I thought since I couldn't sleep................

Since I couldn't sleep, I thought I'd tell you about my ride yesterday. It wasn't all that long, but it was noteworthy because I rode without supplementary oxygen! I rode a circuit of a bit over a mile without my oxygen on and I didn't experience any chest pain or severe shortness of breath. My heart rate only hit 128, but that's a good cardio burn range. I could tell that I was dropping in oxygen saturation by the time I got home, but the fact is that in March this year; this wouldn't even have been possible! I couldn't even walk 50 feet WITH SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN AT THE RATE OF 10 LITERS and more than 50 feet I had to use that wheelchair I've mentioned a few times! I am currently using oxygen at 4 liters daytime and 6 at night along with a BiPAP because I have sleep apnea, not uncommon if you're overweight. Well, that was the high point of yesterday, so I guess I'll try to get some sleep now. Good night all!

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(in a good way!)

It just occurred to me! March 11th to today is 2 months and 18 days, or roughly 2.6 months! That means I am losing an average of 52.3 pounds a month ,+or- a little! I hope this continues although I know it will slow down eventually! This is truly a "Red Letter Day"!(Pardon the pun! I/E The font color)

Are there any mountain bikers visiting my Blog?

If any of you reading my blog are from the mountain bike forum, feel free to post in the comments on this post! You don't have to register as you can post in anonomous mode! Let's have a roll call! Other cyclists are also welcome to do this too! I'd like to get a health/recreation forum going here and this seems as good an opportunity as any!

WOW! I surprised myself!

I surprised myself by losing another bunch of weight! I have now lost a cumulative total of 136 pounds! This felt good. I am still cycling, unfortunately; I caught my first case of road rash in years yesterday. Some JACKASS in a huge black Lincoln Navigator ran me off the road yesterday on my bicycle by paying more attention to his cellphone than his driving. I picked up some gravel in my arm and a mild sprain, luckily as I could have been hurt a lot worse! I'll tell ya, I'm sure stiff and sore this morning! It's not going to put me off cycling though, as it's such a good exercise! Well, gotta run! See you all later this week!

Still Shrinking! Hoooah!

I weighed in this morning and to my great pleasure, I can annonuce a 119 pound cumulative loss of weight! That puts me at 462 pounds! WooHoo!

My last weigh in, late posting as I've been busy!

114 pounds down as of last Saturday! I'm late posting as I have been trail riding. I've been riding the "Wabash Heritage Trail" trying to get out to Battleground, Indiana. This is a dirt trail and requires more effort than a paved trail, therefore more challenging! The scenery is also better as it goes along the Wabash River and Burnett's Creek. One of the best points is that there is a colony of Beavers about 3 miles north of town on the west bank of the Wabash. They are fun to watch and it's worth the ride just for that! My oxygen supplementation needs are down as well, getting by on 4-6 liters of oxygen depending on activity level. I'm down from 10 liters! Well, TTFN, my next weigh in is Saturday. I'm also riding the Cattail and the Great Northwestern Greenway this weekend. Look for me out there and if you see me, feel free to say hi!

Just a little update and a THANK YOU!

To start with, a thank you to Joyce, "The Bike Lady"! I am now the proud owner of a wonderful Royce Union "Gibralter" Mountain Bike! If you are reading my Blog in Layette, IN; I highly recommend her used bikes! She rebuilds and reconditions old and newer bikes and sells them for a reasonable price! So if you are in the market, post a comment here and I'll get the email. Leave an email address and I'll let you know what she has available and how to find her! By the way, she has a Trek racer identical to Lance Armstrongs bike that he rode in the Toure de France! This is a $1000.00+ bike and she has it for $125.00 (I'm not kidding!) I haven't been able to finish the ride I was talking about, but I WILL get out to Hadley Lake yet! If you are riding the West Lafayette trail system, keep your eye open! You might see me! I'll be the fat guy riding the Royce Union! My wife will be with me riding an adult three wheeler (She lost her right inner ear due to cancer and consequently can't balance a bike, but she's still out there riding! BRAVO for her! I'm damn proud of her!) Well, TTFN! I'll see ya Saturday after my weigh in!

Another side effect of rapid weight loss!

I've lost nearly a foot of waistline! 10 inches total! I don't know why I'm surprised that 110 lbs = 10 inches but I was, pleasantly! Well, gotta run, going cycling after my breakfast. If you are wondereing, Breakfast is one oz of meat and one egg! And it fills me up! Amazing!

Good Morning, Everyone!

110 Pounds down now! I still am doing well, my wife and myself are prepping for a ride out to Hadley Lake on the Cattail Trail and the Northwest Greenway Trail in West Lafayette around Purdue University this week. This will be about 15 miles on paved trails with varied terrain. Quite a challenge for me! I hope I can finish the ride first time! If not, I'll keep at it until I do! The only major obstacle, other than endurance; is if I can carry enough oxygen for the trip. Yes, I am still on oxygen therapy, without it my O2 saturation drops down into the 80% range still. That doesn't leave a lot of reserve oxygen in the bloodstream and under conditions of physical activity, can have adverse effects on my physical performance! I can carry a single E cylinder which currently lasts me around 2 1/2 hours if I am careful to keep the flow rate to minimum requirements. Wish me good fortune!

MWAAH-HAA-HAA-HAA!My evil weight loss plan is working!

103 POUNDS ARE OFF THIS OL"CARCASS! This is a wonderful thing! I feel on top of the world today, and I am on course! Even the damp drizzle this morning couldn't get me down! I still can't believe how well my recovery is going! I rode 2 miles today and I am getting stronger. I got my wifes bike set up also today and soon we're going to go riding the bike trails around Purdue University. I am still on oxygen, but I have a backpack for the oxygen cylinder I have to carry. It doesn't seem to affect my balance at all! My wife is thrilled with my progress as well! Well, gotta run! I'll post again soon!

Another Cycling Update:

This is just a quickie today. I made 1 1/2 miles on the bike this morning. I weigh in tomorrow, so I'll have another post tomorrow! See ya then!

I had my six week followup today

I had my six week follow up today (actually seven from surgery) and Dr. Jones was EXTREMELY happy with my progress! I am truly fortunate to have found her for my surgery. I did a tremendous amount of research into Drs. performing this surgery and Dr Rosemarie Jones kept coming up at the top of the field! Her office can be reached at www.carmelsurgicalspecialists.com or email to info@carmelsurgicalspecialists.com ! If you are considering weight loss surgery, in my humble opinion; Dr. Jones is the choice to make(Shameless Plug!). Actually, to be fair, Drs. Cacucci and Gupta (Dr Jones associates in the practice) are equally qualified and extremely competent surgeons. I'm just biased in the direction of Dr. Jones due to her wonderful job on me ol' carcass! I also owe her a debt of gratitude as if I had not gotten this procedure done I doubt very seriously I would have seen next Christmas!

I made a Mile!

I made it a mile today on my first actual distance ride on the bike! That's not bad when you consider I was wheelchair bound 6 weeks ago. It's positively amazing what a difference losing 92 pounds of suet can do for you! If any of my readers are into cycling, I'd appreciate hearing from you. I'd like to organize a weekly post on say...Sunday for everyone to compare notes and if anyone is a fellow Bariatric patient, feel free to chime in! I have a Doctor Appointment with my surgeon tomorrow, and she has NO IDEA that I'm out of the chair. I want to see her face tomorrow! Well, gotta run! See you on the next post! ;-)

Today's weigh in is done!

92 pounds off this fat ol' bod!! HOOOAH! I also bought a bicycle to get more exercise! I was able to do this thanks to my Grandfather, so thanks Grampa! I haven't been on a bike in 25 years! I forgot how fun it is. I took my virgin ride on it this morning and had a great ride! By the way, only 8 pounds to go to my next major landmark! Looks like next week to cross the big century mark on poundage dropped. My supplementary oxygen needs are also greatly reduced. I can maintain most of the time on 5 liters instead of 7! This is a big step! Well, TTFN, till my next post!

I'd like to pose a question!

To those of you that visit my blog, my question is...........

What do you think of the idea of organizing a Bicycle ride and/or running event to promote the benefits of improving your health, possibly with locally organized sponsorship to help people who cannot afford the surgery I went through or with legal issues arising from insurance problems re/ weight loss surgery? This is just something I have been thinking about as there are a lot of people who don't have the emotional support and financial as well as legal access afforded me by the people around me (friends and family). I'd really appreciate the feedback!

Saturday's weigh in!

Sorry, I have been unable to post for over a week. I just recovered from a BLOODY HACKER attacking my computer! I have updated my security and fixed the damage and am now well firewalled. Saturday's weighin was 490. That's 81 pounds lost now! Feeling great and I'm on track to a new life! I think I'm gonna start cycling again as soon as I find a bike. That ought to help with excersise as well as walking.

P.S.: Thanks, Pike; for the help!

New weigh in!

Well, I weighed in yesterday, and I have now lost a total of 70 pounds! Other than that, no other news today!

First Solid Food in a Month!

I had my first solid food in a month tonight, 2 oz Canned Ham and 1 oz Mashed potatoes! It tasted great! No bad effects, this is a positive sign! I am stuffed!

No more wheelchair!

That's Right, I haven't been using my wheelchair! I haven't used my chair in a week now. No chest pain, no gasping, I'm walking every day now. Outside if the weather permits or the treadmill on rainy days. I am determined to beat this weight problem and am well on the road! I had to take my wife to the doctor today for a checkup and stunned everyone there by walking in! IT FELT GREAT! Well I'll check in later so til then, Adios amigos!

A Major Milestone!

I passed a major milestone today! I weighed in and I have lost 50 pounds as of this morning. I also WALKED, I did not use my wheelchair going up to the physical rehab unit. I also walked around the library. My walking distance was one mile today. I haven't done that in a couple of years! PROGRESS!