MissCrystal
March 26, 2006
I am 26 years old (27 in a couple months). I weigh approximately 265 lbs. I started looking into WLS last year after my grandma had successfully gone through it and after hearing some ladies through church having gone through it. I started around 275 Jan/Feb but have lost a little over 10 lbs. I want to try to get in the best possible shape before my surgery to make it an easier/healthier recovery.
I have been overweight as long as I can remember. As a child, I always remember thinking I was overweight. Though, when I look back at early elementary pictures, I was fine. My little sister was always thin so I was compared to her all the time. This last year or two has especially been hard. I moved away from my family/friends, started a new job, lost my grandma and in the process gained 30-40 lbs. I seem to plateau for a long time and then shoot WAY up very fast! I am hoping to reverse that cycle and be healthy the rest of my life so I don't have the same health difficulties that my mom and grandma have had.
I am a teacher and I absolutely LOVE my job. I teach grades 8-12, Social Studies and Spanish. This semester I teach Geography, U.S. History, Economics and World History as well as Spanish 1 and Advanced Spanish. Yes, I'm a white girl who is bilingual in Spanish. I love foreign languages and just decided I wanted to be fluent in it... never thought I'd be a Spanish TEACHER but I like it!
I am hoping that when the surgery is done and I'm "on the other side," that I can coach and play basketball with my students, etc. I love sports, being outdoors, enjoying nature, etc.
I have many reasons/goals for losing weight:
1. Be Healthy
2. Feel better
3. Be Active
4. HOPEFULLY NO MORE ASTHMA!!!
5. Lower Blood Pressure… healthy heart
6. Lower cholesterol
7. Avoid Diabetes
8. Avoid back/joint problems
9. Weight to begin with a 1 instead of a 2
10. Jog daily without pain and breathing problems (Done - Oct 06)
11. Swim long distances
12. Hike long distances (Done - Oct 06)
13. Feel comfortable sitting in a chair or airplane seat (Done - Oct 06)
14. Have my legs cross naturally and comfortably (Done - Oct 06)
15. Climb Mt. Lassen
16. Look decent in a bathing suit
17. Play on a sports team
18. Walk up stairs or long distances without huffing/puffing
19. Buy clothes at a regular store (Done - Oct 06)
20. Look better
21. Have a regular bath towel fit around my body
22. Wear single digit clothing sizes
I have been reading a lot of pages and looking at before/after pages and am amazed at the results. It seems that more often than not, plastic surgery is needed afterwards. This is an area which I am hoping to research more.
So far, I have consulted with the doctor, am in the process of scheduling labs/tests. I live in Northern California but am having the surgery done in Southern California, my home, so coordinating everything is a little more complicated but still OK. My surgeon and I are looking at JUNE to do the surgery since I'm a teacher and it's best to do it when I'm off work. We don't forsee any lab or insurance problems soooo, all is going well!! I'm anxious for this whole thing to speed up and be losing already! I hope that by summer 2007, I'll be "normal," or close to it!! :) :) :)
July 17, 2006
Well, I got my date a few weeks back. I'm having surgery on July 19th, yes, in two days actually. A couple of things I didn't know before starting all of this for those of you who are at the beginning. My Doc required the following tests/appointments:
Endoscopy
Abdominal Ultra Sound
Cardio Pulmonary Stress Test
Blood workup
Psych Eval
Meet with Nutritionist
The day before the surgery (tomorrow)... I can't eat anything after 9am and from then on it's clear liquids. My surgery is at 7:15 in the morning, which means I have to report at 5:15am. It's been a long process getting here but I am soooo very excited. I'm also VERY impressed with Dr. Lourie and his staff so far. Pasadena Laparoscopic surgeons are awesome. I highly recommend....
So, I went to the store and bought all the necessary items for the first two weeks (clear liquids only). Then, I'll graduate to full liquids for 2 weeks, then pureed food for 2 weeks, then soft foods for 2 weeks. I'm SOOO ready to do ANYTHING that it takes to get this weight off. I hope to be close to my goal weight when my seniors graduate in mid June next summer. I also hope to be able to climb Mt. Lassen next August (a personal goal for myself).
Good Luck to all and FEEL free to e-mail if you have ANY questions about the process itself prior to surgery or anything about the surgery, even if I have no clue who you are!! :) Good Luck!
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Well, it's over. The surgery went fine. The doctors all said everything looked great. My gall bladder was fine so they left it in there. The incisions look great. I actually felt pretty good (albeit loopy from the drugs) on Wednesday after my surgery, however Thursday and yesterday were really rough days. I had a LOT of pain and a lot of gas. I didn't pass any gas until this morning, which is probably why I'm feeling so much better. It got to a point last night where I got very close to going to the ER after talking with my doctor at home. He said it was up to me and I told him I'd just wait until morning, but since I'm feeling better this morning, I don't need to go in. I honestly wasn't expecting this much pain so I thought it pertinent to include that as people may experience this as well. It is best to know what to expect. Most people said they had hardly any pain after the surgery but everyone's different. It's a small price to pay, though! :)
I'm so excited about the next couple of months. I mean, I don't even WANT any food at all. I drink my water (my body does crave that), and I'm starting my protein drink today, so we'll see how I handle that. My tummy tells me very quickly when it's had enough. I kind of get a sharp pain and I know I have to slow down my water for a half an hour or so.
The hospital where I had my surgery at was totally awesome. Huntington Memorial in Pasadena is phenomenal. The nurses are great! They were so kind and sympathetic to my pain. I was so impressed. :) My doctor is awesome. The surgical resident checked on me like 3 times the day after the surgery and was totally awesome. I was so impressed by him, not to mention he's very good-looking on top of being nice! :)
I'm having a hard time getting everything in. I can handle about 1 oz of the mixed protein but it makes me slightly queasy. It's not terrible, it actually doesn't taste bad, but my tummy gets soooo full so fast. I don't think I'll get the whole 60g the first few days, but I'm shooting for as much as possible. I also have a hard time getting all the water in.
Monday July 24, 2006
I've been feeling icky the last 2 days. I feel lightheaded and weak from having nothing but liquids. I don't know if I can take 2 more weeks of this. I'm supposed to be able to handle 2 oz at a time but can't handle much more than 1 oz so I'm not getting all my nutrition in and I just feel terrible. I was hoping to have a better time of this but so far... it's been rough. Well, it's time to get back to the liquid bar of water, juice and protein.
Thursday, Aug 3, 2006
Well, yesterday was my official 2 week mark. At my 1 week post-op last week, I had lost 12 lbs in the first week. I don't think I was really prepared for the beginning woes. I have thought, "What have I gotten myself into?!?!" However, I also know (now) that it is rough in the beginning with lack of energy, nutrition, fluid, etc. It is impossible to get all 64oz of liquid in at a time. I mean, It takes me 1/2 hour to get 2-3 ozs in. If you do the math, factor in another 1 1/2 hours for eathing (plus before/hour not drinking) and there's just not enough hours in the day. I also am not getting my protein in. IF I'm lucky, I get maaaaybe half of it. I'm trying and doing my best. I start back to work in about 2 1/2 weeks. I'm a little worried about making it through the long day. Since I'm a teacher, the first month is VERY, VERY busy and hard. So, I'm going to be going through that time while I'm still weak. We'll see. I have been doing better this week and everyone assures me it gets better and better day by day, which I think is true but of course I have set back days. I'll have a few great days and then a horrible day, usually if I don't start drinking my water right away. All in all, I'm still glad I had the surgery, I know the results will come. I already feel my clothes feeling loose and although I don't know what I weigh now at the 2-week mark, I feel I may have lost as many (or more) than 20 lbs so far! :)
So, for any newbies out there, hang in there, we'll get through it! :)
September 20, 2006
Well, yesterday was my 2 month mark. I've lost 45 lbs since surgery so that's a total of 60 since my top weight in Jan/Feb. I'm at 217 as of yesterday. I only weigh myself once a week. A couple of times I weighed myself mid-week and it was discouraging. I do better when I weigh myself every Fri morning. I feel pretty good but am much more tired than I used to be. I feel like I need a nap every evening but lately we've had back to school night/volleyball games/running concession stand, etc, at work. So much for rest, lol, but that's okay cause I love my job and my students. I am wearing clothes that I haven't worn in 6-7 years and those are a lot looser than when I bought them. I'm at a point now where all of my clothes are too big (even my "small" clothes that I haven't been able to fit into for years) so I'm going to have to go shopping before long. My students are all noticing but they don't know I had the surgery. They make very nice compliments telling me how good I look. :) They actually had me blushing one day, lol. One student blurted out, "you're getting smaller and smaller everyday!" I have to admit, I feel like I look so much better. Moving around is already easier and I feel great other than the tiredness. I can't do protein whatsoever. It makes me nauseated, no matter what kind I try. I often forget my vitamins but I am working really hard on getting better than that. I probably get in about 40-50 oz of liquid and am trying to drink more and more. I only like my water/drinks when they're ice cold for some reason.
I can eat most things now, which is a relief. The first 5-6 weeks were awful. Now I can eat chicken, ground beef, ham, turkey, etc. & I can get much of my protein through my food. I can eat about 1/3 of a 6 in subway sandwich or about half of a chicken breast. I don't eat much bread and stuff like that cause it's so filling. So, with a sandwich, I pick around the bread, eat a small amount but mainly go for the inside stuff. I can't stand eggs anymore for some reason. I also don't like any fruit juices except cranberry juice and lemonade (crystal light or minute maid light). Some things taste different. Apple/Grape juice tastes WAY sweet to me.
Now that I'm 2 months out, fully healed and eating normal foods (i.e. getting the nutrition I need), I'm going to start lifting weights to tone my body up. I'm going to be working with our athletic director in the gym here at the school to work on toning. I'm excited about that! :) I'm a little concerned that my energy may not allow it but also am hoping that it may give me more energy... we'll see.
So, all in all, things are going great, still trying to get all my vitamins/water everyday. I'm loving that I'm losing this weight! I am SOOO excited about the next 6 months. I know my weight loss will slow but I'm hoping to be at goal in about 6-7 months... sooo that means by Spring Break, maybe? Wouldn't that be awesome!
October 20, 2006
Yeah, I know I'm really only getting on here once a month. Life is moving fast! Yesterday was my 3 month mark. I now weigh 207 lbs. I'm almost in one-derland!! I've lost 55 lbs since surgery, almost 70 since my highest. I'm enjoying life but had a long week at school so I'm tired this week. I have more energy than last month (a lot more) but not as much as I used to. I tire easier and feel like I need naps and more hours of sleep at night. I can eat lettuce now, so I can pretty much eat anything except steak. I can even eat pot roast (a little), or at least my mom's pot roast because it's very tender and soft. I eat a lot of chicken, very little bread/rice, etc. My body makes healthy choices for me. I don't generally crave the bad stuff anymore. In fact, I don't really think about eating much at all. It's now just a necessity, like taking medicine... just gotta do it! :-D Vitamins are good, still don't get enough water in (lifelong battle there), protein is eh.... I try to eat a half a protein bar when I can but it's very rich and sometimes hard to get down.
GOALS ACHIEVED: I jog almost daily. I usually jog about a mile... can you believe that?!?! I would never have been able to do that before - and I like it! I hiked Little dyer mtn last week... which is about 2 miles almost straight up and then 2 miles back down - it was HARD but totally awesome - would have never been able to do that before either. I can also cross my legs very, very comfortably! :) I took an airplane flight and was sooo comfy. I walked down the aisles and my hips/thighs didn't touch anybody. I sat comfy in the chairs and had plenty of room. I'm noticing so many differences about my body. I have dropped almost 3 sizes. I'm in between a 16 and an 18. People are noticing big time and say the nicest things about how good they think I look. I am over halfway to my first goal, which is 150. I don't know if I'll go past that but we'll see.... Well, that's it for now but I'll try to check in more often.
TO those who are considering having WLS: DO IT!! I had a REALLY tough time the first 6-8 weeks or so, especially the first month, but now that I'm 3 months out, I feel normal again and I feel great. I never could have lost 55 lbs on my own. My weight is going to start with a "1" in the next week or two and that's just unbelieveable!!! This surgery has not just helped me lose weight, but has helped me change my relationship with food and my body. I have more self-confidence about my looks and food is very unimportant to me now. I see it as a necessity and a health issue, but not as the major source of pleasure/need it once was. Life feels much more in balance now. Please don't hesitate to e-mail or leave a message for me if you have ANY questions or want any feedback at all!! :-)
November 29, 2006
Well, I'm about 4 1/2 months out now. I've lost 70 lbs since surgery and a total of almost 85 with the pre-surgery loss. I'm in one-derland now. I weighed 195 on my last weigh in (a few days ago). It's totally awesome, I have to say. Everyone has been noticing. I really feel like I need the encouragement because it takes a while for our heads to catch up with our bodies. I don't see myself as small as I think I must be - or as small as others say I am. Anyhow, I'm in a size 14 and can't wait until I'm a size 9/10. That'll be my first goal but I'd love to get into a 7/8! :) We'll see though. I have a larger bone frame so it may not get down that small.
My attitude towards food has totally changed. I think in terms of nutritional value and not comfort/taste value anymore. I don't WANT food that I don't need. I don't take comfort in it anymore. I don't just eat to eat.... only to stay healthy. I can do so many things. I went to Disneyland last week and my feet didn't hurt. I got a little more tired than normal - but that's pretty much everyday. I was more comfortable all day, in lines, on the rides, etc. It's great! I'm getting a lot more attention/looks from men, even my male friends are looking at me differently. I used to think it'd upset me if they did that but it doesn't at all. I like the attention - is that bad? I don't think it is. I feel attractive most days. Two of my friends (male and female) told me the other day that I "exude sexiness," lol!! Go figure.... I still don't feel sexy most days but when I get dressed all nice, I must confess, I do. I have 45 lbs to go until my first goal of 150! It seems so manageable now where before it seemed impossible. I love to go shopping. I fit in Larges, maybe extra larges in the regular Misses dept tops and I'm a size 14 bottoms so I can shop pretty much anywhere and find my size! That's an awesome feeling - clothes are much cheaper in regular sizes, too!
I thought I'd pop on and update this while I had a few mintues. Life has been crazy at work. With the cold weather and snow outside, my exercise has diminished and I need to get on the ball with that! That's it for now... another installment to come......
January 12, 2007
Down ALMOST 100 lbs. I started this journey in February 2006 at 275. I lost 13 lbs before surgery and now (5 1/2 months out), I've lost 99 lbs as of today. I weighed in at 176, lol. It's great. I'm a size 12 (tight) and actually juniors size 13 is fitting perfectly but I still wear my 14 jeans. I wore a little black dress on New Year's - size 12. As soon as I can figure out the whole picture thing, I'll upload those pics. I feel great and life is good!! I'm SOOO glad I had this surgery!
July 30, 2007
Wow, so it's been six months since I've posted... these last six months have changed my life. First, let me begin with my weight loss, since that's the whole point of this site, right! :) My one year "surgiversary" was July 19th, about two weeks ago. I weighed in at 142, exactly 120 lbs lost in one year since my surgery, making a total of 135 since I started this whole process. I have literally lost a whole person and it feels GREAT. I am wearing medium tops and size 6 bottoms. At one time I thought how awesome it'd be to be a size 10, maaaybe dared to hope for an 8, but I am wearing a 6!!! I am very comfortable with where I was a couple of weeks ago. My first goal was 150 and I passed that some time ago and have been hovering in the 140's for a while now. I'd like to get to and maintain 140 lbs as my ideal weight. I tend to carry my weight differently. For example, when I weighed 175 lbs, I was wearing size 22. My mom is wearing a size 22 at 130 lbs. I tend to be heavier than I look so I know I'll never be a 120 type of girl and wouldn't want to. I'd probably look sick or something, lol. :)
I must say, however, that I just returned from a cruise where I gained about 5-6 lbs. Since I already was wanting to lose 5 more, now I want to lose 10 more and get to 140. I think I'm always going to battle with the extra 10lbs or so but after battling for so many years with an extra 100+ lbs, Im ok with that!! I can jog 2 miles without needing to stop or getting too winded. I like to jog, go figure. People call me "skinny." I get lots of attention/looks, which is nice. I actually have to try to remember what it was like to be overweight. The way I am now feels like it's always been there and I have to consciously remind myself that it was just a year ago that I was 120 lbs heavier. I look back at pictures from before and wonder who that was. It seems like a different person. Even my friends comment that they're so used to me now, they don't even recognize me in older pictures and it seems like a different person to them, too!
In February, I met the love of my life and we have a beautiful relationship. He's wonderful and sooo understanding. I've always been a fairly low maintainance/easygoing kinda girl, but when it comes to food, I have to be higher maintainance because I have special needs. I HAVE to eat 3 meals a day, my body does not tolerate skipping a meal. Since I get so few calories (generally) in a meal, by cutting a meal out, I way short myself on my nutritional needs. I also have to eat high protein, low fat and low sugar foods. For the most part, it's second nature. It gets difficult when youre out of our habitat/routine, such as the cruise/vacation thing, but at home, it's no problem. I feel SOOOO much better, I have tons of energy, no health problems. I am hardly ever sick and when I do start feeling sick, it's very light and goes away quickly. Before, Id get sick and get really, really sick. My asthma is virtually gone!! I feel comfortable and even (dare I say) almost sexy in a bathing suit. I enjoy shopping and can get great clothes anywhere I want in any store I want. I don't have to go to a "special" store anymore. Lane Bryant is waaay too big for me. I feel like an outsider there when I go in with my mom. I can get cute clothes on the clearance rack and easily find my size 6 clothes. I like the way I look when I get dressed. I get hit on and asked out by guys (don't tell the boyfriend, lol), which of course I turn down because I am happy in my relationship.
All in all, this last year has been amazing. I've accomplished every single goal I set out for myself in the beginning of my story (see above) and even more!! I moved back home to Southern California and am so happy to be back amongst my family/friends. The new school year/job is starting in a few weeks and I'm excited to get back into a routine!
For anyone who is considering this surgery, I can only comment about my experience but for me..... it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life. It was the best thing I could have ever done for my health and body. It has completely changed my life. On the cruise ship, I stood on the deck and looked out on the ocean. Before, I always pondered about things I wasn't happy with in my life (weight, relationships, love, work, etc). This time I honestly did not have anything negative to ponder on. All I could think was how happy I was and continously thank God for the miracles He has worked in my life this past year! What a ride!!! :)
