I am now one year post op.  I can't believe a year is gone already.  As of today, I am down 130 lbs!  Even as I type it I don't think it's really sunk in yet.  I know when I look in the mirror someone very different is looking back at me.  Not different internally....but outwardly.  I can honestly say that I really am not having identity problems.  I know lots of that is discussed at our support group meetings, but I still feel like the same Eileen....I just look different.  I look MUCH BETTER!  I actually like looking at myself, and find myself doing that quite often (how vain is that!).  Oh well, I have a lot of looking to catch up with.  I haven't looked at myself for over 35 years. 

I want to document some of my goals that I have reached.

1.  Being able to tie my shoes
2.  Fitting into a booth
3.  Having a lap for Abby to sit on
4.  Climbing steps and not being winded
5.  Fitting into a seatbelt
6.  Fitting into a movie seat
7.  Hell, fitting into everywhere!
8.  Walking two miles
9.  Crossing my legs
10. Buying clothes that I like and not just because they fit
11.  Wearing real shoes (not just sneakers)
12.  Feeling normal when I walk into a crowded room and not feel like everyone is staring at me
13.  Putting on a bathing suit (alright, this one was still tough, but I still did it, and people on the beach never even took notice to me)
14.  Dropping from a 5X to an XL top and from a 34W to a 22W pant
15.  Dropping from a size 10 ring to a size 7 (oh boy, I have over 100 rings in a size 10)
16.  Hearing my children tell me how proud they are of me (this one is really special)
17.  Pushing my car seat up.  It was always back as far as it would go.  Now I find me pushing it up every couple of months.
18.  Dancing more than one dance at a time.
19.  Accepting invitations without having to worrying if I would "fit" at the restaurant, into their car, etc.
20.  Sleeping in bed (I've been sleeping in a recliner for the last 5 years)

I know there are many more, just can't think of them right now, but I will come back to list them as I remember or accomplish them.

Life is so wonderful minus 130 lbs.  Who would have thought that a call to a 1-800 number would have brought me to Barix and Dr. Boe, and to all of my new Barix family.  I can only imagine how much better it will get as I continue to lose at least another 70 lbs. 

Weight loss is not as easy at this point, and I am really struggling to lose at least a pound a week.  I have lots of stalls, but eventually they do break and I see a 3 or 4 lb loss.  Then there's another stall.  But in all honesty, if I never lose another pound I will be okay.  It's not my goal to remain at 220lbs.  But at this weight at least I have my life back.  At this point, any additional loss is icing on the cake.

I am struggling with the carb monster....I am hooked on pretzels.  Thank God for my tool...at least it keeps the amount of pretzels to a much smaller portion.  I really have to get back to the gym also.  I had a fall in July and broke my thumb and badly bruised both knees.  It kept me out of the gym and now I can't get myself to go back.  I have started lifing weights again at home and am getting back to taking long walks.  But the cold weather is coming and that will prevent me from walking outside because I am just too damn cold all the time. 

The first time I went to Weight Watchers I weighed my current weight.  I was 23 years old at the time.  That was 34 years ago.  I remember saying to my mom that I didn't want to be over 200 lbs on my 25th birthday.   Well 25 came and went, and every year after that I was 10-15 lbs more.  God help me, please don't ever let me get back to 350. 

Gotta stop for now....to be continued.

Received a letter from my PCP regarding my lab work.  Here's what he found

Iron Level - borderline
Thyroid Level - slightly low
Vitamin D level - low

All other levels are within range.

He recommended an iron and Vitamin D supplement and sent a prescription for thyroid medication, with instructions to have a repeat thyroid level in 8 weeks.

Saw my PCP today.  Wednesday will be 6 months from surgery.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  I had my bloodwork drawn today, so I don't have anything to report on that.  However, my exam went well....blood pressure was perfect and I am down 87 lbs.  Not too shabby.  I feel great...lots more energy, and even look pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.  It's funny, six months ago I would shy away from mirrors.  Now, I am constantly looking at myself.  Not because I'm vain, but because I can't believe that's me looking back.  I look so different, even to myself.  

I joined a gym (Curves closed down) and go at least three times a week.  On the days that I don't go I walk on our treadmill.  Hubby has joined a gym too.  He has already lost over 30 lbs (I HATE men) in just over two months.  He looks great.  Both my kids are amazed that their parents are going to the gym.  They never thought they'd see the day!  

I am so happy with my decision to have WLS.  I was definitely heading down a very bad path, but now there is only smooth sailing ahead.

Saw Dr. Boe for my 3-month post op visit.  I lost 14 lbs since my last visit for a total of 38 lbs lost since surgery + 21 lbs. lost during liquid diet, for a total of 59 lbs.  Of course, Dr. Boe only counts the 38 lbs.  According to him, I have lost 19% of my excess body weight.  The average at 3 months is 20% to 25%, so I am slightly under.  He's not very concerned but does want me to increase the amount of food that I am eating to try to jumpstart my weight loss a little.  My blood work came back good.  My cholesterol level is 180.  My other levels were all in range, except that my iron was just a tad low.  He didn't prescribe anything for me but will make sure that the level is better at my 6 month checkup.  I also met with the Nut who also said that I'm not eating enough.  So I have to try to get more food in.  All in all, it was a good checkup.