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.

Just thought i would put in a quick update her haven't really been back since i posted the first time. Back in Jan. I started this process at 525 on surgery day on March 22 i was 461. Now 3 months out i am now down to 382 with a goal of reaching 375 by my birthday which is this coming weekend. This is awesome i can believe how much better i feel now and only get better everyday. I am at the gym 5 days a week working out and at the pool 6-7 days a week swimming laps. Hate to admit it but the gym and working out are becoming addicting never thought i would say that in my life...lol

Awesome job, I wish the nearest gym wasn't 30 mins away. I do go to pool everyday but Monday(closed). We are both on same time tables almost. Back in Jan I was 440, surgery 23 March was 399.8 today 337.4.

Hi guys

I just joined recently

I'm 47yrs young and was at 473lbs two weeks out from the sleeve operation. Day of surgery I was 457. Today is my two weeks from the procedure and I am 429lbs. I'm feeling very very good and can't tell you how emotionally and mentally I feel more energized than I can remember. There def was some pain in terms of trying to get comfortable in bed but it's mostly gone. I learned today from my doc that my biggest sin is not drinking enough Water, have to hydrate better, especially in this east coast heat.

In two weeks he said I can go to a gym, I'm looking forward to it !

Stay positive men

Apologies for my absence lately. Many changes at work, and my wife and I were in the process of buying a house.

My weight has been pretty stable over the last month. I'm actively working on my diet and increasing exercise again. Just had a second of three nutrition classes last week, which was a good reminder to get it in gear. Still shooting for a Sept. or Oct. surgery.

Had the surgery this past Wednesday. My goal was to be 380 by surgery and I was 380 on the nose on my home scale (389 on the hospital scale) I was up to 383 after surgery but got a nice little drop today to 377. Hopefully the downward slide starts now.

im still around here too fellas! started at 472lbs and weight 249 currently. lost all my weight in about 11 months. keep on working hard fellas! the way I feel now is priceless!

I had the sleeve back in February started at 437 and I'm now down to 294.

I started at 419 back in October 2015 when I started this journey. Had RNY surgery on Monday 6/27 and weighed in at 388. Long, long, way to go. But I'm feeling good.

Amazing progress, guys! I am still losing albeit slowly, started at 422 but had been as high as 450 two months before the surgery, right at about 285 now. Not sure where this will end up, I expect to be at my goal of 260 by my two years post-gastric bypass date in April 2017. It is slow but sure now, and in reality the very rapid weight loss was rather debiliating for me, I prefer this slow and steady and getting all of my food and exercise habits cleaned up and habitual. Not complaining, the fast weight loss was part of the plan and the surgery, but that period lasted 6-7 months for me, then slowed.

I do know all of my co-morbidities are virtually gone, my blood fats perfect, diabetes 95% better, blood pressure actually low, edema gone, still have sleep apnea but it is likely genetic in my case, and movement is so easy now.

Still dealing with body image -- in my head, still a big fat guy. At times, I need to pick something up off the floor and reach for a grabber, even though now, all I have to do is bend over and pick it up, no problem. I can weed the garden just by bending over and pulling the weed...but in my head, my first response is that I can't. I saw myself in a reflection on the front porch glass, and did a double take, yes, that is me now.....but everyone says that we gradually get our brains turned around to match the new reality of fat no more. I am almost 6'4" with a huge frame, size 8 1/4 head and size 18EW feet, and am always going to be a very huge guy, but no seat belt extension on planes, no problem with mid size SUV, no problems with booths at restaurants, and I even get in and out of the bath tub without trouble.... I do like this new guy.

Update - down 80 lbs. since beginning pre-opt diet April 11th . This weekend I'm donating my 5x pants and putting on the 4x!!

@@DavidBC, I too started in 5 x. My one year "surgiversary" is coming up later this month. I have gotten rid of 4, count 'em 4 of the X's in my clothes. Now an xl. Looking forward to just being an "L". I haven't been an L since college! I have lost 238 lbs so far and am really eyeing my goal. I am beginning to think my goal weight will be a post plastics weight. I will discuss this with my surgeon at the one year follow up. Great job on your loss, both the pounds and the "X"!

That's amazing @@DavidOso! If I can get anywhere close to losing 238 lbs in a year I'll be thrilled!

@@DavidBC, I too started in 5 x. My one year "surgiversary" is coming up later this month. I have gotten rid of 4, count 'em 4 of the X's in my clothes. Now an xl. Looking forward to just being an "L". I haven't been an L since college! I have lost 238 lbs so far and am really eyeing my goal. I am beginning to think my goal weight will be a post plastics weight. I will discuss this with my surgeon at the one year follow up. Great job on your loss, both the pounds and the "X"!

David, that is incredible progress and you have alot to be proud of. I just had my 5 month follow-up with my surgeon on Tuesday and I've lost 124 lbs. I've been losing around 15-20 lbs a month for the past three months. Since you are now almost a year out, i'm interested in knowing if your weight loss has slowed down over the past 6 months or has it stayed steady for the past year.

i appreciate your updates and best of luck with continued success.

@@aggietop, I was losing 22-25 lbs a month up to month eight. Then I stalled, only losing 12. Month nine, SUPPER STALL, only losing 5. Since then I have been losing about 15 per month. This month is hard to tell, a 10 day vacation and a hernia repair (10 years old, thin enough to fix now) have really skewed my intake and ability to exercise. So far this month is a wash, no gain, but also no loss. I should be back to normal food regimen next week. Also hoping to be cleared to go back to aerobics next week, just without kicks and deep squats. Weights are out for 6 weeks, but everything else should be back to normal. Fingers crossed!

Walked into surgery 433.4 Weds morning. Just got home so I'll see where I go from here.

I WAS 472LBS WHEN I HAD MY SLEEVE ON APRIL 23RD 2015. TODAY I WEIGH 243 AND MUSCULAR. I LOVE MY NEW GYM LIFE! BEST DECISION I EVER MADE WAS HAVING THE SLEEVE!

So what did you do be muscular as well.