Incredible weekend and WOW moments! Long Post
Hey Folks,
I'm more of a lurker than real participant in the forums, although I do post once in a while, but I had a great experience this weekend that I wanted to share. My best friend got married on Saturday and I was the best man. He asked me to be his best man last October when I was still going through the motions and was still waiting for a surgery date. I got the call last November, on Veteran's Day and I had my RNY on 12/7/07, ironically, Pearl Harbor Day. I was 282lbs. on 2/7/07 at my initial consult and 270 on surgery day and on Friday, 7/11/08, I weighed in at 180lbs. My highest weight is unknown, but I was a 46-48 waist at my consult and am now between a 32-34, although the tux pants were 36-38 and fit perfect. I am still losing weight and it's been a very stressfull few weeks. Besides all of my best man duties, speech, bachelor party, etc., I was very worried about the tux not fitting and ended up getting re-measured 2 weeks before the wedding. I ended up losing 3 inches from my hips, 1 inch from chest and 2 from around shoulders in 11 days and dropped from a 44 jacket to a 42, which ended up being a little big on the wedding day, but still looked good.
I had a lot of incredible moments this weekend. Most happened as people who I'd met once or twice before, or had seen pictures of me, didn't recognize me when I was introduced to them during the rehearsel or at the Wedding itself. The best was when the bride's mom who I met last year, and haven't seen since, said that she couldn't wait until I arrived so she could see how good I looked and I'd already been standing next to her for a while! I also met a few people at the wedding who had WLS and got to talk about our experiences and get and give advice and share some of the things that I've learned from these boards.
My friend put together a slide show on a digital picture frame at the wedding and included a picture of me, him and two other friends taken in Feb '06, when I was a lot heavier and when people found out that was me, they were floored. I actually didn't see or know about the picture until I was about to be introduced and walk into the reception. I told the groom that I couldn't believe he used that picture. He said it was the only one of us he had and thought I was pissed because it showed my pre-surgery weight, but I wasn't. That was me and I'm not ashamed of it. I called him out on it because of the rather crude pose and gesture we were making, but all was good.
I used this wedding as extra fuel and a reason to work hard and drop as much weight as possible to look the best I could and I think I did pretty well. At the end of my speech I thanked the bride and groom for all of their support and gave them the credit that they deserve for helping me achieve the level of success that I've attained. I was told that this caused some of the people who weren't already crying to shed some tears. Hell, I didn't think I'd make it through that last part without crying, but I was able to hold it together in the end. Thanks for reading and thanks for all of the help and support you have all given me though this journey to a thin and healthier life. JOE
Consult Day of Surgery Currently Goal
282lbs 270lbs 168lbs 165lbs?
2/7/2007 12/7/2007 10/18/2008
You certainly deserve 
Congratulations on a job well done. I'm glad you had such a great time.
Sandy
Sandy
Remember....... Click to Give .....Hunger, Breast Cancer, literacy, rain f orest, animal rescue and CHILD HEALTH
Thanks for your reply. I see your from Easton. My friends, the bride and groom, live there now, but recently purchased a home at a development in the Freemansburg area and will be moving there in mid- September. I come up to visit them every 2-3 months and will be up there several times later this summmer to help paint the new house and help with the move. I'm not very familiar with the area, but where abouts are you located? They live on Ferry ST, near 7th.
Consult Day of Surgery Currently Goal
282lbs 270lbs 168lbs 165lbs?
2/7/2007 12/7/2007 10/18/2008
We'll keep your eyes out, I'll be posting info about a support group at my house, maybe you'll be able to attend and visit your friends in 1 trip.
Liz
'One shoe can change your life'...Cinderella
