Finally down -350lbs in 20 months!
Well actually today it's 351 pounds I've lost and it's been exactly 20 months post RNY. 
My life has complete changed, I know I will never be the same person again. Many people would say I've been through a lot and I do agree, but I'm a firm believer that we are all given burdens or trials in our life to overcome. This has been one of my biggest battles since I was age 8 and it feels good for once in my life that I'M IN CONTROL. The surgery to many people is a wake up call and for me that's exactly what it did. My portion control was WAY out of hand and thanks to this surgery it's become a realization that I DID HAVE A PROBLEM. I was also not educated enough in understanding what my body needed.
There is not one day that doesn't pass by that I'm thankful I had this surgery, just over 20 months ago I was in the depths of depression/dispair/hopelessness. There were so many times I wanted to just give up. It was easier to give up. Often times I would pray at night that I would not wake up again, I was living a life to me that was in no other term was HELL. My family was going out having fun, doing things and here I was wasting away behind my "safehaven" (my home). I was afraid to face people and made up many excuses not to be involved in living. Then one day I realized I wasn't making up excuses anymore, I had literally become this over 600 pound homebound person, who was now trapped in a body I had made. All because my depression took over me, I had reasons to live, but it became easier to push life/stress away, so food and being a hermit became who I was. To be honest I was happy at this point because I didn't have to face my problems or people. It had become so much easier to sit there and not have to face these things. I was to one point happy with where I was, but on the other hand unhappy because my life was no more beyond those 4 walls. I wanted to be part of living again. So I took charge and for the many months following up to getting my surgery that was night and day my constant goal. I did everything I could think of to get to the point of being able to live again.
I'm just so happy to say that I'm able now from this surgery to do just that. I have a job I LOVE, I can walk to my mailbox again, I can drive a car, I can walk to any store I want to, I can buy clothes again (not from speciality stores), I can clean my house, just to get up from the couch and not feel like I'm dying! My relationship with my husband is out of this world, we are so in love even more than the day we met 11 year ago. It's truly a miracle what's happened in my life.
My words of wisdom to anyone who is struggling to lose any weight is NEVER give up. I could have so easily done so, but I didn't. I got the goal in mind and I did it. I've done it. My goal was to be heathly, active and living life. So that one goal has been met. I've got many more goals in my life I want to accomplish and now I know I WILL.
You can see my recent photos on my profile or visit my site.
www.amyfrommtv.com
Amy
-351 pounds
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is something I often get emails about on what I did to lose my weight, so I'm reposting it here.
What's worked for me? By: Amy Williams
We read about it all the time people feeling like they have got off track, so I think for those having those problems try reverting back to memories of what life was like X number of weeks, months, years ago. That alone should motivate us to be the best. We can all be successful at this. It's all about being healthy and happy. Be happy with yourself, remember who you once were health wise, and make good choices.
What I do: Besides the regular stuff
(Water, Protein and Exercise (key thing), I also do the following.
1. Make small goals (example: first 50 pounds, get under 400,300,200 etc)
most importantly is not the number but WHAT you can do now....
Tie my shoes, swim, walk....etc
2. Keep a journal
When you read back you can see how far you've come! This has helped me so much. I'll read back on a sad day or I'll remember something I did for the first time and relive the joy all over again.
3. Take pictures!
As much as you hate seeing yourself in the beginning pictures are VERY important, this is also a reminder of who you once where.
4. When it comes to the evil scale....
I weight ONLY once a week. If you become a scale slave you will torture yourself with ups and downs.
5. Plateaus DO happen...
When you have a plateau don't beat yourself up over it. Keep on track and don't get depressed. What will depression do for most of us? We want to eat! BAD BAD BAD!
6. Do NOT compare yourself to others
We are all different. Our bodies work differently after surgery, it doesn't matter if so and so is losing faster than you, in the end we all catch up.
7. Don't kill yourself over having a cookie, a few chips, a CARB....etc
Ok so you've made a mistake in your book, I don't look at it this way, this is where relearning comes from. It's not really a cookie, it's the amount, we have to relearn what our limits are, I'm not going to get upset because I ate a cookie, I make adjustments in my diet to allow for something special if I want it and feel good with myself knowing when to stop!
8.Always always follow what YOUR surgeon/nutritionist told you.
It's wonderful to get advise from those who've lived it, but our surgeon/nutritionist knows what's best for US. Even those who go to the same surgeon/nutritionist can get different advice. Example: What one person's weight calories wise requires another person might need more or less calories.
9. Attend support groups!
Why you might ask? It gives you a comfort zone and a place to know you are NOT alone, there are others struggling. You learn good information and for me it's keep me motivated to do even better.
10.Be happy with yourself.
For some of us that might mean having to see a therapist. Sometimes we can't work thru issues on our own and need the additional support, if you are post op and find yourself extremely depressed, it might not be the surgery it might be you are not happy with you. For you to be more successful you have to know YOU ARE WORTH IT.
Anyway's these are things that have worked for me and thought I'd share them with you. They help me each day.
My life has complete changed, I know I will never be the same person again. Many people would say I've been through a lot and I do agree, but I'm a firm believer that we are all given burdens or trials in our life to overcome. This has been one of my biggest battles since I was age 8 and it feels good for once in my life that I'M IN CONTROL. The surgery to many people is a wake up call and for me that's exactly what it did. My portion control was WAY out of hand and thanks to this surgery it's become a realization that I DID HAVE A PROBLEM. I was also not educated enough in understanding what my body needed.
There is not one day that doesn't pass by that I'm thankful I had this surgery, just over 20 months ago I was in the depths of depression/dispair/hopelessness. There were so many times I wanted to just give up. It was easier to give up. Often times I would pray at night that I would not wake up again, I was living a life to me that was in no other term was HELL. My family was going out having fun, doing things and here I was wasting away behind my "safehaven" (my home). I was afraid to face people and made up many excuses not to be involved in living. Then one day I realized I wasn't making up excuses anymore, I had literally become this over 600 pound homebound person, who was now trapped in a body I had made. All because my depression took over me, I had reasons to live, but it became easier to push life/stress away, so food and being a hermit became who I was. To be honest I was happy at this point because I didn't have to face my problems or people. It had become so much easier to sit there and not have to face these things. I was to one point happy with where I was, but on the other hand unhappy because my life was no more beyond those 4 walls. I wanted to be part of living again. So I took charge and for the many months following up to getting my surgery that was night and day my constant goal. I did everything I could think of to get to the point of being able to live again.
I'm just so happy to say that I'm able now from this surgery to do just that. I have a job I LOVE, I can walk to my mailbox again, I can drive a car, I can walk to any store I want to, I can buy clothes again (not from speciality stores), I can clean my house, just to get up from the couch and not feel like I'm dying! My relationship with my husband is out of this world, we are so in love even more than the day we met 11 year ago. It's truly a miracle what's happened in my life.
My words of wisdom to anyone who is struggling to lose any weight is NEVER give up. I could have so easily done so, but I didn't. I got the goal in mind and I did it. I've done it. My goal was to be heathly, active and living life. So that one goal has been met. I've got many more goals in my life I want to accomplish and now I know I WILL.
You can see my recent photos on my profile or visit my site.
www.amyfrommtv.com
Amy
-351 pounds
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is something I often get emails about on what I did to lose my weight, so I'm reposting it here.
What's worked for me? By: Amy Williams
We read about it all the time people feeling like they have got off track, so I think for those having those problems try reverting back to memories of what life was like X number of weeks, months, years ago. That alone should motivate us to be the best. We can all be successful at this. It's all about being healthy and happy. Be happy with yourself, remember who you once were health wise, and make good choices.
What I do: Besides the regular stuff
(Water, Protein and Exercise (key thing), I also do the following.
1. Make small goals (example: first 50 pounds, get under 400,300,200 etc)
most importantly is not the number but WHAT you can do now....
Tie my shoes, swim, walk....etc
2. Keep a journal
When you read back you can see how far you've come! This has helped me so much. I'll read back on a sad day or I'll remember something I did for the first time and relive the joy all over again.
3. Take pictures!
As much as you hate seeing yourself in the beginning pictures are VERY important, this is also a reminder of who you once where.
4. When it comes to the evil scale....
I weight ONLY once a week. If you become a scale slave you will torture yourself with ups and downs.
5. Plateaus DO happen...
When you have a plateau don't beat yourself up over it. Keep on track and don't get depressed. What will depression do for most of us? We want to eat! BAD BAD BAD!
6. Do NOT compare yourself to others
We are all different. Our bodies work differently after surgery, it doesn't matter if so and so is losing faster than you, in the end we all catch up.
7. Don't kill yourself over having a cookie, a few chips, a CARB....etc
Ok so you've made a mistake in your book, I don't look at it this way, this is where relearning comes from. It's not really a cookie, it's the amount, we have to relearn what our limits are, I'm not going to get upset because I ate a cookie, I make adjustments in my diet to allow for something special if I want it and feel good with myself knowing when to stop!
8.Always always follow what YOUR surgeon/nutritionist told you.
It's wonderful to get advise from those who've lived it, but our surgeon/nutritionist knows what's best for US. Even those who go to the same surgeon/nutritionist can get different advice. Example: What one person's weight calories wise requires another person might need more or less calories.
9. Attend support groups!
Why you might ask? It gives you a comfort zone and a place to know you are NOT alone, there are others struggling. You learn good information and for me it's keep me motivated to do even better.
10.Be happy with yourself.
For some of us that might mean having to see a therapist. Sometimes we can't work thru issues on our own and need the additional support, if you are post op and find yourself extremely depressed, it might not be the surgery it might be you are not happy with you. For you to be more successful you have to know YOU ARE WORTH IT.
Anyway's these are things that have worked for me and thought I'd share them with you. They help me each day. 
Best wishes on your continued successes!
Huggs,
Ruth 
Amy,
YOU GO GIRL!!!! I am so proud of you!!!! AWESOME!!!
I was walking in to work today and thinking how different life had become that a short walk was not an ordeal, that getting up and moving around was not something I had to plan in advance for (with medication, the best way to do it etc etc). I realized that I was focused on the day at hand and not what I was going to get for breakfast. People actually told me they were jealous of me???!!!! - and the way I looked!!!???? - Life has changed. I realized that for the first time in my life, food and my weight have taken a back seat to what I want to achieve... what a wonderful feeling that is!!!!
It is always wonderful to read your posts.. you are such an inspiration to many and I wish you every joy there is to experience in life... and may you have a few more just to make the experience overwhelming!!!!
Good luck and Much Joy
B
Congratulations Amy on your wonderful success! And thank you so much for all the encouragement and support you give everyone here at OH.com. It is so valuable and inspirational! When I started this journey I was 216 lbs over what the high end of the normal weight should be for my height. It was always such a "mountain" that it never felt possible. It is so amazing how you can convince yourself that you are okay even when you can't participate in life the way you want to. But, now that I've lost 126 lbs, it does seem possible. I am enjoying life and doing things I haven't done in years. I still have 90 lbs to go, but, for the first time ever, it feels doable.
Thanks to folks like you!
Lori
384/258/168
Amy...
What an awesome accomplishment!! 350# in 20 months! WOW!!! I cannot believe you have lost that much in such a short time!!! Many, many congratulations for your awesome achievement!!
I hope you remember me.... You and Kenny were so kind to give me a "Beari-buddy" prior to my surgery last June! I could really use your help and guidance...... I lost 90# but then have been just hanging around 300#... I cannot seem to drop any more weight. I am getting my water in and 4 (usually) 32 gram protein drinks a day... along with primarily protein.. yet my weight is stuck! I have been exercising at the gym and have even started swimming lessons (in front of many people at the local HealthTrax gym)... Yet no losses. Can you please tell me how many grams of protein you are eating and how many calories a day you are consuming?? I desperately need some quidance from someone as successful as you are!!! Please help!! I know you will suggest that I call my nutritionest, which I have... however she has not called me back!! I will try again tomorrow... but as far as I am concerned... that tiny little skinny person really has no idea what I am going through!!
Much love to you and your husband! I am so very happy for your accomplishment!! God put you on this earth to sadly endure what you had to... but to then to undergo wls and become an inspiration and help to hundreds of thousands of individuals who struggle with obesity. God Bless you, Amy!
With love from your wls friend Sandy
Sandy,
I certainly do remember you 
I think of you often. I'm so glad to hear of your weight loss and that must be making you feel so much better. Are you still needing crutches? It sounds like you are doing so much better than you were and I hope you are proud of yourself.
Basically keep in mind you are right in that area that the weight loss does slow down, so make sure you get as active as you can. I just read all the things you are doing and you are right on track, just make sure to continue this. I usually get around 80-90 grams of protein daily and around 1500 calories. Don't ever give up, you have some so far. I hope I get the change again to see you and give you a big hug. I'm truly so happy at all you've overcome!
Amy
I think of you often. I'm so glad to hear of your weight loss and that must be making you feel so much better. Are you still needing crutches? It sounds like you are doing so much better than you were and I hope you are proud of yourself.
Basically keep in mind you are right in that area that the weight loss does slow down, so make sure you get as active as you can. I just read all the things you are doing and you are right on track, just make sure to continue this. I usually get around 80-90 grams of protein daily and around 1500 calories. Don't ever give up, you have some so far. I hope I get the change again to see you and give you a big hug. I'm truly so happy at all you've overcome!
Amy Most Active
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