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 Nine months ago on Tuesday I had WLS. I weighed 380 pounds. Holy shit. 

I now weigh 250 pounds. I wear clothes that aren't from the plus size department! I love working out. I love being out with friends. I like getting dressed. I love accessorizng. I make yummy healthy foods for hubby & me. He is down 60 pounds...we weigh the same! I've been down a waterslide & jumped on a trampoline this summer. I've sat in a regular camp chair. 

Life is good! 

My hubby & I are getting to fulfill a dream...in the fall we will be moving to Colorado! We're so excited to start this new chapter in our lives. 

Gina :~)

 Yes I'm a bad bad bad blogger. Life is busy. And this is short, but just wanted to pop on & say I'm alive, life is good, and I'm still losing! I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather & getting out & being active!

Gina :~) 

Where does the time go?  I've been a bad blogger lately, but I've just been so busy with life.  I've been going back and forth between here and my best friend's house, babysitting, and had oodles of doctor appointments over the last couple weeks. 

I had my 6 month follow up with the surgeon.  He is thrilled with my progress!  Dietician and NP both are as well.  I won't see them again for another 6 months.  I have a visit with my endocrinologist this week, had the bloodwork done last week.  I expect that to be good news as well.  I saw an allergist, since taking allergy pills isn't really doing anything for me since surgery.  I'll be starting allergy shots at some point in the near future.

I haven't seen a drop on the scale in a couple weeks, but at this point I really don't get too bent out of shape about it.  I've figured out the way my weight loss cycles, and I take comfort in that.  I know I won't stay 260 lbs so long as I keep on keeping on.  The gym has been hard to get to, we've only been making it for 2 sessions a week, but we've also been doing a lot more around the house and in the yard, and with the dogs, and with me babysitting, I'm not worried about any lack of exercise, either.  

My hubby and I are essentially the same size now!  How weird it is.  We both fluctuate up and down a few pounds so there have been fleeting moments when I've actually weighed less than him LoL  I am looking forward to the day when I always weigh less than him!  He's got another 35 lbs to go before he hits his goal, and I have 85 lbs, so do the math LoL  I WILL be smaller than my husband, dammit!  It's good motivation.  

Oh, I was diagnosed with hidradentitis suppurativa.  Big long name for blocked sweat glands.  I started getting these boils when I was around 12, and they are horrendous, and viciously recurring.  I was told it was a food sensitivity, and was deemed allergic to coconuts, blueberries, and nuts.  Then I was told I have MRSA.  Well, I'm not allergic to those things, and it's not MRSA.  The bad news?  It will not ever go away with medication; the disease actually spreads inwards before it opens outside your skin, so I've got dozens of these infection tunnels throughout my body.  The infection festers, comes to a boil, opens and drains, then starts all over again.  I have them on my thighs, pannus, arms, and breasts.  The good news?  Yes, there is good news!  It's not a "fat person thing," like I always thought it was, it happens to thin folk as well.  The even better news?  You can get rid of it.  With surgery.  And it's medically neccessary.  So...that means plastics for my pannus, thighs, breasts, and arms will be covered as reconstructive and not cosmetic!  Still a ways to go before then, and I'll have to suffer through it long enough to get pregnant and have a baby, since there's no point in nipping and tucking just to get pregnant and stretch it all out again, but knowing that I will get to have plastics and all this hard work will result in a better looking body certainly makes it a little more bearable!  

Well, we're off to the grocery then to the dog park.  Have a great week everyone!  

Gina :~)

Combining weeks because the last one has been a bit of a blur.  On April 28th, my best friend's Mom passed away in her sleep unexpectedly.  She lives about an hour and a half away, so my husband and I hit the road early that morning and spent the night there, helping them get the house cleaned up and prepare for family to come in from out of town, and field some of the many guests that seemed to never stop coming...not to mention all the food they brought!  It's a weird place to be, sitting in a kitchen full of people comforting themselves with food, and not feeling hungry and knowing that I just can't give into the head hunger urge to binge.  I must admit, I did have some feelings of jealousy, but I was good.  In fact, from that Saturday until Thursday, I lost 7 lbs, and since then have lost an additional 3 lbs.  Not much formal exercise, but we walked a lot to get out of the house and get some quiet time, and did a lot of cleaning and hauling furniture and food and such.  It's back to the gym today after spending nearly the entire week at their house.  The desire to stay out there longer has been a hard one to fight, but I know (and my bestie is awesome, because she knows, too) that I need to get back on my eating and gym schedule.  That hefty weight loss I'm sure included some muscle loss, and I am positive that my protein levels were well below what they should be.  I just had no desire to eat, and was busy.  I plan to go back out one night this week though.  

I see my surgeon for my belated 6 month follow-up tomorrow.  It's late because of all the time I spent in and out of his office and the hospital for the first 6 weeks after surgery.  I'm a little anxious about what he may say.  I have seen a lot of people who thought they were doing good go in for their further out appointments and be crushed by what their surgeon had to say.  I'm down 120 lbs in 7 1/2 months, so I don't think that's bad.  I know people who have lost more in the same amount of time, but honestly more people I know have lost less.  I feel like I really have made an effort and worked hard these last  7 1/2 months, I still track my food, get to the gym, take my vitamins...I guess I get mad mostly about the first 6 weeks that were basically lost to me, how much further I could be.  Then...I think about the fact that I'm sitting here wearing a 1X skirt.  Last year, it was a 5X.  My best friend (who has also lost a lot of weight since having a baby) handed down a few things to me...uhm, HELLO! It's a 16 1/2, whatever that is.  It goes on.  It's not flattering.  But it will be!  It was one of my favorite skirts of hers.  I'm loving having all these options, I can't wait to go to the thrift store now that they'll actually have more than a couple things in my size.  I have a closet full of long, flowy hippy skirts...bring on the summer!

Gina :~)

 Finally the scale has moved! Monday's official weigh in was 270, and unoffcially (I only count Monday), I'm down to 268.

So I'm finding that I have a whole new level of stress when it comes to clothes. My closet now only houses clothes that fit, except for a few smaller items I have saved. I have purged all my too big stuff, even the comfy t-shirts that I've lived in for the last few years. My shirts are now 2X and 3X, and my pants are XXL, 1X, and a couple of pairs in a 2X. This includes some wonderfully cute 1X skirts that fit fantastically, and some cute shirts. Problem is, I dunno what to wear! For so long it's just been about finding something that fits, I really stuck to a few outfits, and more often just stayed home rather than drag myself out in frumpy fat lady clothes. Now I avoid going out cuz I have too many options LoL and I'm not used to feeling the fabric cling to me, the way it's supposed to and not because it's too small. I really still would rather wear tent-like clothing than have anyone see the shape of me. 

I know there are worse things to have to stress about, but this is the time of the year to be out doing things, hanging outside with friends, parties and such. I was looking forward to being smaller and more comfortable, but now I'm just in a mild state of panic. 

Gina :~) 

 Another week of nothing much to say.  I'm getting damn tired of being stalled out. I just broke out of the last stall. Grr.

Gina

 I've been a lazy blogger this week. My stepdaughter was with us for spring break, I had a couple days of a queasy tummy, and took an unplanned trip to see my bestie. Only missed one day at the gym though through it all, which I'm happy with.

Unsure of any weight loss. The scale has not moved much in a couple weeks, and I know I gained some muscle weight since starting with the trainer. I'm fitting into 1X clothing, at least pants, and 2 or 3X tops. Things are shrinking even if scale isn't dropping. 

I did take pics, but can't get them uploaded. I'm on my new iPad (!!!!), and the upload areas aren't loading right. Anyone know how to fix this? 

Gina :~)

Well, not too much to report.  After such a landmark week last Monday, the rest of the week was just a normal week.  And, in typical post-WLS fashion, I have a big loss and hit a big goal, and then BAM! slam on the brakes, STAY PUT.  So I weighed in today the same as last week.  I expect this one to last a while, as I'm 6 months out now and things are starting to normalize.  I eat like a normal person, in that my calories are 11-1400 a day.  The food and amounts are much different, but by the numbers it is way more than I thought I'd eat again for a long time.  I'm well over 100 grams of protein per day, and keep the fat and carbs in check.  Things are going great at the new gym and with the personal trainer.  He has a good mix of things for me to do, because I told him if it gets boring I stop doing it.  I do a half hour of circuit training, then a half hour of cardio, then sometimes I add another half hour of the "slow machines," which are intended to increase range of motion with little effort for people who are just starting out, but I find it to be a very satisfying stretch and cool down, and it's an extra half hour of activity.  I had my RMR (resting metabolic rate) tested today, and it is 2310.  So that means doing nothing but sitting and breathing, in a day my body will burn around 2310 calories.  So I've still got that on my side at this point, that I eat below what I'd burn doing nothing.  I know that will change as I lose fat and gain muscle and I become a semi-lean, not-mean, maintaining machine LoL  He also did an electric body fat measurement on me.  Not the pinch thing, but it was this thing I held on to and it sent an electric current through my body.  My body fat is still high, 44%.  It calculated my BMI (based on actual body structure) a bit lower than the height-weight chart does, at 41.1.  A full point lower.  So that made me feel a bit better.  I wish I knew what these numbers where at 380 lbs.

Have a great week!

Gina :~)

I'm sitting her tearing up thinking about the last six months and all that has happened in my life since surgery.  I weighed in today at 273 lbs, which means I have now lost more (107 lbs) than I have left to lose (98 lbs).  That in and of itself takes my breath away.  

Today started off pretty crappy, I was supposed to go get my RMR tested at 7am, but after a night of not falling asleep until almost 5am, I woke up miserable.  To top that off, I've finally gotten the loose skin sores on my pannus healed up so I was able to swim and work out last week, and now I've got one on each thigh in my loose skin folds.  The one on my left thigh is now a swollen area about the size of a softball, and I can't hardly walk without excruciating pain.  Sitting on the toilet this morning was an acrobatic feat.  So I didn't go, and obviously didn't work out, and have cancelled my Monday night babysitting gig as well, in hopes I can get it manageable before my 12 hour babysitting day tomorrow.  It wasn't until just about an hour ago that I realized it was Monday, weigh in day.  I initially was just okay with, maybe a little disappointed, that I'd only dropped 5 lbs since last week, since my period is over and I was back at the gym and was stricter than usual with my food choices as well, and had a really good well rounded active week.  Then I realized that I had less than 100 lbs to lose now, I was well past half way, I was no longer needing to lose a triple digit number.  And that got me thinking about everything over the last 6 months...so here's a list of all the NSVs since September 26th, 2011.

1.  When I sit, I can see the tops of my thighs.  I have an actual lap!
2.  I can sit cross-legged on the couch or chair and be comfortable, and not have my feet swell and fall asleep after 5 minutes.
3.  Shawn can get his arms all the way around me.  It is one of the most wonderful feelings I've experienced. 
4.  I don't have to wear elastic waist pants anymore. 
5.  The towel goes all the way around me without a gap.
6.  When I tie my shoes, I don't have to wrangle my foot onto a table or chair, I can bend over and tie them now.
7.  My belly no longer touches the steering wheel in the car. 
8.  I can shop in the normal plus size section, wearing a 1X or a 2X most of the time, instead of having to find extended size 5X online.  
9.  My boobs stick out further than my tummy.
10.  I didn't need a seat belt extender on the flight back from Florida.  I'll never need one again!
11.  My PCOS seems to be in an almost complete remission. 
12.  I don't have to turn sideways to walk between cars and other tight spaces.
13.  I have collarbones!  That you can SEE!
14.  Also, I have hip bones!
15.  And ribs!
16.  My butt starts to hurt if I sit too long, for lack of padding...this is good, cuz I like moving around now!
17.  I don't work up a sweat grocery shopping anymore.  I enjoy it rather than dread it.
18.  My wedding dress will have to be taken in (or replaced) when we renew our vows.  I tried it on, and it's too big!
19.  My closet is nearly empty.
20.  I enjoy exercise.
21.  I can jump and get myself off the ground enough now that the Kinect can see it.  When I started, I couldn't get off the ground.
22.  I can use any scale, no more high capacity ones.
23.  I don't have to worry about breaking a chair.
24.  I can cross my legs.
25.  I can use my laptop ON MY LAP!
26.  Last night, I was on top ;~) for the first time

That's one for every week since surgery.  I have to say, my mood has improved.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Gina :~)

Today we had to finally make the decision to drop our YMCA membership.  It's just not financially feasible at this time.  Yeah, after I saved up and got that expensive new swimsuit, and only wore it once, now I don't have a pool to swim at.  Thankfully, in just a couple months the local rec center will open their outdoor pool, and those memberships are much more affordable.  The YMCA touts "membership for all," but they have been unwilling to work with us thus far.  I wish they would take into account more than income (we only have one), and look at monthly expenses.  We don't live extravagantly...the YMCA was our splurge.  Things have just gotten way tight lately.  I hope things are better in the fall when the outdoor pools close, hopefully we can get back into the Y.  

On a happier note, we did join a new gym.  It's run by a local bariatric surgeon, Dr. Trace Curry.  It's called Fast Track.  Why can we afford this one?  Well, first off, it's a quarter of the price of the Y.  Secondly (and the best), it is physician supervised so we were able to use our FSA funds for the membership, so we went ahead and paid a year up front.  Also, on Monday we are getting our Resting Metabolic Rate tested, and meeting with our trainer and dietician, which are both included in the membership.  We even worked out this afternoon while we were there, even though we worked out at the Y this morning.  Then we played at the park with my friend and her kids.  Active day, helped take my mind off the no more pool.  

I'm officially halfway to my goal weight, I'm down 103 lbs now with 102 to go.  I'm wondering about my goal weight though.  Not that I won't make it, but if I will surpass it.  I was a competitive swimmer and figure skater at 175, and that's my goal weight, so I know how I used to look and feel at that weight, I was very muscular and very in shape.  Granted, I'm not training like that anymore, and I'll have 200 lbs worth of excess skin (not that the skin will weigh that much obviously, but it will have held that much).  I'm not sure going lower than that would honestly make me feel any better though.  I guess we'll just wait and see.  It's actually close enough now that I am getting really pumped and motivated to get there.  I don't know if it's feasible to lose another 100 lbs in the next 6 months, but I sure would be thrilled if I did.  

I ran into an old teacher of mine at the new gym.  Hadn't seen her in 15 years, so it was nice to catch up and have someone to talk to while I was learning the new machines.  She's at that gym preparing for either a VSG or RNY in the summer, I'm so happy for her and was happy I was able to teach her some things today, too.  I also found out one of my favorite teachers, who was easily close to 500 lbs when I was in school, had an RNY a few years ago and is doing great.  That made me very happy, because I always wondered if she would be able to teach much longer and I'm glad that she is still teaching.  

Hope everyone has a great week!  

Gina :~)