One Year Ago...

I know I haven't been about much recently, and that's very probably not going to change much in the near future, but I was asked to post an update. It's been a year. March 22, 2004 started my odyssey. I spent two weeks in the hospital in the worst pain in my life. Literally. For those who don't know, I wasn't aware of a genetic reaction I have to anesthetic that resulted in a potentially fatal complication, nerve damage, muscle damage and insane levels of pain. For those pre-ops, don't worry about this...my situation is VERY rare (in the range of 1/50,000 surgeries of any type). I still feel that what I went through was an advantage. It's given me the extra drive I've needed when things get a little rocky. I didn't go through what I did to waste this tool for a piece of cheesecake. So, when I got close to 'straying,' I just had to remember the two weeks I spent. So, where am I now? I'm down to 219 pounds. My 'fantasy' goal was somewhere in the 220s, so I more than accept this. Of course, my official weigh in later this week will be a bit more...I'll be wearing a bit more in the way of clothing there. I've still got about ten or fifteen pounds I can lose, but we're more concerned with stabilizing my loss and then moving forward. That means I've lost 259 pounds in this last year. The muscle damage in my back from surgery has repaired, but the nerve damage is permanent. All that means is that I have no sensation in my back from about halfway down to my waist. That's a minor loss compared to what I've accomplished. I'm more active than I ever thought I would be. I'm working out 3 times a week, and walking at least five miles a day (further on weekends). I may not be a public face at walking, but I am continuing to do it. I'm still eating small amounts. For those that don't know me, since I had such a lot to lose (starting weight at 478) and had no hunger (and still don't), they kept me on 2 ounces per meal. Over the last 3 months, we've upped my meals to about 3 ounces and increases the number of meals to 5 to 6 per day. I'm still losing about a pound a week or so, but even that has started to slow down. I'm still taking my supplements, and still taking close to 100 grams extra of protein a day. I recognize that I still have some foods that I can't have around. I had some friends over the other night and they brought snacks. I noticed it was hard to control myself around the cheese crackers and such...so it's going to be best to keep that sort of crunchy snack food out of the house. Just because I'm down to where I want to be doesn't mean I get to slack off. Someone e-mailed me about advice I'd give, and while it's nothing new, I'll throw out the words I live by. This isn't a diet. This isn't temporary. What I've done is a permanent change to my lifestyle. While the amount has and will increase a bit, the food choices I'm making are permanent. There's no getting 'back to normal' someday. This is normal. When I weighed in over 500 pounds, I used to say that this world wasn't built for people like me. I still say that today. Hardees and McDonalds aren't for me. I'll never eat a big hamburger again. I'll never have a rack of ribs. I'm not unhappy about that. I'll trade (and have) what I am now against all the junk food in the world. No, the world isn't made for me, now either. But I'll survive that. Other than the vital stats, that's about it. Take care, folks. Waist: Starting 65 inches Current 35/36 inches Shirt size: Starting 5x/6x Current Large Shoe Size Starting 13 Current 11/11.5 Eric Carpenter _________________ Lap RNY 3/22/04 Dr. Gupta 478/219/??? -259

Oh, Eric, thank you. What else is there to say. I'm very proud of and happy for you. God bless, Reenie

Eric, You should be very proud of your accomplishments. You have done well!!!! I am glad to see you say that this is a permanent lifestyle change, I think we all need to remember that and workonthat throughout the whole "body healing" time so that we can heal our minds/thoughts/ actions as well. I am reading a book called "Overcoming Overeating" . I wish I had read it a long time ago, its about binging, and emotional eating, etc. but it has many good things to say that I can add to my new life as a one year post op as well. I have to remind myself not to get wrapped up in the -170 pounds or the 10 more I need to lose to reach goal and remember that this is a life long change and it may take one person a year to get there and it may take me two but either way I am getting there I have determined that!!! Keep up your goal to keep yourself healthy and enjoy the new you1 Janelle