Major Fart! (finally)

I have been telling my wife that I will wait until I lost 100 lbs before I posted my first fart. It took much longer than anticipated because I was stuck at 97 lbs for over a month (God has a sense of humor). I went on a job hunt in Colorado (I'm from New Jersey), and when I came back, I just weighed in at 227 (I was weighing this amount in Colorado, but I couldn't believe it because of the different scale). The other exciting thing is I weighed myself tonight, and I always weigh more at night. I'll probably be below 226 tomorrow! So let me recount my farts, since I never took the time to mention these before. About two months after surgery, I was able to get into a plane and use the seat belt without an extension. I just came home from Colorado on the plan, and I had to cinch my seat belt up quite a bit. More amazingly, I can now put the tray table down *when* the person in front of me moves their seat back *and* I *don't* move my seat back *and* I while doing that, I can move the tray *back* even further *and* still have a good three inches left over! Before, when the person in front of me had their seat forward, and I had mine back, the tray couldn't even go past the top of my belly. This is just an amazing difference! I'm now wearing size 38 pants, and anticipate getting down to size 34s (and quite possibly lower), before I'm done losing. I was up to a 58 prior to surgery. I've now lost 103 pounds, and have only 27 pounds to go towards my surgeon's goal (my personal goal is below 190). The most amazing thing is how people comment that I'm so thin. When I was heavy, I didn't have a concept of *how* heavy I was. Now I don't have a concept of how thin I am. I can now run up steps without getting winded. Today, getting out of the airport, and with a very heavy laptop bag on my shoulder, I was the fastest person walking, passing the thin, rich folks in first class. I still have to stop myself, because there are times I let it slip and make references about my weight, such as....Yeah, even a fat person like me...The problem with that is if I'm discussing that with somebody who is now heavier than I am, but I don't consider heavy by my old standards (and really my new standards too). I just don't want to appear to be putting that person down, or being arrogant, or insensitive, it's just simply that I really don't understand how I am no longer seen as overweight by society (even though I'm still considered obese until I lose another 8 pounds--wow, only 8 more pounds)! I started mountain biking again when I got down to 290 lbs. The first time I did, a nice fellow offered to ride with me, and I accepted. I became so winded so quickly, I insisted he continue without me. My heart rate was SO high, and I'd go maybe 1/8th of a mile, and I'd be sucking wind, and would have to get off of the mountain bike. I'd literally be sucking wind and barely able to stand up, and laying my weight against the bike for about 20 to 30 minutes. The good thing was, I was so excited about the weight I was losing, and I was so motivated because I knew that weight would *never* be coming back, that even during the hell that first experience was, my spirits were high because I knew things would only get better. Besides, when I was at 330 lbs, I couldn't have gone 10 feet on a bike. I was able to ride towards the end of the biking season, when I was down to about 260 lbs, and improved significantly, and even managed to keep up with an older gentleman as we both climbed up a very steep trail (we both got off our bikes at the same time, because the trail was so long and steep, and were both equally winded going up). What really has me excited, is it looks like I'm going to be riding my bike again very soon, and I *hope* to be at around 220 when that happens! That means I'll be 40 lbs lighter than I was last season, so I have pretty high expectations for this season! The other cool thing is, by the end of the season, I could be at GOAL! This surgery is just amazing! I'm so excited! When I was stuck at about 97 lbs lost for over a month, I was beginning to worry. That was until I began to reason things, and kept track of what I was eating. There was simply NO way my body could hold onto my weight when I was simply not eating a lot of food, and getting in my protein. I am willing to be patient, so I really don't care if it takes me an extra 5 months to lose the weight vs. somebody else. The only thing I care about is *getting* to my goal. I am convinced that I can do that, and very excited! Sorry for the long post, I'm just really beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Fred: Where do I start..the 100LBS... wooooooowwwoooooowooooowwwooooowowoooo !!! Comfort on an airplane !!!!!!! Bicycle Riding success !!!!!! What really pumped me up was your positive attitude and your self confidence... these attitudes are priceless.. keep posting.. keep the faith Kev-

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad I could "pump" somebody up. By the way, I put paragraphs (lot's of them) in my post. Not sure what happened.

Thanks for the post - my surgery is on the 14th, and I'm looking forward to fitting in a plane seat again.   And, I grew up in Utah, and was an avid Mountain Biker until my weight got so out of control.   It was great to read your many sucesses and know that I'm heading down that same path.   Congrats and keep up the great work!!!

When you get down enough, you should treat yourself to a mountain bike. There's nothing more encouraging, fun, and healthy then to get back to where you left off. You put your life on hold while you are overweight, and so did I. There will come a time when you can resume the life you once lived, and never look back.

Actually, now that I think about it, and looking back; A road bike might be easier to start with. Mountain biking is more demanding because you are riding off road, and off road riding has a lot more resistance/objects, and requires a lot more work (too much work when I was at 290 lbs).

   Fred!! Great News!! (gotta Love the tray-Table!!) Keep it Up!! Best Wishes- Dx

Fred, Outstanding! Thanks for posting, it is very motivating! What did you think of Colorado? I love it there and almost moved there full time last year. However, we decided to stay based in Austin for a few more years. Talk about mountain biker's paradise! It doesn't get much better than there. I know what you mean about the plane. I fly a lot, too. Take care. Hope the job prospects work out for you in CO. JP

Colorado is such a beautiful area, and I'd low to enjoy the abundance of trails that are down there. What disappointed me about it was that the place is one large contruction site. They are building new houses all over the place, they are working on the road, there's dust being kicked up by everything, etc. etc. and the roads are backed up due to all of the traffic. It's almost becoming a beautiful verson of New Jersey. On the other hand, I wasn't able to ride on the trails, and enjoy all of the open space that area has to offer, because I was job hunting, and so my opinion is skewed.

I hear you. Talk about urban sprawl, Denver is out of control. I was in Boulder, which is incredible, but incredibly expensive, too. Estes Park is great, but too far out if you need to commute to Denver. I have several good friends that live in the area. Two are huge mountain bikers, and do that ride across the continental divide, though Rocky Mountain National Park, every summer. If you end up in Colorado, let me know and I will hook you up with them JP.