This weekend I went to my 20 year high school reunion in Vancouver, WA. I had a great time and reconnected with lots of old friends. I got lots of comments about how good I was looking!! Thats encouraging! I was able to survive the buffet dinner too which I was worried about. I had half a piece of chicken breast and a couple bites of salmon and I was satisfied. I might have had too much Jack D but I was pretty good overall. I was talking to someone Friday night and had no idea who I was talking too! After he left I asked my buddy "who the hell was that?" When I found out it was my 350 pound neighbor growing up I was shocked! The next night I talked to him again and he told me he had WLS 3 years ago. He looked great, so good I didn't recognize him even though I have known him for 32 years! We exchanged war stories about WLS ad it was a good thing. My friend was exactly the type of person I thought needed WLS, not me! He had always been heavy and I was the jock in high school. Then things changed and suddenly I'm guy who is having weight issues! It was good to talk to somebody who has gone through what I am going through and see that it really does work. I also realize now that obesity can effect anyone!

I am still alive! I did not die from complications of WLS and am doing well! Been doing alot of traveling the past month and haven't been able to post. I went to Chicago then back to Vegas. The travel wasn't good for my weight loss but on the plus side, I still lost some weight. I think I ate too much away from home and didn't hit the gym for 3 weeks so I'm amazed I didn't gain anything! I'm back in the gym 6 days a week, eating good, and had my 3rd fill on Wednesday. I think I'm finally getting some restriction with my band. Today I had ribs for lunch and only ordered 3. After the 2nd rib I was full so thats progress! Next week I have my 20 year HS reunion so thats one more food challenge ahead for me. Wish me luck!

I had my 2nd fill today which means I get to be on a liquid diet again for a couple of days. After I finally get to eat again I have to go back to liquid. Well I hope this fill does the trick because I'm ready for the restriction. I have been pretty good with food but I need this tool to start working for me! I am sure that this fill will make a difference but I can't wait to hit the sweet spot! I now have 7cc's in my 14cc band so there is plenty of room to work with so I'm still optomistic.

I went to Las Vegas this week for the first time since my surgery. I was a little nervous about going somewhere that you can indulge in ANYTHING under the sun. I was shocked to learn that I do in fact possess willpower! I went to PF Changs China Bistro for dinner and had Mongolian Beef. I'm sure the sugar carbs content was through the roof but I only had a little bit so I'm not worried. Fried rice is one of my favorite things and I resisted it! I did eat a few pieces of shrimp and pork from the rice to get my fix! I also went to In-n-Out burger twice which is my FAVORITE place to eat in Vegas/SoCal. I had a Double/Double Protein Style which is wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.  I normally hate lettuce on sandwhiches or burgers but it was awesome! I couldn't eat the whole thing. Watched my son eat his fries and was a little jealous (ok I stole one!). Had dinner at Gonzales y Gonzales in the New York New York and had pork carnitas and refried beans with no tortillas...it was awesome. I still thinks that I ate a little too much in Vegas but for the most part I ate good food. I jumped on the scale this morning and I actually lost 3 pounds while I was gone! I think that is due to all the walking in the 100 degree heat! The last time I went to Vegas was before my knee surgery and prior to losing 85 pounds. That time all of the walking killed me and I just refused to walk anymore and took the car everywhere. This time I hardly used the car and was able to keep up with my 13 year old son all three days! One more positive note....I fit in the airplane seat without a seatbelt extension! For anyone who needs a seatbelt extension you know what I mean when I say it was nice not to have to ask the embarrassing question: "can I get a seatbelt extension because my ass is to big for this seat."

I'm stuck and it's driving me nuts! I have been the same weight for 2 weeks now and I can't figure it out! I was thinking about going back to the liquid diet to jump start things but decided I will wait until my 2nd fill on 8/11. I have been eating right, I go to the gym 6 days a week and still staying at the same dang weight! I think I might be putting on the same amount of muscle as the amount of weight I lose. I will measure tonight to see if I'm losing inches but still its driving me crazy. I'm going to Vegas Tuesday and I'm hoping that I can sweat some of it off.....if I stay away from the buffet!

Went to the first post-op appointment today. The Doc wasn't there but his assistant did the visit. She was very happy with my progress so far. Since my initial visit  I have lost 61 pounds! Since the surgery I have lost 20 pounds! My incisions looked good and I've been cleared for swimming. My blood pressure has dropped dramatically but I can't remember what it was. I also get to start mushy foods next week and I can't wait!

I have noticed the weight loss but it became apparent to my nieghbors yesterday. I was outside cooking when i was bringing in a tray of bbq chicken. I was wearing a pair of shorts that a month ago were too tight. As I was walking up the steps, both hands full, my shorts dropped to my ankles! I guess I better go buy a belt!

When I started this business of WLS everyone was very supportive and walked around on eggshells around me. Nobody wanted to eat in front of me because they thought it would be too hard for me. I finally got fed up with it and bought the "BBQ Bible" the other day at Costco (along with a Magic Bullet that had a $10 instant rebate!). I made ribs, chicken wings, and pulled pork sandwiches on back to back to back nights and MADE everyone eat them! The smell of the Bradley Smoker cooking for anywhere from 4-10 hours on my back porch seemed to satisfy my hunger for some reason. The real gratification came when they ate the food. Everyone LOVED it! It's funny that since I can't eat it I make it even better. I can't wait until I can but for now I'm happy that everyone else is enjoying it!  

Exclisive rights to the recording of my stomach noises following lap-band surgery. Would make an excellent soundtrack for your next war movie. Make offer!

My stomach won't stop rumbling! It's so loud! It doesn't hurt or make me feel sick but man is it loud! I've tried Gas-X and it doesn't help! I skipped church this morning because I knew it would embarrass me to death! How long will it last? I'm hoping the addition of protein bac into my diet next week will calm it down! Otherwise I am doing great. I'm sticking to the liquid diet and don't feel overly hungry. I'm drinking a ton of water.