ObesityHelp.com: Making the Journey Together
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Surgeon Testimonial

Armando Joya
I am over a year out from surgery--I have lost 176 lbs and can not be happier. Dr Joya and his whole staff were wonderful to me while I was in Puerto Vallarta. They were very caring and helpful. I had all the information I needed to make my decision and I have absolutely no regrets in my surgical choice. I want to thank everyone so much for being able to get to a much healthier me!
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Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Pedrof on 12/27/07 9:25 pm
    HI cathy,, thanks for your information, And congratulation for your effort and keep loosing weight, regards pedrof
  • Comment by janinev on 2/20/07 7:11 pm
    Hi Cathy, We share the same Dr, Dr Joya, you will love him, i did, less than a month out and i am telling everyone what a wonderful experiance i had, you will be doing the same. I am praying for you and know that God will keep you in his care. I cried and Dr Joya and Espinoza held my hands and wiped my tears, I know they will care for you the same way. Janine
Click here for the surgery support page

Well you can see my old intro below. I have had my last child and she is 1.5 yrs old and just about done nursing. In my old intro I said I hoped that the exclusion on the health insurance would have changed and it hasn't...don't know when it will. So I am thinking about going with Self pay and possible going to Mexico. I am looking very much into the Vertical Sleeve. LOOK AT BOTTOM FOR WEEKLY WEIGHT LOSS.







Cathy L.'s Blog



14 months out now.
on April 21, 2008 9:03 pm
Well I am just over 14 months out now. My losses have slowed but I am losing inches and just as happy about that. I was in 22 and 20's and just the other day decided for chits and giggles to try on a pair of 18 misses and 16 women's jeans. Last time I tried I had a hard time getting them up my legs ....let alone zipped. Well I can wear then now. They are a bit tight..but soon they will be "just right--like Goldilocks said!" So it is still an amazing trip. The past two months my average loss is 5 pounds for  the month. I am really hoping I stay on that line for awhile before it slows even more. I am really working now for every pound I lose. I am not perfect in food choices now and it is much easier to eat more now than ever before. Today I caved in when I was making cookies for the kids and ate about two cookies worth of cookie dough. I have always loved cookie dough..once baked they don't appeal to me as much. But after I had that I was done and done. So not much damage done. I am averaging just over 1000 to 1100 calories a day now. I need to have 100 gms of protein a day or I am hungry now. Still eating 5x's a day. Usually three meals and two protein shakes. I am walking most days of the week..between two and three miles. I have resorted to doing an all liquid day on Tuesdays and the day after is the day I lose for the week. It sort of resets my tummy and helps me along. Today I am down 184 lbs and weigh 206. I am so happy with how I feel and how my health has gotten so much better. I will just keep trucking along and keep at it. I am determined to get to 180...hoping to go farther though. Still feel it is a ---TIme will tell if my body will let me go lower. Well that is my update for this month. Things really change the farther out you get and life does get more in the forefront and the WLS takes a seat in the back too.
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New Resolve after a disappointing week and NSV
on March 13, 2008 8:57 pm
I guess now that I am a year out I should be happy with my loss. I mean I have lost an incredible amount of weight in the last year. But my losses have slow dramatically lately. And I am having a hard time with not having a consistant loss. Before I was almost always losing 2 to 3 lbs a week. Now I have one pound here and there and more no loss weeks than ever before. 

So last week I decided to change it up and go back to low carbing it...more like in the beginning. I also upped my exercise. I walked three days for 4 miles and two days for 3 miles making a total of 18 miles for the week. I thought by increasing the movement I would lose. By Friday I was in tears cause the scale said I gained 2 pounds. I was incredibly frustrated and not happy. 

Friday turned into a pity party day for me and I can honestly say it is the first time I fell off the wagon. I am so happy to have my VSG...cause my fall off when put into words did not amount to much. Over my regular food I had three little Dove ice cream treats(by the way these have been residing in my freezer for almost a yr waiting for me to eat them!)...they are about the size of a long thumb, a small handful of chips and some extra cheese. Now how bad it that.. not good...but over all not bad. 

So Saturday I sat and thought about it. I decided I need to feed my body more and see if that will encourage a loss. I think between lowering my calories and adding that much exercise I probably put myself into a starvation mode. Or I am plateauing and just have to accept it and deal with it. Anyhow Saturday was a normal day. I did not over eat or go back to bad habits because of having a bad day. I did allow myself one extra protein treat and guess what..I have almost lost those two pounds already. Today has been a normal day too thank goodness.

So my new resolve is to ride it out(I mean I don't have a real choice do I???). Don't get so upset that my body is deciding when to lose. Not to let the scale ruin my day. That I just need to keep doing what is right for me and hang in there. I do have to say this is the most bummed out I have ever gotten since this journey started though. I am so excited to be thinking onederland is around the corner...but it is taking so long to get here.  It makes you over think everything from food choices to exercise and if your doing what is right from eating to much to thinking your not eating enough. 

Now on to the NSV...my dh was playing music(djing) as usual last night at a local bar. I went down later on to dance. Was having a good time. Went to the bathroom and a girl I know walks in. I am waiting to use the facility. She looked at me...than popped up and looked again and said OMG...I didn't recognize you. She said I looked as small as her. I said "oh no...I got a ways to go and will never be your weight." She said she weighs 140 or something and I really look like her...I laugh and say I am still over 200 yet but thank you! Than later I ran into a classmate and she was stunned by my loss. We were talking about our 25 yr class reunion that will be this year. But she as truly happy for me and asked alot of questions in a nice way about what I did. So that was a very nice way for my Saturday to end compared to how I felt on Friday. 

Well if you made it to the bottom of this I thank you!! I just had to write it down and get it out. I know many of us have had stalls and slow downs. It is just frustrating. 
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Post about my first yr out!
on February 22, 2008 8:43 pm
I am a year out today! It is completely amazing and I am very happy with my surgery and my VSG. Today I am 174 pounds lighter than a yr ago. That is incredible. I was so scared about the surgery and the changes that were going to happen. But I wanted better health much more. I wanted to be alive for my children and able to be more active in their lives. My 2yo daughter was a big catalyst for me in deciding to do this. I am an older mom...had her at age 40. Thinking about my health and where it was going was scary and that she deserved a healther mom really kicked it into gear for me. I have two boys too...and I feel bad for them that I could not be more active for them. But they are still young(10 and 7) and I can make up for that now. 

When I went in for surgery I was a Type 2 diabetic that was using around 100 units of insulin a day so I could survive. I had just developed high blood pressure. I have a few sycope phases with my baby girl that scared the crap out of me. I could not see my diabetes getting better-- or any of the other health problems I was having. Surgery for me was a huge decision in getting healthy. Today I don't have to take one bit of insulin. I am down to testing my blood a couple times a week! And that is just because I want to keep track of it. My latest A1C test came in at 5.2. That was a blessing to me. High blood pressure is gone. My energy level is way up. My house is staying cleaner. I am able to do so much more and not get tired now. I still love cooking and eating. But eating is within control. 

I do have to keep logging in my food daily. I could easily eat more if I did not keep track. My hunger is back..but it is easy to control. It is nothing compared to the hungry monster had pre op. I hope to god it stays that way. I can not over eat with a meal. The way I could eat around this surgery is grazing. So I really have to keep an eye on that. I still eat three food meals and two protein shakes or bars daily. For me that plan is working well and it is never to far between the next thing to eat or drink.  

Exercise has become a part of my life now too and I truly enjoy it! That is odd cause I never cared for it before. I need to do it now to help with loss as it is much harder to lose now. But beyond that is how I feel after I do it..it is a natural kind of high. Makes me feel good all day and stronger. I highly recommend starting as soon as you feel you can after surgery. It took me awhile to do that...I was SMO and so embarrassed to even go out walking in public. And walking a block pre op would leaving me huffing and puffing. Or going up a bunch of stairs was just plain awful. Today I can walk miles without tiring! Amazing to me. I am so looking forward to taking the boys to Great America this yr and not worrying about if I can fit in that ride! That is just a dream to me that will hit with reality when we go.

Without the board and all of you I would not have made it this far. I am living in a small rural town. There are no support groups here. My support has come from here. And even when I don't post alot I am usually reading just about every post here. I am so happy to be one of you!

I am not thru yet. My goal is to get to the 180's. At my yr out visit with my Primary Care Doc he wanted to know my goal. I said I don't really have one. I don't want to set myself up for failure. He thinks I should try to get to 150. Ummm I don't see it ...but time will tell. I told him I can see 180 as that was where I was at in High School. So I know that is doable.. I was there once a long time ago. I don't expect to get to the 180's for quite some time. Loss has slowed down dramatically or me in the last month or so. Starting out Super Morbid Obese makes me think this journey will take about two yrs to accomplish. I am planning on being here for a LONG time!
 
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Stall is over for now and 11 months out.
on January 21, 2008 1:58 pm
A small update to say that stall finally broke thank goodness! That was the longest one for me since starting this. People were asking me if I was done losing since it was not coming off and I said not by a long shot. I am aiming to get into "onederland" one of these days...more likely months. But I am determined to get there. 

Well I am just over 11 months out. I have lost an amazing 168 pounds in that amount of time. I am so happy about that and how I feel. I now weigh 222 pounds. That to me is completely unbelievable. A year ago I was dreaming about this surgery. At that time I thought I would be happy and lucky to get to 250. I have surpassed that and made new goals. I hope the losses continue. But am aware that the stalls are here and likely gonna keep happening. So I will have to be patient and keep working hard. 

Well that is my update for this month. Soon I will be posting a new progress photos!
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Stuck in the Stall from ....well you know!
on January 10, 2008 5:59 pm
Well it is closing in on almost a month later...and yes...I am stalled out. I have been stuck at 228 or 227 for a few weeks now. I had a 16 day stall than finally dropped to 227. And now for 5 days I have lost nothing again. It is frustrating but I knew it could happen and would. So I just have to wait it out. But did I say it was frustrating!!! LOL. I am sure I am not done yet..at least I hope not. I will update around my next anniversary...the 19 of January..hopefully with some better news!

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My Story

This is from my old profile...wow how time flies.
 


Hello All,
 

4/27/02
Well I have made a decision to have WLS. But there is a big exclusion in my policy against it. It is very specific and to the point. I am thinking of waiting a bit longer anyhow. I am almost 37 now. I would like to try and have one more baby and nurse that child before going thru with this. So maybe by that time the policy will have changed or I can figure something else out. I am a mother to two wonderful sons. They are four and one. Have been married for 18 yrs now and am at my end with diets and dieting. You know if I was a couple of yrs younger and had proper insurance I would do this surgery today and give myself two yrs to get stablized and then try for my last baby. But my biological clock is tick tick ticking! I am addicted to this site since finding it and read read read just everything here. It has let me dream again about the possible outside me. I love the person I am inside...just not the outside..Well if anyone wishes to email me feel free. I love hearing from anyone! And than you for this site!!!



Free Counter


Adding my weekly weight loss here instead of updating it above

Week 1 (preop) 378 lost 12lbs
Week 2 (preop) 372 lost 6lbs
Week 3 (1 week after surgery) 363 lost 9lbs
Week 4 (2 weeks after) 360 lost 3lbs
Week 5 (3 weeks after) 350 lost 10lbs
Week 6 (4 weeks after) 340 lost 10lbs
Week 7 (5 weeks) 338 lost 2lbs
Week 8 (6 weeks) 335 lost 3lbs
Week 9 (7 weeks) 332 lost 3lbs
Week 10 (8 weeks) 329 lost 3lbs
Week 11 (9 weeks) 327 lost 2lbs
Week 12 (10 weeks) 324 lost 3lbs
Week 13 (11 weeks) 321 lost 3lbs. 69lbs
Week 14 (12 weeks) 316 lost 5lbs 74lbs

Week 15(13 weeks) 314 lost 2lb 76lbs.

Week 16(14 weeks) 311 lost 3lb 79lbs
Week 17(15 weeks) 309 lost 2lb 81lbs
Week 18(16 weeks) 305 lost 5lb 85lbs
Week 19(17 weeks) 302 lost 3lb 88lbs
Week 20(18 weeks) 302 lost 0    88lbs
Week 21(19 weeks) 298 lost 4    92lbs
Week 22(20 weeks) 293 lost 5    97lbs
Week 23(21 weeks) 292 lost 1    98lbs
Week 24(22 weeks) 289 lost 3  101lbs
Week 25(23 weeks) 286 lost 3  104lbs
Week 26(24 weeks) 283 lost 3  107lbs
Week 27(25 weeks) 281 lost 2  109lbs
Week 28(26 weeks) 280 lost 1  110lbs
Week 29(27 weeks) 277 lost 3  113lbs
Week 30(28 weeks) 274 lost 3  116lbs BMI 42.9
Week 31(29 weeks) 271 lost 3  119lbs
Week 32(30 weeks) 270 lost 1  120lbs
Week 33(31 weeks) 267 lost 3  123lbs
Week 34(32 weeks) 262 lost 5  128lbs BMI 41.0
Week 35(33 weeks) 254 lost 8  136lbs BMI 39.8
Week 36(34 weeks) 254 lost 0  136lbs
Week 37(35 weeks) 249 lost 5  141lbs BMI 39
Week 38(36 weeks) 249 lost 0  141lbs
Week 39(37 weeks) 249 lost 0  141lbs(grrr stalled)
Week 40(38 weeks) 245 lost 4  145lbs
Week 41(39 weeks) 243 lost 2  147lbs
Week 42(40 weeks) 239 lost 4  151lbs
Week 43(41 weeks) 235 lost 4  155lbs
Week 44(42 weeks) 234 lost 1  156lbs
Week 45(43 weeks) 233 lost 1  157lbs
Week 46(44 weeks) 228 lost 5  162lbs
Week 47(45 weeks) 228 lost 0  162lbs lost
Week 48(46 weeks) 227 lost 1  163lbs lost
Week 49(47 weeks) 225 lost 2  165lbs
Week 50(48 weeks) 222 lost 3  168lbs
Week 51(49 weeks) 221 lost 1  169lbs
Week 52(50 weeks) 220 lost 1  170lbs
Week 53(51 weeks) 220 lost 0  170lbs
Week 54(52 weeks) 216 lost 4  174lbs lost
Week 55(53 weeks) 215 lost 1  175lbs
Week 56(54 weeks) 214 lost 1  176lbs
Week 57(55 weeks) 214 lost 0  176lbs.
Week 58(56 weeks) 211 lost 3  179lbs
Week 59(57 weeks) 211 lost 0  179lbs.
Week 60(58 weeks) 211 lost 0  179lbs.
Week 61(59 weeks) 210 lost 1  180lbs
Week 62(60 weeks) 209 lost 1  181lbs.
Week 63(61 weeks) 206 lost 3  184lbs.
Week 64(62 weeks) 202 lost 4  188lbs.
Week 65(63 weeks) 202 lost 0  188lbs.
Week 66(64 weeks) 202 lost 0  188lbs. stalled again
Week 67(65 weeks) 202 lost 0  188lbs.
Week 68(66 weeks) 201 lost 1  189lbs.
I will now be updating on the Anniversary of my Months on the 19th since weightloss has slowed down!
6- 19 (16 months out)200 lost 1  190lbs total loss
7-19  (17 months out)195 lost 5  195
8-19  (18 months out)200 gained 5  190 lost
9-19  (19 months out)
10-19(20 months out)
11-19(21 months out)
12-19(22 months out)

 


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