My Journey Begins - Banded May 29, 2014

[Knapptown357 17]

My name is Knapptown and I have just completed my Lapband surgery on 5/29/14. A little background - I am a 45 yr old male 6'3 - former football player. My weight had been gradually increasing since I laid my helmet down in 1994. When My career was over - I weighed 295lbs. The month prior to my operation - I weighed in at 355lbs. Although the weight I picked up in 25 years was just 60 lbs.... Carrying 295 lbs as a football player @ 25 is VASTLY different from carrying 355 lbs as a 45 year old man. I had no interest in carrying this type of weight into my late 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. So I maned up and banded up. I have several complications that go along with obesity - low back pain, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and a host of others. Furthermore, I am in love with food! Not just the eating part, but the pageantry that goes along with dining. Fun to me is a 4 hour dinner at a great restaurant with 20 friends. But a week after my surgery I can already tell you it was the best decision I ever made. I am down 20lbs in one week and I realize that I have completely embraced this new lifestyle.

Edited June 7, 2014 by Knapptown357

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi Knapptown, so happy for you! I love the pageantry of food, too -- and I'm happy to say that it's not over at all. I still cook and present food, we have parties and go out, etc., but I just have a small amount. I don't eat a whole other meal while clearing up later. And I'm a cheap date. If I order an entree my husband and son are happy to lap up whatever I don't eat, or I just get an appetizer. It took a while but it's very manageable. My band is private -- I haven't told many people -- and it's not obvious that I'm doing anything but having smaller portions. What is obvious is that I'm getting my shape back. At least you had an excuse for looking like a football player, but the linebacker look was not for me! It's great you are addressing your health and starting this new chapter in your life.

[2muchfun 8,928]

I too was a lover of food but it's become secondary now. Your post reminded me of the Holiday feasts of past years and time spent with friends and loved ones. Many of those friends have moved away and the demands of my current family have lead me away from those times and that's actually a good thing.

So, what ya gonna do for exercise big guy, soon to be not so big guy?

[gowalking 10,790]

Welcome to the forum. You sound like you're in the right frame of mind starting on your journey. Just know that there will likely be setbacks and potential pitfalls. We are here to help you when you stumble and Celebrate with you when you find your success.

Good luck to you and glad you are here.

[Knapptown357 17]

Hi Knapptown, so happy for you! I love the pageantry of food, too -- and I'm happy to say that it's not over at all. I still cook and present food, we have parties and go out, etc., but I just have a small amount. I don't eat a whole other meal while clearing up later. And I'm a cheap date. If I order an entree my husband and son are happy to lap up whatever I don't eat, or I just get an appetizer. It took a while but it's very manageable. My band is private -- I haven't told many people -- and it's not obvious that I'm doing anything but having smaller portions. What is obvious is that I'm getting my shape back. At least you had an excuse for looking like a football player, but the linebacker look was not for me! It's great you are addressing your health and starting this new chapter in your life.

Thanks for the reply - I am glad to hear that the pageantry can continue. I appreciate your note.

[Knapptown357 17]

I too was a lover of food but it's become secondary now. Your post reminded me of the Holiday feasts of past years and time spent with friends and loved ones. Many of those friends have moved away and the demands of my current family have lead me away from those times and that's actually a good thing. So, what ya gonna do for exercise big guy, soon to be not so big guy?

Thanks for your support. I am already starting to understand what you mean by secondary. Over the past few weeks, the pre op diet and the week since my procedure, I have found it astonishing how much time and effort I spent on eating. Not just the actual act, but the scheduling, the menu, all of the stuff that leads up to eating. It is literally like I have a huge block of my brain, and my time freed up. It kind of reminds me of when I got married (or actually probably when I got engaged) 20 years ago. I realized that I had spent an huge amount of time thinking about the pursuit of young women. It's very similar.

At any rate, I am fortunate in that my weight never hampered my exercise too much. I have always been pretty active with weight lifting and cardiovascular exercise - certainly on and off, but still active. I have also been coached youth football and other sports for tag better parts of the lady 15 years. I realize that coaching doesn't demand the same physical output as playing a sport... but it does keep you mote active than one might think. I have been taking it a little easy this week as my incision teal, but I will be back at it in he gym next week. I will continue to lift for muscle maintenance, but I am looking forward to a bit more regular cardio output. I have been used to trying to lose weight when I felt it was I was porking up, by trying to "blow it up" - like 60+ minutes of intense elliptical or treadmill running for periods of time. Then when I lost a little weight - I would dial it back down. This has been my cycle for years. I never wanted to address the food intake - only the exercise output. Now, with the band and the limited food intake... I am looking forward to being comfortable doing 30 minutes on a regular basis - adjusted seasonally and day by day with the amount of golf, swimming, and other activity.

Thanks agin for you note. I appreciate it.

[Knapptown357 17]

Welcome to the forum. You sound like you're in the right frame of mind starting on your journey. Just know that there will likely be setbacks and potential pitfalls. We are here to help you when you stumble and Celebrate with you when you find your success. Good luck to you and glad you are here.

Great advice! I won't forget it. Thanks for you note, I appreciate it.

[dylanmiles23 2,198]

My name is Knapptown and I have just completed my Lapband surgery on 5/29/14. A little background - I am a 45 yr old male 6'3 - former football player. My weight had been gradually increasing since I laid my helmet down in 1994. When My career was over - I weighed 295lbs. The month prior to my operation - I weighed in at 355lbs. Although the weight I picked up in 25 years was just 60 lbs.... Carrying 295 lbs as a football player @ 25 is VASTLY different from carrying 355 lbs as a 45 year old man. I had no interest in carrying this type of weight into my late 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. So I maned up and banded up. I have several complications that go along with obesity - low back pain, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and a host of others. Furthermore, I am in love with food! Not just the eating part, but the pageantry that goes along with dining. Fun to me is a 4 hour dinner at a great restaurant with 20 friends. But a week after my surgery I can already tell you it was the best decision I ever made. I am down 20lbs in one week and I realize that I have completely embraced this new lifestyle.

Good luck with your new journey. I also did stretched out dinners out. No more. I try to be better, well I am better than I was. I still eat out almost every day but I am in control better.