Wow It's been so long since I've updated my profile. Life got hectic once the kids went back to school. I do go the message boards often, I just haven't updated my profile.

I've met some new local WLS friends. Debra P (san ramon), Lisa D (Pleasanton), Terri N (Livermore), Joseanne (Livermore, Karen B (Castro Valley), Angie T (works across the street), Karen M (Livermore) and Dina H (livermore). Some of us got together for coffee not too long ago. It was nice to meet some of these new faces. I'm hoping that we can get together again in January. It seems that for the longest time there weren't many other WLS peeps in my area and now I'm finding more... or they are finding me. I've met some people through my hair dresser, some from my surgeon's OH page and a few others from the CA board.

Last month Carly and I went to Heidi's Christmas party. That was fun, I got to meet some more OH friends and see the old gang as well. I got to see Heidi, Terry, Margo, Kevin, Melanie, Gail, Michelle, Karen, Kristy, Diane, Chris and I'm sure there were others that I just can't remember right now.

I've volunteered for Angel Duty for Karen M who had surgery in Novermber and Pam D who is having surgery in January. My friend Joseanne is schedule to have her surgery with Dr. K. in January too!

OK, enough about others, I guess the point of this profile it to talk about me and what I've been going through. Things are still going good for me. My weight loss has really slowed down, but I'm still losing. I guess I could be doing more, like exercising, but that just hasn't happened yet. I've come to the realization that the only way I'm going to make a routine of exercising is to do it in the morining. There just isn't enough time in the evenings, and I'm not motivated enough to do it by myself. I am going to have to find an exercise buddy to meet me at the gym or get a trainer.... or I will never get my A$$ out of bed at 6 am to exercise. UGGH did I say 6am! I guess a person could get to like that ....yeah... I gotta keep telling myself that :-D

I am really trying to focus more on my protein and my fluids. Lynn has revived the water babies post and that has motivated me. I got in 100oz of fluids yesterday.. that was a first. I am also posting to the what did you eat thread. That always reminds me to take my vitamins in the afternoon. I am getting better at staying on track, so let's see how the new year goes.

My first Thanksgiving went OK. I came down with the stomach flu on Tuesday and still wasn't quite up to eating by Thursday. I guess that's not such a bad way to spend the my first "food" holiday post op. Over eating just wasn't an issue.

I've stocked up on things that I can eat, lots of SF treats, protein bars and such to help me through the holidays at my moms. I really don't feel deprived. I get a little taste of everything, so I think it will be OK. Let's see how I do with the tamales. I'll be making some tomorrow night with mom.

Merry Christmas to all. I hope the new year bring us lot so successes and much joy!

-Suzanne

7/29/2005
LiTtLeMiSsY ;o) nagged us to update our profiles, so here I am doing as she asked. I have my new board photo up, so I added it here as well.

I got to see everyone on vacation and they were all happy to see me and told me I was looking good. I've started to lose my hair! This is a big deal for me. I don't have much to begin with... you can actually see my scalp already. I knew I couldn't stand to lose any more, so I searched for someone who does hair extensions to see what types of options were open to me. I found a lady in San Ramon at the California Hair Co. They have all types of things available. Since I am actively losing hair, I decided to go with a hair piece. I wasn't sure I could actually wear this thing, but since she attached it... not just clipping it on, I feel very comfortable with it. It has highlights that I love. I wore it on vacation and people just kept saying that I look good and my hair looks good. I just couldn't help myself. I had to tell them! I only tell my closest friends about the hairpiece, the others, I just say, thanks... it's the hightlights. I figure that I have enough different things going on, weight loss, highlights, new clothes that fit... that they won't figure it out :-D. The pic of me in red at the top of my profile is WITH the hairpiece.

The funniest reaction I got. My friend at work was anxious to see how it looked, she knew I was getting it. So we agreed to meet in the cafeteria for lunch. We are sitting and eating and she hasn't said a word! I'm starting to get worried that I look dorky and she doesn't want to say anything... so I'm really paying attention to her and I notice that she's not looking at my hair when she talked to me. I figure she would be staring at it if it were bad. So I finally had to say "soooo... waddya think" She said that it looked so natural that she forgot all about it. If I hadn't of said something, she wouldn't have noticed. That made me feel good!

OK enough of the hair already. I now weigh 205lbs! I'm only 6 pounds away from Onderland. I think the last time I was there was when I got married in 1987. I am wearing and 18/20 now. I bought one pair of drawstring pants that actually are a size 16! I know, I know, they run big, BUT I DON'T CARE **** THEY SAY 16 ****. I can't remember the last time I was in a 16! I bought a t-shirt today and it was a 2x!

I was shopping the clearance racks at Target and I did something that I've never done before. I bought things too small without trying them on. I knew I would get there. What a weird feeling.

I'm not exercising. I just hate to exercise and haven't worked it into my daily schedule yet. I know that if I did this weight would be coming off faster. I'm trying to make a deal with myself. When I get under 200, I will definitely join the gym. I will be feeling better and it will be easier to exercise, so I'll go.

I finally got the constipation issue under control. My PCP prescribed me MIRALAX! It works for me YIPPEE!! Now I just have to fight with PacifiCare to get them to pay for it. They denied it, so I just paid the $43 for the prescription... Hey when you can't poop, you'll pay anything for some relief. Now that I know it works and I'll be on it indefinitely, it's worth the fight. I hope it won't be a problem.

I'm not doing good on my fluids and protein. I stopped writing it all down, I started back up, so hopefully I'll do better. Since I was having problems with constipation, my nurse kept changing my diet... get in more fluids.... get off the protein drinks and get in more food... get in some veggies.... I'm not sure what to focus on now, so I'm going back to focusing on protein any way I can get it in, even if it's via shakes and bars. Let's see how my weight loss goes now. I've also started snacking a little more. I found the world of sugar free treats.... bad bad place to be.

One side of my head says "they are sugar free, you can have them" The other side says "they are still cookies!" Guess which side has been winning??? Gotta get control of that one.

---Ta for now!

6/14/2005 285 pre-op, 261 surgery day, 219 today.
Boy it's been a month since I last posted. where does the time go? Things are going along just fine for me. I'm not having as much problems with constipation now that I have been taking ducolax when needed. I'm still not getting in enough protein or enough fluids on a daily basis. I get busy at work on the computer and I forget to drink. I'm just not that hungry so I'm not eating as much as I should. I'm working on it. I'm able to eat a lot of different things now. The only time I have problems is when I eat too fast and the food gets stuck.

I really need to start exercising more. The occasional walk that I'm doing, just isn't enough. The other day, I was walking around in shorts and sandals and I could hear my sandals make that flip flop sound. I then realized that I was barefoot and it was my thighs making that slap slap sound HAHAHA (I crack myself up). It's funny, my legs have always rubbed together, but I really never made that slap sound before. I guess my upper thighs are getting smaller and the area above my knees is getting flabbier. I gotta do something about that. I really need to start going to the gym. I haven't been worked out since before my daughter was born and she's 13 now.... wonder how I got to be this way :-)

It's kind of scary thinking about going to the gym. I think I need to find a trainer, I don't think I have the dicipline to do it on my own, not to mention, I don't really know what to do when I get there.

The kids finished school last week... let the games begin. Keep track of my daughter's schedule this summer is a job in itself. Both kids are going to visit Nana & Papa next week. Since I don't have to be home at a specific time, I'm making plans to have dinner one night with my angel Lillian.

I recently realized that I'm quickly approaching 3 months post-op. In the back of my head, I had wanted to lose 50 lbs by then. I'm down 42 pounds, but I don't think I'll lose another 8 in 8 days, but I'll be close. I guess If I worked harder at this, it would come. I'm not really complaining. I've never lost this much, I feel good and the scale keeps moving down. I'll get there soon.

I'm thinking of putting up some photos of my progress, but I also want to kind of do an "unveiling" to family and friends this summer who I haven't seen for a while. In July we are going on our annual camping trip with friends and family. I will see my brother then and another friend who had this surgery over 10 years ago. I kind of want to surprise them and not give them a preview. This is the fun part.