It's started.

Hi, My stress factor just went up a notch today: I started my Optifast diet this morning. And why do they only have 2 flavors? This means only 3 more weeks to go before surgery (March 19th). I weighed myself: 308.6, that is the heaviest I have ever been in my life, so I guess I really made the right decision. I'm 50 years old (well, technically I will be next Sunday, March 4th) and measure 5'7"... What is a reasonable goal weight? I'll keep you posted on my progress, thanks for the support. Regards, Marcel Pre-op 308/308/?

Oh yeah, the beginning of a good year! Good luck on the bandwagon.

Dave

Thanks Dave, Right now it feels more like a rollercoaster than a bandwagon, but I know everything will be allright in the end. In a way I just wish I could fastforward one year, but then I'd miss out on all the FART moments. So one day at a time it is. Regards, Marcel

Marcel,  I picked up this tidbit of information along the way. Hope it helps. For Men: The ideal weight for a man who is exactly 5 feet tall is 106 pounds. For every additional inch above 5 feet, add 6 pounds. To determine whether you have a small, medium or large frame, measure your wrist. If your wrist measures exactly 7 inches, you have a medium frame and you do not need to adjust your ideal weight. If your wrist is smaller than 7 inches, you have a small frame and should subtract 10 percent from your ideal weight. If your wrist is larger than 7 inches, you have a large frame and should add 10 percent to your ideal weight. You're 5'7", so your ideal weight would be 148 for medium frame, or 162.8 if you are a large frame. Keep in mind that we don't live in an "ideal" world, talk to the doc about calculating a goal weight for you. 

Marcel, For 5’7”? 153lbs puts you in the “ Normal ” Weight Range for BMI. 159lbs puts you “just in” the “Overweight” Range for BMI. Check out- http://obesityhelp.com/content/aboutobese.html#bmi The Body Mass Index is a fairly blunt tool that doesn’t account for extra muscle, But it’s a start…. Hang in there for these 3 weeks! Best Wishes- Dx

 

Marcel You are in the process of a life changing event in your life.  My prayers are with you for a very uneventful surgery on the 19th of March and a quick recovery.  I started my journey on Nov 8th 2005 and as of yesterday I have dropped 200 lbs off my starting weight of 450.  By the way I will be 64 years old on March 29th. Looking for a bunch of FARTS coming from your direction soon. Dan

Marcel, Glad to hear you have started the pre-op diet. Believe it or not, this will probably be the hardest part of the process! Stick to the diet as best you can. Walk as much as you can. The better shape you are in going in, the better your odds for a complication free surgery and speedy recovery. Hang in there! JP

Congratulations on starting the process to change your life.   When you look back on this 6 months from now, you will be very pleased. I hope that you have an uneventful surgery.

Hey Marcel,

Good for you! You're starting your great journey 10 years sooner and about 40lbs lighter than I did. I too am 5'7"--but I look taller. To myself.

I have no advice on choosing an "ideal" weight, and I suspect that our choices are likely to be beside the point as our bodies, lifestyles, etc., call more of the shots than we'd like to believe. As for me, right now the 150s seem "tiny," but, then, I've spent 30+ years confusing bulk with strength and power. So what do I know?

And don't let the limited Optifast flavors get you down. Optifast was one of the many--many!--diets that "worked" for me. It worked in part because the sameness and high protein cut my appetite pretty fast, in about 3 days. So hang in there and hang on. Whether you call it a roller coaster or a ride, you're in for a great trip.

We're on your side.

 

Doug

Marcel, Welcome to the Men’s Board.  I’m glad to see another Canadian brother in the lock room. You and I are very similar (except I don’t speak French).  I started my journey just a year older than you and a few pounds heavier.  I was 51, 5’ 8” tall, and weighed 321 on my surgery day; not much difference. I can’t offer you any advice with the Optifast diet, as I never had to do it.  Lose all the weight you can before surgery to make it easier for your surgeon and safer for you.  A pound lost now is a pound you won’t have to lose in the future.  Tough it out with the Optifast as best you can, as your journey will be well worth it. As for a weight loss goal… that’s a good question?  When I asked my surgeon that his reply was, “That’s up to you, what do you want to lose?”  I hate it when someone answers a question with a question… but then, “Why not”?  I told him I wanted to get under 200 pounds, so he set that as my goal.  Right now I’m 211 pounds and I can see One-derland just a couple of months away.  Then I’ll set a new goal.  My suggestion to you is to not worry too much about a goal right now.  Just take it one pound at a time. These next three weeks will seem like they are going pretty slow, but believe me when you are on the other side and look back they will be nothing but a blink of the eye.  Good luck on your journey and keep us posted.