Exercise

Finally convinced myself to start to the gym today and went this morning for a 30 - 45 minute workout, my first since the Gastric Bypass. Did some light nautilus and then 20 minutes on the exercise bike. I am expecting to be sore. I will keep everyone posted as to my progress. I have noticed that my back hurts constantly and I think that it is muscle deterioation. If my muscles have deterioated past the point of holding up my frame, then it seems logical to me that you could expect to have some pain. Anyways, I am going to try the exercise for a few weeks and see if I can have any improvement.

As a side note, my gout has not bothered me since the last really big attack in the spring.

Still have made my 6 month appointment with Dr. Clements at UAB but plan on doing that today.

Weight is at 200 lbs right now. Total loss around 70 - 75 lbs.

Back Pain

One more item for today, my back is hurting really bad. My lower back and between my shoulders is hurting all of the time. I keep thinking that it is going to go away but it isn't. It hurts when I sit for long times and is better when I stand. But, when I stand up I hurt then too between the shoulders. Totally different pain that when I was large and I hope that it will eventually improve.

Weight Loss has Stopped and Excess Skin

I am now in month 9 after my gastric bypass and my weight loss has completely stopped. I am right at 200lbs and haven't lost any weight since my last posting. I think that this is probably the weight that I will be at and don't think that I am going to lose anymore. I haven't went back to see Dr Clements at UAB, since my last posting. I need to schedule that appointment but just haven't gotten around to it.

Life has pretty much returned to normal. I can eat most of the things that I used still except milk and extremely sweet things. Like Candy Corn for some reason just sends me over the edge. My stomach feels the same and I can eat a normal amount of food with no problem. I don't have the gagging anymore, that has gone away.

I still take the vitamins. I did find Tony Hawk gummy bears in Wal Mart and I eat four of those a day. I have stopped taking the calcium. I know, I know, it is a mistake. I need to be taking that but jeez, it is hard to keep up with it all. I find myself wanting to eat all of the time but am just unable to eat the quantity. I snack all day long and am hungry all of the time. That is a mistake too but not sure how to break that cycle.

I would do the surgery again and am feeling more and more like it was the right thing.

Went last night to take a photo for an ID that I needed. It was very enlightening, I look completely different. Scary almost.

I have noticed a lot of excess skin and it is not pleasing to the eye! None in my stomach but bad around my groin and under my arms. I know that some people have it much worse than I do. Considered an operation to fix it but decided against that. I don't need more surgery and will just wear clothes that cover it.

Sleep apnea continues to be a problem and do not feel at this point that it is going to be improved. I took my Auto-pap card to the center and had it read. It records my nightly apneas and I have showed some improvement but no where near enough to get off of the machine. So, Ambien every night and sleeping with the mask. I hate that but it is just the way it is.

7 More Lbs and New Suits

Last post I mentioned that I was at 209 and stuck. Well, I weighed today and am at 202. I haven't been below 200 in over 20 years and it is almost surreal.

What else is new for me? Not much really on the gastric bypass front. Except to say that my suits are not fitting. Even the ones I bought after losing 50 lbs are not fitting. This sux. Now I have to go back and buy for the second time. I guess that is a good problem to have.

I need to go back for my 6 months visit with Dr. Clements but I haven't.

Weight is Constant, Taking Vitamins, Marital Problems

I had the surgery on 12/31 of this past year and I started at 270lbs, I now weigh 209 and I am stuck at that weight. I stopped losing about 6 weeks ago and just can't seem to lose anymore weight. Not sure why, but that is where I am. I am able to eat a fair amount of food but am hungry ALL the time. I eat dinner and an hour later, I am hungry. Not just normal, I want a snack eating. But, ravenous eat everything in the house type hunger. But, I can only eat a little bit, then hang out, and then go back for more.

Vitamins are another big thing. I was able to find some chewey gummy bear vitamins in Wal Mart that makes it easy to take the vitamins. So, problem resolved, I now take my multi's. But, still struggling with the calcium.

Craving milk in a big way and ice cream. Oh, if I could just eat a tub of ice cream and a gallon of milk!!! I think that it is the calcium deficiency making me crave milk. Not sure but that is also intense.

Wife and I are not seeing eye to eye at all. Just having lots of problems. She is jealous and says that she feels like she is married to someone new. That my personality is totally different and I am more laid back. I don't know, I am just me.

Still haven't gone back to see Dr. Clements at UAB. My brother did tell me that one of his friends died from a rupture in the stomach because he didn't go back for follow ups. I really am not ready to die, plus I have made it through the gastric bypass. I'd hate to die because of a lack of follow up.

Marital Problems

My wife has been cool with the gastric bypass and the weight loss. But, as of late, she keeps commenting about the weight loss. She is putting on some weight and I am losing. Further, she claims that my personality has changed and I just don't know what to do. Didn't know that this was going to strain the marriage but it has. Just don't know what to do.

Been on the road for about 3 weeks now working and it is getting rough. Eating out is tough and I have found that I drink alcohol more often. That is not good.

Vitamins

I have a confession, I have not been taking my vitamins. The thing is, my body no longer absorbs calcium, b12 and many others. I need to take a vitamin supplement every day, but I just don't. I know it is bad, but it is a pain in the behind. They have to be chewable vitamins and they are cow pills. Jeez, I guess I should get some blood work. Anyways, just thought I would fess it to you guys. I know of a family friend that had the surgery several years ago and never took her calcium. She now has a bone degenerative disease and lots of issues with bones. So, I guess I need to take them. In fact, I think I will go now and take them. Gastric bypass changes a lot of things and this is just one of those. You can't undo this, it is forever.

I also need to go back and see Dr. Clements at UAB. It has been a while.