Random ruminations while sipping my protien!

1) My 1 year surgerversary has come and gone.

2) I am at the goal that I had wanted to achieve.

3) Life is good!

That's just a few random thoughts that I wanted to put out there. Does all this make me an expert to give advice to people? No way! I'm not a person that has spent many years, many dollar, nor many brain cells going to college so I can tell people what to do. I'm just me...a near 50, father of 1 and a husband to a lovely wife. Oh yeah...I'm a weight loss surgery patient!

This brings me to something that I have wanted to post for a while, and something that has been posted before, but needs to be posted again.

We are blessed in Nashville to have several Hospitals in the area that have been deemed Centers of Excellence in the field of weight loss surgery. We have also been blessed to have several Doctors in the area that are "experts" in the field of Bariatric surgery. The point is, everyone one of them are different!

In fact, the center where I Had my surgery, there are 3 docs. All 3 of them have somewhat different approaches to aftercare of their patients. One might say it's OK to eat this, drink that. The other says "No way"! And then the other says something like, "Well, there's no data to prove that".

The point I am making is this...If you are a Pre-op going through the motions to get approved, do me a favor. Research all your options. Educate yourself in all that is Bariatric. Talk to a multitude of folks from different hospitals. Attend several different seminars. Discuss questions you have on the weight loss forums. Then take a moment and BREATHE!!!!! At that point, make a well informed decision to what is best for you!

We see it all the time where post-ops will say, "Well, my nut says I'm not supposed to drink this, or eat that". Just because that goes against what you doc says, does not make it wrong or right. My suggestion is this. If you are that person doing your research, write those things down. Then call your nutritionist and ask, "Is this OK"? At your next Doctors appointment, carry in your notebook and say, "How do you feel about this at 1 year out"?

Research...systematic investigation to establish facts or collect information on a subject .

Folks, do your own investigation and then decide what is best for you.

As I'm typing this post, it reminds me of a stupid commercial from about 30 years ago:

My dog's better than your dog,

My dog's better than your.

My dog's better,

Cause he eats Ken-L-Ration.

My dog's better than yours!

I have several friends who have had different surgeries from different hospitals. Guess what? I've learned from them all, and so can you.

Docs and hospitals are gonna be who they are. Just cause one says this and the other says that, does not make them better than the other. It's up to you to decide what's best for you!

Sorry this is so long, it must be that protein Coffee drink I'm slurping!

Have a good day!

Nashville had thier Walk From Obesity back in September of 2008. Then I posted in October how I had finished the photos of the event.

Well this week we got

The Fight Club!

Recently on the Obesity Help forum that I am a part of, one of our people said, "I quit". It seems she was 3 days away from her surgery, and it was cancelled. What a bummer! Now, I don't know why it was cancelled, but it was. So, it got me thinking about the journey I am on, and when I said those same words...I quit!

Did I quit, Heck No!

Febuarary 2007 / December 2008 ~ 360 pounds lighter!

It reminded me of the story we read the other day to the kids at RIP. "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper. The engine kept saying, "I think I can, I think I can".

I know before surgery, I kept saying those same things. I think I can eat like that. I think I can drink that much water. I think I can survive on such a small amount of food.

Our mentality has to change form I think I can, to I know I can! You are right, this lifestyle is not for the weak of mind or faint of heart. To be a successful WLS patient (and that's a whole other topic...What is a success?), you have to be confident in what you are doing. You have to have that same thought process as that little engine and move from "I think I can", to "I know I can".

So, that brings me to this...If you are willing to fight for something, then fight for it. If you are wavering in your thought process with those thoughts of "Will I be able to do this?" You are not alone!, we've all done it!

Come to the blog here, find a forum you like, attend a support group, talk to someone about it! If you have a question, please email me! At the support group I attend, Paula (I love her by the way and my wife knows it!), always ends the evening telling the pre ops/new ops to find someone who is a post op, and talk to them. Ask those questions that are in the back of your mind. It's a great opportunity to speak to someone who has walked that road you are about to travel!

Don't let that smidgen of doubt rob you of your dreams! Morbid obesity robbed me of too much already!

I'm finished!

I'm gonna start sharing Bariatric TV's latest episode each week. I am not getting paid for this, nor am I recieving any type of

Hey everyone!

Good morning all!

Just thought I would drop in and say Hi to all my "bloggin buddies" today. We had a wonderful Christmas this year. For the first time since Beth and I have been married, we did not go into debt for gifts! What a good feeling to say, this is it. If we did not have it it on Christmas Eve, they did not get it as a gift! Hopefully this will make the first few months of 2009 a little easier!

We had a great meal this year, did not eat to much, and actually saw the scales move for my wife! It has been a long 6 months since she has seen any weight loss, but this week alone, Santa was very good to her!

Here is a link to a few new recipes we tried, and man they were good!

Spiral Sliced Ham with a sugar free glaze

Cranberry Orange Cheesecake (sugar free of course)

Sugar Free Cranberry Sauce

All of these recipes are posted over at my food blog:

Food 4 Thought & Moderation 2 !

I hope each and everyone of you have a great and glorious day!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The wrapping paper is picked up, or at least it should be. The kids have already worn out their new toys, if they can get them away their parents long enough. And that last piece of sugar free pie has pulled an Elvis and left the building, it sure was gooooooood!!!!!!

I know I'm a little late with this, but I wanted to wish all my fellow bloggin buddies a Very Merry Christmas and the thought of a Happy New Year. It has been a year since my surgery and I could not be any happier. My health is right where it should be. I am no longer taking any medications. I am sleeping through the night, no sleep apnea or acid reflux!!!!!

Below is a video of myself and my families progress through this last year. In all total, between my wife, my sister, my brother-in law, and my self, we have lost over 680 pounds in the last year and a half! A weight loss family in transition is what we are!

Once again, Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy and Productive New Year!

Have yourself a very merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The wrapping paper is picked up, or at least it should be. The kids have already worn out their new toys, if they can get them away their parents long enough. And that last piece of sugar free pie has pulled an Elvis and left the building, it sure was gooooooood!!!!!!

I know I'm a little late with this, but I wanted to wish all my fellow bloggin buddies a Very Merry Christmas and the thought of a Happy New Year. It has been a year since my surgery and I could not be any happier. My health is right where it should be. I am no longer taking any medications. I am sleeping through the night, no sleep apnea or acid reflux!!!!!

Below is a video of myself and my families progress through this last year. In all total, between my wife, my sister, my brother-in law, and my self, we have lost over 680 pounds in the last year and a half! A weight loss family in transition is what we are!

Once again, Merry Belated Christmas and a Happy and Productive New Year!