Hi,

I'm new to the forums and in the starting stages of obtaining a VSG. Just looking to see if there are any other men who were above 400 (or even close to 500) pounds before starting this journey and how life after surgery has been. Did you suffer any complications from surgery due to your size? Did your doctor make you do anything extra or warn you of any possible issues? Did you lose more rapidly than average patients? Did you lose any motivation when you had lost enough weight to lead a fairly "normal" life, even though you might still have a good amount of excess weight?

A little background...I'm 31, 5'10", and honestly can't bear how difficult my weight has made my life. Just this weekend my wife went alone to her sister's engagement dinner at a restaurant due to my fear the chairs wouldn't be supportive enough. (I typically avoid restaurant situations unless there's a booth with a table I can adjust, ideally half booth/half chairs.) I've avoided flying for a couple years, will only attend theatre or sporting events where I can be guaranteed an aisle seat, etc. It seems like in the last 60 or so pounds many social situations involving sitting have escalated from very uncomfortable to more or less unbearable. Healthwise, I have hypertension and am very likely will be diagnosed with sleep apnea once the results of my sleep study last week come in.

Look forward to hearing from any of you have started in similar situations.

Appreciate that!! What's the name of the app? I have an Android too.

If you go to the Android market place look for Sports Apps. Be Strong. There they have a bunch of different exercise apps but I use their plank app for tracking my planking. They also make a squats app, pull up/push up apps as well.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shvagerfm.plank&hl=en

Dr. Ricks at DesPres

So you having your surgery done at DesPres hospital or will he be doing it at Barnes or DuPaul?

My highest weight was 583 my current weight is around 495 I have my surgery schedule for January 31st

My highest weight was 583 my current weight is around 495 I have my surgery schedule for January 31st

You got this guy. My highest weight that I had ever seen on a scale was 597lbs about 2 and a half years ago. When I had my surgery in Dec of 2014 I was at 463lbs As of this morning I was back to my current weight of 242lbs. I've been floating between 242-250lbs give or take over the last few months. But yeah you can indeed lose a lot of weight off of your body by getting this surgery and following the plan of attack your weight loss and surgical team puts in place for you. You just have to stick through it and put in the work. Because no matter what, its still work. This tool only works if you put in the work needed to make it work.

As of this morning's weigh-in it's all past tense when I discussing the 400s. 396! Getting there.

Edited January 20, 20179 yr by Ignatius

Some progress pics:

Your doing great. Keep it up !

@bill1140 Thanks, and best of luck with your surgery.

Thank you , it's getting closer but it's still feels so far away.

I've noticed now that I am into the 250's, the rolls on my sides are starting to shrink rapidly now. With a compression shirt and a dark colored shirt, my sides are very unnoticeable now.

I was also able to squeeze into a size 36 pant. It was tight but I was still able to button up and zip. Probably stick with 38 pants for a couple more weeks. At the point where I can walk into any store now and be able to find a pair of pants. Shirts are still hit or miss.

Keep grinding at it everyone and you'll get there. Starting to see that tiny crack of light at the end of the tunnel here.

IMG_20170119_185701.jpg

Keep grinding at it everyone and you'll get there. Starting to see that tiny crack of light at the end of the tunnel here.

Where did you get those compression pants at?

IMG_20170119_185701.jpg

Keep grinding at it everyone and you'll get there. Starting to see that tiny crack of light at the end of the tunnel here.

Where did you get those compression pants at?

Most of my compression stuff I got from Sports Authority before they went bankrupt. I find a lot of stuff like my compression shirts from Walmart, and Dicks Sporting goods store. I haven't ordered any offline yet, but I heard the brands from Eastbay aren't too terrible in quality and are cheaper than the Nike stuff. Most of my compression gear is either Rebok or Champion/Starter. I love my compression stuff though, especially now that its cold out. It does help with keeping me warmer during the winter months.

Tink! Iggy! Great job, fellas. Keep it up!

Greg and Bill, good luck with your surgeries, guys. I am at 6 months, started at 485, have lost 165 pounds (44 pounds of that was before surgery through portion control), and have also lost my high blood pressure and sleep apnea. By far the best decision I have ever made for my health, and I think it quite literally saved my life.

Surgery date: 8 March 2016

Surgery weight: 476 lbs or 216kg

Weight as of today 295lbs or 134kg

First picture: 20 Feb 2016

New picture: 10 Jan 2017

Still a long away to go but getting there slowly