Hey guys,

I started a post when I first joined here, but I put it in the wrong forum, so I figured I would start a new one here..

A lil back story..

I am 36 years old (Male) from New Jersey. In HS I put on weight my senior year from about 185-190 to about 250, and then dropped back down to the high 100's for a few years. It crept up over time and I maintained at about 225-250 for most of my 20's. My 30's I ticked up to about 275ish and after getting married I got to my peak of 326.

So, that covers my weight struggles.. Now the reasons for the sleeve.. Well, I was what I would call a heavy eater.. I worked on the road so I usually skipped Breakfast and got moving on my client visits.. lunch would usually be a stop at some fast food type place.. If per say it was the Arches.. I would get a double QP large, and probably a 10 piece nugget.. If it was a sub shop I'd get a whole sub.. You get the idea.. big meals that where not healthy.. I'd get home, and make dinner usually filling my plate with 2 portions of everything.. Then snack on chips or something later.. Drinking Coke the entire time.. Or Snapple Peach Iced Tea.

So, last year I decided enough was enough.. I had tried diets here and there, but never really stuck with them.. Will power is not my strongest quality.. I spoke to some friends who had surgery (RNY) and decided to set up an appointment with Dr. Chau of NJ Bariatrics. I really liked him, and decided that I didn't need to look any further.. I had planned to meet many doctors, but felt confident enough that he was the man for the job.

My insurance (through my wifes job) required a visit to the shrink and 6 months with the NUT.. So, I did it.. Got off of Sugary drinks, tried to make sure I had some sort of breakfast every morning and tried to change my meal choices.. I did lose a few pounds, but as soon as my 6 months was up, I pretty much went back to old bad habits, and ballooned up to my peak.. Insurance approved the surgery and I had it on 3/20.

Pre op diet for me was shakes for breakfast and lunch, and then protien heavy dinner no carbs. I did cheat on 3 occasions.. once the first night.. I had a pb&j, then later in the week I had a sub for lunch, and finally 4 days before the surgery I had 1 hot dog.. Even with that, I still lost 12 pounds. The day of surgery came and I was sleeved!

After the surgery, I spent 1 night in the hospital, and had issues with being "Tachy" my heart rate would sit at about 100-160 and they loaded me up with all sorts of pain meds in addition to my magic button of highness. :oP

So, I will skip the details of what a bad patient I was.. you can see my blog for those.. Link is in my sig.

I got home and was in moderate pain. I had to walk holding my belly up because the incisions felt like they where pulling and had to sleep on my right side because the largest cut hurt too much when laying. The pain only lasted 2-3 days at a constant level, then dulled down enough that I didn't need pain meds anymore.

Since the surgery I've only had one minor event.. I had a shake one night for dinner and it didn't sit well. I got nauseous, but couldn't vomit.. Just sat over the bowl dry heaving.. It hasn't happened since and I hope it doesn't happen again. Also.. POOP! I wasn't expecting not to poop for a week.. That was strange.. but thankfully the ladies in chat are not shy about talking about poop and told me it was normal.

Since my surgery which I am 5 days shy of one month, I now weigh 280. I saw my sister for the first time today and she was shocked! That felt really nice. I am so happy that I did this, and I get so excited when I pass my mini goals. I'll make a list of my mini's at the bottom of this..

I hope to be able to share events with my weight loss and life with you all in this thread, and also on my blog. If you are on the fence about doing this, I hope this might have tipped you in the direction of making that big change.

Goals

Be under 300 DONE

Lose 25lbs post surgery DONE

Be the weight I was when my wife and I got married DONE

275

lose 50 pounds total

Be the weight I was when I met my wife

250

Loose 100lbs total

225

200

185 Long term goal

I just read your story . It didn't dawn on me that I wouldn't be able to ride my bike for awhile. Well yes a few weeks... Hhmmmm. I guess I better talk to the doc. Dern it! Lol