dirk2000
November 19, 2009
I am a 48 year old, happily married medical professional. Weight problems started for me in my mid 20's after I married. I went from a very skinny athlete, to a pudgy sedentary couch potato. In my head I'm still the same old skinny guy, but the face and body staring back from the mirror no longer match the picture in my head. Over the years, I have gained slowly but steadily until I reached my current weight of 350 pounds. If you had told me 20 years ago I'd be at this point, I'd have laughed at you. It really still just doesn't seem possible.
Over the last couple of years, I've watched my blood pressure, blood sugar, and lipids slowly climb as the weight piled on. While I don't yet have a diagnosis of coronary artery disease, hypertension or diabetes, I know that those problems are only around the corner (if I live long enough to develop them). I've tried several times to modify my diet and exercise routine over the years, but I have found that everything I do fails after a few months of earnest effort. Each time, I lose a significant amount of weight, only to regain it quickly when I am no longer able to keep up with the routine.
Nearly a year ago, I began seriously looking at weight loss surgery as a tool in my effort to make a life long change to improve my health. I know it isn't a magic remedy that will suddenly fix all of the problems that have led to my current state, but I believe it is the "jump-start" that I need to make it work.
Here's to taking the first steps on the journey back to good health!
Rick
