Hi guys.
Well I'm 30 years old and have been overweight my entire life. I remember being a fat kindergardner. I've struggled and suffered with being overweight as we all have and had almost accepted my fate that I was to be a fat man for the rest of my life. I'm single, but I want to get married and have a family of my own, but I would often wonder what kind of life would I be able to provide for any future children as a severely overweight dad. They would miss out on so much and worse, they would already be cursed genetically for a propensity to be overweight, I would be a bad example for them. The fear that any children I have would have to go through all the pain and misery that I suffered growing up because of their weight truly frightens me. I dont want to die in my 50's or 60's. I want to be attractive and accessable to a greater variety of women. I want the next 30 years of my life to be so much better than the last 30. That was why I decided to pursue WLS. I'm still going through the approval process, but I'm hopeful that things will be approved. I'm starting to have a little anxiety about the whole thing. I dont plan on backing out, it's just all becoming a little more real. I feel like I'm on skybound airplane, 10 minutes away from parachuting out of it. I hope I can find support here with all you gentleman. I think the struggles and issues we face as overweight men are very different from what the ladies face, and I'm glad to have found a place where I can get a little support. Thanks in advance to everyone.
Wecome to the mens forum, feel free to ask any questions and get answers in only a way a guy can say it and another guy can understand it.
You have taken the first step to a life changing process, one that as a single man should ummm greatly improve your social life. Just rememeber this is also something that takes commitment but with the work you will get the rewards.
Oh yea and Don will point out your schlong will appear to get bigger, which as a single guy should improve your social life.
You have taken the first step to a life changing process, one that as a single man should ummm greatly improve your social life. Just rememeber this is also something that takes commitment but with the work you will get the rewards.
Oh yea and Don will point out your schlong will appear to get bigger, which as a single guy should improve your social life.
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
Welcome aboard, Novo!
I've only been active on these boards for a few months, and I can't begin to quantify the value of having such a great group of men who are travelling this path with me, no matter what stage of this journey they're on.
WLS is an incredible tool to help us fat fellas. Know that there are many aspects to obesity, and the hardest to deal with can be in between one's ears!
Wishing you success in your journey. Know that I'll do my best to help out, should you need it, along the way.
Chad
I've only been active on these boards for a few months, and I can't begin to quantify the value of having such a great group of men who are travelling this path with me, no matter what stage of this journey they're on.
WLS is an incredible tool to help us fat fellas. Know that there are many aspects to obesity, and the hardest to deal with can be in between one's ears!
Wishing you success in your journey. Know that I'll do my best to help out, should you need it, along the way.
Chad
Thanks a lot Chad. I really appreciate it. Your right about the mental aspect of it. I'm trying to anticipate ahead of time what kind of issues Im gonna have. I can be a bit moody from time to time and struggle with some occasional anxiety. I'm actually starting to feel it a little bit now. The biggest thing I'm having trouble wrapping my head around is the concept of me as anything other than fat. I just can't see that mental image of myself yet. I've been fat since I was 5, I don't know how to see myself as anything else. It's a slight bit scary, to be very honest with you, to picture that. Both because it's so different from what I've always seen and for fear of getting my hopes up.
The mental aspect is one of the things that make this journey such a mind fck. We see ourselves a set way. Some of us live in a world of numbers and formulas where x-y will always equal z. The reality is that our minds are probably our worst enemy at times in this process, because they remember how easy life was. Taking control of your mind and making it work for you will help you in the process.
I still battle with the mental image I see my self as Fat Paul and Not as Fat Paul. I do not see the changes month to month that people around me are commenting on. 1 THing that can help you is a photo journal, lets face it most guys hate writing crap down especially our feelings. Every month through this process take a set of pictures one straight on, 1 side shot and 1 head shot. Then when things get tough you can look back and see that the process is in fact working.
No fear in getting your hopes up. The surgeries will work and you will lose weight, but keeping the weight off, how fast and for how long is really up to you. I considered this a second shot at life. Everything I knew about living went out the window, except my family.
Making those changes now will help you along the way
As for anxiety well you probably wouldn't be normal if you didn't have some anxiety at the thought of willingly having your inards rearranged. Just know that many people have traveled this path before you and many will follow. You will find people on this site that inspire you to obtain you goals and the next thing you know people will tell you how much you inspire them. You have a great group of guys here at all stages of the process and with all he various surgeries.
BTW what surgery are you looking at having done?
I still battle with the mental image I see my self as Fat Paul and Not as Fat Paul. I do not see the changes month to month that people around me are commenting on. 1 THing that can help you is a photo journal, lets face it most guys hate writing crap down especially our feelings. Every month through this process take a set of pictures one straight on, 1 side shot and 1 head shot. Then when things get tough you can look back and see that the process is in fact working.
No fear in getting your hopes up. The surgeries will work and you will lose weight, but keeping the weight off, how fast and for how long is really up to you. I considered this a second shot at life. Everything I knew about living went out the window, except my family.
Making those changes now will help you along the way
As for anxiety well you probably wouldn't be normal if you didn't have some anxiety at the thought of willingly having your inards rearranged. Just know that many people have traveled this path before you and many will follow. You will find people on this site that inspire you to obtain you goals and the next thing you know people will tell you how much you inspire them. You have a great group of guys here at all stages of the process and with all he various surgeries.
BTW what surgery are you looking at having done?
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