Gina S.

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Hey everyone! Been awhile since I posted....
I'm doing great! I have lost a total of 93 pounds now, woo hoo!!!! My weight loss has started slowing down some, but I think that tends to happen... I am a little over 8 months post-op now. I have been told I need to get in more exercise to kick-up the weight loss, and am trying to do that, by walking on my treadmill, (I wasn't exercising at all before). I was losing 9-10 pounds per month, but am now losing 5-7 pounds per month. I am trying to consume 800 calories per day. Sometimes I go over, and have 900 or 1,000 but I try not to... I am sticking to proteins, and avoiding carbs/starches/sugars. I have been enjoying Dunkin Donuts Sugar-Free hot lattes with Splenda and the sugar- free flavorings, yum! I am now fitting in to a 16 jeans!!!!! I am wearing a size women's 16/18 shirt, however not all of them fit ok in the upper arm area, so I have to pick and choose.....
My upper arms are much smaller than before, but still disproportionately big. Upper legs are a little big and tummy still pooches out a little. I would need plastic surgery to correct these things, but do not have that kind of money and even if I did - I do not want to go through major surgery like that! My husband absolutely adores me just the way I am and he is adamantly against me having more surgery.
My surgeon wants me to have a goal weight of 180 (I am 5'8") but I feel that is still too much. I don't think I want to go as low as 150 because I think that would just look funny with the extra skin, but I am thinking perhaps 170 might be good... We'll see. Anyway, about another 45 pounds or 50 and I am done! It just AMAZES me how I have "gotten over" my addiction to sugar. I now can walk in a movie theater and not immediately want/need/crave chocolate candy for the movie. I glance at it, but do not crave it. Before, sugar was a driving need that I would practically kill for! Just AMAZES me......

07/26/08
Hi everyone... I had my 44th birthday on 07/20, wow it's so nice to be smaller and healthier for the "big 44"!!!!

I went to WalMart today, because I needed a smaller pair of jeans... I haven't been buying clothes because of the sizes changing relatively quickly, so I've been making-do with one pair of jeans and 3 shirts, pretty much... Before surgery, I wore a size 28 jeans. After I lost about 40 lbs. I bought a size 24 jean, which really felt like an accompishment! I have been wearing them, and now am down a total of about 74 lbs. (I am 5'8" tall)  so size 24 is just too big now! I went to Walmart today, and guessed I'd need a size 20 jean.... I was so thrilled to find I actually needed a size 18 jean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't remember the last time I wore an 18 jean, it's been about 10 - 12 years now!!! I also bought a shirt - before surgery I would have bought a size 3x shirt at Walmart, today I bought a size 1x! This is really amazing to me! I feel it is a completely obtainable goal that it won't be long I'll be in a size Large shirt and a 16 or 14 jean, then god willing down to a size Medium, and perhaps even a size small???? (I'd be thrilled to even "settle in" at a size Medium!!!) 

I am sooooooooo glad I had this surgery and encourage others to have it!
That's about it for now.....
Gina  :O)

07/06/2008

Hi everyone, just an update; doing great, still losing about an average of 2 pounds per week. Have not been exercising like I should, but have been doing very well about eating healthy foods. I have noticed some days I am hungrier than others, some days, nearly forget to eat. But even on the days when I feel hungry, I still do fine; I may eat more frequently, but still keep the portion size at about 1/2 cup. With my old surgery (stomach stapling) I had terrible GERD/acid reflux, and aspirated acid in to my lungs in the middle of the night several times, came close to drowning I think.... I also frequently re-gurgitated/vomited up food, had thickened saliva (yuck) when I felt sick after eating, and had stomach cramps. Now that I've had a RNY, ALL of those problems are GONE. God, that is such a relief!!!!!!! I do get nauseated with the RNY, but no vomiting or GERD, etc. I am soooooo glad! 
I have now lost 67 pounds, woo hoo!!!!!!! I am looking and feeling soooo much better. I still need to lose another 80-90 pounds to get to 150, but that now does not seem impossible at all, and I know I can and will do it! By the way, I can now easily cross my legs at the knee when sitting, wow!! I can bend over easily, I can squat-down to coax a kitten out from under a car, I could have never squatted down before! Oh, and I had stress incontinenece before (some urine leak with sneezing, etc.) honey, that is now GONE! My blood pressure is normal without medications! Chairs fit me better, seatbelts fit better, it's just amazing! I have not been keeping body measurements, but I'm pretty sure I do remember my calf measurement from before, so I measured my calf the other day and it is either 3 or 4 inches smaller (if I am remembering the old measurement right) but it is definitely smaller!!! Really the only problem I have had is some nausea, and sleepiness during the day, other than that, doing well!
I am/was addicted to sugar, exactly as an alcoholic is addicted to alcohol. RNY has enabled me to overcome that addiction, something I was never ever able to accomplish before. I was borderline diabetic, almost a diabetic; and now have excellent blood sugar levels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As God is my witness, I would have had the RNY just to avoid Diabetes, even if it would not have made me lose weight ,but, thank God, I got a double blessing - this surgery CURES Type 2 diabetes in over 90% of people who have it, AND causes weight loss. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05/29/08

I feel really happy today! I weighed myself, and now weigh 249 lbs (have lost about 56 pounds). I have left the 250's and am now in the 240's for the first time in many years!!! Also, today is a milestone because, now that I have hit 249, in order to get to my goal weight of 150, I only need to lost 99 more pounds, I have officially left the 100's and am in the 90's with regards to how much left I have to lose! Yeahhhhhhh!!!!!!!! 
Oh happy day, oh happy day! Those 99 pounds will be gone before I know it!!!!
Gina 

05/18/08  My hair is falling out now; someone suggested taking Biotin, which I am trying, and also I am trying (harder) to get in more protein!! I am 255 lbs. now and have lost around 50 pounds!
I do feel much healthier. Before surgery, I always felt like I was dying - I don't know how else to describe it, I felt like I was just slowly dying. I felt so tired, worn down, weak, sick, unhealthy, and had a lot of joint pain. Now, my joint pain has lessened, and I no longer feel as if I am "dying." I do seem to get sleepy during the day though, but am doing well...

04/18/08

Down to 263 now, have lost 42 pounds, yeahhhhh!! Still having problems with protein powder shakes makng me nauseated. I am doing fine though, feeling more energetic, and so on....

04/02/08
Well, looks like I've hit another plateau... It doesn't upset me as much as the first one did, because now I know it will pass.... 
I have now lost 36 pounds. I look forward to the plateau passing... (gosh darn plateaus!)

I bought a pair of jeans at Wal-mart a few days ago; the first time I've worn jeans in a long time... Even though I am still significantly overweight (for now!) It still felt good to put on a pair of jeans and see that I am a bit smaller than before. My son said he can see the difference.

Best wishes everyone!
Gina

March 23rd, and I am now down 32 pounds! I am sooo happy about it, and feel and see a difference! I'm now wearing clothes that I haven't been able to fit in to for several years! I can't hardly imagine what it will be like when I lose a 100 pounds or more!

I hope my profile, and other peoples profiles here serves as an inspiration and encouragement for those who are thinking of having weight loss surgery!

Gina