- Name: Joe Stan
- Age: 64
- Surgery: Gastric Sleeve
- Surgery date: December 8th, 2011
- Testimonial date: January 5th, 2013
- Surgeon: Dr. Almanza
Over a period of many years, 41 of those years in law enforcement, my weight had increased year by year until I reached 362 lbs.( Maybe there is some truth about cops and doughnuts) My body was racked with pain from my weight and previous surgeries.( knee replacements, back and shoulder surgeries, etc, etc. ) You never realize your weight has gone off the charts until you see a photo of yourself. My brother-in-law was so concerned for my health that when I was at 362 lbs,he asked me one question that hit home and lit a fire in me to DO something before it was too late. He asked me, " How many old, fat people do you know"? At 63, I gave that question a lot of thought before I came up with a number. That number was ZERO. All the "old heavies" that I knew were gone. After viewing a few photos of myself made on vacation ( which was ruined by a severe pain in my ankles, preventing me from walking any distance ), I decided to have the sleeve surgery. My wife and relatives did not want me to have the surgery, let alone have it in Mexico. After a moderate amount of investigation and viewing testimonials on the computer, I finally picked up the phone and scheduled a surgery date. Its' been 13 months since my Sleeve, and I've lost 127 lbs. I've been holding steady at 235 lbs for quite some time now. I eat what I want, when I want, ( not the wisest method of weight reduction ) I just can't eat any large amount of food . I do wonder at times , just how much weight could I lose if I really tried? Now I'm enjoying life, a normal life. I don't have to carry my own seat belt extension, or worry about having to pay for two seats when I get on an airplane, or have to ask a restaurant hostess for a table instead of a booth. I don't have to buy my clothes at the " big mans shop " anymore. I can just walk in anywhere and buy a size 17 shirt, 38 pants, right off the rack. Also, I now have a lot of energy to do a lot more around the house and yard.
Life is great, not in the fast lane, but in the NORMAL LANE. I wish I had not waited as long as I did to make that call to schedule my sleeve surgery. I forgot that old but true saying, "today is the youngest you will ever be". So if your tired of struggling with diets that don't work. pick up the phone and do something about it.
