So I have been lurking for almost a year but decided today to share and if it helps inspire even one person I will be happy. I am a 6'1" male approaching 50. After playing 3 sports in high school at a relatively muscular 220 pounds--the weight started to pack on after I graduated from college and my activity level decreased.
Come 30 years later and by 2014 I had all of the typical problems associated with being way overweight-hard to do stairs, my knees ached, no energy, etc.. I decided to take the step and go find out what this was all about. I went to a free seminar in my area in January 2014 thinking about the band but came out an hour later knowing that the sleeve was going to be right for me. Went through all the rest of the prep last spring--Upper GI, ultrasound, psychiatrist, nutritionist, cardiologist to name most. My pre-op, day before liquid diet, weight was 371. I had the surgery at the end of May 2014 and took my first walk 4 hours after getting to the recovery room.
Since that day I have never looked back. Sure it hurt a little at the beginning and getting used to knowing what my new stomach tolerated was a little bit of trial and error. But I immediately felt that this tool was invigorating and I was going to do everything I could to use it to be successful. I now know how to eat so much better, haven't had a diet coke since May 9th ,2014 and eat almost all Protein with an occasional carb here and there (I'll still have one slice of pizza once a week for dinner). I know it is a lifetime journey and not a sprint but I am having many non-scale victories which inspired me to share. From tightening the belt on the airplane, to being able to walk into any store and buy clothes, to the occasional compliment--it has so been worth it.
Today I went to the gym and without even thinking an hour later I had burned off 500 calories by riding 15 miles on the bike--unheard of a year ago. So in a little over 8 months since surgery, this morning I weighed 253 pounds for a 118 loss since last May. I know I still have a ways to go, but I feel great.
So again, if this helps inspire anyone, I have been glad to share.
Thanks,
Charlie
