9 Months

Well, I missed my eight-month update, as you will know if you’ve been following along. October was a really busy - all-be-it great - month for me and, unfortunately, the monthly update got away. I was in San Francisco a month ago visiting several dear friends (thanks to my lovely Tessa for the wonderful birthday gift) when I missed my update.


Today I have reached nine-months out from weight loss surgery. It’s truly incredible how the time is flying by. I can recall speaking with family, friends, and doctors many months before surgery and how the idea of ‘several months after surgery’ would often come up. This is, ideally, the time when the people who have had the surgery really start to look back and realize how right their decision was. And now here I am.


It’s true, you know. It has actually been several months for me now, when asked how I feel about my decision to have surgery – I am completely thrilled with the change it has helped me make in my life. There’s not much more to say than I have already written regarding the things that have or are changing – weight loss (obviously), muscle gain, positive health, added energy, clothing options, etc. All of this stuff continues to happen and open up more as the weeks and months go by.


I am noticing that the rate of weight loss is slowing down a bit. It is, however, still coming off, so I do not worry. I also have noticed that my apatite has come back (not as raging as before surgery) as I was warned it would. I don’t mind, however, because I have learned to make better choices and I have finally realized that even the wickedest foods are just fine in moderation (even when that moderation occasionally gets away from you). I am also learning that the fact that I am consistently exercising my body helps me to metabolize and use all of these foods better as fuel. Essentially, my body isn’t storing excess fat anymore – or at least it is to a far lesser degree (okay, realistically I still have a lot of excess fat stored – but I’m working on it).


I suppose this stuff is commonplace to a lot of people. It took me 30 years and a major surgery to learn that this is how my body should work. Kind of sucks, but there is no point in dwelling on the past. And why should I? I’ve had a wonderful life so far – fat or not. I try to keep in mind that I now have the rest of my lovely life to enjoy as a healthier fellow!


I have decided that I’m done with the front/side photo progressions for a while. I promise to do it at the one-year mark in three months for a good comparison. For today I give you a quick photo snapped by my wife before leaving for work this morning in my lovely new jacket – a size 2XL. Woohoo!


I leave you today 134 pounds lighter than I was nine months ago – currently weighing in at 318 pounds!