My name is Steve. I am 61 years old and was banded on 9/14/13. I have been reading posts now for two weeks and have hesitated to "tell my story", don't know why. I feel a little out of place - there are very few men posting and I am older than most. However, I started at 314 pounds over a month ago - the fattest I have ever been! I'm not heavy, I am fat. I have had heart problems, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I have been taking a lot of pills for a long time and am hoping this will help me get rid of most of them. I have sleep apnea as well and have hopes that I might be able to put away my bi-pap machine when I lose enough weight. I always used to be able to lose weight, but like most people I have never been able to maintain for longer than a year. After I graduated college way back in 1974, and stopped being as physically active as I was then, my weight has been a problem. I have tried almost every diet known to man. spent a ton of money, and finally gave up. My insurance just approved lap band so I decided to give it a try. After jumping through all their hoops I was finally able to start this process. I was at 282 the day of my surgery and am now down to 269, so something is working - although I am still on liquids; start week two today where I can add in some soups. (I have never looked more forward to a bowl of tomato soup in my life - even if it is made with water!) I do not feel hungry at all and am no longer in any pain - except when I turn over in bed too suddenly and stretch everything a little. At the risk of sounding a little gross, I have had a couple of bad bouts with diarrhea. I'm encouraged but still haven't gotten to even the mushy food stage yet so I have a wait and see attitude. My wife and I walk ever day - at least a mile. I have no recent pictures of myself because I have always been too embarrassed to have my picture taken but I said I was going to keep a photo log of this journey so I need my wife to take my picture today. I am committed to making this work, enthusiastic, but also a little scared because this is such a huge change in the way I eat. Only time will tell.
