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Category: Health 119 People in progress, 15 People achieved this |
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Category: Other 10 People in progress, 5 People achieved this |
Surgeon TestimonialEdward Felix, M.D. (COE)My first impression is that he is straightforward, tells you what he expects and how to go about reaching your goal(s). I liked him from the start.
Latest Surgery Support Comments
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Congratulations on
being this week's
SYSK. Wear that
tiara with pride!!
 Comment by Jodi W on 9/24/07 9:36 am
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Hi Inky,
we have not really
met yet so now that
you are SYSK, I will
make sure to know
you!!! Congrats on
the honor, you look
fantastic
Enjoy your week!
Chris
Click here for the surgery support page
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I AM A DELICATE FLOWER IN COMBAT BOOTS -- ACCORDING TO MR. SHRINKY INKY!
(13 pounds lost pre-surgery)
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. ~ Douglas Adams
190!! on June 30, 2008 6:39 am
On April 10, 2008, I reached 199 and wondered when I'd get to 190 - well I'll be damned if it wasn't this morning. June 30, 2008.
So it took me 80 days to get there. Not bad at all Inky, not bad at all :)
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The Dreaded Stalls on May 23, 2008 9:49 am
Hello fellow OH'ers:
I am here to tell you that sticking to your program really really REALLY does work.
I had been a proud member of Club 200 since May of 2007, and believe you me, 200-something felt better than 300-something.
I finally hit 202/201 around early March of this year. Woohoo, I thought I'd be in onderland by the end of March. Well, my body had a different plan and I boogied back and forth from 200-203 for weeks, finally reaching 199 for a brief and fleeting moment on 4/10/08. Brief indeed, I fluctuated from 199 to 201 for another bunch of weeks...but all the while sticking to the program. I tried walking more, eating more, eating less, upping protein, lowering protein (not less than 60 mind you), more water, less coffee. But all the while working my pouch and sticking to the guidelines from my surgeon (average 1200 calories per day). On Monday my surgeon put me down to 1100 for a while. I woke up Tuesday (I hadn't yet made the change to 1100) and poof, 2 lbs gone. What did my surgeon scare them out of me?
Then another half pound on Wednesday and a half pound today. Suddenly i am down 3 pounds this week after no loss since early April.
So, my long-winded point is stick to your program, obey your pouch rules and it will come off again. I know this ain't my last stall by a long shot, I have 46 more pounds to travel through and it's gonna get harder every step, but now I have to remember to just stick to it.
I hope I can motivate and inspire all of you wonderful OH friends that have helped me along!
(oh yeah, and it's my 48th birthday, dropping 3 pounds this week was as nice a gift as my body could give me!!)
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One Year Appointment on May 20, 2008 6:30 am
I had my official one year appointment yesterday out in Fresno (3 hours away). I got there and they office had screwed me over for the 3rd time regarding an appointment. This time switching the appt to my surgeon's office other surgeon, who is actually very nice and helpful, but I wanted to see my surgeon. I asked for a copy of my file and will likely never go back, we'll see how I feel in a year. Sheesh.
Anyway, at the office I was 200.5 with a 2 pound deduction for clothing so officially 198.5, with a loss of 123.5 as to one year. We reviewed my labs again and he was very pleased with everything, especially my much lower cholesterol. They did a bone density scan and my spinal bone density has actually improved a bit and the rest of me is within normal range.
They also did a 10 minute test where my nose was pinched off and i had to breath into a tube. This was to test my base metabolic rate and officially I burn about 1609 calories per day at rest, which is pretty close to what I calculated using some online sites.
We discussed my stall. I was at 199 now since April 10th, fluctuating up to 201 sometimes, but I lost a pants size in that time. He said that as long as I am losing inches and not weight for a time that is fine. It's when I am not losing inches AND weight that I need to be reevaluated (assuming I am not at goal). He also suggested, based on my BMR, that I go down to 1000-1100 calories instead of the 1200 recommended at my six month appt, keeping protein at 60-80 grams.
The best news though - we reevaluated my goal weight up from 140 to 150. I told him flat out 140 just seemed so absurd and I was pretty happy with how I look in the 190 range, so 150 it is (for now anyway).
AND....this morning I was 197. I guess that 100+ temp in Fresno was helpful 
oh oh, and if you're still reading, lol, while in Fresno prior to surgery last year I walked by Anthropologie at the mall and said, "Next time I am here I will shop in there." Well, yesterday I bought a lovely little vintage inspired shrunken cardigan with cherries on it at Anthropologie. Mind you it was an XL but all their over-priced stuff is very much on the small side. I was so happy and so was the salesgirl, who I shared my story with. She said I gave her goosebumps
All in all, a great one year appointment day.
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This Time Last Year! on April 26, 2008 7:10 am
So, a year ago, April 26, 2007, I was wheeled into surgery and my life and insides changed forever. Sometimes it feels like a century ago and sometimes it feels like yesterday.
I was 322 at my highest for my surgical consult on February 27, 2007. The day of surgery I was 309 pounds. This morning I am holding at 199. Even though I knew this surgery would work, I never imagined myself this successful at only a year out. Research indicates the "honeymoon" period of weight loss is over and now it's time to get down and dirty and work my little pouch to get the rest of the weight off.
My one year surgical follow-up is May 19th, and I'll be having my labs done next week. I feel great, and after a month of tracking my blood pressure daily, I am happy to say my average BP is 119/68, with a resting heart rate of 76. I'd venture a guess my cholesterol is in a healthy range, but I'll know better after next week and let you all know too.
I'm wearing a 12/14, M/L tops and normal size 10 shoes. You know, you can get a lot more stuff in your closet when your size is smaller, hahahaha!!
Now to answer the real question - was it worth it? Hell yes. You'll notice I post about my BP before I post about what size I wear. Now, we're all vain to a point, and wearing a smaller size and feeling better about that is a fantastic side effect of weight loss, but knowing my heart is working much less harder at keeping me alive, and probably easily adding 10+ years to the rest of my life, well, that's really what made this all worth it.
Would I do it again? In a New York minute I definitely would. The surgery and the first three months sucked, for physical, mental and emotional reasons. It was so hard and I had buyer's remorse more than a few times, but when it all clicked into place, then it was fine. So paying the price of surgery and 3 months of bad for a longer life of health, yes, I'd do it again.
Would I recommend this surgery to others? As a last resort, yes. As an "easy fix," hell no. Easy this was not and weight loss surgery isn't for everyone that's for certain. You have to change EVERYTHING in your life, sometimes even your relationships. I have been fortunate that I haven't lost any friends because of my surgery, and I have made wonderful new friends because of my surgery. To be honest, had I not seen my sister-in-law personally go through this and be a success, then I probably would never have done it. She did so well and is still doing great at 3 years out. She was an inspiration and seeing how she ate and the changes she made, I knew I could do it. But all the research in the world does not always prepare you. So if you are reading this and feel surgery is the answer, the best advice I can give you is read, research, ask, investigate and understand it is a lifelong commitment, and it's not easy. And it won't fix everything in your life, you'll just be a healthier human and live a healthier life, all your problems don't go away from getting thinner, sometimes you even get a whole new batch of problems. But you can cross those roads too :) | Click here to leave a comment.
One Year Measurements on April 13, 2008 2:16 pm
well technically they are 11 months out since I did not start measuring until 5-12-2007, but here ya go.
Interestingly enough, the time frame since my last measuring (1-29-2008) and now was my least amount of loss (9 pounds total down) but yet I still lost 7.875 in inches. So, even during a slow period, stuff moves around and goes away! Don't lose faith!
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05/12/07 |
04/13/08 |
Difference |
|
| Neck |
16.000 |
14.500 |
1.500 |
Neck |
| Shoulder |
50.250 |
40.000 |
10.250 |
Shoulder |
| Upper Arm |
19.750 |
14.000 |
5.750 |
Upper Arm |
| Lower Arm |
14.000 |
11.000 |
3.000 |
Lower Arm |
| Wrist |
7.500 |
6.500 |
1.000 |
Wrist |
| Midriff |
46.000 |
37.750 |
8.250 |
Midriff |
| Bust |
52.500 |
44.500 |
8.000 |
Bust |
| Waist |
46.000 |
38.500 |
7.500 |
Waist |
| Hip |
59.000 |
46.750 |
12.250 |
Hip |
| Upper Thigh |
30.000 |
22.500 |
7.500 |
Upper Thigh |
| Knee |
20.500 |
16.250 |
4.250 |
Knee |
| Calf |
21.500 |
18.000 |
3.500 |
Calf |
| Ankle |
12.000 |
10.250 |
1.750 |
Ankle |
| Foot |
10.750 |
9.625 |
1.125 |
Foot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75.625 |
TOTAL INCHES LOST |
|
|
|
|
|
| 322 |
289.75 |
199.000 |
123.000 |
TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS |
Archive
My Story
BMI CHART
| Range |
Meaning |
| less than 18.5 |
Underweight |
| 18.5 - 24.9 |
Normal |
| 25.0 - 29.9 |
Overweight |
| 30.0 - 39.9 |
Obese |
| 40.0 - 50 |
Extremely Obese |
| over 50 |
Super Obese |
Key: (at 70% loss rate)
 possible loss of
132 lbs after surgery
 excess weight you
might keep is 56 lbs
 your ideal weight
is 134 lbs
Possible
Weight
Loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 190 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 190 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 190 |
| |
|
|
|
| Month |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
| Wt. Loss |
0 |
26 |
53 |
66 |
73 |
79 |
86 |
92 |
99 |
106 |
114 |
119 |
125 |
129 |
132 |
129 |
132 |
131 |
132 |
| BMI |
55.3 |
50.8 |
46.2 |
43.9 |
42.7 |
41.7 |
40.5 |
39.5 |
38.3 |
37.1 |
35.7 |
34.8 |
33.8 |
33.1 |
32.6 |
33.1 |
32.6 |
32.8 |
32.6 |
Things I want to do after I have surgery and weight loss:
- Stop taking my blood pressure medicine. (5/7/2008 - I am off my blood pressure med as of today - totally normal BP!!)
- Be able to say I am not obese anymore.
- Go into the ocean in a bathing suit.
- Be able to pick up my niece, Sophia, and move her from her wheelchair or into her wheelchair.
- Wear a size I only remember from high school, like a 10 or a 12.
- Wear all my high heeled shoes again. (5-26-2007 wore my 4 inch espadrille sandals for 5 hours - they hurt a little but at least I could put them on without foot pudge!!)
- Get a cute short haircut. (Appointment scheduled for 7-25-2007- my hair is falling out and I’d rather cut it that keep seeing strands everywhere)
- Be able to shop in a store that doesn't even carry plus sizes. (8-26-2007, wearing an XL from Old Navy!! Woohoo!!)
- Be able to wear rings and bracelets without feeling like I'm being cut into by my own jewelry. (7-18-2007, dug out a bunch of rings and bracelets from storage and they all fit again!! Bling and more bling bling!)
- Tie my own shoes. (7-15-2007, bent over to slip on my socks and sneakers to walk, realized I am tying my own shoes already! OMG!!)
- Cross my legs. (6-30-2007, while visiting my parents in Palm Springs! Woohoo!)
- Sit on a patio chair without it gouging into my hips and thighs. (5-17-08 I don't remember when this happened but boy does it feel good to have PLENTY of room in ANY chair!)
- Sit next to my husband and the movie theater and feel comfortable, not claustrophobic. (5-17-08 I should've kept better track, lol, but now I can put my legs up over his and still lean back in my own seat!)
- Not use the handicapped stall in a public bathroom because it's "roomier" than regular stalls. (5-17-08 It's funny, I still have to actually THINK about the choice when I use a public restroom)
- Buy something to wear at the Rockabilly store in my neighborhood. (5-16-08 I finally got brave enough to go to Lady Luck. While their size "L" items are still small, I am rocking a great grey skull bandana print skirt today! The owner is my age and said most of the 'rockabilly' brands run really small and manufacturers are still making larger sizes only as an afterthought. she is always on the lookout for bigger items, most of her customers are 'curvy'.)
- Finish the tattoo on my lower right arm.
- Go to Disneyland and ride Tower of Terror.
- Take swing dancing lessons. (8/2/2008 - hubby and I took our first swing dance lesson - in public and stayed for a two hour open dance session - and danced in front of strangers - this is a HUGE life goal of ours!! Thank you RNY!)
- Wear a normal size dress (size 16 or less) to renew my wedding vows in 2008 (five year anniversary). (7-15-2007 – must update this as I bought size 16 sweatpants today!!)
- Not get out of breath walking a mile. (Not sure what day I did this, but I can, as of 8-26-2007, 4 months from surgery, walk 2-3 miles at a time, with hills without getting out of breath – except at the top of the big hill!)
- Weigh less than my husband. (6-22-2007 - I’m at 272 and he’s at 273.5!! For the first time I weigh LESS than he does!)
- Ride a bicycle.
- Be able to enjoy outdoor events like the Strawberry Festival, car shows, art shows, amusement parks. (5-24-08 - attended the AG Strawberry Festival for the first time since we moved here 3 years ago - walked all over AND back to the car instead of taking shuttle!! No problem!)
My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny. ~ Elaine Maxwell
How Much Weight Have You Lost?
Your weight loss =
1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale's brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant's heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant's penis
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World's Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she's 5'11")
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she's 5'4")
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony
For example, a loss of 128 pounds means you've lost almost a newborn giraffe or:
(10) dozen large eggs
(4) dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
(2) Chihuahuas
(2) Guinea pigs
(1) elephant penis
(1) average 2-year-old
(1) human head
(1) rack baby back ribs 
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