Why I Was on Leave

[Japher]

didn't matter... when you're that heavy, the only way it would of been ok would have been if you were 20 feet tall

awesome dedication, and I for one am glad you shed that weight and that you now have a better shot at being around longer

[Berzerker]

Congrats Dan

keep it going, the pounds will drop off real easy until you hit maybe 30-40 lbs above what doctors call average. If you dont already, start swimming. Excellent exercise!!!

[mrmitchell]

Just out of curiosity what kind of a diet/exercise regime does someone go on to lose 240 pounds? I guess that it must be grueling.

[Dinner]

Keep up the good work. You've already gone the greatest part of the distance so now you just need to keep going for those last 60-80 pounds. If you were able to lose 240lbs then I know you can lose those last 60.

[RobWorham]

DanQ

Wishing you all the best!!!

[asleepathewheel]

congrats!

gastric bypass or hard work/diet or a combo?

[DanQ]

First off, another thank you to all those with kind words since my first follow-up in this thread.

Originally posted by Japher
didn't matter... when you're that heavy, the only way it would of been ok would have been if you were 20 feet tall

Just helping to put the weight then and now in better perspective: perhaps somewhat simply put, someone who is 6'1 should weigh more than someone at -- for example -- 5'9.

... I for one am glad you shed that weight and that you now have a better shot at being around longer

Me too. In 2001 going up a flight of stairs could leave me breathless for moments.

Originally posted by mrmitchell
Just out of curiosity what kind of a diet/exercise regime does someone go on to lose 240 pounds? I guess that it must be grueling.

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
congrats!

gastric bypass or hard work/diet or a combo?

Gastric bypass no -- hard work and more than a going on a diet, but rather changing my diet... lifestyle. In addition to regular exercise, certainly being cognizant of what I'm eating and how much of it but also when I'm eating it. Nighttime snacking is an almost guaranteed weight gainer!

When I say regular exercise that's not just the gym a few times a week, but even more day-to-day routines such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator and parking farther away from the entrances to buildings (almost always easy to do ).

Originally posted by Berzerker
keep it going, the pounds will drop off real easy until you hit maybe 30-40 lbs above what doctors call average.

Originally posted by Oerdin
Keep up the good work. [..] If you were able to lose 240lbs then I know you can lose those last 60.

The last ~60-80lbs have been the hardest -- hence how long my weight was stabilized, both good and bad when wanting/needing to loose more -- but that's been in great part due to the considerable extra skin on my stomach. Now that that's taken care of, and as full recovery gets closer and closer, I'm hopeful that the loss will start again.

I don't expect spectacular losses over night and never have (far too much pressure towards a letdown), but hopefully gradual loses week-to-week will start to materialize again.

If you dont already, start swimming. Excellent exercise!!!

Indeed, re: excellent exercise, though I don't have ready access to a pool... at least, not one that is managed with too much chlorine (and, well, it is heavily trafficked...)

Besides that, the extra skin around the midsection was also not conducive to feeling comfortable being in a bathing suit. Fortunately, this consideration is going away (re: swelling).

[Provost Harrison]

I can imagine it would leave quite a mark though...is it completely healed up yet?

Yeah, that is good going buddy, certainly inspiration for those of us who have a hill to climb in comparison to that mountain of a task

[LordShiva]

Re: Why I Was on Leave

Originally posted by DanQ
At the height of my weight (mid-2001), I tipped the scales at over 500 pounds

Good luck with the further weight loss. Stop by the gym thread sometime.

[SlowwHand]

Yes. It's documented fact that reading a thread burns off a ton of calories.

[Zoid]

Wow Dan. Never knew you had such problems. From your photo you can't tell that...

Here's to your speedy recovery

[Japher]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Yes. It's documented fact that reading a thread burns off a ton of calories.

well... it is now!

[Addled Platypus]

how many calories in weilding the ban rod ??

best wishes in your efforts

[DanQ]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I can imagine it would leave quite a mark though...

It's quite a mark, yes -- from hip-to-hip.

is it completely healed up yet?

Negative, but is has healed notably and even started to fade slightly -- at least, relative to how it appeared in the first few days after the surgery. I'm even more pleased at how it no longer "jabs" or "grabs".

Yeah, that is good going buddy, certainly inspiration for those of us who have a hill to climb in comparison to that mountain of a task

Best wishes to anyone and everyone who is overweight striving to shed those pounds... safely (and hopefully permanently).

Originally posted by Zoid
Wow Dan. Never knew you had such problems. From your photo you can't tell that...

If you're referring to the current photo in my profile , it is a couple years old now but it was taken not long after I started my weight plateau. It is also a profile of essentially my face alone.

[JCP]

Congratulation and hope for a full recovery