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.