I don't know where to start so I apologize in advance if my story is not that easy to follow.

I am a French guy of 42 years old living in Spain (Barcelona) and I have been fighting with overweight my entire life.

I am currently at 280 but went up to 350 several years ago (for 5 ft 11).

I have been told my entire childhood to finish my plate, so no waste (and also the dish, so no left over, right?).

I am also an epicurean and enjoy food, cooking, craft beers (favorite one is from a US microbrewery) and of course wine.

I have been playing rugby for over 15 years so the overweight damage was under control and I also built up some muscles under my layer of fat.

I have been trying all kind of diets, the latest one was called Dukan diet (basically an "all you can eat protein" one) that showed up pretty effective (went down to 220 in a year) but did not help me with my eating disorder....

I thought I was arrived to a decent level and all the cravings I had were not bearable anymore, so back to 280..

I am a big eater. I have always been a big eater. I don't snack, don't have a sweet tooth, but I can eat a full T-Bone and still feel hungry.

I reach a point I can't get me food sick anymore and it drives me crazy to see I can't control it.

I still do sports (cardio and weight lifting) so I consider myself in a decent shape for a big guy like me.

I need a physical barrier to keep the wolf inside of me. On top of eating a lot, I also eat fast. All the don't dos.

I have been reading everything and anything about bariatric surgery. the book from Andy Butler was an eye opener.

I believe that VSG is right for me. I found my surgeon, and I was scheduled for March 22. I even started to post on that.

Then my life took an unexpected and dramatic turn on March 7. Our baby boy of 21 months passed away, My heart is broken since then.but for some reason my decision on the VSG is stronger than never.

I was also diagnosed with pneumonia (bacterial) on March 11 and today I went for another set of X-Ray after a week of heavy antibiotics. I am recovering very well, even if I still cough. I have been doing all of my prep op tests and everything looks good for my surgeon.

It seems I am a go for March 22, but still need to be confirmed on next Monday.

I want to be done with my life as it is today. I want to stop feeling tired in the morning. I believe I have sleep apnea even I never tested for it.

I want to be more active than I am now for my 6 year old daughter. I want to go jogging with colleagues, I want to feel comfortable on a bike. Aisle seats on plane should not be an obsession.I don't want to become a customer of my company that sells products for diabetic people. I want a new me. A new image. Healthier, stronger, dynamic and different.

Obviously I lost my appetite for a couple of weeks now. I am suffering everyday and I don't see how I will be able to ever fix my broken heart.

At the same time, I have the impression I also need to recenter my attention on myself, be a bit selfish and get ready for that incredible challenge that VSG is.

My wife is worried but supportive, my sister thinks I am crazy and my best buddy tried to convince not to do it. I did not tell anybody else and won't. I am sharing here because I believe it is the right place and the people that are making this community are an inspiration.

Everybody has a different story but the common point I noticed while reading is that there is a lot of respect in the comments and no judging.

Please don't mention condolences or that you are sorry for my loss if you post on this. I assume you are if you have a bit of compassion. This is not the goal of my message. I am looking for tips, experience, real life feedback.

I know I am on an emotional roller coaster and that what is coming will be huge, but at the same time, I am convinced I need this.

Thanks.

Mico

You may want to try the purée, but make sure that you are at home in case it doesn't go well. You need to gradually introduce these foods to get your stomach used to it. I was very lucky and could tolerate everything, but I know some peoples stomachs need more coaxing. I would stick to your Drs plan.

I thought walking was boring, so I got a dog now I have to walk every day.

I wish I had a dog. Unfortunately it is not possible with all my traveling. Furthermore I have a cat that is quite the king of the house and would not welcome any other pet

You may want to try the purée, but make sure that you are at home in case it doesn't go well. You need to gradually introduce these foods to get your stomach used to it. I was very lucky and could tolerate everything, but I know some peoples stomachs need more coaxing. I would stick to your Drs plan.

That is a good idea. I will probably give it a try this weekend after talking to my surgeon tonight. I assume that it is a mix of purees and liquids at first? I am doing so well with liquids that I want to make sure I could do something as puree at lunch and a shake in the evening or something like that.

Visit with the doc went very well. He also told me that he put extra care with me as both of us have a common point with tragic events.

He removed the stitches, that a nice relief not to feel the little tension on the skin. I can start sport back with moderation and low intensity. 2 more weeks before weight lifting. I can start purée this weekend and need to be extra careful. I have an appointment with the nutritionist next week. Again, so far so good even if I had some mood swings today and I think everybody noticed at work as they kept good distance. [emoji4]. Another pound gone. I can get used to that.

Friday, finally! Getting tired of this week. The emotional roller coaster is at full speed. I am angry and have very little patience . I drink regularly and I take my Proteins on schedule. I can't sleep very well either. I was up at 5 am and decided to go for 40 minutes of medium intensity elliptical bike. Was great to sweat again and to feel in peace afterward. I decided to do light cardio until I can start eating "real"food". Then I will go for weight lifting.

Edited April 2, 201610 yr by Micoxv

I had a good day even if it started this morning with a stall on the scale...I am trying not to pay too much attention to it but it bothers me. I don't recall any comments about stall starting so soon. Now I go to the bathroom every 3 days and I am wondering if the broths I have are not too salty and would help with water retention? Or my body is just trying to prevent the melting. Anyway, I decided to pass my frustration on the elliptical bike for an hour and burnt 1100 calories. Then breakfast (protein shake and coffee) and I went to two different archeological museums in Barcelona with my daughter that has a strong interest in anything that is over 10000 years old. Lots of walking which was very nice. Another protein shake for lunch. I tried purée tonight (mashed potatoes and chicken grounded very thin). I had about 4 spoons. No nausea nor hick ups. Everything is going well. I am also more relaxed. I believe that doing cardio again will help to calm me down.

Don't worry about the stall @@Micoxv unfortunately there will be many of them. One day definitely does not count as a stall. You will however hit one at about 3 weeks. Almost everyone does. The scale doesn't move for a week or so. You need to do measurements at that time, because you generally continue to lose inches even though the scale doesn't move. Hang in there!

Thank you. I got use to the one pound off a day but I knew it would stop at some point. Did not think it would so early when I am quite active and below 600 cal a day.

Hi Mico you are doing fine. You have made feel a bit ashamed that I don't do more exercise so I have started couch to 5 k ! It's only the first week but I am enjoying it which I did not think I would. I am probably 6 stone lighter than the last time I tried to run so that probably explains it. Good luck for the next week but I am sure you won't need it !

Hi Mico, don't worry about stalling-we've all been there. The scales will move again as long as you are doing all the things that are suggested. Just imagine how much work your body is having to do behind the scenes re-arranging all its bits now that the fat is melting away. There's probably about a dozen little interior designers inside you having hissy fits about what is going where now that the lard is vacating the premises and leaving so much free space! On the dog front-we got another one recently (gives my two cats something else to wallop when junior dog tries to push into the food dish too fast) so now I walk three of them a couple of miles a day. I'm not a gym bunny (swim half a mile at a time though and love that) at all but love the fresh air. Five minutes from home is Bushy Park, a Royal Park, complete with herds of deer, buzzards, grassland, streams, ponds-it's just the best. Google it and be jealous of my daily exercise area. It's the most beautiful morning here in Surrey in the UK so I'm going to have another cuppa, drag husband out of the pit, and sally forth for a mutt march.

You are doing brilliantly Mico, just, as they say, EMBRACE THAT STALL x

Hi Mico you are doing fine. You have made feel a bit ashamed that I don't do more exercise so I have started couch to 5 k ! It's only the first week but I am enjoying it which I did not think I would. I am probably 6 stone lighter than the last time I tried to run so that probably explains it. Good luck for the next week but I am sure you won't need it !

Hi Chris,

Well done on the couch to 5k! Starting is the most difficult part...and the lighter you are the easier it will be. I went o Montjuic this morning, parked down and went up to the castle, good 5 k going up. Felt very good too, but I need a nap now!

Hi Mico, don't worry about stalling-we've all been there. The scales will move again as long as you are doing all the things that are suggested. Just imagine how much work your body is having to do behind the scenes re-arranging all its bits now that the fat is melting away. There's probably about a dozen little interior designers inside you having hissy fits about what is going where now that the lard is vacating the premises and leaving so much free space! On the dog front-we got another one recently (gives my two cats something else to wallop when junior dog tries to push into the food dish too fast) so now I walk three of them a couple of miles a day. I'm not a gym bunny (swim half a mile at a time though and love that) at all but love the fresh air. Five minutes from home is Bushy Park, a Royal Park, complete with herds of deer, buzzards, grassland, streams, ponds-it's just the best. Google it and be jealous of my daily exercise area. It's the most beautiful morning here in Surrey in the UK so I'm going to have another cuppa, drag husband out of the pit, and sally forth for a mutt march.

You are doing brilliantly Mico, just, as they say, EMBRACE THAT STALL x

Hi, thank you for your kind words.

I really like your analogy of little designers fixing things in the background. Yesterday I increased the proteins as I went for an hour of gym and I lost one pound. Maybe that is the trick? We'll see. I googled the place you mentioned and yes, I would go to the gym if I was living close to such an environment. Hopefully there are a few places around where I live that are not too bad either. I dusted off my old Fitbit and went for a 5k this morning in Montjuic. Lovely morning too.

Hi minty nice to see another UK member!

Hiya Chrisredjeep. How's Wales this glorious day? Surrey has been lovely. Had a five mile walk today. Round Bushy Park, across the road to Hampton Court Palace grounds, down by the elegant Long Water, through Home Park and then to the pub for a caffeine fix! Dogs asleep, husband knackered, me..........? Smug!!!!!

Good day at work today even if I start to have a sleeping problem as I wake up at 4 or 5 am ready to go...the upside is that I don't feel tired yet. I am trying to do an hour of elliptical a day to release the stress and to sleep better . Let's see if it works. Purées are a challenge. Tonight I tried to eat at the same time with my wife , daughter and in-laws parents. Big mistake. They eat so fast!!! On top of that my daughter was not in her best behavior (happens a lot when the grandparents are around ) so a lot of stress . My sleeve did not like this and made me pay with a huge pressure on my chest for about 30 minutes where I thought I would not be able to breathe anymore. Lesson learned. Lost another pound today so all good. I did dust off a lot of clothes over the weekend that I was not able to wear before (with 30 pounds extra) and almost everything fits. This is so great! I made a list of 10 objectives before the surgery, linked to losing weight and I am determined to reach them, even if I have modified a few slightly since the surgery. I am wondering if everyone made such a list and more importantly if you are sticking to it.