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I can do a before and "during" pic or two. The "after" is a ways down the road.......having fun getting there, too. First pic was taken on my very first visit to the bariatric center. It is located in the same hospital campus where my son was born 16 years earlier. I stopped beneath the room he was born in when I took the picture. I had a strong and compelling feeling that I was on the right path.....finally. Being close to that delivery room was a powerful feeling. Home from that first appointment and my son getting home from his buddy's house. He'd asked me how the appointment when and told me he was proud of me. This really pumped me up. I knew then.....for certain that I was making the right decision. Pre-op dieting had begun by this pic.....coming home from work and feeling better than I had in a while......in the program. This pic was taken the morning before my surgery. The umbilical hernia looked like it was about to 'splode at any moment. Those are 4x Under Armour pants and that is a 6XLT t-shirt. Life is good, brothers........life is good. The good Lord above has blessed me. He let me get to the point where I was finally teachable......and then he put some outstanding teachers in my path to coach me and get me seeing things clearly. I've been blessed in so many ways. In the last 12 months I've been in the care of a wound care surgeon, spine surgeon, family doctor, pain management doctor who I referred to as Dr. juice as he shot my spine up with wonder drugs, vein surgeon and my general practitioner........the man who took me on as a patient 13 months ago and who pushed me to pursue the further treatments of the above listed professionals. Our very first visit was a 90 minute session and he opened up the conversation about bariatric surgery. Each of the outstanding doctors he sent me to each had the weight loss surgery discussion with me......especially the wound surgeon. We had long conversations twice a week as he was digging and scraping and cleaning up the leg wound I'd developed after scraping it on a boat trailer.....wouldn't heal due to the swelling in my legs. Oddly enough....this doc was soon to be retiring and used to repair hernias daily. He looked at mine and suggested I get it repaired at the same time they did the VSG or bypass. It was an eye opening conversation. The spine doc told me in my very first visit after the MRI results that he could certainly operate and repair what I'd done.......but my weight would simply wreck his repair and that a bariatric surgeon could do more for me than he could.....and if I lost the weight my back would heal over time. Then......then there was my VSG surgeon. Amazing guy.....tremendous talent. He took care of the hernia.....performed his magic on the sleeve and has coached me up well. I am so very grateful and could only laugh when I received a letter in the mail from the wonderful general practitioner last week. In the letter he went on to say that he is leaving private practice and will be working with veterans over on the local Army Fort. I owe this guy so much praise and thanks and am a better man for knowing him these past few months. He helped me change my life. I'm glad to know that he is going on to do good things for our soldiers. They are far more deserving of his help than I was. I have my life back. My family is healthy. I feel a great deal better. The road ahead will be an adventure............. Here is a pic from last week.....9 weeks out from the sleeve surgery......6 months out from the initial dieting. Long way to go....but it's going well. These rapidly snapped pics taken yesterday. 2XL Under Armour pants and a 3XL t-shirt. Long way to go....but damn if I don't feel better about everything.

Very cool, Mrs ISG.....very cool indeed. You are doing great and will continue to do great. I just kicked Casual Male to the curb, too. Done. Getting into stuff available in regular stores is going to be fun.....Hell, I may even enjoy shopping. Always hated it before.

Great attitude. You are going to keep on rocking it. The family.....even though they are wishing well and have great intensions......can be suffocating at times with their advice. My parents were the same way when I visited them at Thanksgiving. We laughed it off. I'll be seeing them next month and it'll be funny to see their reaction to the progress since last visit. As far as your husband's cousin's husband.......you were literally preached to. That is too funny. Good stuff, too. Getting right with God is always advised before going under. I'm sure he meant well......but why is it that some folks hear that you are having surgery and then feel compelled to tell you about all the morbid aspects and possibilities. Makes me wanna yell out at them...."Fool.....hush up........not trying to hear that noise right now !!!!!".

Go buy yourself a large YETI cup. Fill that bad boy about 1/4 full of ice.....top it off with Water. Take it everywhere with you and sip your back out all day. It'll hold 30oz of water and you'll be able to measure your progress very easy. I get 3 of them down every day....minimum.....more if drink coffee. The shaking you are talking about was something that I did experience after a week or two post-op. I was feeling weak and rundown......no freaking energy.......almost passed out in Best Buy bending over to get something off the lower shelf.....left immediately.......then went back the next day to buy it.......felt puny then, too. Went and saw my primary doctor to get things figured out. Had a great laugh with the nurse who took me back from the waiting room......she took down the reading on the scale....wrote it on my chart and then gave me the elevator look.....head to toe....toe to head....."Hmmmmnnnn.....whatcha trying to do up in here ????? You gonna go get all skinny on me ??????". It'd been three months since I'd been in there and my weight was way lower. She then took my blood pressure and the laughing stopped. It was crazy low....and I always ran high blood pressure. The weight loss and my daily meds had driven it way low. Doctor corrected the med dosage......essentially cutting it all in half. The tremors and shaking were also attributed to low blood sugar as I was doing Atkins pre-op until the 2-week Protein shake diet.....surgery......4 weeks of Protein shakes. All the weakness, shakiness, etc.....all that went away over the next week and I really started feeling great.

I pretty much did like @@Inner Surfer Girl did and skipped the whole puree stage. For me....puree meant soup, oatmeal, yogurt and other stuff. I could see myself allowing foods like mashed potatoes and knew that it would sabotage my weight loss efforts. I stayed on full liquids (Protein shakes) for 4 weeks instead. My surgeon had a weird schedule leading up to my surgery and he made it known to me well prior to my surgery which he was able to either do my sleeve "really soon".....or delay it a month. I opted for the "really soon as in next week option....please" and it all came together.......and it did so really fast. As a result.....my first follow up appointment was on day 6......and then the next appointment was at 4 weeks once he returned from his travels. He'd not discussed any other way of eating for me other than Protein shakes at the first appointment......and the NUT wouldn't disclose any further schedule other than to "follow the doctor's orders". I'm really glad I did it that way. Enjoy going out with your family. It's a really special time of year and we are all truly blessed if we can spend time with our family. Be glad they want to go out......this will keep you from having to cook or prepare meals for them. I remember wanting nothing.....and I mean NOTHING to do with the kitchen my first 6 weeks or so. Get a bowl of soup....and laugh at yourself stirring it around the bowl the entire meal after eating such a small amount. My surgeon told me on our second visit......"Get used to never finishing another meal again....especially in restaurants".

Comments inserted above ^^^^^^^^ I can only speak for myself and my own experiences. There is absolutely no way, shape or form that I would hesitate having sleeve surgery all over again. Best gift I've ever given myself. I have only one regret............ Why didn't I do it sooner !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! #kickingmyself

@@AlishaMay79 I think a week off in your situation is entirely workable.

You'll find your response. Before speaking on it to folks..........take a deep breath and collect yourself.....then speak. That deep breath and moment to collect is for you.......determining how much you want to disclose about your rapid weight loss. "No, I don't have a disease..........Yes I'm okay.........."

Work days.....up at 4:30. Premier Protein shake & my Vitamins go down......coffee is making while I grab a shower and get dressed. Fill up a travel mug of coffee, Splenda and a shot of Fairlife 2% milk. 30 oz bottle of Water in hand all day at work.......refilling it throughout the day. I drink a ton of water. Work meals are pouches of tuna, grilled chicken breast and other similar eats from the cafeteria.....or I take my own grilled stuff from home. Days off.......wake up and mix a shake and do the coffee thing. Last few days I've had fun grilling and chilling.....while wrapping up the Christmas gifts that UPS guy keeps dropping off. Fun times.

I told my boss and my coworkers. It's not like they wouldn't have noticed my different way of eating & drinking and the large volume of weight loss that is in progress. Seemed kind of silly not be honest about it. I look at it this way......I did this to make immediate improvement with my health. I really don't need anything from them. My friends before are still my friends...... This is about my own health and nothing else. I will say this.........the response has been overwhelmingly positive from everyone. Even one of the ladies at work who was not in favor of my decision to have wls approached me the other day and asked for surgeon contact information. She has a close friend that she wanted to see do what I did. Funny stuff. There are a lot of self appointed health experts among those we all know.....they do seem to come out of the woodwork at times.......they remained supportive, though....both before and after the wls. Water off a duck's back. No worries.

Last cruise I went on was in 2011. I was doing Atkins hardcore, but ate well during the cruise. Drank enough rum & beer to sink the ship. 7 days of this. I weighed in at my gym the day after I got home. I'd lost 5 lbs during the 7 day cruise. My secret was to avoid eating any carbs.....my only carbs came from the alcohol. Every morning......every single morning found me in the ships gym doing an hour of cardio and lifting weights. I was in BEAST mode and having a ball. Going on another in March-April.....obviously a post-sleeve cruise. Probably going to book it on the same ship since I know they have a great gym.

Well said !!!!!!!! You always hear way more from folks who are voicing complaints than you do from the overwhelming number who are beyond happy with their results.

You need to hike that skirt up and show more of dem legs !!!!!!!!! Well done. Getting new clothes is something that I've never been enthused about. I'm finding that is changing, though, as I'm leaning down. Some Western boots are in the future. By the time they fit me, though, it'll be Summatime. That's alright.....I'll be pimp walking around the swimming pool......wearing a bathing suit and those new boots and singing cowboy songs. Now show off those legs, young lady !!!! Bam !!!!! Congrats. You look great. That had to feel good to slip 'em on and look up in the mirror and see that. Very cool !!!!!! That is neat. Recently went to my favorite Mexican restaurant with some buddies. We sat in the outdoor section. I never sit there due to the cramped evil armchairs. I proceed with a bit nervousness.....I even veered off course on our way to be seated. I went to the bathroom and just stood there washing my hands and looking into the mirror.....wondering how to play it......what if I can't fit ???? Walked out and stopped at the bar and talked to the hot bartender a minute or two.....declined when she offered my usual, a 36 oz ice cold Dos Equis Ambar draft....just waved it off....we chatted a minute and then I finally faced up to the challenge.....and went to the crowded outdoor section and found my pards. There was one empty evil armchair sitting there waiting on me. I swear I got a lump in my throat. I sat down like I owned that damn chair. Room to spare. Hell yes !!!!! Fun and general chaos ensued that afternoon........

Outstanding !!!!!!!!!!!!

I can certainly relate. You are going to be rewarded in so many ways......really soon, too. The pre & post op liquid diet was that hardest part for me.......and it wasn't even hard. 30 grams of Protein from Premier Protein ready mixed shakes went down easy and tasted great to m. I had zero hunger post-op and that trend continues. I'm 9 weeks out from my surgery and things are really, really easy. I kid you not. This is an easy life to lead.....eating lean cuts of tasty Proteins. For example....at work, I keep pouches of tuna and Quest bars in my desk. I also go the cafeteria and hit the salad bar for a small side salad (I load it with stuff other than lettuce). At Breakfast at work I'll sometimes have an omelette (but only finish 1/3 of it at most). This weekend I fired up my grill and had a lot of fun cooking for my family. Enjoyed all the flavors, too. Still lost at a good rate all weekend. Life after the sleeve has been a breeze. Also tried on some clothes that I'd bought before my surgery......thinking I'd be able to wear them by Summer..............THEY FIT !!!! This is after just 9 short weeks. I can't even imagine how good it'll feel after a year......two years.......ten years......... You are going to love it and be very happy with your decision. Don't let the liquid diet throw you off. Don't eat the garbage that many folks eat during the pureed stage......don't bring the junk food back. Push through those few weeks and then PROFIT. Happy for you. It will get really, really easy.

Hoping for the best for you. Very sorry this happened. Knee pain sucks outright.......but......at least you are gonna be able to wear some hot looking jeans once the swelling is down. Be sexy in spite of that knee.

Tonsils out when I was really young.....I still remember the ice cream and getting a new G.I. Joe outa the deal. Knee surgery on right knee at 15 years old Knee surgery on left knee at 17 years old Right ankle tendon repair (golfing injury.....seriously....who needs surgery after golf ? ) Vasectomy (Hey....I'm counting that one.....anything that involves a scalpel coming into contact with my sack gets to count, right?) Three abdominal hernia repairs I said all that to say this........my sleeve surgery was, by far, the easiest of all of these. Least pain, least restriction, least effort on my part. Other than the small incisions, I questioned my surgeon if he even did anything. You are going to do great and rock the results.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here......but if you don't have the willpower to do a 7-day liquid diet.....then you aren't ready to have the surgery. You'll be on liquids afterwards and you'll need discipline to ensure you take your supplements on schedule....... I can assure you, though.......the toughest part of the whole deal for me was that initial liquid diet. It does test you. It is unbelievably easy once you get a couple months out. I'm 9 weeks out from my sleeve surgery and this weekend has been extremely easy.......fired up my grill and had tons of fun grilling for the family.......I enjoyed tasting the things I cooked and had fun with it. Hopped on the scale this morning and saw that progress had been ongoing during my weekend's fun. It gets much, much easier than the short pre-op diet and the short period following. Trust and believe. Again.....sorry if I sound harsh.....but think of the pre-op diet as a process check. Hopefully you've already been losing weight prior to surgery. The liquid diet will kick things into gear, too. You'll really see some progress then. Embrace it. The goal is to lose weight......not simply wait around until surgery to lose weight. Embrace the losing and everything required to do so. YOU WILL THANK YOURSELF LATER !!!!!

You are going to be fine @@kdelrosso You are going into the new year losing your weight aggressively. You have between now and October to lose hard and stabilize. Ask your surgeon and regular doctors about possible hair products that may help........take in your Vitamins, Protein and other known good things. Do your part and simply let things run their course. I truly think you'll be fine.

I'd paid off my vehicles a couple years ago and was saving funds for a new ride. I'd always planned on doing Atkins diet + hardcore gym work and lose weight......injuries and health issues showed up bigtime this year and had me locked down by April of this year. I entered into a bariatric center and began the program....it was the standard 6 month plan with surgery short after it ended. An angel with my program sat me down two months into it and went over self pay options for me. That "new car money" was spent on my sleeve and the surgery happened less than three weeks later. I went with the same surgeon that I'd have waited for. He is a freaking genius and I have nothing but high praise for him and his work. I never considered Mexico. I've always hated flying.....and I was having an abdominal hernia repair done the same time as my sleeve and there was no way in hell that I was going to attempt airports and such.

Well done, Candi. Very well done. Due to back problems I was also unable to get my own socks and shoes on for a good part of this past year. Crazy.......I'll never take such daily tasks for granted ever again. Losing the weight is a real blessing in many ways. Eating healthy like you are doing is another blessing. Think about how much better our heart and other other organs now are. Sure feels good. Keep on doing great. Post up some progress pics, too. They can really help motivate folks !!!

I'd love to be in your background.

Whatever it was.........was cheating myself. Like sitting at the poker table and tossing my own chips on the floor. The goal here is to lose and get into shape. There is no food on this planet that is worth compromising me reaching my goal. Getting relief from my back pain.......easier bending of the knees.........better performance in all categories.......is a WIN that I'll not shortcut with some flavor. Success tastes best of all. Best wishes.

In the words of the late, great James Brown......... "Like a........like a.........like a sex machine". I'm looking nowhere near how well I feel. I'm sure of that fact. I do feel like I'm 21 years old again though. Just this afternoon.........I was caught humping a tree in the backyard this afternoon. The tree may have been offended, but I was going with the felling. This sleeve surgery was the best gift I've ever had !!!!!!!!!