Michael Amburgey
First tattoo is completed...marking a milestone
Jun 22, 2009
Well, I just got my first tattoo and what an experience. I had wanted a cross for the longest (somewhat tribal style) and never really felt motivated to do it (not to mention the wife didn't LOVE the idea). However, after losing over 80lbs and dropping out of the 300s for the first time in about 3 years, I was anxious to prove to myself I could do it, and also mark a special occasion of being under 300lbs.
The pics of the tattoo are in my photo album and I love the way it turned out. In fact (call me crazy), I am going to get another tattoo on my left arm on July 1st. The tattoo holds 4 chinese symbols. The first 2 stand for "family" and the second 2 stand for "happiness". In meeting with Ivy (a chinese woman that I work with), she expressed the deep and unique meaning when joining the two together. Firstly, having Family at the beginning means they are what is most important and having happiness afterwards means that not only do I wish for happines for my family, but also that my family brings me happiness -- really cool I think!
Overall, things are going well. I'm around the 288-290lb mark consistently and I'm looking to really push hard to hit 280lbs when I go in for my next follow-up visit in Dr. Dyers office near the middle of July. They've really been pleased (maybe even impressed) with my commitment and weight loss thus far. I was told I was losing weight almost at the same rate as a Gastric Bypass patient which is cool in some ways. I'm down 33% of my excess body weight after 4 months and if I lose at that same pace over the next 8 months, I could be at or near my original goal of 220lbs which puts me back to my football weight in high school.
All, wish me luck - this is certainly an interesting journey -- one I wouldn't trade for the world! I have better health and more energy for my wife, my little daughters, and myself -- and those are tremendous blessings.
