I'm back

In brief...
I haven't been on this blog for years, but here is the weight battle. By 2013 I had gained all my weight back plus some. The lapband had become ineffective because I overate and stretched the upper pouch? I don't know. Anyway, in January 2013 I was hospitalized for almost a month for an infection. I had lost about 20 pounds while in the hospital so I built on that and set out to lose the weight for good.
I simply applied the portion size I had learned from the lapband and lost 170 pounds in a year. I have gained back about 40 of those pounds but I have kept them off for years. I am now working on it again. I have been losing a modest 5 pounds a month, but it's adding up.
I'll be seeing a plastic surgeon in December about the sagging loose skin. That right there should be an additional 20 pounds off. It is both for physical appearance and resistance to fungal breakouts. I'll update the blog after my appointment. Thanks for all the traffic. I had no idea.

Writing second book

I never really write on this page and I'm trying to get better writing on  my other blog. I already published "Night in Positano." It's the book about a bipolar teen. The main character, Nick, went through some hard times and it had a lot of me in it, but not enough truth. You can find that book usually on the second page of the name search primarily because I haven't advertised it. But, you can also find it for the Nook and iTunes. I think the best truth is the truth so I have embarked on my second book which is an autobiography. It is called "A Bipolar Man." I have already secured the URL abipolarman.com. I am still in the background mode which leads the reader through my childhood which was much more interesting than I had thought and then through my adult life up to my first major bipolar episode. The rest of the book is about how I survived and how others may find a way to survive or at least know that they are not alone.

I stopped working in July 2007 because I was really physically sick. I have been in the hospital a multitude of times and depressed for most of the winter of 2012-13. I feel better now which is how I am able to focus on the book. I am also on Social Security Disability because of my severe disorder. I hope that writing books will eventually give me the income I need to get off of disability.

I make entries to lose250.com fairly often and I am going to try to make more entries on lose250.blogspot.com. Thanks, Christopher

The worst part of bariatric surgery - supplements/vitamins

So they tell you over and over that you'll have to take bariatric vitamins/supplements everyday for the rest of your life. Not a big deal. I've always taken vitamins and received B12 shots every month. You need the vitamins because you will eat like 2-3 oz per meal and it is usually animal and soy based proteins. If you don't eat proteins you'll get sick and lose lots of hair.

Before my surgery I ordered some vitamins from a popular and reputable bariatric supplement company. I'm sure that if you google bariatric vitamins that this company would pop up in the first three listings in and below the paid ads. I ordered the cherry flavored. The problem is that they smell like cherry and taste like poop. Seriously, I gag every time I take them.

I highly recommend these

But, I did some more research because I was sure there was something better out there. I found out that almost everybody on the review for my vitamin and many others hated their taste. But, I did find one vitamin that got solid reviews and everyone said they tasted great and they were cheaper than the ones I ordered. They were, of all places, at the Walgreens right down the street. They were nearly half the price and they do taste great. Kind of like a vitamin C orange flavor with no after taste. They are from a company called "Optisource" for $25.00 for 120 tablets. If you've had the lapband you should chew up three to four a day.

Just to back up this story; my wife tried to eat one of the old ones and immediately spit them into the toilet and rinsed her mouth out and brushed her teeth frantically. I had to laugh. Then she ate one of these Optisource chewable tablets and she didn't throw up. Rather, she agreed with me and the other reviewers. These vitamins are as powerful as the others and they taste fine.

Sunday June 5th, 2011 - writing re-direct

I continue to write the occasional freelance article, but I'm concentrating on finishing the book. You can read parts one and two (half the book) at nightinpositano.com
Thanks for visiting

Wednesday November 10, 2010 - New York City trip

I am still writing for the Examiner. Since I published my first article with them in September 2010, I have had 16,500 readers. I have two columns:
http://www.examiner.com/online-learning-in-denver/christopher-sharits-m-ed
http://www.examiner.com/john-hickenlooper-in-national/christopher-sharits-m-ed

The great news is that John Hickenlooper won so now I have the national Colorado Governor column. Cool! In addition, my subscribers went way up as did my fan list. The Board of Education in Jefferson County follows my online learning column which is pretty cool. They send me emails of support which is real nice of them. I'm starting a portfolio of supportive letters and emails. I've already got over a dozen. Oh yeah, and one hate mail which I also printed out for my portfolio.

In December 2010, I will add three more weekly columns with a separate publisher and I should begin my work with the Spanish publisher before the end of the year.

I have pushed back my expected publication date of my book to March 2011. I just don't have it where I want it yet. Between now and then I will start fielding publishing agents, but if I fail to find an agent or publisher, I will probably self-publish on Lulu.com or something. I can have it available as an e-book by Spring and then a hard cover by end summer 2011.

Looks like the transition from manager/salesman to writer is complete. Later this afternoon my wife and I will catch a plane to NYC for three days of meetings and VIP museum tours. And, on Thursday night we are going to the Broadway musical Addams Family with Nathan Lane. Very excited. I'm sure I will fly home with yet another writing contract. Thank you Lord. I get it. Now make it rain money. Cool. Love you!

Thursday October 21, 2010 - writing assignments

I have two columns and maybe more writing assignments after tomorrow.
Right now you can read my Online learning column at http://www.examiner.com/online-learning-in-denver/christopher-sharits-m-ed

And my National John Hickenlooper Examiner column at http://www.examiner.com/john-hickenlooper-in-national/christopher-sharits-m-ed

Sorry, too tired to go on. Took too much time writing gubernatorial debate summary http://www.examiner.com/john-hickenlooper-in-national/quick-recap-of-the-oct-13th-colorado-gubernatorial-debate

Thursday October 7th, 2010 - Colorado elections

Well, I thought it might be fun to rattle some political cages by suggesting that online education threatens the public school system. Everyone likes to call themselves the education God, but the truth is that their true colors come out when you ask them something of particular subset of education. I have found my interviews with the Colorado candidates interesting and revealing. Bob Kinsey is old school. He hate texting. Paul Fiorino supports the integrated model. and Buck, Tancredo, and Hickinlooper's camps have contacted me and I may get a few more responses in the morning.

Here is the story that kicked off my series on the politics of online education...
http://www.examiner.com/online-learning-in-denver/does-online-education-threaten-the-k-12-colorado-public-school-system

http://www.examiner.com/online-learning-in-denver/the-politics-of-colorado-online-education-u-s-senate-candidate-bob-kinsey

http://www.examiner.com/online-learning-in-denver/the-politics-of-online-education-colorado-gubernatorial-candidate-paul-fiorino