lizalvarez
5/22 365 lbs 0 BMI 64.7
5/30 371 lbs +6 6 gained
6/6 326 lbs -45 39 lost
6/18 322 lbs -4 43 lost
7/22 310 lbs -12 55 lost BMI 54.9
8/18 298 lbs -12 67 lost BMI 52.8 under 300 lbs **YEAH**
9/22 283 lbs -15 82 lost BMI 50.5
10/22 275 lbs -8 90 lost BMI 48.7 under 50 BMI **YEAH**
11/20 265 lbs -10 100 lost BMI 46.9 made the 100 pound club!!! two days shy of my 6 month anniv
12/22 258 lbs -7 107 lost BMI 45.7
1/22/03 254 -4 111 lost BMI 45.0
2/22/03 250 -4 115 lost BMI 44.3
3/26/03 248 -2 117 lost BMI 43.9
4/28/03 250 +2 115 lost BMI 44.3
7/06/03 245 -5 120 lost BMI 43.4
12/29/03 248 +3 117 lost BMI
12/19/04 258 +10 107 lost BMI 44.3
gained 3/4 inches in height with weight loss :)
03/27/06 256 -2 109 lost (still struggling with up and down numbers)
05/30/10 277 +21 lost 88 (STILL struggling with up and down numbers)
********If you are reading my journal for the first time, let me warn you, it is pretty extensive. I hope that I do not bore anyone, but it was very helpful to write beforehand, when I was so excited about this possibility, I just needed an outlet. Now I write periodically, when something important happens like a doctor's appointment or when I wanted to just make a small update. I try to write an entry at least once a month. Now that I am LIVING my life, instead of waiting for it to begin, it is more of an effort to remember to write. I love this site and am so thankful for it. If you are considering this surgery, my only recommendation is that you research it thoroughly. If you think you have researched enough, look some more. It is so very important that you enter into this with your eyes WIDE open. This is a very serious step and you need to make sure that it is your last resort. 9/19/02************
*****because there seems to be a limit in the number of characters, in order to update I had to delete all the pre-surgery comments - I have them saved elsewhere, but it makes me sad that they could not be included here 5/30/10
Sunday
May 19, 2002
Okay…here we are. Three days left. I was at school all day Saturday and today. I think I pretty much have my room packed. I finished my grades and have most everything put away. I spoke to the custodial supervisor and he said I could leave out a couple things so the substitute would not have an empty room. My house on the other hand is another matter. I am no way ready to leave this house and go to the hospital, since I know when I come back I will be out of commission for a little while. I hope everyone else understands that.
I dropped off two loose dresses at the dry cleaners, which I need to pick up on Monday. I took a pair of little bit too tight jeans to the tailor’s to repair a zipper, which I pick up on Tuesday. I dropped off film at Sam’s to be picked up on Tuesday. Monday, I have to come home early to have the water heater put in (that he couldn’t do last Monday) and Tuesday I have to leave work early to go to the doctor for the final appointment before surgery and do any final evaluations and pre-register at the hospital. Whew!!! AND I want to try and go to the grocery store to stock up for my family before I go to the hospital, as well as, clean my house. There just isn’t enough time. If I am stressed, it is not about the surgery. It is about not having enough time to get everything else done.
Tuesday
May 28th, 2002
Well, I am home and suffering from PLUM's Disease (Poor Little Unfortunate Me). I have had a very rough seven days. It is probably all normal and everyone goes through the same thing, but it was awful for me. My surgery was Wednesday the 22nd. I had some complications in the recovery room (blood pressure and oxygen level) and for days I had severe bloating. I am still bloated, but not to the extreme I was. I had two tubes attached to me. One was attached to my old stomach and it is still there sticking out of me. The other is basically a hole in the side of my body and is still draining. It drains the abdominal cavity of any liquids that accumulate. We have to change it often, sometimes every 30-40 minutes. I am still VERY uncomfortable and sore. My back hurts from those muscles tring to compensate for the abdominal muscles. I have always loved water, but I am sick of it right now. I would say that I had my first real meal today. 2 teaspoons of baby food chicken and 1 teaspoon of bf green beans. I know it is supposed to be approximately 6 teaspoons, but I have had such a hard time with bloating, the doctors/nurses said that my new little tummy just might not be ready, soooo... I am just taking it easy. I wrote a whole lot more than I intended. The doctor's say walk, walk, walk, so I guess that is what I'll do.
Thursday
May 30th, 2002
I went for my checkup at the doctor’s office. He removed the staples. He said he thought I looked very good. Actually, I am feeling pretty good right now. I had to do quite a bit of walking today, to get to the doctor’s office and back home. I live in a split level home, which means that I have to either go up a half flight of stairs or down a half flight of stairs whenever entering or leaving my home. So I walked up the stairs to leave and back down when I returned. It was something I had been dreading, but I survived. It is funny, because I actually gained 6 pounds. I know it is water weight, but I went in for weight reduction surgery and I get weight gain surgery. Ha Ha The doctor told me not to worry that it happens sometimes. Actually, I am not worried. I understand I was bloated.
Sunday
July 07, 2002
Well, it has been a while since I have written. I went to see the nutritionist at two weeks, the day before my doctor’s appointment. Kate said that things seemed to be going good for me, I could begin to increase my intake by 1 teaspoon per week, but that I really needed to push the liquids. I just can’t seem to tolerate water based drinks, they make me nauseated. I had V-8 juice for the first time that morning and she said that was fine. Now at six weeks out, I drink v-8 as my first 16 ounces, Crystal Light lemonade for the second 16 ounces, orange juice next 16 ounces and 1% milk for the last 16 ounces. Everything but the milk has water added so that it is not pure and I try to drink something more than each of those things. I am sure that I am getting in more calories than I should but I am one of those people who feels starving if I have water or too much of the SF Koolaide/Crystal Light stuff. I’ll talk with Kate next time and also try to drink less of the calorie based fluids. The next day,I went for my two week check-up (June 6th) and Dr. Fisher finally removed the gastric tube that has been hanging on the outside of my left side. It was at that appointment that I lost 45, I repeat 45 pounds (including the six gained from week one). I have not been approved to drive yet because I am light-headed almost all of the time. My sister came with her two boys during my second week. It was great. She is an incredible woman. She took care of me, my kids, her kids, my husband AND the house. She gave me so much TLC, I appreciated it so much.
At my four week doctor’s appointment (June 18th), I lost four more pounds. Dr. Fisher said he wasn’t surprised, because I seemed to be dehydrated at the two week visit. I was still light-headed, maybe 50% of the time so… still no driving. My mother, who has gone with me to each of the visits, told him that I seem to be depressed – which I was. He said that was normal and that 95% of the patients are much happier by the two month visit. I definitely felt that it was hard to believe. At that point I was walking about 20 minutes a day around the neighborhood, definitely something I could not have done before.
Two days later, FRIDAY JUNE 21st, I actually had a good day. I remember talking with my brother-in-law and telling him just that. Then I had a good Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday, etc. By the time Juan’s family arrived from Miami the following Friday, I had a full week of good days. It seemed I did turn a corner. His family was here for his 40th birthday and so we had great fun. I participated in almost everything. They took it easy on me though. I was careful with my portions and if I wasn’t feeling like I could eat I would have milk. Milk really curbs my hunger. I did not walk each day around the neighborhood, but we went places and did a lot of walking. I can’t wait until tomorrow, when I will begin walking again to see how far and how long I walk. Today I put on a pair of jeans size 30 and they not only fit, but were a little big. I could not get into them prior to the surgery.
I hadn’t really been sick, just feeling nauseated and sore. My only experiences with being ill were: I roasted a chicken and as I was carving it, I picked up a small piece (bigger than I should), chewed a couple of times and swallowed. Immediately, I knew I might have a problem. Five to ten minutes later I was sweaty and lightheaded. It did pass, so I guess the chicken did as well. It happened similarly with steak about a week later and then finally on the day my in-laws arrived, I ate some leftovers and didn’t even get half-way through my lunch when I felt very ill. I ended up vomiting, my first time so far. Needless to say I will continue to be careful with what and how I eat.
Tuesday
July 23rd, 2002
Went to the doctor for my two month check-up. Everything went okay. I lost 12 pounds. Not great for my second month, but I lost so much the first month. I have to keep in mind that I’ve lost 55 pounds total in two months. Not bad, I think. I feel I am doing pretty well overall. I have been grazing a little. I might have a pretzel nugget (total maybe 4-6 for the entire day). I have to break that habit asap. The doctor and my reading indicates that right now is the time I have to improve my eating habits. For the most part, I am getting in my 64 ounces of water. I have a difficult day, here and there, though.
Wednesday
August 14th, 2002
I received a very nice email from a woman named Dana today. She basically said that she had been reading my journal and I had not written in a while and would I please update. It really made me feel good that someone was concerned and interested in me to take the time to write me a note. I had jury duty today, which is always interesting and tomorrow I have my first meeting with my exercise physiologist. I'll write more after that meeting.
I forgot to write that on July 24th I went back to Kate. She told me to stay at 1/4 cup of food for the month. No problem. I feel fine eating that amount. She says when I come back next month she'll begin increasing me teaspoon full amounts again. I switched from measuring 4 tablespoons to using a 1/4 measure. I kept looking at it and saying wow, when I eyeball it I think I am eating too much. About a week after meeting with Kate I couldn't stand it any more. I didn't trust the 1/4 cup measure so I went into my kitchen and used all of my measures to see it this cup was right. I used my tablespoons and other measuring cups. It wasn't!!! It was really 1/8 cup. So for a week I was eating half the amount I was supposed to when I measured using that 1/4 cup measure. It was one from the spice rack/cooking utensil container for your stove. I went out and bought a nicer set of measuring cups and checked them. I'll be using those from now on.
Sunday
August 18th, 2002
Weighing in at 298. Down 67 pounds. Past the 300 pound mark!!
Well, I promised to write something after my appointment. I didn't know what to expect from the exercise physiologist, but I was a little disappointed. I thought he would have me working out. Oh,... don't get me wrong. Mike was very nice and knowledgeable, it just wasn't what I expected. He had some sheets on types of exercises I could do sitting and standing where I would not need a weight bench and he showed me how to take my pulse. I told him we were going to be looking at weight systems and could he give me an idea about what he thought was important in a system, so he took me around the area and showed me the various equipment pieces. He also told me that the money I paid in March to his group, pre-pays me for 12 visits at their facility, if I want. If I will let him know if I am interested he will try to be there when I work out. I think I might take them up on it mainly to learn HOW to use the equipment correctly. I don't live exactly close to their facility, so I am not sure if I would use all twelve sessions and they close at 5pm, so I would have to go right after school.
I am feeling pretty good. The past couple of days, I passed a huge milestone. Tomorrow I turn 39 and I am now under 300 pounds. What a great gift to myself. I haven't been under 300 pounds since the beginning of 1994 (or eight years). I remember because I weighed around 280 when we first moved out here in the summer of '93 and my first teaching job was in Harrison District. The school had a popcorn machine (like at a movie theatre). By the end of the school year I was over 300 lbs.
I am already getting around much better. I can buckle up in both cars. My belly doesn't touch the steering wheel anymore which is wayyyyy more comfortable to drive. I already have pants that are too big to wear. I'll continue to wear the big shirts because that's no big deal. I went through my closet the other day and pulled out stuff I haven't been able to wear in YEARS and it is loose on me, but definitely wearable. I even am able to wear some clothes that were given to me as presents, but were too tight. That is my limit though. When we moved two years ago, I was still in the process of deciding if this was for me and so I got rid of most of my smaller clothing. Now I wish I had had that special 20/20 hindsight vision. It is fun to put on something you know you haven't been able to get into and it fits. I haven't tried yet, but at least now I should be able to go into a regular store and try on clothes. Kmart and Walmart go up to 26/28. I don't know if that is where I am, but I can still try.
I started back at work on Friday and lots of people have come up to me and mentioned that they can tell I have lost weight and how good I look. I don't know if they KNOW I had this surgery or are guessing it was the type of surgery I had. I am still telling people, for the most part, that I had gastro-intestinal surgery, which is not a lie. I am just not saying the specific one. A lot of them say they can see it in my face. Wow that is one place where I just don't see it. I don't wear clothes on my face. I am told that it is normal not to "see" it on yourself, because you look at(scrutinize) yourself everytime you look in a mirror.
I pretty much eat whatever I want. I just make sure I don't eat too much of it. I still am eating 1/4 cup of food at each meal. Kate should begin increasing me this Wednesday a teaspoon a week, but I don't know for how long. Maybe to 1/2 a cup. Drinking 64 ounces is almost never a problem now. Sometimes I get in closer to 80 ounces. I can drink the 16-20 ounces within a short time frame now so it is easier. I am not sipping all the time. I am still dependant on milk, for when I have a hunger not expected. Sometimes water or water based drinks just don't sit right, still. But I am learning how to deal with my body and what it needs.
Ohhhh... I forgot to mention. The dreaded hair loss has begun. I have very thin hair, which is already thinning. Yikes!!!! Hopefully, it won't last too long. It probably started about a week and a half ago. Also, my grandfather (on my dad's side) passed away and last Friday I had to fly (you heard me right...fly) to Florida and back. On the way there they sat me in a row with only one person and a seat between us. It was extremely tight. I don't know how we would have felt if there was a person in the middle. However, on the way back they sat me in the "economy class" section which has a little more leg room and I was able to fit... just barely. Hopefully, the next plane trip will be more roomy.
Sunday
August 25th, 2002
I rushed to my appointment with Kate (the nutritionist) and when I arrived they told me my appointment was for NEXT Wednesday. What?!?!?!? They were right and I was wrong. However, I did find out though that Kate will no longer be working there, so my appointment will be with "Sharon". I'll tell you more about her next time.
Monday
September 16th, 2002
I totally forgot to write about Sharon. We had a very nice meeting. She asked me lots of questions, like what I am eating and how long. I told her I still try to take 30 mintutes to eat and she seemed surprised. It seems a lot of people begin to eat in a shorter time now, just because they can. Not me I am still chewing, chewing, chewing. I wonder if that is why my weight loss has been so good. She told me that I still needed to take the calcium supplement even though I drink approximately 16 oz of milk a day. I'll weigh in on my four month anniversary and put that in in a few days.
A group of us began a support group locally in Colorado Springs and I am so very pleased at how it has been going. We have our regulars (a handful of people) and then we have pre-ops and people considering the surgery. We have had someone who had the surgery in 2000 as well as people still considering and several in between. We even have some husbands and kids join the discussions. We meet at a local hospital and it has been good to see people who we read about on this site.
Thursday
September 19th, 2002
It is so hard to believe that it's been four months (in 3 days). Looking back at how horrible the hospital experience was and then that awful first month, the last three have been terrific. The one thing I am struggling with is the exercise. Since school began, I have been having a tough time walking each day. I was able to walk daily beforehand, but now I am sooo tired and sooo busy. It is definitely a goal. I did pick up a pedometer (it measures how many steps you take). Sharon said that the goal should be 10,000 steps a day. I have averaged above 9,000 each day I have worn it (Mon, Tues, Wed and today), so I do think I am getting in some exercise, it is just not the kind I want. It is the basic, I am at work and doing my job kind of exercise. In a week and a half, I take my sixth graders on a weeklong camping trip and there is a lot of hiking involved. I need to do some serious walking now, so I won't be so exhausted then.
Thursday
October 24, 2002
Well, I went for my five months appointment with Dr. Fisher. I am at 275 lbs, 90 pounds lost. I can hardly believe it. This past month I only lost 8 pounds, but again I need to keep in mind that I have lost 90lbs in five months. People are beginning to come up to me and ask, are you losing weight? I tell them yes. When they ask how many pounds, they are startled. 90 pounds on someone who is very heavy is not that noticeable. That is amazing to me. I have lost the equivalent of my ten-year old son and it is just now becoming noticeable to some people. I have had people say they can see it in my face and others say I look younger. All I know for sure is that I was in a size 32 and now I am in a 26, and I definitely feel better. The doctor was very pleased with the total weight loss. I am supposed to go in the next few days and do some blood work, to check how things are going. Hopefully, I am getting in what I need. I am taking my multi-vitamin and my B-12 religiously. I have trouble with the calcium supplement. I just forget it. I do get in milk daily, along with orange juice with calcium. Hopefully that will be enough.
I have also found/discovered that when I hit a plateau, I may not be going down in pounds, but I am going down in size. I can get through the plateau knowing that.
I often wonder when this miracle will stop working and I begin to gain weight, because of course it can't be real. You know how they tell you, "if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is". That is how I feel about the surgery sometimes.
At the doctor's office, they took a photo of me. This was the first time that I have seen a before and after shot of me. I could definitely see a difference. I wish they had taken measurements. I didn't think of it until after the surgery.
I will write again in a month, probably after my nutritionist's meeting.
Sunday
November 24, 2002
This past week I went for my sixth month visit to my nutritionist. I was dancing at 98/99 pounds for about a week, but on that day I hit 100 pounds lost! I couldn't believe it. I told my husband before the surgery, if I lost 100 lbs I would be happy. If I were to stop losing right now, I would be. I feel so much healthier. I am more active. I am more happy. There are so many things I listed on my "I want to list..." that I have accomplished. I do have the sagging skin all over my body and my husband has told me I am soft "like his grandma" (he didn't mean it as a compliment - ouch). I definitely want to continue to loose, but if I didn't... hmmm, I think I would be okay with that. One of my fears, though, has been realized. I just don't exercise like I should. I do keep trying and have been on the treadmill a couple of days this past week, but I HAVE to do more. I also have been snacking a little more than usual (that stupid Halloween candy is still in my house).
My nutritionist says I can go up to 3/4 of a cup now. I think that I won't begin to increase until after the holidays. I really am happy with the amount I am eating right now. I am very nervous about the holidays. I do a lot of family entertaining and treats.
I am supposed to go to Atlanta Tuesday night and return on Thanksgiving morning. My brother and I are going to visit my grandfather who is staying with my uncle and his wife. I am hesitant to get on a plane. It can be so embarrassing. Also, my uncle and his wife are VERY thin. I just know that they are going to take one look at me and think "she's lost 100 pounds???, Where?" Very thin people just don't see it. They expect you to be thin. I don't think I'll ever be "thin". I just want to be able to do things a normal woman does. I still have at least another 100 pounds to go to my "goal" and 125 to the scale's "goal". I just want to be under 200 pounds at this point (which is 65 pounds more).
I think the keys to my success so far has been that I still chew, chew, chew and I still take 30 minutes to eat. Even though I am doing some grazing, I am eating quality meals. Also, my job has me walking all the time. The nutritionist said that people usually walk about 3000-4000 steps in a day, I average around 9000. So I may not be walking the neighborhood, but I am walking the school.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!! Talk to you at the end of next month.
Friday
December 27, 2002
Well, I meant to write before Christmas. But of course, I have been extremely busy. To all of you who celebrate the joyous birth of our savior, Merry Christmas to you. To all others, I hope you enjoy your holiday time. I am actually down another six pounds in the last four days. How can that be with all treats I have been eating? Actually, I may have been eating treats, but it has been in moderation. Everything from this point on is just "frosting on the cake", no pun intended.
I am wearing size 24 jeans (from 32's)and I can get 22's on, but I am not very comfortable. I guess in a little while, the 22's will be okay. At our last support group meeting, someone brought up the idea of doing a clothing exchange and Connie from next door sent over a bag of her clothes that were too big. It was like Christmas for me. I haven't really wanted to buy new clothes or even go and try things on, but afterwards it gave me courage to bag clothes that were too big for me... thank you Connie. I had five bags afterwards, I'll take it to my next meeting. I separated the clothes by size. It seems when I wear my "fat" clothes - the ones I just can't get rid of - my loss is just not as noticeable. When I wear clothes that are my current size, people come up to me left and right and tell me how great I look. I told my husband that I want to go to Goodwill over the holidays and buy some outfits that fit for the new year, but so that I don't have to spend a lot a money on clothes hopefully.
Wednesday
January 22, 2003
Well, I never made it to the Goodwill store. I lost only a total of 4 pounds this month. I am not too unhappy with it since I ate pretty usual and still lost.
I went to see Dr. Fisher yesterday. He was very pleased with the loss. So far 111 pounds lost. In the before and after photos you can really see it.
As I said to Dr. Fisher, things have been going great. I can eat anything. The only time I have problems is when I eat too fast or meat that is not tender.
Of course, with the new year I am vowing to exercise more. Except this time, my not doing it is a "choice", because I physically can do it now. I have no reason not to, except I don't want to. Hopefully, I will change that attitude. See you in a month.
Tuesday
February 25, 2003
Well, I am hanging at around 250 lbs, going up and down. I started walking every single day about two weeks ago. I was reading one of those books you can buy in Walmart/Sams. It pretty much said you just have to do it. It said exercising in the morning was best because it increases your metabolism and thus you burn at a higher rate all day. I pretty much figured that if I don't plan to do it daily, then I will continue to say "maybe tomorrow". I don't have any more tomorrows... I have to take advantage of the opportunity I have now. It also said you need to exercise 50 - 150 minutes a week. That is ten minutes 5 days a week for the least amount. I can't find any excuse not to do that, at the least.
I went to the nutritionist recently also. She was saying that things seem to be going well for me, but that I have to begin some kind of weight lifting workout. I have to build up the muscle in my arms as well as my legs.
Not too much else is going on with me. I pretty much eat as if I never had the surgery, only in smaller amounts (and not really that small). I still have to be careful not to eat too quickly, but otherwise everything is going great.
See you in a month,
Thursday
March 26, 2003
I have lost 2 pounds again this month. I had lost 5 at one point, but as most of you know there is a fluctuation in our numbers throughout the month. I have resolved to always indicate my weight at the time of this journal entry, whether there is a loss or gain. Hopefully, I will continue to loose.
I am currently on spring break with my whole family. The big news there is that yesterday I went skiing. SKIING! I haven't skied in over 20 years. I was a blast. I think we might try and go again this Friday. I'll have to wait and see.
I was talking with my husband the other day. I told him that if I didn't lose any more weight, I would be happy at this size. Sometimes I don't feel that way, but then I think back to when I was a size 30/32 and how I fantasized about being a size 22. If only I could get to a 22/24, I would be so happy. Well, I am there. I have a lot of sagging skin already. But what I told him was that I just want to try and firm it up, if I can. But I feel fantastic... I can do so much now that I could not do then. I am not thin, I am not even close. But it is such an improvement over where I was, that if I stopped here I would be fine with it. Now of course, if I continued to lose I wouldn't complain about that either.
As I have said before, I can pretty much eat anything and have tried (except soda). I am already eating my 1 cup of food allowed and have to really work at not increasing it any more. Sometimes I think I want to decrease my amount, but then my meal time arrives and "I'll work on it next time". I still get hungry sometimes, but it is not nearly as bad as it was in the beginning. I can eat less and feel fine. It is totally psychological, and I know it. Loosing between 2 and 5 pounds a month would be great, but as you can see my numbers are continuing to lessen each month. If I lose 2 pounds a month for the next 14 months (which would be my two year anniversary), I will have lost 145 pounds and be at about 220 lbs. It is at 225 lbs that my BMI will drop under 40. That is my real goal. From there, we will see.
See you next month,
Monday
April 28th, 2003
Well, it has been a month already. Time seems to fly by so fast. I was down to 245 which would have been 120lbs lost, but I gained the five pounds back since Easter. Jelly beans are the culprit. I shouldn't eat them, I know that, but they are so juicy. I will try to stop.
Last Friday, my husband took the kids and I out to a fondue restaurant for our 17th anniversary. What a great time we had! Boy is it expensive! We had a wonderful time in each other's company. I was very careful with the amount I ate. I believe I did well. My 10 year old son ate more than I did... so I think I'm okay.
School is almost over this year. It is hard to believe that a year has almost passed. I am looking forward to so many productive years ahead now. Before the surgery, my time was limited. What a god-send this was!
Sunday
July 6th, 2003
Well, with the end of school and then the beginning of summer, I have had no time to update here at all. I have fluxuated between 245 and 255 over the last 2 months. I had plans to exercise when summer arrived, but instead did some serious house cleaning and redecorating. I feel as though I have accomplished a lot, but school starts in 4 weeks and I had wanted to start up my excercise routine and haven't. I plan to this week, so let's see if I follow up on it.
I feel wonderful, energetic.... alive! I haven't been to the support group meetings that I so desperately needed in the beginning because I have just been so busy. I do plan to go to the next one though. I have photos of the night before surgery and at one year. Boy what a difference. I still am very overweight (actually, I still qualify for the surgery). But I had told myself that if I could get to a size 24 I'd be happy, and right now I am a loose 22. I have to keep things in perspective.
I can pretty much eat whatever I want. I still eat a childs portion, which is good. My problem is that I don't eat all the right foods (as I had a Krispy Kream donut this morning). But I know that is something I have control over and that if I can get back exercising and watching what I eat, I will begin loosing again.
Monday
December 29th, 2003
It has been so long since I have updated my site. I have pretty much hung out at the same weight since my last update. I fluctuate between 245 and 251 pounds. I am feeling great, but wish I could loose more weight. As I said before, I can eat almost anything and I do. This is the time for me to test my theory that I had willpower all along, but I weighed too much to make an impact. This is when the surgery's benefit is over. As you can see, I haven't had any willpower and now I must exercise and eat better. I believe I am ready to make that further committment. Wish me luck! Oh and Happy New Year's to everyone.
Sunday
December 19, 2004
I guess it is not a bad idea to update. I know I always wanted to know about those people who had the surgery so long ago.
I pretty much stayed under 260 pounds through Christmas last year. It seemed acceptable at the time, but once the new year arrived I immediately put on 15 pounds. I mean like in a month. By the end of January, I was 274. Throughout the year I fluxuated between 271 and 278 pounds. I joined curves in March and have exercised on and off over the year, I did their diet (Atkins like) and I lost some of the weight, but not much and it was very hard to stay on so I gained it right back. I seem to have tried all types of diets and just can't seem to stay on any of them. Currently I am on Weight Watcher's. I figured it was a tried and true company and I really just need to eat right, not do the faddish type diet. I am currently at 258, which is about where I was last Christmas. I actually am looking at it as a success (to be where I was a year ago, instead of up - the direction I was heading).
Well, the bottom line that I see is that YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE. Find something you like to do and do it. That is my downfall. My eating has improved, but I just don't exercise consistently enough. I know for a fact that I would be loosing more weight if I were exercising.
If you are thinking about surgery, just had it or already had it. Please don't fool yourself, like I did. Exercise is definitely the key to success with the gastric bypass. The gastric bypass just gets you to a weight where you CAN actually exercise.
I still feel pretty good, but I know I could feel better. Here's to a new year and continued weight loss.
Happy New Year's everyone. I'll update next year.
Liz
Monday
February 27, 2006
Wow! It has been A LONG time since I posted. I have still been struggling with the weight and even was as high as 282 again, but I am still working on it. Back down to 256# and hit a plateau. As I said before exercise is the key, and I just don't get enough of it. I do exercise and my eating has improved a hundred fold, but it just doesn't seem to be enough. I don't blame anything or anyone but myself. I had an incredible opportunity and in some ways I wasted it. I am a person with a positive outlook though and can totally see the benefits that I have reaped over the last 3 1/2 years. I am sooooo much healthier. I can do so much more. When I was a size 34/36 (very hard to find in stores), all I could dream about was being a size 22 and I am so there. Now I am dreaming of being a size 16/18 and I will just have to work at it. Good luck to anyone at any stage of this process. Remember it still takes a lot of work on your part, but stick with it.
Best to you,
Liz
Sunday
May 30, 2010
I could totally just repeat what I wrote in the last two posts. It ALL is still true, except that I hung in the 280's for the last two years and actually saw 290. That was a terrible day for me. Am back on Weight Watcher's and down to 277. I keep telling myself "this time I'll make it a lifestyle change". I have been on Weight Watcher's twice since the last post and Nutrisystem once. It is just not easy folks. Still fairly healthy, but starting to "feel" older (knees and back aches). Just had physical and everything bloodwork wise was really good. Good luck to all of you out there. Keep working at it. I know it is attainable, even if I haven't quite gotten there yet.
Best to you,
Liz
- Weight Loss Survey Responses
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Insurer Info:
Blue Cross / Blue Shield Texas
I received a positive response three weeks after my first consultation visit. It took another 1 1/2 weeks to get the official letter in the mail from the insurance group.