Hello, I have lurked around here for a while, taking sips of information like so many of you with you protein shakes. I feel I know some of you already. So I thought to myself. "hey, introduce yourself to these lovely folks, and join in on the ride."

I am like many of you am a life long overweight fella, done the diets, listened to the little people expond the virtues of eating less, moving more, all the while thinking, "yeah, ok toothpick boy with the memory foam office chair molded to your half a cheek butt, come spend one day fabricating and installing granite countertops with me and then talk to me about moving more while I carry you back to the truck after the work day" I mean really, why is it that skinny people never know how little they are? always talking about needing to lose 5 more pounds? Don't they get how small they are? When's the last time you heard one of our metabolicly hyper-efficient-selves say something that indicates we do not know our size? heck i do every time some skinny person gives me advice or bemoans the need to lose another few lbs, I hold my gut and say, yeah, I so get that, If I could just gain 5 more lbs I'd be so happy, right where I need to be sheesh look in a mirror people. lol, oh sorry I digress

Anyway, so I have been researching surgery for 4 yrs, lapband was my first choice, then about a year ago I started looking at the sleeve and decided that was the way I wanted to go. I have been looking forward to the day when I could begin this journey, your stories have helped me stay focused on the goal (i'm self-pay) well i just filed my taxes and with the return will finally have enough (if i go with the dr. that advertises here for 4400.00) to have the surgery. To say I am excited is like saying the moon is kinda big.

I am both excited and nervous all at once, at 39 I thought that feeling was gone with, prom, my wedding night and size less than 50 pants.

So, im 39, 5'8" was 310 at my heavyest 18 months ago, I have lost 40lbs since my heaviest, but have been stuck here for 10 months. I am looking forward to this journey, toward, health, comfortable airplane rides, amusment parks, sitting on the floor without a wall to lean on, a sexy self, well ok really who knows, i have never been little and i could get then and then be ugly, i mean hey, there are alot of skinny people that are not so umm, well, not ugly. Anyway, Thought i'd say hi and introduce myself.

Pasquini

Welcome Pasquini to the forum.

Good luck on your journey.

Deb

So, im 39, 5'8" was 310 at my heavyest 18 months ago, I have lost 40lbs since my heaviest, but have been stuck here for 10 months. I am looking forward to this journey, toward, health, comfortable airplane rides, amusment parks, sitting on the floor without a wall to lean on, a sexy self, well ok really who knows, i have never been little and i could get then and then be ugly, i mean hey, there are alot of skinny people that are not so umm, well, not ugly. Anyway, Thought i'd say hi and introduce myself.

Pasquini

Pasquini

Welcome! I too was a lurker before taking the plunge. I have to say that this is THE most supportive, caring and awesome group I have ever encountered. I feel like I was drowning and this group threw me a life raft!

I'm a self pay too, decided to ditch the insurance shite and believe it's not even close to how worth it I am. In car terms (since you're a guy and can relate, right?) Surgery $$= used Ford fusion and I'm worth at least a new Mercedes SL 550 Night Edition!

Empress

Heck, yeah. I paid more for my motor cycle! Looking forward to bein a sleek GTO.

welcome! Post! Ask! everyone here likes a good story.

Heck, yeah. I paid more for my motor cycle! Looking forward to bein a sleek GTO.

Pasquini:

Now I've got little GTO stuck in my head! Come on sing it with me!

Gonna save all my money (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and buy a GTO (turnin' it on, blowin' it out)

Get a helmet and a roll bar (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and I'll be ready to go (turnin' it on, blowin' it out)

Take it out to Pomona (turnin' it on, blowin' it out) and let 'em know (turnin' it on, blowin' it out), yeah, yeah

That I'm the coolest thing around

Little buddy, gonna shut you down

When I turn it on, wind it up, blow it out GTO.

The Empress (showing her age)

Welcome aboard! Mine is being done next Wednesday. Good luck and keep us laughing, um I mean posted! You are a riot and speak the truth!!

@empress. Go ahead belt it out! Maybe I should get that for my iPod for the trip. It could be my theme song! Kinda like when wrestlers enter the arena and their song plays while they give high fives and air waves to the fans on their way to the ring. Hmmm I might have to talk to my coordinator. I can see it now.... *enter dream sequence, blury vision music starts, focus returns, que announcer* and in this corner, in the pale blue open backed gown, weighing in at 270lbs, from Oklahoma pas-----qui------niiiiiiii!!!!!!! *all the other patients going wild, creating a throng as I wave and sign autographs, stopping to take a picture with a baby or two (though I can't imagine why someone has brought their child to the clinic, sheesh people!) lights are flashing, camera's are snapping away, clothing is being thrown, (oops wrong dream sequence, sry about that folks)* then the announcer breaks in and in this corner refusing to weigh in, coming all the way from inside the land of gastrouka, undefeated, heavy weight champion of the buffet world, "The Stom------ach" today bout will go 1 50 minute round, loser leaves the other alone forever! Crowd goes wild!!!!!!!* (end dream sequence). Or something like that.

@raine will do! good luck next week. Soon u will be numbered among the losers!

Godspeed

welcome!

I too lurked around for months before I became a member. Getting sleeved was the best decision I ever made (month out now) . Look forward to reading about your journey. Good luck!

@empress. Go ahead belt it out! Maybe I should get that for my iPod for the trip. It could be my theme song! Kinda like when wrestlers enter the arena and their song plays while they give high fives and air waves to the fans on their way to the ring. Hmmm I might have to talk to my coordinator. I can see it now.... *enter dream sequence, blury vision music starts, focus returns, que announcer* and in this corner, in the pale blue open backed gown, weighing in at 270lbs, from Oklahoma pas-----qui------niiiiiiii!!!!!!! *all the other patients going wild, creating a throng as I wave and sign autographs, stopping to take a picture with a baby or two (though I can't imagine why someone has brought their child to the clinic, sheesh people!) lights are flashing, camera's are snapping away, clothing is being thrown, (oops wrong dream sequence, sry about that folks)* then the announcer breaks in and in this corner refusing to weigh in, coming all the way from inside the land of gastrouka, undefeated, heavy weight champion of the buffet world, "The Stom------ach" today bout will go 1 50 minute round, loser leaves the other alone forever! Crowd goes wild!!!!!!!* (end dream sequence). Or something like that.

Killing me!!

Welcome to the Family!

I'm 10 days post-op and down 25 lbs since starting my liquid diet on April 8th.

This is an incredible forum and one you will learn a lot from and will get a variety of responses that are awesome, even if it's not always what you want to hear, the support is here!!!

Hope to hear more from you as the days go by!

Christal

Welcome, Pasquini! We're so glad you're here.

Love your sense of humor! Best wishes and keep posting more about your journey, you're too funny

Welcome Pasquini,

I am a 44 year old man and had my VSG surgery on July 13th. I've lost about 120 pounds since my highest weight of 300 pounds and I couldn't be happier with my decision.

Good luck to you! Do your research on the procedure and your doctor so that you are comfortable with both and you will do great.

Come to this site often. There are some awesome people here and the information you will gain from the experience of others is invaluable!

Brian

Hi~!!! Welcome!!! LOL about this board being more addictive than facebook!! I love how we can use our status updates to say things we might be able to tell those around us, and there are so many supportive and wonderful people.. this site rocks!!!

BTW: I live in Korea, and I'm surrounded by these tiny little people.... (ok I'm 5'8", not tall, but I rarely meet a woman who is even close to my height).. and some lady will come up to me, scan me from toe to head like some creep checking me out... and then will say,,, "you're fat!!" and sometimes I say, "ohh, really, i didn't know that" while acting shocked... Other times I will tell them I can go on a diet, but they need plastic surgery to look halfway pretty... it depends on the mood I'm in