First, to all my friends ... I am SO sorry I've been so scare on here.  I have been traveling like a mad person, both for work and then, on weekends, for my daughter's cheer. I feel like I've been living out of a suitcase for months!

On the positive side, that's something I couldn't have done just one year ago, before I had my RNY!!!!  I mean literally ... couldn't have done it.  Wouldn't have fit in the airline seats!  So chalk one up for my RNY!

Some other HUGE wins:
- I am down 134 pounds, from 315 to 181 pounds
- I am down 16 pants sizes, from a 26 to a 10 (sometimes 12), a size I can't remember ever seeing since elementary school, my friends!
- I am down from a 22/24 top to a women's MEDIUM!
- I fit in airline seats easily now, with plenty of seatbelt to spare.
- When I recently visited Disney, it never once even crossed my mind that I might not fit on a ride
- People I worked with a year ago don't even recognize me.  I have to introduce myself. Awkward!
- When I catch my reflection in a passing mirror or a window, I am continually surprised by how normal I look
- I have the energy to keep up with my 2-year-old son (otherwise known as The Human Tornado) and my 9-year-old all-star cheerleader daughter

One negative:
- Now that I am thinner, I really realize how much prejudice I was enduring (overt and subtle) before I had weight loss surgery.  It's left me with a strong distaste for exactly how shallow some people are.  On the positive side, it's left me with a greater appreciation for the people (like my DH) who loved me as I was.

For those of you who are contemplating Roux-En-Y, I've said it once and will say it again:  The only thing I regret about my RNY is that I didn't do it sooner!  I was scared of the risks, but when I look back on it now, they were minimal compared to the way I was killing myself slowly before.

To all of you here on OH, I can't begin to thank you enough for your support, humor, butt-kicking and love during the first year of my journey. I love you all tremendously and count many of you among my very best friends.  Nothing in the world like making more true friends, given that they are so hard to come by.  Who would've guessed that RNY would give me that, too?  ((HUGS))

BEFORE - 315                                                                          


AFTER (1 YEAR) - 181

Wow ... it's really mind-blowing how much has changed in a little less than a  year!

My one-year update is coming soon.  For now, check out my ticker.  But that is SOOOO only part of the story!

I STILL love my Roux-En-Y!!!!!

10-month Update

OK, so I find myself now out to my 10-month weight loss surgiversary.  Wow, it's hard to believe how much has changed in that short span of time!

- I've lost 125 pounds to date

- I've lost 12 pant sizes and top sizes

- Even my feet have shrunk

- I can make it through an hour of my crazy Zumba teacher's class without turning purple

- Flying is fun again

- Shopping is fun again

- I haven't really once felt deprived

- I have successfully retooled all my thinking on food

Here are a couple of visuals for anyone who's been pondering the same decision:

                          

Pre-surgery - Feb 2008        10-months post - Dec 2008                     

It goes without saying that I never, EVER regret my decision to have Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery!

Someone posted on the boards looking for a way to make a lower fat tamale soup of some sort.

Played around with it and came up with this based on what my Mexican friends' mamas taught me about traditional tamale makin':

Tracy's Lower Fat Tamale Soup
1/2 lb pork loin roast
1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 c. water
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/2 Tablespoon garlic salt
1/2 Tablespoon ground cumin (comino) 
1/2 tsp Tablespoon (or less) black pepper
1 onion (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 small can green chilis or anaheim chilis (depending on the heat you like)
1 can creamed corn
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can chicken broth
2 cans pinto or kidney beans (I use ranch style w/jalapenos)
1/4 c. Masa flour
2 tbsp. warm water
Reduced fat sour cream or plain greek-style yogurt
Reduced fat/2% mexican cheese

Cook and Shred The Meat:

Cut the pork roast and chicken breast into fist size chunks. Put the chunks into crockpot along with water and cook on low setting according to your crock pot's instructions for a 1 lb. roast (probably a couple of hours).  Remove meat from crockpot and allow to cool, but SAVE the juices ... you will use them later in the soup.  After the neat chunks are cool enough to handle easily, shred them well with your fingers or a fork.  Try to remove and discard the fat as you go.  If you have cooked the meat chunks thoroughly, it will be easy to shred into small pieces with your fingers.

Combine Pork and Chicken:

Saute onions and garlic in the bottom of a very large stock pot in 2 tsp of olive oil over medium heat until onions are clear.  Turn off heat.  Add the chilis and both meats and mix together. Make sure that the meats are thoroughly combined and mixed well. You are now ready to add the seasoning.

Add the Spices and Seasonings:

Mix together chili powder, garlic salt, cumin and black pepper in a container, pour over the meat mixture and mix with your hands until it is completely distributed through the meat. It takes a good 3-5 minutes to get the mixture completely uniform.

Add the remaining soup contents:

Add corn, tomatoes, chicken broth, reserved chicken/pork juices and beans and stir together.  Bring to a boil for 2 minutes then reduce to low heat and allow to simmer for for about 50 minutes. (Or, alternately, dump the meat mixure and all these things back into the crockpot and cook it for a few hours).  In a separate bowl, mix together masa flour and warm water to make a paste.  Add to soup and allow to simmer for another 10 minutes.  (In crockpot, another 20-30 minutes)


Serve:

Serve with a dollop of sour cream or greek yogurt and sprinkle of cheese.


Obviously, I haven't tried it yet, but it's soundin' good, so I probably will very soon and will ad pics and a report then!
 

Well, I'm comin' up on my 6 month surgiversary.  Time sure flies when you're havin' fun!

Among just a few of the RNY blessings I've been counting lately:

- Down nearly 90 pounds!
- I finally fit into a pair of SEVEN brand jeans!
- I'm down from a size 26/28 pants to a size 16 or 18 pant
- Down from a 3X top to XLs, 12s & 14s
- Down 2 ring sizes
- Down 5 underwear sizes!
- Down 6 inches on my bra band size, but haven't lost any cup size yet
- Down 1 shoe size
- Able to wear heels ALLLLLLLL day
- Loving traveling again and fitting comfortably in chairs
- Addicted to my oh-so-fun Zumba classes
- Able to cross my legs like a real lady when I sit
- I'm no longer a slave to food or the physical limitations that came with my previously morbidly obese body
- I'm SOOOO close to divorcing Lane Bryant.  As in, the court date is scheduled!  lol
- DH and I are going to Longboat Key for vacation and I'm not hyperventilating thinking about wearing a swimsuit

Some "befores":


Some "nows":


HALLELUJAH FOR RNY!!!!!

Thanks to all of my OH buddies for your day-to-day support and all the laughs!

AND ....

YIPPEE!!! I got to have dinner tonight with Jess L. and Terri R. (from California) in Cincinnati tonight.  We hit an awesome new tapas joint there and had a mahvelous time!

Look at us just burnin' that joint up!