rickpete
One Year Out
Jun 25, 2009
I passed the one year mark last week and I feel great. I am down 145 lbs from where I started. My weight has been stable for the past 6 months or so, although my waist and thighs are smaller...which means I must have gained some muscle mass. About a month ago I had my BMI checked at the bariatric clinic because, by looking at standard BMI charts for my height, I am still over 30% body fat. The actual measurement indicated 16%, which I took to mean that I have 35 lbs more muscle and bone mass than most men who are my height. I have been exercising a lot ...walking 25 - 30 miles per week and biking 60 - 70 miles per week, which helps me deal with the physical and emotional restlessness that I feel. I don't really eat for comfort any more. My daily calorie intake is usually in the 2000 to 2500 calories per day range, which seems to work with all the exercise I get, especially since I don't consume many simple carbs any more.
I have been working hard on self-acceptance...of how I look, my moodiness, my need for validation from others, and my sometimes overwrought emotions. While I have bad days here and there, I am actually doing really well overall from an emotional perspective. There is more work to do, but I seem to be ready for that. I have come to realize that some important relationships in my life need work if they are to survive who I apparently am as a thinner person. I don't hold out much hope for changing how things are at work, so I have accepted that I need to move on, which is tough in this economy. My marriage needs work, too, much of it on my end, which will require time and patience. So the months ahead will be filled with trying to maintain my newfound good health, nurturing relationships,and more fully accepting the man I have become this past year.
The greatest surprise and delight I have experienced this year has to be all the wonderful people I have come to know on line and at the support group meetings I attend a couple of times per month. I don't know any finer, more caring people.
I am so glad that I have had this experience. I feel better than I have in 20 years, I am finally taking care of myself physically and emotionally, and I have acquired some remarkable new friends along the way. it's pretty hard not to be pleased with where I am right now.
RP
1 comment
I have been working hard on self-acceptance...of how I look, my moodiness, my need for validation from others, and my sometimes overwrought emotions. While I have bad days here and there, I am actually doing really well overall from an emotional perspective. There is more work to do, but I seem to be ready for that. I have come to realize that some important relationships in my life need work if they are to survive who I apparently am as a thinner person. I don't hold out much hope for changing how things are at work, so I have accepted that I need to move on, which is tough in this economy. My marriage needs work, too, much of it on my end, which will require time and patience. So the months ahead will be filled with trying to maintain my newfound good health, nurturing relationships,and more fully accepting the man I have become this past year.
The greatest surprise and delight I have experienced this year has to be all the wonderful people I have come to know on line and at the support group meetings I attend a couple of times per month. I don't know any finer, more caring people.
I am so glad that I have had this experience. I feel better than I have in 20 years, I am finally taking care of myself physically and emotionally, and I have acquired some remarkable new friends along the way. it's pretty hard not to be pleased with where I am right now.
RP
About Me
Elk River, MN
Location
31.6
BMI
Surgery
06/18/2008
Surgery Date
Apr 02, 2008
Member Since
