Greetings

Hello everyone. I occasionally read these board, but never post. I'd thought I'd give it a go, plus you can never have or give too much support!  Now about me...  25,6'1", 260lbs, pre-diabetic, pre-hypertensive It's been 7 years since my "lifestyle change".. So far I've dropped 160 lbs   doing a combination of things, and I am at a current weight of 260. (Go figure! ) I've considered everything from lap-band, gastric, to mini-gastric, during the past 7 years, but I've learned (and still learning!) that I can do this. (Lap-band still sounds nice tho!) Right now I am doing a program that includes nutritional/behavioral classes and weighing in weekly @ a local hospital. I walk alot 4-5 mi during the weekday.. and double up on weekends, and taking in about 1100-1300 calories. I'll add about 400 each during the weekends. I'm averaging a 3.5lbs loss a week for now. I'll try to post some pictures of myself then and now later. Ttyl  Tks

Hi and welcome to the non-op board! Sounds like you have done very well with your lifestyle change!!  I'm curious though as to why you are still pre-diabetic and pre-hypertensive at that weight???  You aren't that awfully overweight anymore!!  I would think losing 160 pounds would definitely work to lower those numbers or to remove the risks? What is the program you are doing?  Sounds great if you are losing 3.5 pounds a week.  That sounds like a great jump start after losing so much before.  Did you plateau or tire of what you were doing before? Sorry, that was like a thousand questions. LOL Welcome!

No problem with the questions... Ask as many as you want! "I'm curious though as to why you are still pre-diabetic" Mom, Grandmother, AND sister all have diabetes (Type II).. So genetics.. Also I believe and from what I have concluded from reading on diabetes..it is "managed", never cured. So I will always have my blood sugar woes when I eat something high on the glycemic index.  "and pre-hypertensive at that weight???..." Dad has high blood pressure, takes medication for it.... So genetics again!  Also my blood pressure is sloooooowly declining as I lose the weight... that's the main cause. I'd throw this out too.. My mother and sister also have hypothryoid! Quite a hand I've been dealt eh?  "You aren't that awfully overweight anymore!!" Tell it to the judge... I am still "Morbidly Obese" according to the stinkin' BMI calculation! I still have about 85lbs to lose. "I would think losing 160 pounds would definitely work to lower those numbers or to remove the risks? " Yep... both issues have improved. "What is the program you are doing? " It is called the New Directions program. It consist of 12 weeks of drinking a liquid protein shake consuming 800 calories a day then slowly transitioning to food and upping the calories and exercise. "Did you plateau or tire of what you were doing before?" I never plateaued, and can't get tired.. I've done alot of things to lose...from strictly diet w/o exercise which I contribute the half of the weight loss to, vegan, and eating anything including fast food w/ exercising.  Last year I started exercising and "balanced dieting" together after I graduated college, but I got a stressful job, discovered Hagen Daas , and the pounds started coming on quickly. This was the biggest weight gain I had seen (35 lbs in 3 months) in the 7 years.  Being desperate at the beginning of this year because I hadn't seen anything like that gain so fast,  I started seeing specialists for lap-band and gastric bypass and I heard of the New Directions program...that is how I got into it.

Sounds like a nice program you've found--- and the good thing is that if you decide to go from there into a Lap Band or RNY, you'll have documents of your efforts. Insurance companies do so love that.

I'm a pre-op (NOT transsexual!;) I've lost over 40 pounds in preparation for the event-- I figure, even if denied, I'll be better off. No matter which way you end up going, a loss will help. Best of luck!

Hi tks! Glad you finally piped up!  You are doing great. Looks like you would have a lot to contribute.

Sounds to me like you've made a successful lifestyle change.  Not sure how you did it and you sure do walk a LOT.  A great inspiration to us all I'm sure of it!  I gotta figure out how to transition into actually wanting to exercise intead of watching tv or playing a game.