mtelliston
Mid June 2002
I am 2 and a half months post op now. I have resigned myself to being a slow loser. But a loser I am!! Up to a 38 lb loss now. ANd I figured out a BMI of 39. I feel good but do tire easily yet. I can eat almost anything just smaller amounts. And as time is going on....I become even more happy with myself that I took this step. I really look forward to where I will be in a year. My main exercise now is walking. And am gonna try swimming again soon. I have missed it! Was so happy today, I tried on some clothes that haven't fit in a long time....and they fit!! Yippee! I am a size 18 now :)
Mid October 2002
I had my 6 mo post op check up last week. I officially weigh in at 177.9 lbs. That takes me to a 72# loss in just 6 months. I am very pleased!! I wear a size 12 to 14 pants and skirts. I wear a size large in shirts and sweaters. I would like to share with you some milestones that have made me smile. I found my little wrist bone sticking out last month! I also noticed that I now weigh less that my drivers license wt that I have been lying about for years! LOL I have not been at this wt in over 20 years. I get to shop in normal size stores now. Just tonight I went shopping with my oldest teen (very thin) daughter and we both bought ourselves an outfit from a junior teen store. Yippee that was fun! I am finally losing the fear that this surgery won't work for me. I still lose about 1 to 2 lbs a week overall. And I am finally realizing that this is working! I really do think I will make it to goal. I eat whatever I want......emphasizing protien first and not drinking at meals. This really does work! My surgeon said that I am already a success because I have already lost over 50% of my excess wt. But I know I have at least 50 more # until I will feel done. But I am very happy with my progress. I am so glad that I had this surgery. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. :)
Mid November 2002
Talk about a life changing surgery....geesh! At my last appt with my surgeon I mentioned to him that he needed a patient care coordinator. (His practice with bariatric surgery is new). He told me to get him a resume and to make a long story short. I am his new bariatric patient coordinator. It is only part time to start but I am so excited! I have so many ideas and so many of them are from you guys. My only fear is that while I believe in this doctor and in his ability....now I am an "employee"....my opinion will not sound so unbiased. But if any prospective patients are reading this....I am totally open and honest on this profile and will continue to be. I never would have thought this journey would lead to a career change. All of me is changing (grin). Oh well had to share the news with you. Please, please email me with any ideas and suggestions for coordinators. What would you like to see your doctors do to help support this major lifesyle change? Another thing I would like to add is...I am losing my obsession with the scale. I know I am losing and not so much concerned with the rate of loss. It seems no longer so important if I lose that pound this week or next or next. I am losing them. My whole life is changing ...this surgery is working. I now feel confident that I will reach goal. ANd.....I have started my "zumba" exercise tapes. They are a blast and I actually like exercising to them. Ha...who would have thought I would like to exercise?? LOL
Mid July 2003
I am finally updating this!! I wanted to reach the century mark and document it here. Well this morning I did!! I weigh 149 now. It took me longer than I thought but hey...I made it. Weight loss is very slow now...maybe 1 to 2 lbs a month. I am reconsidering my wt loss goal. Oh by the way I am presently 15 months post op. Now for the goal...I am thinking another 9 to 10 lbs and will consider myself done. Well that is until I start the plastic surgery journey. LOL. I am in definate need of a tummy tuck and maybe just an everything tuck!! Just have to work on the financing end of this. I am feeling very saggy. But am I happy I did this...oh yeah. I am very happy, happy, happy. :)
January 2006
(3 years and 9 months post op) Sorry haven't posted in so long. How am I doing you say? Well, like they say everywhere, it's a tool. I can gain weight easily now. sigh. But I lose or maintain when I do what I am supposed to. It's a head game now. I want to slide into old patterns. I still want food to be my crutch. It's an every day journey. But still so much better than before. I still get full on a smaller amount of food, otherwise I almost forget I had surgery. When I start my meal with protein first I get full very fast. I am currently within 10 pounds of my landing weight. It seems to depend on if I am eating carbs or not and If I am exercising. I have come to accept that this struggle with weight is a lifetime one. But I am healthy, I wear a size 10 to 12. I could really use a tummy tuck and am slowly working towards that. The "fun" experience I had over New Years was my first experience with a kidney stone. That is one I hope to never repeat. I have taken another look at my supplements and water intake. I am recommited to drinking more water and changing my calcium source from viactive calcium chews to a citrate source. I get another x ray of my kidneys in 6 months so hopefully that will show no more stones. Well enough for now. Take care everyone.
