Nine months out

Yesterday I celebrated my nine-month surgical anniversary. Since gastric bypass surgery, I have lost 148 lbs., plus an additional 12 lbs. before surgery, for a total loss of 160 lbs. My personal goal is to lose at least another 50 lbs., which would still put me at the top end of the "normal" weight range for my height.

What pleases me the most is the mobility I have regained. I'm now able to walk several miles without tiring, including a backpacking trip in October. My feet, ankles and knees feel so much better and climbing stairs is not the chore it used to be.

Friends and family continue to notice the changes in my size and offer words of encouragement. Clothing is so much easier to buy now that I don't have to limit myself to big and tall men's stores. I've gone from a 5XL shirt to an XL. What's funny is that I've even inherited some of my son's clothing, as he has trimmed down too.

With continued discipline, I should be able to hit my goal weight next spring. The challenges between now and then will be limiting my food intake and continuing to exercise through the winter months. It's much easier to take a quick walk during warmer months, but bundling up to walk 2-3 miles in the snow will require some effort.