I have decided to do a gastric sleeve surgery to assist me in getting to a healthy weight. I am a 40 year old male and I currently weight about 295 at 5-10. However I have zero weight related health issues right now, as I am a very athletic 290. I exercise a good amount, lift weights,cardio,martial arts,boxing mountain biking, ect ect.. But I carry an excessive amount of body fat, some where in the 33-35% range.

I have has an issue with my weight all my life and work out just to maintain what I am now, I simply can not control the addiction to food that I know I have. I know HOW to eat, and I know WHAT Im supposed to be eating, I just dont do it. I will get on health kicks and eat right for several weeks at a time and see zero change in the scale and get frustrated and go right back to bad habits that have been developed over 40 years.

My mothers side is extremely obese, in fact her brother was 680lbs when he died of stage 4 stomach cancer at 53 years old. My fathers side is normal, so I have been teetering on the fence all my life. Most of my childhood I was EXTREMELY obese. I graduated grammar school at 13 years of age at 250lbs. I graduated high school at 218 lbs after discovering exercise and eating better. I maintained 225-245 lbs most of my adult life until my kids came along at 33 years of age where I ballooned up to 320lbs and stopped working out due to back injuries.

Several years ago I went on a no carb diet with excessive amounts of Protein and dropped to 270lbs and looked and felt pretty good, but it was an impossible diet to maintain and triggers like my uncle passing away and my father passing away set me back into a downward spiral of bad eating.

I decided after seeing many friends do the surgery and have weight loss of 100+lbs, that I need to do this for myself and my kids...My reasoning is this, YOU SIMPLY DO NOT SEE ANY 300 LB 80 YEAR OLDS.

I met with 2 doctors and chose Dr. Bertha out of New Brunswick. I really like his personality, and approach and something he said in the seminar really sold me on it. He said " I feel as if I have the cure for cancer and no one will listen to me".. This really hit me on so many levels, cause for a long time I did believe obesity was not a disease and I simply had bad habits, but now I know with my genetics combined with my upbringing and lack of healthy choices in the kitchen I didnt stand a chance. This is why I praise my wife on a daily basis for keeping our kids fit and healthy with their foods and exercise. I really wish my mother pushed me to participate in a healthy lifestyle from a young age.

Recently my workouts have gotten less aggressive due to an injury that ultimately was gonna require surgery and I notice my weight creeping from 280's-290's, so I planned to have both surgeries within a 6 week period so as to minimize my down time form work and inactivity.

I just underwent shoulder surgery on Nov13 th and was scheduled for the gastric sleeve surgery on Dec 8th, but a post operative blood clot caused me to postpone until Jan 12th.

My big fears of doing this are the unknown of how my body will react to it. Im a big solid guy with a lot of muscle and strength and fear I might get too thin where I look malnourished or sickly. I have been to the seminars and asked questions of the Doctors, I just want some real world perspective and stories of what to REALLY expect after this procedure? I dont want to feel as if I ruined myself for life,yet I also dont want to fail at this. Im convinced that if I shed my excess weight I can and will maintain it, I just need a drastic jump start to help me get in the right mindset.

My ideal weight is around 215-225lbs long term, as I said I have a muscular frame.

Edited November 26, 201411 yr by JerseyJules

@@JerseyJules

You beat me to it. I was going to recommend you speak to your doctor because a lot of people are making decisions based on either fears or what is less invasive but a doctor will be honest and tell you which surgery you really need for your level of obesity. I've seen some unfortunate cases where some extremely obese people got the band or sleeve based on their fears and not a doctor's recommendation and were ultimately not pleased with the results. For the extremely morbidly obese they really need gastric bypass. Those who are less than or a little over a hundred pounds overweight should really be looking at the band. Those in between the two would be better off with gastric sleeve.

@@JerseyJules

You beat me to it. I was going to recommend you speak to your doctor because a lot of people are making decisions based on either fears or what is less invasive but a doctor will be honest and tell you which surgery you really need for your level of obesity. I've seen some unfortunate cases where some extremely obese people got the band or sleeve based on their fears and not a doctor's recommendation and were ultimately not pleased with the results. For the extremely morbidly obese they really need gastric bypass. Those who are less than or a little over a hundred pounds overweight should really be looking at the band. Those in between the two would be better off with gastric sleeve.

The ironic part is as I was in his waiting room there was a woman who was very obese and was scheduling the removal of the Lap Band...LOL..So it was sort of an omen to me..I need the initial appetite control to get me back on track and in the game..

@@JerseyJules

You beat me to it. I was going to recommend you speak to your doctor because a lot of people are making decisions based on either fears or what is less invasive but a doctor will be honest and tell you which surgery you really need for your level of obesity. I've seen some unfortunate cases where some extremely obese people got the band or sleeve based on their fears and not a doctor's recommendation and were ultimately not pleased with the results. For the extremely morbidly obese they really need gastric bypass. Those who are less than or a little over a hundred pounds overweight should really be looking at the band. Those in between the two would be better off with gastric sleeve.

I don't agree with you there. I think each person should make informed and educated decisions based on their unique situation. Just to throw everyone on one category is not right.

I considered the band but in my situation, I take medications every day, 5 rather large pills. I consulted all of my doctors (4) of them and I decided on sleeve because it did not change the actual size of the opening to the stomach so that I don't have to worry about the tiny opening that a filled band leaves.

Yes there were other factors but I was very comfortable with my decision no matter how many pounds I have to lose.

JerseyJules you seem to have weighed your options (take the pun or not) and made a great decision about a tool you will have for life. You will live, learn, and love your decision.

@@Zane's Mom

You can disagree all you want. However, you can't disagree that the statics are that with the band patients will loose on average 50% of the excess weight. With the sleeve it's 60% and with gastric bypass it's 70%. So it depends on how obese someone is as to which surgery is right for them. That's why I advised not making a decision based on fear or what is perceived to be less invasive and to consult your doctor instead.

JerseyJules, on 05 Dec 2014 - 12:00, said:

The ironic part is as I was in his waiting room there was a woman who was very obese and was scheduling the removal of the Lap Band...LOL..So it was sort of an omen to me..I need the initial appetite control to get me back on track and in the game..

Many band patients later have to revise to sleeve due to complications or ineffective weight loss.

Many band patients later have to revise to sleeve due to complications or ineffective weight loss.

That was evident when I began researching it, and my surgeon confirmed it for me.. As nice of a guy that he is,I only want to see him in the operating room ready to slice in to me one time and only one time.... I think a 60% average weight loss is the target area I would shoot for. Im currently 305lbd after my shoulder surgery and sitting around and not working out for over 4 weeks. I know once I get active again I will snap back to 290 without any adjustments to my diet. So lets assume I'm 300lbs at surgery, the BMI says I should weigh 175 but I assure you I could never be 175 with my frame. At 240lbs I looked dead sexy...If I hit 220, I will be the stud muffin I was in High school..lol...So anywhere in that window of 60% puts me in my 230-220 goal weight...Keep in mind I am already much more active than the average bypass candidate so dropping down and staying there will not be an issue I know it..

@@JerseyJules

You should be fine with sleeve. I'm in a similar situation. I'm 350, gained like 60 extra pounds after quitting smoking and suffering some heart palpitation that caused me to not be as active as I once was. My idea weight is supposedly 170-177, depending on what scale is used. I did once manage to get down to 170 but everyone said I looked sick and that it looked like I had AIDs. So I won't shoot for that low. If I can just get below 200 I'll be happy.

JerseyJules, I've been reading and am interested to see if you had your sleeve already? If so how far have you come? You and I have VERY similar stories. i'm 5'10" 290 and very athletic. Lots of muscle on my frame and a strong core. I can do about 10 pushups no problem and can plank for about a minute at a time a few times. I do not want to be skinny, BUT i want to be healthy. So far I also have NO weight related health issues - except pre-diabetes and have had some tennis elbow injuries. My sleeve is this coming monday and i'm going to TJ to do it, I have gone to no classes or had any pre prep with doctors. I have never had surgery and am very nervous....

Can you tell me how it was?

Hi JerseyJules.

Just wondering how things turned out for you.

I read your intial story and it was like reading my own life history. I also did my own research and in the end opted for Gastric Sleeve. It has not been a regret so far. I am 3 weeks post surgery and down 47 lbs.

I would love to know how you made out.

Trevor