Well, apparently I joined here back in June but never posted anything, don't remember that, but here we go.

I'm 28, I've been overweight since birth, 12 pound butterball. Played all the typical big boy sports and filled the typical big boy roles throughout my school years. Now, a married father of 3, with aspirations of becoming a patrol officer for the department I currently work for, it was time to jump ship from conventional wisdom and methods as my blood work was getting worse, family history started to bleed over in to my history, thyroid was jacked, metabolism in the crapper, I turned to lap band, and Dr. Kim here in Texas.

I've always been active, I work out lifting at least 4 days a week, and do cardio hard at least 1 day, and do some sustained lighter cardio at least 1 day as well. I'm a certified NSCA-TSAC (Tactical Strength and Conditioning) coach, mostly done for my own gain but also to be able to spread knowledge to others regarding physical preparedness. I'm a competitive power lifter, and hold 2 current records in Texas. I'm an outdoors kind of guy, hunting, fishing, off roading in my big ol' truck, camping, etc.

At my heaviest I was 464, 2007. At that time, I freaked out. I dieted down to around 320 with the help of a doctor on a liquid diet for a long time, but of course, it all came back. I've tried low carb/high fat (which works to drop body fat for a while and adding muscle for me wonderfully) however the weight, of course, came back. I even tried HCG, which is what my doctor felt possibly screwed my thyroid and metabolism up, but it's not totally sure, blood levels changed quite a bit from before, to after HCG.

I went to Dr. Kim and had several consultations and meetings, it was determined gastric sleeve would be the better, more successful route for me, and after reading and collecting my own information, I agreed. So, after a 6 month turned in to a 3 month nutrition class (insurance changed in 2013 with lesser requirements), I was approved 5 days after a submission my Aetna insurance company for a 20,000 lifetime coverage, revisions/emergency treatment not included in that amount. My sleeve date is going to be February 26th at Baylor Trophy Club, TX. Before then of course I have my stomach scope thing, and a pre-op class along with my physical and cardio testing.

I'm crazy excited about things, and the pace in which it has moved along so far. Of course I'm nervous, but way more excited versus nervous about the whole thing. My wife and family have been amazingly supportive throughout the entire process. I guess I've ranted long enough, probably too long to actually read, but I'm long winded at times, especially when typing things out. I'm hoping, obviously, for a smooth recovery and surgery experience, but I'm prepared for things to not be so great from time to time. My Dr, and his staff have been amazing, and have gotten great results from past patients, so we'll see how things go. I'll get some before shots up in my profile eventually, I have some trouble areas I'm worried about for loose skin and such, but I think overall things will work out just fine. Thanks for reading.

Mark... This will be such as great journey for you! Looking forward to hearing it as you go thru each step! Congrats on your start of your journey!!

Thanks so much. I'm really looking forward to growing mentally with the surgery as well as getting the physical problems squared away. It's gonna be a complete make over, haha.