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  • Name: Chelea Holdt
  • Username: holdtc
  • Location: Portland, OR, USA
  • Member Since: 2/3/2009
  • BMI: 23.0
  • Already had Weight Loss Surger
  • Surgery Type: RNY (03/11/09)
  • Surgeon: Clifford Deveney, M.D.
Before & After

 
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Goals

continue to walk daily and wear my pedometer

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 in progress, 
1 Person
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 I am very excited but not about the surgery of course but the possibilities. The surgery has come a long way with the practice of doing it laparoscopically, the nutritional education of the patients and the Centers of Excellence such as OHSU.   The point at which I decided that this surgery was right for me was last summer, 2008. On the Farris Wheel my sister and nieces climbed on, sitting on one side. Then my mom climbed in and sat on the other side. When I got on to sit next to my mother the car seemed as if it totally shifted my direction as if my sister and nieces were not even sitting there. I was mortified. I felt as if the attendants were staring at me and what just happened. From that moment on I was terrified that if I tried any of the other rides someone would tell me that I could not ride the ride because I was too fat. We had a good day but I just watched my nieces have fun on the rides.  I knew at that point I had to do something.  My PCP did a thorough check many things and my medical history. She determined that I had high blood pressure, low vitamin D and that I should have my hip replacement checked, since it had been a while. The orthopedist said that there was some mild deterioration on my left hip and also one my right hip which was a shock to me. I was told when I had my first hip replacement due to genetic disorder that there was nothing wrong with my right hip. The orthopedist said that I need to get the weight off my bones or I was going to need to have my other hip replaced. That was the thing that put me over the top knowing that this was the right time to have the surgery done.                
holdtc's Blog
holdtc's Blog


Noticing the little things
on July 13, 2010 3:03 pm
I was just starting to think that any noticeable progress toward a healthier and firmer body was over. I was asking myself, “Is maintaining my current weight going to be enough motivation?” I really have no complaints about my progress. I truly feel successful and really like the way I feel and look. I have not lost any weight since January, which is good as there is not really anything left to lose and my Dr. recommended I maintain my current weight and % of body fat, at my March, 1 yr. surgaversary appt. So, my goal has been to firm up my skin and muscles, which as many know is a very slow process.  I was just starting to think I am not getting anywhere, nothing is changing. Well, low and behold….I was brushing my teeth and looking in the mirror when I noticed these dimples below my collarbone. Wow! My mom hates how her bones stick out at her collarbone and always wears shirts that cover them up. Not I... sometimes I cannot stop starring at them now.  Then not a week later I went to sit down and had my hand on my thigh when a very defined muscle, which I have never noticed before, appeared under my hand. I had to stop and look at it in amazement. I even showed it to my husband.  I think he thought I was a bit crazy but it is still those little things that keep me going.
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Rock Climbing and Zip Lining
on June 17, 2010 12:16 pm

As a treat/reward to myself I took a trip to Alaska with my parents and husband last month.  It was so much fun my husband and I cannot wait to go on another cruise.  During the cruise I did a couple of really great excursions - Rock Climbing and Zip Lining.  I was a bit nervous about the rock climbing as it was an excursion I did by myself and something I have never done before.  It was great.  I was the oldest person in the group at 40.  The rest of the people were in their early to mid 20's.  Well, I just jumped right in and did awesome.  I repelled down an 80 ft cliff, no problem.  The guide asked for volunteers and everyone just sat there.  I jumped up and said "I'm game."  Then I climbed 3 times up the 70-80 ft face.  The first climb was moderate and I just went right up, the second two were moderate/hard.  They took a bit more effort but I completed both.  The guide said if you don't fall you are not working hard enough.  The third climb was the hardest as I had to climb over and around a cave like indent in the rock.  What a great workout.  I am hoping to do more climbing now that I am back in Portland.  The zip lining was a lot of fun.  I did this with my parents (in their 70's) and my husband.  What a blast. Again….two things I would not have been able to do just over a year ago.

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12/11/09 Wow this opportunity. . .
on December 21, 2009 3:03 pm
It has been 9 months and I am in the best shape of my life. I can walk forever and just want to walk more. I can walk hills and not get winded. One of my new favorite walks is from downtown Portland, 5th and Market, where I work and walk up to OHSU, on the hill. I continue on Terwilliger to Capitol Hwy and back downtown to my car. A year ago I would have been winded trying to walk up the hill. Now, my breathing rate does not even change. I am losing weight a lot slower about 2 lbs a month, which I am ok with. I am down to 145 lbs and a size 8 pants. My goal right now is 135 lbs. I have been lifting weights along with 5 miles of walking/running at the gym. The amount of muscle I have gained in just a short amount of time is amazing. I can really see it in my arms and chest. All this progress is so exciting, it just motivates me all the more. The skin on my arms/under my arms has really shrunk.  I was seeing a new doctor and she said I cannot believe you were ever heavy. I also had another co-worker comment “Are you a runner?” I had just got back from the gym and was in my workout clothes. What a compliment! I would never have imagined anyone ever asking me if I was a runner.
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12/1/09 My hair is coming back in thick as ever
on December 21, 2009 2:56 pm
My hair is all coming back.  I cut it pretty short at the beginning of November, pixie short.  I have always wanted short hair and I love it.  I wish I could say the same thing about my husbands opinion about my hair, but his is a man and likes long hair on women.  I tried short hair once when I was heavy and it was not a good look, eek!  Now it is so fun and spunkey looking.  My Ferritin levels are up to 39 which is great progress in 3 months.  I am going to continue with the Iron, Zinc and Biotin for another 3 months.  I will most likely let my hair grow back out.  I have had people I have know for years not even recognize me.  They recognize the voice and the mannerism but can't get over the person they are looking at.
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10/1/09 My minds image of the new me is finally...
on December 21, 2009 2:54 pm
10/1/09 Sometimes it is the small things that matter. Things that no one else would notice but you. I am noticing the muscles in the thighs when I am getting up off the toilet and the bones in my shoulders. I grabbed my shoulder one day more to itch my back but was amazed by the bones I could feel. Then just this past weekend I was washing my arm pits and there was actually a pit under my arm. I can hug myself and grab a hold of my shoulder blades with the opposite hands, that one was really odd. All those little things matter and those are the things I need to remember when I am concerned about how I am progressing. I feel great and can do anything I want, what a great opportunity I have been given. I am looking forward to all those other little things. I also had two people I know pretty well who did not even recognize me until one heard my voice and the other recognized my dog. Karen’s comment was “you are only half way here, where is the other half of you?” and my next door neighbor was just surprised and said “you have lost a lot of weight.”I keep saying I will never get tired of people noticing my weight loss and commenting on it. Yes, I use to be fat and looked it. I was scrapbooking pictures this past weekend. They were old pictures of my from Disneyland in 2005. I could not get over how bad I looked and how fat I was. I just sat there staring at myself. Until that moment I still saw myself as that fat person. I think for the first time the internal image I had of myself was not fat, she is skinny.
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