ObesityHelp

Hola everyone!

It's been a really long time since I've been on this site (yet again). I am making a new years resolution to be active on here like I was from before my surgery. So this is the update:
It has been over 3 years since my surgery and I have gained back 45 pounds from my lowest weight of 208 (I'm currently 253 lbs). Discouraging? Ummm yes....! But I want this to be a reality check for those that have not had the surgery yet. I had the surgery when I was 20 years old. Alittle after I turned 21 I went crazy with partying.... It was a big change for me. First I was able to get into bars, drink, and tons of guys wanted my attention. From what I know now, I obviously became very overwhelmed with all the big changes. So here I am now.... 45 lbs heavier with a new understanding of what it feels like to be a "smaller" person. I have been the out casted fat person ALL of my life. So for it to change as quickly as it did was too much for me at the time.
Sure I am discouraged that I let my weight gain take hold of my life the way it has (I spent an entire year in a complete depression) but I will not let this weight gain defeat me!! I know it's a total cliche but I am going to start this new year out right!
I'm kinda scared but I plan of doing the P90X system. I'm excited and freaked out at the same time!! haha! But I plan of getting back to my lowest weight within the next 4-5 months. And from there continue on to my goal weight of 170-180!
I will make sure to keep the updates going throughout the year. I'm going to needs LOTS of support and I would love to help support other's in their journey's as well. Please add me or email me any time...! ;-)
XOXO

Hey everyone!!

I hope all of you are doing great in your weight loss journey!! Well, here is an update on my progress. I have, in the past couple of months been suffering from hypoglycemia. That is when you experience VERY low blood sugar and you can faint, experience shackiness, sever hot sweats, etc... I have full control of this happening though. If I eat a meal high in sugar I will then experience a BIG low and that gives me the problems. I just need to bet better at my eatting. It's been difficult The effects of the surgery are still somewhat there but not really. I still have to eat slowly, and I cannot eat too much still or I will get an EXTREME full feeling still, which I am greatful for. I have decided though to go on Nutrisystem. I feel this is a good direction for me to go in becuase I work in a Salon all day, 7 days a week, and I find myself snacking all day and not eatting the right foods. So I hope that if I have the pre packaged meals from Nutrisystem, it will help me control my snacking. I pray that this will help me to lose the last 30 - 50 lbs that I want to lose to get to my couple of goal weights.
I don't know what my goal weight is, it is either 180 lbs which is my most conserative goal, 174 lbs which gets me to "normal BMI", or 160 which is my "skinny Me" weight. Whereever I feel the happiest is where I am going to stay. Anyway, I will try and keep ya'll posted on my progress with getting to my goal weight!!

Hey Everyone!!

Well, I am past the 1 year mark. I am here to make some resolutions. To start, I have started to gain some weight. Oh not like 50 lbs or anything but I have gain around 6 pounds or so. My lowest weight was 211 and now I am around 217-218. It's not fun seeing the scale go in the opposite direction that I I am shooting for here, but I put 100% of the blame on myself. I haven't been watching what I have been eatting, and I haven't been exercising. I am able to eat everything now, but I still have the dumping effect if I eat too much, so that is good. I just want to put this out there for anyone that is looking to get surgery or just had his/her surgery. This is by no means a "quick" fix. Sure for a year maybe, but there comes a time in about 95% of all bariatric patients lives that they have to put "real" effort into losing the weight. I have to say, I have not been as dedicated as I should have been throughout this whole process of losing the weight, but I am not going to let that keep me from starting the process. This is a life long journey, not a fad diet; I finally understand that. I am going to make mistakes, as are you, but we just need to get right back up and start again. 
So here are my pre-resolutions that I want to acomplish BEFORE New Years:
1. I am going to concentrate more on eatting healthy balanced meals throughout the entire day.
2. I am going to exercise 6 days a week for a minimum of 2 hours each
3. I am going to reach a goal weight of 180-195 lbs by New Years 
4. I am going to FINALLY start training (seriously) for a 5K marathon. 
Anyway, I am sick and tired of surcoming to food, I am going to work on - for the rest of my life, better and more productive ways to "feel" an emotion, instead of "feeling" it through food.

Hey All! 

Oh man! I thought the day would never come that I would say, "Over 1 year post op!" WOW! So much has happened in my life that I cherish so!
If your're reading this post and you either are trying to get the surgery or are just out of surgery, please take to heart what I am about to say.... Life is WONDERFUL skinny!! Now it's hard for me to call myself skinny, because in my own standards and probably some other peoples standards, I have a few more pounds to lose to be considered "skinny". But I am calling myself skinny because I have lost a person! Over 130 pounds!! Wooohoooo! It is so weird to be in the position I longed to be in [pre-op] and now I am here! I am 1 year out!
So what does a person that is 1 year out do... hmmmmm? Well, still trying to lose the rest of her weight. I am determined, and I mean DETERMINED to get down to my "conservative" goal of 180 pounds. My monster, cool, rade goal is 160 lbs!! But I wanted to make a conservative goal so that way I could feel that it was much more "reachable" if you know what I mean. Its the difference of 37 lbs to go, vs. 57 lbs to go.... Which sounds more atainable?...... Exactly....
So I am going really extreme here for the next couple of months. Its a regular "Biggest Loser" Camp right here at home!! 
I set my goal to reach 180 lbs by December 31. I want to be at my goal BEFORE I make a new years resolution!! I want to go into the new year feeling AWESOME!! 
And then I want to lose 20 more pounds (if I need to) and get to 160 lbs by March 2008, so 3 more months. My cousin is getting married in March, so there is another insentive!! 
I am going to get a personal trainer after I have reached my goal of 180 lbs, becuase I want the last 20 or so pounds that I lose to be "fat" and make sure it's not muscle, so a trainer will make sure I build the muscles and burn the fat. 
I am going to be so smoking hot I can't believe it!! OMG! Did I just say that! I think they need to have another surgery to go with gastric bypass, and that head reduction!! NO!! I am still very humble and I never want to get a BIG head and become vein! I want to use my success to others advantage! 
I just want to feel GREAT about myself!
So here is what I can remember I have accomplished this year because of this surgery....
1. I can fit in clothes that I haven't been able to fit in since Elementary school!
2. I shop in "skinny girl" stores!
3. I am not afraid to stand completly tall when I wear high heals, I don't care if I stand out anymore!! I wanna stand out!
4. I went to Great America and rod ALL the coasters without anyone's help getting in the seat and my harness seatbelt had alot of slack in it!! That was a BIG one! I still need to ride Medusa at 6 Flags!!
5. Um...... how do I say this, there is more attention from the opposite sex! 
6. No more back or joint pain!
7. I can totally cross my legs and sit with them crossed for hours and not feel uncomfortable. 
8. I get so many people that tell me how great I look, which is a real esteem booster!
9. I can walk anywhere for hours and not get exhausted. 
10. I was in a bathing suit this last weekend and didn't feel nearly as uncomfortable in it as I would 130 lbs ago! 

Now here are things that I want to feel or acomplish in the future:
1. Go kayaking!!!
2. Complete a Marathon!
3. Wear a size 6 jeans!
4. Be 160 pounds of muscle!! 
5. Have a 6-Pack, or a 5-pack!!
6. Have defined muscles!
7. Once I reach 180 lbs, I am going to set up an apointment with a plastic surgeon and set a date to get my plastic surgery done 1 to 1 1/2 years after I reach 180 lbs. 
8. Become a avid hiker!
9. Get a couple more tattoos
10. Feel and live healthy!!!

I am so stinkin grateful for the surgery and it sure has been a long road, about 8 years or so that I have wanted this surgery and I have finally gotten my wish. 
I hope all of you out there feel the same way or are progressing your way up to that feeling! It sure is worth it!!

Love ya!

~Ash

Hey all!

I have been busier than a one legged woman playing on a soccer team!!! So I am sorry for not updating in such a long time!! So anyways... Lets see what has happend... I have finally started losing weight again!! I am down to 217 lbs. I have been stuck in the 220's for months!! I was so excited this morning, I couldn't believe it!! So I have joined a soccer league, I am going to the gym, I am getting my esthetician business started from the ground up and it is looking like a $40,000 investment, which is pretty steep for a 21 year old!!! Anyway, life is great, life is grand and I am only looking forward to the future!!!