It's been 14 weeks since my revision to RNY and I'm doing great.  I was 271 the day of surgery and as of this morning I'm 207, feeling good, looking good, and getting ready to hit the gym.  

My surgery went very well, recovery was smooth - with the exception of the allergic reaction to morphine while I was in the hospital.  Not having any issues with food, have had dumping but its live and learn with what I can and can't tolerate now.  On a salad kick lately and have found once again that my taste buds have changed.   As long as I'm not craving cookie, cake, and candy it is all good.

So what's going on in my personal life ......

Still happily married to Matt, we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary in November and will hit 17 years together this April.  I'm almost finished with my masters degree - only 8 more weeks of school, then graduation will be on May 16th.  Unfortunately I got laid-off 2 weeks ago from Home Depot; I really loved my job there.   So I am back on the market looking for employment.  Studying for my PHR and will take my exam this May, so hopefully that will make me more marketable. 

I hit the gym at least 4 times a week and am on the Wii Fit everyday.  Really trying to exercise and document everything that goes in my mouth this time.  I will admit, I have already had a few martinis but now I have 1 or 2 a month instead of every weekend.  Not willing to sacrafice the calories as much this time.  Plus I can't drink a whole martini anymore. 

I'm also on LinkedIn and Face Book now, so please feel free to invite me if your connected. 

Stop by and check out my photos, I have one album now to show my progress. 

Wow, been a really long time since I've done a post on my blog.  Guess it must be that old saying ...... if you haven't got anything good to say just don't say anything at all.  

Well the first 18 months with my band was great and I went from a size 28 / 32 down to a size 14 and damn I was looking good.  Thought I could see those size 10's in my future.   Well started having issues with my band, things sticking that normally wouldn't, pb'g and bringing up blood, pain & swelling on my right side every time I eat or drink anything.  Had all sorts of tests done and even been un-filled two or three times.  Of course guess what happens when your unfilled and have no restriction.......up goes the scale.   Currently back in a 16 and not happy at all. 

After doing a lot of soul searching, therapy, and tests.......I have decided to have a revision to RNY with Dr. Pohl.  He did my first surgery (along with other surgeries for gall bladder & port repositioning, and my husband's gall bladder) and I trust him completely.  Was very nervous I may have to goto another surgeon if he wouldn't do it, Don't know what I would have done if he said no, it is very hard to find someone like him.  Very intellegent, great bedside manner, doesn't make you feel like a failure or that your ever bothering him with questions, and gives you the feeling that he genuinely cares about each and every patient.........your not just another payment from the insurance company.   His office staff are great as well, and he has a physician assistant Jeremy who treats everyone just like Dr. Pohl does.  Some doctor's office have staff that turn you away from seeing a good doctor because they are just rude, but not Dr. Pohl's office.    

Off my soap box and back on track now....

So on Tuesday, October 28th I will be going in for band removal and RNY.  It is the day before my 35th birthday; guess spending the day on pain meds can help turning another year old better.  Nervous about the procedure and the whole cutting & stapling part of it, but I know it is the right decision for me.  Plus I'll be in good hands with Dr. Pohl.

Going on a cruise the first week of December.   I leave exactly 5 weeks from the day of surgery.  I know it is close, but it is a family cruise that was booked & paid for and it is only a 4 night cruise.  Not worried about the food issue, and I will have my magic bullet with me.  My husband is used to traveling with me and having to get food to take back and puree.  My family doesn't like it......too bad.   I think they will be fine.  My husband & I will be doing breakfast & lunch on our own, so it will be dinner only that they will see me.  At that point I will be able to order chicken & mashed potato.  I just won't do all the courses and dessert. 

So aside from weight loss surgery what else has happened this year.....
*  Graduated from college on 2-3-08 with my BSBA magna cum laude.....recieved the Female Undergraduate Award
*  Started my masters program and will finish in March 2009
*  Left my old job in January (yipppppeeeeee) and took an HR position for The Home Depot.   Loving my new job.  
*  Got a new car......2008 Jeep Liberty......love it!!!!!
*  Hubby got a new car.....was in bad accident and totalled his old sports car.   He got a 2008 Camary.....was 3 weeks after we bought my car.
*  Went and saw Jimmy Buffett in concert 4 times this year
*  Got invited to the excluse private grand opening party of Margaritaville at Mohegan Sun.   We had a blast.......ate & drank up a storm.   My last hoorah before surgery.
*  Got another tattoo.....my greek honor letters with my red honor cords for Phi Delta Lamda


I think that is about all of my big highlights.  Gonna work on setting new goals and will keep you all posted.  Wish me luck. 

So it's been a while since I've made a post and so much has happened.

Still loving my band, and I'm about 15 - 20 lbs from where I would like to be.  But in all honesty if I didn't lose another pound and just had all this excess skin removed I would be perfectly content at this point.  I am pretty much maintaining right now, may with another fill I will lose a little but who knows.

Big news for 2007 is that I completed my BSBA in Business Administration with a concentration in Management   Not only did I complete it, but I am graduating Summa Cum Laude after completing an accelerated program evenings while working 50+ hours a week.  My graduation is on February 3rd which happens to be my dad's 60th birthday.   

For those of you who have gotten to know me well, do you think I would rest and take a break after completing my degree?   Of course not.  I finished my BSBA on September 24th and October 1st I started an accelerated Masters of Science, Management program.  No rest for the wicked.  I will complete my degree in March 2009 (sounds so far away) and my thesis is on "Obesity discrimination in the workplace and how WLS eliminates the discrimination, along with new career opportunities that are presented to us once the weight is gone"    Big topic to tackle (no pun intended) and it will be difficult to prove obesity discrimination since it is not yet recognized by the ADA but I will try.  

My hubby graduated in May with another degree; this time in business...his other degrees are medical / laboratory related.  He enrolled in the masters program with me so we will graduate together.  It's been great being in classes with him, reminds me of when we met.  We started dating the end of our first year of college back in 1992.   

So what am I going to do in 2008??????

Well I think a career change is in order for me.  Although I like my job, I am stuck in the role / position and not much opportunity to move.  Having completed my degree I would really like to utilize the skills I obtained and be able to apply them in the business world.  Also, I want a place where I can advance after I get my masters degree.

I am going to continue to try to lose weight and exercise.  Planning on walking the 3-day 60 mile again, but this time I would like to walk in Washington DC for the early October walk.  Boston in August was a killer with the heat.  

Skin removal........hoping to get it done in late 2008.  

Somewhere along the line I would like to take a vacation and relax during the year, but who knows.   

I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I hope 2008 brings you health and weight loss

Well here is an update on my goals:

1.   Not to need a seatbelt extension on the plane - I flew on July 4th and happy to say NO seatbelt extension for me
2.   To be able to put the airplane tray down without hitting the belly - I enjoyed my little snack with the tray down and plenty of room between me & the tray
3.   To weigh under 200 lbs - Haning at 216 right now.
4.   To cross my legs - I can do it, even sat indian style for the first time today - Christmas day
5.   To have only one chin - Down to 1 1/2.. used to have 3 or 4
6.   To wear heels again - 90% of my shoes are heels now 
7.   To see my toes when I look down  - what ya know my pedicure looks great :)
8.   To not see morbidly obese on my charts anymore - I'm Obese - no longe MORBID.  15 lbs more and I will be overweight
9.   To be able to jog on the treadmill - I can jog 2 miles
10. Not to be out of breath going up and down the stairs - No problem ....bring on the stairs you don't scare me any more
11. To fit comfortably in a seat at the movie theater - What ya know I don't have to have bruises on my hips after a movie
12. To fit on amusement rides - going to Disney in November
13. To shop in a normal store - GAP, Ann Taylor, and Banana Republic have become my favorite stores
14. To wear a size 10 - I'm at a 14 right now
15. To feel comfortable in a bathing suit - Bought a size 14 bathing suit and will be wearing it for the first time today. 
16.  To sit on my hubby's lap and not worry I'm crushing him - I didn't break him
17.  To have more energy in the bedroom - huge improvement
18.  To be able to wear a 7 1/2 inch bracelet  - Just had all my bracelets resized to 7 1/2 inches and my wedding band went from a size 11 to an 8 1/2 ......need to resize my wedding band again it is getting lose.

  I didn't need a seat belt extension & I could put the tray down and still have room between my stomach and the tray.  Oh yeah, didn't need to lift the arm piece either

Hi everyone!  So I went to DC for July 4th with hubby & the in-laws. I was scared as hell getting on that flight; kept thinking I am not gonna fit in the seat and the seat belt isn't going to fit me.  I was so happy to see that not only did it fit but I had extra too.  
 
I am going to post some pictures on my site.  What a difference from when we went 3-4 years ago.  Eveyone keeps telling me it doesn't even look like the same person.  I can honestly say this is the first time that I really noticed how big of a difference it was.  

Well tomorrow I am going to be filled and I can't wait.  I could eat everything in my house right now.  What a difference going from 3.2 down to 1 cc.  

Talk to you soon.   Oh yeah, only 3 more weeks til my walk.