One year ago tonight, I was in the recovery room at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan after having my VSG. Even though I was a little scared that night and concerned about how things were going to play out, I think in my heart I knew I was doing the right thing for myself and my kids.

Tonight, one year later, I am filled with gratitude to God for having been given the opportunity to have this surgery. I truly believe that it has been a miracle in my life and now I know with absolute certainty that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

This is how my life has changed in the one year since my surgery:

1. I now weigh 179.4 lbs, down from 300 lbs.

2. My sleep apnea is gone.

3. My back pain has all but disappeared.

4. My blood pressure is under control with reduced medicine.

5. I am off my cholesterol medicine.

6. My pants size has gone from a 44 to a 34

7. My suit size has gone from a 54 to 42.

8. My shirt size has gone from an XXL to a L or M.

Perhaps even more important than the physical changes are the emotional changes. It has been four and a half years since my wife died and while I still miss her terribly, I feel like I am finally starting to make progress in moving forward with my life. I have been dating a very nice woman since November and for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful that there are brighter days ahead for me (and in fact, I feel like I am living in brighter days). I've been honest with the new lady in my life from the beginning about my surgery and she has been very supportive and encouraging. The best part is that that my kids have noticed a change in my personality and they tell me that "Skinny Daddy" is a lot less grumpy than "Fat Daddy."

I still struggle a little bit with the feeling that I took the easy way out by having surgery. I know this is not logical because it wasn't easy and, in fact, it took a lot of courage and determination to take this step. Feelings are feelings, however, and I am working on them. From the beginning, I have been very selective about who I told about my surgery, but I am now trying to be more honest and up front about it with people. It's not that I feel that people are entitled to know every detail about my health decisions, but I have come to understand that secrets can be very powerful and destructive and by keeping it a secret, I have felt that it was, somehow, something of which I needed to be ashamed. Not so -- I'll say it again -- this was the one of the best decisions I've ever made and at this point, one year into this journey, I don't care who knows about it.

I am very grateful to the folks on this site who have been so helpful and encouraging along the way. The posts here have been a great source of inspiration and a constant source of comfort and encouragement over the last year plus that I have been here. My greatest hope is that there will be someone out there tonight who will read this post and find some encouragement and hope in my experience over the last year.

Thanks for being there for me over the last year. I wish each of you only success, peace and joy wherever you find yourself on this journey.

My daughter helped by create this side by side comparison shot. Again, what a difference a year makes?

God bless,

Brian

Brian ~ CONGRATULATIONS on your success. Thanks for sharing your reflections on your journey this past year. You look great! I will be having my surgery on August 5 and am looking forward to living fully again. Your words are an inspiration but more importantly as you stated they will be a great source of comfort and suppor to others who are in the process of making this decision.

I wish you continued happiness!

Tracy

Congratulations on everything! You have been through some trials over the past few years. Thanks for sharing your story and I'm so glad to know you are living in the light of life again! It only gets better from here! ((hugs))

Brian-Thank You so very much for this beautiful post. Im scheduled to be sleeved on 8/22 and I am a total mess! Extremely afraid although I know it is the best thing for me. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations on your success.

Wow! Your right! What a difference!!! You must be so proud!! And you should be. Congrats!

Thank you for sharing your experience and Congratulations! I am looking forward to getting my sleeve soon and love to hear about how successful others are. You look so good!!

Thanks again for sharing - it helps others that are just beginnig our journey to becoming healthy.

What an awesome post. Seriously. Thanks for that -- and you look really good.

WOW Brian, great job. I too struggled with taking the "easy" way out. But like you said there is nothing easy about it. We have to restructure our entire lives and the ball is still in our court regarding excercise and food choices. I say if the technology to assist us in the journey is there than take it! You wouldn't write a letter when you have the option of a cell phone, VSG is just a technology to help in your life.

Congrats on you new lease on life! You have been very blessed! You are looking awesome handsome!

your story is really touching and u are such a brave man going through this journey, Congrats on such an amazing success:)

Brian

I remember talking to you when you first started this journey - we started about the same time. I am so happy for you! You have made great strides in healing not only your body, but your spirit as well. I wish you mountains of happiness and a lifetime of blessings!

Kathy

Your story is incredible. God is doing miracles around us all the time. We are waiting on miracles, but we must first take action, you are certainly a testament to that. Congratulations on your new beginning and I wish you many more blessings to come.

Congrats on your success, very inspiring

Wow, amazing the difference in one year. Truly. You look great, and I'm so happy to hear the health report update, being off those meds is just wonderful!

Your words really hit home with me, as I am struggling so much as to who and when to tell about my surgery. I have been very private about my journey to friends in real life (I have my own blog so the whole world can read it but that is just me not wanting to bore people with talking about my WLS, they can read or not, etc.) but now since I have lost a good chunk of weight, I'm torn between telling people I've had surgery or just smiling and nodding and saying thanks when they say I look great.

So thanks for sharing that you are struggling with the same thing. I am feeling more comfortable each day with being honest about how this tool has enabled me to reach my weight loss goals (even though I'm not AT goal, yet!)

bRIAN

Thank you so much for your post. You have accomplished your goal, help and support to another stuggling with a weight problem. You give me courage to continue my journey to VSG hopefully in October. Thank you again. :clap2:

Very Inspirational! Congrats on your success! You look amazing