Wow! What a ride!

5 Months since surgery

It has been a wild ride. I am now down 84 pounds to the lowest weight I've been in 9 years. I am wearing clothes that I would have worn in college. Last week I tried on (and bought) jeans that were 38" waist. They fit! A bit on the tight side, but I got them on. Before my surgery I was wearing a size 46 pants. People who have not seen me in a few months are shocked to see me now. I am overwhelmed to see pictures of me before the surgery. I am so glad and thankful for this change in my life.

I have added a count-down timer to by blog to track the days until I compete in my first triathlon, May 23 in Stansbury Park, UT. I never thought I could considering doing something like this. Swimming 750 yards, 13 mile bike, 3.1 run. It will be difficult, but I am really excited to do it. I have been training since December. Here is the link, www.ustrisports.com/stansbury, if any one wants to race along side me.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Dinner!?!?!

With this new journey many things have changed, portion size being the most obvious. This was dinner tonight. The tomato soup was delicious! Thanks, Mom!

Gratefully, I won't always have to eat portions this small (2 ounces). Once my body heals, I will be able to eat more, though never as much as I could before.

Austin

Update

Austin's surgery went very well! After a 3 hour wait in ambulatory care, they took him back to the O.R. at 12:30pm and told me the procedure usually takes 2 hours. I then settled in for a "long winter's nap" in the waiting room, where I met a lovely gal, also named Tiffany, and had a wonderful chat. Visiting with her sure made the time go by faster. I am so grateful for Austin's mom, Karen, and his sister, Mindy, for watching the twins so I could be here at his side for this momentous day. Thank you SO MUCH!!!

At about 3:30pm, Dr. Smith (the surgeon) came out to give me an update. He said the surgery went so perfectly it could be labeled as "textbook". He expects Austin to heal extremely well and make a speedy recovery.

We are now in a private room, where Austin will spend the night. He should be able to go home around 6:00pm tomorrow. Right now he is doing a wonderful job at "R&R".

I am so proud of Austin and couldn't be happier for him! I am looking forward to having the rest of the world see the studly, sexy man that I love with all my heart the way that I see him. Well, maybe not seeing him as sexy, but being able to see past the soft protective outer layer to the wonderful man hiding inside. I am also so excited to know that today's adventure will highly increase his odds of being here on this earth for a long, long time!

Thank you to everyone for your support, kind words, prayers, and encouragement!

Tiffany

Today is the Day

My surgery day is finally here. I am sitting in the hospital in a lovely lavendar paper gown, which is actually quite roomy. It is nice to not have my butt cheeks hanging out.

I am at a loss for words to describe how I feel. Glad, a little scared, and excited all at once. Overall, I am at peace with this decision and am looking forward to some real & permanant weight-loss. A family member sent me a text message of encouragement with the following quote, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels". Thank you...that is an inspirational message. My wife will post something later today after the surgery.

Austin

I just got a call

Wow!!! Overwhelmed, disbelief, excitement, scared, nervous...these are just a few of the feelings I experienced when Kathy of RMAP (Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians) called to say my insurance has approved me for gastric bypass surgery. My life will change forever for the better on Thursday, October 9th, 2008.

My road to surgery has not been very long. Just a month and a half ago, my wife and I were talking with a family member about their experience with weight loss surgery. Up till that point I had not seriously considered the surgery as an option for my weight loss. I felt that path was for quitters or those who were too fat to do anything else. I was very wrong. Listening to my relative tell of their success, I felt an overwhelming desire to no longer be fat. When it comes to making a decision, I typically don't wait around and dwell on it and so it was with the decision to have weight loss surgery. I had my wife call RMAP the next day. I went from not even considering surgery to having the surgery scheduled within 2 months. It is now less than 3 weeks away and I cannot believe it!!!! One more step to my dream of being healthy.

Austin

May 2008 - 350 lbs

Lake Powell July 2008 - 357 +




Aug 2008 -347 lbs