Dub

A recliner or comfortable place to sleep in a reclined position. Comfortable clothes and some good walking shoes to burn up the road with. Other than that, just a good supply of ready mix shakes.

Use a shot glass or two........

I was the same.

I started on grilled wings at 8 weeks No problems

Gone through that ? The sense of overwhelming relief ? Sure have ! I felt that way leading up to surgery.....and immediately post-op and quite often since then. It is truly a gift. There are times when you may get aggravated with the liquid diet before/after the surgery. Don't worry, though.....it passes. Even at the worst moments I've experienced since surgery....I am very grateful.

@@Sharon1964 nailed it with her list. It's nice for folks to make positive comments....it's simply when the questions start that things tend to get uncomfortable. Not always, though....some questions come from folks that you are dead level honest with and it feels good to discuss things with them. For instance, I was at work last Friday, talking things over with a new coworker helping her get a gameplan together to deal with an issue. We were standing in her work area. Another coworker that I've known for 17 years was walking up from a good distance away with a cup of coffee in hand, shaking his head. "Howdy, man.....how are things?", I ask and shake his hand. "You tell me, he says......how are you doing.....and I know you are gonna say 'great' because you look like you feel 'great'. You have really slimmed down.", he replied. Good stuff. I guess I don't "see" my physical changes like other's do. I feel them though. Feel them bigtime. I had the surgery to hopefully address a back problem that had me shutdown and struggling mightily. It's eased up significantly and allowed me to get more active.....reconnect with my gym time......given me mobility.....and yes, it still hurts like a beyotch at times......but not all the time.....just when I push too hard.....and I'm pushing, too. This whole post-op experience for me is based on the improved feels. It's nice when folks get that and compliment on this. It shows they understand the magnitude of my gratitude and relief. Only those close to me really could be in a position to understand this......those folks and my friends here, of course. There are those who compliment but do so in weird ways....such as @@CowgirlJane experienced......loud compliments that get the attention of others in attendance. It then focuses a group on you. I tend to give them a big smile and simply assure them that I feel much, much better. Back is mending and that type of stuff. If they persist and want details I just go with, "made my health my number one priority" or something along those lines. If they persist further....then I end it with....."don't want to bore everyone with this right now....but if you want to discuss further we could chat over a cup of coffee sometime". This happened two weeks ago. Turns out she was truly interested in the details. We did chat later and overtime I attempted to steer the convo to other areas, she dug in further. She now knows all and it didn't send her running away. "Good for you.....now what's next ?", was how she replied after full disclosure. I could only give her a grin, shoulder shrug and a "who know's ?". We wrapped up my chapter and got on to her story. I was glad that I didn't just blow off her loud initial public compliment days earlier. All of us have so many ironic aspects to our post-op lives. The relief I feel is so overwhelming, though, that I feel a strong obligation to take the awkward social moments and turn them into ways to explain the benefits of wls as I have experienced them. I steer them to the bariatric center I used and hope that their lives.....or someone they hold influence over lives will be changed for the better. When the dust clears and I am at goal.....excess weight gone.....perhaps the excess skin gone......I'd like to speak publicly at the local bariatric support groups. Knowing that there are vast numbers of folks out there tormented with the discussion to have wls and what life will be like after........I'd love to ease their fears and at least hopefully help give them the good, bad and ugly about wls as I've known it up to that point. Handling the "give me details" compliment folks is truly a task that doesn't come easy, but it is getting easier.

Yup. I do have a new addiction. It's a powerful one, too. It causes me to constantly check my iPhone and to ensure that it's always charged and ready for action.

Stress can be a monster. A real living and breathing monster. The only way that I can effectively find to beat it down is to face the sources head on. If it's a weight related stress.....then do things that support weight loss. If it's job related then I put in extra focus, go in on my off days and get caught up or even ahead if possible. It's impossible to work longer on the days that I'm there. Regular workday is 13-14 hours. Law of diminshing returns comes into play really late in the day. I'm not making much headway when I'm running out of gas. If the stress is marraige related then I have honest and candid converstaions with my wife and accept the outcome. Sometimes it is simply best for me to level with her and "tell it like it is". I recently did this and am glad to be unburdened with that stressor. She heard what I had to say and is still mulling it over. Whatever the outcome....I know I was respectful yet honest. Big boy underwear ?........yup....hitch 'em up or simply go commando.

Began the bariatric program in June 2015 at 478 lbs. Surgery was on October 13, 2015. Was 422 lbs on date of surgery. Weight this morning, January 30, 2016 was 342 lbs.

I was slow getting to exercise. Had a hernia repaired during my sleeve surgery. The sleeve was a non-event......could have easily been walking a mile or two a day the first week. The hernia held me back, though. Standing up or sitting down or twisting.....ouch. I was also healing a herniated disc during sleeve recovery. Somewhere around the 9-10 week mark I started hitting the gym's treadmills and things have really been improving since. The low calorie and low carb intake hasn't limited me. In fact, I can go and go.....it's just knee or back pain that stops me after an hour on the treadmill these days (3.5 months out now).

Hot dark roast (Italian or Komodo Dragon). Venti size. 5 splenda packs & cream on the side. I freaking love this.....pre or post gym time. I buy the Komodo Dragon whole Beans and grind & brew them at home, too. I was always a Dunkin coffee guy until I had my first Starbucks dark roast. I'll never go back to Dunkin again.

I had a couple....... *Had my 3.5 month checkup with sleeve surgeon yesterday. Didn't have to use the widebody chairs in his waiting area....just the normal ones. He was very pleased with the results thus far and helped me refine my strategy for continued loss. *Had my wife ask me last night what I was taking. "Taking?", I asked. She accused me of secretly taking viagra or cialis. "Nothing but vitamins" was my reply and it's the truth. She doesn't believe me. Good problem to have, I suppose. *Still at work right now and gettting ready to leave for the day.....may stop at the gym.....may not. Already have 11,298 steps on the fitbit already. I'll add at least another 1,000 steps to reach my vehicle ( I now park in the furthest spaces I can). * A new jacket that I'd ordered a month ago came in today. It's and athletic cut and taper. At the time I ordered it.....the store demo wouldn't close and zip up.....but I ordered it anyway. Picked it up this morning and tried it on......zipped up with room to spare. Very cool feeling. Went ahead and ordered some new shirts, too.....that won't fit me now....but will in a month when they arrive. New jacket = soon to be too large.

I was adamant that I'd have the RNY Bypass. My surgeon, though, was not sold on the idea. His reasons were: 6'4" with a BMI over 50 and an umbilical hernia that he had to repair at the same time. He said the repiping would be taunt, at best. If it became involved in a failed hernia repair then bad things could happen. He suggest the sleeve very, very firmly. It is what I went with and so far have zero regrets.

Had my 3.5 month check up with my sleeve surgeon today......didn't sit in the wide body chairs. No longer need to.

My surgeon and I had a wild time on scheduling my surgery. He was traveling and could either do mine sooner.....or postpone for a month. I was very fortunate that he moved it up for me. The result, however, was an early 1st post-op appointment (6 days) and a delayed 2nd (4 weeks). I stayed on the liquid diet until after the 4th week's appointment, thus I skipped the pureed portion. I'm grateful for it because I wasn't tempted to mess with some of the junk that I see some folks include during pureed stage. My stomach was able to heal for a bit longer and all went well. Zero complaints.

It's gut-check time. You are just getting your dose early on. You will forever be surrounded by temptation and various paths to failure. You are just getting a plethora of them brought to the forefront right now. Too bad he has to be your s.o. for doing so. Doom on him. Remind him of it next time he wants to get busy. Hit 'em where it hurts.

Similar experiences as @@Inner Surfer Girl mentions. My bariatric program provided a list of the exact recommendations. I've since gone off the reservation and been dabbling at GNC and finding better deals and more specific products.

@@Bluesky1 Any words I could offer here would be insufficient. Prayers are sent. I am so sorry.

Wear the black & white one and rock it. Looks great on you.

Any dude who slows down his truck....rolls down his window......and yells out at you is an imbecile and possesses no game whatsoever. You saw him at his finest moment right there @@stacyrg1 Now.....if a guy is running along with you and compliments your effort without hounding you.....then you may have encountered a higher life form than the dipshyt in the truck.

It sucks during pre-op diet.....but this is simply a TEMPORARY situation. Gut check time. Don't cheat yourself. Stay strict. There is a safety reason for this diet. YOUR safety. Don't cheat yourself. Yes....you will be on the liquids for a short period after the surgery as your new stomach heals. You will then transition to other foods and soon be able to eat whatever you wish. It's up to you to chose wisely and select foods that will support your weight loss goals. I skipped the pureed stage because I felt it was a pitfall. There simply wasn't anything I wanted to eat in that state.....I stuck with the shakes an additional time period and then transitioned to soft fish, grilled chicken and etc. Enjoy the weight loss you'll see if stick with the pre-op correctly. Space out your allowed shakes so there aren't periods of hunger. Stay highly hydrated. Stay active. Stay outa the kitchen......let others fend for themselves. Stay focused on the countdown and being strict. If you absolutely have to cheat then do so with an additional shake only....don't open the door to temptation with other junk. It gets much, much easier after the surgery. I assure you.

Excellent advice from BigTink2LilTink !!! I'm a bit taller than you and was heavier at the beginning of my bariatric process. You are doing well to lose all that you can prior to surgery, too. Great job, man. Great job. You sound like I did....just want the weight to be gone and not caring if it's pre-post op loss....just getting it off. 100 additional pounds off after date of surgery is a stretch goal, at best.....but one that could be achieved if you were strict....really strict and disciplined in all aspects of your life. My advice is to start the gym now....don't wait. Get in there now. Start some weight training pre-op....will help you heal up faster and you can go in for cardio very soon after your surgery. Take care not to injure yourself.....careful observance to proper lifting form is crucial. I suggest machines as they have a built in range of motion. Use a weight that allows you to get 10-12 reps and do 4 sets of each exercise. Stretch carefully before and after.....stay hydrated. Wipe down your gear when your are done with it and don't camp out on it. Stick and move. In 30-45 mins you should be done. Get plenty of rest and stay strict with your pre-op diet. 100lbs the first 3 months is a big goal, but you can do it with motivated discipline. I wish you the best and hope you crush the goal and get where you want to get. I wish I had done this a long damn time ago.

We got your back @@CowgirlJane Heal up and have fun. Don't worry about the whiners.

LMAO at post #10 Too dang funny !!!!

@@christinems4280 Thank you so much for posting your experiences and concerns. I find that it's damn hard to get the loss we seek and hit our Protein goals.......without supplementation of protein powders. To eat that much ends with more additional calories than I really want. Great advice and strategy has been forthcoming in your thread. Good stuff.