Today, 2 years into the process, I'm steady between 225 and 235 lbs.  Total weight loss 230 lbs!  I have maintained this weight for over 6 months.  

Before Surgery - 455 pounds		2 Years After Surgery - 225 pounds

 

In January 2008, I felt hopeless.  I knew I was overweight, although I didn't know how much overweight. My scale at home only went up to 350 lbs. Naturally I assumed I must weigh 355, only 155 lbs more than when I played football in college many years ago.... In my mind, that was bad, but no "biggie", really.  The problem, however, was that I was having trouble performing basic home chores, having trouble tying my shoes, having trouble basically maneuvering my overweight body through life. 

I had lost significant weight at least 2 times before and both times once the "diet" was over, I resumed my old bad habits and the "lost" weight "plus more", always came back.  I needed a remedy that would help me change my lifestyle.  I had heard about LAP-BAND surgery, but never knew anyone who actually had received the surgery.  In my local paper, the Conroe Courier, I saw an advertisement by Dr. Richard Collier offering advice and information on the procedure.  I signed up and went to the seminar one evening after work. 

At the meeting I sat way in the back of the room and watched the "fat" ladies come in.  I was the only male attending that night.  I was embarrassed to be there, but desperate for help. I was impressed with, Dr. Collier's "Can-Do" and "Will-Help" attitude, as well as his direct address to obesity.  He basically told the group that night that changes come when we can control two of our emotions, attitude and commitment.  Being a former athlete, I'd heard this message a long time ago, but somewhere in the last 30 years, it had been lost.  I felt encouraged and scheduled a follow-up meeting with him the very next week.

The next week the meeting came...  I'll never forget it, for 2 reasons: (1) 2008 was a Leap year, 2/29/2008 seemed like a day that I could easily remember and (2) because that was the day that my real journey began.  At our meeting, the first thing Dr. Collier did was weigh me.  I'll never forget how I felt when I stood on his scales and it read 455lbs!  I immediately told him that they must be wrong!  He assured me that he'd been weighing people on them for a long time and that they had never been wrong in the past. That is when I really hit bottom. Dr. Collier and I went to his office where we sat down and had a patient/doctor conference. Dr. Collier told me that we just got all of the bad news that we were going to get today.... I was fat.  He told me my blood pressure, cholesterol, and all other vitals were amazingly "good".  I was basically just fat.

He told me that insurance would probably not cover my surgery.  He understood that it could be a financial burden, but assessed it to me this way, "A car lasts 3-5 years.  We hope you'll last another 50.  For the price of a good used car, you can give yourself a real shot at a really healthy 2^nd half of life." 

When I reported back to Dr. Collier that I was "in".  He said, "Great! Now you need to lose 10% of your body weight before I can even operate on you," the reason being to reduce the operative risks.  Plus, as he pointed out, it would be a good test to see if I could stick to the restricted diet.  Even with the band, he pointed out, I would not lose weight if I ate the wrong "kinds" of food, so it would be important for me (and him) to find out if I had the commitment to succeed. 

He sent me to a dietician, who made it very simple for me.  She gave me good advice to follow that would make me lose weight and get my metabolism going. The most trying thing for me during this time was that I had to make 2 international business trips during that first month.  By the way, we had to purchase 2 seats beside each other, I couldn't fit into a single seat, and 12 hours leaning against someone confined in a plane is very, very uncomfortable for them.... and you too!! Finally, the first month elapsed. I got on the scales at, Dr. Collier's office and to both of our surprises, I weighed 410 lbs... I had lost 45 lbs in the first 40 days. 

We immediately scheduled my surgery. On my surgery day, April 24, 2008 I weighed 402 lbs.  I was now down 53 lbs in 6 weeks.  My journey continued.  I was committed to success and my attitude was great.  Family encouragement and monthly doctor visits with Dr. Collier provided the incentive and steadfastness that I needed to continue successfully. 

By Labor Day, 2008, 6 months in, I had lost 130 lbs.  By New Years 2009, not even a full year into it, I'd lost 155 lbs.  On my anniversary to my Journey start date, 3/1/2009, I was at 255 lbs... 200 lbs in 1 year!  All I did was change my lifestyle, continued to exercise, and the weight melted off me.

Today, 2 years into the process, I'm steady between 225 and 235 lbs.  Total weight loss 230 lbs!  I have maintained this weight for over 6 months. 

I'd still like to lose a few more pounds, but am proud of what I've done with the blessings of the Lord, the support of a loving wife and family, and the guidance and leadership of a solid medical staff like Dr. Collier's.  I'm 99.9% confident that I'll not resume old bad habits that have let me regain weight like I've done before.  My life is permanently changed, thanks to the LAP-BAND tool!

The investment in myself with the LAP-BAND was really one of the best things I've ever done in my life.  I plan to live the rest of my life more committed and with a better attitude towards health than I've ever done before.  For this gift, I'll forever be indebted to Dr. Collier and his staff of support persons who've helped me through this Journey.