plus a few days.

Okay, first the stats:

Starting weight: 256
Surgery weight: 240 something
Today's weight: 170
Total loss: 86 lbs.

I just got home from my six month follow up with the surgeon. He says that I have far exceeded his expectations, as he was only looking for me to lose a total of 60% EWL. Well, at 6 months, I am at 67%; and I am still going strong. Ten more pounds, and I'll no longer be obese, just overweight. Lookinig forward to that with great expectation. It was funny, he came into the room reading the chart, looked at me, and went back out into the hallway. He came in a few minutes later to say that he had the right file, but didn't recognize me so wanted to make sure I was the right person before talking medical record stuff with me. That was great!

Blood work all came back, and not a single problem to speak of. I take a yucky nasty tasting liquid vitamin named "Miracle 2000" once per day. Once per day, I take 600 milligrams of Calcium Citrate, once per week, I take a B-12 / B complex sublingual tab, and on days where I don't have red meat, I take a "gentle low-dose iron" tab that also has the B vitamins (last one because everyone in my family is "borderline" anemic). It basically works out that I take the liquid vitamin in the morning, and one supplement in the evening. Oh, and I still make sure I get one protein shake with 2 tsp added benefiber in per day. Outside of that, I do not feel as if I'm "on a diet". It is such a part of my routine, that it feels like normal eating. I don't desire sugar and carbs the way I once did. Every now and then I will have some, but they seem too sweet now for me.

I went from a size 26 in clothing to a size 14 / 12. I have lost ring sizes, but I am waiting until I am done losing weight before having them resized permenantly.

I am so much happier with myself, and much more content with the directions it looks as if my life is headed. I too, am not just about weight now, but life is calling. Don't panic, checking in everyday is a part of my routine, and my adult time. What I'm trying to say is there does come a time that food and weight will not be the main focus of the life, but rather will start becoming a side thing. In many ways, I believe this is what "feeling normal" is like. I never knew this before because food and weight were the focus of my life, not leaving me much room for other things.

Another place I find myself at 6 months out, and 86 lbs lighter, is this thing called "identity crisis". Not really a crises for me, but more like a self-discovery. Finding out who I am, what I like, etc. apart from food. This is an amazing journey for me. But also, finding out how many of my relationships are now changing because I no longer fit the "largest one" category. I don't feel I've changed in how I love others, but because I love me more, the way I express, and speak, and act has changed. I guess it makes sense then, that relationships also will change accordingly. Some for the good, and some not so good. Interestingly, how people view themselves is now in place because of me losing weight. Sick to think of, but it's true. For example, my grandma started back to WW because she is having trouble with the knowledge that I am smaller than her now. I am 3 inches shorter, and a smaller bone frame, but I have been larger than her since I was in the 8th grade. My sister and brother are also going through something similar. At first it bothered me because I love them no matter what--I always have. Then I realized that this is their problem, not mine---nothing I can do about it but live my life to the fullest. So, if their sense of competition, etc, causes them to lose weight and be healthier too, then it will be worth it!

Okay, enough of my yappin'!

Next follow up with surgeon is in 3 months---January. I am setting a personal goal of 25 lbs. by then. We'll see

I am one of those "awful" ones who steps on the dreaded scale everyday. Before I encourage anyone else to do the same, I am not the type of person who gets discouraged by a few pounds up, one down, a pound up and two pounds down type of person. I am a very curious person, and was more interested in how a daily weight loss would look. Therefore, I have weighed everyday, minues our vacation week, and wrote it on a calendar. I have tried my best to keep this updated on my profile--and it does prove the ups and downs are part of the journey. However, as you can tell by my total weight loss, those same ups and downs don't define the weight loss itself.

If you would like to see this, please ask to be added as a friend to see my profile.

Next, my same spirit of curiosity has caused me to look at monthly totals versus daily averages to see any corralation. Here goes:

Starting weight: 256
Not sure of Surgery Weight (approx 243)
Surgery April 10, 2008
Total April weight loss: -17 lbs
April Daily Avg: -.5666


May weight loss: -11.6
May Daily Avg: -.3741


June weight loss: -14.5
June Daily Avg: -.4833


July weight loss: -9
July Daily Avg: -.2903


August weight loss: -6
August Daily Avg: -.1935


September weight loss: -10.6
September weight loss: -.3533


6 month weight loss: -81.4
6 month Daiily Avg: -.3821


Now, what is interesting to me is July and August. Boy would I love to say, see I "stalled" or "slowed" down a bit. True, true---but also those were the months that I was canning jams and jellies with the summer fruit stuffs, and you have to taste them. Sicko Carbo fiend here.

I hope to lose 10 lbs next month, but I would expect that those pounds will be harder to come off and slow down the weight loss now that I am surpassing the 6 month mark. Either way, all my other curious friends, I will be daily tracking just to see how it goes for me.

Today is September 11th, 2008.

(Pause for WTC remembrance, and prayer for nation's repentance and revival)

OK, 5 months and one day since my life was forever altered. I am so thankful that I decided to travel this path with the sleeve. It has brought sanity and health to my life, and I am grateful. I just updated / edited my previous blog where I recorded my daily weigh-in numbers. It is so interesting to see the fluctuations up and down along this journey. Also they are becoming much more frequent the closer to goal and the further away from the surgery date. Really, it stresses the importance of really rockin' that sleeve those first 6 to 9 months!!!!! I have recently discovered that journaling my food intake is as valuable a tool for me as the sleeve itself, as my August weight loss shows. Since April, I have lost 75 lbs, and only have 50 more to go until reaching goal. I have gone from a size 26 in pants to a size 16 or 14, depending on the cut. My ankles and knees no longer ache, and I am on my feet all of the time. I no longer have blood pressure issues either. My 3 month blood work came back good. I am on the low side in both protein and iron; however, they are both still in the normal range. I was showing my paperwork to my sister, who is an RN last night. She said that it looks very good especially since our mom was borderline anemic and always low on the protein side too---wonderful genetics!! Anyway, I am doing my best to up my iron intake and up the protein intake from 60 minimum to 70 minimum to see if it will alter the blood work that I'll have done in October. I am beginning to be able to eat a bit more now than a few months ago. Again, something to be wise about in my choices. I also am conscientiously (sorry about spelling) trying to get in more fruit and veggies in order to not have to take MOM for the back end issues. Well, I look better, feel better, and am living life better---for that I rejoice.

Until my next update,
Rhonda

Well, here I am shame faced at not keeping up with the updates. Life has been a little hectic with the kiddos. Whoo hooo, summer is right around the corner, and I am so ready to start with the "no school" time. Funny thing is I know I'll be ready for them to go back to the school at the end of summer break also---but that's three months away.

Today ends my 7th week from surgery. Yes I have eaten too fast and foamied, ate too fast and slimed, ate too much and was in pain, ate too much and foamied / slimed, tossed. Slowing it down and waiting betweeen bites has been the hardes thing for me. But all that aside, I FEEL GREAT. I have written my weight loss down daily, and it is so interesting to see the numbers go up and down. Yet at the same time, if I compare week to week, it has been down--so no stalls over a few days thus far. I'll post the #s at the end of this blog.

I have been exercising at least 30 minutes a day each day, and sometimes I do two 30 minutes per day. Dr. Rod was riding me pretty good for not doing 60 per day. Right now I feel pretty good about where I am. My BP is in tact, and I am losing weight at a pretty steady rate. Yes, I know that I need to up this, and I know that this will happen too; so there that is.

I still have pain if I eat chicken or eggs; but please let me qualify that. If I have sauce or liquid or something to "cut" it a bit, then it is fine--but just and egg or just chicken is still an "ouchie" for me. I have struggled a bit with constipation. Now there's a shock that we've only seen tons!!! I never had this issue pre-surgery; but now---WOW. A whole new level of compassion. I have been adding benefiber to one of my protein drinks, and trying to get in some veggies with my meat stuffs. It seems to be helping. Another thing that I notice is that water is not as palatable to me---but I am "forcing" a minimum of 8 - 8oz cups each day. It has to be really, really cold, or no way. Also, my taste buds pick up even the slightest "off taste" with water, so everything has to be bottled or filtered or I can taste all the metallic yucks. I still do energy crash--but not every day, about the 1/2 the time; and it doesn't last as long--only for about 1 or 2 hours or so, right around 3 or 4 o'clock.

I am down to a size 20, xl Tees. That is down from 3X Tees and size 26. Not too shabby for 7 weeks!!!!!

As promised here are my numbers--down close to 45 lbs since the beginning of pre-op diet. I will post my two month results to the polls sometime next week.

Highest 256
4/03 243
4/10 Not sure of weight (surgery date)
4/14 234
4/16 231.6
4/17 231.0
4/18 230.2
4/19 229.4
4/20 229.8
4/21 230.0
4/22 230.0
4/23 228.8
4/24 229.4
4/25 228.6
4/26 227.8
4/27 227.8
4/28 226.2
4/29 225.6
4/30 225.8
5/1 225.0
5/2 225.8
5/3 223.8
5/4 224.6
5/5 223.2
5/6 223.2
5/7 224.0
5/8 223.2
5/9 221.0
5/10 220.6
5/11 216.8
5/12 220.2
5/13 219.0
5/14 216.2
5/15 219.0
5/16 218.8
5/17 216.8
5/18 218.8
5/19 217.6
5/20 216.6
5/21 215.8
5/22 215.6
5/23 212.6
5/24 213.0
5/25 215.4
5/26 214.8
5/27 215.0
5/28 211.4
5/29 214.2
5/30 213.8
5/31 213.4
6/01 213.4
6/02 214.0
6/03 211.0
6/04 211.6
6/05 211.2
6/06 210.8
6/07 210.6
6/08 210.6
6/09 209.0
6/10 208.8
6/11 207.8
6/12 207.6
6/13 206.6
6/14 205.8
6/15 206.0
6/16 205.4
6/17 205.8
6/18 205.2
6/19 204.2
6/20 202.8
6/21 206.0
6/22 205.6
6/23 204.4
6/24 203.6
6/25 203.2
6/26 203.6
6/27 202.4
6/28 200.6
6/29 200.6
6/30 199.2
7/01 200.8
7/02 201.8
7/03 202.0
7/04 201.2
7/05 201.2
7/06 201.0
7/07 199.0
7/08 197.8
7/09 199.8
7/10 198.0
7/11 196.4
7/12 193.8
7/13 193.8
7/14 vacation until 7/20
7/20 195.2
7/21 197.0
7/22 195.0
7/23 193.0
7/24 192.8
7/25 193.0
7/26 193.2
7/27 193.2
7/28 193.2
7/29 192.2
7/30 189.2
7/31 191.0
8/01 191.2
8/02 190.2
8/03 191.0
8/04 191.6
8/05 190.0
8/06 189.6
8/07 189.8
8/08 188.8
8/09 189.6
8/10 190.0
8/11 187.6
8/12 186.4
8/13 188.0
8/14 186.2
8/15 186.0
8/16 186.8
8/17 187.5
8/18 188.4
8/19 188.0
8/20 187.4
8/21 186.2
8/22 183.4
8/23 184.2
8/24 185.4
8/25 184.4
8/26 186.4
8/27 186.0
8/28 185.4
8/29 185.8
8/30 185.5
8/31 185.2
9/01 185.2
9/02 185.2
9/03 187.0
9/04 185.6
9/05 184.2
9/06 183.4
9/07 182.0
9/08 181.6
9/09 180.6
9/10 180.2
9/11 181.0
9/12 180.2
9/13 179.6
9/14 180.6
9/15 180.4
9/16 179.2
9/17 178.8
9/18 178.2
9/19 178.8
9/20 180.6
9/21 179.4
9/22 177.6
9/23 177.2
9/24 175.8
9/25 175.0
9/26 175.0
9/27 174.8
9/28 176.0
9/29 175.8
9/30 174.6

Since I am the primary picture takerer in our family, I do not have photos to post. Maybe one day I'll remember to get someone to take one of me. I usually try to avoid getting in photos if I can help it.

Smiles to all, and peace!

RhondaRoo

I am doing incredibly well. Let's see, this morning I had my very first string cheese--light sargento. It went down okay. I took about 20 minutes to eat it. It tasted great!!!! I'm not having any trouble getting the protein in beause I am using the nectar and isopure drinks. Two scoops is between 46 - 50 grams of protein. I use 1/2 as my mid-morning "meal" and the remainder for my afternoon "meal". Alternatively, I have mixed one scoop of choc or vanilla protein in with my fat free yogurt. This ups the yogurt by 19 grams of protein. I am downing popscicles and s/f jello. I am staying away from sugar as much as possible. Light Ricotta cheese, bake then top meat spaghetti sauce that I ran through the blender. Top with little cheese, and bake until melted. It was good. Tonight I am making a roast for the family, and I am going to puree the meat with some jarred fat free gravy, and then stir that into some mashed taters. How about you. I am about get about 2/3 cup of food down. Last night we went to a Mexican restaurant and I ate about 1/2 refried beans and the filling from a tamal. That tasted good; but I think the salt got me today. And, I am back onto my exercise regime---two 30 minute sessions with Leslie Sansone 2 miles.