cowboy4life

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Well, it has been a while since I posted.  I am writing this because I need to stay focused on my goals and this community is a great way to do that.  I am officially 9 pounds from my surgeon's goal weight for me of 212 pounds.  I originally wanted to get down to 175 pounds, but that is just a little unrealistic for me and my body type.   I think if I really hit the gym hard I could get to that weight, but 221 is a great weight for me.  When I was discharged from the Navy in 1993 for weight control failure, I was 244 pounds.  I fell so much better now than a year ago it's not even funny.

I've done some things recently that I wanted to do since the surgery; play basketball with my 16 year old son, cut my grass without even breaking a sweat, wash my truck from top to bottom, etc.  I can go into Wal-Mart and grab anything off the rack and buy it without trying it on.

I am down to a 36 inch waist from a 50, my shoe size actually went down one size to a 14.  I just feel so much better about my life since the surgery.

I went to a support group style meeting with my nutritionist last week and I was blow away by another patient.  This gentleman was in the meeting with our surgeon pre-op and he lost an incredible amount of weight.  I was scared this guy was going to die prior to surgery or on the table, but there he was.  He went down from a 76 inch waist to a 56 inch.  He wore an incredible 8X waist pants and proudly displayed it for us.  He didn't remember me prior to the surgery but I remembered him.  Because of his weight before surgery, and I didn't think to ask him, he had to wait until July to have surgery.  I really needed to hear about his story, it gave me inspiration.  Hope everyone is doing well.  Talk to you all soon.  And I really need to post some pictures.

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas.  It has been a while since I posted anything at all on the site.  Everything is going well, not at goal weight yet, but I am only 21 pounds away from my surgeon's goal weight at not quite eight months out.  Having knee issues again, but this time with the right knee.  Guess that's what I get for playing football with my son and nephew yesterday without my brace.  Will post again soon.

Yesterday, I did something that I had been looking forward to for a long time, going shopping for myself.  I had no idea at what size my waist was since I had surgery.  Before RNY, I was wearing a size 48 in pants and I even had a couple of shorts at size 50.  I had no idea I had 50's because I just thought they were baggy.  I know, I was in denial.  Well my 18 year old and my 16 year old wanted to go with me to serve as "fashionistas" so off we went. 

I have a couple of pairs of jeans at size 46 and one pair of shorts at 46.  These were a blessing post surgery because they fit snag and gave me some additional confidence about the decision that I made.  I had to buy a smaller belt to keep up my 48's, but my clothes were really falling off of me.  I originally liked the look because it gave people visual evidence that I had lost weight, but pulling up my pants is kind of something that, to me is not fashionable.  That look is more my son's style.

Anyway, I tried on a pair of 44 jeans just to see how they fit.  They were loose and I could see that they were too big.  Next to a size 42.  Same thing, too big.  Now I go to a 40, a little loose but they'd stay up without a belt.  And finally a size 38 and they fit.

A SIZE 38, I can wear a 38.  And I was grabbing clothes off the rack, not Big and Tall.  Unfricking believable.

Now my wife has been back in her home country, the Philippines for the last two weeks visiting her father.  I can't wait for her to come home on the 17th and see this new outfit I bought.  I actually have Girbaud jeans. 

All I can say is, I need some more overtime.  Daddy needs a new pair of Gators.

LOL

Well, it has been a while and I guess that that little ole thing called life has gotten in the way.  So, let's review where I am at this point.  On October 28th, it will be six months since I had this life changing event called weight loss surgery.  I am currently at 243 pounds, which is a weight loss of 101 pounds since January 1st, 75 pounds since my surgery date.  Everything is going good, the only issue I've had is vomiting about once a month or so.  I have not dumped yet, mostly because I avoid things that would make me dump.  Although a couple of days ago, I ate some baked beans with a baked pork chop for dinner.  The pork chop was a little dry but almost immediately after I finished eating, I got that ole magic feeling of needing to puke.  I thought for sure that the chop was stuck, but it was the beans.  Bush's Grilling Beans have a lot of sugar in them, upwards of 36 grams a serving, but this was the first time it came up.  How do I know it was the beans?  Well, for anyone who is newer than I, let's just say the taste coming back up didn't taste like meat.

I hit a couple of stalls, but I have found the way to break them:  moving one's ass.  I started hitting the treadmill hard, increasing my protein, and staying away from junk carbs.  My goal is to be below 240 before the 26th, which is my six month followup with Dr. Richardson.  I think I'll make it.

One issue, clothes.  Right now I am wearing a size 46 pants because that is the only thing I have left in my closet.  Long ago, the wife gave up on me actually losing weight and gave my old clothes away.  I have dropped four sizes on work clothes and I know I can fit a 44 and maybe even a 42.  I just need to go shopping to find out.  I may need an ego boost this weekend, so I may do some window shopping tomorrow.

Also, I find that my knee is slowly getting better.  I actually was able to do some sprints last week. 

Life at a smaller weight definitely has its advantages.  I walked the LSU campus today with my kids on an all day open house and never even breathe hard. 

For anyone that is considering this as a solution, I encourage you to go for it.  I met someone at my job last week and the conversation shifted to weight issues.  I tell anyone who was my size or bigger that there is a tool to help you fight obesity, all you have to do is use it.

Haven't blogged in a while and since I am working the night shift, I'll probably put a few posts up for people to review, critique, and maybe help me out with some thangs.

Here is how my weight loss has gone so far this year:
Pre-Op:
January - 6 pounds
February - 4 pounds
March - 12 pounds

Post-Op
April - 29 pounds
Mary - 17 pounds
June - 13 pounds
July - 7 pounds
August - 1 pound

Now the month's results post op are kind of off, since I start from my surgery date (April 28) as my starting point..  Pretty plain to see that this month has been a struggle, however I am pleased with my overall results so far.

The 250's has been where I've stalled out so far.  I currently weigh 251, but I was at 250 a couple of weeks ago.  I started increasing my protein intake from an average of 68 grams a day to the full 80 grams daily my nutritionist recommends.  My caloric intake is now averaging a little over 1000 calories a day, up from the upper 800's .

I was really looking forward to last night.  I went to see my grandmother in Baton Rouge, LA for her 92nd birthday.  This was going to be the first time members of my family were going to see the " work in progress" me.  Three of my aunt's were there along with one of my cousin's and his family.  Everyone was happy to see me.  My Aunt Cheryl told me it was the first time that she could wrap her arms around me.  Maybe it was vanity but I enjoyed the attention.  My grandmother ( who I haven't always got along with) was especially happy.

But the night ended with a comment from my Dad of all people, who told me that I was walking "arrogantly".  I brushed it off but today at work those words kind of really sunk in for me.  I've always had a good relationship with my father, I kind of expected that kind of comment from my mom.  It really has me pissed off today.  Now, he has had a lot of health problems in his life and all and one of the reasons I did this surgery was to not go down the road he has travelled; two kidney transplants, and three separate periods of kidney dialysis (including right now).  This used to be the kind of thing that would drive me to drink or overeat.  He made the comment to me as he was leaving so what did I do?  I went back to having a good time, stayed for about 20 more minutes, answered questions, let my cousin post some pictures on his Facebook account and went home not even thinking about that.

I don't know if my sister heard him say that, but it just makes me wonder why some people can be negative over my happiness.  You know what, that's why I tell my kids to never let anyone spoil their joy.  And neither will I.

Went to see the bariatric doc and NUT on July 27th, the day after we got back from Florida.  According to my numbers, I have lost 36% of my excess body weight so far, still ahead of schedule.  They expect me to be at 30% of EBW, so I am not as discouraged this week since I hadn't lost a pound.  However, I am losing more inches as my only pair of size 46 shorts now requires a belt.  They aren't falling to my ankles yet, but they aren't tight like they were a month or so ago. 

My daughter asked me last night if I could wear a size 44 yet.  I told her I don't own anything at size 44 so I don't know if it would fit.  We were shopping for school uniforms then and being that I got off of night shift that morning and going back on dayshift this morning, I really didn't feel like trying on clothes.  Maybe on my day off Tuesday. :)

Anyway, feel pretty good.  Other than the knee issue, I feel great.  Haven't thrown up in a month.  The NUT released me to try air-popped popcorn, unsalted nuts, and lettuce.  Also fruit with peels, like apples and such.  I LOVE APPLES.  Got one in my luuch kit today, will try that out.

Well, back to work this week and I have officially (?) hit my first non-loss week.  After losing five pounds while on vacation two weeks ago, last week I didn't lose any weight.  In fact, I have been gaining and losing the same two pounds for the past week.  I don't know if this is a stall but I am trying to change up my routines.  I am climbing as much as my knee will allow.  But I think that I need to go get a cortisone shot pretty soon.  This knee has been nagging for a while now.

Just looking for some input here.  According to my Fitday account, I am averaging about 66 grams of protein this week, with an average of 77 grams of carbs which includes 11 grams of dietary fiber.  I am bringing up my protein intake while trying to lower my carbs.  Is this a good way to go?  Or am I just stressing?

Last weekend, I took the family on a brief vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida.  I got to see just how much I've changed following my RNY 3 months ago.  The last time we went on vacation, I got winded quickly, had to constantly sit and take breaks, and felt out of place and fat.

Now, I am full of energy.  I was constantly walking ahead of the family.  They couldn't keep up with me.  We were right across the street from the beach so we were constantly going back and forth.  We did all kinds of shopping.  I kind of went off diet for those three days, trying new foods like mahi-mahi, eating a couple of grilled shrimp.  Snacking on baked potato chips and unsalted peanuts.  I even tried an iHop egg omelet, egg whites of course.  I only had one protein shake and that was when we left the house.  Every meal had some kind of protein in it and when we got back on Monday afternoon, I found that I lost five pounds for the week.  Awesome.  I posted some of the pictures on my profile, my new avatar is from the resort room where we stayed.

I can't wait to go back next summer. 

I am currently weighing 258 lbs, which I can't remember when the last time was I was at that weight.  When I was discharged from the Navy in September 1993, I weighed 244 lbs. so when I hit that weight it'll be very special for me.

I went to see my primary care doctor on July 5th.  It was my first visit to see her since my surgery.  I got my lab results back last week.  My A1C (three month blood sugar test) result was 5.5% which puts me in the category of a normal person who doesn't have diabetes.  Not bad considering I haven't taken any medication since the day I got home from the hospital after having my gastric bypass.  Just another reason for the morbidly obese to have this life-saving surgery.