Hitting my Original Goal!!!

Well yesterday I weighed in and the scale read 229.8lb!!!!  I thought that was great but decided to wait until today and try it again before officially calling my goal reached.  Well, this morning the scale read 229.4 so I say it is official.  Below are my stats.

Height = 6'0"

Highest = 370 (6/2011)

At time of 6mo monitoring = 358 (9/2011)

Day of surgery = 328.8 (4/12/2012)

Current = 229.4

So, I am just under one year out and have reached my goal weight that was expected to happen at 18 months.  At my last doctor visit I had only lost 5lb of muscle from when I started so the doc was very pleased.  I can tell you this journey has been very positive, not only in my life but in my families as well.  I have gotten back to some of the activities I loved when I was younger and honestly feel I do some, if not all, of them better now.  

During this journey I have reevaluated my goal weight and feel that somewhere between 210 and 220 would be a very good place for me to end up.  My sights are now set on 215!

I did have a difficult time in the beginning and it really took me 6 months to fully heal up, relearn how to eat and to get my energy back.  I started working out at the 2 month mark but felt exhausted for the most part.  I really was having second thoughts and wondering what the hell I did to myself but that soon passed.  Around the 6 month mark I stopped loosing and plateaued for almost two months which was very frustrating, the doc and nut kept reassuring me to stay the course and it too passed.  My weight loss has been a series of plateaus and drops, usually it would run in a 2 week cycle but most always I say a net loss throughout the month.  From the first if this year to now I have only lost around 15lb but the weather has kept me from mountain biking which contributed to some of my losses.  I stayed very active with wrestling and BJJ throughout the winter but missed the bike.  

I quit attending support groups around the first of this year.  For me it was an 80mi drive to listen to a group of folks talk about ways they can cheat and how to eat foods they are not supposed to.  I tried to give valuable input to new folks but was always over run by those giving, in my opinion, bad advice.  I have found this site as well as some Facebook groups to be a great resource and highly recommend others seek them out if you have questions.

My advice to those thinking about surgery or that are currently struggling is to stay the course.  You have the tools and have been giving the knowledge to be successful all you need is the will to see it through.

I thought I would share a few pics of my progress to date....enjoy.

Pre surgery

A work in progress

Reaching a goal - My XL shirt and 38 waist pants are getting too big...bring on the large!!!!

Thanks all for the time and support....more to come.

Andrew

CONGRATS!!!!  I think we are pretty close, you have 3-4" in height on me, but pant size and such we are in the same range and I am running 202-205.

Some great pics!

Thanks Sam, I am not sure how much more I will loose but I am still shooting for the 215 mark as a final goal.  I think with my extra height and bigger than normal frame that is going to be a good fit.

WTG!  Keep up the good work. 

Good thing I have a window open! Good job dude! 

You nailed it Andrew! What a great inspiration for everyone.
Great post and insight on your journey! Winter has slowed me down a bunch too and since the weather has improved a pit and I can get out and do more stuff my weight loss and increased lately which is good news. 

Congrats on making your goal!
Stoney

Hi Andrew,

Dude, u rock!! I love ur posts, pix and most important your working at WLS journey with a great passion. Keep u the great work...

Yours in WLS,

Bill Mac

Nice! That's the way to do it!

Thanks all, I took my daughter for her first skiing trip on Friday to celebrate.  Frozen and tough in the am but the afternoon the snow was about perfect.  We both ended up with sunburns and good memories.....and being a couple days before they close for the season and on a week day we just about had the place to ourselves.  There were maybe a total of 40 people on the mountain and on the steeper runs I had them to myself.....good stuff.  At one point she wanted to rest in the lodge so I made a few quick runs, two runs each on two separate lifts and I was the only one there...crazy.

I could not have though of a better way to spend the day, finally able to show her how to do one of my favorite activities.  She is going to be a good ski buddy for years to come. Her smile pretty much sums up the day.

Way way cool!!  Hitting goal is a big deal.  It means you have worked your tool and not let those issues that mess up so many people come your way.  I hear you about the support group.  Last month I went to the local support group.  All those who were thin were the ones who watched their food and found some type of consistent exercise...DUH!!  I think it's great you have both summer and winter activities you can pursue.  I remember early in my journey it would be raining outside* something you never see in Oregon.  I would just put on some loud music and walk around the house...You adjust and adapt.  Keep up the good work.  If I can find it, I'll post something on plateaus.  You probably saw it before...I've posted it alot...But good stuff.  Go gett'em tiger!!!