I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest, but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far.

First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.

Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!

On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.

Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.

So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein shake, a bowl of tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.

I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

Awesome job, congrats. keep it up

Wow! You look great!

Wow! Good work, isn't it wonderful??

Great job! Thanks so much for sharing!

I havent had any issues with this surgery either.. all the "scary" things have not happened to me.. everything has gone the way it was suppose to and Im down 90lbs in 4mos.. I do what Im suppose to do.. I follow the drs orders to a T. and I fell fabulous.. I go to the gym.. and I eat right..

Thanks everybody. As I said, VSG surgery has saved my life and absolutely changed it for the better.

Awesome job... Going to have to change your name soon!

I just wanted to drop a quick note here for those that have been following my progress. It was six months ago today (11/23/12) that I started this amazing journey. Since that day I have gone from 445 lbs to 285 lbs, for a total of 160 lbs lost! My BMI has gone down 20 points from 55 to 35 and my jean size from 54 inches to 38 inches! Life has been absolutely amazing. As a reward, something that I had planned to do once I hit 150 lbs lost but NEVER thought it would have been this fast, I went on vacation to New York City, something that I have always wanted to do. Thank goodness I was in the shape that I am in now because I walked several miles per day all over the city for four days and was still exhausted afterwards! I would have been dead or in the hospital if the old me had tried to do that! Well, once again, if you are considering the sleeve, just do it, it will save your life!

Someone as highly motivated as you are should do very, very well. I am looking forward to reading about your successes.

Congratulations!!!!! So happy for your success and what a fantastic reward! Looks like you had a great trip too!

You have posted a fantastic testimonial! Job well done.

Thanks for the motivation Frank and taking the fear out of it for us. What an awesome testimony you have.

Way to go Frank, way to stay positive!

I just wanted to drop a quick note here for those that have been following my progress. It was six months ago today (11/23/12) that I started this amazing journey. Since that day I have gone from 445 lbs to 285 lbs' date=' for a total of 160 lbs lost! My BMI has gone down 20 points from 55 to 35 and my jean size from 54 inches to 38 inches! Life has been absolutely amazing. As a reward, something that I had planned to do once I hit 150 lbs lost but NEVER thought it would have been this fast, I went on vacation to New York City, something that I have always wanted to do. Thank goodness I was in the shape that I am in now because I walked several miles per day all over the city for four days and was still exhausted afterwards! I would have been dead or in the hospital if the old me had tried to do that! Well, once again, if you are considering the sleeve, just do it, it will save your life![/quote']

OMG great update frank! Love the joy on you face I'm that picture

I went on a five mile hike the other day and I didn't feel like I was going to die. I felt just like you look in that picture

I just wanted to drop a quick note here for those that have been following my progress. It was six months ago today (11/23/12) that I started this amazing journey. Since that day I have gone from 445 lbs to 285 lbs, for a total of 160 lbs lost! My BMI has gone down 20 points from 55 to 35 and my jean size from 54 inches to 38 inches! Life has been absolutely amazing. As a reward, something that I had planned to do once I hit 150 lbs lost but NEVER thought it would have been this fast, I went on vacation to New York City, something that I have always wanted to do. Thank goodness I was in the shape that I am in now because I walked several miles per day all over the city for four days and was still exhausted afterwards! I would have been dead or in the hospital if the old me had tried to do that! Well, once again, if you are considering the sleeve, just do it, it will save your life!

Great photo! Congrats on your new lease on life!