giant46man46

Hello All, I had my surgery back in March 2015. My pre-surgery weight was 308 LBS. I am 6'4" tall. My current weight is 220 LBS. Here are my before and current pics.

Hello Everyone, So far so good. As of today, I have lost a total of 50 pounds.......WOOOHOOO!!!! I got to tell ya, when you are on this journey, you have to Celebrate the small victories. As each week passes, you may find youself discouraged at times. You can't expect to lose 10 pounds or 8 pounds each week. Some times you lose 8 pounds, some times you lose 2 pounds. The point is that you are LOSING weight. I told myself that I will celebrate when I am in the 250's. Well, I did it! I was 260lbs last week, this week I am 258. I thought I would never see the 250's again, yet here I am. This inspires me to get in the gym and work harder than I have been already. For me, its not enough that I lose the weight, I also want to be healthy and look good in the process. I plan on putting on muscle. Believe you me, my wife appreciates that goal. Anyway......my advice to anyone who needs it is not to be discouraged if you only lose 1 or 2 pounds. Use it as motivation and try to work harder to continue to lose weight and achieve your goals. Celebrate your victories no matter how big or small. Good luck! Kenneth

Or, if you are a "slow loser" like me, most times you lose 0.2. I hope your losses increase until you meet your goals. Good luck.

Hello All, Today is 15 days post off and I feel good. The weight is coming off fast....I love it. My highest weight was 308 lbs. My weight at the time of surgery was 286 lbs. My weight as of yesterday is 268 lbs for a grand total loss of 40 POUNDS!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!!!! I have been going to the gym and walking on the treadmill. I also started weights today following my surgeons advice of lifting very light weights (he said that If I have to grunt to lift the weights, do not lift them). I was told that once i am 6 weeks post op, I can lift as much as I want. My eating habits have been challenging in that I am not taking in enough, but it is a learning process. My wife, having gone thru this already, is my coach and she don't play. Anyway....that's what's going on with me. Kenneth

Will be embarking upon my journey to "Skinnytown" on this day. I am excited. My wife has gone thru this and I have witnessed the results. I am eager to have similar results. Let me know if anyone will be in Tijuana the week of March 15th thru March 19th.

Here is my experience with this. When my wife and I were in TJ for her surgery with Dr. Ortiz last year. My wife had her operation, and at some point, they took me back to the hotel by myself. I stayed overnight in the hotel and they brought me back to the clinic the next morning to pick up my wife. Everything was covered in the fee that we paid for the surgery. In fact, we elected to stay an extra night, fully prepared to pay that extra $75, but we didn't have to. They picked up the tab for that. I'm not saying that the same thing will happen to you, but that was our experience. Hope this helps.

Hello All, I was thinking that for everyone who is getting sleeved by Dr. Ariel Ortiz the week of March 16th, we could introduce ourselves here. If things are the same as when my wife got hers done, we will be taking the same van shuttle to the clinic. That way, we will already be acquainted with each other. That may help with nervousness.....if you have any. I'll start. My name is Kenneth. My wife Marilyn will be accompying me (only fair since I went with her to TJ last year).

Congratulations! I know you are looking forward to that day as much as I. I am sure I will see you there. Kenneth

Congratulations! I am sure I will see you there. Kenneth

I do remember that bakery in Walmart. The first day I saw it, I thought ahhhhhh<queue heavenly music here>. However, the 2nd time we went there, that part of the store was smelling questionable (like sewage). Definitely, killed it for me.

Actually, I am trying to surprise my family and friends, so, I'm sorry, I will have to decline your offer. Thanks anyway.

@jjinWA.......very good insight. I didn't have a problem with the Spanish as my wife speaks it. I know just enough to order a beer and ask where the bathroom is. That leaves alot of open territory. The hotel food is pricey and not very good. I ordered a Cheeseburger and Fries (twice), and both times it was yucky. How can you mess up a Cheeseburger?????????? The Cheeseburger and fries at the hotel cost around $16. It aint cheep.

Thank you.

I haven't decided to tell certain people for the same reason. As my wife and I have already been there for her procedure, I can offer some insight. Make sure you buy Gas-X tablets and you will need them. You may want to buy some popcicles from Walmart as the ones the hotel provides are not tasty. You can walk to Wal-Mart from the hotel, but it is a little scary crossing the intersections as they drive very fast in Tijuana. Typically, a taxi to Walmart will run you $4 or $5 dollars (each way). It's a small price to pay for more metal around you to get to Walmart. If your dad is going with you, he may want to take advantage of the food carts they have across the street from the hotel. The food is cheap and delicious. If you go to the restaurants in TJ, you will pay just as much if not more money as you do in the states. I wished I would have known about the food trucks and the smaller restaurants around the corner. I would have saved a ton of money. Also, you may want to exchange some currency at the hotel for pesos. Although most places take dollars, not all of them have enough change to give you back dollars. Just a little bit of information for you to take advantage of. By the way, had my wife had any complications whatsoever, I would not be doing this for myself. People who are not supportive, do so because they do not know what to expect from procedures done in TJ. I will admit, I had my own reservations when my wife decided to do it. After being there, and seeing first hand the level of professionalism and courtesy they extended to my wife and I, I have no reservations in doing this myself. As with any medical procedure (even ones performed in the United States), there is always an element of risk. The only thing I can tell you from first hand experience is my wife is fine and losing weight, the facility is clean, and the doctors are caring and professional. We are flying in on March 15th and leaving on March 19th (around 4pm). Maybe we will cross paths and I can introduce you to my wife and you can see for yourself. Take care.

Hello ufjireh, I am going to have the sleeve procedure done by Dr. Ortiz on March 16th. My wife (who has already had the procedure done by Dr Ortiz) will be accompanying me. I am so excited. Maybe we will see you there.