ObesityHelp

Hi Mechelle, I hope you don't mind my contacting you, I'm from the March 2004 board and I'm "board hopping" trying to get some help - I lost over 215 lbs. with my original surgery but am now struggling mightily, having gained back 15 lbs. I saw this post of yours and just wanted to know how you're doing and if you were able to get back to basics and regain control of your eating issues - how are you doing? I'd love to chat. I'm in real trouble with the food. Thanks. Maureen

Hiya girls.

I am so glad to see you posting. 

I'm 'okay.' 

I'm doing good in the weight loss department, I'm at my lowest post op weight.    But, I had a regain.  55 lbs.  WHOA.  There was a baby in there too.  She's two now.

But, I attribute that re-loss  'success' to the epilepsy drugs.  Woot.  I developed a seizure disorder at some point post-op, and it's gotten worse.  I am trying to find a diagnosis, and all I am finding are other RNY'ers with the same sort of problem.  ANYWAY.

KEEP posting.  We need each other.  There is a noticeable lack of longer-term post ops around.

Here's my reply to this month's poll:

1. A goal you have for yourself for this month - and thanksgiving season.
I want to bring low glycemically impacting pies to the family thanksgivings I'll be attending - to show my beloved people how delicious a healthy dessert can be.

I also want to get back into a regular cardio workout - aqua jogging in a warm pool is what I want to do!

2. A positive thing about yourself, your life, or your support network.
I am continuing to slowly lose the bounce weight I had put on during the difficult year of my marriage  A smileygram of the divorce process:

 
  .
  I'm down to 207 and am so very grateful for this tool.  Even when my meds make me nauseated, or my meds give me a vast hunger, I'm able to get the right nutrition for my body. 

3. Something you're grateful for
My kitty cat (where's the cat smiley?)- he's been a dear. I'm also grateful that I've been coming out of my depression/grieving process.  I'm starting to feel better emotionally, and I'm starting to draw positive people to me.  I'm hopeful that I'll keep meeting new people, and perhaps even start dating in the not too distant future.

4. What we can do to help you out this month
The best gift for me would be just to have everyone *****ads this, to please take a few moments and make some kind of reply.  Supporting each other is essential, and we're all in this together.  I'm praying for all of you - to conventional and nonconventional deities.

With love and respect to all,
~Lara
Lap RNY 4-1-04

Hello Dianne!

I hope that this reply finds you feeling healthier every day.  We long timers gotta stick together, and keep supporting each other. 

With love and respect,
~Lara

I'm going to try to remember to keep coming back, and posting at least one post a month for people to update . . .unless this place starts hopping again like back in the day.  ;)

Hello there!

You only gained 20lbs. You're not a failure. We're both maintaing a remarkable loss. The more I value myself, the more the bounce dripps off. Granted - now 1lb a month is "amazing remarkable loss" instead of the several dozen lbs a month like the early days of this wls journey.

For me, I knew that Carbs were my problem. Getting back to the basics of Protein Protein Protein helped me have a longer sense of fullness. Protein in, no room for the extra carbs that were helping me to regain.

I'm sending positive energy your way. And - we're always here to listen.
~Lara

Hello my beloved April 2004 fools! 

My last 2 posts were started in sadness.  This post does NOT make 3. Time is working its magic and trying to heal my heart's wounds.  I still think of my mom every single day and miss her.  And I'm trying to sift through all my feelings about my former marriage - to separate them from the feelings I have about my former wife. 

One thing I want to post - I re-read my posts and I wasn't owning the fact that I had regained 40lbs from my very lowest.  14 of them 100% authorized because I looked like a starvation victim at 184, the rest a product of the poor eating choices that I was using as a crutch during the dark times of my marriage.  My favorite weight is 198.  Currently I am at 208.  208 is a weight I feel very comfortable at - at 6' 2.5" I feel svelt and willowy again (thank the gods).  I can't wear my old 38s anymore.  And the 16s are falling off again.  *phew!*  If I ever got all this skin off I am certain even at this weight I'd be a 10/12, and since I have no plans to do so - I'm just happy to be back in the weight range that doesn't make me feel like a failure.  228 had me feeling pretty down in the few moments I admitted to myself that the scale said such a horrifying number.  If I don't re-lose a single lb I'll be satisfied with staying right here. 

My back continues to be a debilitating pain in the a$$.  I'm persuing Social Security and am waiting to get my court date with the Judge.  It sucks.  I'm paying for all my healthcare out of pocket for the time being which is chewing through my savings and Long Term Disability.  Even on disability I was always the primary earner in my marriage - so even if "half" of the "earning team" left, I'm coming out about even in the wash being on my own.  I kept the apt and have been sifting through the rubble of my belongings - shedding dumpsters-full of broken and undesirable things.  I am praying that eventually the wheelchair lift designers will figure out how to get a wheelchair/scooter lifted and stored in my type of car - until then School isn't realistic.  Eventually Grad School is still my plan down the road.  

Choosing not to use food as a coping mechanism is still a moment-by-moment choice.  I'm so very thankful for this tool, and my stregnth 4.5 years ago to take this huge leap of faith.  One moment at a time, one day at a time, I'm learning how to love myself - no matter the cir****tances.  

Please take a moment - even if just to say hi - to post a reply with a tiny blurb of how you're doing.  4.5 years out, and we're all still in this together.  

With love and respect to all on this journey, 
~Lara
4/1/04 

Thank you very much Denise.


Time heals right?  I've been giving myself time and space just to grieve.  Between losing mom and my marriage crumbling it's been a banner year.  *Sigh*

My decision to adopt a cat was one of my best brainchildren ever.  Butters is the light of my life, and I knew my marriage was over when I'd rather scoop another lifeforms crap than deal with my ex-wife's.  My friends have been amazing.  I've lost the bounce lbs that the stress of living with her added to my frame.  My eating has improved again, and I'm feeling well - even if in pain from my back. 

I'm still all me - and I continue to survive and I'm working on thriving.  Is it weird that I'm kind of excited to see what dating and meeting people is like at my current weight?  I've not really put myself out there just yet - I'm still a bit too emotionally fragile. In its proper time, I'll find out. 

Wishing you well,
~Lara

Hello there all my April 04 peeps!

I've heard from me lately, and I said to tell everyone that I'm doing alright. Summer came and went with lots of time spent with family and getting to know my new sweet baby - Butters the wonder cat. After losing 220lbs of dead weight this January *ahem* I'm happy to report that I've also lost my bounce weight and am back down to "comfortable" . . .I'm about 8lbs from my favorite weight of 198, but very very happy to be down 20lbs.

My back is a jerk, but I'm surviving. I'm deep into the Social Security waiting game - thank god for Long Term Disability. My friends have been an amazing support system for me. I'm very grateful that the 1 year anniversary of my mother's passing has come and gone. I look forward to the 1 year anniversary of my split from my wife. I wish we could get divorced. . .but there's no legal recourse for us at this time. I'd really like it to be "done" but what is one to do?

With my back pain I have a nearly constant state of nausea that my acupuncturist is helping me address. The treatment gives me a healthy appetite and I'm extra careful to ensure I'm getting good calories in. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but one day at a time right?

Love to all those who struggle to do what's healthy,
and to all the rest of us humans too!
~Lara
Lap RNY 4-1-04

I did loose to much for a while, was down to 120, but now I'm up to 160.  I had gained back to 155 before the Lithium.  I only take 50 mg of topamax, more than that and I get really forgetful.  I'm sorry to hear about the seizures.  I hope the medication is working for you. 

Dianne

Thanks, I take topamax to, for migraines.  It has no effect on my appetite as far as I can tell. 

I hope you are well also.

Dianne