What a difference the year makes.
I began this year having just completed my 3 month pre-op program mandated by insurance and weighing in around 315, so I am not a year out from surgery. I had a good job and an awesome career, the love and support of my wife and 2 sons and all of my family, friends and co-workers. I was on the path to change my life for the better and I don’t think 2 or even 18 months ago I would believe just how much my life would change in such a short amount of time.
When I started this journey, my family and I lived in an apartment which was fairly nice but it wasn’t ours so there was a lack of pride in where we lived. Well I received the call from my surgeon that I had been approved by my insurance company as we were driving to close on our very first home. The type of home I had always wanted. Plenty of room for people to visit and a massive kitchen, a place that we feel blessed to have found and proud to own.
Surgery was July 16th and I thought I was ready for what the future had in store for me, I would later learn that nothing could have really prepared me for the life I would wake up to. The hours after waking up from surgery were very difficult ones for me. I suffered from low blood pressure to the point that if I got up I would pass-out, and once did. The time I did pass-out taught me a lesson in humility and modesty. This was due to the fact that I passed-out on the toilet in the hospital and came to with 15 medical personal all yelling at me to open my eyes, and later I found out that they called a code blue so one dude had a crash cart.
After being released from the hospital 2 days after my surgery I went home and embraced my new lifestyle. I did my protein and fully expected to not like my shakes which oddly enough I loved so much that I got to the point I would rather drink shakes than eat food. I worked my surgeons plan and watched the weight fly off. Every day I was a different person so much so that people began treating me different. This was and continues to be difficult to deal with at times, as I see myself as being exactly the same person only a lot smaller.
Once cleared for full exercise I began jogging I won’t say run because well I don’t really feel what I am able to do at this point can be considered running. Every morning I would wake up at 5:30 and hit the street or a trail near my house for 4 miles. Along with the jogging I took up Tae Kwon Do, martial arts is something I had always wanted to do as a kid but never was able to, both of my sons are involved in Tae Kwon Do and my oldest is about 8 months away from preparing to test for his black belt.
A few weeks after surgery I began to learn that life after RNY is not always a walk in the park, as I was admitted to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer that required a transfusion. I viewed this as a minor setback and continued to follow the doctor’s orders, which required 5 more weeks of pureed foods.
Every year in September my company sponsors a 5K charity run. The past 2 years I could not even stay around long enough to cheer those on who participated in the event. This year would be different as I was determined to not only start but finish. This would be another victory to add to my growing list as I was able to finish, due it in under an hour and managed to not be last which was my biggest fear. RNY had allowed me to accomplish something I never dreamed possible.
The week after my surgery had me back in the hospital for another ulcer and upon release 4 more weeks of pureed food. Existing on pureed foods became a way of life for me something I became comfortable with and even when cleared to resume normal foods I was unable to. For the first time in my life I had people telling me I was not eating enough. I know this is foreign to many of us making this journey, people tell you your whole life that to lose weight you just need to eat less and exercise more and here I am exercising and people telling me I need to eat more to lose weight.
I have a hard time with calling this experience a journey as much as a roller-coaster ride. The ups and downs can be so extreme but if done with the right attitude can be an enjoyable trip. So the past year has resulted in, Me becoming a new person that my wife, sons and whole family are proud of, a person who looks forward to waking up early to run, a home owner, someone who willingly enters 5Ks and gets up before dawn to participate this list goes on. So what does next year hold in store for me? Well so many thing are un known at this point but there are a few I know of already. I will complete 12 more 5Ks, I will complete a 10K, and I WILL WELCOME my 3RD child into our family
If you are just starting this journey or even considering it, well be prepared for the time of your life and embrace what will become a new you.
When I started this journey, my family and I lived in an apartment which was fairly nice but it wasn’t ours so there was a lack of pride in where we lived. Well I received the call from my surgeon that I had been approved by my insurance company as we were driving to close on our very first home. The type of home I had always wanted. Plenty of room for people to visit and a massive kitchen, a place that we feel blessed to have found and proud to own.
Surgery was July 16th and I thought I was ready for what the future had in store for me, I would later learn that nothing could have really prepared me for the life I would wake up to. The hours after waking up from surgery were very difficult ones for me. I suffered from low blood pressure to the point that if I got up I would pass-out, and once did. The time I did pass-out taught me a lesson in humility and modesty. This was due to the fact that I passed-out on the toilet in the hospital and came to with 15 medical personal all yelling at me to open my eyes, and later I found out that they called a code blue so one dude had a crash cart.
After being released from the hospital 2 days after my surgery I went home and embraced my new lifestyle. I did my protein and fully expected to not like my shakes which oddly enough I loved so much that I got to the point I would rather drink shakes than eat food. I worked my surgeons plan and watched the weight fly off. Every day I was a different person so much so that people began treating me different. This was and continues to be difficult to deal with at times, as I see myself as being exactly the same person only a lot smaller.
Once cleared for full exercise I began jogging I won’t say run because well I don’t really feel what I am able to do at this point can be considered running. Every morning I would wake up at 5:30 and hit the street or a trail near my house for 4 miles. Along with the jogging I took up Tae Kwon Do, martial arts is something I had always wanted to do as a kid but never was able to, both of my sons are involved in Tae Kwon Do and my oldest is about 8 months away from preparing to test for his black belt.
A few weeks after surgery I began to learn that life after RNY is not always a walk in the park, as I was admitted to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer that required a transfusion. I viewed this as a minor setback and continued to follow the doctor’s orders, which required 5 more weeks of pureed foods.
Every year in September my company sponsors a 5K charity run. The past 2 years I could not even stay around long enough to cheer those on who participated in the event. This year would be different as I was determined to not only start but finish. This would be another victory to add to my growing list as I was able to finish, due it in under an hour and managed to not be last which was my biggest fear. RNY had allowed me to accomplish something I never dreamed possible.
The week after my surgery had me back in the hospital for another ulcer and upon release 4 more weeks of pureed food. Existing on pureed foods became a way of life for me something I became comfortable with and even when cleared to resume normal foods I was unable to. For the first time in my life I had people telling me I was not eating enough. I know this is foreign to many of us making this journey, people tell you your whole life that to lose weight you just need to eat less and exercise more and here I am exercising and people telling me I need to eat more to lose weight.
I have a hard time with calling this experience a journey as much as a roller-coaster ride. The ups and downs can be so extreme but if done with the right attitude can be an enjoyable trip. So the past year has resulted in, Me becoming a new person that my wife, sons and whole family are proud of, a person who looks forward to waking up early to run, a home owner, someone who willingly enters 5Ks and gets up before dawn to participate this list goes on. So what does next year hold in store for me? Well so many thing are un known at this point but there are a few I know of already. I will complete 12 more 5Ks, I will complete a 10K, and I WILL WELCOME my 3RD child into our family
If you are just starting this journey or even considering it, well be prepared for the time of your life and embrace what will become a new you.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Paul - once again, CONGRATULATIONS on everything you have accomplished this year! Yes, it has been a wild ride, but one where you've held on and ridden it out...well! Keep up the great work and progress. I sincerely hope and pray you are able to overcome the ulcer issues, but even with those I commend you for such a great attitude. It's great news about your wife's pregnancy. Again, I hope and pray for a healthy pregnancy, a smooth uncomplicated delivery, and a strong healthy, and happy baby! Merry Christmas and all the BEST in 2011! Mike
Eating junk food and CRAP is not a reward...it's a punishment...
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
it's a DEATH sentence...Reward yourself with Good Health!
Highest Weight: 287 Lbs-January 2010; Reached Goal 195 Lbs - Dec 2010
Total Lost: 92 Lbs; Completed FULL MARATHON (26.2 Miles) 10-16-2011
Congrats Paul on all the new and exciting things in your life. I can defiantly relate to it being more of a roller coaster than a journey with the issues i was having, but i commend you on your positive attitude and wish you the best in the new year. Congrats on baby number 3, I wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.
Your story serves as a reminder that things aren't necessarily always going to be easy, which I need to understand and prepare for.
And your story is very inspiring to me, to see someone who is in the midst of becoming the person he wants to become, with weight loss being the catalyst.
Congrats on all you've accomplished, and especially the hurdles you've overcome.
Dude
And your story is very inspiring to me, to see someone who is in the midst of becoming the person he wants to become, with weight loss being the catalyst.
Congrats on all you've accomplished, and especially the hurdles you've overcome.
Dude
High weight: 297 | Surgery (RNY) Weight: 254 on 12/21/2010 | Goal Weight: 175-180
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