On April 26th, when I filled out my pre-op paperwork at Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville, AL, I weighed in at 441. It's the heaviest I've ever been in my life, and the heaviest I will ever be. This morning, 125 days later, I weigh 340.
That puts me at 50% to goal weigh loss. I've told myself I want to make it to 240. My ultimate goal is 220, but I'd be ecstatic if I can hit 240.
The positive changes in my life are simply too numerous to list. I don't have the vocabularly to properly express how happy I am with my new life, and how hopeful I am for the future. The mental and physical transformation has been radical.
My wife, who has been my biggest supporter and the sturdiest shoulder to lean on, paid me the ultimate compliment last week. She said that out of everyone she's ever known to have the surgery, she's never seen anyone that's made the lifestyle change commitment that I have.
Many people consider the surgery a solution. However I read something prior to the surgery that has stayed in the forefront of my mind. The surgery isn't intended to be a solution. It's meant to be a tool to help you find a solution. It's meant to be a tool to help you change your lifestyle. Eventually, like all tools, it will stop working. At that point, if you've not implemented a new lifestyle, you will fail again.
I've had friends that say I've gone overboard with exercising. Doing too much too fast. Working out 3 times a week with weights and walking 4 times a week is an extreme change from my previously sedentary lifestyle. Part of it is the commitment to a new life. But part of it is the staunch fear of going back to where I've been. I never want to be that big again, and I'll kill myself in the gym before I let it happen.
I will say that the wait to see 100 pounds lost on the scale has been an emotional rollercoaster. I was making great progress, but when I hit 346 I stalled. I made several changes to my routines during that same period. I dropped all carbs from my diet. I started lifting weights. And I stopped crushing my thyroid medication.
And consequently I stopped losing weight for two weeks.
Now, I terribly wanted to blame the weight lifting or the lack of carbs for my sudden weight loss stall, but common sense finally won and I started crushing my thyroid medication again. And the weight loss picked right back up this week. For those that don't know, I'm malabsorbtive, which means I don't absorb nutrients or medication in tablet form very well. Because I wasn't absorbing the medication, the thyroid wasn't being medicated and thus my metabolism went temporarily out of whack (that's a medical term.)
All seems back to normal now.
I also took some time off from the gym last week due to a strained muscle between my neck and shoulder. It was giving me some significant pain, so I decided to play it safe and take a few days off. The gym routine starts back Monday, however.
So I've hit my first major milestone. While I'm only 50% to my goal weigh loss, my quality of life has improved 100%.
- I can now wear tons of official UA gear, which I sport the majority of the time I'm not working now.
- I can easily buckle my seatbelt due to the reduced size of the love handles.
- I can easily work in the yard because of significantly increased stamina.
- I can fit in any booth in any restaurant now.
- I can make it through the day and still have plenty of energy at night to play with my kids.
- I have become a grillmaster. Grilled Chicken. Steak. Pork Chops. Grilled fish. You name it.
- I am setting a better example for my children, who are now eating healthier foods more consistently.
- I have a much more positive attitude about life.
I'll post some pictures in the next few days.
I couldn't have made it this far without the support and love from my family and friends.
And while I'm excited about the achievement, my goal is now to lose another 40 pounds by the time I have my 6-month checkup with the surgeon. That appointment is set for November, 15, 2011.
Onward and Upward.
Weight this morning: 340.6 (-101lbs)
Regards,
The Vanishing Taylor
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