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Well, to say it's been a while is more than an understatement......but as I got busier with my teaching last fall, I found less and less time to even visit here on OH, let alone blog....

But now it's been nearly 13 months since my life began again, so it's fitting that I take a look back at how far I've come in my journey thus far.

The weight loss has definitely slowed down....I dipped under 200 on March 25th and have pretty much maintained that weight ever since (currently at 197).  I'm not at all disappointed, as I originally figured my "goal" weight would be around 200.  While my weight has basically stayed the same, my body continues to reconfigure itself, a condition I chalk up to my running and gym workouts.  I'm now comfortably wearing size 34 pants, and even have one pair of shorts that are a size 32, so considering I used to wear a size 50, I've got nothing to complain about.  I recently attended a family wedding and had to buy new clothes.....I wore a 40 regular jacket.....my last jacket was a 54 regular, so again, no complaints!

Energy-wise, I'm feeling great.  I started running at the end of January and have done 3 five-mile road races and 5 5K road races since mid-March.  I've absolutely fallen in love with running and still cannot believe I'm able to do it.  Naturally, my competitive nature has me always wanting to put up a PR each time I go out (so far, 26:45 for 5K, 44:18 for 5-miler), but I'm really only interested in doing my best and completing the run.  I'm doing a 5K tomorrow morning and another 5-miler next Thursday evening, then I've got no races planned until the end of August.   My main goal for the fall is to complete my first half marathon (Bay State - Lowell, MA - 10/19/08), so my training will take on a new focus starting next week.  It's nice to get the t-shirts from each race, as I've had to get rid of SO many of my old t-shirts that no longer fit!

It was so much fun flying down to Baltimore for the wedding last week.  The last time I'd been on a plane (July 2006), I could just fasten the seatbelt.....literally stretched it to it's limits.  This time, I fastened it easily, tightened it, and was shocked at how many inches of slack seatbelt was left.  It really brought home how much my body has changed since the surgery.

I've found that I can eat more than I thought I'd be able to eat, but that started around 3 months post-op.  It's not really a concern, as my diet is totally healthy, but considering how many stories I've read of people being able to eat only tiny portions even years out, it makes me wonder whether the surgeon operated on my stomach or on my head!!!  I'm so pleased with my progress and feel that if I wanted to lose a bit more weight, I probably could do it, but I like where I'm at.  It feels manageable and healthy and that's such a long way from where I was just a few short months ago.

 

Ok, so here's the deal........first off, it's been ages since I last posted. Not surprising, really, as since the beginning of school in late August, my free time has been severely compromised, leaving me little time to obsess/contemplate/process my rapidly decreasing weight... 

but then I got on the scale Tuesday morning....just like I do every Tuesday morning. 

It read: 226 

I had to spend a moment to look at that number and realize what it represented to me. On October 23, 2006, I weighed in at my doctor's office at a hefty (all-time high) 327 pounds, prompting this whole journey I've been on for the last 51 weeks. So in a week short of a year, I've dropped 101 pounds. That's includes the 71 pounds I've dropped since my surgery nearly 4 months ago. WOW! 

Needless to say, I'm feeling great about the new me. Physically, I've never felt better, I'm wearing "tiny" clothes (size 38 pants, size "L" polo shirts), and I'm finally able to once again wear my college ring which has been gathering dust for the last 10 years. Again, I know that this journey is still in the very early stages, but it's been an amazing ride thus far!

Ok, so it's a weird title, but considering that some of my posts somehow ended up getting erased, I'm not going to worry about titles anymore!

So my surgery was 11 weeks ago today..............and the numbers must be reported:

High Weight (10/23/06):              327
Surgery day weight (6/19/07):      297
Weight 4 wks post-op (7/17/07):  265
Weight 8 wks post-op (8/14/07):  253
Weight 11 wks post-op (9/4/07):  243

So I'm down 54 pounds from surgery day, and down 84 pounds from my all-time high..........and I can't say that I'm anything less than thrilled with my progress!  I feel better and better each day and I'm just in wonderland when it comes to my "new" life.

My annual physical took place a few weeks ago and it was a total love-fest.  My PCP is thrilled my results thus far and has been very encouraging throughout the entire process.  When he got my bloodwork back from the lab, he sent me my results with a wonderful note.  I actually feel compelled to note those results here, as they dramatically indicate the change in my internal health since the surgery.

                                                       Pre-op                               Post-op
Cholesterol                                        203                                   158
HDL                                                   32                                     55
LDL                                                  138                                     89 
Triglycerides                                      212                                    69 

All in all, no complaints!

The compliments keep coming every day from many of my colleagues.  Seems like everyone either wants to know what I'm doing or want to share their own WLS experiences or those of someone they know.  My energy level is higher than it's been in years and I'm able to wear dress shoes all day long without feeling like a cripple when I get home. I think one of the other nice things about losing all this weight is that I have choices again...........and it's all good!

More to come in the following weeks!                                                                                        

I cannot believe that summer is at its end, but tomorrow morning, I head back to school to get ready for the coming school year.  This summer has just flown by as I've been focused so hard on my recovery from surgery and beginning to learn the new relationship with food that I'm still working on developing.  As any of you who are post-op already know, the notion that WLS is somehow the "easy way out" of obesity is a complete fallacy, and if the general public (or as I like to call them, the "great unwashed" LOL) only knew how difficult it is for someone like me to attempt to rewire my brain where food is concerned, they'd never claim anything about this process was "easy"!

Only 3 other teachers in my school knew what I was going to do on June 19th, but I think even they will be shocked when they see me tomorrow morning.  The 50 pounds I've lost post-op has made a tremendous difference in my appearance, and it hasn't hurt my self esteem any either.  I'm really looking forward to blowing some minds tomorrow morning and beyond as my colleagues get a good look at the "new" Bill.....should be fun!

One of the most beautiful side effects of the surgery and the weight loss is the improvement in my outlook on life and everyone around me.  I'm simply a much more positive person........oh, I'm still a bit of a pessimist and a cynic, but all in all, I'm really excited about my life, my career, my marriage, my family, and everything we're involved in.  Feeling this way is not something I'm used to..........but I'm sure enjoying getting used to it!

Donated 4 big trashbags full of old clothes today..........went through the closet and dresser drawers and said goodbye to clothes that have served me well, but now represent someone I'm not and will never be again.  Naturally, I kept one pair of pants......size 50 Dockers.  Gotta have something for the "after" pictures!!

Clothes shopping for school was a blast.........shopping in NORMAL stores again!  Buying polo shirts and dress shirts in a size LARGE.....can't even remember the last time I didn't wear an extra large, and suddenly I'm down two whole sizes!  WEEEEEEEEE!     My pants are down to a 42, although I'm sure in no time, I'll be in the 30's again for the first time in 30 years!

That's all for now........I'm sure I'll have MUCH more to post about tomorrow. 

I went to edit the posting I made about 2 weeks ago.......and somehow it got completely wiped out.......ARGH!

Oh well, guess I'll just have to post again a bit later today.....

Has it really been one month since my surgery?  Hard to believe, but the time has really flown by.  I think I can honestly say that it's been, for the most part, exactly how I expected it to be, although there have been plenty of surprises (both good and bad) along the way.

On to the numbers!

Weight: all-time high (10/23/06):                  327
Weight on surgery day (6/19/07):            297
Weight one month post-op (7/19/07):    265

So I'm down 62 pounds from my all-time high and 32 since surgery.  Roughly a pound a day.......can't complain about that.  The weight loss has slowed down since my last post, although I really didn't think I could sustain that kind of loss long-term.  

I feel like my energy is almost all the way back to where it was pre-op.  I still get tired sometimes in the afternoon, but I think it's more a function of how hard I worked in the gym that morning than anything else.

Eating has gotten more interesting lately.  I've been in Stage 4 for the last week, so I've moved off of liquids and onto pureed foods.  I've found that I definitely tolerate tuna and salmon, as well as turkey chili and refried beans.  I'll occasionally have some deli turkey slices or a cup of my homemade soup for a snack throughout the day and I'm still rockin' the Crystal Light all throughout the day, so getting my fluids in hasn't been any problem.  Protein can be a bit more problematic......when I was drinking 3 protein shakes a day, there was never any question about getting enough protein, but now.......well, if I make sure I eat enough tuna/salmon and then make sure my snacks are full of protein, then I'm ok.

I did manage to get myself in a little bit of trouble when I tried eating a little hamburger.  When it was fresh off the grill, it was still plenty moist, so it wasn't too difficult to get it down, but when I tried to have it the next day, that's when the problems started.  After reheating them in the microwave, they were a bit dried out, but I still thought I'd be able to handle it if I ate them extra slowly and chewed everything within an inch of it's life!  Needless to say, it was a real struggle and eventually things got stuck halfway down.  Not fun to feel that particular feeling, but I topped that the following night when I ate some fish too fast.  Suddenly, I felt like I was going to be sick, but all that came up was foam......yuck!  Eventually, I took matters into my own hands, stuck my fingers down my throat and expelled the offending fish.  I feel like I definitely learned my lesson.......follow the program and EAT SLOWLY!!!!!

I've already had to abandon several pairs of shorts which are now too big, as well as finding shirts I haven't worn in years that now fit comfortably.  I know that there's going to be more of that to come in the future, but it's pretty cool to see some of those changes starting to happen.  Watching the scale numbers decrease is cool, but seeing how my body is changing really drives home what is happening.

Went to my first Gastric Bypass Post-Op Support Group meeting at Tufts this past Monday night.  There was a lot of great information provided by the staff but the really cool stuff was hearing the inspirational stories of the other patients there.  While I had no really serious health issues prior to surgery, hearing how other people's lives have changed due to the surgery reinforced that I made the right decision to go through with it.  I look forward to being able to share my story sometime in the future.

I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to tell my colleagues when I get back to school at the end of August.  The only people I told were the other members of my team, but I have a feeling that there are going to be many people wondering what happened to me over the summer.  I guess I could just say that I really focused on diet and exercise over the summer, but something tells me I might have a hard time selling it.  I guess I'll figure it out along the way.

More to follow......this journey is AMAZING!!!!



Music Video:  NOW & FOREVER  (by Richard Marx)

Music Video Code provided by Video Code Zone

So another week has passed, and another 8 pounds have melted away.....I'm still walking every day, either on the treadmill or just heading outside and communing with nature.  One of the most beautiful things about being a classroom teacher is that your summers are yours, so I really have nothing to do other than focus on my recovery and learning a new, healthier way of life!

My discomfort is lessening each day, although my digestive system is still a bit of a day-to-day adventure.  Some days, everything's great.....and other days, well.....keep me away from any open flames!  LOL

I'm starting to see my jawline really emerge and my stomach is decidedly smaller than I can ever remember it.  I've already had to discard some shorts and went to Kohl's to purchase a pair of Columbia cargo shorts in my "incentive" size (40).  Don't quite fit into them yet, but I figure it can't be much more than a week or two away!

On Saturday, we went to a going-away party for a colleague of mine who's going to teach overseas for 2 years.  I was wondering if any of them would have noticed my new appearance......and nobody did.  I'm still not sure if I'm happy or sad about that, but I guess after you see somebody every day for 10 months, you might not notice if they drop 20 pounds over a week and a half.  Anyway, it was pretty tough to sit there sipping my Crystal Light while everyone around me was enjoying chips and salsa, hot dogs, roast beef, salads, pasta, sausages, etc....I think it was actually the first time I experienced "head hunger".  I mean, I definitely wasn't hungry, but those old friends of mine sure looked tasty!

I'm not sure it's a reaction to that experience, but now I'm hooked on watching cooking shows on TV!  My wife thinks it's particularly funny that before the surgery, she couldn't have paid me to watch "The Barefoot Contessa" or "Everyday Italian" and now I arrange my schedule around those shows (and others).  I did get inspired and made my own yummy broccoli soup so I could have something to snack on between protein shakes.  My hope is that as my diet starts to move back to something approaching "normal", I'll still feel that inspiration.......there's something VERY satisfying about making a soup!

Bill 2.0 is the "new" me......the post-op me.  The one who's going to learn what life is like when you're not obese!
 
Bill 1.0 wasn't a bad guy.....in fact, I really liked him a lot.  In certain ways, I'm going to miss him, but I think all of the good parts from the original version are included in the new upgrade.

One week ago, I was having my Lap RNY performed by Dr. Scott Shikora at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston.  I had weighed myself that morning on our new Tanita scale and am going to use 296.6 as my pre-op weight.

The surgery went well (well, at least that's what I've been told) and I was up and walking as soon as possible once I was relocated from the recovery room to my actual hospital room (which was a double room, but the other bed was never filled, so I guess it was a private room!).  I didn't mind the catheter so much (although it felt pretty weird coming out), but I didn't care too much for the drain.  The morphine definitely did the trick, except I really could've used more when it came time for the drain to come out......OMG, it felt like that thing was snaked around all of my guts and they were all going to come out with it!

Being released to go back home after only 2 nights was a bonus.....it was soooooooooo nice to be back in my own bed.  My son has been so wonderfully gentle since I came home.....pre-op, I was the human jungle gym and I can't wait until I can serve that role again, but for now I'm just not ready for a 40-lb dynamo to be launching himself into and off of my abdomen!

It's only been a week, but I think I can honestly say that I'm getting a bit sick of liquids!  The results have been great (more on that later), but I'm wishing I could get into my stage 5 diet already.  Hey, I never claimed to be a very patient man, so it's hard to think that I'm not going to be really able to "eat" again until the end of the summer, but that's about how it's gonna be.  Oh well!

The gas was pretty incredible on Thursday......I was in a lot of pain, but it started to subside.  By Friday, all systems were operating again (if you know what I mean!), so that helped move the gas along.  I have noticed that my digestive system is reacting in a somewhat lactose-intolerant way to the protein shakes, but I'm going to give it a little more time before I start getting concerned about that.  The gas has been and continues to be incredibly stinky......my son thinks it's amusing, my wife wants to move!  I figure it's just another phase of the recovery process and will pass (no pun intended!) in time.

Been walking about 3 miles a day since Friday.....it's a relatively flat course, but a good amount of work nonetheless.  I'm not quite ready to tackle some hills, but I think that will also come in time.  Once I get the clearance to go back to the gym, I'm not sure I'll be walking quite so much, but it's nice to get out in nature so maybe I'll continue.

On the fluid side, I really was a bit sceptical about Crystal Light........that was until I tried the Raspberry Green Tea flavor......OMG!!!!!   I'm putting away 64 ounces of that stuff a day.......I love it!!!

As to the weight loss so far, it's been remarkable.  I know I'm only taking in something like 500 calories a day, but I guess I thought it would be slower than it's been.  Each time I get on the scale, I have to suppress a giddy laugh......and I couldn't be happier!  So here's how it breaks down:

Highest recorded weight (10/06):   327
Weight at beginning of program (1/21/07):  321
Pre-op weight (6/19/07):   297
Weight 1 week post-op (6/26/07):  282
Weight 2 week post-op (7/3/07):    274

So I'm down 53 pounds from my all-time high, 47 pounds since I began the OCC program at Tufts-NEMC, and 23 pounds since the surgery two weeks ago today!

WOW..........I really do feel like I'm on my way!

More to come!!!!!!!

Is this really happening tomorrow?  

Seems like just yesterday I was coming home from my checkup in a bit of shock at my weight and blood pressure.  Now, I'm looking at going into the hospital to have my God-given digestive system re-routed.

Strange days, indeed!

Father's Day was great......took Ben to see the Pawtucket Red Sox play the Richmond Braves.......we lasted all of 3 innings, but it's a start!  Grilled some steaks and had a nice family dinner, then watched a movie.  On Saturday, we dropped Ben off at my parents' house and Barb and I had a lunch/movie date (just like in the "old days").....saw "Knocked Up" and laughed ourselves silly.

I'm just trying to relax today and not worry too much about tomorrow and beyond.  I'll be going to the gym later, so that will definitely help me deal with some of my anxieties.

Today is my birthday, but tomorrow is NOT just another day! 

Well, it's not that I'm exactly gorging myself in the final week, but I'm definitely eating some things I think I'll either never be able to eat again, or will have to wait a LONG time before I'll be able to dial them back into my diet.

Case in point, Bedford Farms ice cream.

Now for those of you who haven't experienced the joys of "farm stand" ice cream in New England, just imagine the best ice cream you've ever had.....and then double everything you like about it. That's about what it's like. I can't imagine anytime in the future (post-RNY) that I'll be able to truly enjoy ice cream.....and even if I can, it will be in a very limited way. I'd like to think that I'm ok with that, but I think that's going to fall under the heading of "adjusting to life post-bypass". I'm only going to know what that's like when I'm dealing with the changes on a day-to-day basis.

So this past Sunday, I loaded my son into the car and drove off on a culinary stroll down (soon-to-be) Memory Lane. First stop was at Wild Willy's Burgers in Watertown, MA. Had to get one more juicy Rio Grande Burger (topped w/green chiles and cheddar) with a big order of fries. My parents met us there, so it was a wonderful family lunch. My little guy enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich while Daddy savored one last mega-burger. Then off to Bedford, MA and some delicious Bedford Farms ice cream. It was a beautiful day here on Sunday which made eating the ice cream in the parking lot all the more fun. I truly enjoyed every morsel (can you really use "morsel" when describing ice cream? What else would you call it???)

I'm not making any excuses, but as my surgery approaches, I'm becoming very aware that my relationship with food is going to be changing radically. I know that all the things I love haven't really been loving me back, so I know I shouldn't miss them, but I'm having a hard time seeing how I'm going to enjoy food post-bypass. It's definitely moving from "live to eat" to "eat to live", and I know I'm going to adjust to all the changes, but looking at it from a pre-op perspective, I'm having a hard time imagining just how it's going to all work out.

I'm definitely excited about the future and can't wait to get started, and I have NO intention of sabotaging the hard work I've done over the past 6 months, but I am going to enjoy this last week before surgery. Last night, after I got back from the gym, I grilled up some steak tips and veggies, which got washed down by a yummy Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel (can't imagine I'll be enjoying wine for a while after next Tuesday!), and tonight, we're going to be having some 'que from Blue Ribbon Barbeque. Finally, with Father's Day and my birthday on Sunday and Monday, I'm pretty sure there might be some cake in my future. I'm planning to take my son to a baseball game for Father's Day.....starting what I hope will become an annual tradition.

Even though I'm confident that the surgery will go well, I'm making a point to be extra nice to all the people in my life......my students in school, my family, my son......and especially my wife. She's been my rock through everything and I know she's both excited for me and scared at the same time. I'm doing everything I can to try to alleviate her worries (all the bills are paid through the end of the month!), but I know she's counting down the days as well.

Should be an interesting week......and NOTHING like the weeks that will follow!