Hey Guys,
I'll apologize ahead of time if this is a long read.
I'll start by telling you guys that I wasn't always the big kid. I was always the smallest in all my classes both in height and weight. I was never really a big fan of eating and happily spent most of my time playing outside and being active. I remember a few occasions where I would not be allowed to go out and play until I ate a full meal. My parents both worked when I was a kid but they always found time to sit my butt down and make me eat dinner lol. Being from a Hispanic background my mom cooked every night and it seemed like it was always rice and beans with some type of protein and veggie. We usually stayed away from fast foods, it helped that my mom was an amazing cook. Looking back at it now, I'd say our meal choices would lean more towards the balanced side.
Middle School: This is when I packed on the weight. I can't remember how tall I was but I'd venture to say around 4ft 10" around 150 pounds...I was fat. Around that time my parent were divorced and my meal choices were mostly based on connivence rather than nutrition. I won't sit here and blame my parents or even use their divorce as an excuse. I'm sure I knew better than to eat fast food as often as I did. Having chili cheese fries with chips and a power add for lunch at school didn't help either.
High School: The poor health choices continued and my level of activity plummeted. I went to a magnet school which didn't offer a sport program other than basket ball. I tried out since I did like playing but there was no way a 5ft 3" 200 pound kid was going to make the team. Oh we'll, at least I tried.
2004-2010: Again, I continued to make port health choices and remained stagnant with almost no outdoor physical activity. I was now 5ft 4" and 250lbs...morbidly obese. Not good since hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease run in the family.
Throughout HS and after I graduated, I always tried to lose the weight and made an honest effort each time. The most weight I was able to take off was 30lbs. I kept it off for a few months. My bad eating habits and lack of will power changed that.
October 2010. This is when I heard the news that I was going to be a father. I knew from that point on I had to make a drastic lifestyle change. Not only for myself but also my family. I decided to go to a Bariatric Surgery seminar. I hated being there. I felt ashamed and embarrassed that I let myself get to this point. But I had to do it so there was no backing out.
I received a lot of criticism from friends and family both of which weren't all that supportive of my decision. Every time the subject came up I was told I was taking the easy way out. TRUST ME, there was nothing easy about my decision and the lifestyle change ahead of me. I'll be glad to explain in detail of what I mean.
July 18th, 2011: The day of my surgery, I was 260lbs. I remember this because my son was exactly 3 months old that day. I elected to had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. This is where they reduce and remove part of your stomach and staple you back up. Surgery took about 90 minutes and recovery was about a week. I wasn't in much pain and only took a few doses of the LoraTab syrup prescribed.
Today: 5ft 5" 140lbs. My lifestyle has completely changed. I exercise regularly, eat healthy, and stay away from excessive carbs and sugar..I miss soda and beer
I remember when I hit the plateau at 170lbs. That's when the gym took over and helped me lose the rest. It's amazing the amount of energy I have now. Less headaches, blood pressure in the normal range, confidence is also on the rise and I do a lot better with the ladies now that my I don't have to use my personality as my only crutch lol.
Before: size 40 or 42 pants. 2x shirts.
Now: size 29 or 30 slim pants. Small to medium shirts.
I'll apologize ahead of time if this is a long read.
I'll start by telling you guys that I wasn't always the big kid. I was always the smallest in all my classes both in height and weight. I was never really a big fan of eating and happily spent most of my time playing outside and being active. I remember a few occasions where I would not be allowed to go out and play until I ate a full meal. My parents both worked when I was a kid but they always found time to sit my butt down and make me eat dinner lol. Being from a Hispanic background my mom cooked every night and it seemed like it was always rice and beans with some type of protein and veggie. We usually stayed away from fast foods, it helped that my mom was an amazing cook. Looking back at it now, I'd say our meal choices would lean more towards the balanced side.
Middle School: This is when I packed on the weight. I can't remember how tall I was but I'd venture to say around 4ft 10" around 150 pounds...I was fat. Around that time my parent were divorced and my meal choices were mostly based on connivence rather than nutrition. I won't sit here and blame my parents or even use their divorce as an excuse. I'm sure I knew better than to eat fast food as often as I did. Having chili cheese fries with chips and a power add for lunch at school didn't help either.
High School: The poor health choices continued and my level of activity plummeted. I went to a magnet school which didn't offer a sport program other than basket ball. I tried out since I did like playing but there was no way a 5ft 3" 200 pound kid was going to make the team. Oh we'll, at least I tried.
2004-2010: Again, I continued to make port health choices and remained stagnant with almost no outdoor physical activity. I was now 5ft 4" and 250lbs...morbidly obese. Not good since hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease run in the family.
Throughout HS and after I graduated, I always tried to lose the weight and made an honest effort each time. The most weight I was able to take off was 30lbs. I kept it off for a few months. My bad eating habits and lack of will power changed that.
October 2010. This is when I heard the news that I was going to be a father. I knew from that point on I had to make a drastic lifestyle change. Not only for myself but also my family. I decided to go to a Bariatric Surgery seminar. I hated being there. I felt ashamed and embarrassed that I let myself get to this point. But I had to do it so there was no backing out.
I received a lot of criticism from friends and family both of which weren't all that supportive of my decision. Every time the subject came up I was told I was taking the easy way out. TRUST ME, there was nothing easy about my decision and the lifestyle change ahead of me. I'll be glad to explain in detail of what I mean.
July 18th, 2011: The day of my surgery, I was 260lbs. I remember this because my son was exactly 3 months old that day. I elected to had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. This is where they reduce and remove part of your stomach and staple you back up. Surgery took about 90 minutes and recovery was about a week. I wasn't in much pain and only took a few doses of the LoraTab syrup prescribed.
Today: 5ft 5" 140lbs. My lifestyle has completely changed. I exercise regularly, eat healthy, and stay away from excessive carbs and sugar..I miss soda and beer
I remember when I hit the plateau at 170lbs. That's when the gym took over and helped me lose the rest. It's amazing the amount of energy I have now. Less headaches, blood pressure in the normal range, confidence is also on the rise and I do a lot better with the ladies now that my I don't have to use my personality as my only crutch lol.
Before: size 40 or 42 pants. 2x shirts.
Now: size 29 or 30 slim pants. Small to medium shirts.
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