It has been a year since I created a blog post, which talked about my decision to have Bariatric Surgery (Gastric Sleeve). That occurred one year ago today. It has made a significant change in my life and my overall health. It has not been without incident nor discomfort. I've eaten very little bread in the last year and many of the baked goods that I would eat have left my diet, along with other carbs, including pasta. One of the benefits to having been so public about it, is the opportunity to help others considering it and to be supportive of others who have had the surgery themselves. It is not an easy decision and the pathway is not always certain in how your body responds nor your ability to not return to prior habits. A stomach can grow over time and non healthy things can be reintroduced to your diet. I have even added a few things back in time that I enjoy, but I've tried to do it in much more moderation than before. I can't really do this again financially and emotionally it would be difficult as well. I will gain some weight, but I know if I am mindful, many of the habits will be long term.
My year was filled with trips, conferences, vacations and other experiences and I thought it might be good to just show the changes as I went through the year. I've had to purchase new clothes (did my best to utilize what I had as long as I could, but when the pants fall off or the polo shirt has to be buttoned all they way up to stay on you correctly, it is time to get new clothes. I went from a 6XL to a 4XLT and even 3XL fits in some cases. My pant sizes when down from 54/56 waist to a 48 waist and even my undergarments have had to be replaced. It sounds wonderful, but I've invested thousands of dollars to have suits remade to the custom sizes my height requires and to purchase replacement clothes. I'm not done yet, and it's fair to say, there is probably another couple more thousand dollars still to do.
Almost immediately, I went off most of my diabetic medications, blood pressure medications and corresponding vitals improved. I've since been put back on a light blood pressure medication, but it is preventive in nature and my A1C has remained stable and blood glucose levels in an acceptable range.
In April, my wife Cathy and I went on a 7 day Hawaiian Cruise that was a celebration of our thirtieth wedding anniversary that happened in 2020. We added a couple extra days to also visit the Polynesian Cultural Center as well as attend the Hawaii Temple. We spent a good part of the day in Hilo, visiting my former Mission President and his wife. In a circumstance where food is plentiful and you can eat all you want, I had to figure a way to balance it. You physically can't eat that much, and since most of your diet has to be protein, you find the best way to do it. I have and continue to eat a lot of eggs; Omelets are a goto item when I eat out out for breakfast and potatoes are few and far between.
It was a pretty amazing experience when I could pull out the tray table on an airplane and lay it down flat in front me. It had been decades since being able to do it and frankly when I looked down, I can now see my belt. It usually disappeared shortly after putting it on and while I could feel it, it was hidden for the remainder of the day!
Working on projects became easier. It has been easier to get up and down when I needed to get on the ground. Bending over to pick something up became much easier and my stamina improved. This last year, I've done a number of large projects, participated in youth camps and also enjoyed some fun. Clearly easier to do and I'm grateful to be able to do these kinds of things.
I don't know how long I will have the blessing of being here on this earth. I've already lost a brother and have two other siblings with poor health. My father died from Cancer at age 49 and at 57, have been gifted more years than he. My plan is to live to a good old age, I've been purchasing wood working tools for my workshop so I can putter long into my life, but if Heavenly Father took me tomorrow, I have few regrets. I have been blessed with an incredible wife and two lovely, sweet and faithful daughters. I will have spent 25 years in public service and later this year, it will have been 30 years since I was first called as a Bishop. The last nine years as Stake President have been an incredible experience filled with blessings from Church leaders that have helped me immensely. Interactions with the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russel M. Nelson has reminded me that we do in fact have a living Prophet of God upon this earth. The work left to do, far exceeds my daytime responsibilities at the Utah Transit Authority, but I am grateful for the privilege of being there and working with wonderful people who have been supportive and helped me get through this last year. I truly have been blessed this last year with a new lease on life.
