Happy 1st surgiversary to me (long post)
Today marks the first anniversary of my lapband surgery. I have given some thought over this past week on what to say about this event. It’s been quite a year for me. When I started this journey I thought that lapband surgery would make losing weight a breeze. What I found out is that it is hard work. It is truly a tool in which you have to use properly.
Questions I get a lot are, “Would you do it again?" and “Was the surgery really worth it?" My answer is “Definitely yes!" to both of these questions. As I evaluate my health and overall well being, I know that I am light-years ahead of where I was a year ago. I am certain I could not see this kind of weight loss without the help of the lapband.
I attribute much of my success on this journey to the folks who supported me. My partner Brett inspired me to have the surgery with his dramatic weight loss. I have so many chat buddies in the GLBT room of www.obesityhelp.com. There is no question I was quite *****y with my painfully slow weight loss, and these folks listened and helped me along. I am particularly thankful for Mick from Atlanta and Michael from Charlotte. They were such an inspiration and a success that I can not even compare to. I found out how much on-line social networking and communities can help you.
I still wonder if I am a successful WLS patient. I pale in weight loss to most of the folks I chat with and see in support group. I have exceeded my surgeon’s expectations but fall short of my own expectations. I really think I could have done better. I look at the changes I have made in my life. I am up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to exercise. I eat a much healthier diet. I am much more active. The scale is below 200 pounds. Life is good! I guess I see my self as a moderate success.
This month was a difficult month for me. For the first time in 13 months, I gained weight. I weigh in at 190 pounds; up 1 pound from last month. I know my loss is slowing and have been expecting that. I had a very challenging week with a day at Cedar Point, 2 picnics, and dinner out with friends. This is a valuable lesion for me. It shows me that I have to be vigilant with how I eat and my overall behavior.
I guess I’ll close by saying that my life has been transformed. I am still a work in progress. I know I have probably bored my friends with my obsession with the scale over the past year. I have now moved beyond that. As my on-line chat buddy Mick reminds me a lot… “It’s not just about the scale." It took me some time to learn that lesson.
I have included a before and after pic of Brett and I. The left pic was taken at the fountain in front of Paris Casio in Vegas in February 2003. This is Brett and I at about our highest weights. The pic on the right was taken earlier this month in Downtown Chicago… 260 pounds lighter. It’s refreshing to visually see the difference. I added a few other pics on my profile album.
Tom
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/794721/albums/ 48513/tom%20and%20brett%20b4%20and%20after%20100.jpg
Questions I get a lot are, “Would you do it again?" and “Was the surgery really worth it?" My answer is “Definitely yes!" to both of these questions. As I evaluate my health and overall well being, I know that I am light-years ahead of where I was a year ago. I am certain I could not see this kind of weight loss without the help of the lapband.
I attribute much of my success on this journey to the folks who supported me. My partner Brett inspired me to have the surgery with his dramatic weight loss. I have so many chat buddies in the GLBT room of www.obesityhelp.com. There is no question I was quite *****y with my painfully slow weight loss, and these folks listened and helped me along. I am particularly thankful for Mick from Atlanta and Michael from Charlotte. They were such an inspiration and a success that I can not even compare to. I found out how much on-line social networking and communities can help you.
I still wonder if I am a successful WLS patient. I pale in weight loss to most of the folks I chat with and see in support group. I have exceeded my surgeon’s expectations but fall short of my own expectations. I really think I could have done better. I look at the changes I have made in my life. I am up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to exercise. I eat a much healthier diet. I am much more active. The scale is below 200 pounds. Life is good! I guess I see my self as a moderate success.
This month was a difficult month for me. For the first time in 13 months, I gained weight. I weigh in at 190 pounds; up 1 pound from last month. I know my loss is slowing and have been expecting that. I had a very challenging week with a day at Cedar Point, 2 picnics, and dinner out with friends. This is a valuable lesion for me. It shows me that I have to be vigilant with how I eat and my overall behavior.
I guess I’ll close by saying that my life has been transformed. I am still a work in progress. I know I have probably bored my friends with my obsession with the scale over the past year. I have now moved beyond that. As my on-line chat buddy Mick reminds me a lot… “It’s not just about the scale." It took me some time to learn that lesson.
I have included a before and after pic of Brett and I. The left pic was taken at the fountain in front of Paris Casio in Vegas in February 2003. This is Brett and I at about our highest weights. The pic on the right was taken earlier this month in Downtown Chicago… 260 pounds lighter. It’s refreshing to visually see the difference. I added a few other pics on my profile album.
Tom
http://images.obesityhelp.com/uploads/profile/794721/albums/ 48513/tom%20and%20brett%20b4%20and%20after%20100.jpg
Follow my journey to a happy, healthy, active life at TomBilcze.com
Congrats Tom. And you're right , it's about more than the scale. My bmi is 35.2 but my blood pressure is sky high and nonreactive to meds or med ****tails, so I hope surgery will help to bring it to normal. And , I hope I'm anywhere near as successful as you have been. It seems you've shrunk on the outside and grown on the inside, what a great place to be. Keep at it.
Lane,
Too often we concentrate on the weight when the health is the most important benefit we get from WLS. Your surgery should definitely ease those RXs. I know my Type 2 Diabetes went away. Good luck in all you do. Look forward to seeing a slimmed down you on here.
Tom
Too often we concentrate on the weight when the health is the most important benefit we get from WLS. Your surgery should definitely ease those RXs. I know my Type 2 Diabetes went away. Good luck in all you do. Look forward to seeing a slimmed down you on here.
Tom
Follow my journey to a happy, healthy, active life at TomBilcze.com
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