New guy here, just found the website this week and I've been reading many threads. I contacted a gastric doctor two months ago and found out about two weeks ago that my insurance will cover 100% after a six month doctor supervised nutrition program. My first visit with the doctor is on April 6th to learn more. I've looked at many, many post op menu's and that scares me. I like to eat! and just recently fell in love with cooking on a Big Green Egg, so I'm still a little on the fence with all of this about not being able to enjoy life after, plus I like a glass of wine (or two) at night to unwind. My wife is not really on board with it as well, and has the typical skinny person thought - just eat less and exercise more. My primary doctor put it bluntly when I asked his opinion about weight loss surgery with a response of "nothing has worked for you in 47 years has it?" I've tried many weight loss programs and two things worked for me, Metabolic and a weight loss competition at the Gym. I lost 42 pounds with MRC and 26 with the gym both getting down to about 230-240, now at 315 later. The gym was hard aerobic exercise twice a day and weight training for an hour - I wish I had time to keep that schedule up - and I did lose fat and gain muscle but really felt let down after four months that my waist only went down three inches (currently squeezing into size 44 jeans) and could barely get into a 40.

My neighbor had gastric by pass about ten years ago has gone from 330 to about 160, and is the only person I've know to have the surgery, and I would be ecstatic to be back to 160-180, as would my wife. Does everyone have lose skin post surgery? Do some have skin shrinkage or is skin surgery years down the road happen to everyone?

My main motivation is to hopefully ensure that I live long enough to see my kids grow up. The thought of not being a part of my eight year old daughter's wedding (when ever that would be) really scares me.

Anyways, just checking in to say hi and go back to reading. I'm sure I will have more questions soon!

-Steve in Florida.

Hello and welcome!

I too was afraid to do the surgery because I love to eat as well. Also like you, I'm a big Kamado fan! But at weighing in over 320 pounds and high blood pressure I decided I had played Russian Roulette with my health long enough.

I started the program in January 2017 and had my surgery October 10th 2017. The first 6 to 8 weeks after surgery were the toughest. Not because I was hungry, but I was just tired of shakes and soups. I really never even thought of food, I just ate because I had too. A few months after surgery , you will be able to use your Big Green Egg again. You can even have a glass of wine. I am a huge beer fan. I live in a state that is huge in brewery's. I will say I miss beer, but I love feeling better, stronger and yes, thinner. I do notice my skin is more loose, but you know, If I need to have surgery at some point, I can cross that bridge when the time I see right.

Please feel free to ask any questions or voice your concerns.

Di

Hey, Steve. I weighed 397 pounds when I started this journey. I lost 100 pounds during the six month insurance required pre-op diet program, and got to a 180 pound goal at 1 year and 4 Days post-op. I have been maintaining at 170-173 for months.

It is the best thing that you can do for yourself IF you are willing to put in the work. I could care less about food now. I eat to live and that’s it. I find pleasure in so many other things. (Wine being one of them, so don’t worry about that...)

Best wishes moving forward. Surgery can change your life if you want it enough.

Thanks for the encouraging replies!

Welcome aboard! Use the 6 months supervised program to examine your relationship with food. This is major surgery and permanent - but that's what you want - a real solution that helps KEEP the weight off.

Follow the plan and you will be fine. Check the surgical options - I chose the VSG and am very happy with it. I am not craving food, I enjoy what I eat but no longer controlled by it. Take your wife to an info mtg so she can here about the metabolic differences obesity causes in our bodies and how the surgery gives us a better chance at success.

Welcome and good luck.

I did this for my family, to BE THERE until I'm 80 or 90! Genetics are against me, so although this may seem extreme, it was a chance I was willing to take. I'm only 3 weeks post-op, but I will say that surgery changed how I think about food. I see my son's birthday cake on the counter and I KNOW it would feel like a punch in the stomach if I ate it! Lol! Sounds brutal, but it works to avoid things that are not on the menu! Good luck in your choice!!

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If you feel it's right for you, do it. It's the best decision I've made for myself. Honestly, this decision was the first time I put myself first in years. When I was second guessing having the surgery the psychologist leading the weight loss support group that I attended asked me why do I think out of all the times I've tried to lose weight on my own before and failed this time would be different? It was said in a nice way, but it was a verbal slap upside the head that I needed to get me to realize I really needed to take a step like this to get healthy. I wouldn't change this decision for anything. It has changed my life for the better.

VSG 10/11/17 HW= 360 SW= 292 CW= 224.2 GW= 220 (6'5") [emoji256]

I'm glad you are going to do this. I'm going to have my surgery because I have,lived long enough with a tired body. I'm 72 and,can see not making it until,75, let alone the 88 I aspire to. I want to live in a stronger healthier body. If I get my cute back, well goody for my side. But i don't,want,to,live fat, with joints that hurt, no endurance and chronically puffing and wheezing through what time I have,left,on earth. I find the thought of surgery less frightening then the existance I have now.

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