Figured out what size pants I wear...

Went to Wally World with the wife the other night. I haven't worn a pair of jeans in probably about 12 years. I always wear what I call "baggies" (which I make myself) or sweats because, well, they are comfy for fat people.
I am going to Portland with the boys FIRST robotics team next weekend (GO SCALAWAGS)and decided I would like to get a pair of jeans to wear.
Now I have no idea what size I wear at this point. Last time I got pants it was class A's at work. These are trousers, the type with the strip down the leg like troopers wear. Last time I got a pair I think they were a size 62!!
So we started searching and I found a size 50X30 and a 48X30. In those sizes, the longest inseam I could find was 30". I knew that wouldn't be long enough, but decided to try them on.
Well, the 50's were pretty loose, and as I assumed, too short. The 48's actually fit sort of loose, and were also too short. I wasn't sure it was going to work, but I asked my wife to start hunting for a 46X32. Seems that is the magic number you can get longer inseams for. She found me a pair of 46X32 carpenter jeans, so I headed in to try them on.
SUMBITCH!! They FIT!!
So I now have my first pair of jeans in 10 - 12 years, and didn't have to go to a big and tall shop to get them. I was so excited I bought a nice new polo shirt to go with them.

I weighed in this morning at 310 pounds. I am planning on busting my ass in the gym this week to see if I can get under 300 by the 1st of March.

Well, that's about all the new news that's fit to print for this week.
I added a new picture below that shows my progression over the last 3 or so months. Notice the last one is me in my new jeans and polo shirt.

3 Month Check Up

I had my 3 month check up with Dr. Read on Monday.
He was pleased with my weight loss so far and said I was doing good.
He said if anything I was losing a little too fast.
I told him to get used to it. I plan on joining a gym here in town so I can start increasing my workouts from two times a week to four.
I also plan to start an eight week training program this week to get prepared for the 5K I am planning on running in June.

I am feeling great and think I have the ulcer problem under control at this point.

I am down a total of 120 pounds, 90 pounds since surgery on November 9, 2007.

Here is a before and after photo. The after photo was taken on Superbowl Sunday 2008.

Time to catch up...

OK, ok, I know it has been a while since I updated.
I am going to try to get better about posting updates. I plan on starting to update this blog once a week on Sunday. In the mean time, here is what has been going on since I posted last.

I am currently down 110 lbs. from my original weigh in weight of 435. As I had mentioned in previous posts, I lost 30 lbs before surgery, so that is 80 lbs since November 9th, 2007. It feels really good. My knees are liking it. My back isn't always sore anymore. I move better, and have more energy.

Last time I posted I mentioned wearing a new size BDU to work. I didn't put the size. Before surgery I was wearing a 6X BDU pant. (They are cut a little small, but still, a 6X!!!) So when I went back I was comfortably wearing a 5x. Well, I am now comfortably wearing a 3x, and hope to be getting 2x to wear by the end of next month.

I have been hitting the gym at work twice a week. I usually do 2 or 3 miles on the treadmill, and then lift weights for 30 to 45 minutes. It has felt really good. I am planning on joining a gym here in town next week so I can start going in another 2 times a week here during my weekend. I also have to get some good running shoes. I have been trying to jog part of the time on the treadmill. I am still to damn fat to run too far, but I am trying to build up some stamina. With the shoes I have now, my right foot always hurts after I jog much. I tend to walk on the outside of my feet. I think a good pair of running shoes will help with this some. I am trying to work up so I can run the 5k they do here in town for the local Strawberry Festival. My daughter did cross country last year, and she is going to help train me and run it with me.

Now the only downside I have had through this whole adventure of mine. I had the flu around Christmas this year. I got over it ok after a few days, but still couldn't eat well. By the middle of January, every time I ate something I had bad stomach cramps and just felt like crap. Then I started having back pain, not like an injured back, but just a radiating pain through the middle of my back. It got so bad, I had to leave work one night. I had already been scheduled to get my stomach scoped later that week. I called the doctors office and they were able to get me in the next night to check it out. Well it turns out I developed a bad ulcer after surgery. The ulcer is actually not in the new stomach pouch, but just beyond where they attached the intestine to it. That is what was causing the cramps and pain radiating into my back. They gave me some medicine that I take half an hour before eating. It coats the stomach and ulcer, so now no more pain or cramps when I eat. I am also on an industrial strength antacid so the ulcer will heal. They told me it takes time, 6 to 8 weeks, for it to heal, but it should heal up just fine.

That about covers the main points of whats been going on lately. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments. I will answer them on Sunday. I probably won't have much to add on Sunday this week, but I will answer any questions and try to put up some new pictures.