink or remove skin. I'll disagree to an extent..Putting muscle tone behind lose skin helps some. I'm not going to be able to avoid plastics next year, but yoga, cardio and weight training keeps it from being totally gross.

I fully get why they don't want smoking (all types), snuff, snuss or tobacco. Too hard on stomach trying to heal following surgery. I still find it amazing how the stomach heals and contains all the acid following surgery. But the thread morphed into an interesting discussion. Glad to be with adults who can look at these issues and discuss their concerns in a fun and interesting way with out too much judgement. One of my favorite quotes was from a pastor who opposed Prohibition when he said "Very little good comes from the Absolute Shall." BTW if you have not seen the Ken Burns documentary on Prohibition, worth watching especially in light of the new discussion on drug policy going on today: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2011/09/ken_burns_prohibition_reviewed_a_fascinating_series_about_the_no.html

Arkansas will legalize before we will in Oklahoma but who knows with oil prices down and a looming fiscal crisis maybe the legislature might want save money by ending the free housing program (jail) for people who like exotic herbs. What a goofy thing to put people in jail for. http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening#.PMtaH2gxL Portugal might have a better model on how to handle drug users. The "Dirty Harry" tool isn't a fix for everything.

BTW this is interesting...http://www.attn.com/stories/2902/cannabis-effects-on-metabolism

Tried it in Denver during New Years Highly recommended ????. No carbs. No calories. And if you pick your strain correctly no munchies. Just saying...legally