Welll, while I'm lurking here figured I'd post.  Alot has happened in the last couple of weeks.  One thing I won't get into, another, one of my favorite aunts passed away after a 5 yr battle w/lung cancer, then the last 8 months brain cancer.  It was hard to accept her gone, but she suffered so badly the last few months that I  know she's so much better off.

Seems everyone around me is getting pregnant,  must be something in the water... at the funeral a distant cousin had his precious daughter, she was like 9 months or so and reached out for me and was just so happy, sure didn't help the baby fever I have!!! (gael, you'll be the first to know!!)...

Anyway, have 2 friends at work preg... 1 due in Sep, another w/twins due in Dec.... another friends daughter just told her she was... another Dec baby.... sigh... did I mention baby fever??? 

I'm really ready to get through this summer and get the swing of my job before tossing myself into that...plus I want to save up leave... as I'll be taking alot over the next few weeks.

going on business trip 4 days next week, taking the GMAT on the 23rd, Cozumel Jun 27-30, home for class on July 1 and leaving for the lake for July 2-6... can't wait!!!  Then I get back to work for 1 whole week, then have another 3 days in DC for business... all this while trying to learn a new job... jeeze, no wonder my migraines are kicking back up again.

Anywho, Vicodin is my friend these days. :) thank goodness I"m at goal, it always made me stop losing, so now I'm at peace with that.

going to go help DS clean out his toybox and give some away (can't sleep when I take pain meds, so we clean instead. ;)  )

Well, its been awhile since I've posted. I still lurk here and there, but thought Id post an update.  Yesterday was my 'official' 14 month.... 3/28/07 my life changed.  My pictures will show that much!  Before it was head shots only and make sure others are in the picture with me... now its like "you better get some shots of me!"... haha....

In the last 14 mos I've lost over 100 lbs.  It varies, some days I wake up at 125-126...others at 130, but I'm ok with it as I've stayed steady since mid December, so obviously this maintenance thing is working for me.

As they say, it takes way longer for your 'head' to catch up with your body, I think that this past weekend my head and body came to terms, I was actually comfortable walking the beach at the lakes swiming area without shorts or shirt over my bathing suit..... Yes, I have skin issues, but *I* see them much worse than anyone else does; which leads me to acceptance. I'm always more critical of myself than anyone else would be, so why I do always think the worst?  No more!!!

I still eat 3x a day (about that); breakfast, lunch, dinner and maybe 1-2 snacks.... this week I cooked a big 'ol pot of Wendy's chili and can basically eat as much as I want of it, LOTS of protien, low bad stuff..... also have some watermelon I'm snacking on....

Some days I eat more than others, yesterday was one of them, but this AM was still 128 so I'm ok. Probably recovering from camping this weekend!  How much can I eat?   I'd say about a cup of something like chili or soft stuff.... dense foods I still can't do more than about 3-4 oz at the most.....

Anyway, guess I better get my little guy off for school. I've added a couple of pics from this weekend to my profile, what I think is a good one, and another that shows the skin issue (one w/son)... but overall it could be worse and I'd want to cover my entire body!

What a joyous ride this has been!!!!  Sorry I'm not around more, school 3x a week is kicking my butt, plus a new job at work... sigh...

Love and miss you all!!!
Colleen

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted. Not alot has changed, still working, still going to school...... I did join Anytime Fitness where we've been going at least 3x a week.  Had my free session with a personal trianer, as she did the fat caliper thingie my total came to 11.7; which she says under 10 the USDA says is anorexic... yikes!! but we are working to build muscle under this... I'm pretty much skin & bones and although I don't look bad, I dont' want to get that way... BUT I LOVE working out... I have so much more energy and feel great! (and we get to tan for free, so I've got that rockin' & rollin' now.. :)

Anway, headed out of town with some girlfriends for a friends wedding tonight, have a knockout dress so I'll get pics and post them next week sometime.....
TTFN

Ok, not much to report these days; but a good friend (wink) asked me why I was so open about having surgery, everyone knew I was doing it and thinking and typing at the same time; this was my reply.  After re-reading it thought it was something anyone reading this may benefit from. Thanks girl!!

Hey.  Well, **** didn't want to tell anyone when she had RNY and it was hard to not do it when everyone asks how she did it.  I don't lie well and didn't even want to start trying to cover anything up.  I needed to tell ***my boss) as I needed the time off and I really felt comfortable with the group that I didn't mind everyone knowing. I guess I came to the realization that I was not goign to do this on my own, I COULD NOT do it on my own, I needed help to do it.  Alot of people call it the 'easy way out' but in reality it takes a lot stronger person to take control, admit you can't do it on your own and do something about it than just sit back and 'hope' something changes. (I even tell people this when they try to go there... ) and *********s statement is Hope isn't a strategy. You know that thing, insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. :)

Anyway, I think it also held me responsible.  EVERYONE knew I did this, not only did I owe it to myself, but I was being held accountable as I knew if I failed or if I was eating terribly bad, I  KNEW what people would say, so it sorta helped keep me honest when I wanted to do the wrong things.

**** did tell those she worked close with, and of course they talk to someone else, on and on.... but for me its just easier to be up front than try to cover anything up adn it's been very rewarding at the same time.

The only person that I've encountered that has had anything negative to say was ****** and that took me by surprise.  I didn't expect her to be negative and saying I 'cheated' but everyone else has been great, so I let the good outweigh the bad. :)

Ok, well Easter & my birthday came and went.  This years brithday was pretty blah, not sure why as I'm a totally different person, maybe just sucks getting another year older!

Anyway, got $$ to go buy new clothes, I started realizing that since I'm cold all the time, my closet is FULL of long sleeve tops, I hardly have any short sleeve work clothes!  Gotta also go buy a dress for a friends wedding in April.

For Easter I cooked for my entire family, we had about 15 people at the house, I cooked pork loin, grilled veggies, roasted corn, potato salad, salad and peach cobbler and apple crisp for dessert.  It was awesome!!!  We had a really good time, then we got to playing the Wii.... after everyone went home, we watched a movie, then went bowling just DH, DS and myself.  Had a great time, but feeling like crap today (cold or something).

Anyway, still maintaining.  Go in Wednesday for my 1 year checkup.  I weighed when I took my MIL in there a week ago and was still the same as I was 12/14 when they said to stop losing.  Trying to lose that 4 more lbs by 'their' scales so they record 100 lost.  I gained in between their starting and surgery, so I count that as my HIGH and my scales are 3 lbs ifferent than theirs, which I'm sure is clothes!  silly how one number means so much.

Well, It's been awhile since I've posted.  School is moving right along, and very well at that..... we've just finished my spring break and now this week is my sons... we had planned to spend a few days at the lake, but lots of rain and bad storms sent us home after about 24 hours.

Going for a 3rd body wrap tonight; the place I've been going to (Body Wraps of Texas) has changed their wrap and its supposed to be alot better, more relaxing and ALOT cheaper... so we'll see.... waist was 36" sometime last year, when I went to doc on 12/14 it was 32", last Friday it was 30.6", so coming down! 

Took my MIL to the doc Friday for her 1 week checkup, she's doing great... I visited w/the staff and they sent to show me off to the class they had coming through just after their seminar.  One of the gals I'd already talked to from here... Anyway, when I weighed w/them I was exactly the same as 12/14... we discussed that I wanted the ok at 12 mos to get pregnant and then we decided we'd talk about it on my next visit on 3/26, but we'd compromise on 15months, which will be June, allowing me to have a few months of my summer before thinking about it... but then we started counting the months and I'd rather have a summer baby so I can be off when my son is out of school, etc.... so we'll see.....  heck, who knows if my body will even cooperate?... cross our fingers..

Got our trip planned for 6/27-6/30 going to Cozumel, coming home then going 7/1-7/6 to the lake, so I'll have just over a whole week of nothing but BEACH and LAKE... how much better could that be?

Anyway, off to my wrap... will catch ya'll later!!

Every month that I reflect, I'm amazed at the person I am today compared to a year ago.  One year ago today I had decided I 'thought' I wanted to have VSG (instead of RNY) and was very impatiently waiting for my 2March appt w/surgeon to discuss if HE thought it was an ok decision for me, knowing what he knows......  From that date it was about 3 weeks till my surgery, which was such a whirlwind that I actually let my drivers license expire and I don't even recall my birthday last year (3/23).

I'm now 11 months out, hit my goal around 9 months and was really worried about stopping....well, I'm still holding steady around 128-130; which I was 133 when I went to doc and he said stop back in Dec.

I eat a little more than before, but even kids meals anywhere is WAY too much food for me, just pisses me off most places don't have healthy choices for children!  No wonder we all grow up to be fat!

Stepping back down off soapbox.. :)  I'm loving life!  I've never been more happy or content in my life.  I'm in a new job that although stressful learning something new is challenging in a way I love.... I'm back in school and loving it.... I'm maintaining my weight and feeling fabulous!!!

I'm still amazed at my own statistics!
START      NOW
235 lbs     128-130
20's (tight) 4 pants, 6 tops, S/M tops

I can even pull off some size 2 jeans, but they are pretty snug!

I wanted to start right away trying for another baby, but then decided on  my Selfish Skinny Summer, so maybe this fall... so far thats still the plan, but I do plan to discuss it with doc when I go back for my 1 yr on 3/26.

My MIL is having VSG next Friday, so I'm taking off work to go with her and help her through.

This is by far the very best thing I could have done for myself!  AND this board is the BEST support anyone could have. Just having the ability ask silly questions, or to see someone asking something you've wondered but never asked... such a wonderful system here!  Thanks to you ALL!!!

Hi guys!  Well, I still hang around, but not much posting anymore.  I'm still holding steady between 128 and 130.  I'm wearing 4's comfortably, even some 2's (which is still amazing to me).... I almost think I'm too thing, but at hte same time I'm proud and extremely excited about having my 'selfish skinny summer'.....

Out of town on business again, working to keep up with school and maintain my work stuff through our year end inventory stuff. Hopefully that will all be over in the next couple of weeks.

I haven't been in my office in nearly 2 weeks, spending alot of time in Virginia lately.  I miss being home and my family, but ya'll help the gap, ya'll are there for me no matter where I am.. :)

Anyway, thought I was coming down with the flu, but then after about 24 hrs of sneezing and a runny nose, I'm feeling SO much better.  Guess I dodged that one!

Hope you are all doing good, I hope that things slow down a bit for me, but isn't looking good for the next 4-6 weeks.... oh well, will just hang in there.... and pray my weight stays level.

On another note, MIL goes for her preop class tomorrow and will get her final date (Mar 5 or 7) for her VSG... Yipee!!!  I can't wait to see her successful with this!!!

Ok, so this isn't WLS related, but ya'll are my 'family' so I just want to get it out, documented and off my chest!

I started back to school for my MBA a few weeks ago. The 1st class was an accellerated class and after a rough 1st and 2nd week, the 3rd and final was a breeze... got an A.

Then looking at my schedule, I realized I signed up for another darn accellerated class, WHY do I do this to myself!  Well, we had our first class today, it's supposed to be Fri night and Sat 8-3.... for 3 weekends, every other weekend.... SO we get in there, basically it's all reading and discussion, no final. If you read and don't participate, you get a B, if you do participate and it's good, an A.... OMG, are you kidding???? I'm going to try to get into any class this teacher offers! He says this is graduate work and we need to LEARN not cram crap in our heads and having a class like this would have more LEARNING opportunity than the other stress... Oh, and we meet on Friday this week, Sat (tomorrow) is stay and home and read the book day... in 2 weeks we have Fri class, the next day (Sat) will be another read the 2nd half of the book, the 3rd meeting 2 weeks later will be discussion Friday night on the 2nd half of the book then Sat we meet for our "final" which is discussion on 2 additional books he's assigned.... I can do this!!!

Now the accounting class, may be another story! :)  Crossing my fingers when I meet next week wtih that class it goes as well as the other 2 have gone so far!

Ok, so I went to my last day of school for the winter term (finished my class with an A, yipee!!) but got there at 9, had my test done by 945 and didn't have to be back till 1, so where did I go? The mall... again....

Got some freaking awesome bargains!  Ended up with a $94 suit for $33, a $89 dress for $22, 2 shirts that were originally $55 for DH for $13 each, DS a shirt for $7, 2 pair of SIZE 2 jeans!! (24.99 each, ones original price was 79.99).... so I was on a BARGAIN hunt!

Then went to victoria secret... OMG they had panties for 2.99, bras lower, but I found one for 14.99 that was awesome, then they had some xmas goodies (like stocking stuffers) for 75% of and sleepwear for 75% off.. spent $$ there too.

SO as for sizes, I bought 6's in the dress stuff.... 2 in jeans, and S and XS from VS... are you kidding me, DH saw the XS panties and said, these are too small... SO I had to prove to him (along with the size 2 jeans today) that they did fit!!!