Question; can I document an entire six months as it happens? The only way I can tell the journey is as it happens.

How I got here; Hi! My name is Johnnie, and I am morbidly obese, and I am also a food addict. 27-years ago, I was a dope smokin, cigarette puffin. soon to be alcoholic. This is when god sent me one of his purist angels, we will call her Elizabeth. This angel accepted me for who I was, but loved me for who I am. When my destructive lifestyle began to corrupt her, she gave me an ultimatum; lose the pot, or lose me... I cannot have both. 27-years ago I quit the destructive habit of smoking dope. Elizabeth and I were also married.

Retaining the other two bad habits of smoking and drinking, I had also started to pack on the pounds. My married weight some 27-years ago fluctuated between 195 to 200 lbs. Over thsee years I tried the Atkins diet, which worked initially, but not before the steadily gaining back the weight. Fast forward to 2002, my weight blew up to 260 pounds. This was also the time my doctor started me on my first of many high blood pressure meds. At this time I also wanted to quit smoking, so my doctor prescribed Welbutrin, and within a month I became a non smoker. This about the time that my drinking got worse, and my weight started to soar again. A brief try at Atkins again proved futile, as my metabolism was not as young as it used to be.

At 300 +/- pounds in 2008, I quit drinking and started dieting again; this time it was the 1600 calorie diet with a daily dose of Phentermine. I managed a measly 50lb loss, before reversing direction. I tried Phentermine a couple more times, and even tossed in the 1200 calorie diet. Nevertheless, my weight was now getting out of hand. I have been plagued with plantar faciitus, sore knees, accompanied by a (un-)healthy dose of low self esteem, it became clear, I need help.

2017 arrived, and I decided to change occupations. In April I started a new career as a professional truck driver. I do not need to describe a truckers lifestyle, accept to say, 2017 was not my best year for decision making. July I came off the truck with a kidney stone. It took 2-attempts to get the stone out, but that little bugger came out. Three days after the last kidney stone procedure, was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with multiple pulmonary emboli (blood clots). It was deduced that I got deep vein thrombosis from the truck driver life style, producing the clots that nested in my lungs. Weight in July and August was 298.

I should note here, that through all of the years I also suffered from acid reflux, which I treated with baking soda and water. But the acid reflux became severe about 5-years ago, before I managed to get a grip on it. I have been reflux free for the last 4-years. This was about the time I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and put on the CPAP machine.

If you skipped ahead in this story, just know that I suffer like so many here, with many of the issues surrounding those two nasty words; Morbid Obesity.

Elizabeth, has never left my side, she has been my rock, my angel, my best friend for life, even now more than ever! With my background story out of the way, I can begin my journey now...

I'm just so tired of being unhealthy... I don't want to live forever, but I am striving to live longer. Thank you for the kind words!!

I wish you much success. If you haven't trashed your metabolism with a million prior weight-loss attempts, you have a really good chance of accomplishing this without surgery. Kudos to you if you can! We can't wait to hear your next update!

21 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I wish you much success. If you haven't trashed your metabolism with a million prior weight-loss attempts, you have a really good chance of accomplishing this without surgery. Kudos to you if you can! We can't wait to hear your next update!

Well, I have been on multiple diets, the most damaging of which was the starvation diet (no breakfast or lunch, with huge supper). My metabolism rebelled against me so hard... it took months to get turned around, and yes, I gained back all the weight plus some on that self imposed diet. I'm working smarter this time, as I have a team of weight loss professionals on my side, surgery or no surgery, this is happening. I am very happy to share this with you all, cause going it alone just plain sux!

For me, it took me years of yo-yo dieting or getting to a set-point and then not being able to lose without doing an unsustainable alternate day fast with calorie restriction. And the best thing I found when researching for WLS was Dr. Weiner's theory of WLS moving our set-point. So I chose to go ahead with it. Cuz I am a compliant person diet-wise. I can lose weight to a point! But I can NOT maintain. At about month 3, my body starts fighting back.

So I look at my RNY as a surgical tool to alter my set-point and also as a maintenance tool. I still have to do the heavy lifting to lose weight and exercise.

Can't wait to watch your journey, dude!!!

A "think" to brighten your day. You will always,be Johnnie, and th at is totally fine, wouldnt' t have it any other way. As you exercise, you are going to get stronger, a little more firmed-for a healthier you, you're still,hoping to be our Dragon64 but your tail isn't going to be dragin' (dragon) ?anymore! Pretty doggone good, I'm thinking!???

3 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

A "think" to brighten your day. You will always,be Johnnie, and th at is totally fine, wouldnt' t have it any other way. As you exercise, you are going to get stronger, a little more firmed-for a healthier you, you're still,hoping to be our Dragon64 but your tail isn't going to be dragin' (dragon) ?anymore! Pretty doggone good, I'm thinking!???

You brightened an otherwise dreary start to a day (work related dreariness). Thank you !

My nutritionist gave me a large packet of very useful information, most of it had to do specifically with what to expect before and after surgery, and to to maintain a new and healthier life-style. But it was the lists that are helping me make the life-style changes that I have taken whole heartedly. I would like to share these with, in hopes that they can help you in the way they are helping me. Here is how it was explained to me; from the first list of 20 options choose 2 modifiers and start employing them into you life. Then, when you see your doctor in a month, choose two more. Don't just choose them, but add them to the previous months modifiers. Repeat this month after month. I call these modifiers, as that is essentially what you are doing, modifying what and how you eat.

here is the first list:

1. Do not skip breakfast - eat three distinct meals per day. Avoid grazing.

2. Decrease portion sizes and stop eating when you are no longer hungry vs. when you are full/satisfied.

3. Limit eating out to once/twice per week; make better choices when eating out; ask questions about how the food is prepared. This might mean you cook more at home and meal prep.

4. Increase fruits and vegetables by including one or both at each meal.

5. Reduce desserts/candy/sweets to one time per week.

6. Reduce grab-n-go processed foods such as granola bars, chips, frozen meals, PB crackers etc.

7. Prepare meals with a half-plate portion of non-starchy veggie, a palm-sized portion of lean protein, and 1/3 - 1/2 cup of healthy carbs.

8. Avoid fried foods and begin choosing leaner meats (Leaner meats include the word round or loin such as sirloin, top rounds etc.)

9. Begin some sort of activity every day even if just for 5 minutes (walking, swimming, exercise videos etc) Reduce time sitting.

10. Decrease caffeinated, sweetened, and/or carbonated beverages with the goal of eliminating.

11. Start gradually increasing your water intake until you are up to at least 64oz per day.

12. Reduce alcohol with the goal of eliminating.

13. Begin a multivitamin daily (after surgery, you will switch to a quality bariatric vitamin).

14. Begin calcium citrate with vitamin D 500mg twice daily.

15. Practice taking bites the size the size of a thumbnail, eating more slowly, chewing more.

16. Practice SIPPING beverages---no longer "chugging" or gulping.

17. Practice NO LIQUIDS 30 MIN. BEFORE/DURING AND 30 MIN. AFTER MEALS.

18. Practice positive self-talk; weight loss isn't easy, so be nice to yourself!

19. Begin to reduce use of straws and gum.

20. Track calorie intake.

The first month I chose #7 and #18. This month I chose #9 and #20

I hope this will be of some use to you who are just getting started, and to those of you already on the losers bench...

The second list I received from my nutritionist deals strictly with behavior. We ALL have to make life-style changes, and to do that, we have to modify our behaviors. As recommended by my nutritionist, select one behavior to modify, and each month, incorporate a new behavior to modify.

1. Eat at the table instead of while watching TV or reading.

2. Pre-portion your food and put the box or package away.

3. Keep tempting foods out of house.

4. Don't go to the grocery store hungry.

5. Make a shopping list.

6. Use smaller plates and bowls.

7. Keep healthy foods available.

8. Focus on activities other than eating.

9 Brush your teeth, floss, and use mouthwash after meals or if feeling the desire to eat.

10, When you are at parties or buffets, be sure to eat sitting down and facing away from the buffet or food table. Allow some distance between you and the foods. Offer to bring a healthy food item to a party.

11. Park your car far away from your destination.

12. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

13. Keep a food exercise diary.

You will find that some of many of these modifications you are already practicing, so be sure to select one that you are not yet practicing, do not skip a month. Remember we are adding to, not changing out modifications in order to create these new life-style changes.

Again, I hope you find this and the previous helpful, they have become my guidelines. My first month I selected #1. This month I selected #3.

On 09/05/2018 at 11:30 PM, FluffyChix said:

For me, it took me years of yo-yo dieting or getting to a set-point and then not being able to lose without doing an unsustainable alternate day fast with calorie restriction. And the best thing I found when researching for WLS was Dr. Weiner's theory of WLS moving our set-point. So I chose to go ahead with it. Cuz I am a compliant person diet-wise. I can lose weight to a point! But I can NOT maintain. At about month 3, my body starts fighting back.

So I look at my RNY as a surgical tool to alter my set-point and also as a maintenance tool. I still have to do the heavy lifting to lose weight and exercise.

Can't wait to watch your journey, dude!!!

That is exactly how I look at my new sleeve too. I could do the hard yards to lose quite a lot of weight on my own, even suffering through hunger, but the sleeve is the tool I need to be able to lose half my bodyweight without hunger/hormonal changes from long term caloric restriction setting in motion the usual arsenal of weight regain processes, and to give me a really solid shot at maintaining such extensive weight loss in the long term.

Are you still taking medication for reflux? Is there a reason your doctor is recommending sleeve rather than bypass if you have reflux and high blood sugars? From some discussions I've read over in the sleevers forum, most surgeons expect people with GERD to get it even worse is they opt for the sleeve, whereas bypass tends to resolve GERD (and also recommend bypass for diabetes if that is what your blood sugar issues are linked to?).

I'm sorry your partner still feels that the surgery is not a good idea, but super glad that she will still support you through it. I think overcoming your other addictions is fantastic, and could signify your capacity to will yourself into better eating behaviours too, but I don't think it translates as well into capacity to generate and maintain significant enough weight loss. I have improved so many behaviours over the past decade of EXPLICITLY NOT dieting, and those changed behaviours contributed to better physical and mental health, but they still did/would not make me slim, because on their own they weren't enough to undo the metabolic damage my body has sustained after years of remaining morbidly obese while trying to diet, following early years of depression and disordered eating. Diets fail 98% of the time because we need additional tools to make it work long term.

I have not had any reflux since I started the CPAP machine. I hate being on the machine, but if it keeps the reflux demons away, then I am good with it. I've elected to not stress over the possibility of reflux coming back after the sleeve operation, but I do plan to work closely with my doctor, if he feels that I am at too high of a risk, then we can begin discussions of gastric bypass as an alternative.

So, I am now half way between doctors visits 3 & 4, and I have discovered another eating issue I fight from time to time. This past weekend I cut 'the grass' A group of properties that total right at 2+ acres that needs to be cut. My son usually cuts the grass, but this time I wanted too. Even on a riding mower, the task took roughly 2.5 hours. My sinuses were ruined by the pollen and dust, I had itchy watery eyes, and lots of scratched from various briars and thorns that I cut into. I was a wreck.

While taking a shower to wash the grass cutting adventure away, I thought to myself that I needed to reward myself with a generous helping of chips and salsa...why? Because my brain said I deserved it!

Mind games being what they are, Games! My brain tried to pull a sneaky one on me... One of the reasons why I am where I am, is because of the many ways I would "reward" myself with one of my favorite comfort foods. "Its Friday night, you made it through another week! Help yourself to some nachos and cheese..."

I did not give in, I did real good. However, there was this movie that came out this past week... heard of it? It's called Dead Pool 2? Yeah, I devoured a bucket of popcorn... I still have much to undo in order to get my life style changes to take.

Next doctors visit is June 6th.

I think you did fine! Rome wasn't built in a day.

Recognizing and admitting to the addiction is the first part of tearing down and rebuilding my Rome (or Utopia). Having surpassed three previous addictions, I am surprised I never recognized my own addiction to food. Now I know what to look for.

As of today, I am officially down 30-pounds since starting this journey. It has been stated that gastric sleeve will help to reduce 60 to 72% of your excess weight, so the closer I can get to my "ideal weight" before surgery, the better my chances of reaching it after surgery.

Very proud you are keeping on with your March toward health! This is going to be a wonderful. 6 month journey, Jonnie!?