Background

Okay, so a few have requested this, others, well, you don't have to read it if you don't want to. This is the pre-now story of how I came to being told I need gastric bypass surgery.

So here's what's up. On June 8th, 2009 I am scheduled for gastric bypass surgery. As those who have know me for some time know, I have not always been this heavy, but have for some time now. In 2000 I was a little overweight, but in good shape. I was even a part-time fire fighter with the Newcastle Fire Department and had pretty good physical agility scores. Then I injured my knee playing basketball (it was more fun telling people I did it saving a baby from a burning building, but no, it was a stupid pick-up game).

Anyway, it wasn't your "normal" knee injury, I actually injured it to the point where my knee cap was no longer attached to anything else, plus other tears and rips. The damage was extensive and required an "internal reconstruction". So, after the surgery I couldn't walk which meant I stayed home and was on disability. While at home, I sat in my recliner and watched TV, all day long. I went so far as to have Jessica leave the door unlocked when she left so I could order a pizza and have the pizza guy just come in, since I couldn't get up and all. I didn't leave our apartment for almost three months, straight!

I finally got out of the house and had to get around via a wheelchair for about a month before I worked up to crutches. All in all, I didn't walk on my own for almost six months. There were some good parts, like my year long disability placard. Parking was awesome! (Did you know with a disability placard, you don't have to pay parking meters?). Kayla was born at the end of the year (right as I was walking again) and we couldn't be happier that we had her. But that year I gained 70 pounds. Is that the only reason I'm overweight? Nope, but it sure was a big kick-starter. So here I am, 9 years later and weigh a little more than I did at the end of all of that.

So this is where I am today, almost 100 pounds overweight and not having any success in 9 years of losing the weight. So...