SalOdyssey

Congrats!!

Thank you!

The weight keeps on dropping. Down to 245.8. I was 433 day of VSG July 2016. Total loss 442.2.

My stats after this mornings weigh-in. Nice to see the progress continue.

Looking good all!

Greg, As someone who lost 254 before surgery and a total of 351.6 overall, neither way is easy. It requires hard work, dedication and perseverance. Best of luck!! Should you ever want to chat, please message my FB page. Just mention I sent you there from BP. All the best!! This is a thread I posted a few weeks ago; http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/386049-transformation-tuesday/

I have a plank app on my Android phone that I use that goes over the different types of planks there are. I started off doing knee planks in 1 minute intervals for three sets. Then I would move to the traditional plank set and try to go at least 45 seconds to 1 minute intervals for three to five sets. (Traditional plank is where hands are up in like a push up stance but shoulders and back are flat straight. Then forearm planks are like the same as traditional except that you are on your forearms instead of straight up with open palms down on the ground. Those I do for 45 seconds to a 1 minute intervals for three to five sets. Finally raised hand/leg planks are the hardest ones for me to do and I tend to do those in two to three interval sets for about 15 to 30 seconds each. Appreciate that!! What's the name of the app? I have an Android too.

What's your planking routine?

Lost 132.4 in 2016. Total loss 346.6. Going to kick the crap out of 2017!!!

Thank you!

Still trudging along here. Started at 688+, lost 84.2 pounds post-op, 338.8 total. Surgery 7/2016.

Need advice, anything I can do to maximize weight loss? Seem to be all over, one week 5 pounds down, another week 1, another week 3, then 1, then down 6. Any tips to stabilize it? Just curious.

Thank you!! As a guy who started in the mid 400s. I'm trying to see if my pace is good. So surgery was 7-6-16. Here are my stats based on each Saturday weigh in; 7/9: -8.2 7/16: -9.0 7/23: -2.8 7/30: +0.2 8/6: -5.2 8/13: -4.4 8/20: -3.2 8/27: -4.4 9/3: -0.4 9/10: -4.6 9/17: -4.0 9/24: -0.8 Just wish there was some consistency. My calories are around 900-1200 daily. Carbs, less than 50g daily. Just thought I see some more 5 pound loss weeks in there. Surgeon follow up on Monday, going to see what he says about maybe improving these weekly numbers. Thank you!!

Guys what was your average weekly loss?

Here are my stats from my @SalOdyssey FB page.

Walked into surgery 433.4 Weds morning. Just got home so I'll see where I go from here.

Congrats Everyone!!! Those of you still in a holding pattern like me, Best of luck!!

I started my weight loss at 688. As of this past Saturday I am at 450. I've lost 238lbs in the last 25+ months w/o surgery. I attempted WLS in November 2015, which has to be aborted. Complications with keeping me inflated, and therefore couldn't operate safely. If all goes as planned, I will make my second attempt on 5/31. I'm excited, but nervous for the road ahead. My goal is to get to 250. Last time I was there was late junior high and still going through puberty. I have no reference as to what I may look like as an adult. So I want to get to 250 see how I feel and what I look like and then go from there. Plus with the skin removal procedures which I will need, who knows where my ending weight will be. Dr says conservatively, he expects 45-60 lbs of loose skin. Keep up the great work guys!!

Thank you! Sal

This has been a long time coming for me. I originally saw my surgeon in October 2007 I believe. I got going on some tests in mid 2008. Went to NY from Florida to see surgeon and he said that he switched hospitals and was waiting on re-certification from Medicare. He was hoping to get the certificate in the summer. He didn't get the certificate till Thanksgiving 2008. I has held off on some test till he got his certification, so that they would still be valid. Well I started the final round of test. I got the physiological consult next week and an endoscopy at the end of the month and the gall bladder ultrasound Weds. These are all the final tests. I hope to have all results to the doctor the first week of May and then schedule surgery for the second week of June. I have been dieting since after the holidays. I have lost some weight, but don't know how much since the scale numbers don't go that high. But I know I have lost since my shorts seem to be falling off of me and the skin feel a little looser. I just really hope the rest of the results come back okay. I have wanted this for too long and I hope surgery is in my near future. Having it in June give me plenty of time to heal before coming home to FL from NY. I will also see the surgeon multiple times to make sure all is okay. Plus I are up there for a vacation and a friends wedding. Wish me luck down the stretch... Sal

Thanks for the advice all. My family and I are discussing the options. I am leaning towards doing it at Thanksgiving. Sal

The medicare requirements here in FL are ridiculous! They make you jump through hoops. In NY there is little or no restriction. So my decision was easy so to speak. The surgeons here in Fl will not even see you until you have completed month 16 or the 18 month diet requirement, among other things. Thanks everyone! The family and I are going to sit down this weekend and hopefully Iron this out. Sal

Well. Like I said the doctor wants to see me 1 week before surgery to I guess go over everything. Then after I see him I have to go to the hospital for pre-op blood work and stuff and I am sure a ton of paperwork. My finace' and mom are going to try to come for 3-4 days to be with me after surgery. The rest of the time I would be on my own. I would be staying with my aunt ( moms sister) before and after surgery. Fiance' family doesn't have a spare bedroom and when I stay in the summer I sleep sitting up on a love seat. I am getting the band. They still have to make 5 slices in me to access the area. Thats what I meant by cut open. I do not mind the 3 weeks at all. I am going to Long Island to get the surgery. The doctor is Dr. Collin Brathwaite. I hope I spelled that right. Sal PS: thanks for the responses.

I needed a place to ask for advice, and this is the first place I thought of. It may be long so bare with me. I currently live with my mother, fiance', younger brother and sister. My bro and sis are not involved directly so to speak. My dad passed 10 years ago this December. Here is the dilemma, Timing. My DR. switched hospitals sometime after I started seeing him. I am a medicare patient. He was certified as a Center of Excellence but because he switched hospital his certification was put on hold till the new hospital could be visited. The visit took place but as with anything to do with the government they are taking forever getting the doctor his certificate so he can resume surgery for medicare patients. I called his office the beginning of September and was told there certificate is on the way should be here by months end. I said Ok and will call back then. I called last week and still no certificate. I spoke to the office manager who said medicare will notify them within 90 days. The medicare rep said probably more like 60 days. The office manager said they have set aside 2 days for his loyal patients who have waited for medicare to move there a@@es. ONe day is right before Thanksgiving the other is a week after. This is all pending if they receive their certificate in time. Here's the problem. Mom and fiance both work for a school district that frowns upon taking time off. Surgery time for me is 3 weeks out of state. 7-10 prior for pre-op and final meeting with doctor. Then surgery day, and then 2 weeks stay after surgery to make sure all is ok and then a visit to the doctor one final time before I come home. I want this so bad and I would like my mom and finace' to be there when I have surgery at the very least. I know they can not take the 3 weeks off. The problem is god forbid anything should happen to me on the table, I do not think my mom would ever be able to live with herself knowing I was there getting cut open and she was home. I think that would send her into a tailspin especially that my father has passed. My options for surgery are these: 1. do it on the 2 days the doctor set aside. Because of the holidays i will get killed on airline tickets. Also the added expense of getting around, to appointments 2. doing it after the new year and save some money flying. Also the added expense of getting around to appointments. 3. wait till June when I am do to go to NY anyway. Fiance' and I spend 1 month there visiting her parents since she is done with school. Doing it in June would eliminate flying. Also this save me additional monies because I already have my car there. Also mom would be off from work as well and could be there. So many decision. I am torn as to what to do. I have wanted this surgery like it was yesterday, but I am also trying to think of everyone else. I don't think that if I were to god forbid die that I could live with myself knowing I left my mother behind and she wasn't there with me. I haven't been able to sleep because of this,my mind is working overtime. Can anyone help, Please? Sal :tt1::confused:

I am hoping for late October early November. My doc is waiting for his re-certification as a Center of Excellence. He switched hospitals and the certificate should be on the way within the next 2-4 weeks according to his office. I am dying to have it done, the wait is killing me now. Sal