kellyinbigd
About 7 1/2 months out - feeling fantastic!
Mar 27, 2010
I've been a little absent on the boards.... but I wanted to be sure to post an update. I need to post some more current photos!I thought this might be an encouragement to those pre-ops or newly out of surgery folks. I was a relatively low BMI-er.... started at 36.2 - 5'4" and 211. Major (diagnosed) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and on a cocktail of anti-depressant meds (high doses) for depression I've had since college (about 20 years).
I'm about to turn 39 in May. Sweet husband, 2 cute boys, 7 and 5, and my older son has (now pretty mild) autism.
I've been losing verrrry slowly, but consistently, and I'm feeling great! Still off all depression meds (a miracle!) and Chronic Fatigue is still not back. I'm feeling a little more fatigue than during the first 5 or 6 months post-op, but still SO much better. Yea!
Wearing a size 10 comfortably, and no longer think about my size/weight when with other people. So glad to get out of my own way!!!
God is so good - after marrying my husband and having kids, this might have been the BEST thing I've ever done for myself! I'm so grateful my hubby was willing to cash-pay for this - $12k - because it changed my life. I LOVE my doctor - Dr. Davidson in Dallas - he's VERY experienced, and knows what to do if things go wrong. Which is important! :)
I'm losing on average about a pound a week. But over time, that's a LOT! My goal is 135 lbs., but my doctor wants to see me at no more than 130. Isn't that crazy?!?!? I haven't weighed that little in a lonnnnnnnnnng time!! I'm not putting pressure on myself. We'll just see what my body decides to do.
It's been relatively easy for me. No post-op complications, no weird health issues, LOVING my new smaller appetite. I haven't had any weird eating episodes (sliming, throw-ups, etc.) - just eating less and getting full much more quickly. My big vice I have to stay away from is crunchy carb-y snacky things like chips, crackers, etc. I can have some sometimes, I just have to watch the portions. I get a handful out and then put the bag back. Still doing protein first - always - and that actually is what I WANT to eat now. Not great about getting in all my liquids - still a challenge. Every day is a new day.
It cracks me up, because I can so remember being SO heavy and hearing little skinny people say "I just eat a little ___ for lunch and then I'm just not hungry any more!" Makes me laugh, b/c I'm that way too now. I still have some hunger, but not the panicky kind - just the "I need to eat" kind.
I eat a lot of protein bars now..... sort of an alternative to shakes for me. I do a lower-sugar, high protein one, and it's a great way to get in my protein and not fall for the fast food gross-ness that my kids sometimes eat on the run. And to think my favorite food used to be McDonalds!!!
It's so crazy and weird and good how this surgery has changed my tastes. Loving things like grilled fish now. Who would have thought!!!! Seriously - I used to be a junk food junkie, and those foods just really don't taste that great any more. I have a bite here and there, but it tastes a little greasy and more than a few bites makes me feel gross. Hooray!!!
Still don't do dairy - but I'd stopped that before the surgery b/c I found out I was sensitive to it. I'm so used to not having it, so that cuts down on calories a lot too.
I go to bed at night excited that I'll get to wake up to my yummy morning coffee..... I use soy creamer and some of that sugar-free pumpkin pie syrup from DaVinci. Yummy! It really fills me up 'til mid-morning when I have a protein bar, and it's creamy and YUM in the morning when I'm groggy. :)
Going to need a boob lift and a tummy tuck - but that's from a combo of being heavy before, having BIG boobs before, and having 2 sweet babies. Probably do that this summer or maybe next fall. Got a little bit of the "bat wings'" going under my underarms, but nothing awful. I can't wait to wear dresses this summer that show my arms!!! They're not perfect - haven't been working out - but they're slender and pretty cute now!
Love shopping now - have to be careful to evaluate whether or not something is really CUTE on me, or if I'm just buying it b/c it FITS! I have a whole new standard now!
Next up - getting on a regular workout routine. I've been much more active with my kids lately, but I'm noticing that I'm not quite as "firm" as I'd like to be!!! HA! Plus, it's just a good, healthy habit, and it would help my weight loss too.
Anyway, that's about it. I need to post some pics. Gone from about a 20/22 to a 10 (and my jeans are 8s!), feeling and looking like a new person. My cute husband is super supportive and loves how I look (saggy tummy/boobs and all!) and I feel great!
