Wow!  Where has the year gone?  This time last year I was frantically trying to get everything ready for when I got home from surgery.  I was 310 lbs and couldn't get up off of the sofa without a struggle.  Bending over to pick something up off of the floor was extremely difficult.  Washing my feet in the shower...difficult!  It's the little things you take for granted when you're thin..well when you're thin and have never been morbidly obese that is.  Now that I can wash my feet, bend over, sit in any booth I want, etc. I will NEVER take it for granted again. 

My eating habits have changed drastically since surgery.  I can now eat a more normal size portion which is nice.  Normal in the sense of not eating like a bird.   I no longer eat fried foods, except once in a while some chicken wings and fried okra...only way to eat okra! lol  I have no desire for fried foods any more.  I have only had one sip of soda since prior to surgery.  Do I miss it?  Nope...not fried foods or soda.  I don't like bread or spaghetti at all....neither of them sit right with me and I've lost my taste for both of them. 

Clothing...wow!  I started out wearing 28's / 30's and 3X / 4X.  Now I wear 12 or 14 pants/dresses and Large shirts. I'm still losing so who knows where I'll end up.  I don't want to get any less than a size 10 though.  The funny part is in shoes I've went from a size 11 to a 9.  My ring size has dropped drastically too.  From a 10 to a 7 on my ring finger.

I've had a lot of personal changes too.  My husband and I separated and are going to be divorcing.  This was not caused by WLS.  We haven't been happy for many years.  It just so happened everything worked out financially that I could move out.  We still talk and are on good terms though. 

Vitamins have been my hard thing to get down pat.  I have finally found a good schedule that works for me...it only took a year!  My labs have been good so far and I think they'll be even better next year.

If I had to do WLS over again, I would do it in a heart beat.  I've lost 155.5 lbs in 12 months and gained my life back.  The sky is the limit!

God bless!!!

I keep meaning to update, but just haven't done it.  A lot has been going on in my life....some good and some that could be considered bad.  My husband & I separated 2 weeks ago and I moved to the town where I work.  It's only 30 minutes away, but since I don't know anyone here except the 13 people I work with it feels like I'm starting over.  I'm doing a lot of soul searching to find out who I am.  (My marital problems didn't start after WLS.  They were already there many years before this.  So for those of you who are thinking another one due to WLS....not this time.)

Physically I am doing fine.  I will be doing my first annual labs in about 6 weeks or so.  For a little while I had issues taking my vitamins, but I've been doing much better the last few weeks.  I hope all of my levels come back ok.  Right now I feel like my iron is a little low because I get tired faster in the evenings than usual.  Since I've battled low iron for many years I can usually recognize when my iron is getting a little out of whack.  I found a new brand/type of iron (thanks to reading the OH boards....Andrea is the queen of vitamins lol).  I hope now that I'm taking a better kind and dosage I'll get on track quickly.

I'm only 8.5 lbs from goal!  WOW!  That blows my mind.  Before surgery I was hoping to be at goal by my 1 year mark.  It looks like it might happen.  If not, I'll only be a few pounds away.  (Although originally my surgeon set my goal at 160 which is only 3.5 lbs away from where I am now....so I've definitely met my goals.)  Even if I don't hit 155 by my 1 year, it's ok because I know I will get there and I feel so much better now. 

I absolutely LOVE being able to pick stuff up off of the floor without any trouble at all.  That is absolutely awesome!!!  My clothing sizes now are 12/14 in pants and Large in shirts.  Shoes went from 11 to 9.5 and I've been noticing lately that the 9.5's are a little loose so I may actually be in a 9 now.  For a little while I was very cold natured...stayed cold all the time.  I think that is starting to regulate a little because although I get cold a lot easier than I used to, I'm not freezing - just cold. lol  (Or is it my wonderful electric blanket that I can't imagine sleeping without that keeps me nice and toasty? haha)

This is a journey that I would do all over again.  I am so glad I took the step and had this surgery.  My quality of life has improved more than I ever could have imagined.   

God Bless!!!

I have found when I am stressed or have lots going on I can't eat much.  Today is a great example...During lunch I had a stressful phone call and then I couldn't eat any more lunch.  It just felt like my food sat really heavy in my pouch.  Dinner I was still thinking about all the stuff going on and once again I couldn't eat much.  Very little matter of fact.  I'm going to have to drink some kind of protein tonight because there is no way I have gotten anywhere near the amount I'm suppose to.  This is definitely different than before WLS.  Prior to WLS I could eat regardless of what was going on. 

Physically I'm having a lot of hip pain.  I'm going to an orthopaedic doctor Monday to have them check it out and I'm following up on my knee while I'm there.  The hip is keeping me from sleeping so I am more concerned about it at this point. 

Well, for now that is it.  I'll try to post again soon.

God bless!

The nurse and doctor were both very pleased with my progress.  The only negative thing the doctor mentioned on my blood work is my good cholesteral (HDL) is low.  He would like that number to increase.  I'm going to research and find out what foods have Omega 3's.  Apparently those foods will help raise the HDL. 

I almost forgot!  I asked Dr. Williams if I should still be shooting for 160 as a goal.  He changed it to 155.  So, that means I know have 40.5 lbs to lose instead of 35.5.  It will come off!!! 

Well, that's pretty much it for now.  

God bless!!!