ndspelman

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So I finally get to make a brief post! Hello Fam. I'm almost 2 years post op on 11/17/2010. So much has happened as you can see. I started this journey at 366 lbs. I lost some weight. Got down to 217....then got pregnant. My highest weight pregnant was 235. So i guess i gained around 18 lbs. I had my precious angel on 7/23/2010! The first week I came home from the hospital i was 205lbs! Which i think is crazy. I bounced  back, and continued to breastfeed. This am I was 209. I am still hoping to lose another 30lbs to maybe get to 180 lbs, but lets keep it real....keep it real gangsta for a moment: MY DAMN HEAD IS BIG.. and my once fat face has a few wrinkles. I personally liked my face at 250lbs... that was perfect. But you cant control where you lose the weight. So i dont know if i will lost the extra 30, but at least another 10 would be great. I wear a 14 or 16 in old navy depends on the cut. about a Medium to Large or even XL on some days shirt (my pamela anderson breastfeeding boobs are crazy at times). Im pretty much happy with my size right now. If i dont lose another pound, I will continue to rejoice. But i never want to be beyond my personal maximum of 217. Thats it for me! AS you can see im a mommy and thats my focus. I still hate buffets b/c i always end up throwing up my food. A glass of wine keeps me good at night. Gotta be moderate. I finally go back to work friday so it will be interesting to see how working, mommyhood, and maintaining a healthy weight play out. My personal life could be better and it appears that the weightloss thing does involve many changes in your life and the people around you. I really dont know why-maybe i found something within myself hiding in the weight; maybe they cant handle the transformation. Whatever the case, i keep my head up-thank GOD, and let my haters be my motivators! I live for my child now. I want to be around for her grandchildren if i can help it and with God's help. Well I'm tired its 1239am. I miss you guys and hope to make and have more time for you. Keep strong on your journey's its never ending....

1 week ago I was induced. I had a 6lb 15oz baby girl! She is ABSOLUTELY the LOVE OF MY LIFE! 12 HOURS OF LABOR. 5 minutes of pushing. Here we are. She is perfect. I gained about 17lbs total during my pregnancy. Today, I'm at pre-pregnancy weight of 218. So the battle continues again. My goal weight is 180. I was on the road until I got pregnant. I'm ready. Im already back into my regular clothes and I feel good. I can eat a little bit more than right after surgery of course, but still have restriction. And If its too sweet, I will still dump. I still watch what I eat for the most part and am just trying to adjust to life with baby. I'm off of work until November, but I cannot wait to get back into the gym! I'd be there right now if my "lowers" didnt feel like...idk...i just pushed out a 7lb bag of sugar! I am still considering writing a book about pregnancy and Gastric Bypass...titled..."What the Hell???" its a work in progress....Well duty calls, gotta feed the munchkin...ttyl!

iM SLEEPY SO IM GOING TO MAKE THIS QUICK (HE-HE). Hi Yall!!! I made it!! I'm still alive, still well, still blessed, still fine as hell....oh, and still pregnant,lmao! This has been a long 36 weeks 5 days (minus the 8 weeks i didnt know i was pregnant)...today I am 227 lbs. When I conceived i was 217. My highest weight this pregnancy was 235, but as the saying goes..."A good surgeon is a Great Surgeon." I basically had to strap a pan of lasagna and big macs to a candy necklace 24 hours a day just to maintain this weight. Other than that, MY baby Girl is fine and doing great. My labs are great. I try not to eat right b/c eating right was making me lose weight...so you can catch me at burger king, mcdonalds, wendy's, or somewhere hidden in the corner down the snack aisle at Walmart. NO seriously!!! I mean its not that bad, but I only watch what i eat when it comes to restriction and dumping at this time. This last trimester, I have been back on extreme restriction feeling. I eat a few bites, I throw it up. This kid is kicking me in my pouch, my ribs, and my lungs. Can't eat much, but i do eat often. I'd be lying if I told you I didnt miss my nightly glass of white zinfandel though....I cant wait!!! Well, I would like to say that i have had THE PERFECT PREGNANCY if that exists and I firmly believe its all due to my wls. Without it, I probably wouldve never gotten pregnant. Probably would have diabetes or gestational diabetes. NOne of that. Nothing. GOD IS GOOD!!! And couple the surgery with the fact that I was working out 4 days a week, running, etc. up until the 23rd hour when I found out i was pregnant, I'm GOOD. Recently I have been getting out of breath just standing still, but I'm pretty sure that's my child's foot in my left lung. Well...dont mean to talk your ear off. Email me if you have any questions @ [email protected]. sometimes I forget about my OH page..but I have never forgotten my friends, buddies, struggle, bond, and journey that we are all on. I still credit this as #2 in my life to my Pregnancy! HOpe to hear from you guys soon!....Oh, and I'll be in Miami 8/27/2010 for a follow up appointment with my surgeon, so lets get together and do lunch....now mind you, I'll have a 4 week old child so i can't stay for long...but lets hookup!! email me!

Ok, Let me give a disclaimer first: If this describes you-I apologize. I am not trying to offend, but it is a discussion and question that we seem to skirt around so often on the website and I just really truly want everyone's opinion WITHOUT this being a bashing ceremony. This site was designed to assist, uplift, and inform--not to BASH. With that said....think before you respond and DONT take it personally.

Question: do you think as post op WLS patients, we have the education gained from our surgical program and we know the consequences, so why is it so hard to follow any of the instructions they give us? We made this decision to have the surgery and be successful right? So why is it so hard to not get pregnant before the 12-18 months they ask us to wait? I mean are these all "one time accidents?" Or do we just not care enough about our bodies, health, and the health of our unborn child to at least give it the best pregnancy we can give it? Who else to provide a healthy body by sacrificing all than WLS patients? We took a huge step, a brave step in taking charge of our health and to change our lives for the better. So why can't we wait???

I appreciate your HONEST answers and feelings on this matter.

Ok, I know I have not been around for quite some time. Almost 3 months to be exact. Well lets cut to it. Statistically speaking, I got down to my lowest weight of 217. But for some reason I couldnt understand why I wasnt losing anymore weight. Well honestly, I knew why. I hadnt been to the gym since October and although I could barely eat, I could barely stand and stay a awake either. So I dialed my favorite surgeon's office, and spoke to Jessica who scheduled me for an appt on 12/18/2009. I thought I was having a wonderful side effect free post op situation, until about the end of November. Then I panicked. I thought I had a bowel obstruction or any of the other horrible things you read about people getting post op. I went on about my life, continued to work and waited on my impending appts to be held in 3 weeks. Then again, I forgot that I had just bought a house and had recently went through the most stressful, dramatic, emotional rollercoaster of my ENTIRE LIFE. Let me tell you the pressure Obama had me under thinking I had to close by 11/1/2009 in order to get my $8K TAX CREDIT.  Then the government, true to form, extended the date to now what seems like 2012. BUt I digress....So im tired. My house is huge. HOnestly, what was I damn thinking. I get home from work and go upstairs to my bedroom, and I cannot leave. So much so, my husband relocated my mini fridge and microwave to the laundry room so I wouldnt have to starve myself. I literally refused to go downstairs after I got home from work. I would rather nibble on my puppies toes than take that trek down them damn stairs and back up again.

I spent my evenings drinking glasses of White zinfandel, trying to be social and hang out with friends, and continue to be the Hott Girl that God intended to be. But I could not eat more than a spoonful of food in a sitting. That was my meals. Panicking. WTH is going on. The final straw is being starvational, at work, people pissing me off I'd had it. I had a major meltdown/tantrum at work that took me to the breakroom staring at the vending machine about to do the unthinkable. Then it hit me! Fridays fried string beans.....mmmmmm....and a strawberry Daiquiri. I called my closest Gay friends and we went out 12/6/2009. After my 94th daiguiri and the feelings of dumping coming along, I made my trek into my house, climbed Mount Everest to my bedroom to crash. Well Low and behold, that other pregnancy test. The one that was on the floor in the bathroom for the past month from when I took the first negative. IN my drunken stupor, I did what any other well respected, drunk hot momma would do---I peed on it. Still debating that decision right now....It was positive. Can I tell you I'm as pregnant as a naked bunny in heat!

I feel like a hostage in my own body. I dont know what I'm supposed to feel like. Im not sure if Gastric Bypass makes it feel different. But I cannot eat. I feel like I had surgery last night--That kind of restriction. Now is not the time to "not be able to eat." right? INitially I lost 3 lbs. Then I stabalized around 218 for a few weeks. Now I'm 221lbs and 13.5 weeks preggers! I feel like I'm in Iraq right now. There is constantly some strange person that doesnt speak a word of english (i'm sure b/c ive been begging her to stop torturing me for weeks now, and she won't listen) telling me when to pee, when to sleep, when to eat, what to eat, what I can and cannot wear, how I can wear my hair, hell--even what shoes I can wear to work! Man Down I say!

Im going to write a book, something about the Post Op pregnancy. B/c there are none. I looked. and Looked again. This is all the shit they dont tell you in your Nutritionist meetings. At your pre-op educational courses. That your momma just looks at you like a brand new sports car with a huge engine--looks nice to drive, would love to have it, but dont know a damn thing to do with it. that's me. You think you knew about pregnancy, wait until you have had Gastric Bypass.......this should be interesting. I'll keep you posted. right now the prison guard is telling me I have to go to sleep before the Narcolepsy sets in and I fall asleep at the computer like i did last night......10-13!

My kidnapper 4 weeks ago......

This time last year, I was sitting in a hotel room with my husband taking laxatives and suffering b/c I had just got a wisdom tooth pulled the day before and due to impending surgery-could not take any painkillers, ie. blood thinners before surgery...I was anticipating my life. Wondering how I would feel when I woke up. Wondering if I would wake up skinny. Freezing b/c I was so nervous. Couldn't sleep. Eating onion soup b/c I was starving (not supposed to eat anything) but thats all the hotel room service had close to clear liquid. Wow. This time last year. This time last year, I was 351lbs. Having lost 15lbs on my 3 week liquid diet. I felt so scared. So good. And so Thankful to the Lord. At this exact time last year.

This time last year I was happy. Ok with life. Very uncomfortable though, but got used to it after having been that way for about 10 years. Morbidly Obese. Couldn't fly. Couldn't sit in a restaurant. Couldn't paint my toes. Couldn't sit indian style. Couldn't walk 5 feet without being out of breath. Didnt want to walk my dog. hated getting up in the morning for the pain in my knees. Borderline diabetic. Always being told how pretty I was for a "big girl."

Wow.....this time last year......

Thank you guys so much for your support, kind words, comments and questions












 

OK, REALLY quick: i know i havent been around in a while and i will be posting pics soon, but this was on my mind: I just bought the craziest, sexiest, coolest open toed, boot thingies from nine west. zippers, chains and things, FLYY!! OK. So do you remember reading about people and hearing their post op stories about how their feet went from a size 9 to a 7 or something crazy like that, well look here: MY FEET WERE A SIZE 12. 145 LBS LATER----MY FEET ARE STILL A DAMN SIZE 12. aND ITS ok, these are the feet my 6'4" father and my 5'6" mother got together and made. And they aint getting no smaller. Tragically enough, my ankles did,lol. So.....Shoes are even harder to find now that my ankles are twigs, lol, and my feet aint. I still fit a size 12 like a dream, but, for example that one pair of black patent leather shoes im wearing in one of those pics, i got 4 of those heel slips in the back of them and they still too big. OH well, you canT win them all!

--my nine west booties are gorgeous, but i will not be wearing them with skirts, capris, etc, only pants! its a sad situation around the ankleage area,lol.

--another lie: IM HUNGRY! ALL THE DAMN TIME. But knowing i had surgery, keeps me calm---most of the time. and I do still eat a tostito or 4 some of the time. ONe day a week though, i do a complete liquid diet to give myself another boost. I will be upping that to 2 days a week soon....

--final lie: everybody's butt doesnt shrink and everybody's boobs dont stay! I still have a ghetto bootie. and my poor boobs have deflated beyond recognition, although im excited about giving Victoria Secretions a run for her money, I dont like whats left of my once 46 DD's of perfection to a 36 C of exile. OK. Will have those lifted and pushed back together after childbirth---whenever the hell that is. But Vicky's pushup bra is a gift from the Baby Jesus himself!

ok ttyl. thats my final rant for tonight.

---oh wait, no one more: ITS FREEZING!!! WHERE DID ALL MY INSULATION GO?????OMG, FROST BITE BETTY IS MY NEW NAME......OK.

HOLLABACK!

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

KEYWORD: NDSPELMAN. iT SUMS IT UP FOR ME THIS WEEK/MONTH/LOL. THANKS.

Ok, AS YOU may have noticed (or not) its been a minute since I posted anything. Somehow the spirit of complacency had come along and told me that I was finer than I knew I was, and that it was time for me to break out of my shell and hit the streets! With that said, I have been the local "it" girl bouncing all over town, spending money, shopping, clubbing, drinking, etc. Doing all the things that are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. However, the saying goes, anything in moderation can be tolerated right? I guess. So I just logged in to see that 15 days ago, i was 246lbs. 2 weeks later im 242/243. Meaning I have only lost 4lbs in 2 weeks. NOt Cool. Not at all. Im not one of those "oh ive reached a stall" kinda girls. I really dont believe in stalls. I believe that during that "stalled" out time, we did something, we ate something, or we neglected to do something that has stopped our weight loss. It is at that point that change does not occur, until we get off our "think we skinny" asses, and get back on the wagon, bench, cloud, whatever you wanna call it. So with that said, I get so excited for the weekends, and I rarely tell anyone NO, so i been out and about drinking, partying, and trying to stay afloat, only to find that by monday, I have to start all over at the gym b/c the past 4 days that I had been there sweating, lifting, running for dear life--have been nullified by my inability to have fun without drinking and eating bullcrap.

Starting Today, July 19, 2009, i AM utilizing my tool that God made the way, and Blue Cross paid the day, and I'm going to start over. I told you guys before I wasnt one for lofty goals. My next mini goal is not so much as a goal, but an affirmation. I will be under 200lbs by January 1. I have roughtly 43lbs to go to get there. I am not drinking alcohol--POINTLESS CARBS. I will be ok to say NO and not always give in as I know my weekness is fun!

Its so easy to slip up. Its been 8 months, and I have slipped up. All damn ready. Although I dont feel like a failure (its way to soon for that nonsense), I  do feel like these habits could've easily been ignored and I could creep my way back to 366lbs. I dont want to be there AT ALL. It just felt so good to be able to shop, eat, play, drink, and "fit" EVERYWHERE. I got comfortable. I dont think I want to be comfortable at 243 lbs size 18 jeans, large shirt, 14 dress. My comfortable is somewhere else, and until I find it. I have to stop the bad habits while im still young enough to see them....and I need your help and support to keep me focused Man!

Hollaback!

So i dont remember if I posted on here i wanted to be 250 by my birthday. Well My birthday is saturday, 2 days from today and I am 249.8lbs this morning. I had been at a wls slump and my weight loss had slowed down a bit, but recently it kinda speeded back up. I think ive lost 5lbs this week. Now I dont remember if it was b/c I was eating some bs and finally got it right or just my body getting adjusted again. In either case, I'm happy. I think. So since consult 9/18, ive lost 117lbs. Since surger 11/19, ive lost 102lbs. Ive got 70 more lbs till goal! Now thats the dillemma, but I wont attack it until November. As you all have read, we dont have children and we are not spring chickens, more like fall crows....so with that said, we gotta get cracking. Anyone have post op babies? How long did you wait? How was your pregnancy? I know and understand that just like wls, everyone is different, but I enjoy hearing the encouragement and stories. Im not sure if I want to wait another year Or if i just want to start after my 1 year anniversary? I thought I would want to enjoy my new body for awhile, and dont get me wrong, i still do. But did i mention that part about not being 17 anymore? yea, it gets old,lol. And I'm married. How well can I get to know my inner ho???

so thats it, i was a size 28, 30 on some days, size 46DD bra, Keeping Lane Bryant, Avenue, and Ashley stewart in business! Now Im an 18 tall jean (old navy,lol) size L tank/shirts. 38 C. I can shop at pretty much any store worth shopping. And on the regular i give the GAP and of course Old Navy a run for their money. I also like Ann Taylor Loft, but I got depressed shopping there, then  a month or so later having to give it away...So i'll give that a moment. I still work out like a fiend. I'm happier. I still dont have friends worth a shit. I have about 3 very good girlfriends, and only 1 lives here locally, so thats a bummer. But I guess the lack of social life leaves more time for the gym. Its so hard to make friends on the playground at 27.9 years old. Well my bday is Saturday 6/20. I told myself a heinekin is in order! Meet me at the Sandy Parrot at 830pm! TTYL

HOllaback.