Down Another 15!

I am happy to report that I am down another 15 lbs!

Wednesday, the proverbial hump day of the week, finally has a way to make me happy. There is no better feeling than to be someone my size and to finally see the numbers on the scale getting smaller. It is like a small victory.


So, since I've entered the Medi-Trim circle of hell, I have lost 35lbs. For comparison, you could compare that to losing the equivalent of any of the following:

• Just over 4 gallons of water (15 litres)
• A small toddler
• One car battery
• 7 sheets of photocopier paper
• 560 pencils
• 3 and 1/2 bags of potatoes (10lb bags)

 It feels good to have less weight to carry around. I just really didn't expect the weight to fall so dramatically.  find my cynical mind is starting to doubt the accuracy of the scale. But, I expect it is better to not worry about that and be happy with the results.

However, I am set to check in with the surgical centre next Tuesday, so I might ask them to weigh me on their scales, just to be certain. I'll look at it this way - if these are WAY off and I've even lost 20 lbs according to them, I will be ecstatic. If these scales were right and I really have lost what they say, I will be even more ecstatic.

So, I will take this as a sign that I am on the right track. Too bad Medi-Trim has a limited use period - if it didn't and one had proper will power, they might'n need the surgery. Although honestly, going in to week 3 of this, I am surprised I haven't gone and ordered a pizza or something ridiculous like that. The urge has been there, but so has the voice in the back of my head saying "If you screw this up than your liver won't shrink like they need it to and they will either have to do an open procedure or cancel it entirely". Since, admittedly I am afraid of both prospects (being either cut open more or being operated on and closed up with no procedure). So, fear ultimately is constantly poking my willpower in the butt with a tazer...

But in the end, the operation will allow me to live a more normal life. I don't want to drink diet shakes the rest of my life. I want to actually be able to eat real food properly and in a way that is satiating and allows me to control my weight. This surgery is the tool I can use to accomplish that.

So, on towards another week of choking down simulated vanilla and simulated chocolate shakes, and hoping to God for the best.

And to you, all the best.

Rob

The Battle of the Bulge

So here we are, back to the old standby of blogging. This time I have a topic at least. My constant struggle with weight.

Back in January I made the decision to go through with a surgery. The surgery, known as an adjustable gastric band (colloquially as LAP-BAND) involves placing an inflatable band around the stomach to reduce hunger and food intake. The band causes one to feel satiated quicker after a small amount of food.

So, I began my journey. On that day in January I weighed in for the first time in a long while. I clocked in at 473 lb. Mind you that is not the most I have ever weighed, it is definitely higher than the 425-450 I always assumed that I weighed. Seeing that number only strengthened my resolve. I started the process.

Starting on the 9th of February I began a (mostly) liquid diet designed to remove fat from my liver and cause substantial weight loss prior to the surgery. This circle of hell is known as Medi-Trim. It involves 3 prescription meal replacement shakes per day for (in my case) 6 weeks.

So yesterday marked my first full week through this hell. I scaled in today for the first time since the consultation and I was very shocked. I am now down to 455 lbs. That is 18 lbs lost in a week. I am assuming I did not lose any weight between the consultation and starting Medi-Trim, as I made absolutely no attempt to. I am supposed to drop 60 lbs by the surgery date...

I go for surgery on March 23. Hopefully the following weeks will have similar results. You never know though. I may lose less weight the following weeks. But imagine how amazing that would be, say 15 lbs per week, that would make me 384 lbs for the surgery. A man can dream.

Even if I lose only what the doctor projected, it will still be a great boon to my health. Every pound gone I am saying a permanent goodbye to. I am sure there will be stumbles and falls along the way, discouragements and upsets. However, those will be tempered with successes, achievements, and ultimately good health.

So my journey has begun. We will see how far we go.