Dub

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 powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >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.

Obviously many of us focus on the scale measurement as our barometer for reaching our goal. I was wondering if you had certain pieces of clothing from the past that were representative of your new goal weight. Scale tells me that I'm 80 lbs out from that point. 80 lbs. I'm not even sure I know what that looks like anymore. It's been a fast paced roller coaster since this bariatric bidness began for me last June.....and faster still since October's surgery. My post-op goal weight is to settle in somewhere in between what I weighed in high school junior and senior years. Surgeon agrees it's a reasonable weight to maintain. What will it look like ? It's been so long ago that I can't remember. Unfortunately I no longer have any of my old jeans from those days. Lol. They never made it through the 90's. Metallica, Iron Maiden & Ozzy concerts. Ripped and shredded to the point of no repair. Up until yesterday, I figured I'd just stay the course and find out when I get there. Was going through the closet yet again and pulling out stuff that didn't fit and getting it into the hands of someone who could use it. I ran across a relic. A perfect example of what being at goal will look like for me. I found my high school letterman's jacket. I tossed it aside for later consideration. This morning I saw it as I was getting my gym clothes on. Sitting there. Grabbed and took it into the kitchen where coffee was made ready. A trip back for a refill and I couldn't stand it anymore......I had to know........would this thing fit? More accurately, I suppose, the thought was ....how far off is it from fitting? i found out. I'll say this....there will come a day when it fits. Today is not that day......but soon. Soon it will. Well before my 30th class reunion later this year. LMAO at this old coat. It will be staying around....returning to the closet.......waiting for a few more months. Had some good laughs this morning over my coffee. Forgive my ramblings and my nostalgia. It's good to be reconnected with sources of great memories. See..... @@OKCPirate .....I told you I was a Viking before I became a Pirate. 10 lbs of sausage in a 5 lb casing........LMAO. Today is not that day......but I have the confidence in my sleeve that it will help me see that day. So dang grateful to be getting this weight off. So, please jump in and tell about your old clothes that are you new goal barometer......or maybe you have recently bought something new that you are looking forward to fitting in. Let's hear about it.

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

I find it also depends on what I eat. Dry chicken breast will make me feel absolutely miserable no matter how much I eat. I made the mistake of eating some last Friday and was miserable for 20 minutes with hiccups, burps AND running nose. I didn't even overeat. My sleeve just hates dry chicken. I hear ya. I use an instant read thermometer to ensure my chicken breasts come off the grill at 160 degrees internal. Still really juicy and moist....yet safe to eat. I've had chicken breast in restaurants that was overcooked and dry. Very difficult to get down, I completely agree. It's a miserable feeling, no ? Sure glad it is in place, too. Keeps me honest and the scale moving downward and onward.

I try my dead level best to never reach that point. I hate the feelings that come with being full. It's a miserable 20 minutes or so afterwards. Surgeon beat it into my head on last visit that my current meals should be 1/2 cup in size. I've done some "measuring cup tests" and can pretty much size up what 1/2 cup of food looks like. I don't exceed this and I don't have to worry. Recently went out to eat with wife and ordered some wings. Nailed the portion size....but failed on the speed I ate it. Misery ensued. Learning my way through this sleeve bidness.......

A couple recent pics. I don't consider them AFTER pics but simply DURING pics. I've got a long way to go to reach AFTER status. Having fun along the way getting there, though. My BEFORE pics required wide lenses to shoot. Tripping out at the Under Armour theme shirts now. I'm wearing one of their snug fitting 3XL shirts on my way out to the gym: Here's a funny "after" pic. This is after being conned into going out with some friends.......getting home way late.....or early the next morning, depending on how you look at it. Long night.......too old for those shenanigans....but had a blast.

Quest protein chips dipped in picante sauce is always a winner !!!!

Well done ! Enjoy your new life. "Life seems fuller, busier, and more robust. I wish I would've had the courage to be more outgoing when I was bigger, but you know what? It's never too late and I'm taking full advantage now. Here's not not putting life on hold. Here's to taking chances. And here's to finally, putting ourselves first, even if it's just for a moment." Bamsucka !!!!!! ​There it is........the payoff. You have put into words the exact thing I've been experiencing. Feels fan-freaking-tastic, too.

I watched Guy's show a great deal, too. That and BBQ Pitmasters was a favorite. I've always enjoyed grilling. Last June I began the bariatric process that let up to an October sleeve surgery. Let me say this and reinforce it in the most emphatic of terms.........I FREAKING LOVE WHAT MY SLEEVE HAS ENABLED ME TO DO. I no longer watch those shows......not because I don't enjoy my food. Heck....I'm having some chicken tenders for breakfast that I grilled last night. Delicious and also having some sharp cheddar cheese with them. Rich flavors....excellent meal. I no longer seem to have the time to watch those shows....and my other favorites like Homeland, Game of Thrones, Walking Dead, Blacklist and etc. I stay more busy now than before. I tend to spend an hour or two each day in the gym on my days off. Just not into sitting around and watching TV like before. Gonna grill some killer porterhouse steaks tomorrow night and that one steak will make three meals for me. About to make a pot of chili in a minute for my son and I to enjoy later tonight. Going to smoke some chuck roasts next week. Yup......you can certainly enjoy your food and drink down the road. You are in the hardest phase of it right now. That's all. liquid diet pre & post have safety components to them.....follow them to the letter. Somewhere around week 8 or so I began to fire up the coals and have fun in the kitchen again. I certainly don't sample all the stuff I make....stick to low carb, high Protein eats. If I have an adult beverage....it's no longer beer, but a high grade vodka or tequila mixed with some Ocean Spray Cranberry 5 calorie drink. Would I have my sleeve surgery all over again ? Hell Yes I Would !!!!!!

Wow. I stayed on liquids for 4 weeks post-op due to concerns over my new sleeve healing properly. Now....at 4 months I am having 1/2 cup size meals of chicken, steak, tuna and other fish. The 1/2 cup size meal is what the surgeon emphatically stressed I stick with. I do not eat until full. I can't stand that sensation. I take my time and eat the recommend amounts over 20 minutes per meal.

True. But I do think it is more than that. If it were just about the "coat" coming off, then it wouldn't have started on weeks one. I checked; I was still totally fat that day. It's fascinating. Lol. Inner Surfer Girl offered a very good explanation of this phenomenon experienced early on.......so much blood flow is redirected towards the surgery site in order to heal. Makes perfect sense. I remember being cold in the hospital and certainly later on at home. I was cold this morning when I got up at 5:00am....made coffee and sat by the fireplace. Took a while to warm up.....