1 year update

So anyway I'll post my 1 year update from Weight Loss Surgery. things are going great. I'm currently at 279, down from a high of 416, for a loss so far of 137. I'm wearing size 40 pants (Got a pair of jeans at old navy on clearance for 11 bucks, and a pair of cords that don't make noise and kackis there for 6 bucks a piece, also 40's). If it weren't for the loose skin on my stomach apron I'd easily fit into 38s by now. That is a loss of 20 inches off of my waist For shirts I'm wearing extra larges, down from tight 6x's. Also a huge loss. At Renewal on Tuesday I put a pair of my pre-op pants and a button down shirt that was pre-op (22.5 36-37) and was shocked myself at how it was so big. It is weird and normal, I still feel like the 400 lb guy until I look at pictures or see myself in old clothes.... I definitely know how an anerexic feels when they look in a miror. One small thing I have noticed though, is that my dimples are coming back! I'm going to send a link showing a photo of me at my highest around my sister's wedding in September 2004, A picture from May 2005, a picture from August 2005, a photo from November 2005, and a photo from Tuesday. Here is a link -- http://photobucket.com/albums/f181/selat2/ Today I met for the final time with Dr. Carey an exercise physiologist I'm particpating in a post weight-loss surgery study for. He tested my metabolism and I'm doing great and at rest it is back up to 2169, which is higher than it was before surgery. This is about 300-400 calories higher than most people are in my position. Also my body composition is only 40.1% fat, which is a drop from 49.9% back in August, a huge drop in % (And down from 60% fat back at surgery) This means that since my 6 month meeting with him I've actually GAINED 6.1 lbs of lean mass and lost 46.1 lbs of fat. This means that over the entire year of weight loss, 80% of my weight loss has been fat, and only 20% has been lean. The average for the study has been between 50 to 66% fat loss to 33-50% lean. Again above average. I have 80 lbs to lose to get to my personal goal and 100 lbs to get to where Dr. Carey says he think I could make it to, but the way I feel, I'd be happy even if I never lost another lb. And I'm actually not focusing on the number, and instead focusing on how I feel and how my clothes fit. John

Hi John, I just wanted to stop in and congratulate you on your successful weight loss. Best Regards, Luly

Congratulations John, you have done wonderful. And, what a difference in the pictures, woo hoo way to go. Dana

You look fantastic!! Congratulations and Happy Re-Birthday!!! Lisa 371/341/187/140

congrats to you on the great weight loss. and have a happy re-birthday. faith 389/222/180

Isn't the picture thing a strange feeling. I too don't see my loss in the mirror the same as the pictures show. I think it's a self(esteem) preservation thing left over from the excess weight I carried for all of these years. I do have a new understanding of eating disorders like anorexia. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

You have done SO WELL! It's also refreshing to see a guy posting in here - I tell ya - LOTS of estrogen in this place (grin). Keep up the great work! Kia

Hey John, Congrats on your first-year's loss. Say goodbye to that weight forever, man! I'm a year out today and have been reflecting on what I've lost and what I still want to do. Dx E got my mind going about a "year two goal" earlier today, so I've gotta come up with something there. For me, I know it's going to be related to exercise and discipline. Stop by the men's locker room (er, message board) some time. Always room for another brudder. Joe