Here are some before and after photos of me.

Before (10-2011): 360 lb

In Rome near the Colosseum.

Surgery date (07-02-2012): 335 lb

I started to lose weight in may 2012, 2 months before surgery.

After (05-24-2013): 188 lb

At home in the back yard.

My lowest was 177 lb in February 2013. I have gained about 10 lb of lean muscle since then. "After" is still a work in progress as I am working on strength training over the summer months. No lose skin except for a little around the front of the stomach. It will probably go away by end of this summer.

Wow! Wow! Wooooow!!!!! Awesome! BTW you look hot!!!! Fantastic job!!! Great work

Holy moly Fiddleman, what a transformation! Congrats you look great!

Wow!! Fiddleman you look amazing!! Congrats on your transformation;)

You look fantastic! Congratulations. Make sure to give us newbies tips!

Muchas gracias everyone! I really appreciate validation of hard work. Yes, it is hard work but entirely worth it!!

Some simple tips I can give newbies:

Do not compromise

Always have your eye focused on both short term and long term goals

Be consistent

Visit support groups often (especially VST)

Be your own champion of motivation and success

Find VST role models and be like them

Follow your doctor guidelines

Take your Vitamins and supplements every day. Learn what are the best kinds to take.

Meet and exceed Water and Protein goals on a daily basis.

sleep 7-8 hours a night. Feel rested.

Do work on eating more as the months go by

Do work on giving 110% to your workout plan, always challenge yourself at every workout. Applies when after month 5 or so.

Let go of the superficial issues around losing weight. Do not stress about not dropping weight. There will be weeks that go by with no changes in scale weight or perhaps fitting clothes. Get used to the staircase of lose, stall, lose, stall and then ignore it.

Believe in your success. This is key.

Do not sabotage your success.

Focus

Find our exercise you really enjoy so you do not feel it is work. For me, it is running and cross fit.

Learn as much as you can about your body and how different foods, supplements, drinks and exercises affect you. Always be asking yourself questions and search out the answers. Others on VST are an excellent resource, but also google is also your wise friend.

These are just off the top of my head. I could keep writing these for pages, but you would get seriously bored.

Wow u have really worked that sleeve of yours. You look amazing and so healthy too ! Congrats on all the hard work you've done.

Congrats to you! You look fantastic!!! Thanks for the tips for success

(Now, how about a workout behind the lawnmower...bwahahaha! Kidding!...my grass looks that tall too).

Congrats to you! You look fantastic!!!

(Now' date=' how about a workout behind the lawnmower...bwahahaha! Kidding!...my grass looks that tall too).[/quote']

Ha! I was hoping no one would notice the jungle grass I have going on in my back yard! You see, I mowed it day before I went on vacation last week. When I came back this last Monday night, it was really a jungle. It rained the entire week and I was giving up hope. Tomorrow, really need a dry day so I can mow this long grass. It is like a foot long now since less then 2 week ago!!!

Muchas gracias everyone! I really appreciate validation of hard work. Yes' date=' it is hard work but entirely worth it!!

Some simple tips I can give newbies:

Do not compromise

Always have your eye focused on both short term and long term goals

Be consistent

Visit support groups often (especially VST)

Be your own champion of motivation and success

Find VST role models and be like them

Follow your doctor guidelines

Take your Vitamins and supplements every day. Learn what are the best kinds to take.

Meet and exceed Water and Protein goals on a daily basis.

sleep 7-8 hours a night. Feel rested.

Do work on eating more as the months go by

Do work on giving 110% to your workout plan, always challenge yourself at every workout. Applies when after month 5 or so.

Let go of the superficial issues around losing weight. Do not stress about not dropping weight. There will be weeks that go by with no changes in Cale weight or perhaps fitting clothes.

Believe in your success. This is key.

Do not sabotage your success.

Focus

Find our exercise you really enjoy so you do not feel it is work. For me, it is running and cross fit.

Learn as much as you can about your body and how different foods, supplements, drinks and exercises affect you. Always be asking yourself questions and search out the answers. Others on VST are an excellent resource, but also google is also your wise friend.

These are just off the top of my head. I could keep writing these for pages, but you wold get seriously bored.

[/quote']

Thanks Fiddleman. These tips are truly appreciated ♥

I totally agree' date=' thought you were always

Mr. Super-Healthy-Man! What a transformation. You are truly an inspiration for us all. Thank you.[/quote']

Nope, not remotely healthy one year ago in so many ways: pre diabetic, high blood pressure, BMI 46, severe sleep apnea, could not really exercise, had terrible sugar laden eating habits, depression, anxiety and on and on and on. Getting sleeved was my last hope. It was do or die. I decided from that point on I wanted to live a completely different lifestyle. As cliche as it may sound, the sleeve is what it took for me to start making the changes, sort of a clean slate in terms of my relationship with food. It took time to make all he changes. I made most of the changes required for long term success by month 6 (month 10 now). Heck, I am still making changes daily as they need to be made to get stronger and more fit. All those issues in the ailment list are gone, including those related to mental health. I could not be happier about life (marriage, career, activities, etc).

Here are some before and after photos of me.

Dude - you're an inspiration to me. I mean that.

Wow! Fiddle man! You look AMAZING!!!!

Such a transformation!

Wow you look awesome I hope to loose140lbs I already lost 30!!

You look amazing !! Congratulations

WAY TO GOOOOOOO!!!!! GREAT JOB!!