Dub

Welcome aboard. You jumped in ring in a big way. Sounds like your results and experience is very favorable at this point. Sounds good. I hope that everything continues to unfold very smoothy for you.

Well done. You are killing it. Huge respect for you going after it.

Yesterday's Breakfast was a midmorning Bariatric Advantage Protein shake. Today....not sure. Crashed early last night and woke up crazy early today. Morning coffee came really early, too. I may hit a local 24/7 spot for an omelette this morning.

Very, very impressive ! Man, you have really done great. Amazing year for you. Running in 10K races ? Are you kidding ? Could you have ever seen this happening a year ago ? Outstanding results, boss. Outfreakingstanding.

Biotin use here. My hairline on the forehead is already becoming a five-head. No want of any more thinning. I'm pouring the coals to the biotin supplements. Norelco Body Groomer makes short order any unwanted hair in any other area.....quick, easy and effective.

Very well said. I've found this to be the case. I'd go through my short 2-week pre-op liquid diet over and over again with ease if it gave me the benefits that it has. It seemed like it was so difficult then, at the time. It went by quickly and started the accelerated pace of losing that I was grateful for. Hang in there and stay on your plan. The benefits are very much worth it. It gets loads easier once you are post op. Much, much easier.

I've found that stalls happen quite often, in fact. I used to get freaked out by them....now....at 4+ months out....no biggie. I think you may have nailed it on the huge calorie deficit and your body hanging on. For me, in those cases, I look at the type of calories I am getting....protein being the main component, obviously, but so are type of macros along with the Protein. Initially I had tended to use more dipping sauces and such. I'd also use various creamers and flavorings in my coffee. In those early days my coffee was heavily cut with these, too. Now....I drink it in almost the same way I did before....strong. If I'd have a stall in the first couple months I would carefully measure and account for every gram of carbohydrate. It was interesting that I was drinking more carbs than I ever realized....plus the dipping sauces thrown in, too. I do much better now. I stick with the volume of food that I'm supposed to be eating at this point. Meals only. No snacking. Lots of Water in between. The scale does hang on for days at a time....even fluctuates upward on occasion but then will drop to a new low. It can be a weekly pattern.....or I can go multiple days of losing. It's just too hard to predict or pattern. I've been the type to weigh almost daily. Is it a good idea ? It works for me and it's among the first things I do when I get out of bed. I don't let what the number is freak me out. I just take it and roll with it. I need this in my head as I begin my day. Keeps me focused and on point. This weight loss has been a gift from God. I have a new lease on life and am in awe of the many benefits that simply getting shed of unwanted weight has had. Good stuff. Grateful for this. It's a lifestyle change that has taken root and I am the better for it in every single way. It is hilarious when I see the look on waiter's faces when I order. I'll nurse a drink or cup of water......and then order a meal that's basically an appetizer or a salad and eat the protein toppings from it.....or Soup and eat only the meat from it. Takes me just as long as whoever I'm dining with to eat their salad and full meal. I get asked if I am feeling good or if something wasn't to my liking quite often by the staff. I go out of my way to assure them that everything is perfectly tasty. Sorry.....early morning ramblings of a sleever who's sipping on a killer cup of java and super hyped up about the coming day's fun.

Remind me again why we can't use straws ? I forget. Could take 'em or leave 'em. I grabbed a diet lemonade from Chic-Fil-A the other day....next day a hyoooge tea with Splenda from another local chicken spot......straws in both.....used them due to being in my car and driving.

The "Coffee Nazi" (that's what my daughters call me) does this: I HAVE MY COFFEE EVERY MORNING!!!!! I just figure it into my day's menu. That is one thing my Nut. and surgeon knew from the start. We as a team, planned around my daily coffee with half and half. The alternative of me not having my coffee would not be pretty. No. Not pretty at all... We are so on the same page. That is how I proceeded. I knew I had the right surgeon when he said, "Sure you can....I have 2 cups a day....why can't you". I knew right then he was my guy ! Damn.....this sounds like a divine drink. I need this in my life. Morning coffee is almost as good as afternoon margaritas...........

I was leaving work yesterday after a long day. Tired. Ready to get to my vehicle and make the interstate commute home. Was already thinking about my playlist for the ride home. I am a production supervisor in a large manufacturing plant. At one time, I seemed to know everyone there....and know them fairly well. The place has expanded and grown significantly over the years. Lots of new faces. So, I'm walking down the main aisle with my tired mind lost in my thoughts about my music and a couple phone calls I needed to make to arrange some schedule changes. Waving at and speaking briefly with some folks as I walked on by. Nearing the main plant entrance I hear a horn blow and look back and see a dude riding up on his material handling cart. He's a big guy, too. Appears to be fairly tall, young and really, really heavy. He's taking off his work gloves and extending his hand. We introduce ourselves and he said he's seen me around the plant and I'd been losing a large amount of weight and he was simply hoping I'd share how with him. I was straight up with him and gave him a fast rundown of the my sleeve surgery process and how, where, why it unfolded like it did. I was 100% honest with him and broke down the costs and how our insurance was not so great.....covering only 50% of the actual surgery cost, but not the related tests and things that are required. I told him how it was actually significantly cheaper for me to have self funded the deal. Crazy scenario, but true. I urged him to pursue a couple different avenues for finding out further information on how to fund the surgery. He had very specific questions as to what I could eat, what I could take for meds and what I could drink. He wanted to know what days off were like and what working days felt like. We talked for at least 30 minutes and I tried to think of the the things he'd not asked that I could answer, too. He thanked me profusely and I can say that I instantly felt like the last 14 hour workday was erased.....I had recharged my batteries. I felt absolutely great. I can only hope that he'll be able to sort things out and find out the information that he needs to find out to better make his battle plan. So....I'm almost out the main entrance....but then veer on a new course. I stopped off at the nice gym we have at work and spent 30 mins working out before refilling my 30 oz Water bottle and getting in the car for the well hydrated ride home. Life is good. I am grateful for each day....but yesterday was really cool. I looked at this guy and could see in him the same desire to change that I had......the same confusion as to how......and I'm hoping that things will line up for him. I know that our HR department and our benefits are lacking in regards to wls. I need to study up on the various financing options and have this information readily available....contact info and such so I can be better prepared for the next such conversation I have with potential wls candidates. Thanks for reading my ramblings. I hope that today brings another such conversation with someone like this young guy. I hope that each of you have this experience and can feel a sense of calm and relief in the person you are talking to. It is a powerful moment and one that is very rewarding. To date, it's one of the very best NSV's I've had.

It's the little things that really hit home as cool NSV's. Last week.....getting dressed at the gym.....crossed my legs and couldn't believe how easy it was. Now....when I go out to restaurants.....I always request a booth. Last week at work I even sat at one of our booths in the cafeteria. Everyone complains about how small these things are....yet there I was....sitting there and was completely comfortable.

On a daily basis I enjoy the Beans I love.....brewed strong how I enjoy it. I use Splenda and whatever creamer that catches my eye in the grocery store. I go with sugar free creamers or half&half. I sometimes use Fairlife milk as creamer, too. They make some amazing milk !!!

That is great. What an awesome experience.

There are no less than 4 different flavors of Pot Tarts in the food pantry here at the house. Everyone else loves them. I reach past them to get to my Protein powder canisters. Once I eliminated the junk from my diet the cravings for such crap went away. I don't even notice the stuff anymore.

I basically eat the exact same things post-op as I did in my old life..... Except I just eliminate anything with sugar, starch and much lower sodium content. No more beer, either. What's left? Proteins & fats. I get at least 60 grams of Protein in each day and 120oz+ of Water each day.

Diet Snapple K-cups..........lemonade tea version. Grab a large cup and fill with ice.....put it in the Keurig and drop in one of these K-cups and let the magic happen. Calorie free and full of excellent flavor.

Pre-op liquid diet sucks.....no way around it. Lot's of benefits of it, though. You'll feel a sense of pride and gain some self confidence as you get into it.....becoming your own cheerleader sort of thing. "I got this". "Hell yes....I own this". It'll get you rolling along and after the first week.......bigtime scale victory will be noted. Mine fell over a period of 13-14 hour workdays and days off. By far.....by a tremendous margin....the work days were the easiest. I was not distracted and thinking about it.....just spaced out my shakes and drank 57 gallons of Water in between. lol. Don't sweat it unduly. It's just a brief period of time that you'll back o with pride knowing you did something that took you closer to your improved health and better ensured a safe surgery. It's really not so bad.

Ginger Ale sipping while taking the dread meds it is.......now get that thing blasted to hell and back and begin to feel better quickly. I have never experienced kidney stones and hope to never do so. Some of the toughest people I've ever known have told me how bad they are. Feel terrible for you and hope that you get some well deserved relief ASAP.

I waited two months......had a glass of wine. I've always been a beer drinker.....wine is not something I care for. Waited a month or so later to test the waters with vodka & 5 calorie cranberry juice/drink. I will enjoy one of these before going out.....and order mixed drinks with low calorie mixer or simply on the rocks when I am at the bar/club/party. Slow sipper.....mainly nurse the drinks. I didn't have wls and commit to losing this weight so I could avoid having fun. Be cautious as you test the waters and know your limits.

Thank you everyone for your support and extremely kind words. The folks here on this sight have been a secret weapon and source of strength, wisdom and absolute truth at a time in my life where these ideals were scarce. I am a better man for getting to know you all. You have been a sounding board for my thoughts, planning and helped shaped how I felt about my life in general. I am so very grateful for the inspiring people here on Bariatric Pal and their acceptance of my erratic arse. I'm glad I didn't have to walk this walk alone. The harsh realities of being overweight and the toll this takes on health, relationships and capabilities is all but overwhelming. My friends here helped me to see this and to help me embrace weight loss surgery and with refining a strategy that has been working thus far. You've helped me in much deeper ways, too. You've helped me deal with life during & after some initial success with the weight battle. You helped me when this occurred and I found out that even though I was gaining leverage over the source of my frustrations.....it wasn't a cure-all for eroding relationships and years of living as I had. It is almost as if I've been living in a fog for years....now it's gone and I can see with great clarity. Everything isn't perfect and ideal. The wls is certainly a little bit of magic.....but it has a limited sway over the rest of my life. You, my friends, have helped me immensely with gaining insight on the areas left uncured by wls. Thank you so very much. Once I get further along.....maintain at goal for a while.....deal with the excess skin that's surely going to be there....heal and continue on with my progress......yes....I'd very much like to speak on wls for my bariatric center's briefings and seminars. I'd love to share my story with potential patients who are seeking a tool to get the results they are desiring. It would really make me feel good to answer their questions and perhaps alleviate some of their concerns and fears. I don't want to sugarcoat anything, but to simply speak on my own experiences.....good, bad & ugly. I don't begin to know how to thank you. You were there in the very beginning for me. I was a wreck. I didn't know which way was up. Your encouragement and insight was....and continues to be.....highly, highly valued and appreciated. Be proud of what you have personally accomplished and take great pleasure in knowing the guidance you offered was taken to heart by the Leslies, Jessies and Gregs of your world. You were there for us and we are each in better places because of this. Thank you so very much.

Well......you can always wait around and become as bad off as I did a dozen or more years down the road. If I'd have taken action of some substantial and fundamental way at age 33......I would't have found myself feeling old and broke down by my mid 40's. It took finally being wiped out with the fun symptoms of a disc injury that finally, finally got me focused on making a lifestyle change. I went with a sleeve. I have only one regret. One. It is why....why.....why did my stubborn arse not do this much sooner ???? I'm just now able to reflect back and uncover some of the reasons I didn't take that action at 33. Part of it was that I had great self esteem and was very active. 60+ workweeks on average, days spent hunting, golfing, fishing, boating, etc. If something fun popped up on the radar.....count me in. I was there. At some point, however.....the bad eating habits and activity level just failed to be in sync and I failed to reconcile this. I knew how to lose weight and would do so......but discipline was like a switch that was thrown own and off.......and when it was off, wow.....serious pounds would show up. Health issues and recovery from these really narrowed down my fun. Since there was no formal gym time taking place....and the fun outdoors had always been my main source of activity....bad situations occurred. Now I'm starting to get back to where I need to be. The sleeve has been a most powerful tool. I realize now that my health isn't the only benefit I'm seeing. Turns out that I was having serious self esteem issues as well. I was letting myself stay stuck in rut......carved out a pattern of living and was hiding within the confines of this small window of life. Now....I am going through examining everything about my life....it's all on the table. It's all up for negotiation. The unhealthy aspects are being eliminated. I'm finding that change is needed and I no longer fear that change. Some of the changes are small.......some are tremendous and a little bit scary. It's been a great time of self discovery and examination of what I'd like to do to set myself up for the future. Spare yourself the next decade of sliding off into bad habits and unhealthy way of living. I went down that road and paid the price. I was absolutely blessed to be allowed this second chance. I'm not saying to have surgery. Only you can make that decision. Gain the most insight and educate yourself as much as possible before committing to wls. Don't hesitate to make a change, though. Commit to getting healthy and act on this. Put forth the effort in ways that are safe and will give results. If you are not already doing so...then begin frequent exercise and establish a good way of eating. Get these fundamental behaviors in place on your own.......you'll need them if you do decide to have wls....and you'll benefit from them anyway. I wish you the very best and hope that you gain support from your family. They may have to warm up to the idea and be better informed as to what wls surgery is and what it can offer. Seeing you become dedicated to healthy behaviors will certainly help gain their support. You are among friends here, too. This is a very special place with some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

It's a longer list than I care to admit. Giving up carbs, in general, is huge for me. Getting active in my gym.......another huge even.

Thanks.......it's just that my meal size currently is tightly limited.....thus the V8 drinks every day. Those and the ton of vitamins I ingest. Grilled veggies are good in my book, too. I actually did some tonight. Didn't eat them yet.....but grilled them for my tribe. I'm sleeved......almost 5 months out. I have used my sleeve to lose a good bit of the unwanted weight....and will continue to lose......and lose.....and level out and maintain. That being said......I did not have wls to become a monk. I did so in order to improve my life. Having a drink every now and again is part of relaxing and being comfortable is important. Prior to surgery, I had this discussion with my surgeon. He said that there was nothing from my former life that I couldn't have, within reason, in my post-op life. He was right. No worries as far as I'm concerned. Throughout history there have been no big developments without the presence of the fairer sex. I'm all about some female intuition and guidance. Without this there can be no progress. I succumbed to this way of thinking a while ago........

The unit of measure that my surgeon has always given me is in terms of 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup or full cup. I'm coming up on my 5th month since surgery. He has me on three 1/2 cup meals of Protein. On gym days he suggested that I perhaps add a fourth meal if needed. He is adamant that I stick with the 1/2 cup meal size and to eat it slowly over the span of 20+ minutes. I now stick to the meal size.....and I certainly eat much slower than I ever have in my life......but truly do need to slow down even more. Way more. I cut off drinking anything about 15 minutes prior to eating and I never resume drinking for well past the recommended 30 minutes. As long as I stick to the 1/2 cup volume I have no problems. If I eat more.....or faster.....or both, then it is not a fun experience. It is an experience that is memorable in a bad way. Very memorable. Three weeks ago my wife drug me out for dinner. I wasn't really feeling like going out....had worked a long night shift, got off that morning and stayed busy most of that day. I did manage to get a 90 minute power nap....hot shower and a cup of coffee before heading out with her. She chose a local steakhouse that was absolutely packed with folks waiting outside. She walked in....came back out in just a minute and took me to an available table. Wow...chic got us seated immediately. The table was in the bar area....very loud bar area. Waiter shows up....she orders a salad and says to wait on putting in her dinner order......I go with a rum drink and instructions to not let it get empty. Hey, when in Rome.... This meal went on forever, it seems. She did the salad thing....then ordered a steak. I think they must have had to go out back and slaughter the cow as it took forever to arrive. The waiter honored my request on the endless rum drinks and I was generally okay with the waiting. I go to the restroom and return and there are a plate full of wings sitting there. Wife said she knew I'd always liked their wings and had taken the liberty of ordering them for me. I slammed down the rest of my drink.....waited about 30 seconds and jumped on a wing....then another. I slowed my roll and eventually did eat 1/2 the order and brought the rest home in a to-go box. I was absolutely miserable. Stuffed to the gills.....painfully so. Exhausted. Getting sleepy from the food after the rum.......and sitting in a ridiculously loud bar area while she agonizingly worked her way through the steak, baked potato and salad. Pure misery. I'll never happen again, brother. Never. Next time we went out was last weekend....different steakhouse. I hate going to steakhouses, too. I'd much rather grill my own and save the money. Anyway......we had better seating (a booth....a tight looking booth....spot that I'd have avoided like the plague before due to being so damn big......slid right into the booth like I owned it) and a better waiter. I rolled along with the rum drinks and enjoyed myself throughout the meal. Very late I did order a 6oz filet and house salad. I had some of the eggs from the salad....and two very small bites from the filet. I took the rest home and made two more meals out of it. I do worry about never eating fruits and vegetables....even though I'm taking Vitamins like crazy. I have recently begun having a V8 every day. I either buy the original, high Fiber version or the spicy hot version. 50 calories that I can certainly justify. I have seen that even at my current limited eating volume that weight loss isn't guaranteed. The "broscience" that is kicked around here that "we can eat virtually anything and lose crazy weight that first year" does not apply to me. I know because I've even had periods where I gained weight. It was 6 weeks back. I'd returned to grazing behaviors. Nuts & cheese and snack crackers and dip. Finishing off leftovers from having house guests stay. Not good. Back on track and the losing resumed. Scary stuff, but it taught me a much needed lesson. I need to do things that keep me active as hell and keep the metabolism elevated. If i don't......not good. This week I've been nursing a tweaked achilles tendon....something new.......I've been watching the scale with fear, too.