I made it to the 200’s this week. Depending on what time of day it is, I am either 296 or 298. I haven’t been below 200 for many years. When I met my husband to be in 1991, I had just lost 60 lbs and was about 250. That’s the lowest I have been since college (many, many years ago) but it didn’t last long. This loss will last a lifetime!

Today is my cat Bunny’s TWENTYTH birthday. I didn’t think cats lived that long, but I stand corrected. She still seems to have an acceptable quality of life, so we’re hanging in there with each other. I also acquired two additional cats a year ago. Bunny hates them, but they seem to have kept her young. She does watch them, hiss at them, and swat them occasionally. The little ones don’t understand why she won’t play and they keep trying.

I worked 70 hrs last week between my two jobs. What a way to get back into the workforce after surgery… I do have a lot of energy and it didn’t seem to affect my health too much. My house, laundry, etc. is another matter.

Back to the doctor in a week for my 6-week check. After that, I get to eat REAL FOOD!!!

2/12/04

I had my 6-week checkup on Monday. I have lost officially 29 lbs since surgery and 36 total. The doctor seemed pleased and said I would lose even faster once I found time to exercise. It hasn’t been very possible for me right now since I’m working two jobs and away from home 15 hrs most days.

Started with solid foods on Monday after the doctor. I’m not sure I’m happy about it right now. I had my first vomiting episode the end of week 5. I have been eating scrambled eggs since surgery, but all of a sudden, I can’t tolerate them. I tried again last Sunday and didn’t vomit but wished I had. I just had a lot of discomfort for a while. Lost some shrimp on Tuesday. Chicken doesn’t seem to agree with me either. I ate about 1 oz of chicken salad for breakfast and lost it in the car on the way to work. I will keep trying different foods to find out what is tolerated.

Saturday is Valentine’s Day. It’s a bittersweet day for me since it’s my third alone since Denny died. It also would have been Denny’s 57th birthday. I still have my Hallmark Kissing Bears on my nightstand – my last Valentine’s Day gift. I’m working at the tax office that day so it should help get me through. I’ll stop at the cemetery first and drop off a balloon or flowers. The last two Valentine’s Days, I have taken him a potted tulip (his favorite), but the snow is so high this year it wouldn’t even be visible. Denny would have been happy to see how I’m changing. I doubt he would have ever chosen the surgery for himself, even though it might have saved his life. His sister had it years ago and has had many complications.

02/20/04

I’m still struggling with the solid foods. Yesterday I tasted beef stew in the cafeteria (previously one of my favorites) and my pouch immediately started rumbling. I went back and got split pea soup. That was fine. Today I tried baked fish and that didn’t stay down. For supper, I ate about ½ oz of turkey from a TV dinner. It wasn’t too bad and my cats enjoyed the leftovers. I think I’ll email the dietician and see if she can make any suggestions. Soup seems to be my best meal choice. It doesn’t seem to matter what’s in it.

My loss is becoming quite visible. A coworker passed me a note yesterday at a meeting that said “YOU LOOK GOOD, Karen.” It gave me a warm glow. Another coworker gave me two bags of clothes that she had under grown. (She did LA Weight Loss.) They are a bit tight yet so I should have clothes for a while. I’m also digging in the back of my closet for those things I couldn’t wear but saved. I tried on a bathing suit that I had outgrown and it is actually too big now. I think I have another stashed away. I’m taking a business trip in March and would like to have one available if I want to do the hotel pool.

I have made reservations for Las Vegas in May. I received a free 3-night stay, including meals. All I have to provide is airfare. My best friend is going along with me. She has never been there. I told her she could lie by the pool since she doesn’t gamble much and we can see all the sights.

2/28/04
Two months down and doing well. Down 52 lbs. from my consult and 45 since surgery.

I still am having trouble with food some days. Yesterday I didn't keep down breakfast or supper and ate only one bite (upset tummy) of lunch. Today I went to breakfast at Bob Evans with a friend and I was able to eat about a 2" portion of a Sunshine Skillet. It has eggs, sausage gravy, cheese, and potatoes. This is the first I've tried eggs for a few weeks and since it went ok, I'll try more.

This is the first time I've seen this friend since the week of surgery. She had lots of questions and was very happy for me. I had emailed pictures, but it's not the same as seeing the change in person.

Did my first REAL OUTDOOR EXERCISE today! It has been unseasonably warm this week for Indiana and over 50 today. My friend and I went for a walk after breakfast. There is a park with a walking/biking trail along the river and that is where we went. Parts of it were unpaved and a bit sloppy, but it was beautiful and I enjoyed the time. We walked a little over 0.5 miles one way and then walked back. The park is 40 min from my home, so I don't expect to get there much, but I will look for a similar site in the city where I work. I'm a little stiff already, but hopefully by tomorrow I will be fine.

I treated my self to a new outfit in honor of my first 50 lbs lost. Kohl's was having a sale and I found a very stylish pants set in a 24. It's still a little snug, but I was able to get the pants on and zipped - and they aren't even elastic. A long ways from the size 34 pants I had been buying! In about 3 weeks I am due to attend a meeting out of state for work and I will be strutting my stuff. I am amazed at how I am actually losing weight where I need to lose it and not in my big toe or pinky finger.