WOW!  I cant believe it's been a year already! 

How have things changed....
Before: 
I started this journey at 339 lbs....with high blood pressure for which I took 2 pills a day....high cholesterol for which I took a pill...Sleep apnea for which I needed a CPAP but never did get it....along with feeling miserable and trying to hide it...achy knees and back...all the other usual things!  I wore size 26 jeans and 26/28 or 4XL shirts!

Today:
I weigh 172 lbs....I have no more high BP...no high cholesterol (in fact...Dr Williams said yesterday that my cholesterol is better than his!)....no more sleep apnea....and most of the achiness is gone!  I feel WONDERFUL!  I wear either size 10 or 12 in jeans depending on the brand and medium or large shirts! 


I knew I was going to lose a lot of weight!  I never dreamed it would be 167 lbs in ONE YEAR!  I have never been this thin...EVER!  I have never felt so amazing!  I have never been so proud of myself.  I have never been an "INSPIRATION" until now!

People often ask..."What is your secret?  How did you do it?"
Honestly....it's no secret at all!  I followed Dr Williams guidelines!  I move my body!  I measure my food...even at a year out (that way I know exactly how much I'm eating and can easily figure how much protein, calories, etc I'm getting)! 
I find ways to work in exercise....for example...at work....I'm in a confined space...but I move as much as I can....I walk/jog in place...do squats...leg lifts...side steps........whatever I can think of to do to keep my body moving!
I do what diets/doctors have been telling me to do for years!  Only this time...I have had a tool to help me stick with it!


I love my RNY!  I love Dr Williams, Janet, and the rest of the staff at the office!  But, most importantly...I finally love MYSELF!  That's the most amazing feeling in the world!

On May 29th I weighed for my 8 month weigh in...and guess what???? 



I was sooo thrilled!!!  I dont ever remember seeing a 1 in front of my weight before!  It's just an amazing feeling!  I instantly felt thinner!  haha  Maybe that makes me sound crazy!  But, it's true!  I never want to forget that feeling!    I wonder how I will feel when I reach MY goal weight!  Only 47.2 pounds away!  I use to wonder "if" I make it....now...I wonder "WHEN" I make it!  Because...I know I'm going to!

Several people have told me that I'm an inspiration to them.  WOW!  That is absolutely the BEST compliment anyone could ever give me!  It truly inspires me to do even better and try even harder to get to my goal! 

I've heard people talk about this before...but didnt think that I would experience it.  Sometimes...when I look at myself...I still see the "old" me.  The much bigger me.  Weird!  I'm 140 something pounds lighter....and I still see the 339 lb me at times.  And when I go shopping...I tend to buy stuff too big and have to take it back!  I look at smaller sizes and think "That will never fit me"  but sure enough...it does!  

Those of you who have been through this know....and those of you who are thinking about or getting ready to have surgery will see.....THIS IS AN AMAZING JOURNEY! 

Yes, I have some issues with sagging skin.  Not HORRIBLE...but...bad enough.  My arms and my breasts are the worst for me...and will be the first things I get fixed!  But, for those who are worried about things like that...I will definitely take the skin and the amazing way I feel now over not having sagging skin and still being big!

Oh yeah, the hair loss DOES stop!  Mine is coming back now!  I love my hair again!!!  Still gonna stay with the shorter do' as sooo many people tell me how it suits me!  I was worried that the shedding was NEVER gonna end...but like all those who've been through this before me said....It does stop and it does come back!

I hope that everyone is doing well....until next time....

*HUGS*

PS...If anyone reading this has any question/concerns or just needs someone to talk to...feel free to contact me!

The weight loss had slowed....a LOT!  But, looks like things are back in high gear!!  Thank God!  I was getting a little worried!  But, here it is...a week later....and I'm down 108 lbs!  YAY!  I bought a pair of size 16 pants yesterday and they FIT!  They were a little tight in the waist....but....not too bad!

Here's a pic!!!!  I look mad...hehe....but...I was really THRILLED!!

I weighed on Valentines day...4.5 months after my surgery....and.....I was down 101 lbs!!!  YAY!!!  I'm sooo excited I cant stand it!
On Sunday...I weighed again...just to see if it was really real...and guess what???  The scale said 236....that means....103 lbs GONE!!  OMG!  I couldnt believe it!  The weight loss had slowed for several weeks....I think I lost like 5 lbs the month of January! And now...BAM!  It's coming off again!

This process is amazing!  I LOVE MY RNY!!!

And I cant wait to see Dr Williams and Janet next month!!!


Only problem....UGH...my hair is still falling out like CRAZY!  I hope this slows down soon...or I may have to go wig shopping!  :)

*HUGS*

I will upload my new "After" pics later on today!

WOW!  Sooo many things have changed in the last 3 months!!  All for the better! 





If you look CLOSELY in this pic...you can see that my collar bones are starting to show!!!!

I'm sooo glad that I decided to do this!  By far...the BEST decision I have ever made!

I went on Tuesday (Jan 6) for my 3 month follow up! I saw the Nut.  She's cool but said I need to eat more veggies   But, being the "good girl" that I am....I will try!  Janet was wonderful as always!  I love her!  She makes me feel soooo good and successful!  She was so excited to see me...and I was excited to see her too!  Once I realized that I wouldnt actually see Dr Williams....I was disappointed....but was PRAYING that Janet would be there!  I cant wait to go back for my 6 month follow up!!! 
I also saw my PCP on the 6th...and....my BP was 110/70!!  OMG!!! And I havent taken meds since the first of October!!  YAY!!

So far, by my PCP's scale (which I try to weigh on every Monday afternoon...when I get up (I work 3rd shift).....I have lost 86 lbs!!  WOOOHOOO!  I have went from a size 26/28 to 18/20!!!!

I TRULY LOVE MY RNY!!!!!

Well, I went on my first date with Michael! And it went perfectly! 
He showed up at my door with a dozen pink roses!!  How sweet!!! 

Yesterday evening my best friend who is a groomer at a Vet's office called me and told me that someone brought in a chocolate colored male poodle today.  He is about 7 years old...he was matted and was infested with fleas. But, the lady who found him couldnt keep him and they wanted to know if I wanted him. 
I saw him...and fell in love IMMEDIATELY!  He's soooo adorable!  He does have a few bald spots on his hind legs...appearantly from sleeping on concrete!
I went through this same thing a little over a year ago....which is when I got my baby, Riley! He is also a male poodle (he's the white one)....and was also mistreated by his previous owner.
So, now...I have TWO boys and I already love them both to pieces!!


This is Charlie!


Charlie and Riley together on the couch!



Charlie again....doesnt he look sooo cuddly!!!  :)

I just had my first meal of REAL food!!!

I baked some fish with salt and a little pepper...I had about 1/2 oz of that and a couple of very small bites of potato!  So far so good!  I dont feel "full" but then I didnt actually feel hungry when I sat down to eat! 
I was soooo looking forward to eating but when it was actually time to sit down and eat I got scared!  I was sooo scared of getting sick. 


Silly me didnt weigh the night before surgery....so, I didnt know exactly how much I had lost.  Yesterday was exactly two weeks since surgery so I decided to go to my PCP and weigh.  I went there the Friday before surgery and I weighed 339....yesterday I weighed 311!!!  That's 28 lbs in 2 weeks!!!  WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!   
**dances**

Until next time....God bless you all!