Diabolical!

I'm 6'1". I weighed in at 293.6 on Oct. 1st when I started the preop diet. When I went to my check-up on Dec 3rd, I was down to 233.0 lbs. Losing 60 lbs in 2 months has me rethinking my goals. Originally, I just wanted to be under 200 again. Now, my goal is to get to 185 but NOT to go below 180. I'm a broad guy. Big shoulders. Big hands and feet. Big head, lol. I've been below 185 at this height before (way back when I was in high school) and I look weird if I get too skinny. Like a bobble head, lol. At the rate I'm losing, I'm sort of scared that I'll get too low on the scale, but I have to say I'm thrilled with the progress so far.

Same here. Everything is happening quickly for me. My first consult was 9/12/13 and my surgery is 10/14/13. Barely a month! I'm self-pay so I'm sure that not having to jump through insurance hoops is helping me along. I do have a patient education class scheduled for 9/27. Anxious and excited right now. My surgeon is David Treen at West Jefferson (near New Orleans).

Oops. I meant non-scale victory, lol.

Thanks! Honestly, I only included the major loss/gains from my history. If I chronicled all of the ups and downs, I would probably have gained and lost over a thousand lbs. in my life. I appreciate the kind words. I'm not really into the sprint car scene, but I know a lot of people who are. I guess my non-surgical victory will be my 1/4 mile times after I get a lot of unnecessary weight out of my car.

I like that the premise of this thread is who you are outside of your weight. When you get too wrapped up in one thing, you tend to forget all of the other things about yourself. That said, I'll start off with my backstory and end with my weight struggles and decision to get sleeved. My name is Lee. I'm a 30 year old male. I belong to the United Houma Nation (Native American Tribe) Born and raised in St. Bernard Parish, LA (just outside of new orleans). I grew up in a small fishing community right on the gulf coast and moved to the suburbs of New Orleans when I "grew up", lol. Never should have moved. Miss the fishing community lifestyle, but my parents still live there so I get to visit often. I have a beautiful wife of 7 years (plus the 8 we dated before marrying!) and an amazing 4 year old son. I work with children (juvenile delinquents to be exact). My job can be stressful and difficult, but when it is rewarding, it is VERY rewarding. I'd be lying if I said every child can turn their life around, but some can. When it happens, it's extremely gratifying. Outside of work I'm an automotive fanatic. I like big trucks and fast cars. I own a lifted 2011 F-250 that I mostly use to go to and from work, but it does double duty hauling my race car to the drag strip. My drag car is a 2006 Mustang GT that is completely built for racing (NOT a street car). Full suspension, slicks and skinnies, 600 hp. I love working on that car. It is my zen. If I'm laying on the garage floor under that car with oil and grease all over my arms, I'm in heaven. While I love drag racing, NASCAR bores the hell out of me, so don't bother asking who my favorite driver is, haha. So that's the important parts of who I am, now to get to my weight issuse and the reason I joined this forum. I've been heavy since I was about 11 years old. I had a troubled childhood. My home life was great, but I was awkward and just didn't "fit in" most other places. As a result, I was subjected to the most horrific bullying and abuse. I suspect food became my comfort... At 14 years old, I weighed 200 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started running every day and changed the way I ate. By the time I was 15, I was 150 lbs and happy. Fast forward... At 18 years old, I weighed 250 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started running again and discovered Atkins. By the time I was 19, I was 170 lbs. and happy. Fast forward... At 21 years old, I was again 250 lbs. I decided to make a change. I started exercising and eating better. A few months later, I was 180 lbs. and happy. Fast forward... At 27 years old, I was up to 269 lbs. I decided to make a change. I did P90X (twice in a row!) and ate better. By the time I was 28, I was down to 220 lbs, but not really happy. Fast forward... On August 27th, 2013, I watched my son blow out four candles on his birthday cake. I thought about the way I felt. I thought about my hypertension, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes and fatty liver. I got on the scale for the first time in weeks. I nearly cried when I saw 292 lbs. (and I know that I had been even heavier the week before). I thought about the chances that I would see my son graduate high school, college, get married. I thought about leaving my beautiful, amazing, healthy wife behind to raise him on her own. Finally, I thought about all of the research I had done on the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I realized that weight loss was not something I could do on my own, and I admitted that I need help. I scheduled a WLS seminar and now I have hope. I attended my WLS seminar with DR. David Treen on September 5th. Yesterday, September 12th, I went to my surgical consultation. My nutritional class is scheduled for September 27th and my surgery is scheduled for Oct. 14th. I'm going into this fully aware that the surgery is a tool and that I have to use it to my advantage as best as possible. I can't believe how fast it's all happening and I'm as excited as I am nervous. I'm so glad this forum is here. Thank you.

I'm so glad you updated. My surgery was just scheduled and I'm getting nervous. Glad you feel better!