tylerrowland

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I can't believe I had my surgery almost 16 months ago already. The time really has flown by, and now I am just busy living life!I have been so busy! Life has opened up so many new doors for me. I am back to doing what I really love - driving tow truck for a AAA roadside service provider in Sacramento, where I started last September. I am working so many hours every week, I don't have much time for anything else. I am going to cut back my hours at work just to have a little more time to get things done at home and spend more time with my amazing wife. As far as the weight loss is concerned, I have worked very hard to stop loosing weight. I am down to 173lbs! With my new job I am so active and burning so many calories every day, that I have had to really increase my caloric intake. It seems to be working though, as my weight is staying very consistant around 170-175. I do have some loose skin, but not enough to really cause me any kind of problems or really be in the way. It is all tightening up pretty well, but of course I would like it to improve a bit still.
Hopefully it won't be so long for my next post, and I'll try to get some updated pictures on here as well.

I can't believe that I now weigh under 200lbs!  Only nine months after my surgery, what an incredible feeling. I recently started a new job, so I'm meeting a lot of new people that never knew the "old" me. Nobody can beleive it when I tell them how much I used to weigh. I need to work more on toning and building muscle, but other than that I am so incredibly happy with my journey so far. I am still very restricted in the amount of food that I can eat, which is ok for now. I am however concerned that the repid weight loss has not really slowed down much for me yet; so I am kind of afraid that I may go too far. I really don't think I want to get below 175, but I guess I will cross that bridge as I get there. As for right now, I am loving every minute of every day!!

It seams nearly impossible to keep clothes around that I can wear outside the house. December last year I was wearing a size 3-4XL shirt and 54in waist pants. Now I am wearing Large to XL(that's a single "X") shirts and a 38in waist pants. About everyy three to six weeks I have been buying new clothes. CRAZY!!! I have never bought this many clothes and actually felt good about the clothes that I was buying. The last time I wore clothes this size I was in the sixth grade! Oh - and the pants were a lot shorter then. HA!

What an improvement in my overal self confidence. I feel incredible. I have a ways to go yet, and I know it will only get more difficult for me. However, I can honestly say that I look forward to each and every day... Thank god for this new outlook on life.

 Somebody I know recently aksed me for my opinion on weight loss surgery, and I thought I would post some of that coversation here for others to read. I am by no means an expert on the topic, the following is merely my opinion, and some of my experiences so far.

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As far as weight loss surgery is concerned, I truly believe it is a personal decision that is not an easy one to make. I spent easily well over a year researching surgery before I even went to talk to my doctor about it. Having a supportive primary physician, along with strong support at home is extremely important in my opinion. There has not been a single minute since surgery that I second guessed my decision. It has by far been the best thing I have ever done for myself, other than marrying my amazing wife that is. I believe in my heart that I had to do something drastic to change the road that I was headed down. I believe having had surgery at a younger age, I will benefit exponentially compared to waiting until I were older. I will tell you; this is NOT the easy way out. There is no easy way out when it comes to weight loss. Yes - you can loose weight very quickly, but that comes with a price. Everything that you have to go through before surgery, just to get clearance and get approval from insurance is such an astronomical amount of work, let alone everything after surgery. Of course it depends on your doctors and your insurance as to what exactly you have to do. I was fortunate that the clinic I went to put me on the fast track because of my determination and drive to get it done. However, it still took nearly six months to go through everything before surgery, and the anxiety was killing me. Then once you do finally get to having surgery - it's no walk in the park either. There are many complications that can arise during surgery, and I had a small one. When stapling the small pouch they discovered a leak and had to fix it before finishing surgery. Fortunately it wasn't a huge complication for me, but it could have been. I believe that may have slowed my recoup time, but I was back to work part time after three weeks. Then full time six weeks after surgery. The surgery was painful, and I had a lot of pain for the first two weeks that gradually declined after that. Eating is completely different now - which is the whole idea. You have to completely change everything as far as how you eat and what you eat. I am now almost seven months post op, and I eat almost normal just a lot less. The first two months are very difficult with eating. Depending on your doctors program you may not eat solid food for the first eight weeks like me. You have to concentrate on getting in minimum amounts of protein every day. I have to get 80-120 grams of protein every day. It's a lot easier now than before, but still a challenge. Having weight loss surgery doesn't mean you'll loose weight without working for it. You still must exercise a lot. I work out more now than I ever have in my entire life, and it turns out I kind of enjoy it! All of my previous health issues are gone, including sleep apnea and high blood pressure. It's amazing! Nearly seven months out and I have lost over 100 pounds, and I'm not done yet! This has been like a new beginning for me, a new Tyler. I am the same person inside, but I feel reborn and I can't wait to try everything that I haven't been able to do all of my life because of my weight. I am sorry for writing a book here, but I do have a lot to share and don't mind at all.The most important thing I can say is do your research. Obesityhelp.com is a great resource.If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask me, I'll do anything I can to help out.

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I only hope to help others with their journey of having or not having bariatric surgery. If I can help or inspire one other person to improve their life and their health, then I can truely be HAPPY.

My wife and I went home to Ohio last week. This was the first time I have flown that I didn't need a belt extension! I was actually comfortable in the air plane seats! I enjoyed going home to see family and friends that haven't seen me since before surgery. Everybody was so impressed by how much weight I have lost. We had a great time at the wedding we went to, and got to see so many people we wouldn't normally get to see. I can't wait till we go home next time!

I have officially lost 100lbs since my highest weight in January, 2008. Only 25 more and I will have lost 100 since surgery! This is such an exciting new outlook on life. All of the things that I can do now, that I have never been able to do ever before in my life. INCREDIBLE!!!!

I have reached my first major goal of weighing less than 300lbs! I am so excited... I am feeling better now than I can ever remember! The last time I know for sure I weighed less than 300lbs, I was in Junior High. I was definately shorter then. Everyday is easier than the day before. I am going home to Ohio in about 10 weeks. My goal has been to be at 250lbs by then. It will be tough, but I am striving for that. I am exercising more now than I have ever before in my life. Exercising is a whole lot easier now, and I am getting to where I actually want to. I can't wait to go home and show everybody how much weight I have lost. I am only 8 weeks out of surgery, but I can definately say that this has been life changing and I wouldn't want to change my decision about surgery at all.

I am feeling quite a bit better finally. I have been out walking more again, and the weight is starting to fall off again. Eating is going much easier, as long as I remind myself to go slow and chew, chew, chew. Every day is so exciting as I am loosing weight and progressing along so well. So many new experiences as I continue on this journey, I can't believe it!

Today the pain in my side got worse today. I called the clinic and talked to the nurse practitioner. She wasn't too concerned about the pain I am experiencing, especially after discussing how much walking I have been doing The NP asked if I has a temp or nausea or any vomitting. I don't, I actually feel great other than this sharp pain in my side. She asked how much activity I have been getting in. Well, I have been walking one to one and a half hours most days. She said STOP! I am doing too much this early out. That is a little dissapointing to me. I am finally feeling better about myself and I actually want to go out and exercise. All that to only find out I am pushing myslef too hard. No pain no gain right?? Well she sent a prescription to my pharmacy for hydrocodone. She wanted me to use that and see if it would control my pain. If the med didn't control my pain I am supposed to call the GI resident on call tonight to see what is really going on. Fortunately the pain meds have helped me a lot, and the pain is basically non-existant, so I'm not too concerned about it as of now. Hopefully things continue to heal, and I don't need to go see the doctor. I'm workin on getting as much protein in as possible every day. Wish me luck!!!

I have gone back to work now. I am only going in for a few hours per day, so it isn't too bad on me. Every day is getting easier, but I feel like a had a set-back in my recovery. On this past Friday I bent over too quickly and I feel like I pulled a muscle. It hurt really bad Friday night. Saturday it was really sore, yesterday not too bad. Today I have little to no pain, so I'm not too concerned about it. I just need to remind myself no matter how well I feel, I am still recovering from major surgery. Every day is getting better, and I am so excited to really get exercising and getting in shape. I have been so active since surgery, and I am mentally ready to do a whole lot more. I go out walking with my wife, and I'm not tired right away! Such an amazing feeling of encouragement.  Just one day at a time.