Big Guy 77

Hi. Sorry I've been off the website. You need a solid month minimum I'd say. I'd rather do the 6 weeks. When I first came back after surgery I had to stretch and work an 1-3/4 handline. No problems during but I felt cramps for a few hours after. Yes, you'll be able to work out at the intensity that you should/need to. It just takes some time. No worries. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Having the surgery was the single best thing I've ever done for myself. If anything I feel stronger, back to the early days. Working out and positive attitude help. Keep in mind though it's not a silver bullet. I look at it as hitting a reset button, giving you a chance to do things over the right way. You still have to make healthy choices and exercise. It gets harder to stay focused when the weight loss stops or you're in an extended stall. Just keep focus on your "why" you're doing this. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I went back full duty after 6 weeks. My job is unique in that we perform police, fire and EMS/first responder. I currently work on the fire side so my surgeon gave me some extra time to heal. Had I been on the patrol side, I probably would have gone back at 4 weeks. I have heard of people (social networking) who were back on patrol at 2 weeks post-op, which I did feel well enough to go back to work; but that being said if I had to roll around with someone or stretch a handline I might have caused some type of complication. I'd say plan on a month out.

I'm OTJ almost 18 years, post-sleeve 1 year. Not currently on patrol but I am full duty. Can I help?

I have issues with body image. I don't always see the weight loss because of the sagging skin (stomach, arm pits and inner thighs also). I still see the fat guy. The scale (110 #), my clothes (down from 5X shirt to a 2X) and my friends and family see the changing new me. I have a hard time with it. I don't think it's unusual it's just guys in general don't talk about it. For me personally, my surgeons office mentioned the plastic surgery option down the road but after going over the pros & cons I decided as long as my body's insides were healthy the outside I'll learn eventually to accept.

If someone notices enough to ask, I tell them. Even a neighbor I've never spoken to before stopped me out of nowhere and asked me how much weight I lost. I told him and he asked how I did it. I told him I had surgery to get me started but it's a lot of hard work and eating the right things. In other words, I told the truth.

I find it almost impossible to not weigh in every day, usually first thing in the morning and then again after dinner. It's an obsession. I know I should put the scale away someplace inaccessible, I know it's a mental game and I know I'm losing inches, but I still cant get over the impulse to constantly weigh in.

I started at a 56 waist. Just bought a pair of 48's. I don't really know my "ideal." I'd like to hit a 38 but I can be happy at a 40.

I've found I'm hungry more often than I thought I'd be. Right now everything is still so new so I'm keeping focus on my immediate goals. I do eat if I feel hungry but I make smart choices. Smarter than I did in the past which is how I got into that mess. Now I'm going in the right direction.

Just got invited for a guys weekend where one of the big activities is zip lining. I'm going to go. I've got 6 months to get to the weight limit and I booked it. I WILL MAKE THE WEIGHT. I know I can. I will succeed and do something I never dreamed I could.

The one thing I've noticed is in general the foods I'm eating TASTE better. Part of it is making healthier choices but I think just as important is eating slowly. You can actually taste your food, because you're not just shoveling it down. My first real meal out to eat was Salmon. I was never a fish eater but I knew I could mash it with my fork so I tried it. It was amazing. I kept repeating myself in conversation how good it was. Went out to dinner again and tried beef short ribs. I swore up an down it was the best meal I've eaten in my life. That's the big change I've had so far. Eating slowly, tasting and enjoying my food. Also, not that I had a major one, but I have no desire for sweets. Last night was my wife's birthday and I saw the cake and had some head hunger but didn't crave it.

I second the Musclegen . I had (and still to some extent) trouble getting Protein in. This helped a lot.

Thanks everyone. I feel fine now. Just stressed myself out for awhile.

I'm 2-1/2 weeks post sleeve. Been feeling great. Long story short I had to pick up my 4 year old/50 lb son up 3 or 4 times just now. Feeling some discomfort but I'm honestly not sure if it's just in my head. Anyone think I could've done any damage?

Hi Christopher. How's your progress?

Thanks for the quick responses

I searched for an answer but couldn't find one. I have to go out to dinner for a relatives birthday. That night I'll be 10 days post op and I'm already stage 2, pureed/soft foods (I went home from the hospital on stage 2). The restaurant offers "grilled salmon." I'm wondering, if I mash it up well with a fork, can I eat this? I've been eating tuna salad and pink salmon salad already (mashed with olive oil mayo). I was never a big fish eater, but the only other things on the entire menu are chicken Soup (I'd only have the broth) or mashed potatoes. Advice appreciated.

Thank you

I'm day 8 liquids only pre-op. This liquid diet is no joke. It's much harder than I thought it would be. I have to be honest I feel like crap and I'm starving all the time. It drives me crazy when I see others had shakes during the day and a sensible dinner. I've been living on sf ice pops and sf jello. I'm supposed to drink 3-4 shakes per day and I'm only getting in 1-2. (But on the bonus side I'm down 23 lbs in one week). I'm really getting psyched out and fearing this next week and the first few days post op. Starting to get depressed

Thanks

Thank you

Just curious if any of you guys have physical jobs, when you were able to return to work. In both meetings with my surgeon he said 4 weeks. The PA at my pre-op testing told me 6 weeks. My job will give me as much time as I need, I'm just trying to plan. THANKS.

My surgery is 2/25. I plan on writing notes to my family as well. I don't think there's anything strange about it.

Hi Christopher. My stats are the same as yours. Im 6'2 & 355 at 42 y/o. My surgery is 2/25. I'm doing it to improve my health to have a nice long life with my 4 y/o son. I'll be following your posts. Good luck.

I too am about portion size and this being a tool to achieve a better life. I wanted to and could have had my surgery months ago, but for family reasons I pushed it back several months. I think it really hurt me because if gave me so much time of just waiting…and thinking...it felt like waiting for the end of something instead of for a new beginning. I hadn't discussed these feelings with the psych. I have discussed it with two of my friends who were both sleeved, one 2 years ago the other sept 2014. They're advice was basically much the same as the above and keep your eye on the prize. I made a list the other night of the reasons I am doing this, my lousy conditioning, serious health situations and my son and family's future together. I think the social aspects are getting to me too, the going out to eat with my wife, family style meals at work, cocktail hour at a wedding, the places where eating is just part of the experience. I'm prepared for smaller portions and am fine with it, at least I was. I'm sure this is all just nerves. I do have some support with this whole process, my 2 friends who went through it and the guys at work whom I've told I'm doing it. That helps. I think reading these responses and other in the broader forum is helping. Thank you all again.