Before & After

 
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Goals

Go to the beach and actually be proud of how i look

50 People
 in progress, 
5 People
 achieved this

Exercise faithfully and enjoy doing it!

25 People
 in progress, 
3 People
 achieved this

Stay in a healthy, normal BMI range

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this

Stay between size 4 and size 8, I want to look healthy always!

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this

To continue to be an inspiration to others in my post WLS journey

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this
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Surgeon Testimonial

Kenneth M.R. Warnock M.D.
My first impression during my consult with Dr Warnock is that he genuinally cares about each and every one of his patients. I don't think he would have wasted 5 minutes of my time if he didn't seriously think I needed the surgery. Everyone in the office is very helpful and very knowledgeable. The only thing I don't like is that sometimes you have to wait a very long time to see him.rnrnI am now almost 4 years out of my WLS and I still enjoy my checkups and aftercare with Dr Warnock. He is always pleasant even though he's not always been 100% happy with the way I do things. Support Groups are wonderful whenever I am able to attend them. I would still highly recommend him as a surgeon to anyone who is looking into having the WLS.
Member Interests
My name is Renae... I am a 34 year old mom and Air Force wife who is currently living in Oklahoma.   I had open RNY almost 8 years ago with Dr. Warnock in Wichita Falls, TX and it has definitely changed my life for the better.  I would not change it for the world!  I still have goals and aspirations ahead of me and I'm definitely not stopping anytime soon, even though I've had some setbacks.  Nothing will stand in the way of me and my goals.

HW 334/Consult 303/SW 297/CW 162/GW 145 (MY goal)
Height almost 5'7"
Size 8 jeans (some 10's)/Size Med shirts
Not as happy and comfortable as I was in those size 4's, but I'm getting there again =) 
* I've lost from the regain up to 187 lbs back to 162 lbs in just a couple of short months and I am determined to be at goal yet again by my 8 year time of my anniversary of my surgery in August *

renae's Blog
renae's Blog


Making progress again
on April 11, 2012 9:05 am
"No one ever said it would be easy . . ."

It's definitely not easy, especially the 2nd'ish time around, but it's rewarding to know that I'm doing it and that it's starting to come off.

I weighed in this morning and I've lost 3.8 lbs this week.  That is really pretty good, considering that I'm just starting to amp up the exercise to a level I can handle with the health problems I have.  The food tracking is becoming old habit at this point in time.  Many times in the past, I've started up the food tracking, only to fail at it after a week or so.  I'm a month into it today and going strong.  I'm 11 lbs down this month.

I don't have high hopes that every month will be perfect and without plateaus, but the goal is in front of me and I'm not stopping until I get there and perhaps even pass it.

I am tracking on Myfitnesspal, if any of you use that.  I find it to be a wonderful site!  I will continue to utilize this blog and probably keep lurking and reading posts until I'm comfortable enough to chime in again.  I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!
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Facing your worst fear in the face . . .
on April 5, 2012 10:37 pm
And by that I mean regain.  I always thought it wouldn't happen to me.  That I was "immune" to it... and maybe for 6 years I was, but I couldn't sit back and eat like pure crap for over 2 years (or more) and not expect that it would catch up to me.  One day I was happily weighing in at around 140/145 and wearing a size 4.  The next day, I am at 187 lbs and a 10 is a tight fit.  It's a slap in the face of reality if I ever got one... and above all else, it's a wake up call to get it straight.

In the past month to 6 weeks, I've gotten strict, and I do mean strict (though, I will allow myself a treat here and there if it's within calories so I won't go out and binge out of anger toward the diet).  I'm now down almost 20 lbs to 168 and getting back into all of my 8's and a select few of the 6's.  The problem is I don't have many 8's or 10's in my wardrobe because I'd gotten rid of them when I got down to a 4/6.  I wear the ones I kept and thankfully I kept some. 

I am determined to be at 145 by my 8 year mark of when I had my surgery on August 3rd.  I might never make it back into the 130's.  I'm not killing myself to get there.  I want to get to 145 and then I'll reevaluate.  I am 34 now and not in my 20's anymore.  I'm post-menopausal (yes, I actually am) and my body has changed.  I know that my 4's fit at 145 so if my clothes in my closet fit, then I'll be tickled pink.  Let's face it, I'm not in the greatest health, so I walk as I can, I watch what I eat, and I do what I can to get this weight off.  What I'm doing is working.  I'm not taking any shortcuts because there are none.  I'm almost 8 years post-op now and that weight does not come off as easily the 2nd time around. 

I am doing my best not to negative self-talk myself anymore over this regain.  I've done it enough for a lifetime, believe me.  I've wanted to blog about this for a long time, but I've been embarrassed to admit it.  I finally realize I just need to come forward with it.  I am not perfect and I made a lot of mistakes with my eating.  I developed bad habits with my pregnancies that I kept up anyways and I thought I could out eat my surgery and it wouldn't catch up with me.  I was very, very wrong.  Bad eating habits + a ton of health problems and medications = a surefire combo for weight gain.

I got called wide, heavy, and a few other things at a previous job of mine in the past year.  My self esteem isn't the highest.  I have hidden from cameras for a while now, admittedly, but I will say that I am barely overweight according to the BMI and I am determined not to let people's words get to me anymore.  I am above it and I will take off the last 23 lbs.  I am back to OH for support, even if I am lurking a little.  

Renae
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It's been a long time/Update
on March 5, 2012 7:23 pm
I figured it was high time that I actually post an update on how things are going since I'm now almost 8 years post-op.  Some days are still better than others, healthwise, but I'm hanging in there.  My personal life couldn't be going any better than it is... husband and kids are doing wonderful, built a beautiful home almost 6 mos ago, and we're almost civilians from the Air Force due to Medical Retirement.  It will be nice to have all the benefits with no one of the B.S. .   He is more than qualified for so many jobs with having a Master's degree and a Doctorate underway so the future looks bright for us.  We'll spend a few more years here while he finishes his schooling and then move on to bigger and better opportunities for all.  I am still selling Real Estate and staying positive through all the ups & downs of the market.  I've hung on through all the highs and lows of the last 6 years so I'm not giving up now or ever =).  Plus, I can get my license in any state and easily transition.  I look forward to any changes that come my way, especially a larger city with more to do, even if it's 4 to 4 1/2 years away yet LOL.

My weight is a little higher right now than I'd like it to be with all my deficiencies and neurological issues, plus the sheer amount of meds I take in a day, but I'm proactive and busting my tail to get it back off or mostly back off.  I am mostly determined just not to self-deprecate myself all the time about it.

I am a person who is worthy of great things, as are we all, and I'm more determinded than ever to see them through.  One thing I've begun doing is putting a positive affirmation of the day by desk at work every day to motivate me.  So far, it's working in keeping my spirits up.  

I have 2 herniated disks in my back and I've started back up the C25K program... I must be the biggest glutton for punishment in the world, so wish me luck.  

Much love, coffee, and bacon to all of you!

Renae
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Still holding on~ 6 year surgiversary post
on August 2, 2010 5:06 pm
Tomorrow is my 6 year surgiversary...

6 years~ It's still hard to wrap my mind around it sometimes.  Feels like it was only yesterday and I was still researching the surgery (RNY was all my insurance would cover back then/ and I researched for 2-3 years before I took the plunge).  It feels like yesterday that I went to my first consult and weighed over 300 lbs.  It feels like yesterday that I looked up at my surgeon and told him I would be ok, then woke up with my new stomach.

My WLS journey has not been without it's ups and downs, of course.  I am not fully "healed" from everything I was sick with before the surgery.  Some new problems have arisen, but I fight back and I fight back hard.  I will never regret my decision to have RNY and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I have been fortunate and blessed to have 2 beautiful post-op babies.  I will be unable to have any others, since my hysterectomy last September, but I know I would have never had the 2 I have without my RNY.  Krysten starts to school in 2 weeks now and Tyson will be 2 in October.  I am certainly a proud momma!

As for weight?  I'm holding steady between 135-140 lbs.  I am wearing a size 4, sometimes a 6, and a sm/med shirt.  I'm thrilled with the progress.  Sure there's a little more "plastics" I'd like done, but I'm thrilled and content.  I know that WLS isn't a contest to see who is the smallest and prettiest... it's a journey to health, and the better looks are a bonus prize.  Though, I must say.... Shopping and fashion are sooooo much more fun these days!  Now I LOVE to shop and it's no longer dreadful to try on clothes.  In fact, I enjoy posing in the mirrors now lol.

Thank you all for being here on this journey with me~ I would have never been able to maintain without the support of all my friends in the OH community.  Love to you all!

~ Renae
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Holding steady...
on February 4, 2010 7:02 pm
Well, I'm still holding steady now between 135 and 140.  I won't complain~ Clothes fit, I'm working out more, eating has gotten back on track (protein first, most of the time).  I am not deprieved, I'm not obsessing over every calorie.  If I want to eat pizza, then I'll eat it (which is around once, maybe twice a month). 

This last week has been craziness.  We had a major ice storm and it knocked out our power for almost a week.  Sucked the finances dry, but we stayed comfortable and warm as much as possible.  We got our claim for the spoiled food processed within 24 hrs and that was great (go USAA!).  I want out of Oklahoma more than ever, but all in good time.  We are working every avenue for it and that's all we can do.  My allergies are still going crazy and I start my shots this coming week again.  The kids are growing and doing great.  They are the numero uno, very best reason that I had WLS.  I'd never have had them without it.  I am facing another surgery for my tonsils/adenoids (which should have come out like 25 years ago!) and my badly deviated septum.  It will help a lot with my breathing.  I still would like to possibly have a little more plastics done in the next couple of years.  Most of all, I want an artificial belly button since my surgeon took mine during my TT and I don't have one.  I'm pretty used to it now, but I won't lie that it still bothers me, especially since he improved on his technique a lot since mine and there's no way to go back and redo it now (not with insurance anyways).   I'm just saving for the belly button, maybe some lipo on my legs, I don't know what else.  I'm overall pretty happy with myself, but there's still a few things I want to look into improving.  I'll go consult with a couple of PS in the late Spring/Summer months.

I'll just keep improving on things that I need to and I will always  my RNY!  Over 160 lbs down from highest weight and still holding steady almost 6 years later!
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My Story

So now I'm over 5 years post op from my WLS and just now getting around to writing my story for you all to read, but I guess better late than never lol.  I was not exactly a "fat" kid, but I was always somewhat bigger than the other girls as a teenager.  I always did feel different from the others.  It didn't help anything that I seemed to get a lot of pressure from my own mother to "look like all the other girls" and was put on my first diet in the 7th grade.  I developed an eating disorder at a very early age.  When I got to college, I became depressed and ended up piling on the weight.  It seems that I went from around 150/155 to over 220 almost overnight.  I am quite sure the Depo- Provera shot and different medications I took for depression (Paxil, Prozac, etc) at that time didn't help matters any.  After that, I tried a series of diets (you name the diet/program and I have probably tried it at one point or another...  Atkins, South Beach, Grapefruit diet, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, and every diet pill imaginable) and I would lose some weight here and there, but the smallest I would ever get is about 180 or so.  At that point, I would end up gaining it back plus some.  I developed a staggering list of co-morbidities to go along with the weight problems, not to mention how depressed I was looking in the mirror every day.  I just wanted to be "normal" again... whatever normal really is haha.  At 23, I was "formally diagnosed" with the PCOS and told of the grim chances I had of ever having kids of my own and then spiked up over 275, mainly due to depression.  My weight never came down again (just kept on rising to it's high point of 334 (possibly even higher than that, but I'll never know for sure)/consult weight was 303/surgery weight was 297) and neither did my depression.  When I was 26, I finally found a PCM (thank you, Dr. Neely (who used to be) at Reynolds Army Hospital!!) who listened to me about my weight and the issues it was causing me in my life.  He referred me for the Gastric Bypass Surgery.  I attended MULTIPLE support group meetings and felt very enthusiastic about the surgery.  Since my RNY, I have felt a new lease on life though it has not been without it's complications (believe me, a LOT of them).  I have no regrets.  I have a beautiful daughter and a handsome son and I owe it to my RNY.  Before my surgery, I was told that it would be nearly impossible for me to conceive a child and now I have 2 beautiful children.  I still have goals and aspirations set for myself that I would like to reach, even 8 years later.  I hope to reach all my goals and I want to reach out to others in the same situation and hopefully be a friend and an inspiration to them.  Gastric Bypass has changed me... I am not the same as I was before I had the surgery.  It saved my life and gave me back ME!  It made me appreciate things a lot more... I am confident now and I see the world in a new light!