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I've decided enough is enough.

Diamond72

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anyone ever have a exercise stress test before?
I went through cardio therapy and they test you before and after that. Usually that is post opt because they want to get you up and going after surgery. Of course diet is a big part of all of that.
 
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Neostarwcc

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I went through cardio therapy and they test you before and after that. Usually that is post opt because they want to get you up and going after surgery. Of course diet is a big part of all of that.

Oh. They were talking about doing the test on the 28th. They said that my insurance refused to pay for the medicine test and want me to run on the treadmill because the medicine was too expensive for them. But the cardiologist said that if my heart doesn't get up to the level they want it to next Wednesday that the insurance will pay for the medicine they just want me to try the running test first.
 
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Diamond72

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Not much to the test. They just put you on a treadmill to see how fast and how long you can go. They do that for cardio therapy at the beginning and the end to see how much progress you have made.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Not much to the test. They just put you on a treadmill to see how fast and how long you can go. They do that for cardio therapy at the beginning and the end to see how much progress you have made.
OK.

I can't imagine I can go too fast. I weigh almost 440 pounds and have to use a cane to go everywhere i need to go short distances. I'm sure they're going to make me run without it but luckily there will be technicians to be there in case I fall.

My mom is in a lot better shape than me when she had to do her exercise test she described it as "she thought she was going to die" because she had to ran so hard and so fast. I don't think they'll be making me run quite that hard and fast it doesn't take much exercise to get my heart going. I'm not sure how fast they need my heart going but they probably need it going at least 150 beats a minute. Should be able to get that high with a minute of running on a treadmill. I can't see me being able to run any longer than 30 seconds to a minute I'm not in very good shape at all.

This is just to test if my heart is ok for surgery. Don't know why the cardiologist wants to do it, I've had surgery in the past and gotten through it find and he said my ekg that they did on me looked good. So, i don't know...
 
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Diamond72

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I'm sure they're going to make me run without
There are rails on the side of the tread mill to hold onto. They can not push you too hard because the last thing they want if for someone to go down. A lot of people get hurt that way.

I weighed 400 pounds at one time. I went on a diet and lose 160 of it. What I did was I only ate for one hour a day, when my wife came home for work. So I did not eat for 23 hours a day. Now I am on a diet where the doctor only wants me to eat soup and they would prefer vegetable soup. Which is fine with me. I get freeze dried soups that I cook in a rice cooker and they have a long shelf life.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Oh ok! It's been a while since I ran on a treadmill I haven't used a treadmill regulaely in over 20 years I used to work in a gym. If something does happen at least I'll be in a hospital and they can correct the problem immediately so I shouldn't be concerned.

When I get my surgery I'm going to be on a high meat/protein diet so I can definitely handle the diet. I love meat. In the very beginning they want me on a lot of protein shakes until my stomach can handle enough food and I can handle that too. I dont mind protein shakes they don't taste that bad and I've tried the zero to low sugar kinds before. So I'm not worried about the diet I'm worried about the rest of the preparations like they want me to learn to eat slowly and they want me to quit drinking diet soda for a year because my new stomach won't be able to handle the carbonation. I can drink diet soda after my stomach heals about a year afterwards but until then no diet soda.

So I'm a little worried about the preparation and I'd like another 6 months to prepare. I'd also like some time to get into shape. Get into walking and everything. I won't be able to walk when winter starts but I can walk indoors or I can buy a stair stepper or something.

My wife just got hired full time so we can start saving for one. They're about a couple grand for one that can hold 450 pounds but it'll give me something to exercise on when I have my surgery.
 
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Diamond72

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my new stomach won't be able to handle the carbonation.
Actually my body did that all by itself. I have a hiatus hernia, that occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm and into the chest. So I have to control my eating because of that.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Actually my body did that all by itself. I have a hiatus hernia, that occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm and into the chest. So I have to control my eating because of that.

Oh. Yeah that makes a lot of sense. My large stomach has given me a lot of problems but never given me anything where I HAD to control my diet like my surgery and your stomach problems do/will.

I guess it makes sense they're going to permanently take out 75-80% of my stomach and it's got to have time to heal so it's going to take a while before it can handle big foods again and carbonated drinks and whatnot. Who knows maybe I'll lose 50 pounds by spring and I won't need the surgery and I can just stick with the diet I have now. If I exercise enough that might become a reality I think most of my weight gain came from being completely inactive for 20+ years. So if I can get into shape maybe I can lose 100-150 pounds on my own without needing to permanently alter my body.
 
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Diamond72

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So if I can get into shape maybe I can lose 100-150 pounds on my own without needing to permanently alter my body.
Maybe you can find something that will work for you. It is a LOT easier when I was younger because I could fast and you are not hungry when you are fasting. But I can not do that now.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Maybe you can find something that will work for you. It is a LOT easier when I was younger because I could fast and you are not hungry when you are fasting. But I can not do that now.

I'm also too old to fast I can't do it anymore either. My wife tried fasting a few years ago and threw up like crazy the next day just not good. I can barely walk anymore either so i have to start from scratch. Going to take a while to build up my strength again. I do have exercises from my physical therapist that I can do though with proddings and reminders from someone. Can't be my wife because she never reminds me to do anything and that never progresses me anywhere but ilo figure it out.
 
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Diamond72

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I do have exercises from my physical therapist that I can do though with proddings and reminders from someone.
You can always program Alexa to remind you. It is interesting the different things people do to exercise. I knew a women in a wheel chair that used a soup can to lift for exercise. In prison they let them have a plastic gallon of water for weight lifting because they can not hurt people much with that.

At least we can think about when we were younger. I use to love to ski, esp the moguls. If I fell I could push myself back up and keep going without having to stop. NOW it is a very serious if I were to fall. I had to call 911 to get me up of the floor once. On a good day I can get around but on other days it is a risk.
 
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LoriSaysHey2U

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Oh my goodness. You poor dear. I feel for you having to deal with this at such a young age. You are right to fear the surgery. Surgeries can be dangerous, but they have also saved many lives. I know, my 22-year-old son almost died from breaking his neck surfing in 1999. But, there was a surgeon available at the hospital when my son arrived, who taught other surgeons how to perform the operation he did on my son to save his life. They told us that someone with his level of injury would have a lifespan of about 10 years. It's been 25 years as a quadrapletic and he is still very healthy, praising the Lord often, and has become an inspiration to many who have come to know the Lord because of his testamony. My prayer for you dear: "Dear Lord, I pray that You will help this young person find a way to restore their health, whether it be through surgery or some other means. Please send this person the right people to help through this and provide comfort in knowing that no matter what happens, You are there and let them know how much you truly love her/him. Please provide comfort and strength as he/she faces this major change in her/his life. In Jesus' precious name. Amen" I will definately continue to pray for you. Please provide updates. God Bless.com. Sorry, wasn't sure from your user name if you are male or femaie.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Oh my I'm sorry about your son. My mom went through a similar thing a few years ago too with me. I had a dvt in my right leg that went to both of my lungs and my heart. I needed open heart surgery to remove the clot in my heart or I was going to die because it was traveling through a hole in my heart from the right side to the left. If it got to the left side of my heart doctors were afraid that it would go to my brain and cause a stroke and more than likely death. So I was rushed to the Dartmouth hospital in New Hampshire for emergency open heart surgery.

When they put me under they went looking for the clot and couldn't find it, it turns out God had completely healed the blood clot and left my other clots there. I'm actually a medical mystery at Dartmouth hospital as to what happened to me because doctors were left speechless that a blood clot the size of a baseball just completely vanished overnight. They still to this day have no idea what happened to me because they refuse to accept the God healed him answer and are looking for a scientific explanation.


It's a good story that I cheated death in that way but yeah. While it was all going on my wife and my family didn't know if i was going to live or die. At 36 years old. It was a very scary 24 hour situation I'll tell you that much. Thanks for praying for me. I've actually been keeping everybody updated in this topic if you don't mind reading a little. I'm supposed to be getting the surgery in September but I'm thinking of postponing it until the Springtime to get extra time to exercise and whatnot. September just seems way too soon. I have an appointment next week actually and I'm going to tell them that I want to postpone the surgery because I'm not even remotely ready. They still have to do a stress test on me to make sure my heart is good for surgery anyway. It almost got an open heart surgery done on it so it should be lol.
 
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Diamond72

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When they put me under they went looking for the clot and couldn't find it, it turns out God had completely healed the blood clot and left my other clots there.
I had something similar. I was in vtech and they went into my heart to do an abrasion and found a blood clot. So they increased my blood thinner and the ultrasound showed that it worked. Even though I was very sick I did get better. They do not really open the heart. They go in through the groin. At least my doctor does.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Yeah they checked me with a machine I should have clarified that. They didn't cut open my heart to find it missing. I was under the same impression though when they first told me they couldn't find the clot and said "so they cut me open for nothing?" And they said "oh no! They checked you with a machine to check the clot before cutting you open." Dartmouth hospital is world famous because it's lead by an ivy league school and it's a hospital that has literally everything so that's why I mentioned the name of the hospital I was treated at because its a world famous hospital.

That's how they tried to explain what happened though is they tried to say that it somehow miraculously dissolved overnight. It's the only way they could scientifically try to explain what happened. But it was a very large blood clot and they thought that it was highly unlikely that this could happen since my other blood clots which were not nearly as big were all still present at the time. Really in my opinion there's only a divine intervention explanation but I'll let them try to find a scientific explanation for it.
 
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Neostarwcc

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So I just got home from the stress test and everything. I've let them know that I want to postpone the surgery until Springtime they said that was fine and they said I probably wasn't ready for surgery anyway. My surgeon and nurse are going to meet September 9th to discuss how they're going to do the surgery and everything since my bmi is so high and they want to make sure they have all the kinks ironed out. So their goal of September was kind of short anyway they were now shooting for winter and my mom doesn't want to drive in the snow and everything and I want my mom to be there surgery day. So anyway I follow up with them again in 4 weeks. They want to see me once a month still for insurance purposes and to check up on how I'm doing.

As for the stress test it went fine. I did better than they thought I would do but they don't know if they got enough data for the cardiologist so they're going to send the results for him to go over and if they need to do another stress test with the medicine where they increase my heart rate with medicine and I just lay back in a bed than they will see how that's going. Hopefully they can do it in 4 weeks when I'm already in saranac lake for my bariatric appointment.
 
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Neostarwcc

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So I saw my GP yesterday and have an appointment with bariatrics tomorrow. I was going to wait until tomorrow to update you all but I decided to post two updates. Basically, my GP yesterday did not give me good news. I have a personal problem which I'd rather not discuss or divulge online for the world to see but basically its being caused by my antipsychotics AND my weight. And my GP doesn't recommend waiting until spring to have the surgery because this problem could straight up kill me. He also said my weight itself could possibly kill me by Spring and this surgery is only 1-2 days in the hospital so I might as well get it over with asap because the benefits outweigh the risks.

So tomorrow I have to tell bariatrics that because of news that I received from my doctor that I would like to get the surgery done as soon as possible. It might be November it might be the winter time, I don't know. I have to bring it up. I'm just really scared right now and I probably wasn't going to be mentally ready for the surgery come spring anyway so why put it off? I mean... I don't know. I'm just scared to death and I don't want to die. Maybe I should have made a new topic instead of updating this one but, this one already is talking about my surgery so... why not?
 
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bèlla

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The most important thing you should be focused on is creating a new food paradigm. Which begins with eating food that's nourishing and beneficial for your body. A smaller stomach doesn't alter your relationship with food or increase your knowledge. Lack of mobility wasn't the lone contributor. But what you ate while being immobile was more harmful and that's what has to change.

Diet soda is awful and aspartame causes problems. Sparkling water is a better substitute. Be mindful of white sugar. It fattens rats and humans. You need the organic version.

The pouch can stretch and will naturally. But if you overeat the stomach will accommodate as it does without modification. Weight loss is mental. The surgery is a tool to combat your urge to eat. But you'll still have to develop portion control, a better diet and some form of movement.

Relying on restriction for self-control will hasten your progress. You must confront the consequences and determine continuance is unacceptable and learn to say no. The stomach responds to habits. If you feed it a certain amount it demands the same. When you eat less it complains initially and falls in line afterward.

Fitness wise you'll lose more with a bike in the long run than a treadmill. You can start with one at home until you build up your strength and can go outdoors. Research the term clydesdale. It's for larger riders and there's a lot of information available. You may want to start a thread in the health forum. The people who post there are pretty knowledgeable and supportive. Some use it for accountability.

Good luck with the procedure and remain in prayer throughout.

~bella
 
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Neostarwcc

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I can't have soda for a year after my surgery anyway because of the carbonation so that's not a problem. I probably would get used to not drinking diet soda anyway. I've been told most of what you told me already and they're adding it to my care plan after my surgery.

For the first few months post surgery I'm going to be pretty much on an all protein shakes diet. So for the first few months I'm not worried about overeating especially when I'm going to be eating nothing but protein shakes. Once I introduce solid food is when the problems are going to start. I'm really concerned about eating my food slowly and not drinking with my meals. I'm not concerned about the mostly meat diet that they're going to be sticking me on for the rest of my life. But I am concerned about those two things I mentioned extremely. And this mindful eating crap they've been trying to force down my throat. I've been trying to bullcrap my way through that one because I not only don't understand it but I don't care about it. It's going to be enough of a challenge to eat my food slowly and not drink after meals than to try to learn about this mindfulness bullcrap.
 
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bèlla

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I'm not concerned about the mostly meat diet that they're going to be sticking me on for the rest of my life. But I am concerned about those two things I mentioned extremely.

It's a new behavior and adjustment will take time. They want you to get full on food not beverages and the liquids push it through your stomach. Staying hydrated will help you get used to the shift and decrease your thirst. As for chewing slowly, better ingredients heighten your satiation and you're less likely to wolf it down.

You'll savor a steak and be more likely to gorge on fast food for example.

And this mindful eating crap they've been trying to force down my throat. I've been trying to bullcrap my way through that one because I not only don't understand it but I don't care about it.

It's a polite way of referencing the 'skinny brain' which differs in its approach to health than someone overweight. They can't tell you the truth because it's offensive or could be hurtful to the patient and derail their progress. I speak like that when I post updates. But I'm talking about myself and refuse to be politically correct.

Skinny brain is the antithesis of fat. It doesn't agree, embrace or excuse its presence. It wants good health, the appropriate weight for your height and a pleasant appearance. It doesn't support philosophies that contradict its betterment. It won't say it's okay to gain 20 pounds. You have a standard and it holds you to it through your choices and restraint. It's the control you lack that allows you to go too far.

That's how most people maintain their weight. There's an internal breaking point they won't trespass. What inspires it differs for each. It could be reversing disease, better nutrition or mobility, doing activities they couldn't before, feeling more physically attractive, obtaining a partner or increasing their options, etc.

I'm aesthetically driven because of my interests and work. The idea of looking a certain way is my motivation. I want to be healthy too and have a great diet. But beauty trips my switch. Being in an industry that esteems slimness works in my favor as do my dating habits. My companions have aesthetic preferences. I could never put on a lot of weight with them. They'd intervene and I like that.

Our standards complement and reinforces my philosophy, The content I watch does as well. The women I watch are thin, attractive and healthy. I found a lot of them through hashtags that prioritize self-care and wellness. There's nothing in my life corroborating the notion of physical excess. I believe the body is a temple and should be treated accordingly.

The same holds true for my friends. They're all in shape and prioritize their health. Women don't talk about this. You could put on 50 pounds and they'll remain quiet because they don't want to rock the boat. I'm not okay with that. If you're struggling your friends should be willing to address it lovingly. No matter what it is.

I think it's important to partner with the Lord. He knows the number and can get you there. He'll tell you what to eat, how to move, what to watch and help with your cravings.

You'll learn to play offense against yourself. If you struggle with portion control don't go to a buffet. If you binge on snacks don't buy them. Go to a bakery and get some cookies instead of buying Oreos.

Once the mindset is entrenched you'll reach the point where you can eat what you like because the boundaries are in place. If you have more than you should during special periods like the holidays you'll get back on track. Because it isn't a diet it's a way of life.

My approach works for me but isn't ideal for everyone. You have to gauge your triggers and weaknesses. That's how you beat this. It's all in your head. The more you want it the more control you'll have and your body will relinquish. It will serve you not the other way around.

~bella
 
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