RetroChic86

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Wow!  Time has flown.  And I a very guilty of not updating. So I'm not sure if any of the people who I kept in contact with are even on the site anymore. But if you are, then hey!!!!

My last entry was November 2010.  Since then, a lot has happened. A LOT.  I found t in January 2011 that I was pregnant.  It was a huge surprise!  Especially being that I was told I couldn't have kids.   But it turns out, birth control pills do not have any effect when you have a tiny stomach that doesn't absorb anything!  I gave birth to my amazing daughter, Charlotte Adventure in August of 2011.

Now with pregnancy, there came some major fluctuations.  I think my lowest before pregnancy was 210,  during pregnancy I got up to 250, and after I got back down to 230.  Pretty good. But now I'm having a problem, and I fear that it has been too long to reach out to my surgeon and ask for his help.  So I'm hoping I can do it on my own again.

My weight has risen, and is fluctuating something fierce.  I range from 275-295 I. The past two months, the funny thing is that because my pain management doctors have me on better meds, and a better treatment plan, I exercise MORE!  I'm still watchful with what I eat, not as watchful as I should be, but still. And yet, the weight is still coming on.  I keep telling myself, as long as I don't hit over 300 pounds again, I will be oil. I'm tall,  my body is dense, I've always carried weight well distributed over my body.  So even though I'm wearing a 16-18, throughout this weight fluctuations, I'm still nervous.  I'm not sure what to do, and why my weight is going bonkers.

Well, I kind of do know.  About two months ago,  my pain management doctors found a lump on my thyroid when they did the MRI for my neck, in regards to the pain,  I had blood work done, but since it returned relatively normal, it wasn't a priority for an ultrasound.  But I am scheduled for one in may.  My doctor says that this could be the reason why my weight is such as it is.  How after three years of consistency, it just went up.  Either way, I'm scared.

I'm still smaller than what I was, and that makes me happy.  If you check out the pictures I just posted, I'm even baring my belly,as I belly dance now!!!! So there is a part of me that says I shouldn't even look at the scale. But I can't help it.

So I'm hoping that by letting this all out, and keeping everything updated, I can start to lose weight again, with help and support.

 

Wow!  I cannot believe it has been almost a year. Come December 21, 2010-I will be one year out from my surgery.  Let me tell you, the time has gone by so fast.  Sometimes I forget that I even had the surgery.  I guess I am eating "regular" now. I can eat a small saucer at meal times.  My biggest problem is actually eating throughout the day.  I have a rough time with remembering to eat, because I am still not hungry.  

In total, I have lost about 110 pounds since the very beginning of this journey.  I started out as a 24/26, I am now wearing an 18, sometimes a 16 depending on the cut.  I went into Old Navy yesterday to buy a new jacket, and I was actually able to get it from the regular section, and pay regular price.  I cannot tell you how happy I was to be able to put that jacket on.  

Now, although lots of things have been positive, as with any life changing decision, there are some negatives.  For me, my hair did fall out, so I cut it.  It is growing back now.  I'm not going to blame the surgery 100% because I didn't fully follow directions for taking my protein and vitamins.  Unless someone tells me to, I otherwise forget.

The saggy skin is also another problem.  I'm lucky that my face and neck did not sag.  But my arms, stomach, and inner thigh's sag.  It's weird, I was never self conscious about my body until AFTER the surgery.  The extra skin makes certain outfits look weird. It itches, especially over the summer. And my arms, oooh, let's not even get into the turkey arms.

Would I do it again, of course! I have no regrets.  And this is probably one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life.  I am proud to be where I am at today!  

I actually put on my wedding dress, and it slipped on so easily!  When I got married in 2009, I had to wear TWO girdles, and still looked like a stuff sausage.  When I put on the dress now, it just slips right on. It fits perfectly!  No girdle needed or anything. Same with the dress I wore to my sisters wedding as a bridesmaid, it fits perfect.  I will be sure to post some pictures soon. But for now-here are some update pictures from Halloween and today

 

oh, yeah, I made the two above outfits! it feels so good to be able to few and use regular size patterns and not yards and yards of fabric.

and just so you can see a difference, here are pictures from before the surgery



(sorry about the picture being sideways!)

I've been super busy lately, but though I would come through for a post-op entry.  I have finally gotten my photography business off the ground! Let me tell you, losing all that weight has definitely helped! All the running and standing that I do now, I know that I couldn't do it if I weighed the same. 

So if you get a chance, visit my website www.MarisaTaylorPhotography.com  and become a fan on facebook, www.facebook.com/marisataylorphotography, and drop me a line. I would love to hear from you.

So for a quick recap.  At my heaviest, I was a size 24/26 at 353 pounds.  I was put on the all liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery, and on my surger date 12/21/2010 weighed in at 343 lbs.

The surgery itself went fine. I didn't have any of the normal issues that most had. I was able to keep down liquids and small foods.  The only bad thing was when I attempted to eat a steak, and I vomitted :(.  Oh! I almost forgot, apparently I have developed an aversion to dairy :( Makes me sad because I love milk! But things are pretty normal now. I am able to eat about a small saucer of food at a time, so thats good. My calorie intake for the day is under 1000 calories.

Now on to the good part...the before and after pictures!

 It's time for another update!

Well things have been going great.  I am now roughly 280 pounds.  I started this journey at my heavies of 343 pounds.  So 280 is a big deal for me.  I was this weight back in high school I believe. But I am tall, 5'10", so the weight doesn't necessarily correlate with my height and size. I always get told I look less than whatever I actually weight.  

So major news moment!  I haven't purchased any major new clothing lately.  Only stuff for altering for my renaissance faire costumes.  So a couple of days ago, my friend comes to visit and we go into Macys.  I haven't been into a Macys in YEARS!  We go upstairs to the plus size section, and I pick up a Tommy Hilfiger (sp?) dress that was a size 18 and this adorable retro looking pink dress that was an 18 also. Along with a size 18 shorts, and top.  Now in my head, I was thinking to myself that I'm not going to fit into them, I'm just going to try them on.  I put them on..and...THEY FIT!  I screamed, I jumped up and down, I was so freaking ecstatic!  I could not believe that I was in a size 18!!!  

Here are the pictures, they were taken with a cell phone, so they are not super clear, but you can see what I'm talking about. I personally think I look fabulous!





This was a major moment for me. Oh sorry that the pictures are so big, I have no idea why they are so huge. Anywho, my husband said i look dead sexy in the pink dress. He always says I look sexy, even before the surgery. But now, for me, I feel sexy!

I'm not afraid to take pictures with him, in fear that I look HUGE!  I looked at pictures from the past, and one of our poses is I hug him from the side, and I notice that GOOD LORD I AM HUGE! or my arms are huge! Now I take a picture, and I don't worry about it.  Here is a picture I think from last weekend :)



The only thing I will say that I'm a little upset about is this excess saggy and loose skin. I was told that since I'm young it would snap back! It's a lie lol.  It only snapped back in my face, since I don't have saggy skin there. But my arms, stomach, and inner thighs are looking horrible to me!  My arms look like I'm flapping in the wind!. And my stomach, I have the "skin apron" as I call it. If that were gone, I'd probably be a full two sizes smaller.  And I do work out, so I guess it's just a wait and see if I can get the plastic surgery.

Now about eating. I am TRYING to do the 6 times a day, but it's still a bit hard. I may eat 2-4 times a day.  Drinking water/liquids, I drink alot!  But I'm having an issue with the protein.  I find protein shakes absolutely disgusting!  So it's hard trying to get them in.  

But thats my update. My birthday is June 24. I would like to be in a size 16 by then!  So we will see. The weather is nice, so I'm out more, walking around and exercising.

 Hi everyone! So I'm here to give my two month post op update! I am so happy also. So right now. My current weight is 285 pounds.  It fluctuates between 285-288 due to time of day, water retention, pms (ugh). But I met my first goal of being under 300 pounds!!!  I am ecstatic about it.  Let me tell you, losing all the weight DOES make a difference. For example, this past weekend, my husband and I went to Baltimore, and I noticed that walking around the Inner Harbor and whatnot, I was not nearly as tired as I was when I went last year and weighed 350 pounds.  It was crazy! Now grant it, with the fibromyalgia I still have lots of pain, but the loss of weight is definitely a difference

As for eating, I've been doing pretty good. Still trying to match eating 6 times a day. Right now I am probably up to 2-5 meals a day, depending on whats going on. As for size, I can eat roughly about a small saucer of food over time.  I find that even when I do eat, I get fuller quicker, and its easier for me to now say, I'm full. Instead of having that urge to finish EVERYTHING on my plate.

Now some of you may know that I am a seamstress. So I have tape measures all around the house plus my measurements. I measured my waist last night, and it is roughly 51-52 inches. My hips are roughly 55-56 inches.  And by bust (right under the boobs) is 41 inches. This is a BIG deal to me because previously my waist was 57 inches, my hips were 60 inches, and my bust was 45-46 inches.

I have been craving cake for the longest time though!  I found this organic lemon cake at the store, and I am still trying to find easy vanilla recipes using Stevia. What I'm finding so far is chocolate frostings, and cream cheese frostings, but I hate cream cheese, and chocolate is a no no. Then I find other "diabetic" frostings, that use confectioners sugar, doesnt using sugar defeat the purpose???

 Since my surgery on December 23. I have lost roughly 50 pounds total from being my heaviest. When I get on my scale (with no clothes mind you) I am at 299-300 pounds. I have 350 at my heaviest! I am very excited.

So here is a picture of me, and you can see the weight loss. The left is me in Disney World this past June 2009.  The right is me just a few nights ago. I wore the same dress so you can see the difference. The weight in my face is down, as well as my stomach. You can see how the dress i much loser now.  Also there is no side boob! lol. And my boobs have gotten a bit smaller...

hello all!

So January 21 2010 was my one month post op anniversary. I have lost a total of 43 pounds since my surgery! I am back into a size 20 (started at a size 24) and I am extremely happy.  I must say that my level of energy has went through the roof...all things considering (fibromyalgia). But still I am extremely happy.

I recently got the Wii Fit, and I must say that thing is so much fun. I work out between 30-60 minutes each day. And the best thing is, it weighs you!  It even keeps track of your weight and your BMI. If you don't have one, I suggest you get it!

I don't have any new pictures yet, although everyone is telling me you can see the weight loss in my face. So Ill post a picture of my face before surgery and one taken just a few days ago.  We will see if you can tell.

Here is me before


Sorry that the picture is so big! And here is me after surgery


I think there is a difference!
I hope everyone who has had surgery is doing well, and for those approaching, good luck!

 

23 pounds lighter!!!! I just came from the doctor and was weighed, and I am 23 pounds lighter. I am now at 322! And I am super happy about it.  I haven't weighed myself since the hospital, so this was a nice treat for me.  Now I can bring in the New Year 23 pounds lighter, under 325 pounds which was my first mini goal!!!! I am so happy! 

I am doing great since surgery. 10 days out! None of the typical issues. My husband and I were joking about how I must be just like Wolverine from X-Men because my body regenerates FAST!  

So good luck to all those out there, and Happy New Year!  See you in 2010! 

So my surgery was this past Monday on December 21. I must say, from the time getting into the hospital to actually being in the OR was very fast.  Christiana Hospital is quite efficient with their patient processing.  It was nice having many of the doctors/nurses/anesthesia docs come up and say hello before I went under 

I remember being on the OR table, talking about the movie Avatar, feeling a little bit sleepy, and then waking up!  It went by like that. Although the amount of pain I was in was very severe, and having fibromyalgia only intensified that pain. I personally felt that I was not given enough pain medicine, but at the same time I am a trooper, so I marched through it. I mean I'm on a combo of pain meds daily for fibro,  the stuff they prescribe at the hospital is barely going to make a mark.  But I was up and walking within a few hours and that was good for me.

The only downsides I would say besides the pain is the fact that I had to urinate almost every three hours on the hour because of the UV drip.  That made it very difficult to sleep. And I am a big sleeper...I NEED my sleep!  But the nursing staff was awesome :)  My husband was allowed to stay with me the whole time :)  

The most uncomfortable part was the drainage tube.  Once that came out...I felt infinitely better!

But I am at home now. Walking around to get the gas out (which is a must). I've been sleeping on and off, I'm not even hungry at this point. More so thirsty. And although I want to gulp down water...I have to tell myself I cant.  I haven't gotten on a scale yet, but when I went in, I weight 337 pounds, which is 6 pounds lighter than I was when starting all of this

I purposely have not purchased a scale yet because I dont want to be over paranoid with weighing myself. But I can say..that I do feel smaller! yay!!!

Thanks for all the support

More updates to come!

 so....surgery in less than 7 hours trying to get everything ready now. clothes are washed and dried, but not put away :( i gotta pack an overnight bag. since i will be in 3 days/2nights. i just need my laptop and something to crochet! ick..im starting to get nervous. my nerves are really getting to me. im so worried about how i will feel afterwards. wish me luck! ill try to have my husband log on to post my status :) see ya later!