How Ya'll Feeling Guys?

Terry, Have a great summer. You guys who have caught the athletic competition bug are amazing. I still find the time for walking and a little running But that’s about all I was able to fold easily into my life. I don’t fight the ‘food-attraction’ but my ingrained laziness? That’s my potential long term challenge. Without making a conscious effort, I would sit around reading and painting without ever getting out and doing things. Food intake control is just one end of this see-saw….. You’ve clearly got the exercise end covered. Keep it up! Best Wishes- Dx

Dx, glad you are back with us.  We have missed you and been praying for you.  Physically I am doing much better than this time last year.  The doctor finally cleared me to walk some and that has helped a lot.  I know it is not a lot but I now walk 1 mile 3 times a week.  Hopefully that will continue to get better.  I eat better now than I ever have.  But like Boner, I think head hunger is something I am going to have to deal with the rest of my life.  Mentally life has been a challenge since WLS.  I am not sure why but I seem to have more mood swings than before surgery.  But I try to keep a positive outlook and remember that I am getting healthier each and every day.  And that is one reason I come here to the Locker Room each day.  You and all the guys help keep me on track and keep me mentally on the straight and narrow.

"I now walk 1 mile 3 times a week." , Cap'n!! Keep on keepin' on, brother!!  

Captn, Glad to be back. Thanks for ll the kind thoughts and prayers. I’m with Boner on the- “mile walk 3 times a week?!?!” You’re doing great! Keep it up!

Best Wishes- Dx

Yup....been there. The guy down the street from me stopped me at the mailbox, and said " you know you have  a twin on the street - he looks much like you but is a BIG BIG guy..." and he smiled and walked away. LOL! My aunt this Sunday has her 90th birthday, and we'll be going and I expect to see more'n 70 of my relatives - many who've NOT seen me in years....so I expect to get those same questions too, Dx.... Aint' decided what to say yet either...most likely I'll tell 'em the truth....but hey, maybe not! Aint life GRAND!!!!!!!!!!!! and yup -- I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!!!1 Jim

Jim, at a couple of the family gatherings I went to a quick round of whispers set off that my wife had shown up with “Another Man.” 3 or 4 of the folks admitted that they thought Mrs.Dx had re-married and they just hadn’t heard. It was weird getting to see the jaw-dropping reactions again. It’s been a while. Travel safe! Best Wishes- Dx

Dx,

 Good to hear from you, sorry I missed the Mississippi meetup last month, just too much happening around Raleigh . I’m doing really great these days. At the two years point I am going through the same things you mentioned where most of the folks in my orbit have been around the new me for over a year now and have forgotten about the old morbidly obese Tim. I was with some telecomm customers at a technical symposium on Monday night that I have not see for about 2 years. It was the same old questions, “How are you feeling and you really look great”. They were aware of my surgery but not the final results. I just smile and say I’m feeling fantastic and the discussion turns to all the things I am doing now like hiking/walking, camping, playing softball, shooting pool, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, volleyball, and not feeling worn out anymore. Folks that I have not seen for the past few months keep telling me that it looks like I am still losing weight when in fact I have been hovering around 222lbs for the past 14 months. I assume it is their brains adjusting to the new me like my brain had to do. I am still a little freaked out when I see myself in pictures. I look so shrunken and skinny to myself now. With all the weight training and exercise I have done over the past two years I am in pretty good shape except for some saggy skin in a few places, but after losing 240lbs I’m not complaining. I still feel really lucky to be where I am at this point in my life with the big “50” just 11 months away. I carry a picture of the old me in my wallet to remind me about my darker days at 460lbs. It a great reminder when I think I need to eat something that I know I shouldn’t. I take my vitamins, calcium, B-12 and eat pretty much anything within moderation now days and I feel pretty much “normal” these days. I am still doing WLS support work for Duke. I have an ad running in the local magazines and I have given talks to folks at WLS info seminars and to pre-med students at Duke. This helps me to maintain my connection to the WLS community and reminds me how far I have traveled over the past two years thanks to guys like you Dx.

Take Care My Brother,

Tim

Tim, I saw your recent ‘Duke Spread.’ Cool! You are a “poster-boy!” I get the same from folks who don’t see me that often-  “It looks like you’re still losing…” When clearly I haven’t changed in 3 years.

I used to think I’d never get used to my new size. Now?  I’m pretty much used to it. I do still speak to WLS Groups through Baptist Medical And that keeps me “mindful” but for the most part I’m on cruise control. 50? Not so bad.  I hit 52 this summer! I’m even getting used to that idea….. Best Wishes- Dx

I'm on my way down right now, and I get that "How ya feelin'?" question a lot. I think their must be a pretty strong vibe out there that WLS patients trade their health and vitality for a skinnier body. My answer to this question is another question. "Compared to what?" It usually leads in to a conversation about the burden of carrying two humans with you every where you go and communicating the realization to them that I can't help but feel better than I used to.  NotDave, your comments about the young hotties feeling you up is intriguing. One of the websites I visit from time to time has an occasional post about Japan or Japanese culture mostly regarding their facination with and innovation in the world of robotics. But I've read several stories that indicate that the Japanese, because of their dedication to hard work and hard drinking, have about given up on sex. So there may be a ****load of lonely women over there. Which is kinda interesting to me. Which is certainly not to suggest that you couldn't compete for the hotties even if there was a normal amount of sex available to them.  I'd be interested to hear your take on that topic. PS. You're morality vs biology question is interesting too. I remember reading an interview with Robin Williams' wife one time. And she justified her tolerance of his adultry by basically saying, "Hey, these beautiful women are just constantly throwing theirselves at him. He would have to be a god to say no every time."