Thoughts from the Happy Fat Guy

I am officially one month out from my surgery, and I have hit a major milestone. No, I have not reached my goal weight, let's be realistic.  Last week, I was finally able to use our Wii Fit. 

I bought the Fit when my wife made it clear that she wanted one for her birthday. Obviously, I was hoping to be able to use it as well. To my family's disappointment, I was wrong. Oddly enough, the Wii Fit has a weight limit of 330lbs. I understand that there are limits to how something can be built, but you would think they would build it to handle those of us that really need to use it. Then again, if those of us that really need it were doing anything physical we probably would not weigh over 330lbs.

Well, last week I was able to begin using the Fit. Not only did it feel great to finally be able to use this, it was really rewarding to begin getting my wife's name off of all the high scores.  

I also had my one-month follow up with Dr. Wallace's staff. All appears to be going very well. I am down 45lbs since the surgery and I feel great. I have had no problems with nausea or vomiting. As I have progressed to more normal foods, I have had no issues holding them down.

My blood pressure has been maintaining even though I had been unable to take my normal medications until recently. There have also been noticeable benefits to my health. My headaches have been almost nonexistent, my back was in constant pain prior to surgery but has shown marked improvement, and my stomach has calmed considerably. I am amazed at how quickly I have noticed an improvement in my general health.

I am also thrilled at how this surgery has improved my regimen of working out. I have been working out for the last three weeks. I have been able to do treadmills and walking tracks, stationary bikes, and just recently began using circuit weight training. These are all things that I was not doing prior to surgery.

Like most people, my work outs would start and stop on a whim. I now have two significant motivator's that I was missing before. First, I know that the only way this surgery will work long term is for me to increase my activity level. To fully see the benefits of this surgery, I must remain faithful to all of my doctor’s orders, not just the ones I don't mind doing. Second, there is a new found motivation for losing this weight.

In my next post, I will discuss what this motivator is.  I will also touch on my return to the workplace. 

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The following is feedback received for this blog: Great job! Good Job Dr. Wallace and staff!! - Jen Wow. Almost 50 pounds. That is really amazing! Very happy to hear everything is going well. - Chris

My first before-and-after picture on this blog. Before, on the left, and two-weeks after, 31-pounds lighter, on the right.

Here we are, two weeks post op. So what has been happening since surgery you may ask? I have two words for you ... pureed chicken. Once I was home, the challenge of preparing pureed meals began. Every day it was the same. Pureed eggs for breakfast, pureed chicken or turkey for lunch and dinner. Never was brave enough to try pureeing fish. It probably sounds worse than it was.

The food itself didn't taste too bad, but I was definitely sick of it after a few days. In spite of these feelings, I stuck to the purees for one reason, fear. Fear of messing up what the doctor worked so hard to create, fear of beginning to fail already, fear of causing pain to myself. Once the surgery was complete I came to a conclusion, if I do what Dr. Wallace tells me to, I will succeed. If I begin trying to do my own thing, I will fail. Even though I may not understand why I had to do things a certain way, I trusted that they were for my own good.

The pain after surgery wasn't too bad. Each day the discomfort and pain with deep breathes improved. By the second day I was home, I was no longer using the pain medication I had.

That Sunday, I began walking after each meal. It started with a walk to the corner and back. Then I graduated to going around the block. By 10 days post op, I was walking 2 miles. I am currently able to exercise for almost an hour straight and can use tread mills and bicycling. It seems unbelievable to me that only two weeks ago I had major abdominal surgery with a large amount of altering to my natural body. It just seems that I shouldn't be able to do these things already, but I am.

I had my first follow up with Dr. Wallace on Monday. He seems happy with the surgery and the progress I am making. After a long and thorough appointment, I received the good news. I am now able to eat soft foods. Still not a normal diet, but a big step in the right direction. The best news to me was that I had been compliant with the doctors orders since the surgery. It's only two weeks, but to me it's a good start. Okay, that may be the second best news; the best news is that I am down 31 pounds.

One challenge I have found is that although this surgery alters my physical make up, the psychological challenges are still there. There is still temptation. There is still head hunger. There is still a daily struggle to make my head do what my body knows it must. The surgery so far is a wonderful tool and I have no regrets at this point.

But the surgery does not fix everything. Pizza still smells good. Seeing candy bars every time I check out of a store still look good. Hearing every other commercial on TV be a food advertisement still raises my antenna. There are things the surgery does do though. The surgery helps me feel full and satisfied after only 3 or 4 ounces of food. It enables me to walk for two miles at a better pace than I have in years and not feel like I'm having a heart attack. It allows me to see 31lbs less of me in the mirror. There are even extracurricular benefits, just ask my wife. Is it easy, no. Is it worth it, absolutely.

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The following is feedback received for this blog: You look great! Your face looks different already (thinner AND happier)! Thanks for sharing. WOW!!! You look great! Hang in there, you can do it. - mo Congratulations. I can only pray I do this well. My surgery is Tuesday. - Linda great job scott, lock foreward to seeing you back at work. - chad