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...

Well I must say I will miss you Johnnie, you have been a true and faithful friend. Bottom Line, You have Got to do YOU and I respect that decision. YOU always have a home waiting here if you ever choose to come back. Frustr8

9 hours ago, Dragon64 said:

August 9, 2018

Stats:

Weight: 279.4lbs

BMI: 39

Note: These are my current stats based on my recent visit to the doctor; the Ticker in my signature indicates an "empty nude" weight just after waking up.

My weight loss surgery story has come to an end. I have have been wrestling with whether or not I could actually go through with surgery or not, and I have decided to cancel any further pre-op insurance screening visits. The decision does not come easy, and it was not made alone. My wife and I have talked at length about how I truly feel deep down; that I can do this weight loss ordeal on my own, surgery is just not for me. While at my doctors visit yesterday, he gave me a little extra time to talk about it, and he now believes I am seriously committed to getting healthy. He believe that I have made the right decision, and he has offered to doing everything in his power to help me succeed. My next visit will be a full physical, which I have to have yearly anyways (prostate and all), followed by visits to the hospital provided fitness center. For now, diet will remain unchanged, as my doctor feels the slower loss of weight is the better approach to maintaining my weight in the future.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement on this short march, it has been greatly appreciated. I wish you all the best luck on your own weight loss journeys, and that everyone lives a longer, healthier and happier life. Take care and God bless!

I wish you the best. I do believe this surgery should be the last resort, after everything else has failed. Since you still have options, I totally understand your decision. Good luck and God bless!