My reward for going through this surgery and losing (and keeping) the weight off was to treat myself to a trip to Disney World and in 3 days, the dream will come true and I couldn't be happier! I have convinced my hubby to fly for the first time and I'm in no way worried about fitting in an airline seat nor having to ask for a seat belt extender!  I have successfully kept all of the weight off (well, I'm at 278 today) and I'm so happy to be fitting in size 20 clothing and even some XL shirts!  I keep on the go and eat small portions...snacking is my greatest problem, but I find watermelon, grapes and raisins great hunger busters...they may not be the healthiest, but they work for me!  I hope that my feet hold out (my greatest worry for the trip) but I'm so full of energy and I'm sure I'll last way longer that my husband, but hopefully I can convince him to some day have this surgery because he could benefit in so many ways as I have!

I continue to take my daily regieme of vitamins faithfully and my PCP keeps track of yearly bloodwork, which I recently had and was told all levels were perfect.  My asthma is gone. I'm on one low dose BP pill, but I still am on the CPAP at a super low level, which once I get to 230, they'll D/C it (I would love to be retested, because when I was tested for pressures earlier this year, I had a horrible night's sleep in the lab...I don't know how they even got an accurate reading because I do not remember sleeping at all!!).  Anyway, my cholesterol was recently tested at 169..perfect!  My BP is 120/80..perfect.  I'm so, so happy!

Now, my reward is finally here to enjoy!! M-I-C-K-E-Y   M-O-U-S-E!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their life as much as me!

It's been awhile since I've updated, but it's as the saying goes...time flies when you are having fun. 

For me, fun has been too much ...especially this winter.  I made about 15 different kinds of cookies and breads, chocolate confections and starting taste testing.  As soon as I realized how dangerous they were in my house, I gave them all away quickly!  Now I have gained enough weight that I'm starting to worry.  I did, prior to Thanksgiving, try the pouch test for 5 days and did ok to lose about 5 lbs. ..only to regain over the Christmas holiday. 

Starting this past week, I knew that I needed to do something more than just watch what I put in my mouth and do something more active, so I joined an exercise club that meets once a week (twice if I want, but just starting out, I'm just doing once) and my first class was Thursday and 2 days later (today), I'm so sore and achey!  The class was supposed to be for the out of shape and overweight, but it turned out to be an advanced class with 20 min. aerobics, 20 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of pilates.  I only used 2 lb. weights and I'm really feeling it now! I did keep up with the class, but I'm trying out a different class on Monday.  Hopefully within a few weeks, I'll start seeing results!!  It was one of my goals to be active and excercise, so I'm finally getting back on track after a brief fall off the wagon!  

I've continued to walk as much as i can every decent weekend.  My husband goes with me and the exercise is helping him too! We had been gearing up for being able to walk a 5K and did that this past weekend to raise money for my workplace.  It was a beautiful day and was pretty neat to walk Pittsburgh streets that I've only been on in a car before!  We actually only "officially" completed 4K because I had to do a pitstop prior to the last mile...dang coffee goes right through me!  I was really proud of the both of us.  I posted a picture of me walking in it.

I also bought myself a bicycle to ride on the trails.  My husband is looking for one for him.  I tested it out in my neighborhood...it's true that you never forget and it's been 30 years or more since I last was on a bike!  This will add to our active lifestyle!

We already started planning our trip to Walt Disney World for next year...we have a year and a half to save and I cannot wait to see all the parks!  I just hope my husband can keep up with me!  Poor thing is trying though!

I'm still not losing weight like I used to and fluctuate between the same 5 lbs.  I think it might be the water intake....I'm having trouble getting enough water.  I seem to snack a lot too, but it's all healthy snacks..cheese, nuts, fruit. Still not losing..it's frustrating, but I keep trying!  I am losing inches though...I'm now wearing a 1X and some XL.  It's sometimes hard to let go of the big clothes...especially since I know how much I spent on them, but a lot of them I do look ridiculous in!  I have lots of my clothes in a plus size consignment shop so I'm getting a tiny bit back from their sales.

I hope everyone's doing great...haven't heard from a lot of my OH friends in a long time!  Drop me a line or update your profiles!  

Weight Check: 271 lbs.

I'm  trying to walk at least 5 to 7 days a week...depending on the weather.  My husband has been very motivating and encouraging and goes with me so it makes a good time to "catch up" and talk.  We've been walking the Montour Trail and various parts of it....lots of people utilize the trail for walking, taking their dogs for walks, biking and running.  Talking about running, I have been incorporating running in to my walk...my husband doesn't join in, but is very encouraging!  I shocked myself the other day as I ran probably about 1/8 of a mile and wasn't dying!  In fact, I was able to run again after walking for a while to catch my breath!  I think this is called interval training and I really like it!

This weekend we are off for another relaxing vacation at the beach.  We will probably have the exercise room, pool, tennis courts and beach to ourselves since it is really the "off season" but that is just fine with me! 

Weight check: 271 lbs.

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking...wish I had better news to blog about, but unfortunately, there's not too much to write about.  Tuesday was my 1 yr. surgeriversary and came and went without much hoopla.  I still am at a stall and today I had my 1 yr. followup with Dr. Ramanathan and discovered why... I eat too many calories..too many "whites" --potatoes, rice, noodles, bread...all no-nos.  I'm to stick to 1200 calories and no more.  No more snacking..if I do, a few tablespoons of a protein..nuts, peanut butter...a hard-boiled egg..a cheese stick...no more than that.  I'm to increase my walking and incline to evenutally  sweating for 45 minutes. Add cardio 2 days a week and weights. My labwork was terrific. BP was 130/90...which is higher than what my PCP took last Thursday..120/80.  I do not need to see the dr. again until next year.

As for my stall, the recommendation is to "shock" my system.  I've been eating the same things and nothing new and no protein shakes...so starting tomorrow for the next week, breakfast will be a protein shake with a fruit in it. 

I'll post again when things turnaround!

Weight check: 274 lbs.

This past weekend was my 45th birthday and my husband's birthday as well.  We had won tickets to a Pitt Women's basketball game, an overnight stay in a Pittsburgh hotel and tickets to a flower show, so we made it a weekend in Pittsburgh.  At the BB game, the parking lot is on top of a hill above the event center...going down was no problem and my husband said, you know we are going to have to go up these when we are done.  I worried towards the end of the game thinking that perhaps we need to leave early so I don't hold up the crowd leaving!  My husband could take the steps 2 at a time so was way ahead of me and someone comes around me to pass me and says, "This is why it's called "Cardiac Hill" which I had heard about but had no idea that that was what I was climbing and without stopping!  I did all the steps (probably about 100 or more!)  I was breathing hard and my heart was pumping, but I was able to talk and keep moving!  I was very, very proud of myself because a year ago, I would not of been able to do what I did!

I tried to do a liquid diet today but decided a soft diet would be better...I did have peanut butter and veggie soup, so I guess that  is not really with the rules...Perhaps I better study on what will keep my protein level up!

Happy New Year!  It was very odd to be very sober during the celebration at my friends house.  I drank water and sipped one small peach spiked drink and a half glass of champagne at midnight which made me warm and fuzzy. Since I'm not a drinker, I didn't know nor did I want to find out how much I could handle with my new stomach. 

As for Christmas, I did well at not sampling cookies while making them, but those who sent cookies to my house...well, they were sampled and my husband couldn't eat them fast enough...so I'd sampled more.  I didn't gain too much, but I definitely felt the pants a little more tighter.  Luckily, they didn't last long!

As for the weight loss, period time is the worse time for me because of the water gain.  I can happily say, since it's over, the weight is down some and each day, going down further.  I'm at 271 right now and I'm sure by the end of the week, the ticker will be changing as I start on Tuesday, my semi-liquid diet for 5 days.  I want to wait until after this weekend as it is my birthday tomorrow and my husband's too and we are going to a college basketball game and staying overnight.

On Monday I get another ultrasound of my leg veins to confirm my drs. suspicions that my veins are not working right.  If so, I will have laser surgery in the next few months to prevent any more damage than what has already occurred.  I wish I had been more proactive on this years ago, but my PCP was not concerned about it and now that I'm wanting to be able to wear shorts this summer, I may not be able to without leg makeup.

Weight check: 271 lbs.

I've been fighting the urge to update this blog due to having not seen 265 for more than a few weeks. In fact, I'm closer to 270 lbs. but I know why...I am eating carb-loaded foods...grapes in particular.  Raisins, chips, potato, and I started sampling the 22 dozen cookies I made.  So, today, with the suggestion of my husband, I packed up variety trays of cookies for all of my neighbors ...instead of waiting until Christmas eve to deliver, they got them tonight with my blessings and wishes that they enjoy them.  My husband delivered them happily and I am happy to be rid of them.  Unfortunately, there's more cookies to be made because I want to give some to my co-workers and save for Christmas.  I just can't trust my willpower to not pop one or two in my mouth each time I walk by, so I will need to wrap them well and up high where it will take effort to get them and that should be a reminder that I should eat something else or do something else (like walk on my treadmill!)

I told my husband tonight that I need to do a liquid diet or at least a semi-liquid diet for a week.  I had a friend who was "stuck" and did this and it helped her.  I just need to determine if I want to start it now or wait until after the new year.  I'm thinking it will be better socially to do this after.  In the meantime, I blog here about my not losing weight and how mad I am at myself for going back to old ways.  Then again, I'm learning as well...who'd ever think grapes would be bad for you in excess! A few grapes, ok, a whole bowl, bad.  I am walking close to 10000 steps a day except for the weekends unless I shop until I drop.  The contest ends this weekend and I did pretty well all this week.  Just didn't see the scale move because of my effort.

On a more positive note, I posted our Christmas pictures that we sent to friends and family.  I hope to do another picture next year, 60 or 70 lbs. less!  I shall make that a goal! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of my OH friends and supporters who check on me here!

For those who have been noticing, yes, the ticker has been stuck for 57 days!  I've been up or down 2 lbs. for that long and never below until today! I upped my protein and am trying to reduce snacking on unhealthy crunchies! I've been on a kick with black grapes for some reason!  I love popping them in the evening!

The Challenge for 10000 steps a day is just that, a challenge!  At first, I was all gung ho...but now that the weather is cold...ok, deathly freezing! I cannot stand to be outside but as long as I need to.  My treadmill has become a dust collector and I just need to get some motivation to get on it again!  I promise myself now to get on it 3 times next week and if I make that, I know I can do it!!

Otherwise, I feel great.  Still wearing size 22, almost to a 20. Still collecting piles of too big clothing from the closet. Having more aches and pains from the weather, arthritis or something...perhaps it's the movement of carrying less weight. 

Oh, I also saw my PCP this week.  I have perfect BP -- 120/80.  Still on small dose at least until February when I see him again. 

I'll keep updating that tracker...it hopefully will continue to move down!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Good news!  I was tested by my allergy dr. to see how my breathing is.  I was decreased in asthma medication in May, so I was curious to see if my score on the test would improve.  Oh yeah!  It improved!  Tremendously!  Dr. said I have perfect breathing and no signs of asthma!  I'm being titrated off my medication and after my next visit in 6 months...no more meds.  Yahoo!

I see my PCP in a few weeks so maybe the BP meds will get reduced even more as well!

I'm walking every day and still hanging around the same weight. Seems like a major stall for me.  I really need to focus more on protein and fruit.  I hardly ever miss my vitamins.  I'm still wearing a size 22 and 2x shirts, although some 1x shirts fit depending on the cut.  I've been losing more hair that usual...I noticed I'm thinning!  Biotin doesn't seem to be helping or perhaps it's just slowing the process down!

I do really feel great and look forward to making Thanksgiving dinner for my family...I'll just be using the little plate.