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Here is what the local paper had to say about my success story...



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http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/28/marathon-runner-mark-noel/

Shortly after this story was published, I was contacted by NPR to participate in a round table discussion. During the course of the 45 minutes we were on the air, we discussed my journey and whether weight loss surgery was the answer for many people. I was on with the head of UCLA's Bariatric Surgery unit and discussed the VSG and other options for people with weight issues. As soon as the podcast is available, probably tomorrow, I'll post a link to it and you can down it.

It was hard to come 'out of the closet' to tell everyone about my surgery. Even now there are comments that somehow I'm weak for having the surgery and not doing this on my own. As the doctor on the show pointed out, 97-99% of the people who try to do this on their own without surgery will fail and likely gain even more weight. Without addressing all the issues, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Enjoy my story...

Mark

(massindex)

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Awesome! I've been reading this thread waiting for an easy link to read your story.

Thanks! And job well done!

Laura

Oh, and I would love to hear that podcast too!

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Mark! You have done so fantastic! You were such a help to me when I started running- you made me believe in myself

So proud of you!!

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The article is incredible! Congrats on your success and your new lease on life! I am newly sleeved and have already enrolled to do the 5k color run here in Orange County in May! Im hoping to adopt the same excercise habit.

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The article is incredible! Congrats on your success and your new lease on life! I am newly sleeved and have already enrolled to do the 5k color run here in Orange County in May! Im hoping to adopt the same excercise habit.

Color Run's are a blast! Really enjoy it!

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This is fantastic. You are a true inspiration! Thank you for the education and inspiration that you have provided to so many.

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you look great, what a great article! what an inspiration for us to run more!

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You really are an inspiration Mark!

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Fantastic!!!

Love to hear it!!!

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Go the MAMILS!

(Middle Aged Men In Lycra) :P:D

What an inspiration. Can't wait to hear the pod cast.

Deano

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hard to come 'out of the closet' to tell everyone about my surgery.

Mark

250 lbs gone, are you kidding me??? :o :)

I'm speechless - that never happens to me (ask my DH) :lol:

wonderful story, but sorry to say - whats NPR?? :o

its probably getting old - people telling you what an "amazing, wonderful, inspirational person you are!!!" - but you are all those things!!! i just won't embarrass you by telling you that!! ;)

pre WLS - eating too much, then getting depressed, eating too much et al - yes vicious cycle that i think its safe to say we've all been there :mellow:

riding your bike so much - all those races - other exercises too!!!!

you sound like a "wild and crazy guy" :lol:

congrats on raising $600.00 - "forcing" you to run that marathon ;) good luck Sunday :)

CONGRATS on alllll your successess!!! :)

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You are AMAZING. Thank you for sharing, and I am so inspired by your success. Keep up the great work.

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wonderful story, but sorry to say - whats NPR?? :o

NPR is National Public Radio :rolleyes:

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Your article made me cry! You are such an inspiration!! My goal this year is to walk/jog 2 5K's plus the Dirty Girl Run which is an untimed obstacle course (baby steps LOL). I totally get the moving from one addiction to the other. I would have NEVER in a million years thought I'd be a gym rat. It feels so awesome though!

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  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
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