October 30th will mark the first anniversary of my surgery. What a year it has been. I am doing 40 minute sessions on a Cybex Cyclone 850 stepper at intensity level 4, burning 590 calories in a daily workout. Sunday I cycled 16 miles in addition to that. (Monday I took a day off) I am also taking Nitric Oxide. I have discontinued 3 medications, one for A1C (Metformin) and two for blood pressure (Amlodipene and Doxazosin). Blood pressure has been ranging in the 130s and 70s, resting pulse in the high 40s to low 50s.

Last year my waist size was 54 inches and I tipped the scales at 350 pounds. To date I am down about 120 pounds and my waist size is 40 inches. I've got about 40-45 pounds to go and the weight loss has slowed to a crawl, but I am not in it to see lower numbers on the scale, I am in it for my lifestyle and health and the scale will adjust accordingly if I do all the right things with self management.

The surgery is no magic bullet. It will help you lose about 75% of your excess weight fairly easily, but after that point it becomes a tool that you have to use, and how effectively you use it all depends on the skill you employ in that endeavor.

I agree it is a great tool that we must thank God everyday for, and with dedication you can maintain your weight lose stay healthy and make good food choices. Congrats to everyone for making the decision to be healthy.