Changes

Since surgery, I have woken up everyday with a smile on my face.  I know this sounds corny, but I have a new lease on life.  I am happy every single day.  Life is great.

I know I have only lost 35 lbs so far, but I can fit into some clothes I couldn't fit into before, I can wear my wedding ring, and I only woke up twice last night.  I was waking up every hour on the hour before surgery, because of my sleep apnea.  I am in really good spirits.  I guess because I see so many changes in my life.

I am worried about my wife.  She started her liquid diet yesterday, and it was not good.  While I was going through my liquid diet, she would say how easy it was, and how she would not have a problem with it.  Well she is having many problems.  Think about not eating anything for two weeks.  It is rough.  You have your full stomach and are hungry all the time.  I got through it by eating popcorn as my snack.  Still it was a rough one.  I am supporting her, and trying not to say "I told you so" too much.

Yesterday, we went to Healthy Kids for Brenden.  Brenden is overweight, because he learned all the bad habits about eating from us.  Now that things have changed 100%, he will, undoubtably, lose weight right along with us.  I told Brenden, yesterday, that I wanted the program to be a success, and I would do anything to make sure it is.  This is a big lifestyle change for all of us.

Amazingly, I am not hungry at all.  I have to force myself to eat.  I eat because it is time to eat.  I take my protein because it is time to take protein.  I can only eat 1.5 ozs of food per meal right now, and the food has to be pureed. 

There are so many things to count.  I have to count my protien intake, my liquid consumption, my vitamin intake.  And I have to make sure I get the right amounts each day.  That is a little hard, but I have to do it.

My post op appointment is Thursday, and Belsis' pre op is the same day.  I am going to support her just like she supported me.  She says she is nervous about the appointment.  I know how she feels.  I was very nervous about my pre op.  You don't want anything to delay your surgery.  I felt so much better after that appointment.  The surgery was paid for, and all I had to do was wait.

Hardest Thing So Far

The hardest thing so far is not being able to eat and drink at the same time.  I can not drink 10 - 15 mins prior to eating and I can not drink for an hour after I have eaten. 

I have to get my protien down today.  I have to have at least 100 grams of protien, and 80 ounces of liquid.  It wasn't so hard yesterday, but then again I wasn't eating either.

Today I started eating pureed foods.  I can have 1 1/2 ounces of a protien food, with each meal, and only if I have room left, I can have 0.5 ounces of a vegitable.

Belsis started her liquid diet today.  I know how hard that diet is.  I plan to support her, and be understanding.  The two weeks of the liquid diet is torture.  Hopefully she does well, and better than I did with it.

I started a You Tube Channel and have posted two videos.  It is under MyJourneyThruSGV.  I am excited to look back on that and see how far I have come.

It just gets better and better

I have lost 35 lbs, and I can weigh myself on the bathroom scales.  Today I managed to get down 64 oz of liquid, and three protein shakes.  That is pretty good for having a swollen stomach.  I am so excited and this is all I want to talk about.  I am sure that people are getting sick of hearing about it.  I am just so consumed with this life change.  I really think I made the right decision, and this surgery is going to change my life.

New Man

Surgey is over and I am at home.  The surgery was smooth, but I swear I couldn't get asny rest in the hospital.  I have not really been in pain.  The worst thing has been the gas.

Today I get to do protien shakes.  The hardest thing for me has been the sipping of beverages.  I am as gulper, and that doesnt work.

In the hospital I had as thought of "What have I done to myself."  That passed, and now I am excited.

Well on my way

I have lost 23 lbs!!!!!!!!!!!  All before surgery.  I am well on my way.  I am so excited.  I will tell you the liquid diet is hard, but man I have lost weight.

Tomorrow is my big day.  Wish me luck!

5 Days Away

My surgery is in 5 days. I have to tell you, it is on my mind heavily, and I can't think of much else. For months now, I have Benny thinking that xyz will happen after surgery. Now that the time is getting closer, it is becoming more and more real.

I have never had surgery before, much less stayed in a hospital over night. I am a very nervous about both, and am not getting much sleep because of it. I wish I could wake up and it all be over with.

I know I made the right decision to have this surgery, but what if I am wrong? What if this is the wrong decision? I know I will look back on this blog and laugh.

I have survived 8 days on a liquid diet, and only cheated once. My wife has been very good about food. She hasn't been cooking much when I am home, and her and the boys eat in another room from me. Still, try not eating for 8 days. I used to wake up to eat breakfast. They say after surgery, that you don't get hungry. That is hard to imagine right now as my stomach growls.

I will post when the surgery is over. Until then, pray for me.

Phase 2 Diet

I am on day 3 of my two week liquid diet. Let me tell you it is a killer. I am hungry a lot, and it has become uncomfortable.

This is the first step of my journey. If you are reading this, pray for me during this time.

Pre Op

Had my Pre Op appointment yesterday.  I was dredding that appointment.  I was worried that something would delay surgey.  But nothing did.  The surgey is now paid for and I am excited.

The hard part is that I am on a liquid diet for two weeks until surgery.  I am not looking forward to that.  I started today, and so far so good.

It All Revolves Around the Surgery

Since I made the decision to have surgery, my life has revolved around it.  I have thought about it for many months, and I keep saying in my head "After surgery....".  It consumes my thoughts.  I just want to get it over with and go on with my life.

I am going to a support group next week, for people that have been through the surgery.  I am looking forward to that.  I have many questions.

In The Beginning

As I write this, I am three weeks away from Gastric Sleeve Surgery.  My current weight is 365lbs, I am 6 feet tall, and I am 38 years old.  My surgery date is August 27, 2010.

I chose Bariatric Surgery because I have always struggled with my weight.  Sure I have lost a lot of weight in the past, and there were times in my life where I was thin, but for the most part I have always been fat.  I am looking for a more permenant solution to my weight problem.

I have had to quit smoking, quit drinking soda, and lose five pounds before my pre op appointment which is next Thursday.  So in short, I have had to quit everything I like to do.

I am both excited, and nervous about my surgery.  On one hand I am excited about losing a lot of weight and keeping it off.  On the other hand, I am nervous about the surgery itsself.  I have never had surgery, and I am afraid I will wake up in the middle of it.

I will keep you posted on how things go.