kswoods
Roughly 3 years ago, I decided to have Gastric Bypass surgery. I was at 243 # (high of 260) with a bmi of 41. BUT, My pcp was talking about diabetes meds & high BP meds. I have been overweight most of my life but for the first time my BP and sugars were climbing. I felt like sh__. My hip hurt, I snored (sleep apnea I am sure If I had been tested), I had cramps, no energy, and worst of all, I could not carry and play with my 2 new grandsons. THAT was the straw that broke the camels back. Many asked me why I was having surgery, your not that big. But it was because I could not enjoy my Grandkids that I did it. Oh I know how to lose 50-60 pounds, I did it 3x on WW. But a year later it was back.
Now, I had a BIG advantage. My wife of (then) 35 years had had GBP 2 years before. So I knew the ups, the downs, the pros, the cons. I went thru the program at Catholic Medical Center OTC in Manchester NH and had the surgey on 7/20/10.
My Mantra was (and still is to weight loss surgery people)...
1 year
12 months
52 weeks
365 days
525,600 minutes
That is what you HAVE to give your body to get to where IT wants to be. It took my wife (100#), it took me (93#) and it took our eldest son (143#) (who had the surgery one month before I did) a year for our weights to balance out.
If you are not willing to give
1 year
12 months
52 weeks
365 days
525,600 minutes
to improve your health for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.... Then don't bother. My pre diaBetes, gone in weeks, my Hi BP, gone in weeks, my snoring, gone in weeks. I went thru all the food phases, all the when is my weight going to drop, When am I going to get to eat, Is my bathroom routine ever going to return to normal?, When am I going to eat a "normal meal"?
At 1 year I was at what THEY called goal. My body took it self down to 155, then 150, then 148 (that was a bit scary) then it leveled off at 153. I stayed there + or - 1 pound for about 6 months. In the last 2-3 months my body has climbed to 157.
But I know why.
My job changed. I am a freelancer now. I began eating more fast foods (Subway, Mc D's, BK. DD sandwiches) I fell in love with graham crackers and not just 2-3. I can eat those little candy bars without a problem.
So...the surgery did its job, but the brain is still there. The only thing I cannot eat (and the only thing I miss) is real icecream. I can do skinny cows but real icecream knocks me on my a__
My 1 "addiction"? I allow myself 1 Medium Iced mocha (cream & 2 S&L) a day. It does not bother me. I figure the caffine balances the sugar. LMAO....
Would I do it again? Dammed straight.
Do I recommend it to people? I only wish I knew some of my aquaintances better so that I could talk to them?
Have I talked to people about it, Hell Yes. Two very close friends. She ended up with GBP, he with lapband (due to other med issues) Both are doing great.
Have a question? Ask me. Want to know something? Ask me!
Kevin
