ObesityHelp

Hello OH,
Yep, I am slipping with my updates.  I did not realize I skipped my 1 year posting.  I have gotten side-tracked with the blog and it just slipped my mind.

As of today i am 122.6 
This number is a new low for me.  I have never been a adult woman weighing 120 anything.   I think I got in the 120's back in late May or early June.  It was really a surprise for me.  I'm trying to maintain now.  Its possible I will dip as low as 120 but I do not want to go lower than that.  My doctors appointment with my surgeon was interesting.  She was amazed I had gotten so low so quickly.  She said I lost like a RNY patient.  Honestly I took advice of the veteran sleevers here and I got to goal.  I looked at the plan given by the nutritionists and it had a lot of corbs, fruits and calories--like 1000-1200 a day (ok for maintenance, not losing!).

I am so thankful for the information I got off the boards.  Now I have to get my protein levels higher and vitamin a.  Then I need to get labs done again.  I bumped up the protein and I actually lost a few more pounds.  I still have a pattern of gaining before my pms and the week of. I gain 5 pounds and then it goes back down. 

I can wear size 0 dresses, xs tops, size 1 at the Gap, size 2 Jeans. I have fun shopping and trying on clothes.  It is a sport of mine to try stuff on and then take pics in them and walk away (on a budget).  I turned 40 in July and my son starts college in Sept so I dont have a lot of room to spend clothes on full priced items.  I will hit the clearance whenever possible.

The bad is that I can eat junk and I do get cravings for sweet stuff.  I just don't buy too much bad stuff. 
The loose skin--for me the arms, my saggy boobies and my deflating bum.  Those I am going to save some money and get fixed.

I am enjoying sleeved life.  Maintenance is about learning and staying on the path that lead to weight loss.  We can't ever forget that obesity is TREATED by this surgery not CURED.  Anyone can gain ALL the weight back if they do not establish life long GOOD habits.

Today I am 132.  I did hit a low of 129.4 April 28th but my cycle came and so did the typical 4-5 pounds of bloat.  I am now going down again YIPPEE!  I think I want to maintain between 130-135  BUT I am not opposed to losing down to 125 and stopping there.

Next month is my 1 year surgiversary and follow-up with my surgeon.  I have to make sure my protein levels are up.  Last time the numbers were low--even though my food intake is 90%protein--make that 95!..

Still no regrets about the sleeve.  My measurements are 30-25 1/2-35 and I can wear a size 2 some 4's.

I am overdue in writing this but there have been some stressful events occuring in my life and I did not feel up to writing a lot.

I'm doing well and still losing weight. March was a slow month and then I had a bad scale. This month started off slow but then I hit a groove and dropped from 139 to 131. 

I went to my cheap standby Old Navy and was looking for some cheap work clothes.  I picked up a demin skirt in a size 2 ( I wear a 4 in jeans and usually can get in smaller skirts) Plus it was stretch denim.  I also got a size 2 jean to take to the fitting room to see if they would fit.  The jeans fit!!!  However they gave me pancake butt and ummm no maaam that is NOT the look for me.  I am fighting wil all my might to keep my bum.  Imagine Dolly Parton with flat boobs.  Um yeah. I have always had a booty. Boobs I will be buying those!

Ok rambling...I know!.  Anywho, the size 2 was a bit loose. I went back out on the floor and got a size 0. I tried it on and BAM! it fit.  Now the modern-day feminist in me--I don't like to be defined as a 0. That is really strange to me.

Never in a million years did I EVER think I would get in 2's and 0's--even it if is the magic of vanity sizing.

 Time really flies.  Today 3/12 my dad would've been 85. He passed away in 2003, 3 weeks after his birthday and on April Fools Day.  I miss my parents but that is not the point of my post tonight.

WLS for me was about extending my lifespan.  My highest weight--that I know of-was 243. I was a lightweight and many people do not understand why we "lightweights" have surgery.

Genetically speaking, as a woman of color I was quickly going down the same obese with diabeties road my mom and sister went down.  I did not want that for myself. See my mother was on life support and declared braindead in September 2009. I did not want my kids, or husband to go through this because I was not able to get my weight under control.

I went on many diets and each time I gained weight. I would lose a max of 20-30 pounds and then end up gaining 40-50 more.  Lost fat cells came back with a herd of friends named cellulite and stretchmarks. 

I was never the "happy" fat girl.  I did not like the clothing, the feeling, the way my body felt during intimacy.  I was losing myself.  I went to a WLS seminar on 11-17-10 and decided I was having surgery.  Thanks to OH, and Youtube Videos  I changed my mind from the band to the sleeve.  My insurance required 6 months of "hoops", lol.  I complied and had surgery on 6-10-11.

I followed the plan provided by my bariatric team, but also took advantage of the advice given here by successful sleevers.   I eat 2.5-3oz of meat and a bite of veggies for lunch /dinner, breakfast is my premier protein drink. I might snack on a Atkins bar or a few pork rinds but that is rare.  I always get in 76 oz of liquids daily. I also have to watch out for salty foods. I walk daily and have started jogging a bit but I don't do anything hardcore. I plan on adding more weightlifting soon. 

My goal weight was 145 and I hit it at 8 months out.  Today I am 138 and I went to the mall and I can get in several different size 4 brand jeasn, size small dress or a 2 dress !  I plan on stopping (trying to anyhow) at 135.  I am truly amazed and so thankful that I got sleeved. 

I can't take pics because I have managed to lose my camera charger .  As soon as I find it I will add pics to my profile.  
 

Today I got on the scale and I am 147!. I lost 10 pounds between Jan and Feb.

I have to say that this has not been very difficult for me.  I did have to go on the road to my hometown to handle some business and I ate some things that weren't "low carb". My weight went down and then bounced up.  This week I got extra vigilant and the weight came back down. 

My goal weight is 145.   I think I am going to go down another 5-10 pounds so I have some wiggle room. 

I love my sleeve 

I went to Macy's and tried on  size 2 Calvin Klein dress and it fit!  My torso is so small and the dress flared at the bottom.  I was so excited. 

I am wearing a 4 jean at Old Navy  flirt/sweethart only.  Most brands I can get in a 6 if it has stretch.  Tops are a small. I am really blown away.  I feel my bones at night when I try to sleep. I need pillows between my knees.

Feb 11. I hit GOAL!

I can't believe that the day I hit goal is the day that Whitney Houston died.  I remember her voice sounding like pure perfection as I was growing up. I so desperately wanted her to get her life back on track.  I know she had a long struggle with substance abuse that only got worse with her troubled marriage.  I pray she finds peace now......r.i.p Whitney.