I'm so excited, and scared, and happy, and terrified.... Two weeks from tomorrow, my life will change for the better! I can't wait! Well, sort of...

So, a little about myself first, I guess. I've been fighting this lovely battle ever since puberty set in. I'm 40 now, so it's been awhile. I was fairly athletic in High School, so that kept things in check. But, as soon as I went to college, I went from Eating/Soccer/Eating/Wrestling/Eating/Cycling to Eating/Partying/Eating/Sleeping/Eating/Studying, etc. I'm sure many of you can tell the same tale. Even though I've stayed physically active, I just can't keep the weight off. I'm an active Volunteer Firefighter, I do 30-45 mins of cardio at the gym 3-4 times per week, and I'm even a 7 time veteran of a local charity bike ride called the MS150. If you know anything about the hills around Austin, TX, then you know a bike ride from Houston to Austin is no easy task for the "Gravitationally Challenged." Everyone wants to draft behind the big guy! Damn skinny people....

For a long time, I've had two demons: Smoking and food. Demon #1 died in September of last year. I was working out one night, and suddenly felt like if I didn't stop, a blood vessel in my frontal lobe was going burst. My head was pounding. It was truly the first time I've ever felt like I was going to die. I was a nurse for 8 years, and I've been a Volunteer Firefighter/Medic for 19 years. I know the score. My BP was 186/106. All I could think of was my family. My beautiful wife, my (17 year old) little girl, and my boys, 4 and 5 years old. The cigarettes went in the toilet, and I went on BP medicine.

Time for the other Demon to die as well. It's the scariest, strongest, tastiest one of them all. I love food. I'm not saying I love to eat, that's different. I love food. I'll spare everyone the torture of listing the foods I think I'll miss the most. I know I'm experiencing the same thing that 99% of you felt, but I can't stop thinking of the foods that I love to taste, knowing that so much is going to [have to] change, two weeks from tomorrow. I'm praying that this is one of those times when there is only one set of "Footprints in the Sand". At least I can tell my Savior that the longer he carries me, the lighter I'll be.

From what I've seen, this is a wonderful forum. I'm looking forward to hanging out here for the foreseeable future.

Take care all, thanks for 'listening'

David

Hey David. Don't have a food funeral so fast. You may be able to eat all the foods you love...just in much smaller portions. Some things you will find not worth eating because they are empty calories and you won't miss them much. Others, you may not have any issue with and will continue to eat and enjoy. Good luck!

Congratulations on making these great changes in your life. You are going to have so much fun biking in a healthy strong body. I think I'm going to make a list of what I want to be able to do again -- hiking our local mountain, yoga, etc. maybe I'll carry it around with me as I lead up to a surgery date (I am a couple of months out, I think, but hot on it -- quite the process!). It's so helpful to read other people's stories. Thanks for sharing and keep us posted!

PS I love food, too -- cooking it, serving it, eating it. Husband and son are good cooks, too. I'm hoping to have everything I want, just in very small portions -- and being able to keep to the tasting portion because of the appetite suppression the band offers.

Nah, no food funerals for me. I think the only food I may miss is rice. Mainly because of Cajun food and sushi. But, when it comes right down to it, the choice is an easy one. Like any culture change, it will come easier as time goes on.

Nah' date=' no food funerals for me. I think the only food I may miss is rice. Mainly because of Cajun food and sushi. But, when it comes right down to it, the choice is an easy one. Like any culture change, it will come easier as time goes on.[/quote']

Welcome!

There is no reason you can't eat all the foods you love after you have the band. I know I do, including sushi.

It's about moderation not deprivation.

Best wishes

So rice isn't an issue for you? Everything I've read seems to say that rice is a huge no-no. You're the first I've heard of to say otherwise.

David I'm right with you ! I know my Savior will carry me through this journey. I keep asking myself Am I ready for this ? This is a huge decision but its abt LIFE!

Yes it is. I told a friend that I feel like if I don't take drastic measures, then they'll be taken for me. I want to see my boys graduate. I feel like if I don't do this and lose the weight, once and for all, I will be cheating myself out of so many wonderful things. My wife asked me last night what my goal is. I told her I want to wear a size with only one X in it.

So rice isn't an issue for you? Everything I've read seems to say that rice is a huge no-no. You're the first I've heard of to say otherwise.

David...I can eat rice. I even eat sushi every now and then. Just be aware that I have no fills and that probably has something to do with it. There are a few of us on this site who haven't needed them...I'm one of those lucky few. FYI, I'm down 65 lbs. since the beginning of the year.