S Russell

I can't say that I am getting nervous, but the entire process has been long. I am scheduled for December 20th, 4 days after my 46th birthday. I guess no cake for me. Some of my associates have been pushing me along through the process, and have entered me into a Spartan Race in June to push me to get back into shape. With all the procedures completed and only my pre-op meeting left the wondering begins as to how this will actually play out. I am 330 now and my goal in the next couple of years is 190. From there I can get the skin worked on to reveal the 6 pack that I once had. I work at renaissance faires all over the country, and that means that my tights and vests will allow me to show off what I had when I was in the military.

It was told by my orthopedist that stationary bike will assist you to build muscle for the knees. I am a candidate for replacement surgery if the weight doesn't come off. I have trouble walking every day, and I feel better when I do my cardio on the stationary bike. After a while working out on that you can start with 5 mins on the elliptical until you can build yourself up to whatever time you choose. The elliptical works all and is great for cardio.

I work in the legal field, while working part-time as an actor. Finding the time to do this was tough with the recovery period. My surgery is December 20, so I can enjoy Thanksgiving and then off to the preparation. I can also work from home as we settle into the holiday and then off to the weight loss. Scott Russell

Hello from Middlesex, NJ where I have lived for about a year, and 5 in the New Jersey area. For all of that time I have been a large guy but I finally went ahead and started reading in on lap band technology. I have a few friends that have had Gastric bypass, two good and one not so good from that. I am 6'2" football/wrestling build and topping the scale at 330. Diets, gyms, fads have not seemed to work for me due to knee surgery x 2 and not being able to really push myself. The main culprit was working the overnight 12 hour shift 7 days a week. I was almost putting on 1 pound a week, but that is over now. I am a Paralegal and it keeps me very busy, and on top of that I am a part time actor at renaissance faires and movies in the area. I sing as a hobby in a barbershop quartet and chorus in Manhattan, come out and see us singing at the South Street Seaport Christmas tree! My goal is 190 - 200 over a 2 year period, and I am thinking of getting sponsors for over the 2012 season. For each pound I lose they can sponsor me starting January 1 and ending December 1. This money will be given to the American Diabetes Foundation and the Youth Harmony Foundation. I hope to meet others that have done this and am always good as a motivator once I put my mind to it.