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     It's been awhile since I've been on my blog and everything is well. I'm still maintaining my weight and feeling great. I turned 60 this past May and I feel better than I did when I was 45 years old. I'm continuing to work out an average of 6 times a week, this includes weight training, cardio, golf and racquetball.                                                                                          

     Thanksgiving and Christmas has came and gone. The holidays were a blessing, yet they were different. Food is no longer a big part of it to me, but everything is still centered around food. Family and friends come together to celebrate the holidays. I know that food is a big enemy of mine and yet I need it to nourish me. Sometimes I feel like I lost my best friend(food) and I know how much better life is now. LIFE is GOOD!
     In my monthly Bariatric Meetings, I have stated that this is more mental than the actual surgery it's self.  The treatment for Bariatric Surgery all starts with preparing mentally ones mind for the surgery. Then going through all the requirements, tests, and dealing with your Insurance Company. Once all these requirements are completed, every thing falls into place. I'm not saying it's easy, but every step of the pretesting and surgical procedures begin the process for your new journey in life. And I mean LIFE is better in every way you can imagine!
     I have plateaued with my weight lost at 125 lbs. in 8 months and I have not quiet reached my goal of 30 more lbs. My weight goes up or down 1 to 2 lbs. daily and through watching my carbs, fat intake, and exercise the weight will drop more. I told my Doctor that if I don't reach my goal of 153 lbs. of weight loss, anything within 30 lbs. will be acceptable. 
     I'll close for now and God Bless each and every one of you and Happy New Year to all!!!

     It's been 5 mo. since I had my RNY. I've lost 114 lbs. and I feel like a new man. I told my 83 yr. old Aunt that I lost her. She weighs about 100 lbs. soaking wet! I can not believe how much energy I've gained back and how much better I feel.
     During my journey I have developed a small ulcer and have been in treatment for the last 5 weeks. My Doctor said that the ulcer has caused some of my dumping. He put me on Carafate, this medicine coats the ulcer and promotes it to heal internally. I've had 2 EGD's within the last 5 weeks, the latest last Thursday. I d'ont have the results yet. I hope the ulcer is healing!
     My friends and people I've not seen recently tell me how much I've changed. My posture is straighter, that load I was carrying on my back and belly is slowly disapearing. I will tell you that my Golf Swing is totally out of sink and I'm having to learn a totally new swing. I'm not swinging around my old body and the swing is falling into the normal slot. This has caused my timing, balance, and distance to change. These changes will make my golf swing better. Stamina, strength, fitness, and attitude will make my game improve .
     I have cleaned my closet out and it looks empty. I'll have to go shopping soon. Shorts and T-Shirts will not cut it this winter.
     I'll close for now and God Bless each and every one!

     Well it has been 10 weeks since my RNY and it has been an exciting journey. If you ask me would I do it over, yes I would! I have lost a total of 82 lbs. since April 14, 2009 and I am very happy with my surgery. I have came off of some of my medications and my Doctor said I will be dropping a few more very soon.
     The hardest problem I have had is waiting to long to eat. Then I tend to have a few bites of food to quick and not chew properly, then the food begins to pack. This creates Dumping and enough is said. 
     My mobility, flexibility, and over all every aspect of my life have been improved dramatic. I'm sleeping better, my energy level has increased, and my self confidence level is higher than ever. I'm out and more active in every aspect of my life.Thank GOD for modern medicine and the gift of a better life.
      I'll close for now and the love of Jesus Christ's presence bless each and every one of you!!!   

     Well April 14 has passed and the surgery went very well. No complications occurred after my surgery and I'm really surprised at how I feel. My incisions around my stomach are healing good and I'm still a little tender,but it's only been 2 weeks. Dr. Lin and his staff are quiet remarkable!
     I have already lost over 40 lbs., of course 20 lbs. were from the 2 week pre diet. Over the past weekend I went off the 10 day liquid diet and started on the soft food diet for the next 6 weeks. So far ,so good and my future looks very promising for a healthier life. My knee pain and back pain is subsiding, and I'm sleeping better. I only had a few down days, but I think it was when I got off the pain medication.
     I'll check back in a few weeks and continue my Blog. Please continue your prayers for me and God be with you!!!

     April 3,2009:   I have spent 2 days in the last week testing for my surgery. My doctor  has set the date, April 14,2009. I feel like I'm in a fog. Dr. Lin first told me my surgery would be on April 28, then yesterday his office called me and said he was moving the surgery date up. This totally shocked me. I now have 2 weeks to prepare and start the 1200 calorie diet. I have an appointment  on April 8 with the doctor and the anesthesiologist. I will assume that my final instructions will be given and my life will soon be changing.

     I have read a lot of blogs on Obesity Help and I'm encouraged by all the people stating that the surgery is well worth it and that they wished they had done it earlier and were very satisfied with the results. I even talked with my nephew, who had RNY 20 years ago and he said he would do it over if he had a choice. Now that is encouraging! Back then, the surgery was brutal. 

     Please Pray for me and give me the strength move forward. I know my future will be promising!

     Since last week, Emory Bariatric Center has been in contact with me almost daily. A barrage of testing will soon begin and and they said my surgery might be as early as April. On March 26, I will have an EGD Test and this will be followed up on April 1 with Nutritional Counseling with more testing. Please pray for me!
      
     I am trying to find a good source for chewable multi-vitamins, calcium, B-12 and iron supplements. I have been on-line researching and there are a lot to choose from. If anyone out there has any knowledge about them, please fill free to contact me. I'm sure this will be brought up during me Nutritional Counseling in 2 weeks. 

     I'm getting so excited, yet I'm nervous. The changes in my lifestyle is going to be hard to adjust to and I know it will be worth it farther down the road.



    

    

     Saturday, March 14, 2009: I received notification that my Insurance Company has pre-approved me for surgery. This is wonderful news. I guess all that is left is testing and then my surgery. The excitement is so intense, I just about can't stand it and then there is a down side of anticipation. 

     I have been trying to post pictures, but the website says my pixels are to large. If anyone can help, please respond. I have tried just about everything possible,but to no avail.

     I'm going to contact Emory Bariatrics on Monday and try to speed it up. Wish me luck and God be with everyone!

   Here's my story! I have been a BIG BOY just about all my life. I was very athletic and bigger than most of my classmates. I think back now that my size intimidated a lot of the boys my own age and for the girls, this made me very self-conscious of my size. My friends and classmates did not make fun of me or criticize me. As I got older, I matured a whole lot and didn't let my size bother me. I was every ones friend. My personality bloomed and my life couldn't be better.                                     

    I married early in life and have been married 38 years soon. We have 3 sons, 2 daughter in-laws, and 2 wonderful Granddaughters. I have tried just about every diet possible, Prescription Drugs, and sometimes lose a lot of weight, but would always gain the weight back. Exercise always helped me control my weight. Now that I'm older and I have gained a lot of weight, it has affected my quality of life. My knees, Hips, Back, basically hurt all of the time and I don't feel like exercising any more. This has caused my weight to be higher than it has every been. MY Internist( Dr. Morris E. Brown) has put me on blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medicine, pre-diabetes medicine, water pill, and my Thyroid is Hypo. 

    In November of 2007, I first discussed Bariatric Surgery with my Internist and he has encouraged me and said he would help find me a Bariatric Surgery Group. He recommended the Emory Bariatric Group and he recommended Dr. Edward Lin to be my surgeon. I went to a conference about Obesity and Bariatric Surgery and was impressed how quality of life could be improved and it would be life altering.  Then in early Spring of 2008 my Father passed away and I had to stop pursuing my quest for 9 months, in order to take care of Dad's Estate.

     In late January of 2009, I resumed my quest for a better life and contacted Emory. It started out a little slow, but as I pursued my quest I have gotten the ball rolling.  Psych testing, letters from my doctor for the necessity for Bariatric Surgery, and a medical clearance letter, Emory has submitted all of my information to my Insurance Company for the approval for my surgery(it takes 2-4 weeks).

     This is where I stand, waiting for my approval. It's March 11, 2009 and I'm excited about having a better quality of life and I'm also nervous . I know there will be a lot more testing before my surgery and please Pray For Me!

     P.S. - I have chosen Laparoscopic Roux-EN-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery!