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).

Great photo~ you look truly happy!

Thanks for the nice comments everyone. I have vowed to keep this thread going because if it helps or inspires even one person it has accomplished its mission.

So great to read this as I am on my 4th day of pre op very strict liquid diet. I know this will be so worth it!

This is a great thread, very motivational! I'm on day 5 of liquid only and have tripped up but now I'm "Back on the Wagon"! Thank you Frank!!!

Well, I did it. I have lost 200 pounds. Yes, that's right I have lost TWO HUNDRED POUNDS in only eight months and three weeks. I began by starting my liquid died on 11/23/2012 and was sleeved on 12/21/2012. My amazing journey has mostly been chronicled here, but there is still so much that occurred. I could literally write a book about all of this and I just might, I really want to get this story out there. I have discovered something I have only heard or read about. I have become one of those people that actually gets some sort of "high" from exercise and I can't wait to run when I wake up. Here are a few pics, the fat picture was taken in September 2012. In the one with the pants, those are the ones that I was wearing when that fat pic was taken. If any company needs a spokes person regarding the sleeve or weight loss, I am your man! Inquire within!

Congratulations! That's an awesome accomplishment!! You look great! Your successful weight loss journey is definitely an inspiration!

Omg, I can only say "wow" to those pics!!!! Congratulations on your success, you and your sleeve make quite a team...

I haven't lost anything like the amount u have, but I have dropped my BMI by 10 points and transformed my health, my life and my future by being sleeved.

I don't regret a day since 26 April although it was tough in the very early days :-) But, like you, I have done exactly as asked and stuck to my Dr's advice re protein, water and exercise - as a result, never been sick and have learned to make good food choices that have paid off.

Thanks for continuing to speak out. Attitude and state of mind play a huge part for each of us in our weight loss. Have said it on here before but whatever problems life hands us, it's for us alone to decide how to respond to them. I choose to be positive and I choose not to let others negativity impact on me. Not always easy but soooo worth it - and very liberating not to have to carry the burden of cr*p that others have tried to put on to me in the past, which didn't help previous attempts to lose weight and keep it off.

Keep up the great work :-)))))

I have to disagree with you. Most of the posts I read on here were positive feedback and helped me actually decide to go through with the surgery of course those scary stories made me a little nervous but I just put myself in gods hands and just thought of what was the best for me. Glad everything went well for you and you could share your story.

Frank, I think I have a little crush on you. You are my hero. I can't believe your ticker. 30 pounds? You'll get to goal in no time! Please stick around when you do so that we can keep learning from you and being inspired by you!

Well' date=' I did it. I have lost 200 pounds. Yes, that's right I have lost TWO HUNDRED POUNDS in only eight months and three weeks. I began by starting my liquid died on 11/23/2012 and was sleeved on 12/21/2012. My amazing journey has mostly been chronicled here, but there is still so much that occurred. I could literally write a book about all of this and I just might, I really want to get this story out there. I have discovered something I have only heard or read about. I have become one of those people that actually gets some sort of "high" from exercise and I can't wait to run when I wake up. Here are a few pics, the fat picture was taken in September 2012. In the one with the pants, those are the ones that I was wearing when that fat pic was taken. If any company needs a spokes person regarding the sleeve or weight loss, I am your man! Inquire within! [/quote']

BigFrank -- you look amazing!! Thank you for your inspiring initial post, and your continued follow-up here. 200 pounds!! Astonishing. You look fantastic, and the joy you exude -- I want some of that! Your posts here have been really inspirational to me. Thanks for being a not-so-scary voice on these threads!

Should we just call you Frank now, lol???

Thanks for the nice comments guys. It's kind of crazy, but I lost another 2 pounds since I posted this the other day! (scale pic below, I originally weighed 445 lbs.). Sometimes I feel like the guy in the Steven King movie Thinner! I am still big Frank but just the tall version now! (6' 2") Seriously, my life is COMPLETELY different, I have NEVER felt better!

Thanks for the nice comments guys. It's kind of crazy' date=' but I lost another 2 pounds since I posted this the other day! (scale pic below, I originally weighed 445 lbs.). Sometimes I feel like the guy in the Steven King movie Thinner! I am still big Frank but just the tall version now! (6' 2") Seriously, my life is COMPLETELY different, I have NEVER felt better![/quote']

I like that movie thinner (book is good also). The guys eats anything and everything yet still drops weight daily. Huge amounts too!

Frank - this made my day! Thanks for taking the time to post the photos....you look fantastic! Cannot wait for the update when you hit your goal....way to go!

Frank,

Thanks for all of the inspiration from your post. And congratulations on the weight loss. Keep this thread going and I can't wait to know when you reach goal!