[53Plymouth]

Hello all, I am a fifty nine year old male who has been fighting a lossing battle of the bulge for most of my adult life. I have always been able to keep my weight under 300 pounds when I ran a construction company. Then I started to slow down and went back to school. I became a County Building Inspector and have a desk job. Boy has the weight piled on.

I am now up to well over 400 pounds and can lose about fifty then gain more back. My knees started to get very painful and finally ask the Doc what to do. I figured I would just get the standard lucture about will power. To my susprise she said I would be a good candit for this surgery. I have been looking into it for the last couple of years but was always unsure on how to talk about it. To make a long story short I was approved for surgery (kind of scary).

At the first meeting I was told I had to lose 10% and start to exerise, working up to 1.5 hours per day before I can have the surgery. I also have to go to a support group once a month, eatting classes, and due some therpy. (my kids are all saying about time dad)

I am also to start to eat like I will have to after the surgery. Thank heavens they do not expect this to start right away. I was told that it would be 6 months to a year to get through all the hurdles. All in all not to



bad until I start to think I am suspose to be mucho.

I went for my first physical therpay today and it was not to bad. Mostly have to start to strech my leg mussles so my knees do not feel like a can of worms.

I use to be midly actrive now boy it takes all my engery just to go to work. I really am looking forward to this so I can start to live again. I do realize this is not a cure but a second chance to get it right.

As you can tell my thoughts kind of go in a weird patteren at this time.

Sorry about the spelling but at work I can not use the spell checker on the web site and I should of typed it on a word doc. then posted.

Thanks for hearing me ramble on. Ed.

[DeMarie]

Hello Ed and welcome. Almost every question I ever had was answered here, so do both, ask if you have questions and read past posts. It only took about 4 months for everything to happen for me, so I guess I'm lucky. I'm 1 month post-op now. Good luck, every day from now on is a day closer to being the old you!

[DocSanae]

Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us.
Congratulations on your approval.
((((((HUGS))))) May your journey go well.

Feel free to ask questions, to vent, to ramble here. There's always someone to lend an ear.

[TamTamW]

Welcome to the site Ed, you have found a great place to find info, and there are alot of wonderful people on here. Ask any questions that you may have and someone on here may have an answer for you. Look forward to follow you through this journey, it can be a rollercoaster at times but the end result is all worth it.

[kitty56]

Welcome to the board. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be here to answer all your questions. I started the process around Feb of last year and I got my surgery on Sept. 10th. I had to go to all kinds of doctors and meetings and nutritionist. I was even self pay and I still had to go threw the whole process. But it was well worth it and I feel so much better and so much energy now compared to before I lost all this weight. I was in such bad shape before my surgery. I was so bad that I could not even walk threw the stores, the only store I went threw was the grocery store. Now the grocery store does not even interest me. I would sooner go to a jewlery store than a grocery store now. Like alot of people here say, I think they did surgery on our brains too. My thinking is so different now and food is not so important anymore to me. I have a brand new outlook on life right now. The surgery gave me a new start in life and a second chance to have a life.
These people on here are the best and I would have never been able to do it with out these wonderful people and the support is just so great here. So again welcome to the board.

[qt82699]

welcome!! you have found a great site for info of to just chat about what you want everyone here is great! all of the hurdles you have to go thru in this process really help to prepare you for your new life, keep us posted on your journey

[clancythecamper]

Hi Ed & Welcome! One of the catalysts for getting me to the surgery was that I was so tired of being so tired!!! Just take one step at a time, you'll be on the loser's bench before you know it. The therapy and relearning to eat, and how and why will benefit you greatly - this journey is much more than weight loss, it is a new way of life. Best wishes!

[Queenofthenile]

Hi Ed. Welcome to the boards. These ladies are great if you have questions or just need to vent. God knows I've done alot of that. You will definately find the support you need

[Trulykath]

welcome aboard and congrats on the start of the rest of your life!!! I know you will be glad you did this, and we are all here to support you and help you along the way!!

[traciflud]

Hi Ed! It has been such a blessing to have quite a few men join the journey to happy, healthyness here lately! All of the pre surgery stuff they want you to go through is very good for you, this is just as much mental as it is physical. The time will fly by for you so learn all you can from it and I encourage you to read through the old posts on here as well, when you have the time,and ask away, someone on here will have an answer, if not Doc will! Here's to a new you!!