ObesityHelp

I almost fell off the scale...in fact I got off the scale and back on balancing on one foot to see if it would be the same...and it was.  I'm officially in the 100's!!!  I weighed 197 this morning.  I couldn't tell you the last time I weighed that.  I actually weigh less than the weight I lied about on my driver's license!  OK, I'll shut up now but I'm just in shock and still scared as ever!

Why scared?  Same as usual, what will I look like as I keep changing.  How will George handle all the change, so far he just grins and says he hopes I don't lose my butt (shhh...I'm praying I do!).  My family and friends always watching me eat (but that's what you get when you spread the word and ask for support).  Maintaining my weight when I reach my goal.  Blah Blah Blah, like I said the usual feelings we all have after weight loss surgery.  But I'm enjoying it right now, that's all I can do is take it one moment at time.

I had the kids take new pictures last night.  I'll post them as soon as I can.  I'm between a size 16 and 14 so it's time to buy some more pants.  The size 18's are so lose and my belt is now too long! I see changes all over me but I still feel like I look as fat as before.  We've talked about that in support group and from what the other "losers" say it never really goes away. 

That's all I can think of for now.  I'm busy with my new job so I don't have a lot of time to post but will keep up as much as possible!

shelly

Had to look at the calendar to realize it’s only been a month since surgery (actually a month and 5 days if you are the technical type). Believe it or not it feels like a lot longer than that! 

Here’s where I am at one month post-op: 

·          I’ve lost 35 pounds.  I actually gasped when I weight this morning and counted it up.

·          I’m down 2 to 3 dress sizes, depending on the cut.  My old clothes are getting too big!

·          Walking 30 minutes on the treadmill at least five days a week.  I really enjoy it as my quiet time (well as long as my headphones are turned up and I can’t hear the kids)!

·          My face is smaller. My jaw line is more evident.

·          My wedding ring is too big.  I went and bought a sterling silver band to wear when it starts slipping off.

·          I love having more energy!  One of my friends told me I didn’t have to walk so fast when we went to get lunch today…that cracked me up! 

·          Everything I have eaten so far hasn’t upset my stomach.  I’m on solids, eating what I want of course within reason.  I don’t eat red meat yet and am staying away from pasta.

My husband says he’s started saving for me to have “some work” done when I reach my goal.  He cracks me up.  He tells me how proud he is of me.  He’s my anchor and I love him so much.  I’m excited because he’s losing weight too! 

I get anxious when I am going to be eating away from home.  I just feel like I’m being watched, I’m sure others understand.   It could be that I’m just paranoid but I still have that worry of someone thinking I’m going to fail.  George still has to calm me down when it settles in again that this is my life now.  It’s not that I regret the surgery or want to eat more, it’s hard to explain.  It’s that fear of failure that my health and weight have instilled in me for years.  Well enough of that, I hate being a cry baby at times!

What else is there to tell?  I had hoped to share more fun things like my sister getting on to me for eating TWO peanut M&M’s this weekend or arguing with me about my bra size since I’ve lost weight but I figured I’d save her and I the embarrassment…it made me laugh and there’s nothing better than laughter.

Well I better run.  Please be praying that God guide me in finding a new job.  My job at AT&T will be gone at the end of the month.  They are closing our division.  It’s hard to imagine starting over after 12 ½ years here.  I’m looking within AT&T but not having much luck.  I figure it will work according to His plan.  In fact, God made sure I got this surgery because if my name had come up sooner (to be let go) there wouldn’t have been insurance to pay for it!  There’s always a silver lining, just got to look for it sometimes!

Shelly

George & I went to the my surgeon's monthly support group meeting last Thursday.  They had told us last month there would be a patient panel there so we could ask questions.  We get there and the office manager comes to me and tells me to come up front and be on the panel as the "newbie".  Excuse me, what?  It went fine and I really didn't say too much because I wasn't the expert like those that were 9 months to 3 years out.  It turned into more of a group discussion and that's when I learned how lucky I am...

The gentleman that had surgery the week before me had just gotten his tube out that day, that was over 4 weeks out!  He had complications and has been on liquids the entire time!  No way I could have done that!  The woman that had surgery the week after me was in surgery an extra two hours due to an error.  Most of the people there who were post-op said that food didn't taste the same as it did before surgery.  Huh?  Everything tastes the same to me!  Some talked about the baby food and puree part being hard...well I kind of just skipped that and went to chewing my food into mush and had no problem!  Lastly, recovery time...I felt back to normal within two weeks.  Some people there talked of taking a month off work for recovery.  I really would have lost my mind being stuck at home that long.

So what does this mean to me?  I'm one lucky girl!  Praise God!!!  I don't feel that I did better than any of those I spoke of.  I feel blessed by God to not have the same experience.  This is one of those times when you can truely see the power of prayer lifted up by my family and friends. 

Well my weight loss has slowed but everyone says that's ok.  I don't fit into any of my current clothes.  I'm reaching to the back of the closet for those 5+ year old clothes and even feel like some of them are too big!  This is all just amazing to me.  I just don't know how to describe it.