Dub

Well done !!!!!!!!!

Different strokes for different folks but what works for me is to cut out all the non-Fiber carbs, stay below maintenance level on daily calories and walking a lot. I also found that cutting way back on sodium and drinking Water all day long while doing the above leads to really fast weight loss. I burned off 120 lbs in 8 months doing this. It was a few years back and I've done very, very poorly keeping it off......but it does work fast if you need to burn off some weight quick.

I've tried to approach it with a "why wait for the surgery to begin losing" view. It's been very revealing. I cut out beer, rum and all other alcohol at the very beginning. Turns out to have been easier than cutting back simple carbs. I've caved in to doughnuts and pizza more than once. A back injury woke me up and had me consider the bypass surgery.....healing has been stubborn but it's occurring while I'm slowly losing weight.....hoping to be able to begin exercise very soon. This will help me better prepare for the bypass procedure. I really needed to face this stuff now.....well ahead of my surgery. Like I said....it's been really revealing.

Very cool. I had no idea they had those on the menu.

Very cool. I had no idea they had those on the menu.

Good call. Scary stuff to be considering and even scarier so soon.

Things I'm looking forward to post-op: Arthritis pain in knees easing up Back pain diminishing Cleaning out my closet of all the oversized clothes that are temporarily in there Having active hobbies Air travel with much greater ease....just complaining over legroom Perhaps a new car once I reach goal

I am looking around now at the various versions of the Fitbit. I can't wear watches or such on my job so the One is sounding like a good option. I called their customer service today to inquire about an XL band for the Flex. They do offer them after you set it up. She said it wouldn't be accurate in my pocket, though. Would the One model work if worn on a lanyard around your neck, inside your shirt ?

Celery

Well done. You are on the way to great health !!!!!

I think it's more a matter of subject matter comfort level.......or non-comfort level. Folks with normal weight issues talk about it freely among each other. It's no big deal. Standard conversation topic. Folks.....like me......with overweight issues really don't care to talk about it......to the point where it's a taboo subject. I know I avoid discussing it like the plague. It's been that way for me long enough to have become my knee-jerk reaction when the topic comes up. I tend to get overly defensive if pressed on the matter. To them....it's a simple topic.....to me it's bad juju. I don't have a clue if this will ever change for me. I suspect it may. Perhaps after 200 pounds burned off and many, many miles on the treadmill and a fun-filled lifestyle will bring me to the point where such talk is routine.

Excellent thread. I'd typed out a long reply on my iPad that was just wiped out by the iPad hating tendencies of this site. Suffice to say that I'm DONE, too. Back and knee pain 24/7 is driving me nuts.

I went to the Brooks website and used their stride analysis and bought the pair they recommended. They are the most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever owned.

Great progress and a great decision to address this while you are young. Keep posting your adventures as it's inspiring to those of us in the pre-op limbo.

Good info. I was thinking I'd wind up like Mr Clean for a while. I'm going to do my best to keep my Protein intake up and hope for the best.

Good deal. Was starting to wonder with all the mumu-sundress suggestions. I can hear the screaming protests just as the anesthesia takes over, "No.....not there.....not my junk......just my stomach" and then it's lights out.

The questionare I took was a bogus ordeal. Even my psychiatrist said so. She, on the other hand, was super. It's just another hurdle that you'll cross and then be on your way. Keep your eye on the prize.

I wish there was one that was strong enough to hold in this umbilical hernia.

Hope everything went really well.

Great job, OP. You've done extremely well .

Not likey to work for guys reading this thread unless they are having the Bruce Jenner operation.

Academy Sports ?

I don't think that's going to work for any of us. The good news, Geronimo, is that everything you own will be looser. Under Armor long sweatpants and t-shirts are what I'm going to be wearing.

I've looked into self-pay in my area as well (Georgia). $19,800 at one hospital and $21,000 at another. I am also very worried about the cost that could accrue from complications that aren't covered. I have to look further into it.

I found myself with a similar desire as you when I was at the beginning of my consideration of weight loss surgery earlier this year. I didn't want to do anything "too" radical......just something to give me a bit of help that, along with exercise, will yield the results I wanted. It did not take long.....not long at all, to realize that the procedure I needed was gastric bypass. This was based on five doctor's recommendations, three of them being surgeons. I'm 100% certain they are correct. I'm going through the 6 months of pre-op stuff now. I also work 13-14 hour days, too. When I finally get a day off I'm wiped out. Good luck to you.