rsstorey

Although it has been seven months since my surgery, I feel I'll be able to recall all the important facts and events that I hope will allow myself and other to benefit from my experiences as they seem to be unique from anyone else that I have tried to associate with.  So here we go...
 
Since adolence I have always been prone to weight issues as well as an inability of good physical fitness.  It wasn't until 1987, I was 25 years old, my fifth year in the Navy that I began to actually exibit documented problems with my weight and physical fitness ability.  This continued for 10 more years until I was 35 years old and I reached the weight of 297 pounds, which easily put be as obese with my 6 foot 4 inch height.  To compound this I was a pack a day smoker and had been diagnosed with hypertenstion since 1985.  Although my performance in the Navy was excellant, my weight and physical fitness was below standards which kept me from being promoted.  I can clearly remember the date as May 20, 1997, I quit smoking, began a strict diet, and began running every day.  I limited myself to 1000 calories a day, and since my hobby was cooking my diet was healthy but limited.  I quickly lost weight and I learned to enjoy running.  Within five months, in November, I had lost 52 pounds and was able to successfully complete the Navy physical readiness test.  I was transfered from the east coast to a ship in San Diego and I picked up my ship while it was on it's last month of deployement.  When I returned to San Diego, my wife was shocked that I had lost another 20 pounds and I weighed 216 pounds which was the lowest ever until my baratric surgery.
 
Life and working aboard a Navy ship is not a good enviornment for a healthy lifestyle unless it is your main priority, which is something I found difficult.