chad2rad

Congrats!

Congrats!! You will do GREAT!!!

Good luck! You can do this!

Just got all my pre ops, sleep study and EKG done. Was told they will submit to my insurance this Monday and should hear back from insurance by Friday, 8/10. Planning Surgery mid September.
Sent a message to my boss to expect a two week time off request for bariatric surgery today in September.
Need to tell the folks this weekend, they they are visiting. Little apprehensive, even though I am an adult man. I don't need their understanding and approval, but it would help. Hoping for a good outcome. My wife is more excited as it approaches. Love her support.
Thanks for your support!

Seems like they may be doing some of this to satisfy their own uncomfortable feelings. You did this surgery for you first. Be at ease with your plan and they should follow. Sorry you are going thru this.

Thought this was a good reminder...

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Sepsis, leaks, bleeds, jaunice are all things to not mess around with. Please go to the ER and get blood work and some real scans done. You could save yourself a lot of bigger problems if left untreated. Some even fatal at times. We care about u.

My surgeon said no more alcohol. Period. I tend to agree with him: it's empty calories and bad for your health. This whole process is about making lifestyle changes to get you healthy. And despite what the advertisements and the "studies" will have you believe, alcohol is no health drink.

If you are really stuck with eating fast foods look up the nutrition guides online. Most places have them so you can make an informed choice and look at the carbs. Skip the fries but have the cheeseburger just order it without the bun. I have done this and they never say a thing. For crunch replace the chips with Pork rinds. You might need to try a few brands and a few flavors until you find one that suits your taste. I have these with a little salsa when I have needed to munch. Almonds are also a good Protein rich snack. You can nuke pepperoni pieces in the microwave to make chips. You can even nuke an american cheese slice cut into squares to make a cheese cracker. Go for the SF frozen pop, Jello, pudding cups, frozen fudge pops or something like an Atkins bar for your sweet tooth.
Eating low carb takes some planning but with a little time you can figure it out.

I'm 45 and FABULOUS thanks to my sleeve I can say that with no hesitation and now have all the positive self esteem in the world. .

Seems like they may be doing some of this to satisfy their own uncomfortable feelings. You did this surgery for you first. Be at ease with your plan and they should follow. Sorry you are going thru this.

Seems like they may be doing some of this to satisfy their own uncomfortable feelings. You did this surgery for you first. Be at ease with your plan and they should follow. Sorry you are going thru this.

Likely could mean you are dehydrated. Drink and sip....

Hey guys, you know what, I am the queen of slow losers and I still wouldn't trade my sleeve for anything. I have had mine for three years now and am not at goal. I was up to 115 pounds lost at one point, which was still 30 pounds from my goal. Due to recent back issue and steroid injections, I gained 30 pounds. But, the good news is this, even at three years out your sleeve will still work for you. I have finally leveled out on all my blood tests and my body is ready to once again let go of the weight. For the past three weeks I have lost two pounds a week and am thrilled with that.
I guess my point is, while most people lose the majority of their weight in the first year, I want you to know if you don't, that doesn't mean you have failed. You just don't lose as quickly as some. But we really shouldn't even compare ourselves to others, because everyone is different. Contrary to rumors out there, your sleeve will continue to work for you one, two, three years out and longer. I am proof of that.
Sent from my iPad using VST

I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I hope he continues to improve.
I want to continue prepare and research until I have surgery. I know all the risks are in small print. Feel I have to still take a risk and go for it. Otherwise I am a walking dead man inside forever.
Praying for a full recovery.

Ditto, whoop there it is!

This really really works.
That is why eating at restaurants really works for me.I am forced to sit at a table,have to take small mindful bites,chew enough times to taste it (to prevent sliming or stuck food whichI still get when I dont chew enough,prevent public embarrasment) I eat slowly (or I will be finished when everyone else is only starting) and the presentation of the food is always great.My satisfaction level with the food and the experience makes me feel full very fast.
But then mindfulness works in all aspects of life.It is just hard to keep remembering to be mindful.
I have a mindfulness meditation cd that is wonderful.

Great links- thanks!

No worries, those things just happen naturally as we age! Made me laugh.

thank you both...your comments are so supportive and encouraging...
Each morning, i sit on the side of the bed with my sore back and knees screaming at me for the strain i put them both through yesterday, by walking.
i pick up my phone, sign into VST and re-read every ones posts.... it warms my soul to have all this support!!!
i look at my motorized chair, and say: "not today. today i am walking. 1 hour or 10 hours, it doesn't matter. i AM going to walk today! "
thank you all for keeping me motivated!

Two really good reads on slowing down and eating with intention.
"So when you sit down to eat, notice the colors, smells, flavors, and textures of your food; chew slowly; and turn off the TV, put away the book and certainly step away from the computer screen,- learn to appreciate your meals – hey you may feel fuller sooner than you think, putting your overeating habit to rest."
http://www.supermarketguru.com/index.cfm/go/sg.viewArticle/articleId/2962
http://amihungry.com/mindful-eating.shtml

geez i hope i don't get hair on my ass and not my head:-)

Sounds like you're making some good progress. You've got a lot of time to continue to make good changes.
I'm sorry to hear about your family member in the hospital. I hope that everything goes well for them. I don't know if you're religious, but even if you're not the hospitals usually employ chaplains who are happy to talk to family. Maybe just having some support and someone neutral to talk about your feelings with will help a little. I know in my clinicals there were patients that I had a hard time feeling like I could really help despite trying, but the chaplains could always seemed to provide a little more comfort.
Do you think making a list of reasons you want this surgery would help? What if you made a goal to cut out one bad aspect per day for the next week? I dunno, but I know that you can do this! Sometimes it seems to me like if I can make it past the fast food place without turning in, I will be ok to get home safe. So I blast a song I like on the radio and sing along or I tell myself all the gross things I've ever heard about fast food (Or experienced! Working at McDonald's for a year kinda turned me off it for quite a while. You wouldn't believe how long that meat sits out...ick).
Any pounds you can lose between now and surgery will only help lower risk and shrink your liver. Good surgery outcomes, yayy =) Keep us updated and whenever you're feeling like flying off the wagon, post! We're here for ya.

Hang in there - you are SO very close now - don't do anything that would jeopardize you meeting your surgery date.
You are doing awesome so far. Family illness stresses can be tough - take your frustration and concerns out on a good bike ride!
Take good care.

Hi All,
I know how much I enjoy photo updates of others so I try to oblige as well. Unfortunately I'm a little late... sorry about that!
Here's my info:
Starting/surgery weight: 241 (I was probably higher in the attached before pictures... I had lost a bit before I started the WLS journey... so I would guess at least 250)
Starting sizes: 18-20 pants, XXL tops, 40D bra.
Current weight: 181-183 (It's that time of the month so I'm not sure where I'm gonna land, heh.)
Current sizes: 12-14 pants, L tops, 36C/D bra.
1st Goal: Get to under 200
2nd Goal: Weigh less than my husband (about 190)
3rd Goal: Get to single digit pant size (8-9)
4th Goal: Weigh 140lbs, the weight I was when I got pregnant with my first child.
Final Goal: Not sure... probably 120-130.
Height: 5'1
Surgery Date: 4/19/12
Things have been going great. I've started bike riding again, which felt amazing. When I was in high school (about 8 years ago) I used to bike a 13 mile trail 5x weekly. I have SO much more energy at work and at home. My increased confidence has made me more aware of what I want and what I deserve out of life. People treat me differently, which offended me at first but I think it's my personality that has really inspired the different behaviors, not my weight loss. At least that's what I choose to believe.
And I've said in other posts that if I can do this, anyone can. That is the truth without question. I had no pre-op diet save a 24 hour fasting before surgery. I have a very, very loose post-op diet compared to some. I started soft solids 8 days post-op, and today I can eat anything in very small portions. I stall when I don't get enough calories in. I also just stall sometimes, no matter what I do. It's ok, I've learned to accept it. I got into the unfortunate habit of weighing myself daily and I need to get out of that, because when I see the occasional 1-2lb gain I flip out. Even though I know it will come off within the next day or two, usually plus some. The weight WILL come off. It's a matter of patience and healthy choices, not dieting. I'm a firm believer.
I'll also add for anyone pre-op that, at least in my experience, now that my intake is very limited, my body CRAVES healthy food more than any other time in my life, even when I was very athletic. My restriction is also, oddly enough, much more forgiving with fruits and vegetables. I can eat as much as anyone else with regard to those as long as I pace myself. I ate an entire plate of raw broccoli, cauliflower, celery and carrots last week at work. I know some surgeons caution away from fibrous veggies like that but mine was accepting and encouraging of it from about month 2 so I incorporate it as often as possible. I haven't craved a cheeseburger since I had surgery, and I was a Five Guys fanatic pre-op. My one guilty pleasure is pizza, but even that is very rare. Food like that just doesn't sit well anymore and when eating like that is so much of a chore, you just choose something else instead, most of the time. Seriously, when I eat crap, I can FEEL the energy my body spends processing it. It is literally exhausting for me.
Anyway, I hope that helps and gives everyone some hope if you are new to the experience or are recently post-op and feeling hopeless.
Here are some pics!
(obviously you can see which two are Before pics... the side:side in the grey sweatshirt is my 40lbs gone comparison. The purple hoodie is about 60lbs gone, or where I'm at today!)
Have an amazing day everyone, thanks for all the continued support!!
Sarah