Exactly one year ago today...

Hey folks, Today's my one-year anniversary, the cause for a little reflection... Starting weight: 428 Starting BMI: 50.7 Today's weight: 231.5 Today's BMI: 27.4 Total loss: 196 pounds I never wanna see again! Plusses: + Feel great, look better + Blessed with awesome close-family support (wife/son) through the whole process + Weighing less than my "little" brothers + No more meds for arthritis or cholesterol + Tremendous amount of energy I hadn't had in years + Enjoy clothes shopping, and NOT at fat-boy shops + Finding a variety of clothing that fits! + Still enjoy eating a variety of food--just less of it + Love eating protein + Adapting to the WLS lifestyle wasn't as hard as I thought it was gonna be (or made it out to be in my head!) + Compliments from people, esp. coming from people who were genuinely concerned I was eating my way to an early grave + Enjoy walking (esp., hiking and backpacking) again + New experiences, like going to a rock-climbing gym with my son (never imagined I'd do that a year ago!). Minuses: - Still taking meds for blood pressure (my PCP says I might be one of the lucky people who could weigh 110 lbs. and still have high BP). - Worried about back-sliding, esp. w/sweets - Exercising, but not often enough - Job stress still is a food trigger; gotta work like hell to keep it under control. Would I do it again? Heck, yeah, in a heartbeat! So, to you newbies and pre-ops out there, I guess that makes me a veteran now The wait is worth it, the insurance hassles are worth it, the pre-op jitters are worth it. When your turn comes, git 'er done! Joe

Congratulations Joe, Happy Belated Anniversary, you've had one heck of a year . Dana

Congrates and keep up the great work Dawn 315/198/healthy

Way to go Joe!!! I'm so glad you are healthier than a year ago. Don't be so hard on yourself about the work trigger, in time that too will change, you didn't get healthy over night so as you work on your trigger it too will seem less important when you look back at it. This is the coolest life style change I've ever made, I have to agree with you it has been worth it. deb k

Joe, I enjoyed your story. I agree with you, it's been a good year for me too. Keep enjoying life buddy...