Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

1yr Today I Change Me!!!



Recommended Posts

Hey Guys I dont frequent the boards like i used too but just felt like i should share today with a few that are on the fence about getting the Sleeve.

Nov 2nd 2010 i had the vertical sleeve done in Stratford Nj, after a few days of feeling queezy from drugs they put me under with i felt fine. within a week i felt minimal pain in the tummy area, dont get me wrong you felt like you had stomach surgery but i was up and moving around.. always remember drink drink drink..LOL it worked for me!

My starting weight was 345lbs and today im happy to say in 225.4lbs 120.00 lbs gone forever!!! My goal was 220lb whick im still working on, but im so happy to be where i am today the sleeve saved my life. I had servere sleep apnea (used the machine) and had a small leak in the pulmonary valve that has since corrected itself. I went from a size 46-48 pants to a 36 and from 3-4xxl shirts to XL.

I did stretch my skin out one too many times and im not a spring chicken so i have some skin sagging under the armpits, man boobs and around the tummy which i expected, but i feel great!!!!

I was pretty strict the first 6 months tring to get as much off as possible and your body does adjust after losing that much weight and you will stall could last a day a week a month or 2 months so dont get upset slow and steady!!! i really havent lost much in the last few month's ive been right around the 223-225 mark all summer but i have to admit i didnt exersize at all, i did get out and moved around but i would say i probably would have lost more and toned with exersize...

Never give up on yourself, we only have one shot in this world make the best of it! Its your Journey dont let anyone scare you or change your mind, you will have regrets i waited 2 yrs longer then i should have because i was told that they loved me for who i was and didnt care about my weight, lies lies lies... when your dead and in a box theyll say he should have tried to lose weight and i tried and tried and tried, i lost but gained it all back again plus more..

well i hope this helps even just one person move forward in there goal to get healthier, these boards helped me so much and i thank everyone who answered all my stupid questions and supported me through my journey.

im gonna try and add a before and after picture .... hope it works!! Good Luck and Just Do It!!!

JOE

BEFORE

capemayjetty.jpg

122.jpg

AFTER (not best pics but i really dont have many new ones yet

CapeCodTrip042-1.jpg

P6011607-1.jpg

[url=

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hey joe, what do you know!!! congrats on your success. I can't wait to follow in your footsteps.

My surgery is 12/6/11 and I just can't wait. God give me patience, just hurry up about it!! Unfortunately this past month I kindof went bullistic and ate anything that wasn't hammered down. I GAINED almost 20lbs!! . Oh well, whats done is done.

11/11 I visit my mom in CA., and 2 days for thanksgiving I go to MA to be with extended family. Give me the strength to curb my eating. After thanksgiving I'll have 10 days before surgery to also have my shakes. At least not GAINING weight and losing 5 llbs would be ok. Wish me luck, and again - congrats on your new healthier life - thats what i'm heading for, and will accomplish!!!

kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome job!! Congrats!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree. I had so many people telling me omg are you nuts? Are you crazy this is NOT safe and my usual answer was "well neither is obesity"...I'm so happy I did the surgery. If anyone tells you not to do it....follow your heart and know that MANY people are successful at it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey looking good Joe. Great job on the weight loss and the fishin'! Wow. I love to fish, but unfortunately never had the opportunity to catch anything like that. Looks like a blast. I'd probably pee my pants if I caught a big ol' bass, let alone something like that...lol. Maybe when I get healthier, we will we able to go more places. It's good that I like fishing, because with a husband and four sons, I'm sure there will be much of it in the future. :0)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

hey joe, what do you know!!! congrats on your success. I can't wait to follow in your footsteps.

My surgery is 12/6/11 and I just can't wait. God give me patience, just hurry up about it!! Unfortunately this past month I kindof went bullistic and ate anything that wasn't hammered down. I GAINED almost 20lbs!! . Oh well, whats done is done.

11/11 I visit my mom in CA., and 2 days for thanksgiving I go to MA to be with extended family. Give me the strength to curb my eating. After thanksgiving I'll have 10 days before surgery to also have my shakes. At least not GAINING weight and losing 5 llbs would be ok. Wish me luck, and again - congrats on your new healthier life - thats what i'm heading for, and will accomplish!!!

kathy

Kathy, i know how you feel i still love food, i found talking to a dietican or food consoler helped teach me how not to turn to food when i wasnt havent a good day, but food was my life, I still eat most foods i did in past but in very small portions now. Another reason i had my surgery done on Nov 2nd was so i could atleast have mush foods at thanksgiving (fat guy) always thinking.. LOL

Its not easy believe me you have to get yourself saying I can do this, Food will not run my life anymore!!! If you stumble get back up and start the next day... But please follow what your doctor says you dont want any complications, i have read others eating different foods at different weeks, stick with what your doctor feels is right for his patiants..

Good Luck God Bless!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I agree. I had so many people telling me omg are you nuts? Are you crazy this is NOT safe and my usual answer was "well neither is obesity"...I'm so happy I did the surgery. If anyone tells you not to do it....follow your heart and know that MANY people are successful at it.

Keep Up the Great Work You Look Great!!! Good Luck with Your Journey also

Joe

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome job!! Congrats!!!

Thank You!!! and Best of Luck on your upcoming Surgery!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey looking good Joe. Great job on the weight loss and the fishin'! Wow. I love to fish, but unfortunately never had the opportunity to catch anything like that. Looks like a blast. I'd probably pee my pants if I caught a big ol' bass, let alone something like that...lol. Maybe when I get healthier, we will we able to go more places. It's good that I like fishing, because with a husband and four sons, I'm sure there will be much of it in the future. :0)

If your thinking of having the Sleeve done id say go for it. It Saved my life and my wife has a new husband so to speak.. we do more now and i have more energy then her..LOL we rode bikes this summer which was cool and did alot more outdoor activities then ever before..

Its a big decision that has to be talked about with your family, me I went about it the opposite way I have a Italian/Ukranian families who love to eat and thats one reason i was Obese and i love food, they would never say you need Bariatric Surgery, they did say your fat but I know my family wouldnt want me to have Surgery, So i told Mom i was going to a hernia done at 42 still lying to my Mom, well when i came out of the hospital and was home for a week i have mom, grandmom and brothers over for dinner, I couldnt eat food i was just drinking a lil Clear liquids and made my family a nice dinner and just before we sat to eat i broke down and cried my eyes out one because i felt overwhelmed and excited that i knew my life was going to be different from here forward and two i didnt want to hold this back from my family anymore, i told them my story how i was feeling and hated my life and we all cried and were very supportive after, even thou my mother said she probably would have wanted me to look into other options, but this was the best option for me!!!

Sorry for long winded story, but all the things im writing probably happened to may many other on this site, some had the surgery and other probably didnt, your family loves you but whats right for them might not be right for you!

Best of luck... Youll Do Great

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great job, Joe!

You must be the change you want to see in the world~Ghandi

You wanted a new you and you changed what needed to be changed and now you see. Congratulations.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×