ssflbelle

If this 61 year old former 497 pounder who can't walk but for only 4 to 5 minutes can lose it, You can too! After losing 280 I did a 6 mile bike ride last week to raise money for literacy.

Saturday I put an update on my profile and a few Veterans asked me to do a posting for all the newbies and those struggling with their journey to perhaps provide them with some encouragement. "If I can do it You can do it." I would read that all the time from people who lost weigh but were not as big as I was. Yea right I would say, but you can walk, you can get out of bed. I can't walk because a stranger injured me so badly they caused my L5, L4, L3 and L2 disc to herniate. I was about 320 and very active at the time of the injury. Depression and the inability to do any of the things I loved doing like bowling, swimming, ballroom and belly dancing (to name just a few) caused me to gain even more weight until I reached 497 pounds. I had to use a ski rope attached to my window frame to pull me up out of bed. I rolled around on a chair to do the laundry, clean and prepare meals. I had to use an electric mobility scooter because of the sever pain I had in my back. I wished I would not wake up when I went to bed each night. But somehow each morning I did. No Dr would do any surgery on me of any kind. I ever tried to get the lap band surgery but my insurance denied it. When that happened I decided I had to lose weight on my own. I started with WW and NS and lost 140 pounds on my own before I saw a Weigh Loss Surgeon. After 6 months of a supervised diet and more testing than I could have ever imagined I was told the Dr would do the sleeve but he also had to repair my hernia and remove my gallbladder. Finally in Jan 2016 I had the 3 procedure surgery. Shortly after the surgeries I decided, in Feb of 2017 I was going to do the Loop for Literacy bike challenge to raise money for literacy in our community. As a part time teacher, who teaches braille and keyboarding to the blind, literacy is very important to me. 24 days after surgery my surgeon gave me the go ahead to start training. Figuring out how I was going to even get on a tricycle was a challenge as I couldn't lift my foot over the low threshold. I got on a 2 inch stepper platform and from that struggled to get my right leg over to the other side, but I did it. That first bike ride I went less than 0.64 miles in 10 minutes. But I was determined to lose weight and exercise. Over the course of the year I went for a ride no matter how short it was or how windy, or cold it was. I live in Florida so I biked 5 days out of the week every month. People in my community were starting to notice me out there and they would encourage me as I went. Some would stop me and ask how much weight had I lost and how far I had biked that week. I was proud to answer their questions and why I was doing it. This past May I become the Social Director of my community, yet still was out there 5 days a week biking as I had a weight goal and a bike challenge. I am very happy to say This past Saturday I DID IT! I went to the challenge, biked 6 miles for Literacy and raised $320.00. I got a cap and a medal. I feel like a child at Christmas, I am so proud of that cap and medal. When I went biking yesterday and today I wore them and showed them to everyone. I have lost a total of 279 pounds. I am able to walk for about 5 to 7 minutes with a cane and do things I could only dream of doing before. I still have a lot more work ahead of me, but now I look forward to waking up and am so grateful I do. When I lose the additional 38 pounds and get the excess skin removed the back surgeon will decide what to do for my back so I can walk again without a cane and all this pain. I do have a few pictures on my profile so please feel free to look. No matter how afraid you are, or how much doubt you have I know you CAN do it. Get your head in the right frame of mind and you too can be thinner and happier. I am so glad I did. I hope you find encouragement from my story and pictures. Feel free to email me. I will be here to help if you need it. Have a great day and no matter what the road looks like now please look to the future, things will get better.

Well the Guy's room is where you will found lots of stuff the guys are going through. There are many different forums to in regard to starting weights, singles, plastic surgery etc. Not only for the sleeve but all the other surgeries available.

Being so new to BP I gather you are not aware that there is a GUY's Room group on this site. This is a place for men to discuss everything from Weight Loss Surgery complications, diet, and concerns, to any other off-topic subjects Perhaps this link will help you. http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/431-the-guys%E2%80%99-room/

Saw the surgeon for the first time June 15 2015 had my surgery Jan 26th 2016. Had 6 months of a supervised diet and so many tests I lost track now of what was all done. The wait helped as it allowed me to research and read one book after another on the surgery and what to expect before, during and after surgery. In my Opinion and from the postings on here, those who had to wait the 6 months seem to have a better understanding as to what is required to have a successful life after surgery. Good luck with your insurance company!

As you said "I realize these kind of success stories are rare and sometimes hard to believe. But I ask you to suspend your doubt and believe that these events sometimes DO happen.When you take a dedicated individual, unwilling to follow the rules, unconcerned what passersby might be thinking and challenge them to get fit in their own damn way, miracles can occur. Miracles". Yes they Do happen! So very true! I can relate really well to the Miracle. I can't walk but at one month post op I started bike riding. Went .62 of a mile. Did you notice the .before the 62? I went through all the same thoughts and feelings you did with running. Now 1 year later I still can't walk well but I am biking (10k) 6.2 miles. Thanks for the article I loved it. It helped me to see Miracles can and do happen.

Thanks for staying around. It is very much appreciated. I hope other vets will post again as I do miss their wonderful suggestions, advise and years of experience.

Thank you for explaining your situation. I had no idea that the RNY would correct the hernia and gerd problems you have. So glad to hear you no longer have the back problems. I live with L5, L4, L3, L2 disc problems so I know how bad back pain can be. I had the sleeve and my back Dr wants my excess skin removed before he will attempt to fix my back. Will being following your progress and hope this new surgery stops the current problems you are having and gets you back to living.

So sorry to hear you are so sick with GERD Why would your work tell you not to come back to work? Why would another operation help, especially when your only 8 pounds from goal? Hope all goes well for you.

Congratulations! I know your feeling better and doing more. Isn't it a wonderful feeling. Keep going strong and you will be to your goal before you know it.

I can but haven't done so in many months. Just too much carbs despite it being Protein Special K.

Congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment. It doesn't matter how slow you were. You did it and that is all that counts! That is exactly how I am going to thinking when I finish my bike challenge for Literacy on Feb 4th. Been training since last February. I can barely walk or run but I can ride. Good luck with your goals to be completed in 2017.

Stalls are very frustrating especially when they happen 10 days after surgery as is my case. However they will happen and as upsetting as the first 3 or 4 were I did get use to them. I listened to the vets on the board and stopped weighing myself every day and went to 1 once a week. Lately now that I am almost 1 year post op I am weighing once or twice a month. For all those going through a stall please read this wonderful message written by Inner surfer Girl who is a vet and has lost over 220. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/

I am 1 year post op and I never vomited not even while in the hospital. I guess I am very fortunate. I think in my 60 years I have vomited maybe 10 times. It is something that hardly ever happens to me. I don't know how many years ago (maybe 20) was the last time I did vomit and it was after eating tomato Soup and having a grilled cheese sandwich. I feel for all of you whom have and hope this stops soon.

Just like Travelher I use the website and never had any problem with anything not be recorded. I see my reports for everything. I do get that message I didn't eat enough but it still records everything I do.

Before surgery I was extremely thirsty and use to drink 3 to 4 liters of Water a day. Since surgery I find I am not nearly as thirsty. However, every day I fill up 2 liter bottles of waters and carry around a bottle of water with me every where I go. I make sure to take a sip almost every half hour and by the end of the night I usually have had all my water for the day. I also would have at least a cup or two of coffee every morning once I was 2 months post op. For those who recently had surgery and are struggling to get in their water this might help. Get a liter bottle and make markings on it for each 2 oz. Then drink 2 oz each fifteen minutes and if my math is right at the end of 4 hours you will have had half of the 8 cups you should have each day.

I had three surgeries on Jan 26th 2016- sleeve, hernia repair and gallbladder removal. I went back to work on March 1st. I had 2 weeks of liquids only, 1 week of adding just 1 egg to the liquids. After the 3rd week I was able to eat mushy foods. After a week of mushy foods I went back to work as a rehab teacher of blind adults. I was concerned about being too weak so I took the full 4 weeks off, so glad I did.

@ssflbelleme sorry you are in such pain that sounds terrible did/are you take pics during your loss? showing rashes or whatever that way will PS might be covered by Insurance have you spoken with a PS yet talking about plans for skin removal probably more than one surgery, right?? good luck rooting for you you've been such a success/inspiration keep up the good work while the weight goes down!!! kathy Kathy I just made my way back to this thread due to a recent posting and saw your comments. I do have a free consultation with a PS for this Monday 8 AM . I have told my Doctors about the skin rashes and they gave me medicines for them but no pictures were taken. In fact the last time any good pictures were taken of my body with just underwear on was the day before surgery. I do have some pictures of me in my Halloween costume and Christmas ugly sweater. I never liked taking pictures and still don't. Do you know will the PS take any pictures during a consultation? If so, I better wear my pretty blue matching underwear. How nice to be able to say I have pretty underwear now. I have this feeling that with 40 more pounds to lose before I reach my goal that the Dr may say I will still have to wait. Also afraid that the insurance will not pay for it. With all the excess skin on my breast, arms and legs I hope they will at least remove those and later when down to my goal my tummy. Will let you know what the Dr says.