Passing The Baton on Sunday Mornings

I just wanted to let everyone know that due to my new found physical freedom and crazy-ass schedule that I am passing the baton on kicking off the Sunday Morning Weigh Ins to Brian K.  I still plan on posting and being a part but have become woefully unreliable as I have found myself more often than not away from a computer on Sunday mornings (sometimes intentionally since I am literally sitting in front of a computer 55 - 60 or more hours a week in my day job).

Anyway, I have all the confidence in the world that Brian K will do an amazing job and will be able to provide some fascinating stories and FARTs to share with all of us.

Thank you to everyone for all of your support during the past two years that I've been on the board and especially for the 18 months since my surgery.  You honestly made every day and every trial a little bit easier to cope with and get through.

Good Luck to Everyone and See you all on the Sunday Morning Loser's Bench!!

All the best,
Mike

I want to thank you Mike for all you've done for the Sunday Morning Weigh Ins.  When I first found the Mens Forum back in March of this year, I was taken in by the friendly banter, honest opinions and general caring for each other.  I attribute all those things to the way you posted your life stories each Sunday.  I enjoyed following your girls softball team all the way to the championship game.  Still sorry they lost.  Your weight loss story is nothing other than amazing.  The few months that I have followed the Sunday Forum was directly because of your initial postings.  Though I don't post each week, I still felt that I was part of this brotherhood that you formed.  Your weekly comments had a direct affect on my RNY journey even when I was reading something you were directing to another member. 

We will miss your lead  off on Sundays, but I think you found a good replacement in Brian K.

I'll still be looking for you on the Loser's Bench.

Jim

 Thanks Jim.  I appreciate it and love sharing my successes and failures.  Get ready for some more softball talk in the near future as I am now coaching the Wildcats in Fall Softball with both of my daughters on the team.  Should be awesome!!  Stay tuned and looking forward to seeing you all on the loser's bench!!

 Hi Jim...I'm pleased to see you doing so well...I've been following your progress.  It appears I'm going to get approval for surgery soon, which is scary for me as I'm 71.  Doc said I'd be his oldest which didn't encourage me much, but i guess i passed all the tests.  I asked for a VSG but he said it will be RNY...said there were too many leak risks with VSG.  Also said he won't repair my hernia, don't know why.

Any thoughts of encouragement for another old guy?  :)

Good to hear from you again.  I'm just over 12 weeks post-op and my weight this morning was 258.  That's 83 from my high weight of 341 and 55 from my surgery weight of 313.  Overall I feel pretty good about the weight loss.  I wish I felt better physically.  Maybe it's because of my age, but I just don't seem to have the energy and pep that a lot of the men talk about here.  I don't post very much because my stats are no where near what most of the men or women here can do.  I just walked for 1 mile straight, while on oxygen, on July 30th.  That's not a big accomplishment to most people on the forums.  But for me it's probably been 15 or 20 years since I could do that even before I got prescribed oxygen 3 years ago.  While I was accomplishing that milestone walk, my cartiologist's office called and said they "saw" something on the nuclear stress test I took the previous Thurs and Fri (because of chest pains for a couple of weeks) and that I needed to see my doctor that week.  Saw him first thing Weds morning and Thurs at 5:00 AM I'm checked into the hospital for an angiogram (sic) on my heart.  Thankfully everything was good with my heart and the only thing I got from the hospital was some kind of sinus infection that worked it's way into my lungs.  Anti-biotics for the past week have really helped me.  I was able to walk a half mile today and rode a bike for 10 minutes.  Still have chest pains that must be coming from my lungs.  I see my pulmonary doctor Tues.  Enough of my venting.

I know what you mean about being scared.  I had doubts right up to the time they slipped me the gas.  At our age it is harder and the doctors I think are afraid of complications because of that.  But I don't understand why he wouldn't fix your hernia.  I can't believe it takes that much extra time.  There not paid piecemeal up there, are they?  Mine did the hernia and also removed my gallbadder.  I think I was on the table maybe 2 and a quarter hours.

One thing you need to know is that you don't have to be a world class athlete to lose your excess weight.  You do what you can.  I walked maybe 4 or 5 times a week once I got home from the hospital.  And it wasn't for 30 minutes like they say.  I probably didn't hit 30 minutes of exercise (threadmill, bike, etc.****il 9 or 10 weeks out.  I felt tired and weak.  It probably would help you to walk "as much as you can" now before your surgery.

I'm glad to see that your going to get the surgery.  Don't let your age keep you from having a good life even this late in the game.  If I can do it, I know you can.  Keep me informed and I'll say a few prayers to speed your date with the "losers bench".

Jim

 Jim,

Congrats on your fantastic success, that is over 4 lbs/ week! Don't compare your trip to anyone else's, it is different for everyone and you are doing great, the energy will return. I am inspired by your story, you have a large amount of fortitude to have come this far. Keep up the good work!

Thanks Brian, I appreciate your kind words and encouragement.

Hello Jim,

I turned 60 last month, had my RNY 22 months ago and it was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have lost 100 pounds, go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week and have gained a great deal of muscle. Never had any complications from the surgery. My advice is to get out of bed as soon as you can after surgery and stay active. Stay on a low fat, low calorie diet and exercise. You will drop weight quickly and easily the first year. Your challenge comes after that. You must change your lifestyle that caused you to need this surgery.

Good luck, I will never regret having this procedure.

Bruce

 What the Oldman said..............

i second that