ObesityHelp

Here I am at 13 months post op and feeling awesome!  Just when I think my weight loss has stopped, this morning I get on the scale and it reads 134!  My goal was 140 so I'm super excited.  Not a lot coming off in the weight department but everyone is telling me that I need to maintain and not lose any more.  I'm totally content where I'm at, but if I lose another 10lbs. I wouldn't cry about it!  All the easier to maintain if I'm a little lower than originally planned. 

I am still overwhelmed daily with how normal I feel, how awesome I look (not to toot my own horn) and how excited I am to be starting the summer looking great in a bathing suit and shorts.  Looking forward to a lot of fun this summer!

Going forward, I'm thinking maybe something will need to be done with some skin, I have droopy breasts, and belly skin that I would LOVE to see removed, but if I can't afford to have it done I am the happiest I have been with myself in a very long time!

For those of you considering this surgery, I have no reservations in telling you to go for it!  One of the best decisions I've ever made and I think my family would second that!

Starting weight was 225, today's weight 134!

Well, here I sit on my one year surgiversary!  What a journey it has been.  I honestly can't think of any negatives!  I came into this process with a program at the hospital I work at (bless them) called a New Leaf Program.  I qualified for WLS because of my BMI and co-morbidities of high blood pressure and borderline sleep apnea. 

Surgery was uneventful and I recovered quickly.  I've made steady progress all along the way and am now about 5 lbs. below my goal around 135 (I was 136 this morning).  That fluctuates some. 

Regrets? Not one.  I wish I would do a better job at getting my fluids in and more protein but I'm feeling so great!  These are areas I think I will always struggle with.  I do so much more than I did a year ago.  I'm truly happy with myself and enjoy shopping! 

Below are my stats for the year!
3/12/09  222
4/12/09 196 -26
5/12/09 189 -7
6/12/09 181 -8
7/12/09 171 -10
8/12/09 166 -5
9/12/09 156 -10
10/12/09 152 -4
11/12/09 148 -4
12/12/09 144 -5
1/12/10 144 0 (Holidays!)
2/12/10 138 -6 woo!
3/12/10 136 -2 (I'll take it)

So you'll see, things have slowed down but I'm happy where I'm at and loving life!  My goal weight was 140 and I've dipped to 135 several times.  Would maybe like to be down one more size into a steady size 6 but I'm okay being a 6-8.

Well, here I sit a few days past my 11 month surgiversary.  It's been a rough month.  Not physically, emotionally.  I lost my dad to a heart attack this past month.  I'm doing fine and know he's in paradise and my mom is doing very well.  We are very similar so it's nice to be there for her.  Anyway, last month I had a 0 lb. loss (thanks to the holidays) so I was pleasantly surprised that I went from 144 to 138.  I did weigh 135 on a couple days this past month but I'm true to my weight on the anniversary so I'll claim the 6 pound loss at 11 months, that is just amazing to me!  Here's the breakdown...

Month 1 -26 lbs. (222 lbs.)
Month 2 -7
Month 3 -8
Month 4 -10
Month 5 -5
Month 6 -10
Month 7 -4
Month 8 -4
Month 9 -5
Month 10 -0 (holidays!)
Month 11 -6 Woo! (138 lbs. today)

My first goal was 140 lbs.  That put me in a comfortable BMI, a nice Size 8, however, the pounds are still coming off and I would like to be a Size 5-6 so if I get to that I'll be more than happy.  What am I saying?  I'm happy now!  I was happy many lbs.!  Getting to 140 was amazing and seeing my scale in the 130's still amazes me.  I was 19 the last time I hit that number. 

I need to get my butt in gear in a couple of areas.  Vitamins (not good at taking those) and getting in more water.  I don't like to drink water so I would like to kick that up a bit more.  It's for my own good!  My diet could be better.  I eat what I want (just smaller portions).  I still love my carbs and to avoid regain of any sort I think once I find that sweet spot in my weight I will need to curb this addiction.  I know I can do it though, I quit the Diet Coke habit I had for many years and am doing just fine without it.  I've stopped ordering in restaurants.  I just get an extra plate.  This took some time to realize that a nibble off every one elses plate is all I need!  I take a bread plate and I just get a little of this or that.  Saving some money there for sure!

Skin issues:  Yep, I have them!  If I had unlimited funds, I would probably do my tummy (although it's a minor baby pooch), and my breasts.  Those puppies are sad looking.  I have a few saggy spots on my thighs, very minor and my tricep area is lose, although doesn't seem to be as bad as previous months so maybe the skin does still have some elasticity there and will pull back some over time.  I'm watching and waiting for my weight to steady out where my body wants it to be and then once I've maintained for a year I will consult about any plastics I may want done.  I think hubby would like to see a boob job but he's not complaining about much any more!  Happy wife = happy life!  We are having fun and he just purchased me a new Harley all my own!  I'm so spoiled by him and am happy he's proud to have me by his side and that I'm a happier wife and mother.

Speaking of motherhood.  I have two daughters 20, and 13.  We all love the beach so I'm so looking forward to this Michigan weather ending and my girls and I hitting the beach at Lake Michigan.  I need to get a new swimsuit so I think I best get looking!  Maybe a tankini?  Never thought I'd be thinking that!  Will have to go in and try a few on, I haven't had a new suit in YEARS!  I think this could be a fun thing!

I'm still shopping at Salvation Army for clothes.  It's a tedious task to shop there, you have to be prepared to go in knowing you'll need time and patience to sort through a lot of crap to find those great name brand steals hiding in the racks.  They are there!  I recommend it highly.  I have purchased some jeans (as Salvation Army doesn't care many current styles).  Other than that and some new underwear I'm doing okay with clothes and not spending a fortune on much NEW stuff.

If any of you are doubting whether you should have this surgery, do it!  No regrets except not investigating this sooner!  Until next months one year post, I'll see less of you next time!

Today marks my 10 month surgiversary.  I'm at 142 lbs. so things have definitely slowed down in the loss department.  Being the holidays however, I cannot complain that I didn't gain I sure did cave in to all my carb cravings.  Over the last week I've jumped back on the treadmill and am kickstarting my sleeve once again! 

This is the first new year I have not had a resolution to LOSE WEIGHT!  Wow, how refreshing that is!  No regrets still!