Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Workout #2

2008-12-31T13:32:00.001-05:00

12-31-2008 - 1pm to 2pm

Begin Weight: 281Lbs.

Exercise 1: Treadmill / 1.0 Miles / 20 minutes at 4.5 speed.

End Weight: 279Lbs.

Weight Losss: 2Lbs.

Gaol Weight: 235Lbs.

Weight Loss to go: 44Lbs.

2 days of pain...

2008-12-31T11:06:00.002-05:00

Well, when I worked out on Sunday, shortly thereafter my legs hurt from running 2 miles and working out! So I decided to take 2 days off to relax my legs before I kicked it in high gear again. It's been awhile since I have worked out like that so my muscles are not use to working out like that. So anyway, I will post my results here as usual today. I'm planning to work out between 1pm and 2pm then from 6pm to 7pm.

Well, the fun starts today...

2008-12-28T14:28:00.013-05:00

Today 12-28-2008 I decided to start my work out again! I am NOT pleased to say that I now weigh 286 Lbs. It is VERY easy to get side tracked with stress and daily life activities. But You have to be dedicated and determined to change your life and do what will make you happy. Everyday, I will workout twice a day doing various exercises and eating healthy. I will post my workout details here and my weight progress. I will begin today!

12-28-2008 - 1pm to 2pm

Begin Weight: 286Lbs.

Exercise 1: Treadmill / 1.0 Miles / 20 minutes at 3.5 speed.

Exercise 2: Sauna / 20 minutes 180 degrees

End Weight: 282Lbs.

Weight Losss: 4Lbs.

Gaol Weight: 235Lbs.

Weight Loss to go: 47Lbs.

---------------------------

SECOND WORKOUT
7:15pm to 8pm

Begin Weight: 282 Lbs.

Exercise 1: Treadmill / 1.0 miles completed in 15:25 Minutes / 4.0 to 7.0 speeds

Exercise 2: Sauna / 10 minutes at 260 degrees

Exercise 3: Stationary Bike: 6 Miles

End Weight: 280 Lbs.

Weight Loss: 2 Lbs.

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS FOR TODAY: 6 Lbs.

for dinner I went out to Plaza Azteca and had the Fijita taco salad and did not eat the crust and without sour cream. It had Sirloin steak strips and letus in it with a diet coke. It was good!

Now it's time to go take a shower and relax!

Weight Loss Surgery: Pros and Cons...

2008-12-24T01:11:00.000-05:00

As a treatment for severe obesity, bariatric weight loss surgery's popularity is growing. When diet and exercise fail the more than 60 million Americans considered obese, surgery, for some, can literally be lifesaving.

But it isn't for everyone. While generally safe, bariatric weight loss surgery (also called weight loss surgery) has risks. And losing weight after bariatric surgery is far from automatic; it takes commitment to lifelong changes in eating patterns and lifestyle.

According to the National Institutes of Health, weight loss surgery might be a choice for you if you meet the first or second of the following criteria and criteria three, four, and five:

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery: Are You a Candidate?

1. A body mass index (BMI) greater than 40.

For example, your BMI is greater than 40 if you are:

Five feet six inches tall and weigh more than 248 pounds,
Five feet nine inches tall and weigh more than 270 pounds, or
Six feet tall and weigh more than 295 pounds.

You can calculate your body mass index using a BMI calculator on WebMD.

2. Your BMI is greater than 35, and you have obesity-related health problems that may improve with weight loss.

Obstructive sleep apnea, severe arthritis, and diabetes are several conditions that may benefit from even a small weight loss. Weight loss surgery can dramatically reverse these health problems when caused by obesity.

3. You can demonstrate that traditional weight loss programs like diet and exercise haven't worked.

It's by far preferable to lose weight without surgery's risks. Weight loss surgery should be considered a last resort after traditional methods fail. Some centers may require you to show you have made serious efforts to lose weight.

4. You are ready to commit to permanent lifestyle changes after surgery.

Weight loss surgery is no quick fix. Ideally, surgery is only the beginning of a new healthy lifestyle.

5. You understand the risks and benefits of bariatric weight loss surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, it's essential to be well-informed before considering weight loss surgery -- knowing and accepting the risks as well as the benefits.

Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery: Benefits

The primary benefit of weight loss surgery is easy to understand: weight loss!

Gastric bypass surgery causes an average loss of 61% of excess weight.
Gastric banding surgery causes slightly less -- an average of 47% of excess weight lost.

Improvements in general health are also common. Obesity-related medical conditions usually improve or even go away after weight loss surgery, including:

Diabetes
Severe arthritis
Obstructive sleep apnea
High blood pressure

About 95% of people report improved quality of life after weight loss surgery. Some studies also suggest people live longer after weight loss surgery, compared to equally obese people who do not have surgery.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Video...

2008-12-24T00:50:00.003-05:00

Gastric bypass surgery: Who is it for?

2008-12-24T00:45:00.002-05:00

Find out if you're a candidate for this weight-loss surgery.

It's always best to lose weight through a healthy diet and regular physical activity. But if you're among those who have tried and can't lose the excess weight that's causing your health problems, weight-loss (bariatric) surgery may be an option.

Gastric bypass surgery — one type of bariatric surgery — changes the anatomy of your digestive system to limit the amount of food you can eat and digest. Weight loss is achieved by restricting the amount of food that your stomach can hold and by reducing the amount of calories that are absorbed.

Gastric bypass surgery isn't for everyone, however. It's a major procedure that poses significant risks and side effects and requires permanent changes in your lifestyle. An extensive and careful screening process determines whether you're a candidate for this surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery criteria

Generally, gastric bypass surgery is reserved for people who are unable to achieve or maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise, are severely overweight, and who have health problems as a result. Gastric bypass surgery may be considered if:

Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity)

Your BMI is 35 to 39.9 (obesity), and you have a serious weight-related health problem, such as diabetes or high blood pressure

Gastric bypass surgery doesn't replace the need for following a healthy diet and regular physical activity program. In fact, the success of the surgery depends in part on your commitment to following the guidelines given to you about diet and exercise. As you consider weight-loss surgery, make sure that you make every effort to exercise more, change your eating habits and adjust any other lifestyle factors that have contributed to your excess weight.

Before surgery: The screening process

Surgical candidates must go through an extensive screening process. Not everyone who meets the criteria for gastric bypass surgery is psychologically or medically ready for the surgical procedure. A team of professionals, including a physician, dietitian, psychologist and surgeon, evaluates whether weight-loss surgery is appropriate for you. This involves identifying which aspects of your health might improve after surgery and which aspects of your health may increase the risks of surgery. Surgery is recommended when the perceived benefits of surgery outweigh the recognized risks.

Your willingness and ability to follow through with the recommendations made by your health care team and to carry out prescribed changes in your diet and exercise routine help determine your readiness for surgery. The surgery may not be recommended or may be postponed if there's concern that you aren't psychologically or medically ready for such surgery.

It's important to follow your doctor's directions in preparing for gastric bypass surgery. These may include restrictions on eating and drinking, limiting or stopping the use of nicotine products, and starting a physical activity program.

Surgery may be delayed or canceled if:

There is concern that you're not psychologically or medically ready for surgery
You haven't made appropriate changes in your lifestyle
You've gained weight during the evaluation process

Financial concerns

Once you've completed the screening process and your surgeon determines you're a candidate for gastric bypass surgery, you need to secure financial preapproval from your medical insurance company, Medicare or state assistance. The preapproval process requires documentation from your team of doctors that demonstrates a medical need for the procedure. It usually takes several weeks to receive approval.

Requirements for proving medical necessity for weight-loss surgery vary among insurers. Check to see what related services are covered, for example, pre-evaluation appointments and follow-up appointments after surgery. You may have to pay some of the costs yourself.

The process of securing financial resources and then being scheduled for surgery can take several months. The long approval process allows you time to make a final decision about the surgery. Surgery usually isn't scheduled until insurance or other financial coverage is established.

Looking ahead

Surgery for weight reduction isn't a miracle procedure. It doesn't guarantee that you'll lose all of your excess weight or that you'll keep it off long term. Weight-loss success after gastric bypass surgery depends on your commitment to making lifelong changes in your eating and exercise habits. But the feeling of accomplishment as you lose weight and your improved health are significant benefits and are well worth your efforts.

Gastric bypass diet: What to eat after weight-loss surgery

2008-12-24T00:38:00.000-05:00

The gastric bypass diet outlines what you can eat and how much after gastric bypass surgery. Find out ways to establish new eating habits for successful weight loss.

What you eat, how you eat and how much you eat changes after gastric bypass surgery — surgery that alters the anatomy of your digestive system to promote weight loss.

With your stomach pouch reduced to the size of a walnut or small egg and portions of your small intestine bypassed, you'll need to follow a specific diet after gastric bypass surgery. A registered dietitian can assist you in creating this gastric bypass diet, which includes what type and how much food to eat with each meal and the required consistency and texture of the food. Closely following your gastric bypass diet promotes healthier weight loss and better nutrition.

After surgery: The first three months

You won't be allowed to eat for one to two days after the surgery. Then you consume specific foods according to a diet progression. The purpose of the gastric bypass diet progression is to help in the healing process, minimize stress on surgical sites and allow time for your body to adapt to the new eating patterns.

The following are common phases in the gastric bypass diet progression:

Liquids — foods and fluids that are liquid or semiliquid at room temperature and contain mostly water, such as broth, juice, milk, strained cream soup and cooked cereal. In most cases, you stay on a liquid diet for one to two days.
Pureed foods — foods with a consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid. Pureed foods contain no distinct pieces. The pureed diet is generally followed for three to four weeks, or as recommended by your dietitian or doctor.
Soft foods — foods that are tender and easy to chew, such as ground or finely diced meats, canned or soft, fresh fruit, and cooked vegetables. You usually eat soft foods for eight weeks before progressing to eating foods of regular consistency with firmer texture as recommended by your dietitian or doctor.

During the diet progression, you eat many small meals a day and sip liquids slowly throughout the day (not with meals). You might first start with six small meals a day, then progress to four meals and finally, when following a regular diet, decrease to three meals a day. Typically, each meal includes protein-rich foods, such as lean meat, low-fat dairy products (yogurt, cheese) or eggs. Protein is important for maintaining and repairing your body after surgery.

How quickly you move from one step to the next depends on how fast your body adjusts to the change in eating patterns and the texture and consistency of food. People usually start eating regular foods with a firmer texture three months after surgery, but it can occur sooner.

Lifelong changes: New eating habits

The changes in your digestive system restrict how much you can eat and drink with each meal. To avoid problems and to ensure you're getting nutrients you need, closely follow these guidelines:

Eat small amounts. Just after surgery, your stomach holds only about 1 ounce of food. Though your stomach stretches over time to hold more food, by the end of three months, you may be able to eat 1 to 1 1/2 cups of food with each meal. Eating too much food not only adds more calories than you need but also may cause pain, nausea and vomiting. Make sure you eat only the recommended amounts and stop eating before you feel full.
Eat and drink slowly. Eating or drinking too quickly may cause dumping syndrome — when foods and liquids enter your small intestine rapidly and in larger amounts than normal, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and sweating. To prevent dumping syndrome, choose foods and liquids low in fat and sugar, eat and drink slowly, and wait 30 minutes before or after each meal to drink liquids. Take at least 30 minutes to eat your meals and 30 to 60 minutes to drink 1 cup of liquid. Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, such as regular soda, candy and candy bars, and ice cream.
Chew food thoroughly. The new opening that leads from your stomach into your intestine is very small, and larger pieces of food can block the opening. Blockages prevent food from leaving your stomach and could cause vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. Take small bites of food and chew them to a pureed consistency before swallowing. If you can't chew the food thoroughly, don't swallow it.
Drink liquids between meals. Drinking liquids with your meals can cause pain, nausea and vomiting as well as dumping syndrome. Also, drinking too much liquid at or around mealtime can leave you feeling overly full and prevent you from eating enough nutrient-rich foods. Expect to drink at least 6 to 8 cups (48 to 64 ounces) of fluids a day to prevent dehydration.
Try new foods one at a time. After surgery, certain foods may cause nausea, pain, vomiting or may block the opening of the stomach. The ability to tolerate foods varies from person to person. Try one new food at a time and chew thoroughly before swallowing. If a food causes discomfort, don't eat it. As time passes, you may be able to eat this food. Foods and liquids that commonly cause discomfort include meat, bread, pasta, rice, raw vegetables, milk and carbonated beverages. Food textures not tolerated well include dry, sticky or stringy foods.
Take recommended vitamin and mineral supplements. After surgery, your body has difficulty absorbing certain nutrients because most of your stomach and part of your small intestine are bypassed. To prevent a vitamin or mineral deficiency, take vitamin and mineral supplements regularly. These generally include a multivitamin-multimineral, calcium, iron, vitamin B-12 and vitamin D. Talk to your health care provider about recommended vitamin and mineral supplements following gastric bypass surgery.

Weight loss and weight gain

Within the first two years following surgery, you can expect to lose 50 percent to 60 percent of your excess weight, if you follow the dietary and exercise recommendations. If you continue to follow these recommendations, you can keep most of that weight off long term.

People who regain weight after gastric bypass surgery usually are consuming too many high-calorie foods and beverages and don't exercise enough. And rather than eating three meals a day and perhaps a planned healthy snack, some people engage in a grazing-type eating pattern — eating food all day long. Grazing often leads to consuming too many calories, which causes weight gain.

Successful weight management requires the following healthy habits:

Limit or avoid high-sugar, high-fat foods, which provide many calories but few nutrients.
Minimize unplanned snacking or frequent grazing, which increases calorie intake.
Exercise regularly.
Take the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements.
Attend regular follow-up appointments with your health care provider to review your symptoms and progress and to make sure you don't have any vitamin or mineral deficiencies.

If you aren't losing weight or are regaining weight after surgery, see your doctor. He or she can help assess your eating behaviors and exercise habits and help you confront and overcome any weight-loss obstacles.

Though weight-loss surgery helps you shed the pounds, its success depends on your willingness to adopt lifelong healthy-eating and exercise habits. What you eat and how you eat changes after surgery, but the benefits of weight loss and your improved health are well worth these efforts.

What are other weight-loss surgery options?

2008-12-24T00:34:00.000-05:00

Though it's the most commonly used, gastric bypass is just one kind of weight-loss surgery. Other types include:

LAP-BAND adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The surgeon uses an inflatable band to partition the stomach into two parts by wrapping the band around the upper part of your stomach. Pulling it tight like a belt, the surgeon creates a tiny channel between the two pouches. The band keeps the opening from expanding and is designed to stay in place indefinitely. It can be adjusted or surgically removed if necessary. LAGB is gaining popularity because it's a simpler procedure and has a lower complication rate when compared with more-involved procedures. However, LAGB causes less weight loss and a slower rate of weight loss than does the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This surgery isn't recommended for people who have certain medical conditions, such as Crohn's disease, large hiatal hernias or a history of gastric ulcers.
Vertical banded gastroplasty. This operation, also referred to as stomach stapling, divides the stomach into two parts — limiting space for food and forcing you to eat less. There is no bypass. Using a surgical stapler, the surgeon divides your stomach into upper and lower sections. The upper pouch is small and empties into the lower pouch — the rest of your stomach. Partly because it doesn't lead to adequate long-term weight loss, this weight-loss surgery has fallen out of favor.
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. In this procedure, the surgeon removes about 80 percent of the stomach. The valve that releases food to the small intestine is left along with a limited portion of the small intestine that normally connects to the stomach (duodenum). The surgery bypasses the majority of the intestine by connecting the end portion of the intestine to the duodenum near the stomach. This weight-loss surgery offers sustained weight loss, but it presents a greater risk of malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies and requires close monitoring. It's generally used for people who have a body mass index greater than 50.

What are the risks of gastric bypass surgery?

2008-12-24T00:33:00.000-05:00

As with any major surgery, gastric bypass carries risks such as bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. Possible risks specific to this surgery include:

Death. A risk of death has been associated with gastric bypass surgery. It has generally been reported to be one death per 200 to 300 surgeries. Higher risks have been reported amongst Medicare recipients. The risk varies depending on age, general health and other medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about the exact level of risk gastric bypass surgery may pose for you.

Blood clots in the legs. Blood clots in the legs are more likely to occur in very overweight people. Blood clots can be dangerous. In some cases, they travel to the lungs and lodge in the lungs' arteries causing a pulmonary embolism — a serious condition that damages lung tissue and can lead to death. Walking and using leg wraps that apply intermittent pressure to the leg can help reduce this risk of blood clots in the legs. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of clotting in people undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Quitting smoking is strongly recommended.

Leaking at one of the staple lines in the stomach. This severe postoperative problem is treated with antibiotics. Many cases heal with time. Often, however, the leak can be serious enough to require emergency surgery.

Incision hernia. An incision hernia is a weakness in the incision. This is more likely to occur if you have an open procedure and a large abdominal incision. This usually requires surgical repair, depending on the symptoms and the extent of the hernia.

Narrowing of the opening between the stomach and small intestine. This rare complication may require either an outpatient procedure — in which a tube is passed through your mouth to widen (dilate) the narrowed opening — or a corrective surgery.
Dumping syndrome. This is a condition where stomach contents move too quickly through the small intestine, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and sweating. It's frequently experienced after eating sweets or high-fat foods.
Other potential complications of gastric bypass surgery include:

Vitamin and mineral deficiency (iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B-12 deficiency and vitamin D deficiency)
Dehydration
Gallstones
Bleeding stomach ulcer
Intolerance to certain foods
Kidney stones
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) related to excessive insulin production

What are the benefits of gastric bypass surgery?

2008-12-24T00:32:00.000-05:00

Within the first two years of surgery, you can expect to lose 50 percent to 60 percent of your excess weight. If you closely follow dietary and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of that weight off long term.

In addition to dramatic weight loss, gastric bypass surgery may improve or resolve the following conditions associated with obesity:

Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes

High blood pressure

High blood cholesterol

Obstructive sleep apnea

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The improvements observed in type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood triglycerides may significantly decrease the risk of cardiovascular events in people who have undergone gastric bypass surgery compared with those people who did not have surgery. Also, gastric bypass surgery may reduce the risk of dying of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The surgery has also shown to improve mobility and quality of life for people who are severely overweight.

What can you expect after gastric bypass surgery?

2008-12-24T00:30:00.000-05:00

You won't be allowed to eat for one to three days after the surgery so that your stomach can heal. Then, you'll follow a specific progression of your diet for about 12 weeks. The progression begins with liquids only, proceeds to pureed and soft foods, and finally to regular foods.

With your stomach pouch reduced to the size of a walnut, you'll need to eat very small meals during the day. In the first six months after surgery, eating too much or too fast may cause vomiting or an intense pain under your breastbone. The amount you can eat gradually increases, but you won't be able to return to your old eating habits.

You may experience one or more of the following changes as your body reacts to the rapid weight loss in the first three to six months:

Body aches

Feeling tired, as if you have the flu

Feeling cold

Dry skin

Hair thinning and hair loss

Mood changes

How is gastric bypass surgery done?

2008-12-24T00:27:00.001-05:00

In gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach and adds a bypass around a segment of your stomach and small intestine.

The surgeon staples your stomach across the top, sealing it off from the rest of your stomach. The resulting pouch is about the size of a walnut and can hold only about an ounce of food. The pouch is physically separated from the rest of the stomach. Then, the surgeon cuts the small intestine and sews part of it directly onto the pouch.

This connection redirects the food, bypassing most of your stomach and the first section of your small intestine, the duodenum (doo-o-DEE-num). Food enters directly into the second section of your small intestine, the jejunum (jay-JOO-num), limiting your ability to absorb calories. Even though food never enters the lower part of your stomach, the stomach stays healthy and continues to secrete digestive juices to mix with food in your small intestine.

Some surgeons perform this operation by using a laparoscope — a small, tubular instrument with a camera attached — through short incisions in the abdomen (laparoscopic gastric bypass). The tiny camera on the tip of the scope allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen.

Compared with traditional "open" gastric bypass, the laparoscopic technique usually shortens your hospital stay and leads to a quicker recovery. Fewer wound-related problems also occur. Not everyone is a candidate for laparoscopic gastric bypass, however. Talk to your doctor about whether this approach is appropriate for you.

Gastric bypass surgery: What can you expect?

2008-12-24T00:22:00.001-05:00

Find out what to expect, including the benefits and risks, if you choose to have gastric bypass surgery.

Weight-loss (bariatric) surgery changes the anatomy of your digestive system to limit the amount of food you can eat and digest. The surgery aids in weight loss and lowers your risk of medical problems associated with obesity.

Gastric bypass is the favored bariatric surgery in the United States. Surgeons prefer this surgery because it's safer and has fewer complications than other available weight-loss surgeries. It can provide long-term, consistent weight loss if accompanied with ongoing behavior changes.

Gastric bypass isn't for everyone with obesity, however. It's a major procedure that poses significant risks and side effects and requires permanent changes in your lifestyle. Before deciding to go forward with the surgery, it's important to understand what's involved and what lifestyle changes you must make. In large part, the success of the surgery is up to you.

New Years Resolution...

2008-12-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

Well,
It is that time again, Christmas and New Years. My new Years Resolution this year is to get back on track of eating healthy, loosing more weight and to quit smoking. Yes, I went back to smoking. I have to blame it on the amount of stress I was under going through a rough divorce. But now that things are better and everything is back on track with my life, I want to loose about 30 more pounds, become a Bariatric Nurse and help those who wish to get the surgery done.

It is very easy to get off track. Giving that a double cheese burger is only a dollar and it's quick to get when your on the run. I still can only eat a small amount. I eat slow because it takes a bit of time to digest the food I eat. For an example: I can eat only 1 piece of pizza within a 30 minute period of time. After 30 minutes have passed, I can eat another and so on and so forth. My issue i'm dealing with now is, when I do eat and get that full sensation, 30 to 45 minutes later, I feel like i'm hungry again and that is something that I will have to work on this upcoming year.

I will begin to work out again like I was doing before. I just had to get my life straight and now that it is, I am ready to begin eating healthy and going back to my daily excercices. I am still very active, I enjoy life. I have not gained much, maybe 10 lbs. at the most so I would say I did not get off track to far like I have seen in many cases before.

So, good luck with your New Years Resolution and have a wonderful Christmas!!

Are you thinking of getting the Bariatric Surgery?

2008-12-22T21:37:00.002-05:00

You may want to read through my blog and get a better understanding from a bariatric outpatient person. I will be posting more and more when I have time to to better info others of the good things of the surgery and the bad things of it.

But you should make your own decisions. If your ready to change your life for good, then you should consider it. It's an extremely tough road to travel. You will feel depressed, pain, excitement, joy, inspiration and much more feelings and thoughts through your everyday life.

Some people say it's the easy way out. Well, I only have one thing to say to those people, F--- You buddy! The bypass or lap band is only a tool. It is only effective if you use it properly which means to exercise and follow a good daily diet. If you don't, then your wasting your money and time. But if your apart of that 1% of American people who have the money to just throw around, then go for it. But make sure you throw some my way!

Anyway, like I stated above, It's allot harder then people think. Take it from me, one who has been there and done that and bought the tee shirt.

People tell me that I am an inspiration. That I showed then the correct direction to take in their new journey. It feels good to know that I inspired someone in this world.

Becoming a Bariatric Nurse..

2008-12-22T20:10:00.003-05:00

Well,

After having the gastric Bypass just a little over 2 years ago, I decided to become a bariatric Nurse. What is a bariatric Nurse?

It is someone who is a registered nurse that aids in assisting bariatric patients. Bariatric meaning Gastric ( Weight Loss Surgery ) patients. I am going through school right now sudying to be a Medical Assistant but that is being used as a step towards my Registered Nursing Degree.

I hope to be going through the Sentera School of Health Professionals earning my associats degree in Applied Science then continuing my education at VCU for my Bach. Degree in Applied Science.

I have lost over 150Lbs and I still feel like a new person everyday. Although I can eat like a regualr person now, well not really, but more then I use to, I have gained a few pounds back but I loose it very quickly. A simple jog around the block drops 3 to 6 Lbs.

So needless to say, I have chosen a new life and a new cureer as a Bariatric Nurse and in hopes to get a job with the Weight Lose Surgery Center of Newport News where I got my Surgery from.

The image above is of me and my new Girlfriend who I am deeply inlove with.

Yes, some of you may be wondering what happened to my wife and I, We are going through a divorse so my life moves on. I am a MUCH happier person now and I am with someone who loves me for me and understands me and is by my side everyday.

Life changes at the blink of an eye...

2008-08-18T22:44:00.004-05:00

How do I even begin this post. I havn't written here in quite awhile. Needless to say, My wife and I are in the middle of a seperation and I don't soley blame it on the gastric bypass but it had alot to do with it concidering it was a life changing moment for the both of us and we just grew apart and never regained what we once had.

I have lost over 200lbs. and Im not to sure about her. We will always share 1 thing together and thats the gastric bypass. It changed our life, lifestyle and everything. The statistics read that 1 in every 3 couples that get the bypass together end up in a divorce because it is so life changing that both just end up living 2 different lives and never find a happy medium. We didn't think this would be our case but it did. We ended up as a staitic. We made a promise to each other to never let that happen but the promise was broken sometime ago.

Now that life has gone on for me. I am living a happy life working as a meat cutter for farm fresh. I have accomplished alot of my goals that I wanted to accomplish and I am proud of that for me. I wish I could say things about her, but I don't even know who she is anymore. Her entire life changed into a person I never even knew existed.

Before the surgery, we laughed, smiled and had fun together. After the sergury, we just totally lost ourselves and never found ourselves and learned to work together as a team. It's been hard for me because I blame myself for her and I seperating. I have to live with that for the rest of my life and do the best I can by moving forward now.

Her 26th birthday was today and it was the first year in 7 years that I didn't get to celebrate it with her. I did miss that. Lots of things that I miss and will miss but I know that she is living a happier life where she is now and I am to. In a way, it's better this way because of us just growing so far apart. My heart with always be with her and I will always love her but my life has moved on and I look forward to accomplishing more of my life long goals in the upcoming future....

Till next time!
Ta TA!!

Its been 1 year for me!

2007-10-31T18:33:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been 1 year for me today since my sergury. I have lost over 150 Lbs. and I feel wonderful. I am still loosing weight and I am not at my goal weight yet. I still want to loose 25 more lbs. I can do more with my life now. I enjoy life to it's fullist. I have done things now that I wish I could have done 1 year ago, such as going to Busch Gardens and ride all the rides with my friends and family. I do not have to stand on the side and wait for them while they enjoy them selves. I don't look foward to eating because I don't get hungry that often. I just know when I need to eat during the day. It's hard for me to beleave that this day is finally here. The day I said exactly 1 year ago to my wife " I wonder what I will look like in 1 year. Well, Here I am. Posted with this message, is a picture of me now and a picture of me exactly 1 year ago.

New pics of me!

2007-09-23T22:19:00.001-05:00

How bout them apples?

GOAL!

2007-07-31T08:29:00.000-05:00

On Friday, July 27 I achieved my goal. It has been 10 month and 9 days (44 weeks and 4 days) since my surgery. I have lost 126 lbs.YAY!

The before picture was taken at the Yankees/Orioles game in August 2006 and the after picture was taken at daddy's house on July 8, 2007.

BIG difference in the before and after pictures.

Lots of time has passed!

2007-07-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Well, lots of time has passed since my last entry on this blog. My life has been busy considering im much lighter now and can do more things!

Matter of fact, I went to busch Gardens today and all my life I have not been able to ride b ut like 2 rides there because of my weight. Well, today was my first day at Busch Gardens and I was able to ride EVERYTHING NOW!!!! I was so excited and happy and joyful. Many times I would try and loose about 20 lbs. when I was big and try to fit in the ride seat and they had to push it down to get me in and it still wouldn't work. I was so embarrested about it. Sometimes I would cry because it was such an embarressment. It was hard to deal with because I saw my family having such a good time on the rides and I couldn't do it because of a weight problem I had.

I had a blast today! But anyway, I have lost more weight ( as usual ) not sure exactly more but I will weigh myself and write another blog later on.

My life has changed so much, I can't even begin to explain to you about it. If you knew me before the surgery, you know I was lazy, fat, didn't like to do nothing that involved to much movement and I smoked like a chimmny. It was a life I will never have again.

Drinking Cabonated Drinks - The TEST...

2006-12-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

I was always told by Dr. Terracina and all the nurses that drinking a carbonated drink is bad for you after the surgery because it blows up your pouch. Well, I wanted to find out for myself what it does and how I will react to it. So I bought a diet coke yesterday. I always made it diet because there are no carbs in it at all. Anyway, When I took the first sip and I mean a light sip, just to get the carbonation in and a good taste, when I swallowed, I could feel it fizzing in my pouch but it didn't hurt, it was just a very funny feeling. So I probably drank about half the 20 oz. bottle and threw the rest away. I'm not use to the taste anymore. After a period of time, you start to notice you don't have the taste for things like you did before the surgery. Everything taste so different to me now, for one of the mean reasons is because I quit smoking. I haven't had a cigarette in 2 months and I feel GREAT!

282.5 - Going down!

2006-12-30T11:40:00.000-05:00

Weighed myself this morning and I am now at 282.5! More then likley by next week I will need a new uniform at work AGAIN! YEAH! It's one of the best feelings in the world to get on a scale and see it drop DOWN instead of UP.

What is your New years resolution?

2006-12-27T13:03:00.000-05:00

Better yet, what was yours for 2006? Mine was to loose weight and quite smoking. I can proudly say, I DID THEM BOTH! I have never fulfilled my resolution. Every year I said " I'm going to quit smoking and loose weight and ofcource it never happened.

And ofcource not to ever break tradition, I haven't really thought about my new years resolution for 2007. I guess an obvious one would be to loose to my goal weight which is 185 Lbs. which is exactly 100 pounds to go. I'm going to have to think about what my other one will be.

Comparison Pics - Nov. to Dec.

2006-12-25T00:14:00.000-05:00

November 2006

December 2006

More Christmas Photos

2006-12-25T00:07:00.000-05:00

This is my family at Christmas at my Aunts house in Newport News Virginia!

Christmas Photos

2006-12-24T16:06:00.001-05:00

284 Lbs now.

2006-12-22T07:50:00.000-05:00

I am steadily dropping the weight down. If I get my 90 Grams of protein in or more, I steadily drop weight but if I don't get 90 Grams in, I remain where I am. So everyday I try to get more then 90 grams in the drop weight. Anyway, I had a doctor visit yesterday which was good. The doctor was still amazed at how much I've lost already.

Body Composition Analyzer

2006-12-18T10:53:00.000-05:00

This is a comparison before the surgery up to today. I went to my appointment today and she took my Weight and this scale will tell you everything else and give you a print out of it. It's a pretty nifty little scale. I recommend that to ANYONE post OR Pre-Op to jump on it. Before my surgery, Dr. Terracina told me I had to loose at least 20 to 25 pounds. I ended up loosing allot more then he expected. That is not calculated in this but he said it doesn't count but I say it does. weight loss is weight loss to me!

October 23, 2006 - Pre-Op Visit

WEIGHT: 342.0 LBS.
BODY FAT: 47.2%
FAT MASS: 161.5 LBS.
FAT FREE MASS: 180.5 LBS.

November 15, 2006

WEIGHT: 312.0 LBS.
BODY FAT: 46.2%
FAT MASS: 145.5 LBS.
FAT FREE MASS: 166.5 LBS.

- MONTHLY LOSS - OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER

WEIGHT LOSS: 30 LBS.
BODY FAT LOSS: 1%
FAT MASS LOSS: 16 LBS.
FAT FREE MASS LOSS: 14 LBS.

December 18, 2006

WEIGHT: 288 LBS.
BODY FAT: 40.3%
FAT MASS: 116.0 LBS.
FAT FREE MASS: 172.0 LBS.

- MONTHLY LOSS - NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER

WEIGHT LOSS: 24 LBS.
BODY FAT LOSS: 5.9%
FAT MASS LOSS: 29.5 LBS.
FAT FREE MASS LOSS: + 5.5 LBS.

The Height / Weight chart

2006-12-17T22:56:00.000-05:00

Am I Morbidly Obese?
Please reference the Ideal Body Weight Chart below to determine if you are possibly morbidly obese and potentially a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Ideal Body Weight Chart

The difference between the Lapband Surgery and the Bypass surgery.

2006-12-17T21:56:00.000-05:00

Some people have asked me what the difference is between the Lap band Surgery and the Gastric By-Pass Surgery. The one to your far left is the Lap Banding. The other one is the Gastric Bypass.

According to two organizations, the American Society for Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health, Roux-en-Y (pronounced ROO-en-why)gastric bypass surgery is the most popular surgery in the United States.
In this procedure, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch and then constructs a “bypass” for food. The bypass allows food to skip parts of the small intestine. By skipping a large part of the small intestine, the body cannot absorb as many calories or nutrients.
Advantages

83.7 percent of type 2 diabetes cases are resolved.

Studies always include a control group; the control group that doesn’t have bariatric surgery is at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes: 3.7 times higher

Gastric bypass surgery successfully resolves more people’s type 2 diabetes than purely restrictive procedures.

Resolution of type 2 diabetes often occurs within days of the surgery.

96.9 percent of hyperlipidemia cases are resolved.

75.4 percent of hypertension cases are resolved; 87.1 percent are resolved or improved.

Substantial weight reduction occurs; 61.6 percent of excess weight is lost.

In 2000, a study of 500 patients showed that 96 percent of co-morbidities (the study looked specifically at back pain, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression) were improved or resolved.⁸

The average excess weight loss after a gastric bypass procedure is generally higher than with a purely restrictive procedure.

As with every type of bariatric surgery, the overall quality of life for patients improves greatly. A great deal of excess weight is lost, and patients experience resolution of co morbidities, and improved appearance, social opportunities, and economic opportunities.

A condition known as dumping syndrome can occur from eating too much sugar or large amounts of food. While it isn’t considered a serious health risk, the results can be very unpleasant. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, on occasion, diarrhea. Some patients are unable to eat sugary foods after surgery.

Risks and Disadvantages

Because the duodenum and other sections of the small intestine are bypassed, poor absorption of iron and calcium can cause low total body iron and a greater chance of having iron-deficiency anemia. Patients who experience chronic blood loss during excessive menstrual flow or bleeding hemorrhoids should be aware of the chance of iron-deficiency anemia. Women, already at risk for osteoporosis that can occur after menopause, should be aware of the possibility of increased bone calcium loss. By taking a multivitamin and calcium supplements, patients can maintain a healthy level of minerals and vitamins.

Bypassing the duodenum can cause metabolic bone in some patients, resulting in bone pain, loss of height, humped back, and fractures of the ribs and hipbones. Eating foods rich in nutrients and taking vitamins can help patients avoid this.

Chronic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency may occur. The problem usually can be managed with vitamin B12 pills or injections.

The bypassed portion of the stomach, duodenum, and parts of the small intestine cannot be seen easily using X-ray or endoscopy if there are problems such as ulcers, bleeding, or malignancy.

It is a permanent, non reversible procedure.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Now that you "should" understand what the Gastric Bypass is, I will explain to you what the Lap Band is:

The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding procedure is a purely restrictive surgical procedure in which a band is placed around the uppermost part of the stomach. This band divides the stomach into two portions: one small and one larger portion. Since the stomach is divided into smaller parts, most patients feel full faster. As the name indicates, the band is adjustable. So if the rate of weight loss is not acceptable, the band can be adjusted. Food digestion happens through normal digestion.

Advantages

47.9 percent of type 2 diabetes cases are resolved.
Significant improvements in overall cholesterol occur, including a boost in HDL levels.
70.8 percent of hypertension cases are resolved or improved.
Patients lose roughly 47 percent of their excess weight.
The amount of food that can be consumed at a meal is restricted.
Food passes through the digestive tract in the usual order, allowing it to be absorbed fully by the body.
In studies involving more than 3,000 patients, excess weight loss ranged
from 28 to 87 percent, with a minimum of two-year postoperative follow-up.
Band can be adjusted to increase or decrease restriction via an access port.
Surgery can be reversed.
Risks and Disadvantages
The access port may leak or twist, which can require an operation to correct the problem.
Surgery may not provide the necessary feeling of satisfaction that one has had enough to eat.
Dumping syndrome, which may provide important warning signs, does not occur.
Band may erode into the stomach wall.
Band may move or slip.
Weight loss is slower than that following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Is this you?

2006-12-17T16:17:00.000-05:00

Does this look familiar? If it does, call Dr. Terracina!

I think this is what Mr. Ronald really looks like!

What's in fast food?

2006-12-17T16:04:00.000-05:00

Don't we all just LOVE fast food? Do you ever stop and think of what exactly is in some of the food they serve? Such as fat, cholesterol, saturated fat, carbohydrates..ect.. OR do you even care? I for one did not care 3 months ago when I weighed 370 Lbs. My favorite was a double whopper meal from burger king. I miss it sometimes, but then I think about my life and how much that stuff can hurt you by eating it. Yeah, it may be good but what good are you doing yourself by putting your body through that? Nothing! Sometimes we eat just because we want to. Not because we are hungry but maybe it's from boredom, stress, depression or maybe you just want a midnight snack. We all get this way one time or another. That's when you need to pick up a new hobby such as exercises or a sport or even reading. Something to keep your mind focused on something other then that thought of food when your bored, stressed out or depressed.

Next time you go to a fast food restaurant, ask them for a nutrition chart and take a look for yourself and see what your about to eat. I was always the one looking at the others funny who asked, but now I laugh at the ones who don't know and eat blind.

It's almost Christmas time!

2006-12-17T15:54:00.001-05:00

Well, it's almost Christmas time and I have completed my shopping. I still have not yet reached my goal in loosing 100 Lbs by Christmas and Im not quite sure I want to. I think im pushing myself to hard. Im trying to loose this weight to fast and it's putting a tole on me. So instead of running 6 miles a night, im only going to run 2 to 3 miles. Im not concerned about the weight lose as much as I am about getting back into shape. Smoking really hurt me so now I have to get back to where I once was as a non-smoker.

Well, Im still at 290.0 Lbs which is good considering I went to a buffet and had crab legs and a few other things like fish. But that's good for you because it's HIGH in protine so I didn't really feel guilty about eating it. I'm just glad that I can eat things like that and not make me sick "AKA" - The Dumping Syndrome.

291.6 Lbs. today

2006-12-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

I am at 291.6 Lbs today. I had to go to the hospital last night on my way to work because I blacked out while driving. I felt really sick before I left but I really didn't think anything of it. Come to find out, I just got dizzy and that's it. I think it was because I was dehydrated. So they gave me a bag of that stuff with an I.V and it made me gain a few pounds I don't want. But It helped me so I can't really complain to much. Plus I had a small breakfast which consisted of 4 bits of scrambled egg and 2 pieces of bacon which filled me up. I hope I can reach my first goal of loosing 100 Lbs by Christmas but I'm not sure if that's going to happen. I think I push myself to hard but that's the way I was raised.

Many thanks to Dr. Terracina

2006-12-15T08:19:00.000-05:00

I wanted to write this post to thank a life savor. This is a man that has dedicated his life to changing others and giving them a second chance at life. He is a man that has given me a second chance to live a healthy and happy life. Yes, it was my decision on getting the surgery done BUT if it wasn't for doctors in this world who care enough about someone else's life and dedicate their own to helping people and to be able to change the way they live and help them become healthy and happy, I would still be smoking over a pack a day and way overweight and on the track of death within the next 5 to 10 years. He saved me and my wife's life and I thank him for that. He is an outstanding man as a person and as a doctor. I don't think I can thank him enough for what he has done for my wife and I. We together, can now live a healthy and happy life style. How do you thank someone for changing your life and giving you a second chance to live? You say.......

THANK YOU!everyday your alive!

Still at 288 Lbs. - 18 Lbs to go!

2006-12-13T14:47:00.000-05:00

I'm still at 288 Lbs. I ran 3 miles on the tread mill last night while at work, 1 mile at 5pm and 2 miles at midnight. I didn't run anymore after that. My legs felt as if they were on fire. I have 18 Lbs to go for the BIG 100!

Running 6 miles - Tread Mill Style!

2006-12-12T14:31:00.000-05:00

Last night while at work, I ran 6 Miles on the tread Mill. I ran 2 miles at 5pm. The another 2 miles at 10pm then my last 2 miles at 3am. I have become an exercise freak! I love to exercise now and I don't get tired doing it. I ran 2 miles in under 25 minutes all 3 times! It's hard to believe what I have already accomplished, and I'm still in the early stages of the surgery. Some people don't loose this much until about 6 months out of surgery. My goal for this month is to get down to 265 Lbs. I have 19 days to do it in and 23 Lbs to loose.

I am now at 288 Lbs! Seems like I should be allot less running 6 miles in sweat clothes every night I work. I'm probably not getting my protein in which I'm going to fix that tonight. I'm going to start eating tuna fish at night which has a HIGH protein source and no carbohydrates in it which is great.

Posting a comment - how too...

2006-12-11T14:58:00.000-05:00

Some people have asked me "How to post a comment." Well, this will explain to you how it is done.

1. At the bottom of the post, you will see this -->( Posted by Matt Williams at 2:44 PM 0 comments ) , click on the "Comments" link beside the time.

2. Once you click on the "Comments" link it will take you to where you can post a comment. Write your message in the space provided.

3. You can do 1 of 3 things. You can register for a Google account, you can choose "Other" which is for someone who has another blog with a different service other then Blogger Or you can post your comment "Anonymous." I would recommend to sign up for a Google account in takes no more then 3 to 5 seconds. Very simple process.

I encourage anyone to leave a comment. I would love to hear what others think about my wife and I's success or the website in general.

290.8 Lbs. - Off the stomp...

2006-12-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess I'm off the stand still ( or stomp ) is what I like to call it. I weighed myself this morning and I weighed 290.8. Yesterday I weighed 294. So I've lost 3.2 Lbs today! I will be running 2X tonight at work 1.5 miles on the tread mill So I hope to be out of the 290's tonight!

The problem is, I have no eaten anything all day. I slept in till 1pm to prepare for work and when I get up, I'm not hungry at all. I eat a little bit of spaghetti till it started hurting my stomach. I'll eat something tonight at work. Go by Wendy's and get a chili to eat.

Bowling night with friends...

2006-12-11T00:10:00.000-05:00

My wife and I went bowling with our friends tonight. Below are 2 pictures. Below me is John Newton and Kara U. They are engaged to be married next year!
John Looks like a deer caught in head lights..:)

Fitting into smaller clothes...

2006-12-10T23:58:00.000-05:00

When I began this surgery, I wore a size 52 pants. Now, I am down to a size 44. BIG difference there! I had to get a whole new uniform for work. That day I felt like I was on cloud 9. I could not believe I fit into a size 44 pants! I also wore a size 22 to 23 neck, Now, I wear a size 18! My body is melting away! I'm shedding my cocoon which I love doing. All my old clothes do not fit me anymore. I had to wear a belt with sweat pants today while I went out with my mom. All fo them just fall right off me. and ya know what? IT FEELS GREAT!

My wife wore a size 22, Now she can wear a size 16! She is on the right track with things. Before you know it, she will be nothing but skin and bones! She, on the other hand, will have to get plastic surgery to remove access loose skin. Me, I won't have to worry about that. The doctor said my skin will just tighten right up as I loose.

Still at 293 Lbs.

2006-12-10T23:40:00.000-05:00

I spoke to my friend Mrs. Bautista who works with me and she said she was very nervous and of course she has every right to be. I'm just glad I can be there for her because I know what she is about to go through. Don't get me wrong, it's not painful it's just stressful. Not being able to eat a solid food for 24 hours ( if not more depending on your surgery time ). All you can have is jello, pudding, water, pop cycles and that's pretty much it. It's even harder when you have to quit smoking. I personally had to leave my house and put a sign on my refrigerator saying " do not eat anything in this fridge, surgery tomorrow!" I sometimes have to remind myself because I will easily forget if I don't. My friends surgery is tomorrow at 1:00 PM. I will go see her Wednesday morning. I hope she is prepared at what's getting ready to happen.

Unfortunately, I am still at 293 Lbs. I am at a small stand still. But that's OK. I had some Wendy's chili and I tried to eat spaghetti but It came back up so I will stay clear from that for awhile. I did however have 3 cheese sticks at the bowling ally tonight with a lemonade. Sometimes I can eat something and it will be fine, but other times, it will come right back up that way it went in which is painful. But you never know when it will happen, you just have to go with the flow and find out afterwards.

Getting the "Dumping Syndrome"

2006-12-09T20:43:00.000-05:00

I was out playing golf after Thanks Giving, I had just bought a new set of clubs, so I wanted to try them out. Anyway, I began to feel really sick and my stomach felt like it was going to explode any minute. I went to my moms house before I went golfing and I could not stand the pain anymore. I had to make myself throw up. It sounds disgusting, in which it is, but it makes you feel allot better afterwards, or so they say. Anyway, I felt better afterwards and I left to go golfing. I felt OK during the drive, but when I got there, I felt sicker then a dog! To make a story short, I threw up 11 times that day and lost approximately 10 to 12 pounds. To say the least, it was by far the worst day I have ever had. I have not had anymore problems like that, and I hope I never do. It is by far the worst excruciating pain to feel.

The Definition

Dumping syndrome occurs when the contents of the stomach empty too quickly into the small intestine. The partially digested food draws excess fluid into the small intestine causing nausea, cramping, diarrhea, sweating, faintness, and palpitations. Dumping usually occurs after the consumption of too much simple or refined sugar in people who have had surgery to modify or remove all or part of the stomach.

It's a chain reaction!

2006-12-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

Getting healthy and showing people you can do it, can create a chain reaction. My friend Mrs. Bautista is getting the surgery on the 12th of December, 2006 which is in 3 days. I hope she is doing well. I haven't seen her in about a week. She quit smoking to and I know how hard it is to do that and I hope she's doing well with that to. When she saw me at work for the first time since I left, she could not believe what a change it created for me. So I wish her the best of luck in the world and I hope to see her on the 12th when she gets it.

The Comparison at 1 month

2006-12-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

The first picture is of me now, the other picture was of my 3 months ago. I have lost a total of 80 Lbs! Just to look at the pictures I am shocked at the way I look now compared to what I use to look like. It is just amazing to see the difference. And the funny thing is, I lost all this weight in 1 month! Everyday I run on the tread mill or outside, I eat healthy and I haven't had a cigarette in over a month! I feel like in a new person. I want to get down to about 225 Lbs if not lower then that which I hope will be soon!

STOP SMOKING!

2006-12-08T23:09:00.000-05:00

For the life of me, I don't understand why people smoke. I smoked like a train. Until I realized and came to my senses what it was doing to me! It makes your body and breath stink. It gives you cancer, makes your teeth yellow. You spend on average $4.00 per pack per day. Why? Why don't you just hand Phillip Morris $4.00 a day to kill you for the rest of your life because that's what your doing anyway. Just think of the money you would be saving! $4.00 per day - 30 days = $160.00 per month - 365 days a year = $1440.00. What in gods name was I thinking? All that money wasted just to kill myself. I use to look at those cigarette commercials and laugh but I don't now because I understand them. They now make sense to me. If you smoke, Stop! Your only killing yourself AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU AS WELL!

When is a Good Time to Quit Smoking?

When is a good time for you to quit smoking? Would that be sometime before doctors drill a hole in your throat so you can breathe? A week before it happens? A month? A year? Why not now? Right now you are somewhere along the line between living a healthy life and breathing through a hole in your throat (or some other nasty slow death due to tobacco smoking). If you are not going to let it go this far then... when are you going to quit smoking? How about now? Not a good time? OK... How about now?

Someone has 8 Seconds to Live...

Every year, over 440,000 people die of smoking and tobacco related diseases. That's an alarming 1 person that dies from a preventable cause every 8 seconds.

It says Impotent not Important!

Isn't it ironic how many of us started to smoke to feel important or to be cool? Guys! How cool is a limp penis? "Cigarettes may cause sexual impotence due tothedecrease blood flow to the penis. This can prevent you from having an erection."Forget dying from cigarette smoking.... what's the point of living if you can't do it?

Smoking While Pregnant... Very Sad!

For any expecting mother to be smoking through their pregnancy these days is blatant stupidity! If you are an expectant mother or if you know someone who is and they are still smoking.... I IMPLORE YOU! Please stop smoking or reason with the woman you know who is still smoking and do whatever is in your power to protect the unborn child from the effects of tobacco smoke. You know what can happen to the unborn child. Don't play Russian roulette by smoking while pregnant. The risk is TOO high!

Grocery Shopping

2006-12-08T23:02:00.000-05:00

How fun! Going to the store to buy food! The only problem is, we can't eat half the stuff we see. But I'm cool with that. I've learned to deal with it and move on. It seems as though my wife and I get into little arguments when we shop for food. I like to look at every label and check the Protein and how many carbs it has in it. If it's to many carbs, I don't get it and I tell her all the time "you shouldn't get that, it has to many carbs" which pisses her off and she storms off the isle without me. I have become a BIG health nut. I've never been that way before and this is a first time for me. To say the least, our grocery bill is pretty darn small now!...

Liquid Diet stinks!

2006-12-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

After I got the surgery done, I had to go on a complete liquid diet. I had to drink as much protein as possible ( recommend 90 Grams ). The hospital gave me this nasty protein shake that was made from powder. It was disgusting. I chose to drink something called 50 Grand Slam. It has 50 Grams of protein in it which is an excellent source of protein. It took me all day to drink it but I had to so somethings I would force myself to drink it. I am glad I am out of that stage. I can just about eat anything now except bread, and real tough meat like steak. I am still on a very low carb diet so that helps allot also. I don't eat anything that is white just on occasion.

September 25, 2006 - My journey began

2006-12-08T20:22:00.001-05:00

September 25, 2006 - My Journey Begins

I would like to tell you my story. Mine begins on September 25, 2006 when I had to go to the seminar to hear about the surgery, what's involved in it and turn in some paper work I had to fill out. As I looked around the room, I saw others there that were bigger then me, so I didn't feel like I was alone in the dark somewhere. I felt like I had a support group around me. Others who wanted to change their life and get healthy. After the seminar was over, I setup my computer test and an appointment to see the psychiatrist.

October 4, 2006 - The test and appointment day

I went to take the test and it was just a bunch of basic mind game questions. The psychiatrist used them as a guide to see if you were crazy and could handle the surgery or if you were just mentally insane and needed to seek some other type of help. Thankfully, she "thought" I was a sane person and allowed me to continue with the process. I also saw Dr. Terracina that day to discuss the details about the surgery. He likes to meet with his male patients before the surgery sometimes. So I get in his office and he tells me I need to loose about 20 to 25 Lbs BEFORE the surgery. I was quite confused at that but I went with it and we talked about what type of diet plan to go on for it which was the Atkins diet....

October 5, 2006 - Dieting begins

I started on the Atkins Diet that day and was very confident I would loose the weight because my mom went on this diet and was very successful at it. She lost about 80 Lbs and now she looks wonderful. I eat things that were in very low carbohydrates such as meat. I basically became a meat only eater. I stayed away from anything white, such as bread, potato's, rice and anything else that was white...

October 14, 2006 - Surgery date set

I was working that day and got a phone call from my wife saying that Cat called. Cat, which is short for Cathy, was the surgery date coordinator and insurance person. I already knew I was approved through my insurance because my wife was approved to get it done. Anyway, I called her back from work and she tells me that my surgery date is set for October 31, 2006. I was very excited about this and immediately went and told my supervisor and everyone else I came in contact with. I was very happy that I was getting it so quickly! I called my wife, told her the news ad went back to work a happy man.

October 25, 2006 - pre-operation visit with the doctor

I went to see Dr. Terracina that day to weigh in and see how much I lost on the Atkins Diet. And to my surprise and everyone else's, I had lost about 25 Lbs! To say the least, Dr. Terracina was in complete shock. I think he thought I wouldn't do it. But I fooled him that day! Anyway, the visit went well. We talked about what will happen on the 31st and what time to be at the hospital and what to bring and blah blah blah. I thought to myself, If I can loose 25 Lbs on the Atkins Diet, why don't I just continue with it. But then I thought, No, I wont quite smoking, which was a very big issue for me to do. If I get the surgery, I wont eat everything I see because I wont be able to. So it's like killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

October 30, 2006 - HELL DAY for me!

This was by far the worst day anyone can go through. I could not eat anything or drink anything that was not clear. So I decided to get out of the house. I went fishing with a good friend of mine and he had the gull to get something to eat from McDonald's! I didn't get mad at him although he kept saying that he was not the one on the diet, which was true. Anyway, my day of course went by horrible because I was starving to death and was as thirsty as an old mule. So I stop by the store on our way home and pick up some Push up pops. To me, they tasted just like a steak! So I went home, packed my bag and went to bed.

October 31, 2006 - Surgery day arrives!

Well, the long awaited day had finally arrived. My wife and I woke up around 6 AM to get ready to go to the hospital. I was not allowed to put anything in my hair or skin such as gel, lotion or hair spray or wear any kind a jewelry. I thought it was a little odd but, whatever! I arrive at the hospital 2 hours ahead of schedule to prepare for the surgery. I was quite nervous at this point but I was also very anxious to get it done. But on the other hand, was having second thoughts about going through with it. But I knew if I didn't do something about my life style, I was going to die at an early age and I really didn't want to do that. I get back to the pre-operation room where the doctors come and meet with you and gets you all ready for the surgery. Dr. Terracina met with me around 11:30 AM and asked if I was ready to change my life. I said to him "Yes, what are you waiting for, roll me in!" So off I went into the surgery room. All I can remember is, it was cold as ice in there and all I had on was a very thin robe. Then I went out like a light because the anaesthesia kicked in.

3 hours later....

I woke up and was in a waiting room. Everything was pretty blurry. All I could hear was one of the nurses singing. I looked up at her and told her " American idol your not" and fell back to sleep. I woke up in my room that I would stay in over night, and my wife and mom were there to meet me. I was kinda out of it and I wasn't really sleepy. I felt really good actually. I stayed in the bed till around 6 PM and then called the nurse to help me get out of the bed and to start walking around. I got out of bed and walked around the hospital and all the nurses could not believe I was walking 3 hours after my surgery. Once again, I fooled them. I felt good enough that night to actually go home but I couldn't because I still have the " G-Tube" in me which is the drain tube and the decafitor in still. I also had to go the next day to get X-Rays and drink the nasty drink.

November 1, 2006 - The day after surgery

I was really dreading this day. My wife told me that they make you drink this horrible drink to see if you have any leaks in your new pouch in an X-Ray. Well, I drank the drink and almost puked on the guy. It was nasty and disgusting. After that I was fine. I had no leaks and everything appeared to be OK. I got up and walked some more around the hospital till about 2 in the morning.

November 2, 2006 - I go home!

I was very excited to go home. I felt great and I packed everything and waiting for the discharge papers. I finally got discharged from the hospital around 2 O'clock. I was happy to get out of there. Me and hospitals don't get along to well. Anyway, I get home and I'm doing wonderful. I told my wife that it was a piece of cake and that I didn't know what she was complaining about all the time. The I get really sick about 2 days later and run a fever of about 102.3. I felt like I was going to die. I couldn't breath, eat or drink anything. Then I finally realized after going to the emergency room and talking to Dr. Terracina, I wasn't getting enough oxygen to my left lounge which almost made it collapse. I also was very vulnerable to get Pneumonia which would not have been a good thing. So I started to blow into this special thing and it cleared it right up in about 24 hours. Everything went smooth after that. I started drink my protein stuff and doing what I needed to do to start loosing weight....

December 8, 2006 - The accomplishments arise

To say the least, I have shocked myself, family and friends with what I have accomplished in 1 months time. I have quit smoking, and I have lost 74 Lbs!When I first started, I weighed a whopping 370 Lbs. Now I weight 294 Lbs. I feel like a new person already. I'm back at work and I could not be happier with my life then what I am right now. It is simply amazing at the accomplishments my wife and I have done. We have lost together over 100 Lbs! That is unbelievable. When I look into the mirror, I can not believe what I have accomplished. I will continue on my quest to be healthy and I vowed to myself never to smoke again as long as I live! I will have new pictures of my wife and I soon!

My Story Begins....

2006-12-08T19:07:00.001-05:00

September 25, 2006 - The decision

I decided to change my life. I wanted to become healthy, stop smoking and live a long and prosperous life. I no longer wanted to live my life like a slob, a smoke feen and a depressed person. My wife and I decided to get the Gastric bypass surgery and make a change in our life and marriage. My wife was very anxious to get it done and I on the other hand was the one holding back. I didn't want to get it done at first because (A) I love eating and (B) I was a heavy smoker and didn't want to give it up. I thought I was in "ok" shape but the only real shape I was in was a round ball, or a Rollie Pollie sort-a-speak. I went to the doctor quite frequently to get a check up to see how I'm doing. I had high blood pressure, heart palpitations and I was a borderline diabetic. I always thought in my mind "none of those will happen to me, I'll never be a diabetic or have a heart attack" but what I failed to realize is, I was almost there to getting all of them.

Sometime in May or June of 2006, My wife said she wanted to get the Gastric Bypass done. I have heard about it before but never researched it to see what was involved. So she began to research it and decided to get it done. At the time, I thought she was a loona-tick ( and sometimes still do ) but our insurance would not pay for it. So obviously we were facing a rather LARGE bill or I switch jobs that had insurance to cover it. So, that's what I did. I got a new job that had the best insurance you could get. I wanted a new job anyway and get out of the ungodly, stressed out and awful job I was in before. When I got the new job in July, the first thing my wife did was call the insurance and see if they cover the surgery, and lucky us, they cover it all. We were both pretty ecstatic about it but I really didn't make up my mind then to do it or not. My wife went through the process and got her surgery date set for September 18, 2006. She was the happiest person alive that day. I on the other hand was very nervous about her getting it done. But she was determined to get it and change her life.

September 17, 2006: The day before her surgery - HELL DAY

I call this day HELL DAY because you can't eat OR drink anything for 24 straight hours. All you can do is eat and drink clear liquids. This is to empty out your stomach to prepare you for the surgery. This day was actually a very stressful day for her. I on the other hand wanted to go fishing. She "of course" did not want me to leave and I didn't. But to say the least, I was quite mad. But as I look back on it now, I should have been more supportive and understanding about it. But I thought she would be fine and dandy and really didn't need me to stick around. We packed her things in a suite case that night and talked about who I call after she gets out of surgery, spoke to her mom, made some emails and we went to bed...

September 18, 2006: Surgery day

Well, the day finally arrived. It seemed like the night lasted forever, which was good in a way. She had to be there at 5:30 AM to register and get prepared for surgery. Her mom, step-dad and father met us there and we went thought the process and was sent the pre-operation room to wait for the anaesthesiologist and the doctor. I basically sat back and took mental notes about everything that was going on. She was my Gennie Pig sort-a-speak. I wanted to see someone go through it first before I did. Anyway She went into surgery at 7:30AM and her mom, step-dad and I went down to the cafeteria and get something to eat, well, they did, I couldn't eat because my stomach felt like it was in knots.

11AM - Doctor arrives to give the news

Around 11 AM, Dr. Terracina, which was the doctor who performed the surgery, came out to the waiting room and said that everything was fine and the surgery went great. I for one was relieved at that point and I know her mom and step-dad were to. About an hour later she gets a room and we can go up and see her. She looked good but she was very dazed and confused ( that was just about an everyday thing anyway ) so I thought she was doing great. She had a drain tube on her side for the access liquid to drain out of her stomach and a few other things. She eventually woke up around 6pm and she appeared to be doing fine. She stayed in the hospital for 3 days and finally got out on the 21st of September to go home...

December 8, 2006 - Lots of time has rolled by

Lots of time has rolled by since her surgery and she started at a weight at 266 Lbs and she is now down to 212 Lbs which is 54 Lbs! She now wears a size 16 and she use to wear a size 22. I am one happy go lucky hubby!! She has done wonderful and she continues to do great! I am very proud of what my wife has alreadyaccomplished and continues to work hard to reach her goal and loose more weight....

Well, that's basically my wife's story and how everything began. Now, it's my turn to tell you my side....