Two year surgiversary 12/16/11. No regrets. Time sure flies by!

 December 16, 2011 will mark my 2-year surgiversary.  The anniversary of the second-smartest decision I've ever made.  I'll be traveling and working late toward the end of this week, so thought I would post while I had the chance.

Gone:  diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, super/morbid/class II/class I obesity, overweight, 9 rx pills and insulin.

HW 342 lbs
LW 159 lbs (briefly; too low)
CW 164 lbs and holding steady as a rock for over a year.

Happy as can be.  No regrets.  I feel like a 20-year-old.  My DS wife is now 15 months out.  We're like newlyweds (she won't allow specifics).

I have to write my initials on my underwear so my 15-year-olds don't try to claim it as theirs.  I had a funeral to go to recently and, having no suit of my own that fit, donned my 15-year-old's suit with no problems.  That felt good!  I've gone from a 52x30 to 32/32 pant size.  I didn't grow 2 inches, but losing my gut put my waistline back where it belonged.  

My mantra?  Proteins first, fats second, complex carbs third, simple carbs/sugars fourth, alcohol sparingly.  I don't count/exchange carbs.  I don't count calories.  Most days I get 200gm protein and upwards of 200gm fat.  There's pretty much nothing I won't eat except for pasta (don't miss it) and store-bought rotisserie chicken (filthy injected marinades/preservatives/brines don't sit well).

I'd do it all again!

Now on to the pics!

My highest weight of 342 lbs:
 

 
Face close-up at highest weight:



Obligatory shirtless pic on day of surgery (still drunk from anesthesia):



Obligatory shirtless pic at pool this summer (pretty sure I wasn't drunk from anesthesia; no centerfold, but never dreamed I would go shirtless in public):



Postop wedded bliss:



I feel out of this world!



Stronger than Hercules!  (LOL)



And, finally, chicks dig me!



Still loving my DS and looking forward to many healthy years to come!

Thanks to everyone for your virtual friendship and support!

For anyone reading this post that is contemplating DS, I can honestly say it has changed my life immeasurably for the better.  I chose my surgery first and my surgeon second after extensive research.  This is the only surgery that would have worked for me.  I enjoy quality of life, better-than-expected results, an existence free from the comorbidities that plagued me, excess energy to burn, and a healthy love relationship with food.  My wife and I were both self-pay (9 months apart).  It's been worth every penny!  I went from rationalizing that I could not afford the surgery to realizing I could not afford NOT to have the surgery.  Far from a selfish act, it is undoubtedly the best (most selfless) gift I could have given my family. 

Oh.  Almost forgot.  The best decision I ever made?  Asking Rags to marry me!

Steve,
Wonderful post!  Your transformation is remarkable.  Both you and Tracy are great assets to this forum.  Thanks for staying around.

I showed Charles your before pix and told him it was someone he had met.  He didn't recognize you - and he's pretty good at recognizing us DSers.

Congrats!  And to Tracy too!  (For saying yes, among other things ...)

Happy surgiversary, Steve. Hooah!

--gina

Congratulations!  You look amazing!    And you and your better half are an adorable couple! 

Everytime I see these before and after shots, my jaw drops and I have to admit that I get a little "verklempt".  As I scroll down I am always amazed.

Thanks so much for posting these pictures and for your lovely post - it's so reassuring and confirms my commitment to get this surgery to help me get my life back.  

P.S.  I am the mother of two sons and hope that I will NOT have to put my initials in my underwear so they don't claim it as their own.  (That one has to be my favorite positive outcome from this surgery that I have read to date.  Thanks for the laugh! )

Congratulations, Steve! The pictures are worth a thousand words. You are such an inspiration.

You are simply amazing and such an inspiration! Congrats handsome!

I have a very good friend who is considering a DS. I've brought him to support groups and filled him in as much as I can but I can't wait for him to read your story. He has many of the same health problems you had as a pre-op. Hopefully in the next few days he'll be on here. He did meet an awesome VSG at my group but nothing can compare to a DSer who was pre-op in a similar situation.

Congrats and keep up the AWESOME work!

Thank you.  I definitely feel an obligation to pay it forward, especially as a male, because I know there are so few of us on this site to begin with and there are other guys out there researching bariatric surgery who want/need to hear our stories.  The women are definitely prettier to look at, though, and I'm a sucker for posts with before/after photos (men are so visual).  

WOW, Steve! How awesome! You and Tracy look great! So happy for you! Congrats! Thanks for sticking around and sharing your experience with all of us!!


Ruby

 It's weird how you don't even remotely resemble your former self.  Usually, one can find a familiar feature, but if I was someone who knew you before, I would NEVER recognize you after.  I would not believe you were the same person.   Love your story, and have watched it unfold.  Thanks for sticking around.  I enjoy both you, and your wife's posts!  Keep it up!  You rock!  Congrats and Happy two year surgiversary!!!