BigBearBBQ

I went to a support group meeting yesterday and this is the first time that I have had my body fat taken in years. My fat free weight was 259 lbs. This means no matter what my body fat is my BMI will always have me as obese. I have also realized that a goal of 270 may not be realistic, so I have changed my goal to 300 which will put me under 20% body fat. Therefore at 6 months since my surgery I am about 1/2 way to my goal. I have been lucky that I have never had food stuck at my band opening so no upchucking. I guess I am chewing my food good enough. I can definitely tell though when I should stop. It is key to remember that you do not drink until well after meals so that you can keep that full felling. Paul "Bear" Surg: 12/6/13 Loss: 75lb BF%: 32%

One week till Surgery and one week on pre-op diet. Up until last night I really hadn't started feeling too hungry. I am hungry and realization that this is really going to happen and really going to affect how and what I eat. I have lost 15 lbs so far on this diet. At least the family is not eating a turkey and all the other fixin's. I have usually been the one that makes most of the big meals. Christmas parties will be quite a bit different since I will be on clear liquid diet until Christmas. Didn't do well at my first BBQ competition but learned a lot. Will work toward next year. Happy Thanksgiving Paul "Bear"

At the beginning of this year I decided once and for all I would finally do something about my weight. For years my weight has yo-yoed. I have dieted and lost 50 lbs, just to turn around and gain 60. I needed something a little more permanent. However since I really hadn't been going to the doctor I had to go through a 6+ months of meeting with my PCP, dietician and psychologist. We are getting close. The paperwork has now been filed with the insurance company and we should hear back within the next two weeks. Hopefully it should only be another couple of weeks after that when I can truly start my weight loss journey. While I can't wait the surgery is probably going to take place less than a month before my next big BBQ competition and of course Thanksgiving. Clear liquids during a BBQ competition and Thanksgiving will suck. I will have to trust my "pit crew". My pre-surgery weight is currently 455. When I got married, I was 270 with body fat % of about 10%. My goal weight is to get back to the weight I got married at, that will be 175 lbs. Wish me luck. Paul "Bear"