dare301obx

I've had problems with weight since I was a kid. When I was little (elementary school), my mom worried about me being too skinny. Well, she fattened me up just fine! I went from "slim-jim" jeans to "husky" real quick!Then, in high school I was about the same size of most of my peers. College... well, I gained the "freshman 25" and then the "junior 30"!I was about 185 - 190 in my 20's and went to 200. When I was was 30 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had my thyroid removed. (I'm happy to say that I've not had any cancer problems since 1982!) Since I had my thyroid removed weight control has been a REAL problem. I creeped up to 248 about a year or two after my cancer surgery in 1982 and dieted and got my weight down to abour 220.In 1990 my wife and I began a STRICT low-fat diet. I weighed 220 on Feb 1, 1990. I got down to 155 in about a year and I kept the weight off for probably 8 or 9 years and then I got lazy. While my weight was down I became (at least for me) quite an athete; running, cycling, swimming, weights. I even did a triathalon!Then, as I said, I got lazy. My job also changed (to the good) significantly but the time requirements of my job limited my time to exercise. I also began to eat differently.Well.... the short story is that from weighing 155 in the 1990's I shot up to 260+ in the 2000's.I knew I needed to do something but I just couldn't get "started".I went to see my primary care physician one day for the normal "renew the prescriptions" visit. I was on blood pressure meds, meds for high chlosterol, I'd developed sleep apnea and had to use a CPAP machine at night. etc., etc., etc.Well, my doctor, looking over my latest blood tests, said that I needed to do something or else I would probably become diabetic soon. THAT GOT MY ATTENTION!!! He said that I was developing "metabolic syndrome". Well, about 3 years ago (2 years prior to this doctor's visit) we lost my sister-in-law to diabeties. Needless to say; I knew I had to do something.My doctor said he thought that I should probably consider weight loss surgery. I asked him if he recommended anyone and he gave me the name / number of the surgeon that I used, Dr. Mark Fontana in Norfolk, Virginia.I went to the seminar and read the material they gave me. I researched the various options available via the internet. I scheduled my initial appointment with my surgeon.At that visit Dr. Fontana asked me, "Well, Mr. Watson, which procedure do you want?" I told him "That's what I'm here to talk to you about!" and then I discussed my weight and medical history with him. Then, I finished with the statement "I'm not concerned where I'll be in 6 months or a year... I'm worried where I'll be in 5-years... 10-years..." Dr. Fontana IMMEDIATELY said "Well, you'll want the lap-band then." My surgeon's practice required a number of medical tests, imagining and clearances. My insurance provider required an extensive paper-trail from my primary care physician. Everything coupled together it took me almost 9 months to get everything done and approved. Now, that's longer than most but I feel that the extra time was good for me because it gave me time to "get my head around it" for the diet part of the procedure / lifestyle.So, finally, the day of surgery comes. It was a piece of cake! The only problem I had was a problem with passing "my water" after the general anesthesia (apparently that happens to men sometimes). I was in a "23-hour" bed at the hospital. I was discharged with no problems and went home. I went back to work ("light-duty") too early. I went back to work 4 days after surgery. I felt OK but then, once I was at work I realized that I really was weaker than I realized. After a few more days my strength came back. I was "full-bore" about 2 weeks.The diet portion of the procedure has been important to me. The restriction of the band has helped me but I really feel that, like they say, it's been a tool; that the main work is the diet... the overall reduction in calories.And, in that effort, I have found that keeping a daily food journal has been very helpful. I continue to journal and I anticipate that I'll do so for now on. I have a page a day. I enter the date and list what I eat, entering the fluid ounces of liquid (to maintain adequate hydration), the protein grams and the calories. I also note my weight each morning on the bottom of the form and since I've begun to run again, I note my running times & distance.I know that this has been long but I'm proud (justifiably I feel) to say that this morning my weight is 155. I'm wearing jeans that are 15 years old! I didn't get rid of my "thin" clothes. I have gotten rid of my fat clothes!