I started off around 456 lbs, highest weight as i started my preop diet...Sleeved on 10/15. As of today I'm 371... Down around 80 lbs....

1.) all of my clothes are baggy.... I buy something and can wear it once.... Before it doesn't look right.... Not sure what to do. Would appreciate any clothing advice.

2.)emotionally I feel like a basket case... I over worry about any slight pain, I seem hyper sensitive to compliments or criticism.... If I were a woman I'd say I was pmsing 24/7. What is wrong with me???

3.) any recommendations on starting a workout routine? P90X is way too hard... Do they make a P90A for beginners! Lol

Thanks for listening to me vent.... Can't sleep and just feel alone with these thoughts.....

CG

Regarding clothes....find a second-hand store, and buy what you need, as often as you need it! I shop at "Savers," and have found fantastic bargains! I also keep an eye on clearance sections on various websites, and have gotten some lovely things that way. I'm 5 months post-op, and completely swapped out wardrobes three times! I don't have nearly as many items of clothing, but I have clothes that fit properly, and make me feel like I look great!

Your emotional craziness may be a function of burning so much fat? Fat tissue stores many hormones, and releases them as it is burned...wreaking havoc on our emotional well-being. Experience the ride, acknowledge it for what it is, and warn your friends and loved ones! This too shall pass....in time....I promise!

As for working out....I love fast walking in the shallow end of a pool! You burn an amazing number of calories (because your walking against the resistance of the water), and you can dunk yourself when you start dripping sweat! I also enjoy deep Water aerobics, either in a class or on my own. Everal times a week I do some elliptical, followed by an hour of circuit (weight) training. I didn't start that until about a month ago, because I wanted to make sure everything was well healed before I started really straining muscles. Most important....find something the you LOVE to do.....and do it religiously! You'll be amazed at the results you get!!

Us women are warned that losing weight releases all that estrogen and can make you feel very emotional. i am guessing that the same thing happens to men but don't really know! To some extent, I had to just tune alot of that out as "static" to my thought processes since I knew it wasn't real.

On the clothing subject, it is really hard when you have so much to lose... I went through the same thing - basically always looking baggy no matter what! I buy clothes at discounter (my local ross) which helps it not cost a fortune. I also don't buy a lot of clothes because I had an occurance or two of never wearing a top before it was huge on me. In all honesty, i had probably lost 100# before I started feeling like clothing looked half way decent. The body is not only losing weight but redistributing.

To some extent, I had to also sorta zone out on this - try to ignore the problem temporarily.

Now, i am fussy, I only wear fitted clothes, shirts that tuck in, belts on my no stretch jeans, that sort of thing. I feel better when I feel like I look more put together, but it took me awhile to get there.

I was hoping the guys would pipe in on this topic, but I guess I am replying because i have gone through everything you mention. Well, I didnt get hypocondriac, but the emotional roller coaster was a bit of a ride...

I think the ladies have the clothes covered. I was going to say Good Will or basically anything second hand. Good luck on that!

As for exercise, I'm by no means an expert, but I tend to believe in old-school. Just try to do normal stuff like walking or other similar cardio, then pick up a cheap set of weights and do the basics: bench press, etc. I want to do P90X myself, because it's essentially all old school: push ups, pull ups, etc. No special equipment needed. Do what you can, and your weight and strength will meet somewhere in the middle and you can transition from a bench press to a push up. That's going to be my approach. I don't think I've ever done a proper push-up in my life. I never had the upper body strength. I'm stronger now, but not as much as I can push my own weight yet.

Oh, i meant to post this:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/46340-my-advice-to-all-newly-post-op-sleevers/

Check it out!

I have bought a bunch of clothes cheap on eBay. Way more selection than any second hand store, especially if you still need bigger sizes. I just bought 5 nice but slightly used shirts for $20.

I've been giving all my too big stuff to the V.A.