ObesityHelp

I'm a little late on this post - skipped Month 8 entirely - but that doesn't mean that things aren't going well! I am so ecstatically happy! I crossed the major goal of losing 100 pounds, and now stand at 104 - only 27 pounds away from goal! I hope to be able to lose that prior to my 1-year surgiversary, but it's OK if I don't. I'll be there before much longer!

I've dropped from a size 26 to a size 12 - amazing! I'm grateful that my skin has bounced back as well as it has. I'll still have to have plastic surgery on my arms, but I think I'll be OK with everything else. The thighs sag a bit, but nothing that I can't live with (as I'm not anxious to get a thigh lift done).

If my pictures give you any indication, I'm so completely joyful inside that I cannot express it. I'm grateful to God for allowing the miracle of this surgery to happen in my life. I'm grateful to awesome support groups online that continue to encourage and support me, as well as some great co-workers who are fellow WLS patients that support me daily. And my family and friends - well, I can't say enough about them. They are the reason I continue to fight my daily battles with food.

And they are daily battles - just like before WLS. You still fight with your head every day about your food addiction, but you do have a tool that makes that battle a little easier. You still have to make good choices about food, vitamins, water, and exercise - just like before WLS. That's why it's SOOOO important to really have your head in the game way prior to having surgery. You have to KNOW, KNOW, KNOW what the plan is, and that you are going to stick with it for the rest of your life! If you can do that, you can be successful.

Not sure how I skipped month 6, but here I am again - posting about my wonderful life since WLS. As of today, I have lost 90 pounds. WOOHOO! I will admit, however, that the weight loss seems to be slowing down as I get smaller. That's OK with me - as long as the scale keeps moving in the right direction. I'd like to lose about 40 more, but I won't complain if my body settles in before that. I'm wearing a size 14, and I'd be happy with that if that's where I'm supposed to stay. I'm so healthy and happy right now, and it's a true miracle.

I'm planning a trip to Six Flags next month with my niece and nephew, and I can finally look forward to a trip to an amusement park - no worries about not fitting on a ride, taking "bench breaks," etc. We're excited about having fun and enjoying the weekend together. It'll be like being a kid again!

Loving life and rocking my sleeve!

It's hard to believe that 5 months have passed since I had my VSG. As of today, I have lost 75 pounds since the surgery. What a miracle! Here's what's been going on this month.

1. The hair loss stopped! WOOHOO! My hairdresser and I have been keeping a close watch on things. I'm pretty thin up top and on my crown, but she is beginning to see new growth from the Biotin (7500mg) that I'm taking. And no more hair in the tub in the mornings! I finally felt comfortable getting it colored again, so I'm pretty happy with the results.

2. This was the month I realized that I must move (exercise) every day. Yes, I had been exercising on and off, but not as committed to it as I need to be. I need exercise to be fun, something to look forward to, or I won't do it. So I joined a Zumba class and a Yoga class. I'm really enjoying both, and I feel much more flexible. My tummy is looking pretty good, so I'm hoping no plastics there. But there is no hope for my arms. I didn't commit to good arm strengthening exercises early on, so now, I will pay the price. I won't be able to go sleeveless until I get them fixed, so that will hopefully be sometime before the end of the year. Maybe sleeveless next summer!

3. The diet, the pills, and the shakes are all very routine now. It's just what I do every day. This is the attitude I wanted to have when I was on Weight Watchers (and all of the other plans I went through) but could not achieve. WLS finally did it for me, and I am grateful.

P.S. Photos are posted on my OH profile.

Thanks again to all of you who are my inspiration, my guidance, and my encouragement. I appreciate you so much!

It's hard to believe that 4 months have passed since I had my VSG. What an amazing life change this has been for me! I have lost 68 pounds, and I just consider that a miracle.

Let's see - what changed this month?

I gave up my CPAP machine for good, and I'm sleeping very well now! I plan to still get re-tested in a couple of months to be sure I'm getting quality sleep, but I don't have the fatigue and listlessness that I had when I was originally diagnosed with apnea, which is a good sign.

This was the month that I dealt with hair loss. It wasn't as bad as some people have experienced, but it was pretty traumatic for me. I was afraid to get it cut, but my hairdresser said the weight of the hair would emphasize my thin spots, and trimming actually promotes healthy growth. Once I cut my hair, I didn't notice the loss as much. And since I've been taking Biotin for the past month, the loss has slowed quite a bit. Still a little shedding, but not bad.

I'm down five sizes into a 16 petite. Huh, never thought I would be able to type that sentence. There is so much more variety to choose from when you're not shopping in the plus-size section. Now that I am not so focused on food, I am all about the clothes! Goodwill has become my new favorite store.

Speaking of not being focused on food - here was an interesting revelation I had this month. I've never been the world's most thoughtful person, although I wanted to be. My Mom is one of those people that always sends cards, always has little gifts set aside to give in emergencies, always knows what to do when someone needs a special pick-me-up. Do you know that I now find myself doing these things?? Was I so focused on my next meal that this was keeping me from thinking of others? I think so! I enjoy dinner conversations so much more now, and I'm paying more attention to what people are saying rather than what I'm eating. It's really made a difference in my attitude, and there you go - another thing to be grateful for about this surgery.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support, because I could not do it without my family and friends. Now - on to month number 5!