Showing posts with label wls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wls. Show all posts

2 year WLS Annual Check up and Presentation in S.F.

On August 8th I had my two year weight loss surgery check up. I was asked if I would be a speaker at there monthly meeting that evening. Since I was down there I figured it would be good to talk about my experiences.

My two year (wow 2 years) check up was at 2 pm in San Francisco with Pacific Laparoscopy. My appointment was typical wait for over an hour for a 10-15 minute talk. This time I met with Jennifer Smith PA-C instead of one of the doctors. My blood work looked great and they were pleased with my progress up to this point. I am at the weight that they like to see me at. They do not want to see me lose much more if any. Jennifer Smith PA-C was rather surprised to hear after 2 years I still not eating sweets or drinking carbonated beverages. She did say it was okay to eat fruit in small quantities. I eat grapes and nectarines on occasions but do not splurge on them. After that was done I had time to go back to the motel to freshen up and change into something more presentable for the meeting. We like to stay at the San Francisco Days Inn on Grove Street. If your ever in San Francisco and need great little hotel centrally located I highly recommend staying at the San Francisco Days Inn on Grove Street.

Tammy and I showed up to the meeting about an hour early to make sure everything was setup ahead of time. Tammy went off to the presentation for people interested in learning about the surgery options and what it takes to have a surgery. I stayed in the meeting that was a questions and answer session with John Rabkin, MD, FACS. Doctor John is the surgereon that performed my surgery August 30, 2005. Very, very talented at what he does could not ask for a better doctor. A lot of the Q/A was about reconstructive surgery for those that have had weight loss surgery. The two groups merged at 7 pm for introductions and the guest speaker (me). They had everyone introduce themselves and tell there name, what surgery they had, how much weight they loss, and there wow moment for the month. They went around the room and then Barbara Metcalf, RN, Program Director introduced me and I went into my speech. I spoke about my heart issues that started all this in 2005 and then lead into my surgery and the life after my surgery up to that day.

The presentation got the point across but I thought I choked a little. Doctor Rabkin was standing right in front of me in the back of the room. That sort of through my game off a little not sure why. Overall I thought the evening went well and it was good to talk to people that either had or were thinking about having weight loss surgery. There were approximately 40 people I believe. People that were years out of there surgery and others that were not so far out. There were even a couple of folks that had Vertical Gastrectomy just like I had.

Have a great day and see you online.

JB

General Update

Good morning all:

Today is Tuesday my typical weigh-in day to chart my WLS update. As of this morning I weight 174 pounds. I have been holding steady right between 174 and 180. Not to bad for a guy that was 359.5 pounds in May 2005.

It's been a while since posting. I have been experimenting with Microsoft's Live Spaces my link is . I am torn between off the technology. I want to use one location for things like blog, IM, calendars, etc... That is why I thought using Microsoft's new Windows Live would be a good all in one. Well it is fine but blogger offers the ability to have my post go to my domain name Big Dog Web Designs.

I will be writing a couple of reviews for products I recently have been using. So watch for that in upcoming post.

For now have a great day and see you online.

Later
JB

Protein Blended Mocha Beverage

Wanted to list my protein drink that I make every morning. I loved mocha frapps from that big retailer but they are loaded with sugar. Here is my alternative.

Jeff Protein Blended Mocha Beverage

1/4 cup (2oz) - Half caffein coffee
2 scoops - Protein Powder (EAS Premium Protein)
1/4 cup - Half & Half
2 Tbsp - Sugar Free Chocalote syurp (Torani)
Ice
Blend well
Makes about 16 oz mug of cool refreshing protein beverage.

Here are the specs on this drink.
300 calories
110g Cholestrol
4g Sugars
30g Protein
65g Sodium
200g Potassium
9.5g Fat
0 Fiber
7 pts for Weight Watchers

Lower in sugar and high in Protein is what I look out for due to my WLS. Just wanted to share this since I finally figured it all out. I some times substitue half caff with decaf.

Later

JB

December Update

Good day to all:

It's been awhile again, I tend to go days, weeks and months in between post. Quick weight update I am now 177 pounds. If you have been following my blog you know that is amazing weight loss. My health has been doing great. My heart is rebounding like it should be. I see my heart doctor in January and look forward to a great update from him.

I went to Salt Lake City for three days to replace a server. The trip was quick but a great one. The swap went off without any issues and we had a few of the key people praise us for a good turn over.

Everything else is going okay for the most part. You know with 4 kids life is always fun. Especially with 2 teenagers, a 9 year old, and a baby. We need a bigger house to accommodate everyone.

For now I will leave it at that and try to send a new update tomorrow with more details. Take care and have a great week.

Later
JB

1 Year WLS Pics




















Almost forgot to add my 1 year, to the day since wls, photos. I was sitting in the house and it dawned on me that I need to get a couple of pictures of me for my 1 year anniversary. This is me 134 pounds lighter 1 year later.

If you have kept up with my blog you know what a year I have had. For now I need to go but will try to get better with posting to my blog. I some times don't add things because there is not much going on but then there are times I think what the heck add something anyways. We will see if I start doing that.

Later
JB

Labor Day Weekend

Good morning all:
 
Just had a nice relaxing three day Labor Day weekend.  It was nice, we did absolutely nothing.  The only bad part of the weekend is the fact that I grazed all weekend.  Due to this unusually bad habit I gained 5.5 pounds.  Yes that is correct 5.5 pounds.  This is so not me it makes me sick thinking about it.  I completely deserve it and brought it on myself.
 
I need to find better things to do with my time then eat or as I call it grazing.  The reason I call it grazing is because I don't actually eat much but a little bit a lot of times in the day.  I need to start focusing on 3 meals a day and maybe 2 smaller snacks in between.  Since I don't eat a lot at a meal a snack would be okay.  I don't eat sugar items and I try to watch my carbs.  The only bad thing is I eat nuts and cheeze its a lot.  The nuts are okay I suppose but the cheeze its are not so good.  This eating is all in my head and I know it and that is what frustrates me the most about it.  I am not hungry but just for some reason need to have something to eat all the time.  I am not sure why I feel that way but I need to get to the bottom of it soon.
 
Other than that the weekend was nice.  Brandon went camping all weekend and had a good time.  Brittany had to work all weekend and she did not much care for that.  Adriana hung out with Tammy and I all weekend.
 
Have a great week and see yea online.
 
Later
JB

Weight Loss Pictures

Just had to share these pictures

First I am at my heaviest. This is some where around 382 pounds possibly heavier.

Next we have me still in the hospital before surgery. I am 325.5 at this point getting ready to have vertical gastrectomy.

Last but not lease here I am at 11 months after my vg surgery. I weighed in at 201 for my 1 year picture check up.

It is strange to see these pictures. I always knew I was big but to see me at my heaviest is just amazing. I never saw myself that large. In the first picture you can see my necklace is tight, I mean tight. In my 1 yr picture you don’t see my necklace because it is hanging below my shirt. I never take off my scuba diver necklace and can remember at one point at my heaviest I thought I was going to have to take it off due to circulation. This is what I have been going through during my life. Just a few days ago I did not see 200 on the scale. I am below that now and it is amazing. I never thought I was going to see under 300 again let alone under 200. This is why I believe highly in WLS (weight loss surgery) and would recommend it to anyone that is obese. Sure there are risk and you need to do your homework and research before selecting a surgeon but at this point my life has been extended due to my weight loss. Just had to share these with everyone.

Later
JB

1 year WLS Appt


Good Monday every:

I had my 1 year weight loss surgery appointment about a month early but that is okay. My biggest grip is the fact that I have to drive 4 hours one way to get to my appt. Then I wait in the office for an hour and thirty minutes for a 10 min appt. Dr. Robert Rabkin says your looking good and the blood work is good have a good weekend, well gee wiz thanks for that. Why couldn't they have told me the blood work was good on the phone. Oh well that is the way goes.

Here are my statistics from the appt.

Weight: 201 pounds
BMI: 26.5
Fat Mass: 35.5 pounds
FFM: 165.5 pounds
TBW: 121 pounds

For those following I started at a weight of 325.5 pounds the day before my surgery. I was 359 just a few months before that when I was in the hospital awaiting a potential heart transplant. I am happy to say I do not need a heart transplant and very pleased for that.

The image is page one of the Winter 2006 newsletter for PacLap. They did a feature story on my surgery.

For now have a good week and I will try to update later.

Later
JB

1 Year

WOW, can you believe today is the one year anniversary of me going to CPMC and starting my ordeal and scare of potentially getting a heart transplant. Just can't believe it has been one year already. Don't get me wrong I am happy to put distance between me and that situation. I see my heart doctor today ironically one year from when I first met him.

I am over 140 pounds down and have an ejection fraction of 44%. That is amazing considering a year ago I was 359 pounds and ejection fraction of 10% looking at a heart transplant.

Needless to say today is a good day because I don't have a scar from my chin to my belly with a new heart.

Later

JB

April 2006

Wow, has it been that long since updating my blog. Shame on me, I need to get better at posting. Let's see what is new since the last post. I am working quite a bit more these days. I am traveling more right now. I spent a week in Sacramento and a week in Oakland. Heading down to Southern California the second week in May.

I had an echogram done recently and it appears my ejection fraction is up to 40ish percent. I had a fraction of 10% last May and 20% in last November. This is good news and I am hoping to get off some medication in May.

My weight is doing good I am over 14o pounds down since being sick in May. I am now 214 and hanging in there. I have had good success with my Vertical Gastrectomy. I am very pleased and blessed I was able to get the surgery.

Tammy and I was able to run away the other weekend. We went to Eureka and stayed the weekend and walked on the beach and just spent some good quality husband and wife time together. We will have to do that at least twice a year just for our sanity.

Kids are doing good starting to see the end of school for the summer. There excited and not so excited. We really need to find a camp or something for them to attend to get away.

Later for now.

JB

DDS

Sitting at the dentist office with my son.  I take him to be his rock for support.  He just got numbed up waiting for 2 cavities to be filled.

WLS update I weighed in at 299.6 today.  Over 130 lost since being sick May 2005.

Got to go.

Later
JB

-----------
Jeff Blankenship

Udate

Forgot to give my daily weight update. As of 1-23-06 I am 239.6 that is 85.9 pounds since surgery (8-30-2005) and that is 119.9 since being sick and in the hospital May/June 2005.

Overall doing good I am walking either 30 min a day or 1 mile. I sometimes change it out a little. I was able to run for 5 minutes the other day which is amazing for me. I try not to get my heart rate above 140 for any length of time. I lift some weights not a lot and not heavy. Just building up after all the fun I have been through (NOT).

Work is good, been real busy with new server builds and taking on a new roll. So the workout really helps unwinded and makes me forget about the job. I still need to get more motivated to be consistant with working out.

Going to go for now.

Later
JB

Old Picture




Wow, just received an old picture taken of me while in the hospital back May 25, 2005. Here I am at probably 345 pounds. This is when Barbara Metcalf from Pacific Laparoscopy came in for pre-op photos and paperwork. I did not have surgery then due to insurance run around. I did have surgery August 30, 2005 as you have seen in other blogs. I weighed 325.6 the day of vertical gastrectomy. As of January 10, 2006 I weigh 244.8 over 100 pounds since I got sick May 3, 2005. That is over 80 pounds since surgery just under 5 months. Weight wise I am doing pretty good still have a ways to go to be under obese status.

Can you believe that I am 6 foot tall and they want me to be 170-180 pounds, so call "ideal". Hell I would smaller than a bean pole. I will be very happy to get down to 200 even a little less. I have not seen below 200 since, oh heck, probably high school.

Now the heart is another issue for another entry. I will let you go.

Take care

Later
JB

End of 2005

Good afternoon;

Well here we are at the end of another year. Can't hardly believe 2005 has come and gone that quickly. If you have read some of my past post 2005 was not the greatest year for me and my family. Of course some would say it was a great year. Meaning that I did not die back in May.

Christmas turned out nice. The kids are happy and had a good Christmas considering. I sit here at work reminiscing about 2005 and other years. I catching myself thinking how lucky I really am, I have a beautiful wife and wonderful kids. For the most part everyone is healthy and we all love each other. I have seen my other daughter and hope to stay in touch with her after all these years.

I hope 2006 is a good year and I hope the family and myself stay healthy and out of the hospital. I am currently down to 248 pounds from 359 in May. I really need to get to the gym and start working out and stay at the gym. I need to be consistent and try to not wavering one week to another.

I bought a new digital camera and want to take more pictures of the family and my surroundings. Then post a few on my blog and who knows start a discussion group about photography. I have a lot to learn and look forward to it. I really want to get good at it so I can take pictures of my Dad's pools that he builds. He does fabulous work and needs to be document for future memories.

I find myself thinking about Mom a lot lately (passed away a few years ago). I sure miss her and wish she was with us today to be with the kids. She sure loved Brandon and I bet would have just fallen all over Adriana. If your out there Mom, I love you and miss you.

I guess I better go and look at the rain. It is pouring lakes out there it is amazing.

Happy New Year everyone be safe.

Later
JB

WLS Update

Well today is a milestone for my weight loss. I am offically down 100 pounds since becoming sick May 2005.

Down 66 pounds since my WLS surgery.

Later

JB

Thanksgiving

I sure was not looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. I did fine, it was nice seeing family and having time to talk to them.

Due to my surgery I was not able to eat a lot which is okay. I feed the baby and keep tabs of her so it all worked out.

Just wanted to give a quick update on Thanksgiving.

Later

JB

Normal

Works been going good. Made a trip to Reno, NV to deliver a plotter and set it up. Spent 2 days working with the 5 people in that office.

As of last Tuesday I weighted in at 266. When I hit 259 I will have lost 100 pounds since my heart problems in May. That will be quite an acomplishment.

Working out, I still do 20 minutes on the treadmill. An then work out my chest and stomach. Then I get an aqua message that caps the workout rather nicely.

Thanksgiving is coming up and I am not looking forward to it at all. I hope it will all be about the friendship and the talking and not about my surgery. We will see how it goes, this will be the first year I will not eat 2 or more plates full. I will be lucky to get down a small plate.

Been spending time with my son on his Yugioh card obsestion. Well I like the fact that he is collecting something. We went down and bought him the Yugi Evolution Starter Deck. This deck had Dark Magician and he says that is the coolest. Now he need Dark Magician Girl that will make it complete. He really wants the Egyptian God cards but I found that these are rare and very expensive. Three of them can cost in excess of $150, yes for only three of them.

Baby is walking everywhere and into everything. She is growing up so fast it is crazy. Brittany is a teen looking for a boyfriend or at least checking them out.

Tammy is doing great I am so lucky to have her as my wife. She is working hard on losing weight. She is working out hard and eating right. Her Pampered Chef business is still going okay a little slow right now but she is doing great. I am so proud of her.

Oh yea almost forgot. Went and had an EchoGram done and my ejection fraction is approx 25-28% that is doubled what it was in May. Not out of the wood work yet but doing better.

Better go for now, take care and sleep tight.

JB

Weight

I weigh every Tuesday and today my weight was 268.2 pounds. Still losing and still feeling good for the most part.

I had a bad weekend, I ate to much dairy (which was not a lot) and boy did I pay for that. Then on Sunday I ate to much to fast. Actually I think it was the fact that the juice from my meat mixed with the rice and bloated me. I commenced to throw up for about 10 minutes. Was not fun or nice.

That is the latest updated on my weight loss.

Later
JB

No release from the doctor...Bad day

Just bad...

Day started off wondering if my 2 inch incision was healing properly or not. During my shower today the other three stereo strips came off. The four lap holes are looking good. It is that darn belly button that had me worried.

The bad news, or is it? Spoke to my doctors office and they said the incision is healing just fine and this is all expected. Well they will not release me to go back to work next week. I was really looking forward to, she said that they have my best intrest in mind. I know they do, I just worry financially and I know I shouldn't everything will be fine. So if I am lucky I will return on the 10th of October after my 7th appointment.

I am doing good overall, I ate to much at dinner and was very, very uncomfortable for over 40 minutes. I guess I will slow down and chew, chew my food.

Take care

JB

3 weeks post op

Thoughts

I weighed in at 295 today that was a nice sight. I have been doing good overall, I still fight the mind. My mind tells me to eat all the time and my body is not hungry. I recognize this and am so grateful I do. I will go drink some liquid and that helps get the mind off of food. Not for long but for a few minutes.

I am drinking a Protein drink in the morning. Then take meds and then go from there. I try not to eat until lunch if I can help it. However, I try to get something in my tummy.

One of my stereo strips came off yesterday, that was nice.

Take care

JB