mom4ruby
OK, here's my story... my name is Amy. I'm a 35 year old, single adoptive mother from Massachusetts.
My little girl, Ruby, turns 4 in September & was born in Jiangxi, China. I am reminded every day just how blessed I am when she
smiles at me & calls me "Momma...". I traveled to China in November of 05' & it was the trip of a lifetime.
I have always been overweight, although my mother would beg to differ with me on that point... "Amy, as a child you were NOT fat! You were just fine!" Says the mother to her baby. Mom, I love you, but no way in hell that fatty'licious little girl JUST BUSTING OUT OF HER BATHING SUIT is NOT fat. Trust me mom, she IS! Ah, the love
Anyways, when I graduated High School in 1990, I weighed 143. EVEN THEN, even though 143 to me, IS NOT FAT, I was made fun of for being the 'fat girl'. Isn't that fun? So now, years later, tired of being overweight & carrying around, what some days felt like a football team on my back, it's time to do something for me.
Started this journey in October of 07'. Lahey Burlington is a wonderful hospital, perhaps because it's one of very FEW Center's of EXCELLENCE out there! I've attended the support group classes, the group therapy sessions once a week for the entire month of March, lost nearly all the weight they asked me to prior to surgery. (25lbs total, down 19lbs, only 6 more to go!)
Tentative surgery date was initially May 28th, and after doing everything my hospital required of me (losing 20 lbs etc...) I met with the surgeon who politely informed me I was an 'APPLE' & to lose another 20 lbs and he'd see me in June, not May.
Was like someone punched me in the gut, however, I have now lost 15 of the additional 20 and am scheduled for surgery June 30th, 2008. I will most likely lose MORE than the 40 requested of me prior to surgery, which is fine. It's just nice to have a light at the end of the tunnel. OH and I finally heard from my insurance company & they've approved the whole procedure, 100%.
Not too shabby, huh?
At my highest weight, I was 330lbs. That should NOT be someone's weight, it should be your locker # at the gym! I was so angry with myself that I let myself get so heavy. I can't keep blaming it on the fact that I'm Italian, and not only love to eat, but can cook in a way that makes my Nonna proud! (it's dangerous!)
To all of you who have been down this path & have been brave enough to post your amazing "before & after" photos... I am proud to be among you, even if I'm still just at the 'before' stage.
All my best to everyone!
-Amy
*UPDATE* Happy 4Th Of July Everybody!
So, a lot has happened since I first posted my 'story' here... I've lost a total of 70 lbs prior to surgery (which was this past Monday the 30th of June) and since arriving home from surgery have lost an additional 5lbs more. It's INSANE to think that this time next year I will be among those gorgeous 'before & after' photos that you all have so graciously shared here in this forum.
Today started out a bit sad as, my family is busy preparing for a huge 4TH celebration with all the BBQ trimmings, none of which I an partake of, so needless to say there was much moping around the house & feeling sorry for myself stuff.
It's not 2:33pm and honestly, I'm ok. I just want to relax & feel better & worry about the food part of it all later, right now is a time for healing & perhaps curling up with a good book. Also, let's not forget the FANTASTICAL 4TH OF JULY "POPS GOES THE 4TH' live from Boston's Hatchshell lateHatch shellevening. Always a good time! (can't ever figure out those crazy people who go LIVE to this thing, it's INSANE & I'd honestly rather watch it from my comfortable airconditioned houair conditionedu very much. LOL
Anyway... first two post op appointments are next week, one Monday and the next on Thursday... we'll see what they have to say of my first week home. Until then, HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY EVERYONE!
-Amy
Hey Everyone!!! Nearly 1 month post OP and I feel FANTASTIC!
I sip water constantly, but was doing that before the surgery as well only, BEFORE surgery, there were times I was so thirsty, I'd GULP. Not anymore. Not ever.
Things I CAN eat: (and by 'can' I mean a bite or two...)
Eggs
Tomato
Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Smart Food Popcorn!!!!!!! <----------makes me SO HAPPY I could CRY!
Yogurt
Sugar Free Fat Free Chocolate Pudding
Turkey Chili (homemade by me, if anyone is interested I'll post the recipe later!)
Shredded Deli chicken and/or turkey
Any/All fruit SO LONG AS THE SKIN IS REMOVED!
Lean Cuisine Meals (only ones with turkey & chicken)
Pear Juice (drank every morning & night as a natural way to be sure I am always regular, I drink it when taking my supplements. Trust me, IT WORKS! Never ONCE needed a stool softener!) hehehe
PIZZA! Had ONE small piece, it has onions, peppers, and mushrooms on it & I ate the whole thing, CRUST & ALL and was FINE!
There are other things but so far, that's what I'm kinda happy with & living off of.
Now, more importantly, here are the things I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT TOLERATE, PERIOD:
Butter
Sugar
Sweets (ie: cakes, cookies, candies, muffins, etc...)
Heavy Carbs (ONLY bread, whereas the pizza, was fine since I ate the other things off it FIRST before touching the crust...)
Honestly, I had a homemade blueberry muffin the other day... (Ruby made them with my Aunt) and my daughter INSISTED that "Momma you twy one! Pwease?!" Against my better judgement I ate one, the whole thing, and was in the fetal position on the couch for the better part of the afternoon & Ruby had to end up going downstairs to visit her grandparents because I literally felt like I was going to die.
THAT is MY dumping.
I don't vomit, I don't get diarrhea, I just get this AWFUL NAUSEOUS feeling & need to curl up in a ball & pray for it to go away, or to die, whichever comes first. But TRUST ME WHEN I SAY, I think I'd MUCH PREFER VOMITING OR HERSHEY SQUIRTS OVER THIS DEATH BALL that I become. It's NOT FUN so I NO LONGER CRAVE, EVER, those things that I KNOW will make me feel like that. It's JUST SO ODD! I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE CAKE!
Not anymore. Maybe a little lick of frosting come Ruby's birthday this September, but NO CAKE! Just not worth it.
So, there's that... any one have any questions? Lay em on me, I'm an open book...
*hugs*
-Amy
PS. Don't forget to check out my 'BEFORE (green shirt) and AFTER (black shirt) pics on the left. Now, granted it's only a MONTH BEFORE surgery & a MONTH AFTER surgery, but still, WHAT AN AMAZING DIFFERENCE! Who KNEW that door even HAD A DOORKNOB?@$#$ hehehehe
