I started my solids this week with one egg on Wednesday, Thursday I had egg for breakfast and tuna for lunch, and today I have had a scrambled egg with cheese and shaved chicken for lunch. I hope to have salmon for dinner! I am telling you the amounts I was able to eat prior to the surgery would be gut wrenching and now I am only to put one egg down and feel very satisfied, 2 oz of shaved chicken ..... to me that is unbelievable.

I must warn those whom are thinking of having the surgery that please to keep your mind right and there is always going to be a battle of mind hunger and actual hunger. I do see and pass Mcdonalds and think I would love a double cheeseburger, but that is a battle I choose to win everytime and get past the moment.

My wife asked me last night how I feel and I said I feel great! I went home and grilled steak for her and the kids and have made many meals since the surgery. I told her just because I can not eat this does not mean I have lost my passion for cooking. I truly enjoy it and then get satisfaction of seeing their faces as they eat it. It is not that I will not be able to have a steak again, it is just for right now and it is about making right choices and exercise.

People have asked me why didn't you make the right choices before the surgery and save yourself the money (I paid for the enitre surgery out of pocket)? I say that because I have a obcessive compulsive behavior that I know I could go eat 2 double cheeseburgers, 2 mcckickens and large fries and apple pie and drink a diet coke, and two hours later do the same thing. The point is because I could. I have been a roller coaster my whole life and finally decided that the sleeve surgery is the tool to help me become healthy again.

I want to be around to walk my daughters down the isle. I want to set up a camp site without sweating so much I have to take a cold shower. I want to ride a bike up a hill and not have to quit. I was on my way to a heart attack.... I have sleep apnea for over 3 years and just diagnosed this year with Type 2 diabetes. I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure that were not being treated and I was following in my dads foot steps. It is unbelevaible, but I know genetics has a lot to do with obesity and sometimes it is choices and behavior, however I can not stress enough, that if I did not take this path and get my mind right I would probably would have continued down the destructive path of obesity for many years to come and eventually death. Instead I am 41 years old and still have time to enjoy the fun activities in life. Instead of finding the best burger joint I will be able to tell you where the best walking paths are!

These are some of the factors that went into that decision for the surgery and some will understand and others whom have never been obese will not! So make sure your mind is right and find the tool that will best help you down the road to recovery of a better healthier YOU!..... I DID!

I hope this helps all who read and thanks for doing so!

Dennis P. Clark Jr. (MU DOG)