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.

Omg I could never imagined being that size but just wowwed at how far your guys are going

I started at 489 and was 475 on the day of my surgery in February of 2016. I’m currently 284 and steady at this point. So I’m down a total of 205. I lost most of the weight during the first year. The health issues I had before are gone and I feel great and I’m fairly active now with bike riding, walking and swimming.

Good luck to everyone on this journey. This thread was very motivating when I started over 2 years ago.

22 hours ago, DaAlchemist said:

Hello All I was just looking over and cant believe how far I've come I'm down to 320 in a little over 7 months coming from 435 Im still in shock but feeling great

Impressive effort, @DaAlchemist ... in Australia your achievement would be 197.3 kg (435 lbs) down to 145.1 kg (320 lbs) ... So your loss of 52.2 kg (115 pounds) is wonderful.

In my case, my (nearly) seven months (12th Oct 2017 to 4th May 2018) has netted 44.3 kg (about 98 lbs) from 174.6 kg (about 385 lbs) to 130.3 kg (287 lbs).

I am currently recovering from five weeks of trickle losses. Three days ago my dietitian suggested I make a couple of changes to the timing of my eating. In a short period of about 70 hours, things seem to be getting better.

Best wishes for your continuing positive progress.

Coming up on 11 months post op. Down about 150 lbs. been struggling for months to actually lose weight. However body still changing.

Odd thing. I’m am loosing energy. Tired a lot. Md says all labs look good. Vitamins levels good. Any thoughts?

I am in my mid 30's and 6'-1".

September 2017 - 429 lbs

February 2018 - 365 lbs (Surgery date)

Currently 290 lbs.

The doctor asked me to do a pre-pre-op diet and wanted me to lose 10% (42 obs) of my weight prior the surgery. It's hard work, but a good life or crappy life.

Everything has been fine except for an increase occurrence of gout.

sent from a samsung s7 edge...

Two years ago today I had the surgery. I weighed in at the hospital at 389 pounds. I started the two week diet at 420 pounds so I lost 31 pounds on the two week diet. I now weigh 189 so I lost exactly 200 pounds. I had gotten into the 160's. My doctor actually told me to gain weight. Been sitting in the upper 180's or lower 190's for a while now.

2 hours ago, sgc said:

I lost exactly 200 pounds.

Power to you.

I am 48 weeks since meeting my surgeon at 174.6 kg. In the weeks before surgery, I dropped about 15 kg (33 pounds).

My surgery was 12th Oct 2017.

Thanks to my gastric sleeve, my 1200-1400 calories per day, my 77 hours per month swimming and my 30 hours per month in the gym, I am easily going to realise 52 kg (114.5 pounds) off in 52 weeks since meeting the surgeon to discuss a gastric sleeve.

- - -

I hope you are reaping the benefits of improved lifestyle and comfortable clothes!

For the first time since about middle school (~20 years), I'm NOT obese!

1st pic - May 30th, 2017; 406lbs

2nd pic - June 22nd, 2018; 235.7lbs

I was 6’7” and 489 lbs when I had surgery on May 10, 2018.

Currently I am 416 at a little over a month out.

I’ve had zero complications. I have followed the program to a “T” because I figured this was my last shot to live a long life. If this doesn’t work I will die a young man.

So I eat about 1000-1200 calories a day. The main focus is 120g of protein or more.

I wake up at 5 am every morning instead of 6:30 so I can workout. I do that five times a week.

I walk 4.5 miles a day (started at half a mile three days after surgery and have progressively increased it.)

I take the stairs at work (I’m on the 5th floor). Originally I started taking the elevator to the 4th floor and taking one flight and now I do them all.

Little changes that have made a huge difference. I feel better than I have felt in over a decade. I have a long way to go but man, you’ll never regret this surgery if you have it. But it is like anything else. You’ll get out what you put in. Start small and go big on the exercise and watch your diet very carefully.

9 hours ago, jasehoward said:

Little changes that have made a huge difference.

So true.

I started with minimal (safe) exercise after surgery (on Oct 12th 2017). By the end of November, my daily swim had progressed from ten laps of a 25m heated indoor pool to swimming 125 minutes and chest-deep wading about 45 to 75 minutes (dependent on time available, work, etc.)

I also do gym for 90 minutes three days per week (after starting out with just three or four stations for a total of 15 minutes).

Little things: I park the car on the far side of the supermarket car-park so that I get an extra slab of incidental walking. I park at least one block from the cafe/diner (unless it's raining).

I try to eat under 1000 calories on at least four days per week (but I don't stress if the exercise makes me hungrier). I still try to eat 45% to 65% of my calories in protein rich foods.

Hello all
I'm new here I'm 53 years old and 315lbs Hispanic from San Antonio I'm having the sleeve done I will get my date on Monday

I officially hit my goal weight last week. 225. Never thought I could get here 18 months ago!

13 hours ago, BlueCrush said:

I officially hit my goal weight last week. 225. Never thought I could get here 18 months ago!

That is awesome!!!!!!!!!! Congrats to you sir!!!!!! In less than a year at that. It must feel amazing to be there, both physically and emotionally. I can't wait for the day I can say the same. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!

13 hours ago, BlueCrush said:

I officially hit my goal weight last week. 225. Never thought I could get here 18 months ago!

Congratulations, BlueCrush! That is terrific news and a great achievement!

On 8/16/2018 at 10:31 PM, BlueCrush said:

I officially hit my goal weight last week. 225. Never thought I could get here 18 months ago!

Congrats!!