It has been a long time since I was on. I will keep this short, but wanted to give a brief update.

Things are good. Am a few pounds heavier after the winter, but looking forward to getting more active again as the weather warms up. Still about 100 below my heaviest weight and I am very happy with that. I live in a new state now, and most people here don't know that I was ever morbidly obese or had bariatric surgery. Not that I try to hide it, you just can't tell, and I generally don't bring it up. I think that is a statement as to my success. I am still very happy with my decision to have the sleeve and would do it again in a heart beat. No, I don't look great naked (still thinking plastic surgery might be nice at some point), but I look perfectly normal clothed, and even good in a dress.

Good luck to all those still considering surgery. It is soooo worth it.

Yesterday marks 9 months since surgery. What an experience this has been! I am so glad I did this. 
I have lost nearly 100 lbs from my highest weight, 81 since surgery. My BMI is now normal, and I weigh less than I can ever remember weighing as an adult. I feel great!

I am planning on getting a tattoo to commemorate 100 lbs lost. Currently figuring out the design and scraping together the money to pay for it. Will likely have to wait for taxes, as I am still paying for my surgery. I would like to get a celtic knot, to symbolize my heritage, but also the way all things are connected in life. I will also somehow incorporate a staff of asclepius or caduceus to symbolize my profession. 

Obviously I'm not big on blogging, but it seems like I ought to update this...

6 mos surgiversary last week, and things are going great. 

I am within 10 lbs of goal (have lost 87.5 lbs total, 70 since surgery), and am thinking I may make my goal a bit lower. 130 would be "normal", and I like that idea. I have started to get a lot more comments about how good I look. Its really weird. I have someone stop me in the halls on a daily basis and tell me how good I look and ask me how I did it and how happy they are. These are often people I don't really know, and it surprises me they would still notice the difference.

I am back to a fairly normal diet, albeit small portions. Always have my protein first, then veggies or fruit and carbs if I have room. I drink a protein drink daily. I am usually able to get 64 oz of liquid in, but I am always thinking about it to make sure I don't get behind. On days where we have long cases in the OR it can be hard to get enough in. Lately I have been having some problems with nausea after my vitamins. Tried switching my PPI to night time and that seemed to help some. I did try to go off my PPI, but within a day I had horrible reflux, so back on it I went. 

I think one of the weirdest things is how I see myself. Sometimes I can see the difference. Other times I look in the mirror and I see the same me as before.  Sometimes when we are shopping for clothes I still gravitate towards the plus sizes before I realize they are humongous on me. On one hand I don't want to quit losing, but it would be nice if I could actually start getting some nice clothes. Not worth the money when they start to fall off in a month or two.

The one thing I am not the best about is exercise. I can't seem to get in a routine and do it on a regular basis. I was doing pretty well going for bike rides several times a week, but now its getting colder and gets darker earlier, so that is pretty much done until spring. Thankfully I do a fair amount of walking on the job, so its not like I am sedentary. On days that are long I am just too pooped to workout when I get home. Currently trying to do sit ups and some free weights every night before bed.

I am a bit late writing this since I have been on vacation the last week. Better late than never I guess.

Its been 4 months now. Things are going great!
I'm down 70+ lbs from my highest weight.
My BMI is no longer obese.

Vacation went pretty well in terms of my eating and water intake. I took a case of bottles water and green tea, and I think I managed to stay better hydrated than I usually am at home. Also had made sure I had all my usual snacks in supply and just kept a spare in my pocket wherever I went.  Only problems were eating at my sisters house, and when I went out to eat with my step mom. My sister is well meaning, but one who always forces her kids to eat everything she gives them. Not my style but fine. A little awkward for me though when I can only eat so little... Dinner with my step mom was okay, but I ate too much and ended up getting sick. She doesn't know about the surgery (we are not close at all), and I didn't feel like getting into that discussion, so just tried to not draw attention to my eating. Was family style chinese, so that all worked okay, just had too much too quick and blegh!

Everyone noticed how much thinner I am and that was nice. A real confidence booster to get all the comments from people I haven't seen in a year or more.

Had to make a trip to goodwill for some shorts before we left, as I have nothing that fits now! Now I have a nice assortment of summer things for when I am off. It is weird to look at my clothes now, because they seem to small to belong to me... I guess I will get used to that in time. I got all 12s for the shorts, and they are all comfortable loose. I don't think it will be long before I can start buying some 10s and that just totally amazes me. I can't even remember being that size!

Okay, I guess thats enough rambling for know. I am exhausted from my trip (road trip from Ohio to Colorado and back in 7 days) but had a good time and enjoyed seeing the family. I just wish I had had some more time to see some old friends.