Butch Luce

Bird Dog, your posts have been extremely informative and reassuring. They reinforce what I learned in my classes and what my surgeon says. I even had my wife read them to kind of know what to expect. She went to the last class with me. My surgery is in Monday the 19th. Thanks so much for documenting your journey.
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I will turn 70 this year so I'm not getting any younger. The last 10 years or so have been really difficult physically because of my size. I am an outdoors type person, love to hunt and fish and each year it has just became more difficult. I fished a bass tournament with my grandson who is a teenager and I could barely get in and out of the bass boat. All of my life I've been active, played sports, climbed ladders to work on my house, cut firewood, etc. but my extreme size plus age has pretty much ended all that. Frustrating to say the least. At one time a couple of years ago I thought, "well, I'll just give up and become a couch potato." but the more i thought about it I figure- that was just an early death sentence so here I am, 3 weeks from surgery, one week from beginning the pre surgery diet and realizing if I don't do it properly, this is probably my last chance. Would appreciate your prayers.

I was sleeved Sept. 16, 2016. Weight consistently dropped until late February when I seemed to stall. I started at 370 and am now around 300. I fluctuate between 305-301. I weigh every Monday. My goal weight is 225-250 so I still have a lot to lose. While my blood pressure has dropped and I'm able to physically move around much better I still need to get down to my goal weight. I'm still obese. I turned 70 this year so I hope my twilight years can be easier for me to move around, etc, even with my advancing age. Anyway, I will continue to try to lose, am careful what I eat, and not give up. I think I need to be better at monitoring my Protein and Water intake. Any suggestions?

I was sleeved Sept. 16, 2016. Weight consistently dropped until late February when I seemed to stall. I started at 370 and am now around 300. I fluctuate between 305-301. I weigh every Monday. My goal weight is 225-250 so I still have a lot to lose. While my blood pressure has dropped and I'm able to physically move around much better I still need to get down to my goal weight. I'm still obese. I turned 70 this year so I hope my twilight years can be easier for me to move around, etc, even with my advancing age. Anyway, I will continue to try to lose, am careful what I eat, and not give up. I think I need to be better at monitoring my Protein and Water intake. Any suggestions?

I lost so steady the first 3 months then went on a 3 month, yes month, stall during which time I had pneumonia so I wasn't eating much for a couple of weeks.

Nothing I did would budge the scale more than a pound each way. Then one day when I weighed in I had dropped 6# and never had another stall so guess my body did the stalls all at once. Stay with the plan. It can be discouraging at times but it does work.

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Looking great! God is faithful, especially when he knows that we're doing our part. Congrats, my brother!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

Bird Dog, your posts have been extremely informative and reassuring. They reinforce what I learned in my classes and what my surgeon says. I even had my wife read them to kind of know what to expect. She went to the last class with me. My surgery is in Monday the 19th. Thanks so much for documenting your journey.
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Had my surgery on 9/13. I have done very well medically and was down 32 lbs last Saturday. I only weigh once a week at WW. I realized today I could pull my jeans up and down without unbutton or unzipping them. Bought new underwear 3 sizes smaller and down in pants from 16w to 12 or 14. I was lucky that my mother cleaned out her closet just when I needed some clothes. I have noticed I am more tired in the past 2 weeks since I went to trying to get my Protein from food. I am off all meds except antidepressant and my goal is to get off that by the new year. My hair is falling out so started the Biotin and hope it stalls it. I feel so blessed to have had a good recovery and I thank God for that. I have become hooked on this website and really have to do less frequent online activity as my house is suffering. This surgery is a great thing for me and I thank all the people who post on here that have helped me figure out the steps.
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@ButchLuce, yeah, I think I'm just being unrealistic and impatient, LOL. I am doing well -- 8-10 lbs a month is awesome, but for some reason I wasn't thinking that the 8-10 is coming off .5 lbs at a time, not in one or two dramatic chunks!

Plus, it's a little disappointing -- I'm down almost 40 lbs and no one seems to have noticed anything! What the heck? Just makes me realize how big I was that 40 lbs is a drop in the freaking bucket.

Heather I am experiencing pretty much what you are. I am coming to realize that 1.5 -2 pounds per week will probably be all I can hope far. I was getting too impatient I guess. Keep it up surgery buddy!
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To continue..the nurse came in. My Water sipping is no problem. No gagging or pain associated with it as I had expected from the classes. I think overall I'm doing quite well which is a blessing for a 70 year old man. I don't know how much time I have I have left on this earth, is up to the good lord, but whatever it is I hope is much lighter and easier to just get around in my daily activities. Even walking around the grocery store is a struggle . Maybe not when I get the pounds off. Feel free to ask questions if your surgery date is coming up. Finally, Heather you need to report in. How did your day go yesterday. I'm worried about you and don't even know you. Y'all have a great day!
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It's 4:30 am and headed to the hospital. Ready to get this on! By the way, good luck and prayers for you Heather!
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. Well 24 hours from now my surgery should be in progress. It's been a 1 1/2 year effort to get to this point mostly because of a coronary stent procedure a little over a year ago. Today is the last day of the liquid diet, only Clear liquids, --lookout chicken broth! After the first few days I fell into a routine which I described in a previous post. Basically, I stayed away from prepared food, my wife usually ate by herself, and my new best friends are Greek yogurt, Isopure and Premier Protein drinks, and broth. Watching football games yesterday, the double meat and cheese hamburger commercials were almost too much! Anyway, I've lost about 16 pounds and hope that's enough. Starting weight was 360 and today's weight is 344. You guys just beginning the journey hang in there. If I can do it without cheating you can too! I know the next few weeks will be rough too but it will be worth it if my last years on earth will not be the struggle it has in recent years (I will be 70 in December). I'll give a post surgery report when I can but in the meantime, say a little prayer for me and the others who will be sleeved tomorrow! God bless!
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Great. One month out. Had a check up with my surgeon today and she was pleased. I'm still on soft foods but I'm satisfied! No complaints. Pounds are slowly coming off. Down 40 pounds since first day of liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery. Am exercising at cardiac rehab (had a stent over a year ago) I "graduated" but my hospital lets you continue if you want to so I do! Have NOT regretted any of this for even a moment!
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It's 4:30 am and headed to the hospital. Ready to get this on! By the way, good luck and prayers for you Heather!
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Day 3 post surgery report. Much better day! Bowel gas is subsiding although I still have some. Slept better last night mainly because I didn't have to urinate so often. I've been conscientious about getting my fluids in. Not much Protein yesterday but today will have about 80 grams. Consumed a Premier Protein this morning and now have been consuming Water and Isopure. Hope to try a little chicken broth tonight. Walked to the mailbox and back a couple of times today. Am still tired (weak) but nap when I feel like it. Just trying to follow my doctors orders. Oh, pain in my abdomen is almost completely gone. Only feel it getting in and out of bed. I guess the main advice I can give is to be patient, follow the plan, and each day will get a little better!
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Great. One month out. Had a check up with my surgeon today and she was pleased. I'm still on soft foods but I'm satisfied! No complaints. Pounds are slowly coming off. Down 40 pounds since first day of liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery. Am exercising at cardiac rehab (had a stent over a year ago) I "graduated" but my hospital lets you continue if you want to so I do! Have NOT regretted any of this for even a moment!
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Hi I was sleeved 9/22 so I am almost a month out and I have lost 21 lbs since surgery. Still a little sore under my left rib, but I wear a light compression support belt. That helps. I am trying new foods and find that eating is not so eventful when you can only take a few bites.  
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Yes, I know what you mean. I am going to start to gauge what amount triggers that.

@@lizardqueen I feel pressure where my esophagus is - it's always 1 bite too many when that happens

Well, it seems I can identify with DUB. I'm 6'3" 365 Lbs. Male. I start the pre-op liquid diet next week. I'm nervous as I see many are, but I'm determined to make it work. I'll turn 70 yrs. old this year so its really a last chance for me. My age coupled with my size has made it extremely difficult to do even the most most simple physical things that I've been used to doing most of my life.Finally got clearances from all my doctors to proceed. Had a coronary artery stent a year ago so that delayed me for a year. (no heart attack but close to it at the time) Anyway, glad to see that people are willing to share their stories here, especially you, Dub.

Mine lasted three weeks- I weighed once a week- then stopped for two weeks a just avoid the scales -
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Thank you so much Inner Surfer Girl. I read your article and it pretty much reinforces what I had been thinking but I guess I was being impatient! Thanks again!
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I am 3 1/2 weeks post op. Things progressing fine. No problem with liquid or Protein requirement. Am able to eat soft foods prepared in the blender. Even turkey meat loaf and tuna. Cannot eat much or I feel stuffed. About 1/2 cup is my limit. Ground chicken chili with soft white Beans has been my latest. I was losing pounds fairly steadily until this week. I've lost 35 pounds since beginning the two week liquid diet on Sept 5. Now I seemed to have stalled. I've heard of the three week stall so has anyone else experienced it? My Doc says to stay away from the scales for a while because I'm replacing fat with lean muscle tissue. I just can't resist stepping on those scales every morning. Any of you sleevers experience the stall?
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