(Be sure to read Part 1 of Larry’s Story first…)
My wife Beth and I discussed having weight loss surgery in early 2008. We had heard good things, and bad things about it. As far as I know, we only knew one person who had actually had weight loss surgery. That person was not very compliant, and didn’t receive much education about her procedure and follow-up. She didn’t have a very good result, in fact she ended up having her band completely drained and is living with no restriction at all… and consequently little to no weight loss.
We didn’t want to be like that. We didn’t want to fail. From our research online we found that people who have gastric bypass surgery lose weight! Compliant or not, they lose weight. Not saying that a person couldn’t drink milkshakes and eat cake and ice cream, and defeat the surgery, they can. But, a large percentage of people who have gastric bypass surgery lose a significant portion of their excess weight. We knew that we aren’t the most compliant folks you’ll meet, so our only choice was gastric bypass surgery.
Toxic waste isn’t good for ya. Plain and simple right? When it comes to WLS success, there are things we need to avoid like they are a barrel of toxic waste or there will be “adverse health effects”, just like the sign here says.
The first one I want to touch on here is selflessness. If you want to have long term WLS success, you’re going to need to learn to be selfish, or in other words you need to learn to put you and your needs ahead of those of others.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
It was roughly 13 months ago that I started down the path to WLS by getting a referral from my doctor to the bariatric clinic.
One year and two days ago I met with the nutritionist and was put on a 1500 calorie a day meal plan to lose the required pre-op weight. Yea, I kinda cheated a bit on Thanksgiving… and Christmas. But I made the commitment and did a lot better than I had the year before.
Now here it is a year, and bout 185 pounds later, and I am truly thankful I made the decision to have this surgery.
I have no doubt I will be here for many many more Thankgivings to come than I otherwise would have been…. years I’ll be able to further enjoy the other many things I’m thankful for, such as my friends and family… and also thanks to the surgery I can truly add good health to the list of things I am thankful for.
Enjoy your day everyone.
My name is Tim Grayless and I’m from Indiana. I used to weigh 385 pounds until I had my RNY surgery on August 5, 2009. I have discovered so much about a disorder that used to control my life, and from time to time I will share those ramblings with all of you her at FFD.com
I am married to my lovely wife Doreen, who is the Director of Scholarships at Indiana University, South Bend, IN.
We have three children: Megan, who is 27 and going for her PhD in Communications at the University of Kentucky. Erin, who works for IBM in San Jose, CA, and Andrew who is finishing his certification for becoming a Physical Therapist. Andrew and Erin got their BA’s from Purdue, and Megan got he BA at Columbus State in Geogia, and her Masters at the University of Arkansas.
I am a part time United Methodist Pastor, and currently on disability. In the near future, God willing, I will be off disability and back to full time work.
Enough for now…see you on formerfatdudes.com.
