Eating

Before surgery, my biggest problem was portion control.  I would eat a lot of food, and go back for seconds.  It never felt like I was full.  I would wake up in the middle of the night, and eat as well.  I was constantly eating, and I never stopped.

After surgery, I could only eat 1.5 ozs of food for four weeks.  It was easy to eat so little, because I am not hungry.  I was to move to 4 ozs of food about a week ago, and I am slowly making it to that level.

First of all, once I ate until I was full and it was the worst feeling I have ever had.  So, I measure out my food, and don't eat until I am full, because I don't want that horrible feeling again.  I guess that is why I haven't moved to the full 4 ozs yet.  I think I am scared of getting full.

Milestone

I AM OUT OF THE 300s!!!!!!!!!!  299.8 is my weight.  I have lost a total of 66 lbs.  I haven't been out of the 300s for at least four years.  I feel great.

I have been keeping in touch with other people that have had surgery.  Firstly, there is my wife, who had surgery almost two weeks ago.  Secondly, there is this guy that had the exact same surgery, on the exact same day that I did.  I met him in the hospital, and we exchanged phone numbers.  We talk at least weekly.  Thirdly, I have a friend that had surgery about a month before I did.  I stay in touch with her as well.  I like to surround myself with as many people that have had surgery that I can.  I figure that if I have a problem, then they might have experienced the same thing. 

In keeping in touch with these people, I have realized that, in my journey, I am very lucky.  My recovery was very easy compared to them, and my weight loss is going faster as well.  I am really a very lucky person.

FRUSTRATED

Currently, I am 302.2 lbs. I started at 365 lbs. I am two pounds from being out of the 300s. I am frustrated, because I wanted to be out of the 300s by my 4 week surigiversay. I fell short. I know that losing 63lbs in four weeks is awesome, but being out of the 300s is like a milestone. I haven't been that weight for at least three years.

At one point last week it showed that I had gained 6 lbs. I thought that something was wrong with the scale. I weighed again and I was the same weight. I searched my mind thinking about what I had done different. There was nothing different I have done. I have been following the program to a t. A few days later, I stepped on the scale, and my weight was what it was previously.

Some Things Are Great Others Not So Much

I am down 60 lbs and almost out of the 300s.  I am excited about that.

I started my walk again yesterday, and I feel good for doing it each day.  Brenden is my companion in the evenings, and he is down 10 lbs.  He is excited about his weight loss, and so am I.

There is a problem.  I have to take medication each morning and night.  When I take my pills in the morning, there is no problem.  However, when I take my pills at night, I throw up.  I have to take my medication, and there has to be something I can do.  I dred taking my pills every night.

Belsis' Surgery

Belsis just left for the hospital about half an hour ago.  I could not go with her because I am sick.  I am really upset that I can't be with her.  Her parents went with her and they assured me that they would call the second she is out of surgery.  The problem with that, is that there is a language barrier between us.  Her mom speaks a little English and her dad, even less.  You would think that after 15 years with her I would of picked up some Spanish, but I didn't.  I am just praying that she has as easy a time that I did.

It is going to be quiet around here while she is gone.  I have to take care of the boys, and the house.  She is very worried that I will screw something up, and I have assured her that everything will be fine.

I am feeling a little better, and I am going into work today for a half day.  I have to leave early to pick up my youngest son from school.  I am really looking forward to going back to work, because it seems like I have done nothing for two weeks.

Although I am feeling better, I am going to suspend my walk until I am really feeling better.  I don't want to make myself sicker than I am.  Although I feel better, I don't want to push it.

Set Back

I have had my first major set back. Last Tuesday, I started to feel like I was getting a cold. Well the cold got worse and worse as the week went on, and now I have bronchitis. I haven't been able to walk for five days, and I haven't been taking my protein, nor eating right. I started making a conscience effort today, to make sure I get back on schedule.

I have lost 53 pounds. Which is good. I am very happy with my weight loss.

My wife's surgery is tomorrow. I have been told that I can't be there because I am sick. I don't like not being able to be there.

So Many Things To Count

After surgery, there are so many things I have to keep track of.  I have to make sure I get enough protein for the day.  That is hard to do since I am supplementing my protein with shakes.  I have to get at least 110 grams per day.  I have to take a multi vitamin twice a day, I have to take calcium twice a day, I have to take iron once a day, and I have to make sure I get at least three servings of milk or yogurt.  Sometimes it can be too much.  I have learned to set times where I take my shakes, and vitamins so I don't forget.  Still it can be a bit daunting.  To think I have to do this for the rest of my life.

I have stuck to my walking schedule, even though I am sick right now.  I walk a mile in the morning, and a mile at night.  Also, when I go to stores, I don't drive around for 20 minutes looking for a good parking spot.  I park where ever I can, and walk.  It is good exercise.

I am surprised at how little food I can eat.  I have been cooking dinner every night, and I am shocked at what can feed our family now.  Our food bill has gone down.  I was thinking yesterday about how I used to eat.  My portions were out of control, and then I would go back for seconds.  If that wasn't enough, I would wake up in the middle of the night and eat some more.  My mother in law saw the amount of food I could eat, and she was shocked.  Things really are different now.

I can't wait for my one month appointment so I can be cleared for weight training.  I am looking forward to hitting the gym.  I used to go to the gym six days a week for seven years, and I liked the way it made me feel.  I was just a better person when I was doing all of that.  Hell I feel better now, with just the walking I have been doing.  So far this surgery has been a positive thing.

I went to work on Tuesday, and everyone was complementing me on my weight loss.  It made me feel good.  I know I have only lost 40 lbs, but I can see the difference in my face., and I notice a lot more energy.  This ride down the scale has been a lot more fun than the ride up them.

New Milestone

I had to go pants shopping before I go back to work tomorrow. It felt good to buy smaller clothes. I think I can still wear my shirts for a little while.

I am feeling good. What is frustrating is that our family, right now, is in a holding pattern. My wife is in her liquid diet, and I am eating solid food. So our meal time is a little messed up right now.

Post Op Complete

My Post Op is complete.  The Dr. said I was doing really well and he took me off my Diabetes Medication.  I see him again in a month.

Although I am not hungry, I keep gettin cravings for bad foods.  For example, last night I was watching football, and I thought we could order a pizza.  My pizza days are over.  I never realised that there were triggers here.  I will just have to get over them.

Belsis had her pre op yesterday, and everything went well.  She is ready for her surgery on the 14th. 

New Beginings

I walked for 2 miles yesterday, and had the energy to do it.  I feel great.

Today is Belsis' pre op visit, and she is very nervous.  She said yesterday that she just wanted to get through today.  I know how she feels.  I felt the same way.  I wish the best for her.

I think my family and I are going to take place in our first 5k.  It is the Walk From Obesity.  Our Dr. is donating the entry fee to his patients, and their family, that want to participate in this event.  I hope this is one of many walks we will participate in.

Linus died yesterday.  I took him for a walk the day earlier, because I thought he could use some exercise, and he collapsed.  He died the next day.  I feel horrible.  I was just trying to get him some excersise.  Although yesterday was a horrible day, I did not have the option to eat to make it better, so my emotions were raw.

Milestone

I was able to put my shoes and socks on by myself yesterday.  That is so cool.  It was so embarassing before when I couldn't.  I also walked for a mile.  I feel awesome, and I am so glad I had this surgery.

I want to address something that people might think.  I did not take the easy way out.  This journey has been rough.  I had to go through a liquid diet for 14 days.  I have had to relearn how to eat.  I have had to excersise.  This has been no picnic.  The surgery was a tool.  The rest is up to me.  Having the surgery is like having power steering in your car.  You can still run into a ditch.  What I do with this new lease is up to me.  It is my journey and I can choose to screw it up, or make it positive.  I choose to make it positive.

Tomorrow is my post op appointment.  I am excited to see how far I have come.  It is also Belsis' pre op.  So I will be hanging with her all day.