Officially Not Fatty Matty

If the bypass is what you want you’d be better off finding another surgeon instead of trying to force the issue. I know doctors are professionals but I wouldn’t get my car fixed by a mechanic who says “I don’t do many of those” let alone a surgical procedure. In my completely uneducated opinion that has zero value, your reasons for preferring bypass sound legitimate and worthy of pursuing further.

Whoa this is a tough one…. Truthfully many (most? All?) of us have failed at every diet. We’ve all probably sat in bed falling asleep and promising ourselves that tomorrow will be the day I take this seriously. We’ve all failed over and over again otherwise we wouldn’t be here in this forum talking about having (or having had) surgery to help us achieve what we want but have yet been able to achieve. You’re not alone, you’re not even in the minority here. You’re all of us and we are all you. Some of us are just in different parts of the same journey.
Since you know it would be disingenuous for us to tell you “yeah you’ll do great” I’ll spare you the line. We can’t know how you or any other one person will do on this path. We can tell you that for many many many of us it has worked when everything else failed. It can be life altering in the best of ways.
The pre op diet sucks. It seriously sucked for me, I had all the same thoughts you did. But I got through it, I did cheat but recovered. Once the stomach was gone it got drastically easier for me. I was you. I had doubts, I thought I would be the rare exception and fail. I’m not far enough out to say regain can never happen…. But I’m saying it will never happen. I was you. And you will - statistically speaking - very likely end up being me. I know you’re not happy the way you are, or you would have failures in your past and you wouldn’t be here. So I ask… why not? The way I feel today? Despite the fears and doubts it was worth it, 100000 times over.
I don’t cook either. Neither does my wife. My meals don’t look anything like the meals in the “food before and after” thread. Not one bit. I lived off cottage cheese and cucumbers and tomatoes until I moved back into meats. My lunches are a couple pieces of deli meat and some cheese and I’ll squirt some off brand mayo in the middle and roll it up. Last week I bought a burrito from chipotle and ate most of it over four days (two meals a day). I still enjoy food, flavors haven’t changed, what I liked before I like today. I can eat anything I want, but I never want much at all. Shockingly so compared to the amount I used to eat. Some people have to be very careful and strict, some people are able to not be so careful. It depends on so many factors, but I will say for the first few months be super careful and stick to the plan. You’ll figure out your hang ups, you’ll know if being near food is a trigger, and you’ll know what risks you can take. And if you can’t figure it out, we are here for you to help. Therapy might be a great option for you as well. I didn’t need one for my plan, and I don’t really think it would have been helpful for me anyway, but that’s just me. Self reflect and don’t be afraid to say to yourself “I need someone professional to help me work through this.” If you need it.
I wish you success, I hope you become like the new me, because I feel like I’m talking to the old me right now. You CAN do this.

Whoa this is a tough one…. Truthfully many (most? All?) of us have failed at every diet. We’ve all probably sat in bed falling asleep and promising ourselves that tomorrow will be the day I take this seriously. We’ve all failed over and over again otherwise we wouldn’t be here in this forum talking about having (or having had) surgery to help us achieve what we want but have yet been able to achieve. You’re not alone, you’re not even in the minority here. You’re all of us and we are all you. Some of us are just in different parts of the same journey.
Since you know it would be disingenuous for us to tell you “yeah you’ll do great” I’ll spare you the line. We can’t know how you or any other one person will do on this path. We can tell you that for many many many of us it has worked when everything else failed. It can be life altering in the best of ways.
The pre op diet sucks. It seriously sucked for me, I had all the same thoughts you did. But I got through it, I did cheat but recovered. Once the stomach was gone it got drastically easier for me. I was you. I had doubts, I thought I would be the rare exception and fail. I’m not far enough out to say regain can never happen…. But I’m saying it will never happen. I was you. And you will - statistically speaking - very likely end up being me. I know you’re not happy the way you are, or you would have failures in your past and you wouldn’t be here. So I ask… why not? The way I feel today? Despite the fears and doubts it was worth it, 100000 times over.
I don’t cook either. Neither does my wife. My meals don’t look anything like the meals in the “food before and after” thread. Not one bit. I lived off cottage cheese and cucumbers and tomatoes until I moved back into meats. My lunches are a couple pieces of deli meat and some cheese and I’ll squirt some off brand mayo in the middle and roll it up. Last week I bought a burrito from chipotle and ate most of it over four days (two meals a day). I still enjoy food, flavors haven’t changed, what I liked before I like today. I can eat anything I want, but I never want much at all. Shockingly so compared to the amount I used to eat. Some people have to be very careful and strict, some people are able to not be so careful. It depends on so many factors, but I will say for the first few months be super careful and stick to the plan. You’ll figure out your hang ups, you’ll know if being near food is a trigger, and you’ll know what risks you can take. And if you can’t figure it out, we are here for you to help. Therapy might be a great option for you as well. I didn’t need one for my plan, and I don’t really think it would have been helpful for me anyway, but that’s just me. Self reflect and don’t be afraid to say to yourself “I need someone professional to help me work through this.” If you need it.
I wish you success, I hope you become like the new me, because I feel like I’m talking to the old me right now. You CAN do this.

Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. One of my favorite movie quotes (perhaps it is a direct quote from the short story)… anyhow… the change in one year can be so drastic (in a good way) it’s not even possible to imagine. I’m about 14 months out and it’s simply unreal. I had a reason to review security footage of my shop yesterday and I freaked out when I saw someone I didn’t recognize… it was me. That moment of “who the hell is that” didn’t last long, but I kept watching me walk around and move and it was just amazing to think that a year ago I was morbidly obese, now I’m healthy, off all my meds (except restless leg stuff which isn’t related to weight), sleep well, can get down on the ground to look under my car if I drop something, play basketball with my kids, take my shirt off when I swim in public (like the shirt ever fooled anyone anyway). It’s life changing and amazing and yes I wished I did it sooner (I’m 46) but I’m still just thrilled I did it at all. How many winters did I say “I’m going to lose weight so I can enjoy the summer” only to fail… how many class reunions did I avoid because I didn’t want to be seen as “oh look how big he got…” how many moments did I lose with my kids because I was too tired… surgery isn’t for everyone, but if you’re unhappy with the size you are, DO SOMETHING… surgery for me was a joke it was so easy… I’m lucky and I understand that… but it could be you too. One year… seemed like an eternity one year ago, but now feels like it was just a day ago I started this journey. I will never allow myself to go back. Never.
It’s ok to hope. This is different.

Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. One of my favorite movie quotes (perhaps it is a direct quote from the short story)… anyhow… the change in one year can be so drastic (in a good way) it’s not even possible to imagine. I’m about 14 months out and it’s simply unreal. I had a reason to review security footage of my shop yesterday and I freaked out when I saw someone I didn’t recognize… it was me. That moment of “who the hell is that” didn’t last long, but I kept watching me walk around and move and it was just amazing to think that a year ago I was morbidly obese, now I’m healthy, off all my meds (except restless leg stuff which isn’t related to weight), sleep well, can get down on the ground to look under my car if I drop something, play basketball with my kids, take my shirt off when I swim in public (like the shirt ever fooled anyone anyway). It’s life changing and amazing and yes I wished I did it sooner (I’m 46) but I’m still just thrilled I did it at all. How many winters did I say “I’m going to lose weight so I can enjoy the summer” only to fail… how many class reunions did I avoid because I didn’t want to be seen as “oh look how big he got…” how many moments did I lose with my kids because I was too tired… surgery isn’t for everyone, but if you’re unhappy with the size you are, DO SOMETHING… surgery for me was a joke it was so easy… I’m lucky and I understand that… but it could be you too. One year… seemed like an eternity one year ago, but now feels like it was just a day ago I started this journey. I will never allow myself to go back. Never.
It’s ok to hope. This is different.

If the bypass is what you want you’d be better off finding another surgeon instead of trying to force the issue. I know doctors are professionals but I wouldn’t get my car fixed by a mechanic who says “I don’t do many of those” let alone a surgical procedure. In my completely uneducated opinion that has zero value, your reasons for preferring bypass sound legitimate and worthy of pursuing further.

If the bypass is what you want you’d be better off finding another surgeon instead of trying to force the issue. I know doctors are professionals but I wouldn’t get my car fixed by a mechanic who says “I don’t do many of those” let alone a surgical procedure. In my completely uneducated opinion that has zero value, your reasons for preferring bypass sound legitimate and worthy of pursuing further.

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

This is purely a personal choice. My wife also had sleeve too and she grew up learning you finish what’s on your plate. I grew up with “eat what you want and if you can’t finish it that’s fine” and neither of those are wrong but it’s definitely carried over to our adult selves. She was not happy with the waste and I actually was (in one perspective, it’s clearly better not to simply waste food but I get a joy from seeing how little I can eat). I’ll have to remind her that portion sizes and packaged food isn’t made for us and it’s not our fault.
If it bothers you and you think you’ll eat it later, save it . If not toss it or give it to someone else. Whichever brings you comfort is the right answer :)

I love getting multiple meals out of my restaurant leftovers!
Also, try the kids meal at Chipotle! It's a quesadilla, 3 sides, tortilla chips, and a drink for 4 bucks!!! I can get 2-3 meals out of it!
P.S. Since my new pleasure is finding good kids meals, I'll also throw in a plug for Arbys! Roast beef sandwich, curly fries and a drink, also 4 bucks! I usually only get 1.5 meals out of this one though, and my husband scarfs down my leftovers!

Ok ready to post my final before and after photos. Before is around 350lbs, 3 or 4xl shirt. My highest ever confirmed weight was 356 and this was very close to that date in 2014. The other is today, wearing a size medium shirt. Surgery was June 12, 2020, weight 334lbs, 6’4” BMI 40. I hit this weight (193) about 10 months post op and have been maintaining fairly evenly since (up a couple down a couple etc). For anyone on the fence about surgery, do your research but don’t let the scary stories you read here overwhelm you or give you a false sense of their frequency. Yes, bad things can and do happen in any endeavor. No one has a crystal ball, but the statistics of health issues from being obese and the statistics of coming through gastric surgery safely and enjoying positive results speak for themselves. I never dreamed I would feel this good again. I didn’t even think I was that fat…. Just a “big guy.” Looking back at old photos I’m mortified. Looking forward I’m so optimistic and full of life and joy. I feel like this is the “me” that has always been in there, hiding, hoping, waiting to come out. What “you” do you have inside longing to come out and face the world?

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. One of my favorite movie quotes (perhaps it is a direct quote from the short story)… anyhow… the change in one year can be so drastic (in a good way) it’s not even possible to imagine. I’m about 14 months out and it’s simply unreal. I had a reason to review security footage of my shop yesterday and I freaked out when I saw someone I didn’t recognize… it was me. That moment of “who the hell is that” didn’t last long, but I kept watching me walk around and move and it was just amazing to think that a year ago I was morbidly obese, now I’m healthy, off all my meds (except restless leg stuff which isn’t related to weight), sleep well, can get down on the ground to look under my car if I drop something, play basketball with my kids, take my shirt off when I swim in public (like the shirt ever fooled anyone anyway). It’s life changing and amazing and yes I wished I did it sooner (I’m 46) but I’m still just thrilled I did it at all. How many winters did I say “I’m going to lose weight so I can enjoy the summer” only to fail… how many class reunions did I avoid because I didn’t want to be seen as “oh look how big he got…” how many moments did I lose with my kids because I was too tired… surgery isn’t for everyone, but if you’re unhappy with the size you are, DO SOMETHING… surgery for me was a joke it was so easy… I’m lucky and I understand that… but it could be you too. One year… seemed like an eternity one year ago, but now feels like it was just a day ago I started this journey. I will never allow myself to go back. Never.
It’s ok to hope. This is different.

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

So a chipotle just opened up near me and I used to love their food (whatever… it’s a personal preference like favorite color) and thought “why not.” Eating off of it two meals a day I got to day four and still had some left. By that point the guac was looking a little scary so I chucked it. Just found it amazing that there was a time not too long ago where I could down that tortilla swaddled baby in one sitting and still have room for chips and a drink. It was less than 200 calories (when divided by 8) but it was really dense so I couldn’t eat much at each “meal.” Makes it pretty reasonable from a price/meal standpoint too. Like I said… the only point I have here is it’s shocking how much food I used to be able to eat… stay on your plan. My plan is “figure it out as I go along.”

Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. One of my favorite movie quotes (perhaps it is a direct quote from the short story)… anyhow… the change in one year can be so drastic (in a good way) it’s not even possible to imagine. I’m about 14 months out and it’s simply unreal. I had a reason to review security footage of my shop yesterday and I freaked out when I saw someone I didn’t recognize… it was me. That moment of “who the hell is that” didn’t last long, but I kept watching me walk around and move and it was just amazing to think that a year ago I was morbidly obese, now I’m healthy, off all my meds (except restless leg stuff which isn’t related to weight), sleep well, can get down on the ground to look under my car if I drop something, play basketball with my kids, take my shirt off when I swim in public (like the shirt ever fooled anyone anyway). It’s life changing and amazing and yes I wished I did it sooner (I’m 46) but I’m still just thrilled I did it at all. How many winters did I say “I’m going to lose weight so I can enjoy the summer” only to fail… how many class reunions did I avoid because I didn’t want to be seen as “oh look how big he got…” how many moments did I lose with my kids because I was too tired… surgery isn’t for everyone, but if you’re unhappy with the size you are, DO SOMETHING… surgery for me was a joke it was so easy… I’m lucky and I understand that… but it could be you too. One year… seemed like an eternity one year ago, but now feels like it was just a day ago I started this journey. I will never allow myself to go back. Never.
It’s ok to hope. This is different.

Ok ready to post my final before and after photos. Before is around 350lbs, 3 or 4xl shirt. My highest ever confirmed weight was 356 and this was very close to that date in 2014. The other is today, wearing a size medium shirt. Surgery was June 12, 2020, weight 334lbs, 6’4” BMI 40. I hit this weight (193) about 10 months post op and have been maintaining fairly evenly since (up a couple down a couple etc). For anyone on the fence about surgery, do your research but don’t let the scary stories you read here overwhelm you or give you a false sense of their frequency. Yes, bad things can and do happen in any endeavor. No one has a crystal ball, but the statistics of health issues from being obese and the statistics of coming through gastric surgery safely and enjoying positive results speak for themselves. I never dreamed I would feel this good again. I didn’t even think I was that fat…. Just a “big guy.” Looking back at old photos I’m mortified. Looking forward I’m so optimistic and full of life and joy. I feel like this is the “me” that has always been in there, hiding, hoping, waiting to come out. What “you” do you have inside longing to come out and face the world?

The people who need a book like that won’t read it, and even if they did they’d find excuses or google until they get the one response from a like minded Neanderthal that confirms their bias.

The people who need a book like that won’t read it, and even if they did they’d find excuses or google until they get the one response from a like minded Neanderthal that confirms their bias.