steph77

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Wow - next  month will be one year.  The weight dropped so quick in the beginning and then I hit a plateau.  I started exercising and broke through that plateau and hit another.  I finally broke through THAT 3 month plateau!  But now, it looks like life has changed things up for me yet again. 

But here are my changes so far:

Went from 305 to 240
went from a size 24 to a size 18 (ALMOST a 16 - they button but holy crap they are just WAAAAY to uncomfortable).
wear a 2xl shirt down from 4xl (I've always liked my shirts bigger)

I exercise 4-5 days a week 60 minutes of cardio and I was working out with a trainer once a week. I now write what I eat (and hate it but it's the only way I can still continue to lose weight) and stay at about 1100 calories when I am exercising regularly.

I have a long way to go, but I look better, I feel better - but now, for the next 9 months all of that will go away.  I'm still ambivalant about having to let go of everything I've worked so hard for, but I know I can do it - I know what it takes!

Let's see, here are my stats:

Highest weight:  305
Weight before Surgery: 297
4//6/08 - 276.8  
Weight loss since surgery:  21.2 pounds!

It's been a good first month, the first week was rough, but things have gotten much better.  I exercise 5 days a week on my bike, and lift weights for my arms 3 days per week.  I eat about 1-1.5 cups of food at each meal and am still learning to stop when I am full.  

I still have to work on getting in all of my fluids in a day, but I keep working at it daily.

My next appt. is at the end of the month to see if I want a fill...not sure I do at this point.  I figure that as long as I am losing 2-4 pounds a week, I don't want to mess with what is working.

I am still on soft foods, and will hopefully resume a normal diet once I go to the dr. again.

Nearly three weeks out and I'm doing much better.  I had horrid gas pains for the first week that brought me to tears on a regular basis.  But, I'm doing much better now.  I'm just a little sore, and I started exercising this week and lifting weights.  I can't do much since I'm so out of shape, but I use my exercise bike 5 days a week for 20 minutes, and I plan to increase it a minute a week.  I will lift weights three days a week, and this month I am going to focus on my arms and shoulders....still giving my stomach time to heal.

As the weight drops, I am not regreting my decision anymore.  I've lost 16 pounds since surgery and 23 pounds since my highest weight in January.  

Wow, how time flies.  I was banded on 3/6/08.  Did I make the right choice, yes, ultimately, I'm sure I did.  Right now, putting my family through this has been very tough on me and I am harboring a ton of guilt.  Hopefully in time, it will be all worth it.  I want to run with my kids, go on roller coasters, never get winded, hop on and off the floor while playing with my kids.  I want my back to not hurt anymore when I chase them around the house, I want them to be proud that I am their mom and not the fat mom sitting in the corner feeling sorry for herself. 

So, have I done the right thing?  Yes, I think in the long run, my decision will be the right one, I just have to work through this pain, the soreness, and the guilt.  I haven't even touched on the personal reasons why I went through with the surgery.  Right now, I don't need too, because I know deep inside, I made the right decision. 

I am one step closer!  My return visit was just approved by the insurance company yesterday.  I have completed all of my tests, and now my pcp will be mailing all the test results to UCSF and they will call me to set up my next appt. hopefully by next week.  I am still keeping my fingers crossed for a January surgery date, but the holidays are making that a tricky venture! 

11/18/07

I have my Echocardiogram tomorrow morning.  I have already seen my surgeon, and am going through the last set of tests so that I can get a surgery day set.  I have already had my chest x-ray, and EKG...but I failed the EKG, so the stress test I have at the end of the month is VERY VERY important for me to move forward.  I can't wait...at this time I am looking at the sleeve or lapband, but leaning heavily towards the sleeve.