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Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! I haven't been 230 pounds in over 10 years! I weigh less than when my husband met me! He's actually getting a new girlfriend...er.....uh wife! And I feel GREAT! And he's enjoying the benefits!

I'm exercising on a regular basis, eating better than I have in years...not that I didn't eat good, I just ate too much! I truly believe that the less you eat the better you feel. So there's something to those people/club that eat as little as possible. At 51, I truly believe that I am getting younger than older. 

I'm also doing "Post Bariatric" support groups, classes and taking full advantage of what the Beaumont Weight Control Center has to offer. From Nutritionist appointments, Exercise Therapists, Psychologists, Support Groups, Cooking Classes...I believe that you can't just drop your "Support System" after you've had surgery....that's what's going to help you keep the weight off.
It takes commitment and courage to keep up the work even after you've healed! 

I am blessed..................

Well, I have already started throwing out those "fat 26/28 sizes"!! I don't ever want to see them again. And believe it or not....I trully believe I won't. This sleeve has been the best gift. It has given me the confidence in knowing that I can finally succeed with this weight loss issue.  I get nervous because past weight loss attempts have always not been so good....but this time I know I can do it. I just have to keep plugging along, weigh and measure my food, exercise, eat slowly....and I know that I'll be just fine. 

Hope to have some pictures up soon! 

Wow....it's the end of October. I guess it's been two months since my surgery on September 1st. I'm feeling soooo much lighter...lighter on my feet, lighter in my clothes, bathing suit has gone from a 26/28 to an 18. As I'm boxing with my trainer I'm actually bouncing a little now like a real boxer. It's an amazing feeling and I hope to have some progressive pictures up soon.

This journey is an incredible one....but it does come with super hard work & commitment. Don't let anyone tell you different...it's not the easy way out. There's commitment to eating right, commitment to following up appointments with doctors, support groups, exercise. There are financial commitments to making sure you have the proper food in your house, protein supplements. Just because you've had the surgery doesn't mean that it ends there. You have to maintain commitment to yourself...otherwise it just won't work.

Okay, so it's 7 weeks since my surgery on Sept. 1st and I'm actually wishing I had done this years ago!! I guess everyone has their "time" but I wish I could have been experiencing this feeling, this weight loss, this feeling smaller...years ago!

I'd like to shout it out to everyone I know who needs to lose weight to "do it" but at the same time I know that they have to have the commitment. If not...than it will NOT work for them. It's NOT an easy fix! You have to be committed to follow the rules: protein first, no drinking booze or caffeine or bubbles, doctor's appointments, nutritionist appointments, support groups, exercise...getting up early in the cold weather.

I guess it's my journey and I can only worry about myself!!!

Yep....the weight is coming off steadily. I'm down 51 pounds from my highest weight of 291...and I'm down 26 pounds from surgery. I'm at 240. I feel GREAT. I hope to have some pictures up soon.

Okay, now the tough part. It's hard work. Don't let anyone tell you it's going to be easy. You still have to practice great (not good) eating patterns, exercise a few days a week, go to support groups, keep doctors appointments and most of all...STAY FOCUSED. If you start to deviate from these patterns...you start to slow your weight down. You become less motivated.

Had my first challenge the other night: Tiger Baseball Game. First time I had been to anything where there was nothing to eat or really drink. But I did it. Bottled water (at four dollars a bottle) and ate 1/2 of a hot dog (no bun). It tasted good ( a little salty)....but couldn't wait to get home to good "protein" food.

The greatest part though? Was being able to walk from our car, around the park with no problems. In fact, husband said "Slow down! You're walking too fast!"

Well, it's now 5 weeks since the Sept. 1st Sleeve surgery and I'm in an area of weight that I haven't been in for years. It's amazing....face is looking thinner, things are moving around and clothes are getting larger. In fact, I have been hitting my closet for clothes that I haven't worn in years. That's right...dust 'em off, try them on and guess what? They fit! It's a great feeling! I'm actually going to take some of the outfits to the cleaners just to get them cleaned up.

I was wearing anywhere from a 24 to a 26/28....and now I'm in the 18/20's. I usually wore my 26/28 bathing suit and now I'm wearing my size 18 swim suit to water aerobics. Soon that will be too big too.

I've started strength training and getting back on the treadmill also this week. I'm back up to a mile and it's all coming back. Thank goodness I was pretty fit going into this...it's a lot easier getting back into it.

Still got to eat SLOW...that's the hardest part of all of this. But each week it seems to be getting easier. But my tummy still likes more of the "pureed foods" with the soft foods. I'm not going to rush it.....keep that Sleeve happy!

Gotta get some pictures up....I'll work on that!

 Well, I sure can tell the difference from the "Old Sheryl" to the "New Sheryl" at parties. No drinking. No eating. 

First get-together went good...they actually cooked for me! They had all kinds of "Soft Foods" for me and I could just pick and choose what I needed: cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, chili, hummus and 0 Cal. Vita Water. I made it thru no problem.

The second party was okay...First it was an outdoor party and it was FREEZING here in MI so that whole thing sucked.
They had water to drink which worked fine....even though I just wanted something warm. Second it was a pig roast.....I took a little pork, a tablespoon of baked beans and 4 potate wedges. It was totally not satisfying. They had a huge salad which I would have loved to had but for now raw veggies are out of the question. My husband and I stayed about an hour and made a secret get-away....we were cold, tired and needed something warm to eat. Very dissapointing. 

2 more parties to go....all birthday parties...I will bring my own "fixins" to make sure I have what I need!! Whew! 

 WOW! I can't believe that I'm 4 weeks from surgery. It's been very, very easy. But that's not to say it's the easy way out. I've had "Head Hungers" once during this time and it wasn't easy. BUT the outcome of staying strong has been GREAT! I lost another 5 pounds last night when I went to weigh in before my support group at Beaumont. That's a total of 25 lbs since surgery. It feels great...my clothes are fitting looser. And I'm feeling lighter in general. 

I'm back in the pool doing water aerobics and I start "light" strength training again next week (I gave myself a month to recoupe and I'm glad I did)!

I do get a little hungery and I can tell because I get a little shaky...but overall going from Liquids to Pureed to Soft Foods have been really easy. This was interesting.....I had some Ground Sirloin Spaghetti Sauce last night. I made it so I knew what was in it...it have me heart burn. I took some GasX and it went away. But it also didn't hold off the hungers....I was up at 3:30 super hungry so I got up and had a 1/4 cup of Greek Yogurt mixed with some non-sweetened applesauce. That fixed it and went back to sleep at 4:30 and slept an additional three hours. NOTE TO SELF: Make sure you get enough protein at dinner so you can sleep thru the night!!! 

Here's a NSV.....For my birthday (yes...I'm now 51), my boss bought me a new outfit from Millue in Ferndale....no 2X..."one size fits all"!!! My husband bought me a new Hoodie from the Detroit Tigers and it too was a smaller size. Hooray!

Keep up the GREAT work....this weekend is going to be hard....2 social gatherings and next weekend one. It's going to be strange not drinking or eating....but I'll do it for me!! 

Well, 3 weeks have gone by since surgery and I'm feeling GREAT!
But I'm having a bad day with work, computers and basically stupid people. Plus, there was a meeting this morning at the office and there's this bag of bagels sitting on the counter. A whole wheat one keeps calling my name. I know that they are filling, doughy pieces of crap....but that whole wheat one keeps calling. "F U!" I say!!

Instead I'm eating my mashed potatoes with some protein beef bouillon soup poured over them to give them some flavor. 

The "Head Hungers" are the worst....especially if you are stressed out, crabby, overall mad at humanity. Breathe....Breathe...Breathe!!!

Just started "Pureed Foods" this weekend – Cottage Cheese, Mashed Potatoes with Protein Powder as well as my Protein Soups, Protein Gelatin and Shakes. After two weeks on liquids the taste of the cottage cheese and the mashed potatoes tasted DEEEELISIOUS!!! Next step is to introduce the pulverized tuna or chicken into my pureed diet. So far so great! Can feel the restriction big time with the cottage cheese/potatoes...eat SLOW! 

Per my Nutritionist...it's Pureed and Liquids for the next several weeks until day 28. Then it's on to Soft Foods! Joy! 

Again....so far so great....the recovery has been very non-eventful.  See the Beaumont Weight Control Center Dr. next month and go to see the Surgeon in November.

I actually feel I can do this!!