rolmar

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Wow! I just received an email from OH wishing me a Happy Anniversary. Then I realized, yesterday I had my VSG 6 years ago. All I can say is WOW! 

After all of these years, I still have to exercise and struggle making healthy food choices. I have not been writing down what I have been eating, big mistake. My protein intake has been down and carb-intake up, more mistakes.  I had given up on choking down another protein shake. This laxity accounts for my 40 lb weight gain in the past 2 years! How quickly it comes back on.  It will be my lifelong struggle.

I had been working with a personal trainer for over 2 years, twice a week. She kept me somewhat motivated to exercise but I came to dread those 2 hours a week after working hard all day. It was very expensive and had to give her up 6 months ago. I was also taking spin classes and aqua exercising classes in between.  All of this was still not enough to stop a 40 lb regain in the past 2 years. Bored with the exercise and discouraged by the weight-gain, I knew I had to change some things. Then, I discovered Jazzercise about 3 months ago. I finally looked forward to exercising and it is much more affordable than a personal trainer.  It really does make me feel better. The hour goes by so fast and it is actually fun. However, I still have not lost a pound. Coincidentally on the day of my WLS anniversary, which I had forgotten all about, I received two new protein powders that I recently ordered. I realize it is important for me to try new protein drinks because that was how I lost my weight to begin with. Increasing the protein and slashing the carbs.  I am not a fan of protein drinks but I realize they are my first step, as well as writing down everything I eat. I've got to get back to the basics. I recently looked at those old photos of me when my BMI was 49. I never want to go back there. I feel if I let my "guard" down, it can happen....very easily.

I never made it to "normal" weight and remained overweight, even at my lowest. I never made it to "goal". But I feel good and I am healthy.  

On another note, my gym membership expired along with the use of my personal trainer,  so I have been exercising on my own with the skills I've learned along the way. I take the stairs, always; walk fast around the neighborhood for at least 30 minutes and use resistance bands, light weights and the exercise ball at home. We'll see how it goes. I was ALMOST going to sign up for a beginner Belly Dancing night class for 8 weeks at a local High School but "chickened out". Maybe next time......
I just spent $3000.00 in 13 days on my cat "Baby" who suddenly became seriously ill. The doctor gave us hope that he would get better and we just needed to regulate the pills he would have to be on for the rest of his life. However, the side-effects of the pills were too much for him and he passed away. I felt really bad but I did not want to see him suffer like my cat Mau-Mau did.  Mau-Mau died on 03-13-08 of thyroid cancer and Baby died on 09-13-08 but was brought back to life by the doctor only to die on 09-26-08 of heart and kidney failure.

Today is my 9 month surgiversary (as we here call it). I am down 109 lbs! I can't say it has been an easy 9 months but I know I could have never done this without the use of my new tool. I am not perfect. Some days I don't remember to take ALL of my vitamins and some days my protein intake may be a little low and carb intake a little high.  But I am perfect with my fluid intake and happy about that.

I had my first big "WOW" moment this week. Oh.... I've had little "WOW's" along the way! I went to my GYN Surgeon (Dr. Zimberg) for my 5 week post-op appointment a few days ago. The Nurse had me step on the scale. The large weight on the bar was on 100 lbs and she went up from there! It was not on 150 lbs or 200 lbs or at one point, was even up to 250 lbs! 
Dr. Zimberg said everything looked perfect and I could resume all my activities. I officially started exercising again, with Dr. Zimberg's blessing this time. Before I was kind of sneaking a little exercise in once I was 3 weeks post-op and felt well enough. As of today, I am down to 141 lbs!

I bought some new clothes. A size Large is now too LARGE for me! Everything is medium or size 12 and under. No more 3x Petite for me! I used to always think that was an oxymoron.....How could someone be 3x and Petite!

It is a great feeling! Like many others......I love my Sleeve.

Ever since I had surgery I've had the hardest time writing down what I've eaten. I kept track of my protein and fluid intake but that was it. Oh I would write down what I ate but sometimes did not have a clue of how many calories, protein, fat and carbs were in some things. Well, when I went to the "Back on Track" meeting at the Cleveland Clinic a couple of days ago I was given another tool to help and it has been working out great. It is a computer program that calculates everything, It is amazing and I have been using it ever since. I always wondered how people could keep track of "everything" down to the sodium content and now I know. Because Tropical Storm Fay was on her way and school was cancelled, I was the only person at the meeting until someone came in late. It was nice having a semi-private 2 hour session with the Nutritionist. The Storm was over Key West at the time so we were just getting the early feeder bands and the weather was not too bad.

I have not lost an ounce this week but I am okay with that. I have not been able to exercise, per doctors orders and I am convinced without exercise, it is extremely hard to lose weight!

Hello friends.....I'm now down to 146.8 lbs. I can't believe it! I started at 250 lbs. I had another major surgery on 07-31-08. During my Sleeve surgery a large uterine fibroid tumor was discovered so I had that removed. It weighed almost 3 lbs. The doctor said it was the size of a 24 week old fetus. I have a fairly large "bikini" incision with stitches on the inside and super glue on the outside. I also got to see Dr. Rosenthal (my bariatric surgeon) while I was in Recovery.  I had heard he was doing surgery on a patient who weighed over 670 lbs while I was waiting for my surgery.  We had a brief conversation and he went on his way.  Dr. Rosenthal was the doctor who noticed my enlarged uterus before he started surgery and called for a gynecological consult before he proceeded. Dr. Zimberg came into the OR while I was under, told Dr. Rosenthal it was nothing serious and then Dr. Rosenthal proceeded with the surgery. Dr. Rosenthal then told my husband afterwards that I did not have to worry about having "it" removed until I lost 100 lbs and that's where I am today. I will be out of work for 3 weeks. I am hoping to start light exercise again the end of next week. While I'm out of work, I plan to attend the Nutritional Support Group and Back on Track Meetings at the Cleveland Clinic. I might as well do something since I have to be kind of lazy for a few weeks while my body heals. Oh, and since I am taking some kind of control over my health lately, I survived my first mammogram, which was not as bad as I had imagined. I also had an ultrasound at the same time which needs to be repeated in Jan/Feb because a lump was discovered which appears to be benign. The doctor was not concerned and that makes me feel better.

Everyday is a good day but this is an extra good day! As of this morning, I am no longer OBESE! I am just OVERWEIGHT! How cool is that! I can't believe it! I am still working very hard to get to my goal. I watch what I eat and I exercise every day. I don't go to the gym every day but I do some form of activity, whether it's walking, doing lunges, sit-ups on an exercise ball or taking the stairs at work (lots of stairs at work). It is very cool not to be the fattest person in a room, for a change!