Soon to be a two-VSG household!

Tracy, you are such an inspiration to all of us that I am absolutely POSITIVE you will be a fantastic mentor to your husband. My hubby started his journey a year ago after his Hashi's diagnosis and I will say that it has been a lot easier to manage with both of us on the wagon.

Best of luck to you both.

Laurie

That's such a sweet thing to say, Laurie - thank you!   I remembered as I was typing this that you said your husband started following your lead once he got his diagnosis.   He hasn't had surgery though, right?  

It's always been easier to diet/exercise/eat right when we've both been on the same track at the same time.  But historically, either he's being super disciplined or I'm being super disciplined...just never at the same time :-)   This will force us both onto the same track.  

His diagnosis was in January of last year and so he actually kicked us off. I was still in appeals hell until last May. I was in the unfortunate situation of needing to not lose any weight while I waded through the appeal because I was at 38.5 on submission and needed to be at 40. So, the shoe was on the other foot for some time. Instead of me dieting and him eating whatever he wanted, it was reversed. Things got MUCH easier when I had to hit preop diet/no longer had to worry about not losing. As I posted in an earlier reply, I do think it'll be much easier for you to remain on the straight and narrow now :)

We are not a VSG household yet, but we are on our way.  My surgery is Tuesday and my hubby is in the final stages of pre-approval.  I have been back and forth for about 3 years about the surgery and he is pretty laid back.  He decided to go for it after my approvoal and think it's mostly because we both want to be healthier - for our relationship, for our kids, for everything.  I can't wait to see how our lives change over the next year and I am so happy to see other couples changing together!

Chelle - that's so great that you'll be doing it together!   And you're right, you owe it to your relationship and your kids to get healthy.  A whole new world is going to open up for you guys :-)  

Best of luck on your surgery -- we'll be waiting for you on the loser's bench 

I'm in a two sleeve household too.  We had our surgeries 5 weeks apart.  At first it was hard because I had to watch my husband eat regular food for my first 3 weeks post-op.  After he had his surgery, it was hard because I kept wanting to tell him how to do everything,  but his experience was totally different than mine.  Once both of us were on full foods, the eating part got easier.  I think what has really helped is that we go to therapy together every week, and this has helped us avoid insecurity issues.  Doing this together has really fortified what was already a strong marriage, and has brought us closer together.   

I hope your hubby has the same success as you, because you have kicked total ass!

Thanks, Lee!  I totally forgot that you and your hubby did this together.   The good thing is that Mike actually WANTS me to tell him how to do everything when it comes to post-op.  He wants to do it exactly like me - lol!   What he has going for him is that he's totally Mr. Black & White thinking.   He will do exactly what I suggest, he won't deviate from it, and will probably get to goal in 5 months.  

Oh those men and their fast weight loss 

Hi Tracy!  I'm a part of a VSG couple and we couldn't be happier!  My husband had surgery a month after I did - had more to lose - more health problems - I don't think he would have had the surgery if I hadn't gone first and done all the research.  Our doctor had been trying to get him to have WLS surgery for years as he is Type II diabetic - so when the doctor started talking to me about VSG - the light went off that this was the surgery for us.

I hear you about losing your "eating partner" - that was/is us.  We still eat!  We are discovering some new foods we now love - who knew we'd really like spaghetti squash and making zucchini noodles!  He's gotten a smoker and is loving cooking meat every weekend - great smoked turkey, making his own jerky, smoked chicken, and smoked salmon, etc.  I'm sure there's too much salt in his cooking (I don't eat as much of it as he does) but he's really losing weight fast and taking his food to work every day and freezing it in small portions so he can take it to work.  

What's frustrating is that he can lose so much faster than me - I've exercised the whole way and he's just started exercising.  He also doesn't have to watch his diet as closely as me and still lose.  But I can't believe that we're now riding bikes together again - never thought that would happen again. 

What's exciting is we are getting out and enjoying the world again - we had become home bodies except for going out to eat.  He's also has more energy to get off the couch and get some projects done around the house - he's actually cleaned out our "junk" room and gotten a weight machine for it - I'm so excited!  I never had any luck nagging him so I had just given up on some of this stuff - so it's really changed our lives!

What's good is when I'm ready to go blow it - he's really encouraging me to stick with it.  And it's hilarious (and gross) about how we now talk about our bathroom problems and the need for fiber- not too many people understand that.

A lady from work has called his cell a couple of times to discuss a personal problem with him- 130 lbs ago I wouldn't have questioned that call - but it does have me keeping an eye on the situation - probably nothing to worry about but am realistic.  So I understand concerns- we all have to work on our marriages whether we are fat or thin!  

I've had to keep my mouth shut about his diet = he can lose eating more calories and carbs.  I can't nag him about his diet or lack of exercise until lately - it's his journey even though we re doing this together - hope that makes sense.  

Good luck to you- I think you will like having a new VSG partner!

Wow!  So many parallels between you and your husband and me and my husband.  I definitely had to be the trailblazer on this one and I'm OK with that.  Mike has said that he's got it easy because I've done all the research and the hard work to figure out what works and doesn't work.  He says he just has to sit back and do what I say now - lol!  

Zucchini noodles??  Tell me all about these please!  And yes, I know that it might irritate me that he'll lose a LOT faster than I did...and once he hits maintenance he'll be able to eat a LOT more calories than I do.  I sit at a desk all day and he stands on his feet and moves around all day.  It is what it is...no one ever said life was fair :-) 

In anticipation of his surgery, we bought bicycles this winter.  He's really looking forward to us getting out there when it warms up and biking together.  And I certainly hope that if either of us want to cheat on our diets that we'll be encouraging each other to stick with it rather than enabling each other to eat off plan.  

The lady from work calling your hubby about her personal problems - UGH!  I don't worry about my husband having a wandering eye, but there are man-hungry women that will probably hit on him.  He doesn't work with that many women so I'm sure it won't be a big issue.  But you better believe that I go to his office on a regular basis, chat up the female staff and let them see how much I adore him and how good I'm looking these days.  I'm no fool....I mark my territory!  

Thanks for all your great feedback, I really appreciate it!  Best of luck to you and your hubby on this journey 

My husband had an RNY 11 years ago - so we are a bariatric surgery household. He has put back on about 25 lbs but basically kept most of his weight off.  I was really afraid of the RNY.  My son had an RNY 14 years ago.  He had regained a lot of weight but has successfully taken it off again- going to the gym and watching his food intake. 

I think it makes it easier because there is no pushing when I say I have had enough.  My family has been very supportive.  Years ago my husband wanted me to try the RNY- I just could not do it and wasn't ready.  Also, for years,my husband was really thin and I was a chubby checker. He always was loving and supportive to me.  Like anything else we must follow our own journey.  

Good luck on your new joint venture!

Nancy