I was a skinny kid until 12ish (puberty) then gained weight to the level of obesity (BMI probably in upper 20s or low 30s). As a freshman in high school I weighed around 200 lbs. I joined the swim team and worked out 2 to 3 hours a day year round, lost weight then kept it off.  I was at about 185 as a senior, BMI approximately 23. Since then I have gained and pretty much stayed obese.

Around 2005 started having major obesity related issues. I have tried multiple diets over the years and been able to loose 20 or so lbs, but have re-gained and added more.   As stated above in early 2009 I found out that I was classified as morbidly obese. This really shook me and actually made my condition worse. I started acting like an overweight person, slowing down, not participating in sports, or playing with my kids as much as I would like.  

I found a solution (or so I thought). My work transferred me to Cincinnati for 6 months at the end of 2009. The Cincy office has a free fitness center, and the apartment complex I was staying in had a small gym as well.  I thought that this is perfect; I can start working out again daily and lose some weight. So six months later, I moved back home to Jacksonville and went to see my PCP.  I was excited to see how much weight I had lost (the fitness centers scales don’t go above 300 lbs so I wasn’t weighing myself for the 6 months.) I was exercising a lot so and I felt my belt getting looser so I was hopeful. Turns out I had gained 20 lbs in the six months, so now I was just over 350 lbs.  

At this point I figured that I would be stuck as an obese person for the rest of my life, a life I didn’t expect to last much longer. I am 35 and was thinking I had maybe another 10 years left.  Like most obese people, I have the health problems; sleep apnea, GERD, IBS, and pain, to mention a few. Then I heard the same commercial on the radio about weight loss surgery.   This time I thought, well I have tried traditional diet and exercise, so I will look into surgery. I did like the commercial asked and went to one of the free seminars.  I then went to a second one. After looking at the options I decided that I would like to try a band type surgery. It looks the least destructive and the success odds the doctors shared sounded good.  

I was a little reluctant to talk to my family at first about the idea of surgery. I started with my wife and she simply said, sure why not. Not overwhelming support but not unsupportive. I eventually told my extended family and braced for the ear full I was sure was coming. I was amazed at how extremely supportive they were and still are. I get calls constantly from my mommy asking me about the steps I have taken and what I have learned.  

So to date (Oct 2010) I have started the physician supervised visits, with hope to get surgery in about 6 months. We shall see!

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FL
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Oct 21, 2010
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