100 days later, 100 pounds lighter

Amazing how much things can change in 100 days. Things continue to go great since my laparoscopic "sleeve" procedure from May.

I have lost over 100 pounds, dropped 6 inches from my waist and lowered my blood pressure down to 120 over 80. I am losing size proportionally throughout my whole body; my shoes are even getting looser on me. For those who know me, they know I hate buying things for myself and would rather spend money on my family and friends but new clothes shopping has been a must, whether I like it or not.

My daily calorie intake is around 1,200 to 1,400 but there are some days I really have to work at that because I fill up so quickly and I am not consistently hungry like I was in the past. This is so strange to me because I was around 3,500 to 4,000 calories a day prior to the surgery. The only food I have not added back to my diet is lettuce; for some reason I still am having issues digesting it. I really have to balance what and when I drink and eat so I don't fill up on liquids and not have the room to get the nutrients I need from the food. Big Dad, my father, used to say that I was a "charter member of the clean plate club" and now I get full and have to leave food on my plate but I am sure he is proud of me retiring from that team.

The support from my family, friends, co-workers, Dr. Pennings and staff at Northwest Specialty Hospital, and our community has been amazing. I have people I don't even know come up to me in stores, at community events or anywhere around Kootenai County, and all have supported me and my goal of helping out people just like me in North Idaho. I just had my 30-year class reunion from Coeur d'Alene High School and we had over 200 terrific classmates show up. Some had not seen me since high school and others since our 20-year reunion or pre-surgery - and they all could not believe the change. I am now weighing about what I weighed when I graduated.

Many told me how great it is I am sharing my story to help others and how many of them have friends or co-workers just like me and they are going to try to help others, even outside of North Idaho, when they go back home by telling them my story.

I can't believe how this has spread. I know I have added years to my life and others are adding years to their lives. Big Dad is definitely smiling up in heaven right now.