jimgarrison
Jim Garrison WLS History
Feb 22, 2007
BEGINNING STATS - DECEMBER 2002
Age - 44
Height - 5'9"
Weight - 351
BMI - 53.4
SURGERY TYPE - OPEN RNY
DECEMBER 22, 2002
Too strange. I had not even given WLS a thought...until...one night I was doing some finance research on the internet and came to the site of a talk show personality here in Dallas. His website covers a lot of things. But there was a window that said "Live 25 years longer". I clicked on it and the link took me to the WLS story of Benjamin Dover. I read it and knew right away that I needed, and wanted, to have the surgery. His surgeon was John Alexander in Dallas. I researched EVERY single doctor and ultimately ended up where I started.
DECEMBER 27, 2002
My wife and I were laying in bed one night. It took about all of the courage I could summon to tell her what I was thinking. My wife was very open to the thought and agreed to go to my first consultation with Dr. Alexander. I am glad she went. If she had not gone with me, I don't think I would have pursued having the surgery.
JANUARY 5, 2003
I have an appointment with Dr. Alexander on January 9th. I have read 100's of profiles and accounts of WLS patients.
JANUARY 11, 2003
First appointment complete. Waited 2.5 hours. I liked Dr. Alexander. He answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns. EGD and stress are scheduled for January 23. Will now start the insurance thing.
JANUARY 14, 2003
The insurance company (BC/BS) has the pre-cert letter from Dr. Alexander. I confirmed that today. I was told the process will take 7 to 10 days.
JANUARY 23, 2003
I have now completed the stress test and the EGD. Both were a piece of cake. (No pun intended) I have sleep apnea and require a CPAP when sleeping. Needless to say, I was concerned about being "knocked out" for the EGD without a CPAP. No problem at all. HealthSouth and EVERY single person I came in contact with gets "Two thumbs up!" They were all very nice, helpful, and comforting. Denise from Dr. Alexander's office was there also. She is the best! She has had WLS and will share her story with you. You will find a lot of comfort in hearing her experience with WLS.
Now that all of the preliminaries are done...it is time to start getting really serious about insurance approval.
FEBRUARY 8, 2003
This insurance thing is taking longer than hoped. I know that I am being very impatient. I have called at least 2 times a week to make sure "things are on track."
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
Approved. I think. BC/BS faxed the letter to Alexander's office. I called the doctor's office and told them it was there. They found it. I was told by the doctor's office that they got it and that "it really wasn't approved, but it was not denied either." So, I asked them to fax it to me. They did. Now, I am not an insurance specialist, but it appeared to be approved to me. So, I called BC/BS and asked them what was the status of the pre-determination. I told them I got the fax that the doctor's office got and that there was some confusion as to what it meant. The girl at BC/BS was very nice and after a few keystrokes on her computer said, "well, it shows that it was approved. Is there anything else I can help you with?" I asked her if there was another letter that I should be looking at or if the one I had could be interpreted as an approval. She said it was an approval. So, tomorrow I confirm with the doctor's office and then we can get this show on the road!
FEBRUARY 11, 2003
I have a date! Everyone seems to be on the same page as far as insurance approval and I now have a date. Friday, March 14 at RHD in Dallas.
FEBRUARY 13, 2003
I have scheduled all of the pre-op stuff, given the doctor's office my pharmacy number, and scheduled the pre-register at the hospital thing. Thirty days and counting!
FEBRUARY 14, 2003
Valentines Day. My wife gave me some clothes that do not fit me. They are several sizes too small and will come in handy on the way down. Excellent present!
MARCH 2, 2003
Not much to report. Pre-op stuff is Friday the 7th. Surgery is the following Friday, March 14 at RHD. No second guessing, no reservations. I am still very ready to do this.
MARCH 7, 2003
Today was PRE-OP day. I went to the doctors office for the EKG, bloodwork, lung function, neuro, and blood pressure tests. Applause to all involved. It was a well oiled machine and very well organized. RHD gets two thumbs up. Everything checked out okay and I got the green light for surgery. Friday, March 14 at 8AM...Surgery Day! Be sure to stop by...I should be out of surgery in time for lunch!
*** IMPORTANT INSURANCE NOTE ***
Today turned out great. It could have easily gone the other way. Here is why. There is a BIG difference between a pre-determination approval...and a pre-certification approval. I am sure many of you know this. I did not. When I was pre-admitting at RHD they asked for a pre-cert letter. I handed them the pre-determination letter. Needless to say, I got an education real fast about the difference. The pre-determination approval merely says that your policy does in fact cover a particular procedure. It does not mean, however, you are automatically going to get a pre-certification approval for them to PAY for those benefits. In the case of my insurance, (BC/BS) when you get the pre-determination...it starts the pre-cert process automatically. I could have easily been screwed on pre-admit day. Lesson learned: Well...just keep asking if you have all of the paper work needed to get pre-admitted!
MARCH 9, 2003
Four days and a wake-up until surgery. I am very prepared and ready. I have done the research, done my homework, and I know I have the right surgeon. I spoke with Barb Charbonneau yesterday. She is 5 days post-op. She sounded great and was a wealth of information regarding surgery. She did say that the pain was greater than expected but subsided within 24 hours. Her first hand experience has been a great resource and I encourage you to find someone who has recently had the surgery. If possible, using the same surgeon and hospital as you. Also, feel free to email if you have any questions or concerns regarding any part of the process. I will be glad to help.
MARCH 12, 2003
I have started the soft food thing. Tomorrow is the "colon blow" or colyte. Neither is that big of a deal and are viewed as mere stepping stones to get me to my goal. I really have only two things that I am not looking forward to....the catheter...and making sure the hospital keeps me on my CPAP during recovery. The catheter thing is all about modesty. I just don't want to disrupt the floor because all of the nurses want to see "the package." Very embarrassing. The picture below is a suggestion from my wife, Kathy. She suggested a picture that had an object in it for scale or size reference. Since an elephant was not available, I opted for my Jeep. Stay tuned, there WILL be an "after" picture ASAP.
MARCH 13, 2003
Wow. The night before. I feel great. No worries. The doctor just called to get some pre-surgery info. I am feeling good about the CPAP issue. The co-lyte (bowel prep) was no big deal. The taste was okay...but I will admit...that is a lot of fluid to drink in a short period of time. I am so very ready. I really can't wait to change my profile to "post-op." That will be so cool!
ALL ENTRIES AFTER THIS ARE POST-OP!
MARCH 17, 2003
I am very glad to say that I am now POST-OP! Surgery was 10am on Friday the 14th and I was discharged from RHD at 7PM on the 16th. My quick recovery is only due to the prayers I have received and the expert care of my wonderful wife! I will update more tomorrow and I will tell you all about the SPECIAL bed that RHD had just for me. No kidding, it was special ordered just for my surgery. This was the mother of all beds and allowed me to get out of bed with ease and no pain. Stay tuned.
MARCH 18, 2003
The bed was called a BariKare. It had a remote and functionality like no other bed I have ever seen. Getting out of bed after surgery is usually a big challenge. It is painful and uses up a lot of energy that could be used for walking. The BariKare bed literally stood you up in a walking position! You merely stepped off of the platform and started walking. The bed also gave you the ability to find a comfortable resting position. Hats off to RHD Memorial for bringing the bed in for my surgery.
MARCH 19, 2003
Here are some random surgery notes. (1)I had some numbness in both my hands. Very numb actually. All of the nurses kept telling me that you never know what position the doctor had you in during surgery. It is very possible I was laying on both of my hands for three hours during the procedure. In any case, the numbness went away after three days and all is well. (2)Get up and walk. There is nothing that will get you feeling better...faster. You will probably experience a feeling of bloating in your stomach area. It is probably a good sign that all of your digestive things are waking up and starting to work. There will probably be pockets of trapped gas. WALK! This will help get things moving around. For me, a trip up the stairs was all it took to "release" the pressure. (3)The G-tube is going to be with you for two to three weeks. It is my opinion that the tube is the worst part of the procedure. Not because of pain or discomfort...but because of the length of time you will be married to this nazi designed device. (4)My gallbladder was removed during the surgery. Everything I have read indicates rapid weight loss often promotes the growth of gallstones or other gallbladder issues. It seems to make a lot of sense to remove the gallbladder during this procedure. Many of the post-op problems I have read about are gallbladder related. I would strongly encourage you to challenge a surgeon who does not remove the gallbladder while performing your surgery. (5)Here is the payoff. And it is BIG. There is a mental thing that happens immediately after surgery. I will NEVER have to wonder or worry about what diet program to try next. I will never again experience the despair and depression of yet another failed diet attempt. It is truly liberating. That is the payoff.
MARCH 20, 2003
My first post-op visit went great. No problems and advance to Phase II of the diet. Also, I get the tube out on April 3. That is the best news! The tube is not painful and is probably more of a mental thing. It makes you feel like the surgery is not over. I will be very glad to see it go. As far as the big picture, it goes something like this. I am 7 days post-op. I have not had any pain meds in the last two days and see no reason why I will need to use them in the future. I have lost 16 pounds in 7 days. I have already reduced the setting on my CPAP from a 14 to a 10. I am not hungry but realize that to maintain health I need to keep getting fluids and food in me. Prior to surgery, I never had the feeling of "fullness" and thus never knew when to stop eating. I am amazed how much 3 ounces of pudding fills me up. Three ounces of pudding in the past would have been eaten in 3 or 4 bites. It now takes about 10 minutes to eat it...and I actually enjoy it more. I have never experienced this before. I like it. I feel like everyone else. Actually, I feel better than that...I am so focused regarding diet and this surgery. I am going to be one "lean, mean, weight loss machine."
MARCH 22, 2003
I feel great! Last night we went to a coffee house to hear our son's jazz band play. I had a cup of decaf with skim milk. I nursed that one cup of coffee all night long and ended up drinking only a few tablespoons total. But it tasted great! Only 7 days post-op! Folks, you have to got to get up and move around. Walk. For me, going upstairs produced great results. It got everything moving and relieved pressure that was settling or building up inside me. Walking is the answer to quick recovery. So kids, the word for the day is W-A-L-K!
MARCH 23, 2003
Nine days post-op. My family and I went to church and then out to eat. Yes, I said out to eat. We went to Black Eyed Pea. I ordered a cup of broccoli cheese soup and some mashed potatoes with no gravy. Now keep in mind, I only ate about an ounce of potatoes and two ounces of the "cream" part of the soup. So, I stayed within the prescribed foods at this stage. I have not had any "food" issues at all. I am very careful about quantity and am not straying from the food list. This surgery is just so amazing. I am the luckiest guy in the world.
MARCH 24, 2003
I continue to feel better every day! I want to re-enforce the importance of walking and food and fluid intake. I have been told by my doctor to get 64 ounces of water/fluids in me each day. That is what I am doing. They told me to walk. I am walking. Stairs are no big deal and really produce some great results for me.
MARCH 26, 2003
Feeling great. Still no food issues. Getting plenty of fluids. Dinner tonight was some creamed spinach and some mashed potatoes from Boston Market. I had probably a total of 3.5 ounces. I was VERY full. The food tasted great and was as good of a meal as I could have asked for. You know, if you told me I could have ANY food I wanted...I don't think there is any ONE thing that I crave or JUST have to have. The Boston Market stuff was great and made me feel normal. This surgery is so cool. I estimate my caloric intake to be about 350 to 450 per day. I feel like I am eating all of the time. (Every 2 to 3 hours.) But each time is only 1 to 3 ounces.
MARCH 31, 2003
Seventeen days post-op. I have my second post-op doctor visit in three days. The tube will be removed, I will get weighed, and I will probably get to start eating some normal foods. We went out to eat after church yesterday. We went to Abuellos mexican restaurant. I got a scrambled egg and some pappas (potatoes). Very good stuff...all three ounces! I am still "eating" about 5 to 6 times a day. Between cottage cheese, eggs, and protein shakes...I think I am getting my prescribed 60 grams of protein. I am getting about 48 to 58 ounces of water a day. I am going to predict that when I weigh in three days...I will have lost 20 pounds since my last doctor visit 2 weeks ago. I can't wait to start swimming. I have a lot of energy stored up and I know the activity will promote faster weight loss. My goal is to have lost a total of 100 pounds by July 14th, 2003. It will be my little Independence Day from 100 pounds of fat. Did I mention that the tube comes out in 3 days?
APRIL 1, 2003
Okay, virtually overnight I developed an infection on my incision. The doctor's office called in a prescription and I had my first dose of antibiotics within two hours of the call. Since you can't take regular pills or capsules, you have to break open the capsule and pour the contents into pudding or applesauce. Folks let me tell you...that is some crap tasting stuff. I see why it is in capsule form.
APRIL 2, 2003
The infection is responding quickly to the antibiotics. Redness is getting smaller and discharge is looking normal. Word of advice, don't screw around with infections. I probably waited 1 day too many before calling the doctor.
APRIL 3, 2003
What a great day! I had my three week post-op visit today. The tube was removed! That was great! The removal of the tube is no big deal and does not hurt in any way. This was done while I was laying down. The tube is held in place by a little air bubble in the tube. The air bubble is deflated and the tube is pulled out. No pain..no nothing. Dr. Alexander then "debris'ed" the incision scar. This process consists of gently scrubbing some betadine liquid over the scar to remove the scab. It was a little tender but did not hurt much Maybe a 2 on a scale of 1-10. But the really big news is that I lost another 18 pounds! So...that makes a total of 34 pounds gone in three weeks! I will never weigh this much again...ever. That is so cool. This is also the day you get to graduate to "real" food. There were only four "suggestions" regarding what foods not to eat. It was suggested that I not eat beef, added suger, breads, or carbonated beverages. I was pretty much off of beef anyway. I don't really care for soft drinks. I don't add sugar to anything and am not much on sweets. And I will gladly say goodbye to breads to achieve my goal. After we left the doctors office it was time for lunch. The world was my oyster...what did I choose for my first meal? I had half of a chicken burritto from Taco Delite. It was pretty good. Keep in mind, after this surgery, your main focus is getting your proteins in you. Often, I would prefer not to eat anything except for the fact I need to stay healthy and eat for nourishment. I ususally am not hungry when I eat. You will be surprised how much work it is to get all of the protein you need to get. This surgery is so cool. It works. Once again, I am the luckiest guy in the world!
APRIL 7, 2003
Feeling better every day. I have scheduled a doctors appointment for the 9th. I want to have some labs run to see how I am doing on proteins, vitamins, etc. It should be very interesting and very helpful to determine what I need to work on regarding food & liquid intake. I have just three more doses of antibiotic. Infection is all gone. I am very happy about that!
APRIL 15, 2003
Still feel great! This past weekend I was a chaperone on my daughters choir trip. We went to Fiesta Texas and I bet I walked five miles! Then...at night I had to keep up with the 16 year olds. The elevators at the hotel were very slow. It was faster to take the stairs....6 flights up. Not even a problem! The doctor visit went great and everything checked out just fine. I am going to go back in 4 weeks for labs...routine check up. Now check this out...after I got home from the doctor visit, I went straight to my scale at home to see if it weighed the same. It did...exactly! I weighed today...I have lost another 10 pounds in 7 days. That makes a total of 44 pounds lost in 4 weeks. Insert superior dance here. Some may ask...what are you doing? Here it is. I am getting about 60 grams of protein a day. I am AVOIDING ALL CARBS! One slice of turkey breast has 15-20 grams of protein and no CARBS. Same with chicken and tuna. So, thats it, no big secret. Two ounces of any of those things and I am good to go. BEST PART...I AM NOT HUNGRY! I DO NOT CRAVE ANYTHING...I AM THE MASTER OF FOOD! I ROCK! For some reason I now have this urge to go and beat the crap out of something...must be an endorphin overload!
APRIL 18, 2003
WOW! Somehow, someway, I lost 6 pounds in three days. In just 4 and a half weeks I have lost a total of 50 pounds. I am now just two pounds away from being in the 200's!
APRIL 29, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT!!! I am officially in the 200's! In just 6 weeks I have lost 53 pounds! I hit a plateau for about a week. No big deal. I knew I was doing all the right things...it was just a matter of time until I started losing again. CPAP ALERT!! I started with a setting of 14. I am now down to a setting of 5. I have never minded the CPAP but it is now another goal to ween myself off of this machine. Also, I have an appointment on May 5th with my PCP for a routine checkup. We will do some labs, the PSA...and if I am feeling frisky...maybe even the DRE. If you are a male over 40...you know what it is. On a brighter note, I bought a really cool bike and started back to swimming yesterday. I was holding off on swimming until my incision was healed. It was great! The bike is great for lower body and swimming works great for upper. I love this surgery!
MAY 13, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT PART 2!!! It is exactly 2 months post surgery. I have lost a total of 60 pounds. I am now at 291. My short range goal is to lose 100 pounds by July 14. This now leaves me with 40 pounds to lose in 7 weeks. I also got my lab results back from the last doctor visit. All of the nutritional labs check out fine. I am getting enough nutrients via normal food intake. I am not doing the protein shakes. I did have an underactive (hypo) thyroid issue that is being addressed with medication. Doctor says that with dramatic weight loss it could have thrown thyroid out of whack. Go back in 6 weeks to re-test.
MAY 19, 2003
Many folks ask, "How much did it cost?" I think I have received most, if not all, of the bills for my surgery. Not only did I select the right surgeon, I think I had the right insurance also. Here is how it all breaks down. Dr. Alexander charges $205 for the initial consult and $1500 to perform the surgery. He then submits his bills to your insurance...and whatever they cover is what he takes. You will not get another bill from him. I won't bore everyone with all of the billing details but the total of EVERY bill for my surgery was about $70,000. Get this, the BC/BS negotiated rate for my surgery, hospital and related services brought that total down to about $6000. I will have to pay about $1000 of that. So, after it is all said and done, it appears that my out of pocket expenses will be about $2700 over the course of 6 months. Thought some of you may find it interesting.
MAY 28, 2003
Current weight is 284! A total of 67 pounds lost in about 10 weeks. I am now 33 pounds away from my short range goal of "100 LBS GONE BY JULY 14th." Also, I am now only 99 pounds away from my 185 goal. This is what I refer to as my "100 POUND COUNTDOWN". Once again, I am only ten weeks post-op. I will post a new picture on June 14th. That will be my 3 month "post-op" anniversary.
JUNE 14, 2003
3 Month Anniversary. I now weigh 275. I have lost a total of 76 pounds...in three months. Check out the updated picture below! I am now 90 lbs away from goal. I wanted to be well into the 270's for my 3 month anniversary. I had a really good "weight loss rally" going on for the last week. I lost 7 pounds in the last week. I simply got back to the basics. Lots of water and concentrated on proteins...and I was very active. I weigh every day. For a number of reasons. I am kind of finding out what my body responds to in the way of food and exercise. Am I obsessed? Probably. Do I care? Not even. I am having fun! The next weight loss milestone will be the "Halfway To Goal" mark. Just seven pounds away.
JUNE 20, 2003
I now weigh 271. Three months and a week...have now lost 80 pounds. This stuff is just falling off of me. Three more pounds and I will be halfway to goal. Twenty more pounds and I will be a proud member of the "Century Club".
JUNE 25, 2003
A lot of people that read this profile having been asking me if the clothes that my wife bought me on Valentines day now fit me. The answer is yes. I can now wear a wide variety of large and x-large stuff. I have a little plateau thing going on right now. These do not bother me in the least. Once again, I know I am doing all of the right things and my body is just playing catch-up. I have until July 14 to reach my 4 month goal of losing 100 pounds. I have to lose 19 pounds in about three weeks. Can he do it? I think I can. Stay tuned!
JULY 1, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! I am now at 267. I am over half way to my ultimate goal of 185. I am also only 16 pounds away from losing 100 pounds. I have exactly two weeks to lose 16 pounds to meet this goal by my 4 month anniversary. I love this surgery.
JULY 14, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! Okay kids, it is my 4 month post-op anniversary. My BMI is now at 39. This is kind of funny, I am now in the "severely obese" range...and glad about it. Well, it definitely beats anything with the words "super" and "morbid" in the name. The next BMI goal will be anything under 35. That is simply "obese." Perhaps they can come up with some sub-categories like "pleasingly plump" or "fluffy".
Anyway, I did not make my goal of 100 pounds lost in four months. My current weight is 259. I have lost 92 pounds in four months and I am just fine with that. Only 8 more pounds and I can get the coveted Century Club Card.
AUGUST 12, 2003
The graphic here says it all. I love this surgery.
AUGUST 14, 2003
Five Month Post-Op Anniversary. Current weight...249. I have lost 102 pounds in 5 months. My goal is 185. Sixty-four more pounds to go. Most of my weight loss for the last month took place in the last two weeks. I had a plateau going on for the first two weeks.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2003
Current weight is 245. It took me an entire month to lose 4 pounds. But...no problem. Total weight loss for 6 months is 106 pounds. That's about 18 pounds a month. Not bad...and still ahead of schedule. I am now 60 pounds away from my goal of 185. It is important to note that even with slower weight loss...I am still losing inches. This is evident each day as clothes and belts that used to fit...are now hanging off of me. My next goal is to lose 10 pounds by October 15th. That will put me 235... just 50 pounds away from goal. My ultimate goal is to be at 185 by New Years Eve of this year.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2003
Geeeesh, about time. Starting to loose pounds again. That was a really long plateau. Current weight is 241.I have lost 4 pounds in the last week. That makes a total loss of 110 pounds. I only need to loose 6 pounds to reach my October 14th goal of weighing 235. No problem. That will also trigger a couple of milestones. Milestone #1 - BMI will change from "severely obese" to "very overweight". Milestone #2 - I will only be 35 pounds away from being in the 100's, and 50 pounds away from goal. That will make a total weight loss of 166. For some reason that last 50 just doesn't seem like a problem. IMPORTANT NOTE: The plateau came and went without me changing a thing in diet or exercise. I just kept doing what I have done all along...and it finally gave in. I win.
OCTOBER 1, 2003
Current weight is 239. Only four pounds to go for my October 14 goal of 235. The crowd goes wild!
OCTOBER 6, 2003
Current weight is 238. Three pounds away from my next milestone. There really is so very little to write about. I feel great. Never hungry. Weight keeps coming off. No post-op issues at all. It just doesn't get any better than this. FYI - Large and X-large shirts fit just fine. Pre-op shirts were XXL-XXXL. Pants are now a 38...used to be 52. I even lost a shoe size in the process. All of this...in less than 7 months. Be looking for the "7 MONTH" picture on the 15th of October. It will be a real photo extravaganza!
OCTOBER 11, 2003
Current weight is 236. Total weight loss so far is 115 pounds. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN POUNDS GONE IN UNDER 7 MONTHS! That also puts me under a 35 BMI (34.9) I am now considered "very overweight" instead of "obese". It cracks me up that I find that exciting.
OCTOBER 14, 2003
Well, I made it to my 7 month goal of 235. I have lost 116 pounds. I am now 50 pounds away from my goal of 185. I am loosing about 7 pounds a month. Check out the newest pictures below. Oh yeah, I am the luckiest guy in the world.
OCTOBER 23, 2003
Hey boys and girls. Let's talk about scales and weighing today. First of all, you kids already know this...but...those last pounds are pretty hard to get rid of. Not because you are doing anything wrong... but instead for a host of other reasons. Number one...your body is adjusting to the new diet. Secondly, You ARE able to eat more than you were as a 2 month post-op. Thirdly, you quite simply don't have as much to lose now. It is kind of like going to the beach. You know...you get sand ALL over you. It is very easy to get rid of the majority of sand pretty fast. But for the next few weeks you will find "sand leavin's" in some of the strangest places and it will never go away...then one day...it's all gone! Just be patient...stay focused...it will go away. Don't cry...don't whine...don't fret over it...just do what you have been doing ALL along..it will go away!!! Okay, now about weighing. This is just me...but I like to weigh everyday. Not because I am worried about losing the weight...but because I am still learning how my body is responding to different foods and activities. It is amazing how different activities will promote weight loss and others don't. Same with certain foods. Everybody is different. Now, in regards to that... I have to say this...if I had busted my butt for a month in an attempt to lose a bunch of weight...and did not lose a pound because of a plateau...I would not be a happy camper. That is one reason I like to weigh everyday. My scale of choice is a scale called "Thinner". They produce a pretty good line of scales that have a bunch of different functions. They run from $45 to $85 dollars depending on model. The best part about this scale is that it is accurate. It matches the weight that I get when I weigh at my doctors office. So...no surprises there either. I guess that is what it boils down to...when it comes to my weight loss and surgery...I don't like surprises. I bring all of this up as a preface to the fact that I have only lost one pound in ten days. It is no big deal...I WILL LOSE THE REST! It's just that there is a whole lot of crying and whinin' going on out there in regards to plateau's and "those last few pounds". Stay focused. There is a saying..."Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". No kidding.
NOVEMBER 14, 2003
8 month anniversary. Weight is 235. No loss. This is actually good news. I was in the weight loss mode pretty heavy for a solid 7 months. So, I wanted to see how I would do if I just ate "normal". By "normal" I mean good food choices...and portions. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted. I will say this though...I am not very big on sweets...and I don't do softdrinks at all. So...even if I used this month as a test run for maintainance...it was a success.
NOVEMBER 21, 2003
This is cool. This month I am back on my "program". I am really concentrating on high protein and low carbs. In one week, I have lost 3 pounds. I am telling you...this protien/carb thing really works! Two protein shakes a day...MINIMAL CARB INTAKE = WEIGHT LOSS. It truly is as simple as that. My actual calorie intake is probably about 700 to 800. The secret is the protein shakes. I get about 50 grams in those 2 shakes. Energy is off the charts! I love this surgery!
DECEMBER 18,2003
My daughter gave me one of the best Christmas presents EVER! She took me to Six Flags for my Christmas present. Here is why it was so special. First of all...it was just me and her. That in itself made the day great. But there is another reason. About 10 years ago..we all went to Six Flags. We stood in line forever...when we got to the ride...I would not fit. The harness would not close. I had to scoot on through. Very embarrassing. But not this time! We had so much fun...rode everything...somethings even twice! Merry Christmas to me!
DECEMBER 20, 2003
Merry Christmas to all! Here is a little Holiday photo of my wife and me. It's getting really hard to decide who is hotter...me or her. Ok, she still gets the nod.
JANUARY 16, 2004
Happy New Year! Well, I made it through the holidays JUST GREAT! I did not gain a single pound! I ate WHATEVER I wanted. It was all about the PORTIONS! Out of habit....I still concentrate on proteins...and go easy on the carbs. After January 1st...I started back on the "program". I have lost 4 pounds! This is so easy! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME!
JANUARY 17, 2004
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! Okay kids, after 7 years...I have officially retired my CPAP. No snoring, no apnea episodes...no problem!
FEBRUARY 4, 2004
I get a lot of questions regarding "the scar". Here it is 10 months post. Scar is only 4 inches long. I had Open RNY and gallbladder removed.
FEBRUARY 14, 2004
Hi all...well...I am now 11 months post. I feel great and truly dont mind being in pictures any longer. So..in honor of 11 months post-op...here is a picture of me..the wife..and two of our kids.
MARCH 14, 2004
Happy Birthday To Me! I am exactly 1 year post op. Here is a little State of the Union. I went from 351 to 225. From 54 waist to 36. From XXXL shirts to L. From a 11 shoe to 9. The only thing that increased is my energy level. I retired my CPAP at 8 months post-op. I take NO pills or meds for anything. I never had a single post-op issue. I eat anything I like. But what is funny is that what I like...is all healthy. I will gladly take a protein shake before I would take a donut. I prefer water over soft drinks. Give me turkey instead of steak. In addition to good choices..its all about portion control. That's where the surgery comes in. Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS SURGERY?
MARCH 26, 2004
OK Boys and girls. Today is product endorsement day. Let's talk about Protein Powders. If you want to try some real crap...go get a container of Atkins High Protein Low Carb Powder. That is some BAD stuff! First of all...it is crazy expensive. $25.00 for a 1lb (11 servings)canister. The taste is awful...and it just clumps up...stir as much as you want...it just won't mix up. The nutritional formula is okay. I think it has about 25 grams of protein and 3 carbs per scoop "mixed" with 8 ounces of water.
On the other hand...you have Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Protein. THIS STUFF IS GREAT! It tastes like chocolate milk, it mixes great, the nutritional numbers are the same as Atkins...AND THE PRICE IS GREAT! Five pounds (70 servings) for $25.00. How about protein bars? Only one choice here...Carbwise. I don't know how these folks did it...but this thing is really good. It has about 24 grams of protein...3 carbs...240 calories. Its kind like a Twix bar...not a pasty chalky log of crud. IMPORTANT NOTE: I use these items to get my protein in...I DO NOT USE THEM TO SATISFY A SWEET TOOTH OR SUBSTITUTE AS SNICKERS. There are a lot of "low carb" bars out there. BE CAREFUL!!! Some of these products still have 11-15 carbs...NO PROTEIN..and a boat load of sugar! READ THE LABEL!!! This is not what you want! Read the label and FOCUS ON THE PROTEIN!
APRIL 11, 2004
Okay, today is my REAL birthday. Happy birthday to me! I lost two pounds this week and I am now down to 223. That also puts me at a BMI of 32.9. There is no major significance of being at 32.9 ....other than the fact is lower than 33.00. I seem to keep losing inches when I am not losing pounds. Thats cool...people see the inches...not the pounds. At this point...my ultimate goal has changed...I will take anything under 200...195 sounds good to me. So....I am going to say that I am 28 pounds from goal. Wow...that sounds pretty darn cool....28 pounds from goal. I'm bad...I rock.
APRIL 16, 2004
Ahhhh, summertime! Yardwork, hot weather, the lake, biking...all kinds of stuff to do! And the weight just keeps coming off! I lost another 2 pounds in less than a week. I am down to 221. Once I get down to 202 pounds...my BMI will be below 30. Wow...a BMI in the 20's....yeeehaaaaa
MAY 5, 2004
I am almost 15 months post-op. I am now down to 218 and have lost another three pounds since last update. Unfortunately, I don't know how many more of these journal entries I can make....how many times can you keep writing...I am still losing weight...I still feel great?
MAY 13, 2004
Wow. I really expected weight loss to have tapered off big time. I really don't know what to add here. It always seems like the journal entries always say the same thing. This is simply the coolest thing I have ever done for myself...and family. In the last month I have lost another 6 pounds. I am now down to 215 with a total weight loss of 136 in the last 15 months. My goal is only 20 pounds away. But hell, I may go for the whole enchilada and aim for the 185 mark. Honestly, I don't even care, I couldn't be happier. Other than food choices, I think my continued weight loss is due to staying so active. No...I dont exercise...I am just always on the go. Summertime is GREAT!
JUNE 12, 2004
Well, it looks like I only need to be updating about once a month...if that! Everything is going great...still losing weight...and have never felt better! My current weight is 211. That makes a total of 140 pounds lost! I can't believe that I am only a dozen pounds away from being in the 100's!
JULY 14, 2004
Same old, same old. Feeling great, still losing. I am down to 209 now. Energy is off the charts. I would love to write more...but I have stuff to do! Later!
JULY 30, 2004
Hey kids...I am down to 207. Once again...feeling great and NO POST OP ISSUES. My diet consists mostly of the things I love to eat. Chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, protein shakes, cheese, and protein bars. I still eat about 6 times a day....sometimes more. Keep in mind...when I say eat...I mean a protein bar...not a sit down, strap on the feed bag kind of meal. Well, now I am only 8 pounds away from being in the 100's. I am about 20 pounds from goal. Even after 17 months post-op...I am still averaging about a 3-4 pound loss per month. I love this surgery.
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
Over 6 months since my last post. Feeling great, no issues at all! Weight is 207 and holding...with little or no effort on my part. Another little milestone for me....I went to Santa Fe for a ski trip and went snowboarding. Not bad for a former 351 pound fat boy. Here is a photo of me on the slope. Wow...what form.
MARCH 14, 2005
Two year anniversary. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to have had this surgery. It is so much more fun to fill your day with happy thoughts instead of depressing "what diet should I try now?" thoughts. Current weight is 207. I would like to lose 10 more pounds...no problem. Nice little goal for this summer.
APRIL 29, 2006
Been a while so I thought I would check in. I have gained back about 4 pounds. I am addressing that and will be back on track in no time at all. I am still amazed at how quick I continue to get full. Even after three years. I love this surgery!
Jim's Weight Loss Update - ROUND TWO
APRIL 18, 2009
It has been three years since updating, and six years since my surgery. I have gained back 69 of the 151 pounds I originally lost. It is time to get serious.
So, starting today, I am back on the program. My goal is to get to 200 pounds.
Start weight for this project is 275.
Let the games begin!
APRIL 19, 2009
This is going to be easy.
I remember after my surgery, I was making a deliberate effort to watch what I ate. I paid attention to every bite. It really did become second nature.
I got too sure of myself.
I stopped paying attention. Then, the next thing you know. You have gained 70 pounds back. You might say, "How did that happen?"
Easy. Three years ago I stopped weighing. I didnt watch what I ate. Yeah...but 75 pounds?!
Wasnt that hard to do. You gain 2 pounds a month for three years. Bam...72 pounds.
So, I weighed today.
270 Pounds.
APRIL 20, 2009
This is easy. Get up and move.....and eat right. It is simply amazing....I was eating out of habit.....not out of hunger.
Weight today.
267 Pounds.
APRIL 21, 2009
266 Pounds
APRIL 22, 2009
265 Pounds
APRIL 25, 2009
264 Pounds - 64 more to go - All protein...all the time.
MAY 2, 2009
I am highly motivated to get this weight off. Seriously.
262 Pounds - 62 more to go.
MAY 6, 2009
Lots of protein. Cottage cheese, protein shakes. No carbs.
261 Pounds - 61 to go.
MAY 9, 2009
Kickin ass, losing pounds.
259 Pounds - 59 to go.
MAY 10, 2009
Seriuosly, I am on a roll!
Tomorrow is Monday. There are some guys in the neighborhood that do a "bootcamp" kind of thing. It starts at 6:30am.
I will be there. This should enhance an already rockin weight loss program.
It is important to note that I am never hungry. All of my intake was the result of migrating back to BAD habits.
I am convinced that the weight loss is all about the protein. I eat virtually NO carbs.
My diet consists of cottage cheese, protein shakes, Detour Bars, chicken, fruits, vegatables, and fish. The protein takes longer to gigest and process....hence....you feel "fuller" longer. Everyone is different and responds to things differently....but for me.....this program works.
Todays weight, 258 Pounds.
59 more to go.
MAY 20, 2009
Working Out and all protein diet.....lost another 2 pounds!
Todays weight - 256 Pounds
JUNE 2, 2009
SOSO - Working out and protein.
Todays weight - 255 Pounds
JUNE 11, 2009
Pretty intense workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Still focused on high protein diet.
I weighed this morning, actually I weigh every day.....but todays weight says 251.
I am not ready to claim that weight....so....
Todays weight - 253 Pounds
WEIGHT LOSS MILESTONES
351 - START WEIGHT
299 - Out Of The 300's ------------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 6 WEEKS
285 - 100 Pounds To Goal ---------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 8 WEEKS
268 - Halfway To Goal (83 Pound Loss) -------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 14 WEEKS
251 - Century Club "100 POUNDS LOST" ----- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 5 MONTHS
235 - 50 Pounds To Goal ----------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 7 MONTHS - TOTAL LOSS 116 LBS
199 - Out of the 200's --------------------------- STATUS -
185 - GOAL!
WLS ACCORDING TO JIM
I know that my progress is not typical. I have no health issues other than being fat. That plays a BIG part in recovery. I was lucky in that regard. Very lucky. There are, however, three areas that you have TOTAL control of how you will approach your surgery. I hope these thoughts help you in your journey.
(1) THE SURGEON
When making this selection you need to deal in only one thing...facts. Forget about opinions and feelings. You are looking for the most skilled, God gifted man that can perform this surgery. End of story. Forget about things like..."he is 30 minutes closer"...."he is so cute"..."there are too many pre-op tests"...you get the idea. All of the information you need to select the right surgeon is available on this website. Here is what I did. I made a list of all of the surgeons in my area. In Dallas, there are about 24. This is just me...but I could not even consider anyone who had not performed at least 200 of these procedures. That reduced the list to about 8. Now, start reading EVERY post-op profile on every patient of every doctor. Look for post-op complications. You will be surprised. There WILL be a pattern and there WILL be a doctor or two who's patients DO NOT HAVE POST-OP ISSUES! That's your man. Nothing else matters. Nothing.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of other post-ops from other surgeons who proclaim their surgeon to be the best. Yet their profile or journal is filled with weeks or months of post-op issues and problems. I am telling you right now...it does not have to be that way. You need to look beyond the "my surgeon is the best" stuff and read between the lines. Look for the post-op problems. Did they have to have additonal surgeries? Did they have to re-do the operation? How much time in the hospital? Can they hold food down? Did they experience dumping? You know...overall experience.
(2) THE SUPPORT GROUP
Even I did not fully understand how important this was. I will say this, I knew who to tell about the surgery...and who would not understand. The friends and family I chose to tell about my decision were incredible. I kept getting comments like "we are so proud of you for making that choice" and "congratulations, if we can do anything..let us know." Surround yourself with these people. Ignore and avoid all others. You do not need to defend your decision to anyone. That wastes good energy and distracts you from being focused on the task at hand. The email and support from members of this website was incredible and uplifting. Our minister called before and after surgery to offer words of encouragement and prayer. There were over a dozen friends and family waiting for me to come out of surgery. My wife and daughter were 100 percent responsible for my quick recovery in the hospital. They took care of my every need. Words cannot begin to describe what they did for me or how much I appreciate their sacrifice. After surgery, you are very vulnerable. The mere pressence of family gets you better care in the hospital. I am the luckiest guy in the world.
(3) GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
Seriously, you have to get your mind right. If you have food issues...address them now. They won't go away just because you had "the surgery". These web site pages are full of profiles of folks that were in "self destruct" mode..no matter what kind of surgery they may have had. I have seen posts from people that were in tears and depression because they "needed" a piece of fried chicken. No surgical procedure can cure that kind of problem. You have to do your homework. You have got to be focused and committed to this life changing procedure. Do not cut corners during pre-op. Do what the doctor tells you. Understand what you are about to do. I found that through this process...the only time I was scared...was when I did not know the answer to something. Knowledge is power. This website holds all of the knowledge you need. Go kick some ass.
Lastly, I encourage you to email me with any questions you may have. I am so lucky to have been able to have this surgery...I feel as though it is now my duty and obligation to help anyone who desires to make the same journey. It is my experience that all post-ops feel this way. Take advantage of all of the experience contained in this website!
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: John Alexander, M.D.
I have read every profile from Dr. Alexander's patients. All of the accounts and stories were very accurate. No surprises. The wait was 2.5 hours. Dr. Alexander would have spent as much time as I wanted for the consult. I really liked his comments regarding LAP surgery. He said that he does not like LAP surgery because it allows the surgeon a 2D view of the procedure instead of a 3D view. He said, and I agree, that the 3D allows a better view in locating potential problems. He drew a diagram of the procedure and put in terms that instilled confidence and comfort in me. So far he gets high marks. POST-OP UPDATE - I had my three week post-op visit on 4/3/03. I want to compliment the office staff on the great way they have taken care of me. I had developed an infection on my incision a couple of days prior to my post-op visit. My wife called the office and described the incision to Tina. Tina was very quick to respond and got a prescription called in. I was taking my first dose of antibiotics within two hours of my first call to the doctors office. Very impressive. It gets better. DeDe (the office manager) called me the next day to make sure that I was taking the medication and asked if I had any questions. I truly appreciate the concern and follow up. All of this merely confirms that I selected the correct team to perform my surgery.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross, PPO
Approved after 4 weeks. I think. BC/BS faxed the letter to Alexander's office. I called the doctor's office and told them it was there. They found it. I was told by the doctor's office that they got it and that "it really wasn't approved, but it was not not denied either." So, I asked them to fax it to me. They did. Now, I am not an insurance specialist, but it appeared to be approved to me. So, I called BC/BS and asked them what was the status of the pre-determination. I told them I got the fax that the doctor's office got and that there was some confusion as to what it meant. The girl at BC/BS was very nice and after a few keystrokes on her computer said, "well, it shows that it was approved. Is there anything else I can help you with?" I asked her if there was another letter that I should be looking at or if the one I had could be interpreted as an approval. She said it was an approval. So, tomorrow I confirm with the doctor's office and then we can get this show on the road!
Debt Settlement
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Age - 44
Height - 5'9"
Weight - 351
BMI - 53.4
SURGERY TYPE - OPEN RNY
DECEMBER 22, 2002
Too strange. I had not even given WLS a thought...until...one night I was doing some finance research on the internet and came to the site of a talk show personality here in Dallas. His website covers a lot of things. But there was a window that said "Live 25 years longer". I clicked on it and the link took me to the WLS story of Benjamin Dover. I read it and knew right away that I needed, and wanted, to have the surgery. His surgeon was John Alexander in Dallas. I researched EVERY single doctor and ultimately ended up where I started.
DECEMBER 27, 2002
My wife and I were laying in bed one night. It took about all of the courage I could summon to tell her what I was thinking. My wife was very open to the thought and agreed to go to my first consultation with Dr. Alexander. I am glad she went. If she had not gone with me, I don't think I would have pursued having the surgery.
JANUARY 5, 2003
I have an appointment with Dr. Alexander on January 9th. I have read 100's of profiles and accounts of WLS patients.
JANUARY 11, 2003
First appointment complete. Waited 2.5 hours. I liked Dr. Alexander. He answered all of my questions and addressed my concerns. EGD and stress are scheduled for January 23. Will now start the insurance thing.
JANUARY 14, 2003
The insurance company (BC/BS) has the pre-cert letter from Dr. Alexander. I confirmed that today. I was told the process will take 7 to 10 days.
JANUARY 23, 2003
I have now completed the stress test and the EGD. Both were a piece of cake. (No pun intended) I have sleep apnea and require a CPAP when sleeping. Needless to say, I was concerned about being "knocked out" for the EGD without a CPAP. No problem at all. HealthSouth and EVERY single person I came in contact with gets "Two thumbs up!" They were all very nice, helpful, and comforting. Denise from Dr. Alexander's office was there also. She is the best! She has had WLS and will share her story with you. You will find a lot of comfort in hearing her experience with WLS.
Now that all of the preliminaries are done...it is time to start getting really serious about insurance approval.
FEBRUARY 8, 2003
This insurance thing is taking longer than hoped. I know that I am being very impatient. I have called at least 2 times a week to make sure "things are on track."
FEBRUARY 10, 2003
Approved. I think. BC/BS faxed the letter to Alexander's office. I called the doctor's office and told them it was there. They found it. I was told by the doctor's office that they got it and that "it really wasn't approved, but it was not denied either." So, I asked them to fax it to me. They did. Now, I am not an insurance specialist, but it appeared to be approved to me. So, I called BC/BS and asked them what was the status of the pre-determination. I told them I got the fax that the doctor's office got and that there was some confusion as to what it meant. The girl at BC/BS was very nice and after a few keystrokes on her computer said, "well, it shows that it was approved. Is there anything else I can help you with?" I asked her if there was another letter that I should be looking at or if the one I had could be interpreted as an approval. She said it was an approval. So, tomorrow I confirm with the doctor's office and then we can get this show on the road!
FEBRUARY 11, 2003
I have a date! Everyone seems to be on the same page as far as insurance approval and I now have a date. Friday, March 14 at RHD in Dallas.
FEBRUARY 13, 2003
I have scheduled all of the pre-op stuff, given the doctor's office my pharmacy number, and scheduled the pre-register at the hospital thing. Thirty days and counting!
FEBRUARY 14, 2003
Valentines Day. My wife gave me some clothes that do not fit me. They are several sizes too small and will come in handy on the way down. Excellent present!
MARCH 2, 2003
Not much to report. Pre-op stuff is Friday the 7th. Surgery is the following Friday, March 14 at RHD. No second guessing, no reservations. I am still very ready to do this.
MARCH 7, 2003
Today was PRE-OP day. I went to the doctors office for the EKG, bloodwork, lung function, neuro, and blood pressure tests. Applause to all involved. It was a well oiled machine and very well organized. RHD gets two thumbs up. Everything checked out okay and I got the green light for surgery. Friday, March 14 at 8AM...Surgery Day! Be sure to stop by...I should be out of surgery in time for lunch!
*** IMPORTANT INSURANCE NOTE ***
Today turned out great. It could have easily gone the other way. Here is why. There is a BIG difference between a pre-determination approval...and a pre-certification approval. I am sure many of you know this. I did not. When I was pre-admitting at RHD they asked for a pre-cert letter. I handed them the pre-determination letter. Needless to say, I got an education real fast about the difference. The pre-determination approval merely says that your policy does in fact cover a particular procedure. It does not mean, however, you are automatically going to get a pre-certification approval for them to PAY for those benefits. In the case of my insurance, (BC/BS) when you get the pre-determination...it starts the pre-cert process automatically. I could have easily been screwed on pre-admit day. Lesson learned: Well...just keep asking if you have all of the paper work needed to get pre-admitted!
MARCH 9, 2003
Four days and a wake-up until surgery. I am very prepared and ready. I have done the research, done my homework, and I know I have the right surgeon. I spoke with Barb Charbonneau yesterday. She is 5 days post-op. She sounded great and was a wealth of information regarding surgery. She did say that the pain was greater than expected but subsided within 24 hours. Her first hand experience has been a great resource and I encourage you to find someone who has recently had the surgery. If possible, using the same surgeon and hospital as you. Also, feel free to email if you have any questions or concerns regarding any part of the process. I will be glad to help.
MARCH 12, 2003
I have started the soft food thing. Tomorrow is the "colon blow" or colyte. Neither is that big of a deal and are viewed as mere stepping stones to get me to my goal. I really have only two things that I am not looking forward to....the catheter...and making sure the hospital keeps me on my CPAP during recovery. The catheter thing is all about modesty. I just don't want to disrupt the floor because all of the nurses want to see "the package." Very embarrassing. The picture below is a suggestion from my wife, Kathy. She suggested a picture that had an object in it for scale or size reference. Since an elephant was not available, I opted for my Jeep. Stay tuned, there WILL be an "after" picture ASAP.
MARCH 13, 2003
Wow. The night before. I feel great. No worries. The doctor just called to get some pre-surgery info. I am feeling good about the CPAP issue. The co-lyte (bowel prep) was no big deal. The taste was okay...but I will admit...that is a lot of fluid to drink in a short period of time. I am so very ready. I really can't wait to change my profile to "post-op." That will be so cool!
ALL ENTRIES AFTER THIS ARE POST-OP!
MARCH 17, 2003
I am very glad to say that I am now POST-OP! Surgery was 10am on Friday the 14th and I was discharged from RHD at 7PM on the 16th. My quick recovery is only due to the prayers I have received and the expert care of my wonderful wife! I will update more tomorrow and I will tell you all about the SPECIAL bed that RHD had just for me. No kidding, it was special ordered just for my surgery. This was the mother of all beds and allowed me to get out of bed with ease and no pain. Stay tuned.
MARCH 18, 2003
The bed was called a BariKare. It had a remote and functionality like no other bed I have ever seen. Getting out of bed after surgery is usually a big challenge. It is painful and uses up a lot of energy that could be used for walking. The BariKare bed literally stood you up in a walking position! You merely stepped off of the platform and started walking. The bed also gave you the ability to find a comfortable resting position. Hats off to RHD Memorial for bringing the bed in for my surgery.
MARCH 19, 2003
Here are some random surgery notes. (1)I had some numbness in both my hands. Very numb actually. All of the nurses kept telling me that you never know what position the doctor had you in during surgery. It is very possible I was laying on both of my hands for three hours during the procedure. In any case, the numbness went away after three days and all is well. (2)Get up and walk. There is nothing that will get you feeling better...faster. You will probably experience a feeling of bloating in your stomach area. It is probably a good sign that all of your digestive things are waking up and starting to work. There will probably be pockets of trapped gas. WALK! This will help get things moving around. For me, a trip up the stairs was all it took to "release" the pressure. (3)The G-tube is going to be with you for two to three weeks. It is my opinion that the tube is the worst part of the procedure. Not because of pain or discomfort...but because of the length of time you will be married to this nazi designed device. (4)My gallbladder was removed during the surgery. Everything I have read indicates rapid weight loss often promotes the growth of gallstones or other gallbladder issues. It seems to make a lot of sense to remove the gallbladder during this procedure. Many of the post-op problems I have read about are gallbladder related. I would strongly encourage you to challenge a surgeon who does not remove the gallbladder while performing your surgery. (5)Here is the payoff. And it is BIG. There is a mental thing that happens immediately after surgery. I will NEVER have to wonder or worry about what diet program to try next. I will never again experience the despair and depression of yet another failed diet attempt. It is truly liberating. That is the payoff.
MARCH 20, 2003
My first post-op visit went great. No problems and advance to Phase II of the diet. Also, I get the tube out on April 3. That is the best news! The tube is not painful and is probably more of a mental thing. It makes you feel like the surgery is not over. I will be very glad to see it go. As far as the big picture, it goes something like this. I am 7 days post-op. I have not had any pain meds in the last two days and see no reason why I will need to use them in the future. I have lost 16 pounds in 7 days. I have already reduced the setting on my CPAP from a 14 to a 10. I am not hungry but realize that to maintain health I need to keep getting fluids and food in me. Prior to surgery, I never had the feeling of "fullness" and thus never knew when to stop eating. I am amazed how much 3 ounces of pudding fills me up. Three ounces of pudding in the past would have been eaten in 3 or 4 bites. It now takes about 10 minutes to eat it...and I actually enjoy it more. I have never experienced this before. I like it. I feel like everyone else. Actually, I feel better than that...I am so focused regarding diet and this surgery. I am going to be one "lean, mean, weight loss machine."
MARCH 22, 2003
I feel great! Last night we went to a coffee house to hear our son's jazz band play. I had a cup of decaf with skim milk. I nursed that one cup of coffee all night long and ended up drinking only a few tablespoons total. But it tasted great! Only 7 days post-op! Folks, you have to got to get up and move around. Walk. For me, going upstairs produced great results. It got everything moving and relieved pressure that was settling or building up inside me. Walking is the answer to quick recovery. So kids, the word for the day is W-A-L-K!
MARCH 23, 2003
Nine days post-op. My family and I went to church and then out to eat. Yes, I said out to eat. We went to Black Eyed Pea. I ordered a cup of broccoli cheese soup and some mashed potatoes with no gravy. Now keep in mind, I only ate about an ounce of potatoes and two ounces of the "cream" part of the soup. So, I stayed within the prescribed foods at this stage. I have not had any "food" issues at all. I am very careful about quantity and am not straying from the food list. This surgery is just so amazing. I am the luckiest guy in the world.
MARCH 24, 2003
I continue to feel better every day! I want to re-enforce the importance of walking and food and fluid intake. I have been told by my doctor to get 64 ounces of water/fluids in me each day. That is what I am doing. They told me to walk. I am walking. Stairs are no big deal and really produce some great results for me.
MARCH 26, 2003
Feeling great. Still no food issues. Getting plenty of fluids. Dinner tonight was some creamed spinach and some mashed potatoes from Boston Market. I had probably a total of 3.5 ounces. I was VERY full. The food tasted great and was as good of a meal as I could have asked for. You know, if you told me I could have ANY food I wanted...I don't think there is any ONE thing that I crave or JUST have to have. The Boston Market stuff was great and made me feel normal. This surgery is so cool. I estimate my caloric intake to be about 350 to 450 per day. I feel like I am eating all of the time. (Every 2 to 3 hours.) But each time is only 1 to 3 ounces.
MARCH 31, 2003
Seventeen days post-op. I have my second post-op doctor visit in three days. The tube will be removed, I will get weighed, and I will probably get to start eating some normal foods. We went out to eat after church yesterday. We went to Abuellos mexican restaurant. I got a scrambled egg and some pappas (potatoes). Very good stuff...all three ounces! I am still "eating" about 5 to 6 times a day. Between cottage cheese, eggs, and protein shakes...I think I am getting my prescribed 60 grams of protein. I am getting about 48 to 58 ounces of water a day. I am going to predict that when I weigh in three days...I will have lost 20 pounds since my last doctor visit 2 weeks ago. I can't wait to start swimming. I have a lot of energy stored up and I know the activity will promote faster weight loss. My goal is to have lost a total of 100 pounds by July 14th, 2003. It will be my little Independence Day from 100 pounds of fat. Did I mention that the tube comes out in 3 days?
APRIL 1, 2003
Okay, virtually overnight I developed an infection on my incision. The doctor's office called in a prescription and I had my first dose of antibiotics within two hours of the call. Since you can't take regular pills or capsules, you have to break open the capsule and pour the contents into pudding or applesauce. Folks let me tell you...that is some crap tasting stuff. I see why it is in capsule form.
APRIL 2, 2003
The infection is responding quickly to the antibiotics. Redness is getting smaller and discharge is looking normal. Word of advice, don't screw around with infections. I probably waited 1 day too many before calling the doctor.
APRIL 3, 2003
What a great day! I had my three week post-op visit today. The tube was removed! That was great! The removal of the tube is no big deal and does not hurt in any way. This was done while I was laying down. The tube is held in place by a little air bubble in the tube. The air bubble is deflated and the tube is pulled out. No pain..no nothing. Dr. Alexander then "debris'ed" the incision scar. This process consists of gently scrubbing some betadine liquid over the scar to remove the scab. It was a little tender but did not hurt much Maybe a 2 on a scale of 1-10. But the really big news is that I lost another 18 pounds! So...that makes a total of 34 pounds gone in three weeks! I will never weigh this much again...ever. That is so cool. This is also the day you get to graduate to "real" food. There were only four "suggestions" regarding what foods not to eat. It was suggested that I not eat beef, added suger, breads, or carbonated beverages. I was pretty much off of beef anyway. I don't really care for soft drinks. I don't add sugar to anything and am not much on sweets. And I will gladly say goodbye to breads to achieve my goal. After we left the doctors office it was time for lunch. The world was my oyster...what did I choose for my first meal? I had half of a chicken burritto from Taco Delite. It was pretty good. Keep in mind, after this surgery, your main focus is getting your proteins in you. Often, I would prefer not to eat anything except for the fact I need to stay healthy and eat for nourishment. I ususally am not hungry when I eat. You will be surprised how much work it is to get all of the protein you need to get. This surgery is so cool. It works. Once again, I am the luckiest guy in the world!
APRIL 7, 2003
Feeling better every day. I have scheduled a doctors appointment for the 9th. I want to have some labs run to see how I am doing on proteins, vitamins, etc. It should be very interesting and very helpful to determine what I need to work on regarding food & liquid intake. I have just three more doses of antibiotic. Infection is all gone. I am very happy about that!
APRIL 15, 2003
Still feel great! This past weekend I was a chaperone on my daughters choir trip. We went to Fiesta Texas and I bet I walked five miles! Then...at night I had to keep up with the 16 year olds. The elevators at the hotel were very slow. It was faster to take the stairs....6 flights up. Not even a problem! The doctor visit went great and everything checked out just fine. I am going to go back in 4 weeks for labs...routine check up. Now check this out...after I got home from the doctor visit, I went straight to my scale at home to see if it weighed the same. It did...exactly! I weighed today...I have lost another 10 pounds in 7 days. That makes a total of 44 pounds lost in 4 weeks. Insert superior dance here. Some may ask...what are you doing? Here it is. I am getting about 60 grams of protein a day. I am AVOIDING ALL CARBS! One slice of turkey breast has 15-20 grams of protein and no CARBS. Same with chicken and tuna. So, thats it, no big secret. Two ounces of any of those things and I am good to go. BEST PART...I AM NOT HUNGRY! I DO NOT CRAVE ANYTHING...I AM THE MASTER OF FOOD! I ROCK! For some reason I now have this urge to go and beat the crap out of something...must be an endorphin overload!
APRIL 18, 2003
WOW! Somehow, someway, I lost 6 pounds in three days. In just 4 and a half weeks I have lost a total of 50 pounds. I am now just two pounds away from being in the 200's!
APRIL 29, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT!!! I am officially in the 200's! In just 6 weeks I have lost 53 pounds! I hit a plateau for about a week. No big deal. I knew I was doing all the right things...it was just a matter of time until I started losing again. CPAP ALERT!! I started with a setting of 14. I am now down to a setting of 5. I have never minded the CPAP but it is now another goal to ween myself off of this machine. Also, I have an appointment on May 5th with my PCP for a routine checkup. We will do some labs, the PSA...and if I am feeling frisky...maybe even the DRE. If you are a male over 40...you know what it is. On a brighter note, I bought a really cool bike and started back to swimming yesterday. I was holding off on swimming until my incision was healed. It was great! The bike is great for lower body and swimming works great for upper. I love this surgery!
MAY 13, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT PART 2!!! It is exactly 2 months post surgery. I have lost a total of 60 pounds. I am now at 291. My short range goal is to lose 100 pounds by July 14. This now leaves me with 40 pounds to lose in 7 weeks. I also got my lab results back from the last doctor visit. All of the nutritional labs check out fine. I am getting enough nutrients via normal food intake. I am not doing the protein shakes. I did have an underactive (hypo) thyroid issue that is being addressed with medication. Doctor says that with dramatic weight loss it could have thrown thyroid out of whack. Go back in 6 weeks to re-test.
MAY 19, 2003
Many folks ask, "How much did it cost?" I think I have received most, if not all, of the bills for my surgery. Not only did I select the right surgeon, I think I had the right insurance also. Here is how it all breaks down. Dr. Alexander charges $205 for the initial consult and $1500 to perform the surgery. He then submits his bills to your insurance...and whatever they cover is what he takes. You will not get another bill from him. I won't bore everyone with all of the billing details but the total of EVERY bill for my surgery was about $70,000. Get this, the BC/BS negotiated rate for my surgery, hospital and related services brought that total down to about $6000. I will have to pay about $1000 of that. So, after it is all said and done, it appears that my out of pocket expenses will be about $2700 over the course of 6 months. Thought some of you may find it interesting.
MAY 28, 2003
Current weight is 284! A total of 67 pounds lost in about 10 weeks. I am now 33 pounds away from my short range goal of "100 LBS GONE BY JULY 14th." Also, I am now only 99 pounds away from my 185 goal. This is what I refer to as my "100 POUND COUNTDOWN". Once again, I am only ten weeks post-op. I will post a new picture on June 14th. That will be my 3 month "post-op" anniversary.
JUNE 14, 2003
3 Month Anniversary. I now weigh 275. I have lost a total of 76 pounds...in three months. Check out the updated picture below! I am now 90 lbs away from goal. I wanted to be well into the 270's for my 3 month anniversary. I had a really good "weight loss rally" going on for the last week. I lost 7 pounds in the last week. I simply got back to the basics. Lots of water and concentrated on proteins...and I was very active. I weigh every day. For a number of reasons. I am kind of finding out what my body responds to in the way of food and exercise. Am I obsessed? Probably. Do I care? Not even. I am having fun! The next weight loss milestone will be the "Halfway To Goal" mark. Just seven pounds away.
JUNE 20, 2003
I now weigh 271. Three months and a week...have now lost 80 pounds. This stuff is just falling off of me. Three more pounds and I will be halfway to goal. Twenty more pounds and I will be a proud member of the "Century Club".
JUNE 25, 2003
A lot of people that read this profile having been asking me if the clothes that my wife bought me on Valentines day now fit me. The answer is yes. I can now wear a wide variety of large and x-large stuff. I have a little plateau thing going on right now. These do not bother me in the least. Once again, I know I am doing all of the right things and my body is just playing catch-up. I have until July 14 to reach my 4 month goal of losing 100 pounds. I have to lose 19 pounds in about three weeks. Can he do it? I think I can. Stay tuned!
JULY 1, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! I am now at 267. I am over half way to my ultimate goal of 185. I am also only 16 pounds away from losing 100 pounds. I have exactly two weeks to lose 16 pounds to meet this goal by my 4 month anniversary. I love this surgery.
JULY 14, 2003
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! Okay kids, it is my 4 month post-op anniversary. My BMI is now at 39. This is kind of funny, I am now in the "severely obese" range...and glad about it. Well, it definitely beats anything with the words "super" and "morbid" in the name. The next BMI goal will be anything under 35. That is simply "obese." Perhaps they can come up with some sub-categories like "pleasingly plump" or "fluffy".
Anyway, I did not make my goal of 100 pounds lost in four months. My current weight is 259. I have lost 92 pounds in four months and I am just fine with that. Only 8 more pounds and I can get the coveted Century Club Card.
AUGUST 12, 2003
The graphic here says it all. I love this surgery.
AUGUST 14, 2003
Five Month Post-Op Anniversary. Current weight...249. I have lost 102 pounds in 5 months. My goal is 185. Sixty-four more pounds to go. Most of my weight loss for the last month took place in the last two weeks. I had a plateau going on for the first two weeks.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2003
Current weight is 245. It took me an entire month to lose 4 pounds. But...no problem. Total weight loss for 6 months is 106 pounds. That's about 18 pounds a month. Not bad...and still ahead of schedule. I am now 60 pounds away from my goal of 185. It is important to note that even with slower weight loss...I am still losing inches. This is evident each day as clothes and belts that used to fit...are now hanging off of me. My next goal is to lose 10 pounds by October 15th. That will put me 235... just 50 pounds away from goal. My ultimate goal is to be at 185 by New Years Eve of this year.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2003
Geeeesh, about time. Starting to loose pounds again. That was a really long plateau. Current weight is 241.I have lost 4 pounds in the last week. That makes a total loss of 110 pounds. I only need to loose 6 pounds to reach my October 14th goal of weighing 235. No problem. That will also trigger a couple of milestones. Milestone #1 - BMI will change from "severely obese" to "very overweight". Milestone #2 - I will only be 35 pounds away from being in the 100's, and 50 pounds away from goal. That will make a total weight loss of 166. For some reason that last 50 just doesn't seem like a problem. IMPORTANT NOTE: The plateau came and went without me changing a thing in diet or exercise. I just kept doing what I have done all along...and it finally gave in. I win.
OCTOBER 1, 2003
Current weight is 239. Only four pounds to go for my October 14 goal of 235. The crowd goes wild!
OCTOBER 6, 2003
Current weight is 238. Three pounds away from my next milestone. There really is so very little to write about. I feel great. Never hungry. Weight keeps coming off. No post-op issues at all. It just doesn't get any better than this. FYI - Large and X-large shirts fit just fine. Pre-op shirts were XXL-XXXL. Pants are now a 38...used to be 52. I even lost a shoe size in the process. All of this...in less than 7 months. Be looking for the "7 MONTH" picture on the 15th of October. It will be a real photo extravaganza!
OCTOBER 11, 2003
Current weight is 236. Total weight loss so far is 115 pounds. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN POUNDS GONE IN UNDER 7 MONTHS! That also puts me under a 35 BMI (34.9) I am now considered "very overweight" instead of "obese". It cracks me up that I find that exciting.
OCTOBER 14, 2003
Well, I made it to my 7 month goal of 235. I have lost 116 pounds. I am now 50 pounds away from my goal of 185. I am loosing about 7 pounds a month. Check out the newest pictures below. Oh yeah, I am the luckiest guy in the world.
OCTOBER 23, 2003
Hey boys and girls. Let's talk about scales and weighing today. First of all, you kids already know this...but...those last pounds are pretty hard to get rid of. Not because you are doing anything wrong... but instead for a host of other reasons. Number one...your body is adjusting to the new diet. Secondly, You ARE able to eat more than you were as a 2 month post-op. Thirdly, you quite simply don't have as much to lose now. It is kind of like going to the beach. You know...you get sand ALL over you. It is very easy to get rid of the majority of sand pretty fast. But for the next few weeks you will find "sand leavin's" in some of the strangest places and it will never go away...then one day...it's all gone! Just be patient...stay focused...it will go away. Don't cry...don't whine...don't fret over it...just do what you have been doing ALL along..it will go away!!! Okay, now about weighing. This is just me...but I like to weigh everyday. Not because I am worried about losing the weight...but because I am still learning how my body is responding to different foods and activities. It is amazing how different activities will promote weight loss and others don't. Same with certain foods. Everybody is different. Now, in regards to that... I have to say this...if I had busted my butt for a month in an attempt to lose a bunch of weight...and did not lose a pound because of a plateau...I would not be a happy camper. That is one reason I like to weigh everyday. My scale of choice is a scale called "Thinner". They produce a pretty good line of scales that have a bunch of different functions. They run from $45 to $85 dollars depending on model. The best part about this scale is that it is accurate. It matches the weight that I get when I weigh at my doctors office. So...no surprises there either. I guess that is what it boils down to...when it comes to my weight loss and surgery...I don't like surprises. I bring all of this up as a preface to the fact that I have only lost one pound in ten days. It is no big deal...I WILL LOSE THE REST! It's just that there is a whole lot of crying and whinin' going on out there in regards to plateau's and "those last few pounds". Stay focused. There is a saying..."Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels". No kidding.
NOVEMBER 14, 2003
8 month anniversary. Weight is 235. No loss. This is actually good news. I was in the weight loss mode pretty heavy for a solid 7 months. So, I wanted to see how I would do if I just ate "normal". By "normal" I mean good food choices...and portions. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted. I will say this though...I am not very big on sweets...and I don't do softdrinks at all. So...even if I used this month as a test run for maintainance...it was a success.
NOVEMBER 21, 2003
This is cool. This month I am back on my "program". I am really concentrating on high protein and low carbs. In one week, I have lost 3 pounds. I am telling you...this protien/carb thing really works! Two protein shakes a day...MINIMAL CARB INTAKE = WEIGHT LOSS. It truly is as simple as that. My actual calorie intake is probably about 700 to 800. The secret is the protein shakes. I get about 50 grams in those 2 shakes. Energy is off the charts! I love this surgery!
DECEMBER 18,2003
My daughter gave me one of the best Christmas presents EVER! She took me to Six Flags for my Christmas present. Here is why it was so special. First of all...it was just me and her. That in itself made the day great. But there is another reason. About 10 years ago..we all went to Six Flags. We stood in line forever...when we got to the ride...I would not fit. The harness would not close. I had to scoot on through. Very embarrassing. But not this time! We had so much fun...rode everything...somethings even twice! Merry Christmas to me!
DECEMBER 20, 2003
Merry Christmas to all! Here is a little Holiday photo of my wife and me. It's getting really hard to decide who is hotter...me or her. Ok, she still gets the nod.
JANUARY 16, 2004
Happy New Year! Well, I made it through the holidays JUST GREAT! I did not gain a single pound! I ate WHATEVER I wanted. It was all about the PORTIONS! Out of habit....I still concentrate on proteins...and go easy on the carbs. After January 1st...I started back on the "program". I have lost 4 pounds! This is so easy! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ME!
JANUARY 17, 2004
MAJOR GOAL ALERT! Okay kids, after 7 years...I have officially retired my CPAP. No snoring, no apnea episodes...no problem!
FEBRUARY 4, 2004
I get a lot of questions regarding "the scar". Here it is 10 months post. Scar is only 4 inches long. I had Open RNY and gallbladder removed.
FEBRUARY 14, 2004
Hi all...well...I am now 11 months post. I feel great and truly dont mind being in pictures any longer. So..in honor of 11 months post-op...here is a picture of me..the wife..and two of our kids.
MARCH 14, 2004
Happy Birthday To Me! I am exactly 1 year post op. Here is a little State of the Union. I went from 351 to 225. From 54 waist to 36. From XXXL shirts to L. From a 11 shoe to 9. The only thing that increased is my energy level. I retired my CPAP at 8 months post-op. I take NO pills or meds for anything. I never had a single post-op issue. I eat anything I like. But what is funny is that what I like...is all healthy. I will gladly take a protein shake before I would take a donut. I prefer water over soft drinks. Give me turkey instead of steak. In addition to good choices..its all about portion control. That's where the surgery comes in. Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS SURGERY?
MARCH 26, 2004
OK Boys and girls. Today is product endorsement day. Let's talk about Protein Powders. If you want to try some real crap...go get a container of Atkins High Protein Low Carb Powder. That is some BAD stuff! First of all...it is crazy expensive. $25.00 for a 1lb (11 servings)canister. The taste is awful...and it just clumps up...stir as much as you want...it just won't mix up. The nutritional formula is okay. I think it has about 25 grams of protein and 3 carbs per scoop "mixed" with 8 ounces of water.
On the other hand...you have Optimum Nutrition's 100% Whey Protein. THIS STUFF IS GREAT! It tastes like chocolate milk, it mixes great, the nutritional numbers are the same as Atkins...AND THE PRICE IS GREAT! Five pounds (70 servings) for $25.00. How about protein bars? Only one choice here...Carbwise. I don't know how these folks did it...but this thing is really good. It has about 24 grams of protein...3 carbs...240 calories. Its kind like a Twix bar...not a pasty chalky log of crud. IMPORTANT NOTE: I use these items to get my protein in...I DO NOT USE THEM TO SATISFY A SWEET TOOTH OR SUBSTITUTE AS SNICKERS. There are a lot of "low carb" bars out there. BE CAREFUL!!! Some of these products still have 11-15 carbs...NO PROTEIN..and a boat load of sugar! READ THE LABEL!!! This is not what you want! Read the label and FOCUS ON THE PROTEIN!
APRIL 11, 2004
Okay, today is my REAL birthday. Happy birthday to me! I lost two pounds this week and I am now down to 223. That also puts me at a BMI of 32.9. There is no major significance of being at 32.9 ....other than the fact is lower than 33.00. I seem to keep losing inches when I am not losing pounds. Thats cool...people see the inches...not the pounds. At this point...my ultimate goal has changed...I will take anything under 200...195 sounds good to me. So....I am going to say that I am 28 pounds from goal. Wow...that sounds pretty darn cool....28 pounds from goal. I'm bad...I rock.
APRIL 16, 2004
Ahhhh, summertime! Yardwork, hot weather, the lake, biking...all kinds of stuff to do! And the weight just keeps coming off! I lost another 2 pounds in less than a week. I am down to 221. Once I get down to 202 pounds...my BMI will be below 30. Wow...a BMI in the 20's....yeeehaaaaa
MAY 5, 2004
I am almost 15 months post-op. I am now down to 218 and have lost another three pounds since last update. Unfortunately, I don't know how many more of these journal entries I can make....how many times can you keep writing...I am still losing weight...I still feel great?
MAY 13, 2004
Wow. I really expected weight loss to have tapered off big time. I really don't know what to add here. It always seems like the journal entries always say the same thing. This is simply the coolest thing I have ever done for myself...and family. In the last month I have lost another 6 pounds. I am now down to 215 with a total weight loss of 136 in the last 15 months. My goal is only 20 pounds away. But hell, I may go for the whole enchilada and aim for the 185 mark. Honestly, I don't even care, I couldn't be happier. Other than food choices, I think my continued weight loss is due to staying so active. No...I dont exercise...I am just always on the go. Summertime is GREAT!
JUNE 12, 2004
Well, it looks like I only need to be updating about once a month...if that! Everything is going great...still losing weight...and have never felt better! My current weight is 211. That makes a total of 140 pounds lost! I can't believe that I am only a dozen pounds away from being in the 100's!
JULY 14, 2004
Same old, same old. Feeling great, still losing. I am down to 209 now. Energy is off the charts. I would love to write more...but I have stuff to do! Later!
JULY 30, 2004
Hey kids...I am down to 207. Once again...feeling great and NO POST OP ISSUES. My diet consists mostly of the things I love to eat. Chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, protein shakes, cheese, and protein bars. I still eat about 6 times a day....sometimes more. Keep in mind...when I say eat...I mean a protein bar...not a sit down, strap on the feed bag kind of meal. Well, now I am only 8 pounds away from being in the 100's. I am about 20 pounds from goal. Even after 17 months post-op...I am still averaging about a 3-4 pound loss per month. I love this surgery.
FEBRUARY 15, 2005
Over 6 months since my last post. Feeling great, no issues at all! Weight is 207 and holding...with little or no effort on my part. Another little milestone for me....I went to Santa Fe for a ski trip and went snowboarding. Not bad for a former 351 pound fat boy. Here is a photo of me on the slope. Wow...what form.
MARCH 14, 2005
Two year anniversary. Not a day goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to have had this surgery. It is so much more fun to fill your day with happy thoughts instead of depressing "what diet should I try now?" thoughts. Current weight is 207. I would like to lose 10 more pounds...no problem. Nice little goal for this summer.
APRIL 29, 2006
Been a while so I thought I would check in. I have gained back about 4 pounds. I am addressing that and will be back on track in no time at all. I am still amazed at how quick I continue to get full. Even after three years. I love this surgery!
Jim's Weight Loss Update - ROUND TWO
APRIL 18, 2009
It has been three years since updating, and six years since my surgery. I have gained back 69 of the 151 pounds I originally lost. It is time to get serious.
So, starting today, I am back on the program. My goal is to get to 200 pounds.
Start weight for this project is 275.
Let the games begin!
APRIL 19, 2009
This is going to be easy.
I remember after my surgery, I was making a deliberate effort to watch what I ate. I paid attention to every bite. It really did become second nature.
I got too sure of myself.
I stopped paying attention. Then, the next thing you know. You have gained 70 pounds back. You might say, "How did that happen?"
Easy. Three years ago I stopped weighing. I didnt watch what I ate. Yeah...but 75 pounds?!
Wasnt that hard to do. You gain 2 pounds a month for three years. Bam...72 pounds.
So, I weighed today.
270 Pounds.
APRIL 20, 2009
This is easy. Get up and move.....and eat right. It is simply amazing....I was eating out of habit.....not out of hunger.
Weight today.
267 Pounds.
APRIL 21, 2009
266 Pounds
APRIL 22, 2009
265 Pounds
APRIL 25, 2009
264 Pounds - 64 more to go - All protein...all the time.
MAY 2, 2009
I am highly motivated to get this weight off. Seriously.
262 Pounds - 62 more to go.
MAY 6, 2009
Lots of protein. Cottage cheese, protein shakes. No carbs.
261 Pounds - 61 to go.
MAY 9, 2009
Kickin ass, losing pounds.
259 Pounds - 59 to go.
MAY 10, 2009
Seriuosly, I am on a roll!
Tomorrow is Monday. There are some guys in the neighborhood that do a "bootcamp" kind of thing. It starts at 6:30am.
I will be there. This should enhance an already rockin weight loss program.
It is important to note that I am never hungry. All of my intake was the result of migrating back to BAD habits.
I am convinced that the weight loss is all about the protein. I eat virtually NO carbs.
My diet consists of cottage cheese, protein shakes, Detour Bars, chicken, fruits, vegatables, and fish. The protein takes longer to gigest and process....hence....you feel "fuller" longer. Everyone is different and responds to things differently....but for me.....this program works.
Todays weight, 258 Pounds.
59 more to go.
MAY 20, 2009
Working Out and all protein diet.....lost another 2 pounds!
Todays weight - 256 Pounds
JUNE 2, 2009
SOSO - Working out and protein.
Todays weight - 255 Pounds
JUNE 11, 2009
Pretty intense workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Still focused on high protein diet.
I weighed this morning, actually I weigh every day.....but todays weight says 251.
I am not ready to claim that weight....so....
Todays weight - 253 Pounds
WEIGHT LOSS MILESTONES
351 - START WEIGHT
299 - Out Of The 300's ------------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 6 WEEKS
285 - 100 Pounds To Goal ---------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 8 WEEKS
268 - Halfway To Goal (83 Pound Loss) -------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 14 WEEKS
251 - Century Club "100 POUNDS LOST" ----- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 5 MONTHS
235 - 50 Pounds To Goal ----------------------- STATUS - COMPLETED IN 7 MONTHS - TOTAL LOSS 116 LBS
199 - Out of the 200's --------------------------- STATUS -
185 - GOAL!
WLS ACCORDING TO JIM
I know that my progress is not typical. I have no health issues other than being fat. That plays a BIG part in recovery. I was lucky in that regard. Very lucky. There are, however, three areas that you have TOTAL control of how you will approach your surgery. I hope these thoughts help you in your journey.
(1) THE SURGEON
When making this selection you need to deal in only one thing...facts. Forget about opinions and feelings. You are looking for the most skilled, God gifted man that can perform this surgery. End of story. Forget about things like..."he is 30 minutes closer"...."he is so cute"..."there are too many pre-op tests"...you get the idea. All of the information you need to select the right surgeon is available on this website. Here is what I did. I made a list of all of the surgeons in my area. In Dallas, there are about 24. This is just me...but I could not even consider anyone who had not performed at least 200 of these procedures. That reduced the list to about 8. Now, start reading EVERY post-op profile on every patient of every doctor. Look for post-op complications. You will be surprised. There WILL be a pattern and there WILL be a doctor or two who's patients DO NOT HAVE POST-OP ISSUES! That's your man. Nothing else matters. Nothing.
It never ceases to amaze me the number of other post-ops from other surgeons who proclaim their surgeon to be the best. Yet their profile or journal is filled with weeks or months of post-op issues and problems. I am telling you right now...it does not have to be that way. You need to look beyond the "my surgeon is the best" stuff and read between the lines. Look for the post-op problems. Did they have to have additonal surgeries? Did they have to re-do the operation? How much time in the hospital? Can they hold food down? Did they experience dumping? You know...overall experience.
(2) THE SUPPORT GROUP
Even I did not fully understand how important this was. I will say this, I knew who to tell about the surgery...and who would not understand. The friends and family I chose to tell about my decision were incredible. I kept getting comments like "we are so proud of you for making that choice" and "congratulations, if we can do anything..let us know." Surround yourself with these people. Ignore and avoid all others. You do not need to defend your decision to anyone. That wastes good energy and distracts you from being focused on the task at hand. The email and support from members of this website was incredible and uplifting. Our minister called before and after surgery to offer words of encouragement and prayer. There were over a dozen friends and family waiting for me to come out of surgery. My wife and daughter were 100 percent responsible for my quick recovery in the hospital. They took care of my every need. Words cannot begin to describe what they did for me or how much I appreciate their sacrifice. After surgery, you are very vulnerable. The mere pressence of family gets you better care in the hospital. I am the luckiest guy in the world.
(3) GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
Seriously, you have to get your mind right. If you have food issues...address them now. They won't go away just because you had "the surgery". These web site pages are full of profiles of folks that were in "self destruct" mode..no matter what kind of surgery they may have had. I have seen posts from people that were in tears and depression because they "needed" a piece of fried chicken. No surgical procedure can cure that kind of problem. You have to do your homework. You have got to be focused and committed to this life changing procedure. Do not cut corners during pre-op. Do what the doctor tells you. Understand what you are about to do. I found that through this process...the only time I was scared...was when I did not know the answer to something. Knowledge is power. This website holds all of the knowledge you need. Go kick some ass.
Lastly, I encourage you to email me with any questions you may have. I am so lucky to have been able to have this surgery...I feel as though it is now my duty and obligation to help anyone who desires to make the same journey. It is my experience that all post-ops feel this way. Take advantage of all of the experience contained in this website!
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Hospital Reviews
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Surgeon Info:
Surgeon: John Alexander, M.D.
I have read every profile from Dr. Alexander's patients. All of the accounts and stories were very accurate. No surprises. The wait was 2.5 hours. Dr. Alexander would have spent as much time as I wanted for the consult. I really liked his comments regarding LAP surgery. He said that he does not like LAP surgery because it allows the surgeon a 2D view of the procedure instead of a 3D view. He said, and I agree, that the 3D allows a better view in locating potential problems. He drew a diagram of the procedure and put in terms that instilled confidence and comfort in me. So far he gets high marks. POST-OP UPDATE - I had my three week post-op visit on 4/3/03. I want to compliment the office staff on the great way they have taken care of me. I had developed an infection on my incision a couple of days prior to my post-op visit. My wife called the office and described the incision to Tina. Tina was very quick to respond and got a prescription called in. I was taking my first dose of antibiotics within two hours of my first call to the doctors office. Very impressive. It gets better. DeDe (the office manager) called me the next day to make sure that I was taking the medication and asked if I had any questions. I truly appreciate the concern and follow up. All of this merely confirms that I selected the correct team to perform my surgery.
Insurer Info:
Blue Cross, PPO
Approved after 4 weeks. I think. BC/BS faxed the letter to Alexander's office. I called the doctor's office and told them it was there. They found it. I was told by the doctor's office that they got it and that "it really wasn't approved, but it was not not denied either." So, I asked them to fax it to me. They did. Now, I am not an insurance specialist, but it appeared to be approved to me. So, I called BC/BS and asked them what was the status of the pre-determination. I told them I got the fax that the doctor's office got and that there was some confusion as to what it meant. The girl at BC/BS was very nice and after a few keystrokes on her computer said, "well, it shows that it was approved. Is there anything else I can help you with?" I asked her if there was another letter that I should be looking at or if the one I had could be interpreted as an approval. She said it was an approval. So, tomorrow I confirm with the doctor's office and then we can get this show on the road!
Debt Settlement
About Me
Lucas, TX
Location
36.6
BMI
Surgery
03/14/2003
Surgery Date
Jan 03, 2003
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
March 2003
351lbs
January 2004
228lbs
