Paul11011

Thank you all for your replies and support. It's sharing this journey with amazing individuals like yourselves that makes the successes another level of wonderful.

My wife and I went away for an impromptu weekend away to one of our standard get away locations. Birch Run outlet mall in Birch Run MI. This was the first trip we've made to the mall since my having surgery. I was eager to go to some of the stores that my presurgery self would have never been able to shop, Tommy Hilfiger, RL Polo, Izod, etc. Let me also tell you that I am incredibly cheap and the only way I would ever buy anything at such stores was if it were on clearance and I had a stack of coupons. The clearance shopping gods were smiling on me this weekend! Not only were there some great prices, perfectly caught the end of summer season polos, jeans, shorts, etc but I was able to fit in sizes I would have never before dreamed. All of my new polo shirts are XL with the button up shirts XXL. What a dramatic difference from the 3XLT polos and 4-5XL button ups I would have had to previously purchase. Now the really exciting stuff...pants....I'm wearing 34 jeans from Levis, Tommy, Gap and Nautica and 36 dress pants from the same places. This is an area I would have NEVER imagined I would be. That takes my jean size change from 48 to 34 and dress pants from 50 to 36, unfreaking believable!

With my latest weigh-in on Monday I have now dipped under 40 on the BMI scale. So now after being Super Obese and Extremely Obese...I am now just plain ole Obese. What a silly label to be happy about huh? The other realization that I have come to and still trying to come to grips with is that this very likely will be the label I stay at. When I get to my goal weight, I will still have a BMI north of 30, so my prospects of getting to Overweight are pretty slim....man I hate puns.

7 months ago today was my surgery day. I can not believe, nor would I believed had you told me then, what a different life I have now. On the morning of surgery I weighted in at 456lbs. Today as I type this I weight 280lbs. I have lost 176lbs post op. From my initial consultation to my surgery I had lost 36lbs for a total now of 212lbs lost. It is so much more than just the decreased numbers on the scale that have changed my life. Obviously it all goes back to the diminished mass I now carry but every aspect of my personal life is better. I'm happier, more optimistic, more outgoing and confident. I have returned to college, completed two courses over the spring and summer, both A's thank you very much, and will be going full time this fall and winter. I never would have put myself in the position to have to squeeze into desks or lecture chairs at nearly 500 lbs. Additionally this WL journey has helped me to focus on what I want to do "When I grow up". I'll be completing my BS in Health Sciences at the end of April 2012. From there I'm investigating options, I would love to be involved with a bariatric surgery center to help patients on their journey. My health, the real reason for doing this, is dramatically improved. I no longer take blood pressure medication or cholesterol medications, my blood sugars are well down in the normal range instead of high-normal and with a final test next week to confirm, I'll likely be officially off from my cpap (haven't used it for a month and feel great). I am more active, willing to try new things and excited about physical challenges. My golf game is much improved. I've, in the past 3 weeks, canoed and kayaked for the first time in my life. My wife and I have bought bicycles and we've went on rides of 12 and 14 miles thus far. We're finding a whole new relationship doing things other than setting on the couch. I've found what a great help it is to be involved in a strong, reliable support network. I have made some great new friends and learned the value of listening to those who have went before me and the satisfaction of helping those coming behind me. I would have never considered myself a support group type of guy, but I view it as one of the most important pieces which will lead to the successful completion of this journey. As great as this 7 months has been it is not without some surprises and challenges. My hair is starting to thin a bit. I have developed gall stones which will be taken care of with my gall bladder being removed on August 17th. I have loose skin in places I never would have imagined. Perhaps the strangest bi product and the one my wife takes the most joy in pointing out, my ears now seem bigger. I have been very fortunate and really have no issues for which to complain. I would do this again in a minute. Thanks for reading and taking the time to let me share my journey with you. Take care.

In every profession there are those that are arrogant and ignorant. Too bad you found one that was both. Good decision getting the hell away from her.

What scares me the most is not that there are many PCP that do not know what the VSG is, it's that they have patients that are relying on those PCP for follow up care. I am so thankful that I have a dedicated circle of excellence center to work with me both pre and post op.

Thank you. Here's a copy of a running total I'm keeping on one of my blogs. These are all in reference to my intitial consultation weight on Nov 23, 2010. From that date until my surgery date, Jan 10, 2011 I lost 36lbs. 3-7-2011 I have lost a total of 94lbs, which makes me 80% of the man I used to be. 3-14-2011 (-)103lbs, 78% 3-21-2011 (-)108lbs, 77% 4-11-2011 (-)123lbs, 75% 5-16-2011 (-)150lbs, 69.5% 6-20-2011 (-)180lbs, 63.4% 7-18-2011 (-)204lbs, 58.5% 8-1-2011 (-) 212lbs, 56.9% 8-15-2011 (-)221lbs, 55.0%

No I don't track carbs. The one thing I hang my hat on from all the conversations online and in person with WLS patients is getting in the protein. I think that is so vital. I would think that 800-850 is a bit low, especially if you're getting in any kind of regular exercise. Try shooting for 1000 cals and 100 grams of protein/ day for a week and see how it goes. Good luck!

No problem, glad to help out. Keep in mind I'm a little over 6 months out. Here's a typical day for me: Breakfast Calories Fat Protein 1/2 cup egg beaters with 1oz 2% cheese 140 5 19 AM Snack Protein Bar 170 5 15 lunch Small Wendys Chili (yep fast food) 220 7 19 dinner 4 Oz chicken Breast with 1 oz 2 % Cheese 180 6 29 PM Snack 12oz GNC whey Isolate 28 Protein shake 280 2 40 with 1/2% Milk Total 990 25 122 I am less regimented on my workouts now because I'm back in college and don't set enough time aside to focus on workouts, shame on me. Having said that. I play alot of golf, usually walking at least 9 hole once a week and hitting golf balls at the driving range for 1 1/2-2hours 2 or 3 times a week. Let me know if you have any other questions and thanks for the comments.

Outstanding post! Thanks for sharing your story. You have made such a great decision for your health and life. Please continue to share your experiences. Take care.

I am proud and excited to say that as July 18th I have officially joined the 2 century club! I am now down 204lbs since the start of this journey. I still can not believe it's gone as well as it has. I thank God for the success he has allowed me to see with this process. For the first time in at least 23 years I am under 300lbs. This takes me back to my early days in high school. I have never been at my current weight as an adult. I still keep expecting to wake up from this dream and find myself still carrying around nearly 500lbs of mass. For all those that have 200+ to lose and question if it can happen for them let me tell you it can and will. I started this journey at 492 lbs with a BMI of 72ish. If I can do it, so can you.

I am proud and excited to say that as July 18th I have officially joined the 2 century club! I am now down 204lbs since the start of this journey. I still can not believe it's gone as well as it has. I thank God for the success he has allowed me to see with this process. For the first time in at least 23 years I am under 300lbs. This takes me back to my early days in high school. I have never been at my current weight as an adult. I still keep expecting to wake up from this dream and find myself still carrying around nearly 500lbs of mass. This week has been full of NSV as well. My family and I went camping this weekend. One of the first things that hit me as I was setting up the camper was how much easier it was to do. No more struggling over the little things that most people do without even thinking about. For the first time in such a long time I was one of those people that was just doing things and not feeling physically exhausted or prohibited while doing them. I went canoeing! Yep, my wife, our daughter and I took out a canoe for a 3 hour trip down a local river. It was so much fun and an activity that I would have never attempted while carrying around my previous weight. I am finding myself being interested in sports and activities I previously would have never considered, biking, kayaking and scuba diving are now all on my want to do list. Thank you for reading and for the support and encouragement along the way.

I think you made a wise choice Greg. Congrats and continued success!

Thanks for the outstanding replies people......keep 'em coming!

Last night I was feeling irrationally down because I had a goal in mind to be at by 6 months out and I did not quite get there. I say irrational because had anyone told me on the day of surgery where I would actually be at 6 months, I would have bet the farm against it. So as a way to get over myself I looked back in my weigh-in log book ( I weigh once a week and record it). It was looking back at the hard numbers that made me snap back to reality. Other "tools" I've used to get over such pity parties are periodically taken pictures, measurement logs and my "progress shirt" experiment. Good lord this is becoming a long post. So my request of y'all is: what things you've done to establish reference points along your journey? I strongly encourage all "newbies" to take a few of the suggestions that will be given and make them your own. The primary reason for this is that we will all reach points where it will be helpful to look back and realize just how far we've came.

Last night I was feeling irrationally down because I had a goal in mind to be at by 6 months out and I did not quite get there. I say irrational because had anyone told me on the day of surgery where I would actually be at 6 months, I would have bet the farm against it. So as a way to get over myself I looked back in my weigh-in log book ( I weigh once a week and record it). It was looking back at the hard numbers that made me snap back to reality. Other "tools" I've used to get over such pity parties are periodically taken pictures, measurement logs and my "progress shirt" experiment. Good lord this is becoming a long post. So my request of y'all is: what things you've done to establish reference points along your journey? I strongly encourage all "newbies" to take a few of the suggestions that will be given and make them your own. The primary reason for this is that we will all reach points where it will be helpful to look back and realize just how far we've came.

Wow, it's been forever since I wrote a blog on here. About time to catch up. Here's the random stuff happening in no particular order. I am now at a weight less than I've been in approximately 12 years. As of Monday June 20, I was at 312lbs. 180lbs less than I was on Nov 23, 2010. 144lbs less than I was on the day of my surgery, Jan 10, 2011. When eating at a resturant I no longer have a fear of being placed in a booth. I am now "light" enough to use the Wii Fit balance board. I have just completed my first college class since 1994. What a difference it makes wanting to be there and knowing I'm paying for the education. At the end of June I will be unemployed for the second time in 15 months and for only the 2nd time in my life. Believe it or not I have mixed emotions about this. The industry which has provided a life for my family and I for nearly 20 years is frankly in the crapper, new construction related building materials. I'm looking at this as an opportunity to reinvent myself and perhaps find my true calling. This should allow me to return to college full time and finish my bachelors degree by next April. My son just turned 18 and graduated from high school. He's now working at KFC and hates it. I am loving it. No better way to learn the value of a good education that having to do shitty manual labor. He can't wait to start college in the fall. I think that's the story in a nut shell. Take care and thanks for reading.

I was soooo looking forward to being able to have mashed potatoes. The first night I could have them I was so excited. I took about a half of a cereal bowl and started to eat. About 4 bites into it I was stuffed...I literally laughed out loud at how little I had eaten and was full. I think I ate from that same half bowl for the next 3 meals.

Stick with it, it'll come around. Yes, dear. Being very conscientious this week.

Girl?...lol. Thanks.

I was a bit nervous tonight as I prepared for my weekly weigh in. The past week has been high stress and I know I did not get in all of my calories , exercise or water each day. I was expecting the worst. So as I slowly lifted my eyes to the digital scale display on the wall I see it............bam! 7 more pounds gone. Wow I love surprises like this. I am happy to announce I am now smaller than I have been in 10 years!

My wife and I decided to take advantage of a child-free weekend and go see the Hangover 2 at our local movie theater. I bought our tickets and we made our way into the theater. We selected our seats, right near the top as close to the center as we could and we sat down. It was then that I noticed something unusual. Something did not quite feel normal. Oh I know what it is, we did not have our hands full of snacks, popcorn, candy, pretzels, and soda. Hmmm, while that was true it was not the certain feeling I was trying to place my finger on. Then it hit me. I was sitting in the seat with the center arm rest down and my arms actually on the rest! What a different feel from the rolls of my belly being pressed against and flowing over top of the arm rests. That was worth the price of admission. Now as for the movie, if you've seen the first one, don't bother. It's the exact same movie.