- Name: Kelly Jo W.
- Username: glugunkwen
- Location: Altoona, WI, USA
- Member Since: 4/26/2006
- BMI: 47.4
- Surgery date scheduled
- Surgery Type: RNY (06/12/07)
- Surgeon: Tim Pitchford
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Goals
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4 People in progress, 3 People achieved this |
Surgeon TestimonialTim PitchfordDr. Pitchford is a soft spoken, matter-of-fact surgeon. I first met him at an informational group meeting and though his presentation was very thorough I had a lot of questions. I felt like he listened to each one and had no hesitation answering anything - even the questions about morbidity and mortality rates. The only complaint I have is that when I had my initial consultation with him he was very late for the appointment and seemed to rush through my appointment. He did stress that this surgery was not an \"easy way\" out and I should only think of it as a last resort. I did get all of my questions answered eventually by his office staff. Speaking of his office staff - they are wonderful. Sue, his nurse, is VERY kind and patient with my many, many questions. I'm still waiting for insurance approval, but Dr. Pitchford's staff has been just great at getting the additional information required by my insurance company. Bonnie is my contact in patient services (the area that is faxing and coordinating all my information) and she has been very patient with my many phone calls and questions! |
I want to ride a rollercoaster again. I want to feel someone fit their arms all the way around me to give me a hug. I want to not spend the week before a flight wondering if the person stuck next to me will mind if I have to raise the armrest to fit in the seat. I want to be able to participate in a run/walk event that raises money for charity. I want to stop having to always find a place to sit down and rest. I want to visit someone's house without first worrying that their furniture might not be strong enough to sit on. I want to drive my car with the seatbelt fully fastened, and not rigged behind me. I want to walk my dog further than half a block. I want to have difficulty floating when I get into the pool. I want to go to the movies and have room in the seat beside me for my purse. I want to go to work late because I don't have to worry about getting their so early just so I can get a parking spot as close to the door as possible. I want to wear red and not feel like a giant red tomato. I want a closet full of colors. I want my mum to stop worring that I will die from morbid obesity. I want to have saggy skin. I want to stop feeling 80 years old.
I want to live.
Goals . . . on November 28, 2008 9:09 pm
Weight - holding steady - not a pound lost in about 5 months. Interestingly enough, my body shape has changed. I refuse to stress about it as there's not much I can do. I'm eating fairly well and working on the exercise, so I'm getting healthier!
I have set some new goals for myself . . . and I have to write them down in order to really commit to them . . . so here goes. . .
1. I've quit smoking - ACK. I've slipped a few times, but am determined to win the fight with the nicodemon! The fact of the matter is, I can't exercise at the level I want to and still smoke . . . so the smoking goes bye-bye. (Easier said than done!)
2. I'm signed up for a 5K walk/run event for the Arthritis Foundation in 2 weeks. This is one of the things I've wanted to do since I had WLS and I'm so excited to get the chance to do it! I'm trying to raise $500 in pledges before the event - and have about $390 yet to raise. Fingers crossed.
3. I want to complete a sprint length triathlon Summer 2009. That's swimming 1/2 mile, biking 14 miles, running 3 miles. Yikes. There. I've said it. I can't take it back . . . and it scares the crap out of me. I can remember watching an Ironman triathlon on TV when I was in junior high, and thinking WOW - wouldn't that be amazing to do. It's been a pipe dream . . . but I want to make it a dream come true. I have several hurdles to deal with. First off, I don't own a bike. I'm going to have to buy one, but until then, I'm taking spin classes. The other problem is - I don't know how to run. Yea - I will deal with that challenge later . . . or maybe just walk the running part. The swimming, which is apparently what is most challenging to many triathletes, is the part I could do right now. I'm aces at swimming. The only challenge with this part will be finding a wet suit that I can afford and is made for bigger bodies. Again . . . a bridge to worry about at a later time.
So, there they are . . . my new goals. I have a feeling this blog is going to turn from a weight loss surgery blog into a freaking out about training for a tri blog. Won't that be fun?
A New Goal . . . on September 20, 2008 5:47 pm
So, I joined a gym. And I've been going several times a week. And the scary thing is . . . I'm starting to like it! Two days ago I went to my first spinning class. My goal was to pedal through the whole class and not fall to the floor when I got off the bike. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. It was a HARD workout. I don't think I've had that much sweat since I marched a 3 mile parade in marching band in high school. I was just so damn proud of myself! Proud that I was brave enough to walk into the class, proud that I pushed and challenged myself, proud that I was able to stop thinking about what other people might think of me. Proud that I finished. Proud that though my legs were a bit wobbly, they held me up. The only bad thing is that I'm still sore in places I didn't know could get sore - lol.
This brings me to my new goal. In 6th grade, one of my teacher's had us make a list of things we wanted to do before we died. I still have that list. I had recently watched an Ironman Triathalon on TV and was in awe of the atheletes. One of the things on my list was to complete a triathalon. Until now, I never thought I could do it. Now, I'm thinking . . . maybe I can. So, the goal is: I want to complete a Sprint Triathalon (swim 1/2 mile, bike 14 miles, run 3 miles) by August 2010. It scares the crap out of me just writing that. But each time I go to the gym, I'm amazed at how strong and resilient this body of mine is. I'm going to complete this goal - and scream from the rafters when I do!!
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I came . . . I screamed . . . I FIT!!! on July 23, 2008 5:35 am
One of my goals with this surgery was to get small enough to ride rollercoasters again . . . well . . . I MET THAT GOAL!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!!
Went to Valleyfair amusement park and rode every coaster and thrill ride not once, but several times. It was exciting, exhilirating, thrilling, fulfilling and terrifying. I can't believe I fit in every. single. ride. None of them were even tight! AND I walked the whole park several times and kept up with the college students I went with. I was impressed with my stamina - lol!
I did notice that my focus the entire time was the rides - not the food. At the park I ate a cookie, one bite of chicken, a taste of ice cream (from someone else's cone) and some almonds. I drank liquids like crazy throughout the day, but knew if I pushed it with the food I wouldn't have a good time. In my fatter life, I would have been obsessed with food throughout the day!
I am so excited to have met my goal and have had such a GREAT day!
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No box . . . on June 19, 2008 7:43 am
Am I a fat girl? Or a not-fat girl? I find myself at a place that's undefinable. Compared to what I was a year ago, I'm not fat. But compared to other women, I'm still fat. I have no idea how to describe myself.
This conundrum has been brought into focus as I've gotten involved in some dating websites. There is always a question asking me to describe my body type - but there's never a box labeled "floppy" (which would describe my skin issues!) or "squishy" (skin, again). Am I "a few extra pounds"? "Curvy"? "Round and luscious"? "Overweight"? "About average"? I want to make my own box to check . . . "Lost a ton of weight so with bra and spanx on I'm curvy, but with them off I'm floppy and I'm half the size I was so if you can't handle this much woman then bugger off". For some reason, this box does not exist.
And while I try to figure out which box to check, I have 2 dates coming up with 2 very different guys. And so the stress of figuring out what to wear begins . . . Need to cover floppy arms, camouflage sagging tummy, lift the girls, and look as thin as possible. I have no box to check and no clothes that will make me look like the box I have to check . . . And if I wear all the foundation garments I need to hold everything in, I won't be able to move . . .
Of course, I could solve all this by becoming the crazy old lady who lives alone with her 17 dogs . . .
525,600 Minutes . . . on June 12, 2008 7:38 pm
There is a song from "Rent" that goes, "525,600 minutes - How do you measure a year?" I could measure it in 183 pounds, 16 clothing sizes, 2 ring sizes, 20 hip inches or a drop of 88 cholesterol points.
Instead, I'll measure this year in how many times I mow my lawn, walk the dog, or do something spontaneous. I'll measure the joy of being able to tie my own shoes. I'll measure the gratitude that I can park in the farthest parking spot at the store and not be out of breath by the time I walk the parking lot. I'll measure the habit of taking the stairs and never even thinking about the elevator.
I will measure this year by the number of times I look strangers in the eye and smile, by the hugs I initiate and by the number of times I flirt with a stranger. I will measure it in confidence AND humility. I will measure it in the time and energy I can give to others.
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My Story My story is on the early pages of my blog . . . I want to use this space to record my goals - the things I want to accomplish as I lost weight. The list may grow and change, but I'm looking forward to checking off each entry! Teach a whole class standing up the entire time Fit in a vehicle without my belly rubbing the steering wheel Sit in a restaurant booth without first figuring out if I'll fit Participate in a 'benefit' walk Flirt Wear heels without worrying I'll break them! Clean my whole house in one day Mow my lawn Rake my leaves in the fall Shovel the snow off my driveway Walk my dog Shop the whole length of the mall Skydive!! Get rid of my handicapped parking car Ride lots of rollercoasters Cross my legs
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