reneeleigh

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Ok so today is my 3 month surgi-versary!  I can't believe it's been 3 months already.  This last month has been super busy that I didn't do so well.  I weighed myself this morning for the first time in a long while and I am about 264. 2-6-4!!!  That is so eff-ing nutso!

I can't even remember the last time I weighed 264 lbs.  Actually that is lie, I used to work with a guy that was 6'5" and he weighed about 270 and I remember thinking to myself then - geez this guy is almost a foot taller than me and I weigh the same as him.  That was 8 years ago!

This last month I have launched the start of a new business, moved out to my own place again I feel so liberated!  It's amazing that I feel so good and I'm finally moving forward with my life.  It has been like I was stuck in limbo for so long while everyone was taking these steps forward and I was stagnant. 

I know I haven't been doing well with my food/supplements/exercise and now that I'm living on my own and I can maintain a better schedule I think I can finally get this under control.  Plus I have a gym in my condo's so that will be nice, just pop downstairs for a workout or walk to the gym down the street.  I'm also by work now so I can walk to work.

I'm doing this 101 Things in 1001 Days.  It's like a bucket list of stuff to complete over the next 2.75 years.  I started a blog for it there to keep track of both my weight loss and the items I cross off.  So that should be fun.  My new business selling jewelry is going to be amazing and so much fun.  I hope to build it big enough to do it full time someday soon. 

I feel so totally amazing like anything is possible now!

Total Lost since my highest weight = 72 lbs
Weight = 264 lbs
HW 336 \ SW 315 \ CW 264 \ GW 150

Ok so I'm still losing weight which is good b/c that was the whole point of having surgery.  I'm the lowest I've been in 7 years.  However, I still have a hard time getting in enough food, water, supplements.  I don't know why this is so hard for me.  It's frustrating.

I can pretty much eat every meat - so I'm thankful for those type of things.  I still have not "dumped" or thrown up from eating so that is an accomplishment in itself.  But I know I will not survive this unless I get on some sort of schedule.

I need suggestions that work and are easy to follow, being extremely busy and running around everywhere I need to be prepared.

I wonder if anyone else experiences this?  Is it just me?  I am never hungry, I forget to eat constantly.  I feel like it's been forever since I've seen my nutritionist.  I need to see her soon.  She always puts me back on track.

Does anyone else get cold when they lose weight.  I'm always freezing now.  Maybe it's all the blubber I've lost!

I feel great most of the time but I can definitely experience a sluggish day.  Might be the lack of iron I know I'm supposed to take it.  But they all taste so horrible.  I need an alternative quick!

Weight = 275 lbs

It's been a little over a month after my surgery on June 30th.  At my biggest I was 336 and I weighed in yesterday at 287.  That is almost 50 lbs!!!  How crazy is that!?

So since surgery I've lost 28 lbs.  which in a month's work isn't bad either.  It's unbelievable actually.

The month was really hard.  I'm not going to lie.  Protein drinks and shakes are disgusting.  I'm so glad I didn't have to consume that stuff Pre-Op.  I feel for those of you that have/had to.

I couldn't get them down after the first 3 days.  I went to pureed food before most people and even then it was hard.  I'm not a mushy/soft food eater.  I'm a texture freak when it comes to food and those have never sat well with me.  I wanted to yammy all over the place everytime I ate them.

I was on ground meats by week 4.  I got these meatballs from Trader Joe's, but those got old too.

At my 4 week NUT appointment I told her I couldn't handle it anymore and I was going to real food.  I was craving a salad in the worst way!

She said since I hadn't experienced any problems I should be fine but still stay away from any bread/grains and red meat.  Done and done!

It was the best feeling ever to eat lunch meats and cheese and chicken and salad.  I love it.  I know some people with frown upon that, but I have had no trouble, no nausea, no vomiting - nothing.

The only thing that I did once was eat too fast and get stuck and I had to wait for the pain to go away.  That was intense, but I learned my lesson.

I still struggle with getting all my liquids in now.  You have to time it just right or it gets difficult.  The supplements are hard too.  I'm not sure why, I just forget b/c I'm not used to it yet.  Also getting all my protein in is hard.  I'm never hungry so I forget to eat.  But I'm getting better at that.  Baby steps.

I am going to start posting progress pics soon.  I took one the night before surgery along with my measurements.  I've lost 36 inches in a month, go figure.  I don't feel it everywhere, but I can see it in my face the most.

I had my first outing at a casino with booze and bad food coming at me from every angle and I totally passed with flying colors.  Not taking a sip of beer was hard for me, but I made it.  Next test will be the Seahawks opener next weekend.  Oh boy!

Weight = 287 lbs

Ok, so I had my surgery it was a really good experience for the most part.  Here's what happened.  I went to check-in and got in my gown and then came the nurse with the needles and the IV.  It took 4 different nurses and not one of them could find a vein to place the IV into!!  So about 7-8 painful pokes they gave up and left it up to the Anethstesiologist (sp?) to give it a go, we'll just call him gas guy from now on.  I hadn't cried or been scared up to this point yet so after all that was done I was freaking out b/c I thought it was a sign of things to come.

I got wheeled downstairs to what seemed like a cold basement where the surgical floor is.  The gas guy came and was totally funny and really put my mind at ease.  He was like I will not let you die.  So that made me feel really good.  Then he gave my arm a go and couldn't get one in either and he knew it was painful so he was going to knock me out before they tried again. 

I went into surgery and got up on the table - it was pretty comfortable, all pillowy and pillows for my arms it was nice.  I got the bubblegum flavored nitros oxide like a little kid gets so they could get the IV in me.  I passed out quick and woke up at 8 pm in my hospital room with my parents.  I told them I was tired and went to sleep. 

Then every hour they came to check my vitals and the first nurse was like where is your IV - it wasn't in either of my arms, it was in my foot.  Then from there until I left every nurse was like "wow I've never seen that before - they usually only do that for junkies"  So that made me feel good, I had to assure them all I was not and my veins are just stubborn.

I didn't have a lot of pain, just soreness and I was up and walking around within a day or so, and off the pain meds within a week.

My only problem is the food.  I hate all of the protein powder and fluid option, just thinking about them right now makes me ill!

My NUT thank god said I could move to mechanical mushy foods a week ago so that has helped b/c I probably would have died of starvation.

I've lost a total of 20 lbs since surgery 3 weeks ago, that's amazing!  I'm also down 1 pant size.  I couldn't be happier at this moment.  I just need to focus on my supplements and protein.

weight = 295 lbs

OMG so my surgery is one week from today!!!  Unbelievable.

If you would have told me this time last year I would be doing this I would have said "Yah right"  But I think it is probably the best decision I have made in my life so far.

I can't wait to have it done, I'm excited to start living for myself and putting my health before anything else.  I'm sure come next week I'll be flippin out again, but in a good way.  I have to make sure to ask for the drugs to soothe my soul.

I've lost 11 lbs since I started, hopefully I can shed a few more before surgery and that my liver is shrunk to where they can see my stomach.

I'm going to send out a letter to everyone I know telling them how much they all mean to me and I'll see them on the other side.  I hope they don't find that morbid.  

-Renee
319 lbs

So I've been restricted to 1200 calories a day, 40 grams of carbs and absolutely no sugar.

I am thankful I didn't have to start the all liquid diet yet, the Nutritionist's logic was I will be getting enough of that after surgery.

So far I've lost about 8 lbs. so that's cool.  My mom is doing it with me and she's lost about 4 lbs.  

Maybe if I exercise a bit I can get to around 300 before surgery.  Anywhoo, things are going good except for my minor freak out the other day.

I really need to stop reading all the bad stuff out there and focus on me and my health.  It's drving me crazy thinking about what could and couldn't happen.

I am comfortable with my decision and I can't wait to get started.

06/13/08

Ok so check it - last night was my friend's bday.  I also deemed it to be my last night before my pre-op diet started.  Yikes Stripes.

I have to give up drinking for a long time, maybe even forever, who knows?!   I'm not going to pretend I don't drink, because I do, not often, but when the occasion permits.  So I got my last night of drinking in and it was a great birthday and we had a blast!

But I have to say I'm a little sad that I probably will never be able to drink again.  But the rewards for this surgery far outnumber the reasons not to have it.  So here it goes, pre-op here I come!

Surgery bumped to June 30th so I will be eating nothing but protein and veggies for the next 2 weeks.  I have punished my liver enough with the alcohol and now it's time to shrink the bastard!

Later skaters
weight = 329.6

06/04/08

I am 28 years old and I am having Gastric Bypass on June 26, 2008.  I was always the one who would say I would never and could never do something so drastic.  Well never says never right?  I was inspired and motivated by the success of a friend and I am forever grateful to share the experience with her.

I'm filled with so many emotions as I start my journey to becoming a healthier person.  I was overcome with nervousness today when I found out the date of my surgery - however the more it sinks in the more excited I get!

I feel like I'm starting a new chapter in my life.  One that is all about me and my goals.  I think it's finally time I stand up and be a little selfish.  For me this is not a vanity surgery.  I am lucky to not have developed any co-morbidity diseases/symptoms yet, but I know it could happen at any second.  I've been overweight since I was 8 years old.  It's been a constant struggle and I know I don't have tell you that it's not for lack of trying.  I've been on every diet, pill, life change there is and nothing stuck for me.  It's disheartening and frustrating place to be and I hope to inspire others in my family to have it done.

I guess I never considered myself an "emotional eater" or that I was addicted to sugar.  I'm slowly trying to figure stuff out and get a handle on what it is that makes me do the things I do.  And I can finally say that I'm ready to take that first step.

I know it will be hard at times, but I have to remember that This too shall pass...