Wow, it's been since last summer.  Funny how when you get to a 'normal' weight and lead a 'normal' life you tend to not think about being morbidly obese.
Let's see....since last August I had the hernia repair.  I've been working hard.  My boyfriend and I bought a place together. 
I'm over 2 years out, and can eat whatever I please.  Only get diarrhea when I eat sugar, no dumping.  So...I'm having to REALLY be careful now.  I see how the weight can creep back on.

Been having a lot of abdominal symptoms and pain, and guess what?  Another hernia, and the mesh moved off the previous hernia repair.  So July 6th is my date to get it all fixed, and a panni to boot- the surgeon wants that excess skin out of the way.  It isn't a fancy cosmetic surgery- I won't even have a belly button when it's done.

I'm nervous about it.  When I had the RNY, it was the hardest, most painful thing I'd ever done, but was always worth it.  I was excited to do it, even at my worst.

I think it's the thought of going through all of that surgery nonsense again...the coughing, the iv sticks, the drains, no showers...all of that stuff, including pain.  But my gut hurts now, so what's the difference, right?

I really don't feel too awful, except for when the alien in my belly pops out and I start puking...yep, it's a big ole' incisional hernia.  I lie in bed on my side, and it's as if a cantelope is coming out of my skin...very strange.  And it makes noises, too! 
So let's see....I'm still losing weight, about a pound a month.  I didn't do the 16 months of lots of weight loss like other RNY'ers.  I pretty much stopped losing at 9 months, but I am in a good spot.  Yes, I'd like to be around 140, but I'll be happy with 150.  And once I have the Panni (hopefully in December)  I should lose pounds AND inches.  It's tough to have size 6-8 legs and size 12 waist!

I'm glad I had the surgery.  I eat normally.  I am still alone, which was a surprise.  I always thought that if I was thin, the men would like me.  Guess what?  Didn't happen.  Oh, well.

I went white water rafting, which is something I never would have done fat.  I LOVE buying clothes.  I'm happy.

Nervous about surgery, because frankly I'm sick of pain.  But this puppy hurts, and I need to fix it before something goes wrong. 

Never said life wasn't interesting!!!

I posted my one year photos back in March, but it seems I forgot to blog here. 

I seem to be doing fine.  My 1 yr appt was great, Dr S was thrilled (there is a picture of us- he's the one with the big grin).  My labs are good, except my b12 was on the low side, so I upped that.
I used the Bariatric Advantage Lap Band Chewables for the first 6 months, but kept getting annoyed at how inconvenient it was to try to get over to the Dr office from work (25 miles)  when they were open.
So...went to the Bariatric Advantage website, and discovered that they are a little bit cheaper ordered directly, and after looking at all the levels, I switched myself to the 'stronger' chewables.  The downside is that they have zero iron, and very little calcium, so I have to add those, but hey, Bariatric Advantage sends me those too, every 90 days!  The calcuim tastes like tootsie rolls, which is yummy.  I've had a lot of trouble handling iron- other kinds make me sick, my gut ache for hours...just not good.  With the BA chewables, I don't have any of these problems, and I take 60 mg.
Otherwise, I eat pretty much what I want, if I'm willing to pay the price.  A couple of days ago we had lunch brought in at work, and I ate a yummy chopped salad.  It was the 4 Oatmeal-Raisin cookies that I munched down that afternoon was my downfall.  I had such stinky gas, I was postively lethal!!!  We're talking dog leaving the room, something died up there lethal.
If I really want something, I will eat it.  I CRAVED a cinnabon for MONTHS!    So finally I bought a small one, and cut it in half.  Besides being on the pot all night, the funny thing was...it just didn't taste as good as I remembered.  I have no interest in ever having one again.
I am getting to be a really good cook.  I do a lot of Curry things, and seafood.  I did a wonderful layered Tilapia that I ate all week.  yummy.
The downside...skin.  I'm old, and flabby.  I know I can get stronger, so am going to work with a trainer.

the upside...I am a fashion plate, thanks to Ross, Marshalls, TJMaxx, The Rack...find all sorts of trendy things to wear for cheap.  My blood sugar is normal.  Sleep apnea is gone.  Cholestrol is normal.

People treat me differently now that I'm thinner.  It seems that I'm smarter, kinder, and more interesting.  I dated a nice attorney for a little while- me and a rich lawyer!  But I'm the one that broke it off...I'm too interested in my life right now to focus on some guy.

I'm writing up a storm.  I WILL be published before the year is out.  I have kids that I love with my whole heart, that have grown up well, and are living good lives. 

Sometimes yes, I feel very alone, but hey- I own that remote!  God bless all of my friends here, and keep you safe on your own journey!

okay, it's been awhile.  Got the pacemaker.  Then found out I had cataracts!  so the month of December involved:
physical therapy 3x per wk for my back
Cardiac Rehab 3x per wk for my heart
working both jobs
trying to write
trying to sell Avon
having 2 cataract surgeries, pre and post op checks.

to quote Erin Brockovich, "I'm really quite tired"

sitting in Oregon right now, heading to Disneyland tomorrow.  I'm going to fit in all the rides, going to run around like crazy, going to have FUN.

I am officially down 101 pounds...won't be changing my ticker until I get home, because I can't get to it from here, I guess. 

GOALS:  finish the book.  Then finish the next book.  Sell the books. 

Well, the weight loss is going great, I'm in between a 12 and a 14.  My hair seems to be falling out less and less, so that's good.  I've got some saggy skin, but hopefully things will still tighten up.
I went into the hospital last week, looked like a heart attack.  Good news is that my heart is beautiful, valves work, no crud in the arteries...but it won't beat correctly because of an electrical problem.
soo....long story short, I got a pacemaker installed, and I feel good!  I didn't realize how tired I've been the last few weeks, needing to sleep. 
That's one thing to remember- not EVERYTHING wrong is associated with WLS.  The first thought was I wasn't eating enough, or drinking enough...but it had nothing to do with it.
It was so nice to be a hospital patient where obesity wasn't my primary problem.  I fit on the tiny cardiac tables, didn't feel embarrassed by my fat. 
they still have a hell of a time getting blood or starting iv's,  but now I know it's not because of fat, it's because my veins are small, and they roll. 
it's those little things that mean a lot.