Dub

My son, then 15, and I have a "no bs" relationship. I almost lost him a couple years back and adopted a different tack after that experience. I am 100% straightforward and honest with any question he has on any subject. Nothing off limits. No parental filters. The truth and nothing but the truth. The good, the bad and the ugly. I sat him down and told him about my first bariatric appointment in June 2015. He wanted the rundown of the procedure and then asked if it was risky. I told him that any surgery had inherent risks but this surgery was much more safe than living the way I was currently living. He accepted it and said he was all in and supported me. Here is a pic taken the afternoon I came home from my first bariatric appointment: Here is a pic taken not quite a year later.....standing in almost the same spot in our driveway....just facing the other direction..lol Just sit down with each of them.......and tell them. Tell you love them and want to be around for them for a long, long time. You've got this !!!!!!!

Dub, You were the first person on here to let me know some surgeons operate on it. I'm hoping to hear mine does. I really don't want to keep going for so many surgeries. Do you think it made recovery harder ? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I'd already had umbilical hernias repaired on two prior surgeries...10 & 5 years prior to my VSG. Both were open type out-patient surgeries that hurt like hell to recover from. Outa work for 5-6 weeks for both. Then there was my VSG surgery with a simultaneous umbilical repair done with same tools he used for the the VSG. I was out of work for 3 weeks. Had it just been sleeve surgery, then I'd have only been out a week. I knew at the time of my VSG & hernia surgery.....that the hernia repair should be considered temporary. Losing the weight over the next 18 months would have my ab muscles tighten and be in a better state for a more permanent repair. It wasn't bad at all, though. The recovery this time was a cakewalk compared to last time. Two things that I would advise you having at home and making even easier work of it: 1) a recliner to sleep and recover in. Much easier than trying to lay flat in a bed. 2) raised toilet seat insert. They simply fit over the bowl and raise the height of the toilet seat a few inches. So much easier to sit and stand from an elevated height. I used the liquid pain meds for just a couple days and then was good.

Kinda......I fell ya, mayne. Piss on a stall. Hate those damn things. I got powerfully pissed off with one two weeks ago and went back to the basics and busted through it. Low carb Protein powder mixed with ice & Water.....and daily gym visits. This kept my carbs und 20 grams each day and my protein elevated to the 120 grams per day level. The only solid foods I had were ham omelettes, some tuna and grilled chicken. I had a couple days where I went bonkers for something to crunch on. Bell peppers, celery and a daily apple helped keep my crunch beast satisfied.

No such recipes, my friend. However......spent 5 weeks in Japan and while there I went native. Thank the Lord above that the weekends were mine....all mine....and I could hop aboard trains and get back to Tokyo & Kyoto for some menus that were more in line with what I was accustomed to in the states. Hard Rock Cafe spared my sanity on those weekend getaways. The weekdays were spent further out in the "country" areas where I was working. The stuff I ate was.....well....by our standards here.....vastly different.....but everything was perfectly prepared and tasty. Funny story is that one of my co-workers was dead set on sticking with KFC, Wendy's and McDonalds while we were there on one of the trips. He contracted a bad stomach virus while there. I'd chose to go all in with their food....their culture.....had a blast and came home no worse for the wear. And as far as the skewering comment goes........I've been working a long string of consecutive workdays with a few more to go. Trust & Believe that I'm ready to do some skewering. It's becoming an undeniable need that must be met. I can't wait until my next day off when I can skewer my back out !!!!!!!!!!!! Kampai !!!!!!!!!!!!

So damn cool !!!! Living the dream right there.

Looks tasty and loaded with protein.

Well said @@Womanvsmirror There are a lot of whines, gripes and complainers. Quite frankly, they drain me....sap me of energy. I can't stand being around folks without drive and motivation. I can't take lazy folks. Can't freaking stand it. Work hard. Play hard. Spend more time on the "success stories" threads and all is well in the world. Positivity breeds positivity. Looking forward to seeing your progress and observations along the way. It can be a fun and exciting time. Once we get the fire lit beneath our rumps....the real dancing starts.

Well done !!! October 2015 was my surgery month. It'll forever be a new birthday in my life.

I've simply used the profile tools available here on BP to do this. Weight loss, progress pics and etc. One stop shopping. lol

As I was coming out of the soft foods stage.....there simply isn't enough room in a 1/4 cup sized meal for anything but Protein. All that other stuff simply doesn't fit, thusly was avoided. Now that I've been told to push towards 1 full cup of food there is room to get my protein in...and add some vegetables, too. 1/4 cup isn't much food. Stick with protein. This is the point in the weight loss focus where we shouldn't be concerned about food focus....it's not about wonderful flavors and such......it's simply about getting the nutrition and moving on. Break the food focus and get going with the losing.

LOL on surgeon working around it and waiting until later to repair. My surgeon looked at mine during my pre-op visits and said without a doubt that monsta had to be dealt with during the VSG surgery. It was insanely large.

Santa Claus came today !!!!!!!! Dressed like a UPS dude. Or actually a dudette. Scivation now makes a version of Xtend that has a pre-workout mixed in........trying to find some....grrrrr. Has serious potential for being a good product.

Mess with the horses.........then prepare to be skewered.

Interesting concept. I like it. I'll not post food porn for a while. I know I'll get a twitch......and itch....but I'll not do it. Gonna be working everyday until Monday anyway. Know this.....on Monday....my grill will be hot and my pitcher of 'ritas will be on ice. Porn goals will be met. On the serious side......I try....truly do try......to stay with the content. Now.....I may be more reserved on my replies based on who the poster is...my knowledge of their history and perspective come into play. Sometimes, though....a Darwin award winner emerges and I can't hold back.... FTR......I was a Darwin Award Recipient......almost......and then I found this place..............

That link will be very useful to many people here. Thanks for posting it.

This was one of the reasons I went with the sleeve. Arthritis meds are a must when I need them .

The night before and the morning of.

Agreed. Even the NUT's who are the least helpful seem to cover this much, usually.

Bamsucka !!!!!! There ya go. Well said. Now....off to grab a shower and go to a job where I have to be all touchy-feely and make nice for everyone......when some of them truly need a swift kick in the arse. Like a bull in china shop is what I feel like I am at times. Wading though a minefield not trying hurt anyone's feelings. Damn, it gets tiring. When it comes to things here at BP......I'd rather keep it real. We are tying to get healthy and don't have the luxury of warm blankets and embracing the lack of progress.......we are better than that. We are about getting fit and healthy and that comes with a few bumps and bruises. Have a great evening, folks. See ya on the flip side.

I am most proud that I've taken action and will continue to take actions that better ensure I'm around to one day be a grandfather.....and an active one. I can't wait.

I understand and appreciate ISG's well thought out "embrace the stall" original post. I do get tired of seeing the term get thrown around so casually as a knee-jerk reaction to someone's lack of progress. It's almost like, "oh....so sorry you aren't getting anywhere this week...this month....this six month's......so sorry....here ya go...just embrace it". It does get tossed around like a warm blanket and hug......when I believe the intent was more of a plan of action.....a battle cry, if you will. The only thing I embrace is progress....moving forward and downward !

Balance. Balance. That sounds like sweet music to my ears. I want.....and need balance. Thank you.

Very cool ink @@KindaFamiliar @@sharonintx that's sounds interesting....and about how I could see it going for me....start with one...and then build on it. I'm fairly certain I'll get one down the road.....just not sure what and where.

Great thread and great progress, guys. You will really feel better and better every passing week.

Well said !!!!!!!!!!! This should be in page one of the post-op manual that I never received. Hell, for a while there I was shopping for a woodchipper to take care of the evidence. Seriously, though.....very good post. And @@Jess3/25/16 please know that you are absolutely in the toughest part of this post-op deal. It truly does get better.....and soon. The 5-7 week post-op period was not a happy time for me, either. I'd have loved to destroyed a Subway display or twelve. You are among folks who have been through similar times. Got to the rants & raves section and let it fly there. Getting an appointment with the person who did your pre-op psyche eval may be a good place to start, as well. It gets better, but maybe a professional can help you get there faster.