Richard Foor

I am a full time professional Paramedic/Supervisor and have spent the last 23 years helping others. I am also a parent of 2 wonderful kids a 10 yr old son who has PDD-NOS (a high functioning Autism) and a 5 yr old daughter. Last year I found that I weighed 379 pounds and could not keep up with my kids, it was a horrible feeling to not be able to play with them, and worse yet was the thought of my kids having to grow up without a dad because I couldn't take care of myself, especially when I had devoted my life to taking care of others when they are in need. So that is when I decided it was time to fix the problem, I went to a seminar with Dr. Kim Marley at Windber Medical Center in early October of 2012. After the seminar I was pretty convinced that the sleeve was what I needed help me fix myself, My BMI at that point was over 60 which meant that my insurance company did not require the 6 months supervised diet, so I met with the Dr and he scheduled me to get my psych, medical, and nutritional releases. Everything was moving well and I got scheduled for surgery on December 10th. Like many others I took a little time to say good bye to all my favorite foods, then started my 2 week liquid pre-op diet. I was quite scared at the time as I did not know anyone who had had the sleeve, I did know a few people who had had the gastric band but most of them had not done well with it. So being a long time computer geek I of course went to the internet and found this forum, I started reading it everyday and getting as much information as I could so that I would be properly prepared for what was to come. Surgery came and went without a hitch. I have a high pain tolerance so did not need any pain meds post op, which I knew meant I would not have as much nausea as some people experience, this was great, I new I needed to walk from what I read on the forums, so I made myself get up and do it and was feeling pretty good by the time I got discharged from the hospital. I concentrated on getting my protein and hydration in for the first several weeks, it was a little challenging around Christmas as that is time we always want to eat but I made it through with only minor problems. As soon as the Dr released me to start exercising I joined the gym and started going 3 to 5 days a week, I found the more I went the better I felt and the easier it was to get myself up and go. When I started eating solid foods I fairly quickly started tracking with mfp as I had read all about it on the forum, and was able to quickly come up with the numbers that seemed to work for me. My daily diet became eating less then 900 calories a day, less then 40 carbs a day and more then 70 grams of protein, I also started keeping track of my water intake, initially drinking the recommended 64 oz, then increased to 96 oz, I then realized that since I was still drinking coffee fairly frequently that I should increase my water intake to 128 oz to make up for the caffeine. The weight came off really fast at first, then as is natural it slowed as my body adjusted to itself, but I new this was normal and stayed positive and stayed on plan and the weight continues to come off. I am currently at 8 months post op, I have lost 142 lbs putting my current weight at 236 lbs. My BMI went from a high of 62 to currently 39. My pants size started at a tight 54 and is now a 38. Shirt size from a 4xL to a Large. I can now chase my kids and play with them and not feel like I might die any moment. My main piece of advice to other WLS patients is to try your best to stay positive, and stick to the plan your Surgeon/Nutritionist set for you and know that no matter what happens if you follow the plan the weight will continue to come off.