Half the man i used to be. Litterally

[?? 2013 7]

I ♥ this!!! Great job!!

[LifetimeLoser 208]

holy hell batman!!!

[LMFAO575 112]

Awesome story!!! You look fantastic! Thanks for sharing and best wishes in your continued success

[ertlandia 74]

@lovetodeath I have been told that I look like opie, a total stranger walked up to me on the street and said I did. It felt pretty awesome. thank you

@dafierce1 thank you. anything is possible. I have far exceeded anything I thought was possible.

@chelenka I will be checking out that book. thanks nothing like a good book

@getlownurse I will have to admit I blushed a little when i ready your post. Not something I can say I have heard in the past very often. Thanks

@lifetimelooser so i read your post and started laughing outloud, i'm wearing a batman shirt as I write this

@Phoenixthediva, @jumperthebean,@??2013, @veronica75 Thanks

[mrsreyes 24]

Amazing! Great job! YOU are truly an inspiration!

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[M2G 1,836]

Wow, congratulations on taking charge of your health and making a decision to commit to a healthier lifestyle. You look great...only 9 months out...WOW!

[ontoanewlife 15]

At my largest

I have always been heavy. When I was a kid playing little league football I had to play with kids 3 to 4 years older than myself to "make weight" This was the start of my struggle with my weight. When I got to Jr High I started power lifting and did that for a few years. I quit while in high school to get a job. It was at that point I started to pack on weight. I was used to consuming a large amount of calories for my physical activity and never scaled it back down after i quit. I quickly balloon up to 300lbs after graduating and getting a desk job.

Fast forward to November of 2011. I was diagnosed with diabetes. I weight 442lbs at the appointment. I still remember that day vividly. Its funny how you can remember the details of major events like that. I was in denial. I left the Doctors office and went to a philly cheese steak place and consumed a meal that consisted of 3500 calories. the entire time thinking to myself' date=' "thats bullshit, I don't have diabetes, my liver function can't be at 60 some odd percent.". It took me a day to process everything and come to terms with it. It was then that I decided to pursue the option of WLS. I made and appointment with a local surgeon.

I started the pre-surgery diet before I even meet with the nut. I did that with the help of the diabetic education system that the local hospital has. Leading up the the surgery the process was took 6 months because of insurance requirements. My surgery was August 17th. During my stay at the hospital all I can remember were the apologies for not having a bed long enough for my 6'3" frame. It was only about 2 days until I really wanted to get up and start doing stuff. I did not become very active due to the doctors warnings to take it easy. The only issues with the post surgery diet that I had were issues with food intolerances. No eggs or turkey, kind of saddening but lift goes on.

At my first check up on talked with the doctor about when I could start exercising. He gave me a date that I would be cleared to go. I called some of my buddies and we setup a time to go for a hike on the Appalachian trail. My first real exercise was an 8 mike hike on the trail. I was beat and went home and slept for like 12 hours. I didn't slow down there. We started hiking every Saturday. We have covered about 1/3 of the Trail in the state of PA, multiple times over. I set a goal to get down to 100lbs below what I started and I would buy a bike. When I hit that goal November of 2012 I went out and bought a nice mountain bike. When I started riding the bike I would park at a friends house about 4 miles, direct route to work, and ride in. I would get between 8 to 10 miles a day. This went on for about a week. As my friends put it I went a little crazy one saturday on my way home. My house is 14.6 miles from work I rode the entire way home after riding for a week. That was the start of my commuting via bike to and from work. I started out getting 30 miles a day. I kept going riding 4 to 5 times a week. When the weather started to get snowy and really cold that slowed down and I joined a gym.

I set another goal, Complete a 100 mile ride for charity with in a year of my surgery date. I registered for the JDRF Ride for a cure, sold my Mountain bike and picked up a road bike. Starting out I was only able to get up to a speed of about 8 to 12 mph through my rides. I started taking the long way to work getting an average of 28 to 32 miles one way. After weeks of working on my speed I have gotten up to a constant 15 to 17 mph peaking with sprints into the high 20's.

At 9 months post op I am at 214 lbs a loss of 228 lbs total 174 in the 9months post surgery. I am no longer on diabetes meds and riding 60+ miles on the days I ride. I still hike and trail run. I have taken up yoga strength training and will be giving cross fit a try. The surgery has given me the tools to be as active as I wanted to be. I am not healthier than I have ever been. I have started running group rides for friends that want to get out and cycle to loose weight. I, for the first time ever, was called a role model.

the morning before surgery and few weeks ago(will take a new pick I have dropped 15 or 20 lbs since that was taken)

I'm so inspired by your story...

Brought me to tears...

My goal is to be active, have good health along with the weight loss.

Congratulations on your accomplishments!!

[vinniej3 139]

Dude, you are an inspiration. I sold my bike about 4 years ago (hadn't ridden in about three years), and that's one activity I want to get back into.

[desert19 93]

Congratulations man!!! What an inspiration. I have always wanted to hike some of the Appalachian Trail - how fun you can do it whenever you want.

[cmunne 24]

Your story is so inspirational!! I am having my surgery in one week, and tho I am a little anxious, I am more afraid of NOT doing it and being able to live my life the way I want to! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.... I am stating out at the same weight as you were before surgery. It's good to know that it CAN be done!!

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[Eva Linder 47]

Stories like yours is what makes people like me filled with hope and joy! Thanks

[AussieLady 521]

You are amazing! I know I have done well but people like you make me feel like a failure! Congratulations!!!

[Fouad Ballan 2]

First of all i wish you all the ebst in your journey i wish god guide you though each step and help you and bring you all the joy you want .

Allow me to say that i was extremely confused to do the surgery my Op is 6 days away and after seeing your pictures i realise that i need to do this .. but please i have few question and i would excuse you if u want to skip some answers ..

1- what kind of sport program you did so you don't have to much loose skin . your body is perfect and the arm and the hips are awesome no loose skin visible ???

2- are you tucking your tummy under the shorts or you don't have loose skin ??

3 - * shhh * this might be a little privet for u to answer but am wondering the fat pad which were around your penis area is it gone and i mean is it more visible or ur having a loose skin there too ??

thank you soo much please share ur experience

[2013sleevegirl 126]

Wow, you look amazing and I know you must feel better. Congrats!!

[ertlandia 74]

First of all i wish you all the ebst in your journey i wish god guide you though each step and help you and bring you all the joy you want .

Allow me to say that i was extremely confused to do the surgery my Op is 6 days away and after seeing your pictures i realise that i need to do this .. but please i have few question and i would excuse you if u want to skip some answers ..

1- what kind of sport program you did so you don't have to much loose skin . your body is perfect and the arm and the hips are awesome no loose skin visible ???

2- are you tucking your tummy under the shorts or you don't have loose skin ??

3 - * shhh * this might be a little privet for u to answer but am wondering the fat pad which were around your penis area is it gone and i mean is it more visible or ur having a loose skin there too ??

thank you soo much please share ur experience

1 I do have extra skin. I am able to tuck my hand under it. monday is yoga, tuesday deep tissue massage wedesday biking, thursday gym Arms chest, abs and back extensions, friday bike again, saturday gym back shoulds. Sunday off one week next week i run a group ride for some people I know who are trying to ride to lose weight.

I also commute to work by bicycle 75% of my work week. I will be adding crossfit to that.

2 I am a stomach over the belt kind of guy. Most all of my excess skin is around my trunk stomach back and butt. I wear compress shorts all the time.

3 This was one area I was concerned with the possibility of excess skin. The excess skin sprang back pretty good here.

I forgot to add I do a ton of sit-ups. I average 2000 situps a week and 600 push ups a week.