Healing

Let the healing begin! My belly looks like rainbow sherbet. It is a wide array of colors. As you can see their is a lot of blood that is pooling on my waistline. I cannot say for sure if this is normal or not. I see the doctor on Friday. There is no real pain or discomfort and the red and purple area are not warm to the touch, so I think that I am ok for the most part.

I am really sick of the protein shakes. Cindy has been adding fruit to the blender and that is helping some. I did microwave myself a piece of frozen tilapia yesterday at lunch time and nibbled on the center of that. I am really craving solid food.

I am walking 30 minutes every morning. That is equating to just about a mile and a half.

I went to our softball games last night. I made a buddy promise me that he would not let me play. I was a good boy.

I know the weight is coming off. My scale has shown numbers in the 260's this week...

Surgery Update

Wednesday was the big day for my surgery. The time was changed from 10:00 a.m. up to 7:30 a.m. We had to leave for the hospital around 3;00 a.m. I was so thankful to Josh for coming with Cindy. I put on a good show, but I was very nervous. I do not remember a lot about things, just a few random instances. They were very kind and professional. The surgery went off without a hitch.

I was in the hospital until Friday. I was very bored and ready to come home. The two hour drive back to Boone was not the funnest thing in the world. I am wondering if I would have chosen Mason City if I had to do it over again. They did make a few mistakes and my opinion is that they were not ready for Gastric Bypass patients yet. To call them a center of excellence for this procedure might be accurate, but not according to their post-op care. They did not seem to have a grip on what I could and could not receive. I was blessed to have been so read-up on things so I had some ideas to turn their things (like pudding) away.

The good news is that I am home and doing fine. More later...

Walking

In preparation for my upcoming surgery that will take place in 11 days, I have begun a walking program. I have gotten up every day this week at 6:00 a.m. and walked for 30 minutes. My distance in seven days has recently increased as I have started walking a little faster. To this date I am walking 1.68 miles. I am hoping to get it to about three miles each day.

I realize that I didn't just wake up one day and weigh 285 pounds. It is going to take some time to lose this weight. I have prayerfully decided that my goal weight is going to be 175 pounds. It is going to take a lot of prayer and hard work, but I am confident that He who began a good work in me is not finished with the job yet.

Surgery this month

Today I went to Dr Versteeg for my final appointment prior to surgery. He is a very kind man and I feel blessed that he will do my surgery. I put my faith in The Great Physician, but am happy with my earthly doctor as well. I am a little nervous about my upcoming surgery, but feel that God has opened this door for me and I have not rushed into this at all.

I wanted to document my opening measurements. I am 43 years old and will be 44 on October 23. I am 5'10" and weigh 285 pounds. My neck is 17 1/2 in. My chest is 49 1/2 in. My belly is 55 in. My hips are 49 in. My left bicep is 15 1/2 in. My left thigh is 23 1/2 in. My left calf is 16 in.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.