Dub

Taken earlier today.....was about to head out to a sports bar and watch a game or two.
Fat as hell.......but at least I can now see my belt buckle in the mirror, lol.

So this finally happened......

Had a cool NSV yesterday that foreshadows the tremendous NSV potential ahead.......
So.....I'm a dude who gives not two thoughts to clothes.
I pretty much wear cargos or khakis at work with one of our company monogramed shirts. I prefer the polo style. Days off work....same basic deal....just cargos with t-shirts or polo shirts. Suit and tie on church Sunday. This is how it's been for a long time.
I've been out of work just under three weeks now, recovering from sleeve & umbilical hernia surgery.
Most of this time I've been wearing a few pairs of Under Armour long pants, shorts and t-shirts. These have gone from snug & in need of a "pre-wear stretch" prior to surgery.....to now being baggy and saggy once coming out of the clothes drier. Funny stuff. I never wore clothes from the drier.....and I usually did the "shirt stretch deal" as I put them on.
Now it's obvious. Old stuff doesn't fit anymore.
My wife and I had some events we wanted to go to yesterday, Halloween day. I'd gone out earlier in the morning and had a haircut and also got my beard trimmed up (I'd shaved prior to the surgery, but since then it's grown back). Anyway, came home yesterday morning with a ball cap on and wearing my normal UA pants and t-shirt.
After she got ready I went and got another shower (can't stand that feeling after a haircut) and got dressed.
I wore a pair of cargos that I bought the week prior to the surgery....now 3 weeks old. They'd just come out of the drier. Buttoned up they kept falling down as I was trying to find a smaller shirt to wear. Finally found a never worn polo that is made from a no-stretch dry-tech type fabric. It was hiding in my closet among the few smaller clothes that are in there.
Got the shirt on and belt cinched down to keep my freaking pants up. Looked in the mirror as I was brushing my teeth and thought, "Alright, dude.....you look human again".
I walked downstairs to grab a glass of Water and ran into my wife. She looked at me and burst out into tears. I'm like, "WTH ????" and she's smiling while crying and gives me a huge hug. "Have you seen yourself ?", she asked.
It was one of those spontaneous affirmations outa the clear blue that reminded me that I made the right decision in getting the surgery.
Later on in the day she commented....."Have you noticed how you are now walking......no limping". I did notice. I've only needed Advil on 3 occasions since the surgery as opposed to needing it 3 times per day every day prior to wls.
It's only been 2+ weeks since the surgery (down 31 pounds).....and 6 months since my weight loss efforts began (down 89 pounds).......and I already feel years younger.
It's at the point that I can't even conceive of how much younger I"ll feel once I reach the 1 year post-op mark. 47 now.......will probably feel like 27 after the first year.
Looking forward to wearing the same type of of button fly Levi's I wore in college. I've still got the old leather jacket that wore then, too. It's got some road rash from two motorcycle wrecks that I walked away from. It's going to feel great being that same guy once again......just a wiser & worn version.
47 heading toward 27. I'm down with that.

She sounds like a petty childish pain in the arse who isn't worth the time of day.
Who says stuff like that?
She needs to get a life.

"The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin'
To the bang bang boogie
Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat"
Powerful list and great sense of humor.

So your husband knows you are 3 weeks out from VSG surgery.....throwing up once a day.......and takes you to a brewery and gets you a beer to "sit there" with ????????
Oh yeah.....you should flip the script on him and pull some type of ghost pepper chili stunt and sneak it into his food.
Once he recovers from the heat/pain/gastric torment.......tell him that was thanks for dragging you through the same.

I loved my beer way more than "once a week if that". I also was killing 3+ 20oz Diet Dews every single day.
I've had neither since my October 2015 sleeve surgery. I've not missed either a single bit.
Don't let something as minor as that sway you from this decision.
I'm so glad I went ahead with it. I've had zero complications or issues. Zero drawbacks. All has been great.

The snacking thing becomes a non-issue once you reach the point in your post op where you are eating solid foods that comprise your three meals per day.
I never experienced any type of increased motion sickness or anything of the like.
I hit my first amusement park last August. Rode the "monsta" ride they were known for. The last thought that came to mind as it slowly inched it's way up and over the initial climb, "Dude....you are insane for getting on this thing.........".
I couldn't wait for that damn thing to stop. I wanted off. Never again. Never again.
So an hour later I'm back in line..................

The snacking thing becomes a non-issue once you reach the point in your post op where you are eating solid foods that comprise your three meals per day.
I never experienced any type of increased motion sickness or anything of the like.
I hit my first amusement park last August. Rode the "monsta" ride they were known for. The last thought that came to mind as it slowly inched it's way up and over the initial climb, "Dude....you are insane for getting on this thing.........".
I couldn't wait for that damn thing to stop. I wanted off. Never again. Never again.
So an hour later I'm back in line..................

This sounds exactly like how I plan to approach things.

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 !!!!!!

The journal sounds like a good idea.
When I've felt like I was doing poorly I would track my food intake. Seeing the calorie & macro breakdown was really helpful to let me know the impact of my grazing and straying off plan.
I'll tell you another thing that really helps, too.....is getting on the treadmill or elliptical and punching your weight and watch the calorie burn at the end of your session. When you feel how much work it takes to burn 500 calories......you'll think twice about grazing. You can trust & believe that you'll think twice.

Taken the day before my October 2015 surgery:

Take a week or so ago....at the 6 month point:

My Breakfast now reflect where I'm at.....smack dab in the middle of weight loss mode.....so there are few carbs....and yes, I sometimes have leftover grilled foods.
This morning I had two fried eggs over easy and three slices of bacon. I used salt free Chef Paul's seasoning and Tobasco Sauce on the eggs.< /p>
Some mornings it's just a Protein shake to drink on the way to work.
I'm not going to have any types of breads or oatmeal until I am beyond my goal and living at maintenance. Then....a frequent breakfast will be a piece of well toasted wheat bread with a pair of fried (over easy) eggs on top. Good stuff.
Please help me understand your boss's rationale for such rules ?

I don't get it either. I've never known eggs to be foul.
Burnt popcorn, though.......horrid stuff. Happens all the time where I work. The break area has pair of microwaves....each a different size and wattage....one has rotary feature....other does not. People are always goofing up the cooking times needed between the two.
The struggle is real.

My Breakfast now reflect where I'm at.....smack dab in the middle of weight loss mode.....so there are few carbs....and yes, I sometimes have leftover grilled foods.
This morning I had two fried eggs over easy and three slices of bacon. I used salt free Chef Paul's seasoning and Tobasco Sauce on the eggs.< /p>
Some mornings it's just a Protein shake to drink on the way to work.
I'm not going to have any types of breads or oatmeal until I am beyond my goal and living at maintenance. Then....a frequent breakfast will be a piece of well toasted wheat bread with a pair of fried (over easy) eggs on top. Good stuff.
Please help me understand your boss's rationale for such rules ?

I'm gonna tell you a horror story. I had prostate cancer, had to have it totally removed. Well, since they took the prostate out, which is about 1.5 inches in diameter, Mr. Wilson decreases by the same amount! You are basically taking 2 inches of pipe off from the inside. Not only did taking the prostate out it embarrasses ya while making ya in employed.

Ps . It does add 2 inches to your tongue, so I guess things even out in the end.

Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

When you find the chairs at your parents house have grown since you last sat in them.....and their dogs have room to join you....

When you return home to your own home and your own dogs have room to join you in your char that's grown some, too....

Furniture everywhere seems to be getting bigger and bigger. Strange phenomenon. Strange but cool.
I like strange.

My teef.
Chew like a madman and then chew some more.
Worked for me. I skipped the whole pureed stage. YMMV.

Had the sleeve a month after my 47th birthday.
Really looking forward to my 48th birthday as well as my 98th now.

Taken the day before my October 2015 surgery:

Take a week or so ago....at the 6 month point:

@@BSanchez2016
Please considering slowing your roll, my young hombre.
All is well. All is good.
Take a deep breath and relax.
You are at the tipping point........making a big decision about where to head next and what the implications are.
I'm gonna drop some truth on you, boss. You didn't ask for this....but here it is, regardless: Every major decision I've successfully made in life......every good choice.........every single life goal that I've achieved.......has been when I took the advice and was inspired by A WOMAN !!!!!!!
They are called the fairer sex for a reason, buddy. Dudes promote broscience and much of that deals with how to increase the size of our toolage and whatnot. It's true. We all wanna be bigger, faster, stronger...........
It took a woman's encouragement for me to see that faster isn't always better. "Slow down, Pedro....the race isn't over until everyone reaches the finish line".
It took a woman's intuition to help me see the benefits of having wls.
It took a woman's encouragement & feedback to know that I'd done the right thing.......and was doing the right thing.
Women, my friend, make the world go 'round.
Know this. Accept this.....and roll with this. You'll be better for it.
Now....I'm not a preacher. Therefore I'll come down off the pulpit and stfu.
My hope for you is that you relax and get some good and solid advice for the questions in your head at this time. I know they are many and they are wide ranging. It's a very difficult time.....making the decision on wls. I feel for ya, mayne. I was right there just a short time ago.
I truly get the concerns over having good wood. Trust & believe that I get that......but mainly trust & believe that your wood will be gooder once you drop any unneeded pounds you may be toting and embrace your health and fitness. It's all good, bro. The wood is gonna be all good.
Guess what? You'll know when the wood's all good, too......know in the best and most sure way......because a WOMAN will tell you.

My teef.
Chew like a madman and then chew some more.
Worked for me. I skipped the whole pureed stage. YMMV.

Yes, married.
But am alive and well.
Not the iniator.....just a dude buying groceries......

Well......I am coming up on 12.5 months since sleeve was done.
Went last week to have labs and blood panels done. Have been waiting for results.
Went to ortho doctor today. He shot up both knees and blown right shoulder and put me on a new wonder-med NSAID.
Results posted on health portal app this evening.
I'm not taking any type of blood pressure meds for cholesterol meds.......and they were excellent.
Most of the other stuff was in great ranges, too.
The recommendations he made on how to proceed on knees and shoulder replacements weren't expected at my age....but I'm happy to know that my organs, ticker, arteries and other are all in super shape.
I can get new joints and control over pain. The other stuff is what's gonna keep on this planet for a looooooooonnng time yet.
Very relieved.
Sleeve has had my back all along.