laguerr13

Walking was a biggie, but also my wife helped me stock up on water, flavored drinks, jello, broths, tomato soups, vitamins, and protein, I got by the first three weeks without shopping, I took several naps the first three days, and tris to learn to get my fluids in, ice and or ice chips really helped since I had no appetite the first few days, and I also made sure I was comfortable and had my tablet and TV, My meds were ordered before surgery so they were waiting when I came home, I only took my pain meds the first 3 or 4 days then didn't need them anymore, stock up on whAt your surgeon gives you for diet but only enough for the amount of time and be comfortable

Interesting, I have read several books in Kinesics and find that you can easily manipulate conversations, people and outcomes just by body language, problem is some people are naturally better at it, while others learn it, I used words and as the youngsters say, I had game back in the day, I do remember to tell my wife how lucky I am to have her and that I love her, every single day, after 8 years it's amazing that we argue maybe once every 3 or 4 months, and not a single one is about us lol

I was only joking, I appreciate the offer but your better off without me, since lots of my peeps around here know I have no filter, but you are doing a wonderful thing, and I commend you, I like paying it forward, and believe that even if we could just help one person it's a lot better than to watch them have a life full of regret that they never did anything to try to improve their situation, keep going with it your on the right track!!!! Sincerely

I was looking at the ingredients in some of their low carb and diet type of offerings and wasn't too happy, and the biggest thing for me since I am head core in the gym 3 times a week is the protein, I'm also afraid to go near my nemesis, the Grande Caramel Frappacino, I will go into drug induced type of stupor and jump the counter terrifying the pimple faced Barrista wanting and demand in free refills lol...........

I got this recipe from a friend who is a bodybuilder, when I researched I found it is actually gastric friendly 1 or 2 scoops of chocolate or vanilla protein 1 packet of favorite decaf instant coffee 2 tsp of non dairy creamer or 1/8 cup of silk milk Ice Optional favorite sweetener Mix protein, decaf and creamer or silk in a blender with 1 cup water and crush with ice makes an awesome coffee protein Frappacino

Well I just started a secret secret Facebook group for those not allowed on secret Facebook groups but I can't talk about so nanny nanny boo boo ( I'm just joking, please just in fun)

???? Touché love you Ann, really good when you post, I did get something positive from your post, just not totally in agreement but I'm glad we don't argue like some of these endless posts lol

I'm sorry VSGANN but by that thinking I would have had to make amenities and provisions that provided for me to be able to leave my wife in case of cancer, terminal illness, or disabling accident, no one knows what life is gonna hand them, have you ever had a psychic call you and say" I know you need me"? Exactly, looking at variables as the ones you mention in obese people and how problems can be encountered from them doesn't take into account the changes of life, I've seen many a "Perfect"people who go on to have cancer, leukemia, PTSD, so what? As Darwin once said "yes that is monkey my friend.............today"

I was on Wednesday June 10th, and on Thursday the 11th asked for to be released and begged the doctor to let me go back to the gym for treadmill and light circuit training, he agreed but said to wait till Monday, so two weeks from that Monday I got my energy back, today I am about 90 lbs down, 9 waist sizes, and will hit my Magic 299lbs way before the day I gave myself, Christmas, I take my vitamins every day, I need to do my protein because of the gym and I am always hydrated since I had two dehydration incidents that were not pleasant, ironically the faster you become active and try to increase the level, the more energy you will have

When you come around ask for ice chips and remember this " walk walk walk ..........." You'll see why by bed time

I had to talk to my therapist/ friend at work even before surgery, I was always outgoing and not shy at all, in fact sometimes disgustingly outlandish, but I began to think of how it would feel if all of a sudden people wanted to be my friend or talk to me, people that had never even given me a second glance, she told me it would more than likely happen and how I handled it was a coin toss, sure enough I was at the gym this week and a woman I had seen there numerous times glanced at me several times and finally walked over and said "your really looking great" then proceeded to ask if I had a work out partner, (she was flirting and wasn't shy about it), I was very polite and said I didn't think my wife would appreciate me having her as a work out partner and I was better at what I was doing on my own, but inside I was was having two very basic instincts that were pulling at me, Anger that she chose to talk to me now, and grief for my previous self, a person I learned to life early on, and was almost gone now, I haven't been able to work in almost two months but I am going to text my therapist and let her know what happened, I don't want to burden her yet since her girlfriend just underwent major back surgery, I find it pathetic that I have to feel this way when I meet new people and wish that I felt more humble, the women thing has no effect on me since I married a very beautiful exotic woman, and I was 355lbs when we married, my friends I chose over the years are fiercely loyal, but I don't want to turn away a potentially great friend because of my attitude..............

We tried to get some of those small protein packs, but my wife is an extreme couponer who saves atleast $100-150 per month on goods instead after seeing the prices opted to buy a Walmart can of Cashews, Beef Jerky, and Babybel cheese, using our kitchen scale and zip lock bags we were able to make two weeks worth of snacks at a fraction of the cost and got atleast 22g of protein, it was easy since the breakdown called for 1oz of each for the serving size, we are now saving for a mid price vacuum sealer and because of my diet change plan to buy these items in bulk, BTW she said she saved $8.00 and got 3 more days worth by making them ourselves

@@Dahlia : actually we didn't get the best house on the block because we wanted one with character and nooks and crannies, and our dog and cat were from a shelter because they were abandoned, thinking that people like what you like is just an assumption, fortunately my wife is as crazy as I am and thinks outside the box ........that is all

I love it when Babbs posts In response to some of the comments, I learned never to care about how someone looks by a mother who was way ahead of her time, people can say they are not superficial, but sometimes the perfect falls under be careful what you wish for, I would rather have a healthy loving relationship with a 300lb woman, as opposed to spending 6 hours in a ER with a friend who had her arm broken in 3 places by her "perfect" man, true story, I married my wife because I felt her in heart and soul not in my eyes, if my wife were to become very ill or worse I would stand by her, I work in a psych facility and had some heartbreaking stories told to me like the 63 yo sweetheart who lost her " perfect" husband after 25 yrs because she had to have a double breast removal after cancer and a tumor were found, so be careful what you wish for, love because someone makes you happy not because they are yummy

At the hospital keep it minimal and comfortable, I would suggest warm ups, since I was always cold, lots of pain first day but very manageable with the meds also much better the second day if you remember this "Walk walk walk......." It helps with the healing, and effects of gas, but mostly the nausea from the sedation, I found that everything I tried at the hospital was too sweet and I really didn't eat for 4 days, ice chips were my go to and very cold water, when o got home I was very lethargic and had to push myself, I slept for on and off for the first two days but had no problems going up and down the stairs, I had to push myself to start being more active and the pain was very minimal, I had trouble with nausea on and off the first week, but that cleared up, I preferred tomato soup to the broth, and the broth cubes were lots better, I also stocked up on my vitamins, protein, and water, and I bought various "MIO" type water enhancers from Walmart, also Crystal Light, Tea, and Powerade Zeros, I would also say I wish I had learned to SIP early on, it was tough not chugging my drinks for awhile, buyvsome straws, that will teach you to sip, good luck and if you need anything inbox me here, I believe in paying it forward, and if you don't make my mistakes it will be lots more fun for you !!!!!!

I was very lucky and hit the lottery with my wife, I always dated and never had real problems except for the occasional "I think we should be friends" but even thin people encounter this, I was at 360lbs when we met and had been divorced for 4 yrs swearing off marriage, she had a slight accent since she was from South Africa, blue eyes, blonde hair, and a size 6 the day I said "in case it doesn't work out, you are the most amazingly strong woman I have ever met, and you got smarts!" On the third time we met she said she was gonna marry me, we have never looked back, 8yrs, 2 step boys, she gave me a daughter, and my twin boys, she is now working on her Masters after completing her Bachelors in April, and midway next year will start on her PhD, she also advocated for me through this process to get some of the costs down, now she asks me sometimes if I'm gonna leave her when I get thinner, I tell her no, I would be very stupid and shallow, and I know what I married, my only problem is that as I'm getting in shape and losing weight I am finding girls staring at me more, and people that never talked to me wanting to be friends, it is very hard to be humble when your raging inside, I'm very polite, but I'm yelling internally " hey I'm the same guy you used to avoid, what the hell is wrong with you!" I guess if I was single I would hope that I'd meet someone with enough integrity that I could tell right off the bat," hey I used to weigh 388lbs at one point what do you think about that?" Lol good luck sincerely

@ WL WARRIOR : before all this sleeve stuff my wife let me invest in a professional Hawaiian shaved ice machine, we were spending too much on sno cones, and Sonic slush, we are a family of 7, I was craving something like Sonic awhile back so I pulled out the machine, shaved some ice and took some Walmart brand of "MIO" it was Grape, I poured it on the ice and oh man it was delicious, I think you can purchase these online at Amazon for under $60.00, mine paid for itself and the syrup halfway through last summer

I had a nasty sugar free Monster in the purple large can I got to 2 per day sometimes, or 3 of the smaller cans, and I twice drank a 12 pack of the Red Bull while on spring break, so yeah definite NO!!!!

Me too lol

BTW it shouldn't matter if your sleeved at 15yo or 70yo, everyone who has been sleeved knows all the negative stuff that came before, the ridicule, name calling and stereotypical associations, so we all deserve a great amount of respect!!!!!!!

I am 51 years old and I have also seen some hostility here, but I am a firm believer in paying it forward and try to be helpful to ANYONE, I think a lot of veterans forget where they came from and the ridicule that comes along with being obese, I've seen some pretty crappy comments, I became involved in one because the poster was only asking how much weight people had lost their first month, and someone went on a rant with it never even touching on the question, you would have thought they asked who died, lol, I think if there is legitimate concern over a fellow members actions or posting, there is a tactful way to approach them without making them feel like crap, don't leave this forum because of a few soured peeps, your still gonna encounter them everywhere, I deal with them on Facebook, and at work, this a great forum and there are a lot of us willing to help any way we can

Walmart and other stores I'm sure carry brands of dry creamer that are carb friendly just read the bottle, I do not so caffeine anymore since my favorite way to have coffee was with half & half, and sugar on the first cup, and on the weekends I used to do 7- 10 cups per day, but I'm glad that now I do 1 cup decaf, w/ equate, and dry creamer, still fighting the urge to go to a convenience store and grab a "Monster" just gotta keep saying no

You can take zucchini and slice it thinly, put in bowl w/ olive oil and place on baking sheet, sprinkle sea salt, paprika( if you like) and bake for 15-20 min @ 400* in an oven depending on crispness

My anniversary was was July 10th @ more than o month I'm already seeing major changes from my time at the gym, I'm definitely seeing my muscle increase and some definition, my sure on put me through a grilling initially when I said I wanted to go back ASAP the while I was still in the hospital, so the very next Monday I went back, only treadmill and light circuit at first, but after my follow up he said he was sure I knew what I was doing so I got the green light to go all out, now I can break down my days again into specific muscles, it's the only thing I do well at and I excel at it, I was curling 20lbs at the beginning and am up to 50lbs now, etc...... So I wanna keep going, because I was trained by my friends who are hardcore bodybuilder scans Crossfit experts I only train 3 days a week and rest on the weekends, it's the muscle healing philosophy that works well for me, I only wishing my knees were good because I would love to do a 5k run or even walk, but I'm happy and look forward to when I can finally get my Kayak and do some fishing, I'm also really looking forward to doing some camping again, I just want people to know that I never doubted the surgery for one minute or questioned it, and it's true that I've gotten a second chance at life, I'm mostly grateful that I have such a supportive family and that my friends are just as involved, when I say I wanna see how far I go with all this they say go for it, and love it when I post results, but even with all this I now feeling the need to give back and help others, so I'm gonna work on that also, it's not perfect all the time but it's 1000 times better than it was !!!!!!

Those are milestones, I use those instead of the scale to dictate my progress. I only wish I could walk long distances, so you have strengths I do not, I also urinate regularly now and it helps me sleep better, I was on the verge of needing a C-PAP and now I don't, measure your progress by health, I know peeps on here that can now run 5,10 15 miles a day, I envy that, my strength is in the gym, find what you excel at and you will be happier, I know it's a long road but we didn't exactly get here overnight anyway, the biggest boost I have gotten so far was getting into a pair of shorts I hadn't been able to wear in 7 yrs, and I even managed to get into 1 size smaller than that last week, although it was a tight fit my goal is to wear them comfortably in two more weeks, that would bring me down from a size 60w to 52w, 8 waist sizes lost and going, inspiration keeps me going .........