Dub

Howdy, Cindy. Yes....the answer to your question is a resounding YES ! Had a back injury at work and finished it off at home later that day on April 3, 2015. The developing spasms were enough to take me out of work and motivate me to follow my spinal surgeon's advice and have bariatric surgery. You can see from my profile pics the way I carried my weight.....beer gut that was pulling down on the injury and prolonging the healing. Surgery in October.....relief began showing up soon after as I had lost a good bit of weight during my pre-op days, too. So very grateful for the results that are showing up more and more each day.

Well.....was 478 lbs with a 58 BMI last June. 422 lbs on the day of my Oct sleeve surgery. This morning's weigh in found me hitting 3 different cool discoveries: Weighed in at 325 lbs, my BMI is now 39 and it was cold outside 36 degrees, in fact.....and I had to make Breakfast run for my son.....coffee for me. I've been doing laundry and on top was an Under Amour 2XL shirt that had been a gift years ago. Hung onto it even though I could never wear it. Well, I tried it on......and rolled out the door with it. Things have really taken off quickly after my sleeve was done. Truly a miracle at work and has allowed me to feel much better every day. It has been very simple, too. Just following the eating guidelines and exercising and being active. So very grateful. Long way to go......but I can now see it......reaching my goal and maintenance living. It's not as far away as it seemed last Summer.

It is an odd paradox.......loose significant weight and then wind up with new pains. Severe advanced arthritis in both my knees. It wasn't so bad this past year as I was trying to heal a herniated disc and was taking meds for it that also kept the knee pains at bay. My activity level was ridiculously low, too. I had my sleeve surgery & an umbilical hernia repair done at the same time.....returned to work 3 weeks later. Mobility slowly increased. Two months out from surgery I was walking 5k steps each day. By four months it has been amped up to 10k steps each day (maybe less on weight training days). Somewhere along the 3 month mark I began to experience sciatica in my legs. What the hell is this crap?.....why now?....lots of frustration from this. My various x-rays and MRI scans from last Summer revealed spinal stenosis and arthritis there as well. My doc said the sciatica could be due to that....however, due to my rapid weight loss....things were shifting around in my body and to give it some time....it may settle into a state where the nerve pains go away. I keep pushing on and in about two weeks...........NO MORE SCIATICA. Bamnsucka.....finally.....smooth seas and wind in my sails once again !!!!! The back is doing much better in that I've not had to miss work for it since last Summer. There are times where it hurts like hell and I have to take it easy......but I've yet to need muscle relaxers or prescription pain meds for it. I can tough it out, hot shower, heating pad, stretching and Advil. The knee pain is here to stay, it seems. I'm 150 lbs lighter and my knees still give me the big ole "F-U, dude.....you abused us for so long......we are gonna make you pay". Lol. Mean suckers, these knees. I'll show 'em, though.....gonna work them until I can't stand it......beg for my pain management guy or ortho guy to shoot 'em up.....work the hell outa them until the injections are pointless......then trade them in on some replacements. I will get the last laugh and they will be no longer a problem. I just need to delay this for a couple years if possible. Prior to my sleeve surgery I was taking in large amounts of Advil daily. Since the sleeve......I've cut way down on both the dosages and the frequency. I don't take it every day and I seldom need more than one dose per day. This alone tells me that the knee pain actually is better. Last Friday my regular doc asked me to try using Tramadol vs Advil. He said it'd be less damaging to my sleeve and plumbing. I've taken it 3 days since and have to say it isn't as effective for me.....but I'll give it some time. I don't know if your pains could be from your body changing and things moving......or if you've lowered your dosages on prior pain meds.......or if it's anything to do with being suddenly more active......all three were reasons for me.

A little over a year ago my wife and i bought what we thought at the time was an awesome set of bedding. We went with a Tempurpedic memory foam king sized set. First time in 20 years of marriage we've had a king sized bed. At first is seemed okay. She still loves it. She's a 140 pound side sleeper and I"m an oversized dude who only sleeps flat on my back. We are two vastly different profiles and I now see how foolish it was to think we'd both be supported to our liking by the same bedding type. The salesman did his thing and said everything he needed to sell it. For the first few months is was okay by my standards and great by hers. I herniated a disc in my back and some other damage....but the spine doc said everything he saw on the MRI could heal eventually if I'd lose significant weight and get proper rest. He's the one that finally got me to see the wisdom in weight loss surgery. Well.....the weight is now coming off and will continue to do so but I am convinced that even after I reach goal weight this mattress is a poor fit for me. I slept in it the last three nights.......and have struggled due to that. Back is screaming. I"m done with it. This memory foam mess can go to the spare bedroom and work out great for guests. We never did look around at the sleep Number Store. Their concept sounds great in theory......I was just hoping to gain some insight before I go to the store and have to listen to a bunch of sales hype and BS from them. I need a real world, real deal, no BS recommendation from a fellow large guy. What is working for you ?? This is becoming a big priority for me.

Great question......I have a couple vacations upcoming and really want to get a base tan now so I don't burn like crazy then.

Sleeved in October 2015. Have yet to take any type of meds for reflux. FWIW, I drink coffee every day, take Advil on occasion and enjoy cocktails on the weekends. I have, however.....cut way back on spices I use in foods. Not so many jalapeños and never any habaneros these days. So far, so good.

Cocktails and vacations are worthy of such. Great post !!!!

Heather, my friend.......you are dong great !!!! You are one motivated and hard working woman who is doing great. I know you are busy as heck in the gym and are like the female version of Rocky Balboa. Keep killing it !!!! LMAO at your recumbent comments.

I enjoy alcohol when I go out on weekends. I'm 4 months and my surgeon is okay with it. I used to be a big beer lover. More accurately....i was just BIG....and loved beer. lol. Now, I drink high grade liqueurs with low calorie mixers. I try to avoid anything carbonated. If I'm mixing something at the house, then I"ll use a really good vodka or tequila mixed with Ocean Spray Diet Cranberry (5 calories per serving) over ice. Smooth and tasty. Prior to surgery when I'd go out....I didn't do well with nursing a beer....it was normally 6-8 beers with some tequila shooters over the course of an evening. Watching a football game at a sports bar.....more than that. Now....a couple of those "skinny" liquor drinks and I'm good to go. I had this surgery to improve my health....and quickly. I'd have agreed to anything.....any terms or conditions in order to do that. What happened over the course of these 4 months post-op, though, has been much more than simply my health being improved.....but my state of mind as well. I truly enjoy every aspect of life in ways that I'd just forgotten about. Going out and having fun with others.......or just lone-wolfing it and flirting with a hot bartender or two.....fun stuff that helps in many ways. It's almost therapeutic. If having a few occasional drinks is fun......then so be it. I didn't have this surgery to live like a monk. I did it to feel better......and feel better, I shall. Hell.....two weeks ago....one of the gals on the surgeon's staff...who was a tremendous help with me getting throughout my pre & post op.....met me for a couple pitchers of skinny margaritas. We had a blast and were able to laugh about all the crazy stuff related to my case and then with her job. Fun stuff. I seriously doubt she would've bought the second pitcher had she been worried about it hurting me.......thusly, I consider it part of my ongoing care when we do it again. All things in moderation...........

Well done, man......really well done !!!!

Wow !!!!! You are slender and looking wonderful. You should be very proud. Great job.

Pre-Op strategy for me was to take a morning & evening shower and use Mitchum brand deodorant (best stuff in the universe......they have men's & women's formulas.....absolutely awesome product). Post-Op strategy......lost the belly....almost. No kidding......it's going away bigtime in the 4 months since sleeve surgery. I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel about everything, too. Loosing that beer gut is such a relief.

I hear ya loud and clear. I was so looking forward to my late Oct 2015 surgery date......then the surgeon found me after a late Sep. wls seminar to tell me that he had to rearrange his scheduled surgeries and mine was one of them. CRAP !!!! He held up his hands and said....."Easy Big Guy.....easy......I was actually going to move you UP a couple weeks early if that is okay". I damn near ripped his arm outa socket when I was shaking his hand. Hells Yes !!! The waiting part is the worst, I assure you. The surgery is a walk in the park.....nothing to it. You'll be comfortably back home and resting in no time. Catch up on your favorite shows or movies and sipping......and walking. In a week's time you'll hardly know you had the surgery.....only you'll be losing weight and have zero hunger. I've followed the surgeon's plan since....and I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel each and every day. I've missed two days in 2016 where I wasn't up well before dawn.....chomping at the bit to take on the day. Up late many nights, too. It's not that I can't sleep.....it's just that there is too much fun to have. You will feel a great energy rush and be inspired to be very active. Hang in there. Stay the course with the pre-op liquid diet, if you are required to. It's the worst part and it's not that bad.

Mine changed very little. Still love the stuff I loved before.....mostly, though.....the meats. All about them now. Couldn't care less about Pasta and pizza.

I'm right there with you... have a soon to be 14 year old daughter that will be starting high school next fall. College tuition is right around the corner. Also have that 5k goal... but I keep procrastinating starting the C25K program as I'm also worried about injuring myself. However, I did recently return to the ice to help out at my kids hockey practices... haven't been on skates in 5 years, so that's a big step. Huge step to get on the ice again!!!!!!! Fun stuff right there.......getting active with your kids !!! I'm going to take it very easily, too on this 5K stuff. I haven't been able to run since I was a senior in high school due to a knee injury. Back in ancient times. No rushing.....gonna be safe......the goal being to maintain a fitness level where I'll be 5k ready at anytime of the year. I really wish there was an aquatic center nearby. Swimming is what I really needed to do.

Well , brother......I had the VSG done last October in response to a back injury. Pain is better although I'm chewing on a Tramadol with my morning coffee at the moment. Lol. I get what you are saying and have had similar experiences. I do want to buy a new car......something sporty & fast. It's going to wait, though. My funds and time off is still being channeled to get in shape, new clothes and some travel. Some of the traveling will be with family.......some is just for me.....getting away and experiencing places that interest me. I know plastics are ahead and so is college tuition for my son. Sports car will be a nice reward down the road. A more accurate aquisition for me will be a new pair of knees first........after I blow these out training for 5k races later this year.

Yup. During the 2 week pre-op diet....I used it in my unjury chicken Soup. Saved the day !!!

Good stuff. Great in Soups. Frank's is killer, too. Love their chicken dip recipe on the bottle.

First and foremost.....Thank you for your service. Boots & calves. I completely understand that dilemma. Trust me on that. This surgery has been a true life saver for me. I can't begin to describe how much better I now feel.....and will continue to feel in the days ahead. Life is good. Brother, you gotta be kidding me. The irony here.....unreal. Being able to get back into your Army uniform is super. Your return to fitness has been very impressive. Thank you so much for your service to our country and to your ongoing support and wisdom. I am very grateful. 9th grade sweaters.......simply awesome right there. Wearing that dress will be quite an achievement and you'll feel like a queen in it. So much win in this. Fun stuff. Outstanding. Blew past your favorite jeans. That's what I mean about this surgery. It's allowed me to far surpass my prior losses and no end in sight. Rock that jacket and those capri pants !!!!! Amazing right there......moved well past your goal and are streamlining things to your satisfaction. Powerful. Thank you for your service. Well said. Much respect for both of them serving our country. I hear ya....and agree. Very cool hobby. Great way to keep things in check as I imagine the costumes truly are not easily replaced. Sort of a built in strategy with your hobby. Thanks......was in a goofball mood this morning. I tend to get that way much more often these days. No firm agenda.....a day off work with my son out of school. Just some gym time and fun with the grill later on. You will be amazed at how well things will progress for you if you stick with the plan and get in some exercise when you are able to. You can easily find yourself feeling like it's not real......feels so good to get leaner.

Quest brand protein chips for me.

Milk of Magnesia worked wonders for me.....