dkreifels

I was overweight out of the womb... Big baby, big toddler... My grandmother called me "big boned." HA! I was the first kid in my class to hit the 100 pound mark in P.E. class and was always the heaviest of all my friends. I've dealt with the looks, the stares, the rude comments, the armed chairs at restaurants that I can't sit in, and yes, even the extremely rude Southwest Airlines manager in Manchester, NH that made me exit a halfway empty flight or pay for a second seat.

Fortunately the confidence and love that my parents instilled in me, along with my personal faith in Jesus have carried me thus far in the success that I've had in my professional career.

But I'm tired. I'm tired of not having the energy to walk with my wife. I'm tired of not fitting into cars, restaurant seats, chairs at my bank, having to have a special chair at work. I'm tired of worrying about how I'll fit in my next airplane seat when I have to fly. I'm tired of worrying about who will be sitting next to me on that flight (i.e. who I will be smashing...) I'm tired of only being able to by clothes online at JCPenneys or at Casual Male Big and Tall. (Or as a friend likes to call it the "tent and awning store.") I'm tired of wondering what I'm missing out on in life--I'm tired of holding back. I'm tired of being tired.

After reaching 425 lbs. I'm ready to change everything. I am literally waiting for my surgery date to be scheduled any time. I anticipate having to start the liquid fast in the next week or two prior to surgery. I know it will be hard, I know it will be work, but I'm ready. After 40 years of not knowing what it's like to be normal-sized person I'm ready to find out. I'm ready to know what it feels like to walk into a mall and shop at any store that sells men's clothes and be able to buy something off the rack. I'm ready to be able to walk into a room and OWN IT with the confidence of who I am and who I was meant to be physically. I'm ready to be in a crowd of people and simply blend in, instead of sticking out as the huge guy in the room, who is always bumping into folks at a party constantly saying, "excuse me" and "sorry about that."

I wouldn't be in the place if it weren't for my God who is blessing me with the opportunity to have this surgery--and for my amazing wife Melanie who has been an awesome support.

I am ready. Let's get this show on the road. My Sleeve Date is June 16th, 2014!