Update

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone. Whats happening? its been a while since i posted but

i have been reading the messages... Its good to see how much

everyone is willing to to help the next person out. Well i had my

surgery on December 16, 2003. while going to the doctor for pre-

surgical consulting i weighed 423lbs, i never knew i weighed that

much until i started going to the doctor... i always thought i was

like 360-370. Anyway, at the time of the surgery i weighed 390lbs.

After surgery, i think the first week was the hardest for me the

pain was terrible... but the pain was more from the scar of being

cut open then from the actual surgery to the stomach. I was walking

around slowly in a couple of days and back to work in about 3

weeks. (the first monday after New Years Eve) I was on light duty

for three months... was on a liquid diet for about 3 weeks, soft

foods for about 3 months then my surgeon just let me go. Once i was

cleared i began going to the gym. I started going to the gym 6 days

a week. light cardio (eliptical machine) and weight lifting (arms,

chest, shoulders, back and legs) I havent started working the

stomach yet. I can eat pretty much anything i want just not as much

as i use to. i dont eat fried foods... (i have had fried chicken

ONCE since the surgery)and i stick to alot of vegetables and meat.

I need high protein since i work out so often so i also drink a

protein shake before i go to the gym. I have experienced dumping

once (apple pie and ice cream) and extreme cramping due to gas once

(drank gingerale to fast)

I must tell you i was always scared of the lifestyle change that i

had to make once i had this surgery, but since the surgery i have

truly embraced the changes that has happened. being able to play

with my son, ride a bike, workout, hell just walk up stairs and not

be winded is such a blessin that at times i just look at what has

happened to me and... well it can be overwhelming.

anyway... I now weigh 245lbs and my doctor said the goal weight is

210lbs which i will try to hit by the end of this year then i will

build myself back up to about 220-230lbs (i have no intentions of

being a little man) this was done for health reasons but getting in

shape is definitely a great benefit. It's good to follow the rules

with this surgery but just remember to be strong and if u fall get

back up. I have made it a lifestyle change but not so strict that i

loose out on what i use to love. I eat things that i am not suppose

to from time to time... i drink alcohol when i go out... but those

few indescretions are balanced out if not dwarfed by the amount of

changes that i have made in my lifestyle. so when u fall, just

remember that there is a path and get back on it.

well thats enough for me... god bless

dee