I started this journey on September 1st, 2011 when I began my pre-op diet. I weighed in at 320 on the dot. It wasn't easy but I worked hard at it and managed to lose twenty pounds in the six weeks prior to my surgery. I was just a shade under 300 when I walked into OCC for surgery on October 17th.
Today is the 7th of December and I am at an even 255 pounds. That is 65 pounds down from where I started just over three months ago. Prior to the surgery I was using nearly 400 units of insulin and injecting another medication every day. I was also taking five different pills to deal with my diabetes. I haven't used a drop of insulin or the other injection since the day of my surgery. Not one drop. And my blood sugars are PERFECT. My last hemoglobin a1c test was 5.3.
I have always been athletic - even at 320 pounds. I play softball, ride a mountain bike, golf, swim, etc.. And I was in the gym every day to help deal with the blood sugars. But my weight was restricting what I could do and my knees and back were straining. After surgery I was careful not to be overly active, but it was hard. I have a treadmill at home and walked three miles every day for the first three weeks until I was clear to return to the gym. Now I am not only lifting weights again, but running and cross country skiing. My knees and my heart LOVE the new me.
My goal is to get to 200 pounds and, after just three months, I am more than half way there. I am still losing between fifteen and eighteen pounds a month. I know it will slow down at some point. But, at this pace I will reach my goal before the end of April. I haven't had any nutritional issues - I take my Vitamins and I am eating right. But I can barely eat at all. I'm stronger than I have been in years because I am making sure I get plenty of Protein. My energy is high and I feel twenty years younger. I am absolutely amazed at my results and I'm just getting started! I have my life back and I almost feel like I have been reborn.
