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They are pretty fun. I really don't quite get the problem here it sounds like they are doing a circuit where they do 2-4 laps around the gym, then 10-20 reps of each exercise and repeat the circuit. Assuming this is a 45 minute class that will include plenty of time for rests and doesn't sound as intensive as people are making this sound.

Honestly, I never even thought about the "D" word (which I'm assuming is Death and not Diet). These procedures are so routine now that that isn't even a real risk. I think for VSG it's like 1 in 2500, and like 1 in 400 for any kind of serious complication. That said my general rule post surgery is get your ass out of the Hospital as soon as you can, you will feel much better and you eliminate the risk of hospital infection (which is a much bigger risk IMO)
So where are you in the process so far?

It's a side effect from the extreme ketosis you are going through after surgery. It will get better, after a while once you are able to get to a diet that isn't so exclusively Protein based. My wife commented that she missed the "sweet breath" that you get on a less extreme ketotic diet like Atkins.< br />
The tradeoff with RNY though is that's about when you start having to worry about smells from the "other end of the pipe" so to speak.

I'm all for folks trying anything and see if it works, but I'm not sure having a sugary drink, that won't fill you up is likely to be a workable diet plan. Perhaps you will prove me wrong, until then I will stick to the Cuba Libre diet.

I guess you can turn anything into juice. The Cuba Libre diet was more of a joke, a Cuba Libre is also known as a Rum & Coke (usually with a lime).

I would have considered punishment more of a rope climb, but I suppose everyone is different. I'm kind of two minds about this 1) I don't think that particular routine was meant as a punishment, so much as something the student could do on their own with limited supervision (it's hard to organize a basketball game with 1-2 students). I would also confirm that this isn't the activity that would be going on at this time of the year anyway (I remember when I was a kid these type of things were what we did before it was warm enough to go outside to run on the track). On the other-hand 2) since when do schools get to override parents when it comes to what they don't want their kids doing?

Different kind of "air," I would take a chewable gas-x and see if that alleviates things for you. Walking around only helps with the post surgical trapped air, not air in the system. At the beginning I also found that forced belching helped a bit with that gas pain.

I can completely relate to the frustration that you are experiencing, and obviously if these folks (I'm assuming family) are intentionally overplaying their interaction with their food then obviously that's a d!ck move. That said, to some extent you are wrong for "asking them not to eat in front of me." Yes it would be great if they could rejigger their routines to try to minimize putting you in situations that that make you uncomfortable, but as @frust8 rightfully points out you could just as easily leave the room.
At the end of the day most of us have had these surgeries to help us get healthy and help us adjust to what have probably been long term unhealthy relationships with food. While it's great when our families go that extra mile to make our recovery easier it's on us to remove ourselves from those situations that cause us this discomfort.

Congrats! You should update your stats! I'm sure you don't still weigh 285?

I guess the next question is who is Steven Assanti, other than someone who looks like they came from central casting for the "serial killer" role?

Honestly the surgeries today have practically no risk of death (I think the number is like one out of twenty-five hundred), so the fear of death from the surgery didn't even cross my mind. Death as a complication of my obesity on the other hand felt like a time bomb with a count down timer that was ticking down, but that I couldn't actually see.

Their, there, they're, it will all be ok.

I'm all for folks trying anything and see if it works, but I'm not sure having a sugary drink, that won't fill you up is likely to be a workable diet plan. Perhaps you will prove me wrong, until then I will stick to the Cuba Libre diet.

I’m really happy with how easy this whole process has been. Was cleared my the pulmonologist and they even gave me the home sleep study machine. X-ray being done today, blood work Friday morning. Nutritionist and seminar next Wednesday and Thursday. Body composition and RMR in May 14 and next appointment with surgeon on May 15th.
After that psychiatrist and ultrasound of upper GI. I’d love for surgery by first week of June but probably won’t be until End of July realistically.
Hoping and praying there are no setbacks!

Our pleasure, and by all means please stick around. There are certainly also some ESG folks here who can also give you specific advice on their experiences as well.

Honestly the surgeries today have practically no risk of death (I think the number is like one out of twenty-five hundred), so the fear of death from the surgery didn't even cross my mind. Death as a complication of my obesity on the other hand felt like a time bomb with a count down timer that was ticking down, but that I couldn't actually see.

BTW I wasn't suggesting any sort of moral failing on your part (trust me we didn't all have our own food/weight issues we wouldn't be here). I would also point out that while Ghrelin production may be impacted by VSG that isn't necessarily going to result in a significant change in your hunger.

You describe your situation in such dire terms. You lost nearly 5% of your body weight (and kept it off) after you ESG, which while not what you wanted is not a failing by any means. The fact that you lost 10 pounds initially indicates that you are certainly capable of losing weight, the foundation of which (regardless of surgery) is by burning off more calories than you consume. To that end you kind of dance around it a little bit, but do you track how many calories you are consuming and do you know how many calories you are burning a day?

I don't have any great suggestions for your situation, but I would suggest giving your ESG a chance and build on what is a tool to see if you can make some other adjustments. I know you have said you have dieted before (who hasn't, right), but perhaps you would find some benefit in trying a structured program, whether commercial or with a dietitian to help you maximize the advantage that the ESG is giving you. I don't presume to know what the root of your habits is based in, but you might also benefit by considering therapy of some sort if you find yourself eating for reasons other than genuine hunger.

My concern for you in getting a VSG at this point is worry that you will put yourself through that and not have a markedly different result to show for it, which isn't to say that you shouldn't consider it.

I'll let the other folks more familiar with Mexico weigh in on that aspect. The part of your story that really struck me was that you have already had an ESG performed. My understanding is that the outcomes from ESG and VSG are similar in that they effectively do the same thing in different ways. It's unclear has your ESG "sleeve" failed in some way? Otherwise I'm not sure what you are expecting to gain from having a VSG performed. It sounds like your eating habits have managed to at least partially impact the success of your ESG, though even finding a new equilibrium point lower than you were is a measure of success. I've had the VSG and it isn't magic, its a tool that only works if you are able to address your eating habits as well.

I'm honestly baffled by this. You ate a small portion of food, that in total probably had 300 calories in it. You are more than two months out and this doesn't sound like it represents any kind of overeating. Just because you are eating healthier doesn't mean that you are limited to only eating healthy things for the rest of your life. The goal is moderation which it sounds like you are doing, don't try to convince yourself that you did anything wrong or that you "cheated." You ate what you wanted and did it in a way that conformed to your weight loss goals, so congrats.

Did this "stall" by any chance coincide with your transition to solid food?

I was never a fast food person, but I have to say that I'm eating a better quality of food now. When you are only eating a little it's much easier to justify buying the higher end produce and Proteins even when they aren't on sale.

Honestly, I'm a bit younger than you are, but I still feel like this surgery was something I should have done a long time ago. I had many of the same concerns, but I'm about a month out from surgery now and can say that at least for me those concerns were misplaced. I'll try to address your concerns point by point.
1) Honestly post surgery I've found that my hunger has subsided in general. The side effect of removing a portion of your stomach is reduced Ghrelin production, which causes hunger. For me this translates into much less casual grazing.
2) I can't speak to the pigging out, but I enjoyed having my fill of ham and other not healthy things for Easter. Yes you will be eating less, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy what you eat. I'm not saying that gorge yourself holidays won't be different, but you will find your self more drawn to the good stuff that you like and forgo the canned cranberry sauce (or whatever).
3) I'm a business traveler as well and the general rule for travel is to wait 6-8 weeks (ask your doctor what they recommend) before embarking on a long distance flight to avoid the increased risks of blood clots in that period. Beyond that window there aren't any long term restrictions.
4) I don't thing you need to worry about dehydration, the only real difference long term is that your ability to chug a huge amount of liquid in one go will be limited, but your overall ability to hydrate won't be and by that time you will be more used to the rhythm so to speak. Instead of drinking 32 oz of Water in one gulp you will drink 32 oz over the course of an hour (or two or whatever you feel comfortable with), the point being you will still be able stay hydrated.

On a completely unrelated note and not as the kids would say to "blow up your spot," but your photo looks so familiar to me.

I got it in the lead up to the my surgery during the 6 months of classes I was morbidly obese, but I didn't have any obvious health impairments (much of this class had canes, walkers, rascals). I was told multiple times by folks in the class some variation on "you don't belong here" or "you don't need this." At the end of the day haters gonna hate and you have to let this stuff roll off and do or don't do the surgery because its the best thing for your health.

I'm honestly baffled by this. You ate a small portion of food, that in total probably had 300 calories in it. You are more than two months out and this doesn't sound like it represents any kind of overeating. Just because you are eating healthier doesn't mean that you are limited to only eating healthy things for the rest of your life. The goal is moderation which it sounds like you are doing, don't try to convince yourself that you did anything wrong or that you "cheated." You ate what you wanted and did it in a way that conformed to your weight loss goals, so congrats.

I would add that if the friendship is important to you be proactive about preserving it. I think sometimes people look at weight loss surgery as if it were a cosmetic thing (even those that are heavy), perhaps if you talk about the surgery in the terms of using it to tackle health issues it may be more accepted (although from what you've said you don't seem to have any specific reason why you think this will cause you two to drift apart).