Re: Council of experts

[Guest guest]

Great b4 and after shots! Welcome to the group. I couldn't help but note

that in your after pic you are holding your head high! Good going! Keep up

the good work!

Regards~

Jacque

Helloooooooooooooo Graduates

My council of experts.

Today is my one-year anniversary. One year ago today I had lap rny with 150

cm bypass for my 415 lb body with gallbladder removal thrown in for good

measure. (It was inflamed, enlarged and full of stones.) I was in the early

stages of sleep apnea, and had high blood pressure. No diabetes, but have it

on both sides of my family, along with heart disease. Foot problems galore

and many self-esteem issues. I was in very rough shape emotionally, and

physically.

Like many, I had been overweight since about the age of 6. Pediatricians put

me on diets. Eat this, don't eat that. Like that ever worked for a hungry

kid. Every doctor put me on one ridiculous diet or another. From lists of do

s and don'ts, to Xenical. The biggest problem I had early on was I was

growing very rapidly. And with a couple of exceptions, I was very active. By

the time I was 16, I was 6'5 " and hungry. As I got older, the activity

slowed down a little, and the gaining never ceased.

I did loose 100 lbs in the mid 80's through my own program of heavy weight

lifting and the over use of a stair-master. I even kept it off for about 5

years. Then slowly but surely, I gained it all back plus another 50 for good

measure.

A couple of good long doses of extreme stress and depression always helps.

It wasn't a tough decision to have this surgery.

I chose my doc based not only on his surgical skills, but his reasonable

program. Protein, water, exercise, and support groups. During pre-op

evaluations one consult was with a physical therapist. His patients are

required to bring dumbbells to the hospital. In my four-day stay, I was

exercised twice. The big macho guy I am, I brought two ten pounders. Can you

say MISTAKE. His program also includes weekly support group meetings. He has

found that his most successful patients are those who exercise and regularly

attend support groups.

So I figured, I was personally paying this guy, I should at least do what he

says. The only problem I had was at about 4 or so months out, I was getting

very fatigued. I couldn't even get to the gym. I called the nutritionist.

She told me something that no one in my life ever said to me. " Eat more. "

She suggested having a shake before working out. That opened the whole world

of shakes and excellent nutrition. I got a pedometer, and just from walking

alone, I was burning close to 2k calories a day, plus the calories from

weight lifting, and I had a real big calorie deficit. Now, I do 4 a day,

plus three meals.

I only dump on white carbs, but I don't crave them too much since surgery

anyway. Even my former cravings for sugar have somehow dissipated. Even late

at night, when it gets bad, and I can't stand another sugar free whatever, a

good ole chocolate shake just settles me down. I never realized how addicted

I was to white carbs and simple sugar. I could never figure out why if I had

a great big bowl of oatmeal, with low fat milk and fruit, I was hungry an

hour later. Can you say Duhh?

The only problems I have now, are a little low blood pressure, and an

occasional bout of low blood sugar. This Sunday was the worst yet. I think

it might have been a combination of not taking a long enough break from

training resulting in a condition known as over-training, and not eating

enough to compensate. I ate a little more, and felt a lot better. Go figure.

I started lurking on this list about 8 months ago, and consider all you

wonderful people as my council of experts. I don't think I could have gotten

this far without you and the good folks on the protein list. You folks, the

men and women in the trenches, those with day to day experience, were the

one's I wanted to listen to. I hope I can contribute and return all that I

have gotten.

Now, for the important stuff, the stats. Starting weight; 415, BMI 50,

Body-fat 40%. Now: 245, BMI 28, 18% body-fat. Pants went from 56/58 to 36/38

shirts, from 3XL to L. I'm still 6'5 " , but my feet have narrowed just a

little.

I'm unattached except for my yellow Lab mix. Not sure what the other parts

of him are maybe some northern pulling dog, maybe Malamute. I refer to his

breed as a backyard indiscretion. He is an enormous help with getting me up

and walking several times a day. For most of my life, I lived on Long Island

Two years ago, I moved to beautiful Southern California.

Enough for now, except, I am the cover boy for my doc's web site. The after

picture is a little old, as I have since lost an additional 30 lbs since,

and will be updated shortly.

It is you folks who I really want to thank for my success. So again, Thank

you all.

Lap Rny 11/18/02

Dr. Oliak, Orange, CA

415/245

BMI 50/28

Cover boy at www.coastalobesity.com