Need a space on the bench

Been a lurker for awhile enjoying all your posts and learning lots of valuable information - decided with tomorrow being the big day it was time to post , say Hello, and ask for a spot on the loser's bench. I am scheduled for RNY with Dr Alami in South San Francisco Kaiser on Monday.  My experience has been interesting journey into the reasons and the emotions involved in why we eat. Kaiser requires that you lose at least 10% of your weight before surgery - part of their prep work for changing your mental attitude about eating as well as providing a smaller liver and more space to work the instruments.  For the last 5 months I have been following their dietary program, eating 1000-1200 calories a day, exercising daily.  I have not only lost the required 10% but kept right on going and have now lost 75 pounds or 20% of my original weight while waiting to make it thru the program. After alot of discussion with my surgeon about cancelling and trying to lose the remaining weight on my own (which he seriously thought I had a good chance of doing based on my results in the 5 months preop) -  I decided to proceed with the RNY and improve my chances of not only losing the remaining weight but in keeping it off.   Let me say it created quite a mental dilemna for me - the risk reward ratio was not so clearly pointing to surgery as it was when I started this journey. Anyway just wanted to drop in and say Howdy   ---   Jeff

Welcome, Jeff!

You've lost 75 lbs preop? That's amazing! You're right, it is much easier to keep the weight off with WLS. Depending on your physical makeup and background, you could also see a lot of miracles. People regularly report physical activity that they haven't been able to do since youth (or even during youth!).

I started at 280 and for me it has been worth it. This morning, for example, I went out and ran 3  400 yard dashes, 5 100 yard dashes (full speed), came home and did four sets of deadlifts and eight sets of heavy dumbell pullovers. That would have killed me at any previous time in my life. Not sure why this is happening at 45, but it could only be due to the surgery or due to a more balanced metabolism as a result of surgery.

Anyway, nice to meet you and have a great journey!

Dave

Welcome Jeff!  Be sending healing thoughts your way tomorrow.  You sound like you really are prepared for this with the success you had losing weight.  For me the key was also deciding to dramatically improve my chances at keeping the weight off.  Good luck and keep us posted! Bobby

Hey Jeff, Best of luck tomorrow.  It's a great ride you're in for, and your pre-op successes will just keep right on going post-op.   Keep posting with all your questions and reading the posts to help in the days and weeks to come.  I'm almost 9 weeks post-op and things couldn't be better - and, the info on the board has helped me immensely. Have a VERY uneventful surgery tomorrow, and let us all know when you're back home.... Chuck

Welcome Jeff to the locker room.  You place on the bench has been secured for you. My prayers go out to you for a very uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery.  You are on your way now to a whole new life. Dan

Welcome to the men's forum.  You will do great with your surgery.  Keep us all posted. Kent

wow, 75 lbs so far...the discipline you are doing now, will help you to stay on track after WLS... looking forward to seeing less of you on the looser's bench nice to meet you Jeff staying focussed, al

Hey Jeff, plenty of room on the bench for you.  Welcome.  Great thing about this bench is every week there is always room for more because collectively we are losing a person a week.  Welcome!!!

All the best,

Greg

 

Hello Jeff, Welcome aboard! It looks like you're already well on your way. I think you're wise to go on and have the surgery. I cancelled my first scheduled surgery confident that I could maintain a significant weight loss without it. Three years later I was as fat as ever and went ahead an had RNY. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself healthwise. Whatever your ultimate decision, we've got your spot here on the bench. Sit down and stay a spell.