Two and a Half Man

Thankyou Kateh and J for your words of encouragement. It really does help. I am usually quite confident regarding my thoughts but am surprised how i am a little out of my depth at the moment. lol. Im usually the one who is handing out advice to friends and family and offering support. I guess im guilty of being that stubborn proud male that refuses to ask for help haha.

So it is nice to hear from those who have gone through this procedure. Helps me put my thoughts in perspective when my emotions are running havoc. You have both done so well. Am so impressed. So well done. I cant wait to be standing in the same position you are both in sometime next year. Please keep me posted on how you are both going. I am really interested. Your journeys and everyone elses on here are inspirational.

Cheers

Welcome Shane glad for another bloke & I think its wrong, more like everytime a bloke joins 5 girls join LOL. Listen to j & rocking guy they are both at different stages & both are doing awesome. I suppose from a boys point of view its different so great to hear from the men on this site!!

For me, even though Im a "smaller loser' as some ppl like to point out!! :( Reflux is something I had never heard of before but now I am on constant meds, cant eat raw tomatoes or onion & deep fried food, so really in the big sceme of things its all worth it! God I love my sleeve!! Good luck & welocme. K x

Relax mate.. I was bigger than you by 20kg :)

It'll all come good, trust me.

Hi Jessied, BigRockinguy and Ginka.

Thank you for your replies. I really appreciate it. As i said i am being continually told by others these myths and it is more reassuring to hear it from people who have had the surgery than from those who haven't.

I am glad i found this site. I have been reading through and am learning alot of things. I am yet to find anyone that is entirely unhappy with having their sleeve. Im sure there may be someone out there who is unhappy but it's great to hear such positive responses to the surgery.

I am certainly excited and am under no illusions that this is still going to be tough. But it has to be easier than carting around 210kgs daily. Certainly wont miss the negative comments strangers insist on telling you.

Well Bigrockinguy im glad i have added another number to the male group mate. lol.

Im sure i will continue to ask questions in the future pre/post surgery. It's great to know there are people here who can help.

Thanks again.

Hi Shane - Welcome to GSS!

I had to add my perspective to your questions too:

Myth 1 - Will i require to be on vitamin supplements for the rest of my life after surgery? It is recommended for the first year, but once you increased your portion size after a year, you should be obtaining enough vitamins/minerals from your diet if you are eating healthily. Unlike a Bypass, with the Sleeve there is no nutrient loss through malnutrition.

Myth 2 - Reflux will be worse after sleeve surgery? There is a higher rate of reflux post surgery, some people get better, some don't. Not sure of the stats but your doc should be able to provide this.

Myth 3 - Although we are told we can eat anything (within moderation) There are many foods and drinks you will never be able to eat again? We are all different, but I still eat EVERYTHING!

Myth 4 - It is hard to maintain and build muscle due to reduction in protein absorption? There should be no loss of nutrients with the sleeve, however due to decreased portions we all up our Protein content initially, as others have indicated by using protein shakes. As a male, if you are doing any weight training as part of your exercise program, you will probably be wanting to add protein shakes to your diet anyways - with or without sleeve. I prefer to eat more protein in my diet and reduce my carb intake.

Best wishes for this journey!

Hey Shane

Welcome to another bloke,there a few here and some newbies to,so our numbers are improving bar slightly.Every time a guy joins seems to be 2 females,lol.

Yes i still take vitamins as Jessied said,i guess for some time to come as your food intake is low so you need to up the energy.I forget at times and feel lethargic,but hey with weight loss you feel more alive anyways.

I was and still at times a med called "pariot",just to help in healing and indigestion

There are some foods i can tolerate and some i cant.Some foods i used to love and now cant stand and visa versa.My pallet is changing all the time,but all for the good.I do miss alot of foods but i sure dont crave them any more

Loose skin will depend on how quick you loose it,and as you said you kept active even being a big bloke,should be of some advantage,as i was at times.I am 8 months out from surgery and have lost 57kgs.I now do 25-30 situps each morning before work,maybe 5 minutes in the gym at work when i first get in,again at lunch and after work.I then try to hot a gym 3 times a week as well,a bit of cardio and weight work(but doctors approval first).But i now do alot of walking and love it.

Hi Shane
Congratulations on your decision to be sleeved. You have a great date! I was sleeved on the 15 dec 2011. I am very happy with the results and am below my goal weight and most importantly I am maintaining my current weight with little effort.

Keep in mind that everyone is different in the way their body copes and adjusts to the sleeve.

Myth 1:
Yes, vitamin supplements are required post sleeve. If I don't take vitamins my energy levels drop and I don't feel great.

Myth 2:
Some people suffer from reflux to some extent but medication usually controls it.

Myth 3:
Some foods I can't tolerate now but it is improving. Eg: could only eat fish or chicken up until the last month. Still can't eat bread but can eat very small amounts of rice and pasta.

Myth 4:
It is essential to make sure you take in the required amount of protein. This can be helped by using a protein powder added to drinks or soups etc.

The issue with the loose skin can be dealt with at a later date with plastic surgery.

You may like to go to the diary section and read the diary of J who has lost over 100kg and being a bloke may have dealt with many of the issues you are thinking about.

Keep researching here and posting. There are a lot people of people on here who are very willing to Pass on their knowledge and exPeriences.

Best of luck to you.
Regards
Jessied

Hi Fellow Guy Sleevers,

Am new here so Hi :)

Wow this site has so much information. My head is kind of spinning at the moment. Am trying to read through the multiple posts, to satisfy my thirst for answers. Its been great reading some of the posts but it also has hit me that i have really been bad to myself. Weighing in at the moment at 211kg's i have found there are not too many guys on here bigger than me. Kind of dents my confidence a little.lol.

My Date with destiny and Dr.Anthony Clough is December 13th, 2012.

Im excited but apprehensive. I want this nightmare to end. The one thing being fat/morbidly obese has taught me is how incredibly mean society and people can be. Its a disgrace what people say. Thank God im not like that. I carry my large frame alot better than some and work as hard as anyone. So who are they to judge me.

Anyhow i definately scared of the loose skin down the track. My bad luck i guess. You do the crime you do the time. That can be fixed. But i am having difficulty crunching through all the myths. So many people have their opinion on this issue.

Myth 1 - Will i require to be on vitamin supplements for the rest of my life after surgery?

Myth 2 - Reflux will be worse after sleeve surgery?

Myth 3 - Although we are told we can eat anything (within moderation) There are many foods and drinks you will never be able to eat again?

Myth 4 - It is hard to maintain and build muscle due to reduction in protein absorbtion?

These are just some of the myths i would like answers too. I know in the overall schemes of things they are minor worries. But i have and continually get told to expect situations like the myths and i want to know what im getting myself into. I also know they are better than the alternate outcomes if i dont have surgery.

Anyhow Hello to you all. I really do hope i have a chance to chat to you all on here at anytime. Find this journey a little lonely. Friends and family just dont understand. So i have adopted you all as my new online family. lol.

Well done to everyone that has undertaken the surgery and had great results. You are my inspiration. For all of you about to undertake the Journey like myself, Good luck and may our journey be a safe and happy one.

Cheers Guys and Gals

Regards
Shane