...and I don't mean the temperature!

OK, this will sound like bragging, and it IS a little, but remember where I'm coming from: I had been obese my WHOLE LIFE. I first had to wear size 38 jeans in junior high school. And now I'm wearing size 34, bordering on size 33.

I was at the gym this morning -- it was arms day, biceps, forearms, trapezius, and deltoids (shoulders) -- and was working out HARD. I was looking in the mirror to check my form, and suddenly I thought -- who IS this guy? I realized that I'm looking... well... A-MAZ-ING! I mean I'm 42, so I don't look like a kid; I have laugh lines on my face, and (when I don't shave my head) a little gray around my temples. But my shoulders are broad and muscular (amazing what deltoid workouts will do, guys; wanna look broad-shouldered and thick through the chest? WORK. ON. YOUR. SHOULDERS!). My chest is just slabs of flat, hard muscle. My forearms literally RIPPLE with muscle when I move my fingers. My legs are turning into little tree trunks, and a lot of HARD work on my glutes (butt) has rescued me from the dreaded "white guy ass" -- I am getting a nice, muscular butt. I still don't like my midsection; the remaining flab and loose skin are all there, but sometimes when I move and the light is right, you can see my rectus abdominis quite clearly. Another term for rectus abdominis? SIX PACK! ME! A SIX PACK!

I wished I could have taken a picture to show you, but I'm not THAT vain; I don't bring my camera to the gym with me

I have to compare and contrast this with just two years ago, when my face was lost in a SEA of chins. My legs were big, but it was all just flabby, jello-y fat. My arms were big... with fat. They JIGGLED. And my midsection... oh dear god, what a train wreck; I had to wear size 3XL shirts just to avoid too much plumber's crack! I couldn't walk 200 yards without being tired. My feet hurt all the time. Men treated me with scorn, and to women I was simply invisible.

Now, men often do submissive body language (you know, hunched a little shoulders and eyes down) or challenging, threatened (puffed up chest, swagger, frightened/"tough" glare) body language. The one thing they don't do is scorn me. And women... well, as often as not, women have a sort of "hungry" look in their eyes when they're looking at me. I've even caught women out with their husbands/boyfriends "checking me out" and then looking away, embarrassed when I smile at them.

Am I bragging? Yes, I am. But this is all so bloody new to me. I'm a hunk! I have to avoid turning into a vain douchebag (and this obviously borders on douchebaggery already), but I figured that "Gastric Sleeve Surgery Success Stories" was the place to put this bragging if anything was.

Two years ago, I was obese, depressed, hated my body, sore, sick, tired, a clear "beta male," invisible to women, and probably on a fast track to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or some other form of slow, painful death.

Now? I'm fit -- within 2% of my "normal" body weight according to the height/weight charts. I can run several MILES without running out of steam or injuring myself. I lift weights nearly every day. I am happy, healthy, have a strong libido, a good sex life, and I *like* what I see when I look in the mirror. I would NEVER have believed it possible two years ago if you'd asked me. NEVER.

And, while I'll take credit for eating right and going to the gym/doing other physical activities regularly, the weight loss and health I owe completely, 100% to the sleeve.

THANK YOU, SLEEVE. Getting the surgery was the single best decision I've ever made. It saved my life, literally -- it's given me a whole new me, one that I never would have believed I could be.

Thank you, sleeve.

You are awesome and have every right! I am glad we all have a place to come and "bragg" and everyone here understands.

You are awesome and have every right! I am glad we all have a place to come and "bragg" and everyone here understands.

Thank you

One of these days, I'll be brave and post a photo or two. But I'm so freaking PALE that it's a tad embarrassing

Yup! Men want eye candy, and they want arm candy.

We shouldn't it's shallow to want it and vain to want to be it.

But we still want it, and we still want to be it. I think that for me, what's changed is that I'm just not going to apologize for feeling that way anymore As MoreganK said: I've earned it!

You have earned it! Enjoy it to the hilt!! I plan to do the same!!

Well, I am now inspired. Just moments ago took an "after" picture. So shortly I will be posting the first, known to man, ever existed...... pictures. Hey that makes it "exclusive" right Anyway, I understand how you feel. I still cringe at my photos, but just not as much.

Awesome post O. Congrats to you! Its nice to hear someone who has not felt good or had good self image be proud and even a little vain. You deserve it, u worked hard for it. Brag away! I hope I can too one day. Lol

Awesome post O. Congrats to you! Its nice to hear someone who has not felt good or had good self image be proud and even a little vain. You deserve it, u worked hard for it. Brag away! I hope I can too one day. Lol

Thanks! I'll try to keep the bragging and vanity to a dull roar; to be honest, there are still PLENTY of things to feel bad or be insecure about. But after a lifetime of that crap, a little ray of sunshine now and again is a wonderful thing!

Thanks! I'll try to keep the bragging and vanity to a dull roar; to be honest' date=' there are still PLENTY of things to feel bad or be insecure about. But after a lifetime of that crap, a little ray of sunshine now and again is a wonderful thing![/quote']

I don't know anyone who isn't insecure about something..even the most beautiful people have insecurities! I guess you are now "normal".

You go boy! I say with all that you mentioned there would be nothing wrong with providing us with some visual aids i.e. photos :ph34r: !!! Good for you. That is awesome, you happiness radiates in this post!

Thank you

One of these days, I'll be brave and post a photo or two. But I'm so freaking PALE that it's a tad embarrassing

Hey! Pale and proud here! LOL I know I'm an odd ball in our society, but I think pale skin is beautiful. That and with my Irish genes I burn pretty bad, so I'm a moon flower and sun dodger. Don't let pale skin stop you from posting pictures if thats what you really want to do.

Hey! Pale and proud here! LOL I know I'm an odd ball in our society' date=' but I think pale skin is beautiful. That and with my Irish genes I burn pretty bad, so I'm a moon flower and sun dodger. Don't let pale skin stop you from posting pictures if thats what you really want to do. [/quote']

Well it's not that I really WANT to post pictures! It's just that I feel like I have to back up my bragging with visual aids!

And pale IS beautiful!

Yeah buddy!!!!! Good for you. Usually you hear people still feeling their like old fat selves and not being able to see the new improves versions of theirselves. Well I'm glad to see someone who has dropped the fat person like a bad habit. You work hard for what you've accomplish so flaunt it.

You deserve to brag!! You are looking incredible and feeling good - Now that's one thing I don't mind someone bragging about. Hard work and well deserved! You should put up some up to date pics. Congratulations on your awesome success =)

You deserve to brag!! You are looking incredible and feeling good - Now that's one thing I don't mind someone bragging about. Hard work and well deserved! You should put up some up to date pics. Congratulations on your awesome success =)

Thank you! I'm feeling great, too!

Getting confidence is a very welcome side effect of the sleeve surgery. Congratulations on being confident--that is a feat in and of itself for most of us. You deserve to be happy and a little cocky! Cheers to you with my protein shake raised!

...and I don't mean the temperature!

OK' date=' this will sound like bragging, and it IS a little, but remember where I'm coming from: I had been obese my WHOLE LIFE. I first had to wear size 38 jeans in junior high school. And now I'm wearing size 34, bordering on size 33.

I was at the gym this morning -- it was arms day, biceps, forearms, trapezius, and deltoids (shoulders) -- and was working out HARD. I was looking in the mirror to check my form, and suddenly I thought -- who IS this guy? I realized that I'm looking... well... A-MAZ-ING! I mean I'm 42, so I don't look like a kid; I have laugh lines on my face, and (when I don't shave my head) a little gray around my temples. But my shoulders are broad and muscular (amazing what deltoid workouts will do, guys; wanna look broad-shouldered and thick through the chest? WORK. ON. YOUR. SHOULDERS!). My chest is just slabs of flat, hard muscle. My forearms literally RIPPLE with muscle when I move my fingers. My legs are turning into little tree trunks, and a lot of HARD work on my glutes (butt) has rescued me from the dreaded "white guy ass" -- I am getting a nice, muscular butt. I still don't like my midsection; the remaining flab and loose skin are all there, but sometimes when I move and the light is right, you can see my rectus abdominis quite clearly. Another term for rectus abdominis? SIX PACK! ME! A SIX PACK!

I wished I could have taken a picture to show you, but I'm not THAT vain; I don't bring my camera to the gym with me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I have to compare and contrast this with just two years ago, when my face was lost in a SEA of chins. My legs were big, but it was all just flabby, jello-y fat. My arms were big... with fat. They JIGGLED. And my midsection... oh dear god, what a train wreck; I had to wear size 3XL shirts just to avoid too much plumber's crack! I couldn't walk 200 yards without being tired. My feet hurt all the time. Men treated me with scorn, and to women I was simply invisible.

Now, men often do submissive body language (you know, hunched a little shoulders and eyes down) or challenging, threatened (puffed up chest, swagger, frightened/"tough" glare) body language. The one thing they don't do is scorn me. And women... well, as often as not, women have a sort of "hungry" look in their eyes when they're looking at me. I've even caught women out with their husbands/boyfriends "checking me out" and then looking away, embarrassed when I smile at them.

Am I bragging? Yes, I am. But this is all so bloody new to me. I'm a hunk! I have to avoid turning into a vain douchebag (and this obviously borders on douchebaggery already), but I figured that "Gastric Sleeve Surgery Success Stories" was the place to put this bragging if anything was.

Two years ago, I was obese, depressed, hated my body, sore, sick, tired, a clear "beta male," invisible to women, and probably on a fast track to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or some other form of slow, painful death.

Now? I'm fit -- within 2% of my "normal" body weight according to the height/weight charts. I can run several MILES without running out of steam or injuring myself. I lift weights nearly every day. I am happy, healthy, have a strong libido, a good sex life, and I *like* what I see when I look in the mirror. I would NEVER have believed it possible two years ago if you'd asked me. NEVER.

And, while I'll take credit for eating right and going to the gym/doing other physical activities regularly, the weight loss and health I owe completely, 100% to the sleeve.

THANK YOU, SLEEVE. Getting the surgery was the single best decision I've ever made. It saved my life, literally -- it's given me a whole new me, one that I never would have believed I could be.

Thank you, sleeve.[/quote']

Post a before and after!