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VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter 07/15/2013



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VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter

Hey Sleevers!

It’s hard to believe, but summer is halfway over! We hope you’re keeping cool and getting a bit of rest and relaxation during these long summer days. Of course, we also hope you’re staying on track with your weight loss goals, too! To keep you motivated, here’s what you’ll find in this month’s newsletter.

Sleevers Poll: What’s the Best Part about Weight Loss Surgery?

Member Spotlight: Meet Fiddleman!

Weight Loss Surgery in the News: More Possible Benefits of Surgery!

Summer Reading: May We Suggest The Big Book?

After reading the newsletter, Alex Brecher

Founder

VerticalSleeveTalk.com

Sleevers Poll: What’s the Best Part about Weight Loss Surgery?

Poll: Besides weight loss, what has been the biggest benefit since getting surgery? If you haven’t had surgery yet or if you just got it, what are you most looking forward to?

  • Better health, with fewer medications and better reports from the doctor.

  • More energy to do my favorite activities and keep up with friends and family.

  • Clothes shopping! (Enough said).

  • Self-confidence and pride in myself.

  • food doesn’t rule my life any more!

  • Something else – see my answer!

Mark your answer and sleep apnea, pre-diabetes and hypertension, but wanted to be a positive influence to the people around him. His sleeve surgery was in July of 2012. His highest weight was 360 pounds, and he’s now lost more than half of his body weight to get to a weight of 175 pounds.

Since getting surgery, he says he has a “new lease on life.” His marriage is the best that it’s ever been, and he’s more physically active and social, participating in cross fit, racing and yoga. SOme of his great moments include:

  • Hitting goal weight of 180 during month seven after surgery

  • Running an 18 minute 5k and a 37-minute 10K a few months of training hard every other day on his treadmill

  • Being asked to model and tell his story for his Weight Loss Surgery Center web site

  • Putting on medium size clothes and size 32 jeans, after wearing size 48 pants and 4X clothes.

One of his biggest challenges was being active, but by now, it’s become a habit.

Fiddleman says he logs a couple of hours daily on VerticalSleeveTalk.com to “read other people's stories and questions and to help others.” He also tries to learn from others’ experiences. He says that the boards help him stay accountable. His advice to others is to “keep calm and carry on. Follow the plan and resist the urge to cheat and sabotage your efforts. Temptation becomes less and less the longer you create a separation between you and a temptation. Always strive to feel in control of both your eating, drinking and fitness daily goals. Do not give up for the prize of a new life full of opportunities is worth the struggle. And lastly, share your successes with others. Success breeds more success.”

Fiddleman, your success is amazing and a testament to your hard work. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished, and thanks for sharing your story and advice in our Member Spotlight!

Do you like learning more about our members? We can’t do it without you! We need you to nominate members that you want to see featured in the newsletter. Nominate someone else or yourself in the meal plans for losing weight. Order your copy from Amazon or VerticalSleeveTalk.com!

That’s all we have for this newsletter. We hope you enjoyed it and it inspires you to keep pursuing your summer goals. As always, feel free to contact us at any time. See you on the forums!

Take care of yourself and each other.

Sincerely,

Alex


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Excellent choice for member spotlight! He is always a great source of information and encouragement for all of us. Congrats Fiddleman!!

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Congrats Fiddleman!

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Bravo Fiddleman! Thank you for highlighting him.

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  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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