One year from decision...looking back

Hi All, one year and one day ago, on my 41st birthday, I finally came to the decision to have WLS after 3 years of struggling with the decision.  Now I'm sitting here 122 pounds lighter 8 months after surgery and sort of wish someone would have given me the V8 headslap a few years earlier.  What an incredible blessing and a joyous ride it has been.  Last year at this time I was around 352 (or higher I think - the scale topped out at 350).  This morning the scale said 230.  I'm 2 pounds away from being out of the obese BMI.  Anyway, enough about me...this is meant for all the lurkers and those considering surgery.  From my devotion this morning.  I think all of the guys who are on this board on the other side can relate to this as well....here goes.

From Isaiah 35

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.          Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;  it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy....they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,        "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come....Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 

Pretty much explains it for me.  I have a race against my 6 year old planned and a basketball game against a former college basketball player (I never made it past 8th grade hoops).  WHo cares, the fact that I can makes me shout for joy!!!  If you are on the fence, I pray this helps you.

Blessings, Greg

 

Inspiration and good looks.  You're not going to run for president and mess it all up are?? Great post.  I ditto your feelings.  I putzed around from first suggestion at 350 to having WLS at 408 and heart skipping beats (darn near died).  9 months out and down 172 total, 138 since surgery, I'm hearing your scriptural reference. Keep the uplifting war stories coming.  Glad you are still doing so well. Joe

Joe, 9 months out and 172 down.  You are my hero.  I tried running like you, but I'm nowhere near doing a 5k.  Keep up the great work!!!

Ditto that, Greg.   I would recommend WLS to anyone battling the obesity demon(s). Preach it, Brother. DD

Thanks Double D....Hopefully someone will get the message through this.

Great Inspiration to all.  Wow, what results.  It is a great inspiration to all of us still on the other side. Be glad when July 17th gets here so I can join the loosers bench. Mike

I'm so stoked for you Ray, now almost 9 months out I have so much energy my wife is looking at me wierd....same will happen to you soon.  Plenty of room on the loser's bench because we are always shrinkin'. Blessings

Got room for another member of the wish I'd done it sooner club? I too waited about three years from my first serious consideration of having surgery until I finally did. But on the other hand, the Bible does say that to everything there is a season, so I must have needed the incubation time, eh? Anyway, congrats and thanks for the quotation and note of encouragement to our lurking brothers and those weighing the scales (literally and figuratively).

l am on the fence.  Considering lap-band surgery in January.  I turn 50 soon and after three times (at least) losing 100+ and gaining it all back plus more, I can really feel the negative health effects.  I am concerned because my weight has NEVER been stable, and I think it would do me in if I had WLS, lost a bunch of weight and then gained it all back as well.  What do you think?  Anybody else deal with this worry?  What's the long-term outlook? Jim

Of course this is very personal decision, but one thing to consider is how you might feel if you do not give yourself the medically best available chance there is so far. Sure, some of us post-ops will have to struggle to maintain our losses, but at least we have the advantages of having altered bodies to help--even if our minds and psyches take a longer tine to change. And lap-band can be tinkered with if need be. I think most of us have exactly your fear about regaining and how horrible it would be after going through surgery. I know I did. But I was even more afraid of how I'd feel if I lived long enough to be a very old fat man and regretted depriving myself of a realistic shot at much better life out of fear. The second fear (of regret) trumped the fear of failure . Just food for thought.