Last year on New Years day, I sat.  I weighed in at 308 pounds.  I was severly depressed and despondent.  I often wondered why my husband would want to be with a woman who couldnt do a lot of things most folks take for granted,  I couldn't walk very far as my hips hurt, I couldn't do a lot of things. 
On a whim, I visited OH website as I had done many times in the past.  Boredom was my friend on this day though.  I am not sure if it was devine intervention or what, but something made me go to my insurance companies website and read my certificate of coverage.  The wording changes frequently as I know as a nurse.  To my amazement, my insurance company no claimed that they covered gastric bypass for the morbidly obese.  Of course, I was now a type 2 diabetic on top of being huge.  I went to Dr Aranow's little preop group.  I needed to get the paperwork started.  And that is what I did and in July 2009 my life changed forever.

I have a lot to be thankful for today.  I weigh 199 pounds and I am still losing.  NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever weigh less than 200 pounds. 
All I can say is if. your insurance company gives you a hard time about paying for your surgery, keep trying.  I was denied twice but it didn't stop me.  My pursuit paid off and in a big way.  I thank the Lord for blessing me with health again.  I am sure that I did the right thing.  The hardest part is learning that a big plate is something you will never use again.  I couldn't be happier and nothing can break my stride.  To everyone who reads this who is still wondering if they are making the right decision...YOU ARE.  Just wait until you see the results.  Size 26 jeans to a size 16 jeans in just 5 months...whoooohoooo
Happy New Year everyone.  Love yourself first....everything else will just fall into place!

Here it is, my monthly post.  I now weigh 221.2 pounds!  I started at 308 pounds on April 1st!  That makes me 87 pounds lighter than I weighed just 6 short months ago!  I am flabbergasted at this weight loss.  I lost 16 pounds from September 20 to October 15th.  I am proud of my progress.  My husband can't believe it and most the time I can't either.  I feel good, have lots of energy and wow, what's not to like about the new me.
I am busy, in college full-time, a full time job and a part time job as a flu clinic nurse.  Not to forget to mention, we adopted a new pooch, so now I am taking lots of walks.  I love it though.  I wouldn't change a single thing in my life right now. 
I have had a few aha moments and I am going to start logging them.  Being able to bend over and wipe up a spill on the floor without hurting to do so.  Being able to walk really fast.  Being able to get rid of all my old clothes.  They are all wayyyy tooo big. 
I am thinking about a new haircut soon.  My hair is a little thin right now.  I find it hard to get in that 60 grams of protein a day.  We are attending OH in Rye NY next weekend, I can't wait... Will only be there on Saturday though, can't leave my babies overnight.  That is about it for now, next post......Thanksgiving time......

I was officially two months post op on the 20th of September.  It worked out well because I have decided to only weigh myself once a month.  I have lost another 12.5 pounds since August 28, when I had my last office visit at my Surgeon's office.  WOW, A few item of clothing that I had been waiting to reduce enough to get into are now too large.  I am trying to keep up with the clothing demands of my ever shrinking body.  I am so happy.  I feel very well.  I am eating what I think to be enough.  Some days I find it difficult to get all of my protein requirement in, but I am diligent about working at it.  My hips and knees do not ache when I walk distances anymore.  Funny thing is, I quit the anti-inflammatories that I took for arthritis, 2 weeks before surgery.  I no longer have any pain or swelling of my lower extremities.  I walk about 3 miles per day, and I am planning on starting back at the gym, the beginning of October.  I adopted a second dog, and the dogs keep me moving.  They love their walks.

 I have lost a total of 60 pounds since I started my pre-op diet until now, 4 weeks out of surgery.   My clothing is beginning to feel too big.  I treated myself to some summer clearance pants and a shirt on Friday.  I am now in a size 18 bottom, down from a size 26!  My top size is now 2X, down from 3X!  I felt so good.  I even bought myself a new necklace and earrings.  I am starting to feel like a woman again, and wanting to dress in womanly style instead of "I just don't care style"!  I am starting to feel good again about my decision.  Food is no longer controlling my every move and mood....
I questioned if I had made the right decision right after I got home from the hospital.  I would become frustrated/stressed with something, and want to eat!  I no longer have eating to soothe my stress, as an option.  YAY    So, the people in my family who were causing me stress, I explained this to.  They understood, and we all try to maintain a tolerable stress level in our home.  I also started retaking my anti-depressant which I was off for about a week post op.  I felt lousy for a good two weeks after surgery.  Of course I was feeling better each day, but I still felt lousy.  The weather was so hot and muggy, I spent most of my time indoors, in the air conditioning.  On week three, I decided to go back to work.  Incision line healed.  It was the best decision I made.  The last two weeks, since I returned, have flown by.  My normal routine is returning.  I have had some issues with constipation due to the iron in the vitamins I am taking.  Flintstones complete, which is what my doctor requests us to take.  I bought prune juice today to try and loosen the constipation up a bit.  I hope it all works out.  I only dumped once since surgery when I tried to add sugar free Hershey's syrup into a vanilla protein drink.  Chocolate like products have been totally shelved.  I am also lactose intolerant.  I am using Smart Balance lactose/fat free milk now.  I eat very little.  I am only eating about an ounce at a meal.  Eggs aren't my best friend anymore either.  I gag when I try to eat them.  Maybe later.  I am seeing my Doctor on the 28th.  It is supposed to be my 4 week check up, but it is 2 weeks overdue, due to vacation time by the APRN, who is who I am seeing.  I am hoping for a diet upgrade to step 5 of the diet program.  I am psyched.  I am also going to return to the gym real soon.  I want to maximize these "honeymoon months" after WLS, and loose as much as I can.  I feel great about the changes that I am seeing and feeling, as well as how I am feeling about myself.  My ASN college classes resume next week.  My RN license is my next big goal.  My long-term goal is a MSN in nursing.  Since I am 50 years old now, I am not sure what is driving me to do this, except maybe personal accomplishment.  By the time I am done with classes, I will probably be 65!  That is it for now.  I am only getting weighed on the 20th of each month from here on out.  Weight fluctuations on the scale tend to bother me if I try to get a weekly reading.  Therefore I am going to monthly weights so I can see a good measurable loss.  I will try to post photo soon.  Thanks to all my OH friends and my family for their continued support with my goals.