Tom
22 months after surgery
185 pounds lost
Before Surgery
Location: Mount Arlington, New Jersey
Age: 46
Weight
lost: 185 pounds
Surgery Date: 01/28/2008
Pre-Surgery BMI: 56
Current
BMI: 31
Tom's Story
I was born and bred in Brooklyn, NY. And like most Italians, I had a nickname
growing up. Since there were two Tommys on my block (and in my family), I was
tagged as either "fat Tommy" or "fatty-boy". I've fought the "battle of the
bulge" my entire life. As I got older, I realized being morbidly obese was
definitely having an adverse effect on my life, and it appeared to be getting
worse.
Why I chose to draw the line against living with obesity
I'm a Computer Tech Support and Server Administrator and I was finding it
difficult to lift a desktop computer. I couldn't walk long distances without
getting winded. When I worked on the second floor, I had to climb stairs and
would need to take breaks halfway up. Climbing down the stairs was also
difficult, because I could not see each step - so I had to go down one step at
a time.
Over the past few years, I have gone on numerous job interviews, and when I
entered the room, I could tell the interviewer had already prejudged my
abilities because of my size. I could actually see the nonverbal gasps by the
way their eyes opened wide. Since many of the jobs dealt with customer
interaction, I could see they were apprehensive about hiring me because they
were afraid of how their potential customers would view me.
I cancelled going to parties, weddings and funerals because I was ashamed of
my size. I stopped going to my favorite vacationing spot, because two years
ago I broke two chairs – and I was embarrassed to return. I also avoided going
to movies, concerts, and restaurants, because I had issues sitting in the
seats.
In the summer of 2007, my PRIMARY doctor said that I really should think about
doing something surgical. She said if I didn't do something, there was no
guarantee I'd be around in 3 years.
Going into the operation, I was at the lowest point of my life. I weighed the
most I ever had. My weight made it difficult to do simple tasks both at work
and at home. I stopped socializing. I hated not only myself, but the entire
world.
How my life has changed
Since the operation, I consider myself an unofficial walking testimonial
commercial for the REALIZE® Band. My weight loss has been called
remarkable. I started at 435 pounds, with a BMI of 55.8. As of this past week
(22 months after the procedure), I have lost about 185 pounds, with a BMI of
32.1.
In the past two years, I have come to realize many things. One thing is life
is a rollercoaster ride. There will be highs and lows, but the ride itself
will be exhilarating. The other thing I realize is that when it comes to
weight loss surgery, no one prepares you for your gains. You gain confidence
in yourself; you gain self-worth; you gain relationships again (old and new);
you gain a wonderful group of friends from the boards and support groups, and
you gain a wonderful outlook on your life and the future.
Are you another successful
REALIZE® patient with a great story? Share it here.
