Howdy from E. TX Matt!

By "public safety" you law enforcement or a hose dragger?

I understand COMPLETELY what you are dealing with. If you looked at my TCOLE (TX agency that regulates law enforcement here) the first 14 years were spot on perfect. The 15th year the train derailed. I was overweight 300+ pounds, knees were killing me, been shot down on some small town Chief jobs that should have been mine (guys who got them would either get fired for conduct unbecoming or TCOLE yanked their license after it was confirmed he lied about one of his college degrees) I was having major marital issues with 1st ex-wife. Because I was considered to be job hopping the best gig I could get was a Reserve/non paid gig. Sidebar: Chief where I was now has a felony theft conviction on his record. I kept the gig long enough to get my time built up enough to get my Master's Peace Officer Certification. Two months after that I had my RNY done. With all the issues listed above, riding one hell of an emotional roller coaster from the hormone dumping that goes on with WLS, I was about ready to suck start a semi-automatic. Options offered to me were to get professional mental health help voluntarily OR it could be done involuntarily. I knew that if I EVER wanted to get back to the work I feel I was called to do I had to get the help. It was not easy but it paid off! With a two year break in service (one of those years in Georgia) and over 100+ rejected applications I FINALLY got a job again. Fortunately for me my current Chief and I have known each other a long time. I had worked with his older brother at two different agencies. He knew that I had been a damn good officer before and knew it was still in me to be a damn good officer. Part of getting back to work was a psychological evaluation. When it was done I asked the psychologist if I was "normal". His response "You are about as "normal" as anybody who wants to walk up to strange cars at 2:00 in the morning." I took it as a compliment.

Point I'm trying to make here is that riding the roller coaster called the WLS journey a lot of **** is going on. Some of it totally mind blowing and some of it can put the zap on your head. DO NOT HESITATE TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP!!

FYI: I've been seven years in the same size unis, inner and outer belts and working on my second set of body armor. After five years first one was out of warranty so it was "rehomed" to young officer who was not able to buy a new one. I began at 331 pounds and at lowest was 165 post gall bladder surgery 18 months after RNY. Not going to BS have regained 20 pounds in that time but I can get on treadmill and walk five miles in less than 70:00 minutes. Hope I did not muddy the water.

Wow!! How time flies! It just seemed like yesterday they were rolling me into the operating room. At the time, RNY was considered sort of an experimental surgery. I had hit a high of about 300 pounds (you can see on my profile). I got down to 272 on the day of the surgery. I've hit a low of 187. Here (Sunday night) I am at 199. Would I do it over again? In a heartbeat. For those of you on the fence about getting the surgery done...If you and your doctor feel good about it...DO IT!! It could save your life...It did mine. I was dying at the time. I had an ejection/fraction rate of 35% in my heart (congestive heart failure). I asked the cardiologist "is there anything they could do"?? He said "you may want to try gastric bypass". I self paid (since my insurance wouldn't cover it) and quickly jumped through the hoops to have the surgery (Psych, nutritionist, surgeon consult, labs). Went in and got my surgery. The internet was pretty new at the time. It was really hard to find current information about issues other people were facing. OH was our lifeline to these issues. It has been a big help and support to me over these years. I got to walk both my daughters down the aisle. I am able to collect social security (I turned 62 last month...But will wait till 65). I am still active (moving slower/with more gray hair). Over the years I had a regain up to about 235. But because of heart issues I have worked on trying to keep the weight down. I don't feel hunger (with the vagas nerve cut, it helps). Life is good. I just wanted to post for you newer people who wonder what you look like 1-11 years down the road. I tried to take pictures every years on my surgiversary...They are on my profile if you would like to take a look. Life is good...Thanks for reading. Brian PS I weighed today (true 11 years...Was 197.5)!!

Everyone loses at a different rate. There's lots of factors, some you can control and some you can't. You only had your surgery a few months ago, make sure you're sticking to your plan, and use this time to reset your habits and routine. The weight will come off.

Don't forget to move also. You talk about confidence. My lost confidence came before surgery when I was way overweight. My confidence came back in spades as I started to move more, and found myself doing things I never thought I could do again.

I see you live in St Paul, I live in the area as well. One thing I started doing was walking at the Mall of America. It was a major suck, but I did the 5K walk. I was able to do the walk before surgery, but it took about 2 hrs. After surgery I got the time down to about 45 min. That time improvement helped my self confidence immensely. From there I was able to start doing more at the Gym.

You got this.

Hi y'all!

So, I'm Matt from Minnesota! I finally had VSG on August 2, 2017. Just a little over 2 months ago. I'm not losing the big #'s as I was led to believe I'd be losing! Not only that, but I used to work both in Public Safety and Emergency Medical Services. And ever since putting on all this weight, and realizing that I could in fact possibly become one of those patients that I've dealt with over the years. Which ultimately led to me leaving my dream job. Do I miss it, you betcha! I'm lacking the confidence to go back and get re-certified and someday re-hired. I don't know where I lost or how I lost the confidence.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of loss after surgery or before surgery? And how or what did it take to reclaim your dreams/goals?

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading this!

- Matt

337.6: High weight Dec '13

311.3: Surgery day 1/16/14

191.8: 1st Surgiversary

199.2: 2nd Surgiversary

201.6: 3rd Surgiversary

2006.2 Last Weigh in

207.2: CW

Food: D

Water: B

Vitamins: A

Exercise: D

THey say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I had every intention of doing better with meals this week, but I'm finding that going out to Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner every day with a group very tough to manage. Still I need to keep fighting. I'm on the home stretch for the first wave of my project, and as a result I'll only spend two nights in my own bed the rest of this month. In fact, this will be my last check in until November. Lets do this!!

Michigan V Michigan State sucked from my perspective. that is all I have to say about that :(