Good morning, everyone:

I have been absent for a number of reasons, one being that my life has gotten so busy that I forget to check in and I was finding that most OH posts no longer addressed our WLS experiences. I do think that newbies would appreciate hearing how we "wls seniors" are experiencing life according to wls.  Add to that, JB and I took a three week road trip along the eastern coast down to Key West and up the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. I lost five pounds while away and lost a few more pounds when I got back. HOW?  I was prepared...that's the trick.

I made sure to have soft fabric bags (cannot scratch the car interior, ya know)...one with daily needs as we travel (another one with two weeks worth of supplies to draw from)...hard candies for JB, nuts, seeds and raisins/dried cranberries for me, several "meal replacement" bars, water bottles, oranges/apples, bananas and a small insulated bag with individual yogurts and cheese packets. I am NOT a breakfast eater but I had prepped two "snack-sized" baggies of protein powder -using skim milk powder instead of water...for each day-usually one for breakfast and one before bedtime when I take my cancer meds that are hard on the pouch. For lunch/dinner out, I always had a salad and asked for fish/seafood GRILLED, avoided the bread unless it was "special"..confession, I ate ONE hush puppy and it was NOT worth the calories. At hotels where they had breakfast, hubby would get up early and bring back some OJ and a yogurt for me so that sustained me thru the day with my protein snacks. I often could not finish my meal so I'd ask for a takeout box and ate the other half of my dinner later to make sure that I got enough protein in. So PLANNING AHEAD for vacation is important for me to stay "clean". I had been losing weight and was at my lowest ever before leaving home and was determined to not blow it all while on vacation.

In January 2006, I was 58 yrs old and weighed 431 pounds at 5'5" in height. I had the regular RnY with no problems, gall bladder also removed at the same time due to attacks. I had five "1 inch" incisions that have healed so well that I can only find one now. It wasn't easy. I am now partly lactose-intolerant if I drink milk on an empty stomach, I still get nauseous from too much sugar (YAY!) in fact, milk chocolate makes me barf so I developed a taste for dark chocolate which is healthy in small doses. I no longer can handle ANY alcohol..we had Baileys and one shot made my heart pound so fast and I was so sick that I wanted to die...hubby was frantic and tried to feed me crackers to absorb the alcohol...now I drink water instead *s*.  Half an hour of sudden drunkenness was enough for me and JB now knows what I can and cannot tolerate...he has become very supportive and helpful. Carbonated pop (yes, soda to you)...has to be swallowed slowly...pop is a treat for me, not a daily one either..we never have that in the house...but I learned to stir a glass of pop first to break down the bubbles of gas which will flood my esophagus and make me burp, barf or simply miserable from the pressure of the gas.

Ten years later, as of today, I weighed in at the doctor's office at 292.4 pounds...down 138.6 pounds.  It has been slow..I cannot exercise easily.  I cannot walk easily and do use cane.....stairs, steps and curbs are difficult as both knees are bone on bone and crunchy.....doc says "severe arthritis".  I have a very high pain tolerance but I am reaching my limit now.  

I have a lot of loose skin which is disconcerting & uncomfortable, and I am considering surgical removal. Our health insurance will not cover this but hubby thinks that it will be easier on my knees of it is gone. I have to agree...so now I am debating...2 new knees or vertical and horizontal tummy tuck...or which first? My family doctor suggested that I discuss this with the knee surgeon...I have an appointment in June. Hopefully I will have lost more weight by then. It won't be cheap but I am now believing that I am worthy of feeling better about myself and being more comfortable in my own skin.

I want newbies to know that surgery gives you a wonderful tool to use but it does not fix our THINKING...that is something that we have to fix ourselves. I have struggled a lot...sometimes giving up and sometimes going "straight" but, ten years later I am feeling more "human", not such a "freak" and now feeling excited to actually SEE the changes in the mirror and in my clothes.

Newbies, treasure that first year and exercize if you can and maintain a good level of protein...the first year is the magic time when your body is in shock and loses alot of weight. yes, everyone gets STALLS but then the weight drops again. By the end of the first year, your body figures out how to adjust and absorb more calories so use that first year.

Everyone reacts differently. I never got my appetite back...lolol..such irony! I have to make a point of eating...usually hubby asks if I have eaten yet...I can go all day w/o thinking to eat when I am busy or lost in my artwork. WHO would have EVER thought this possible with me!?

Another thing: I am always cold. No more sweating profusely...whenever I lie down to sleep or for a nap, I get cold so I always have to put on socks at night and a wool blanket. I have learned to drink a hot chocolate protein drink before bed too...if my pouch is empty, I cannot sleep.

I have a wonderful life, married 46 years, two handsome and brilliant sons, both engineers and very close..we are a tight family which thrills me completely...I am so very grateful for that....and two new step-grand daughters now too, (10 and 13) ...imagine my delight to discover that, not only are they brilliant but both VERY artistic too...what fun for me!!! I love being an OMA!

I create and sell Healing Energy Mandala Colouring Books & present workshops around our region. I have four workshops to do at the beginning of June at a 3 day conference (Women Of Worth Online Magazine), yes, apparently I am a WOW GAL (featured in Dec 2015)..and now four more at "WILD WOMEN UNITE" 3-day weekend in September. I have eight Healing Energy Colouring Books books published so far, 2 more coming soon when I can afford to have them printed. *s*..Also have four more in the works.

And I have a special colouring books for SENIORS going into dementia. I created this for my Mom ..she was 91 and slowly losing her presence.  It's called "A BOOK OF CHOICES" and it helps "bring them back to the NOW for a while.  Right now I am working on having this book of choices exposed to the senior care industry to help other seniors. I am teaching my new grands about life skills including communication, courtesy & cooking and writing appropriate books for teens and 'tweens on life skills. I use my professional skills as an illustrator and as a Certified LifePath Coach and blending them into supporting people who need help in making healthy thought processes and decisions.

So, that is my story and I am sticking to it.   Please forgive me for this long journal.... I hope that my long-winded post helps someone.  If anyone wants, visit my facebook page- webpage...type in "COLOUR ME HAPPY- DeStressing with Mandalas" .  I have 22 FREE mandalas for you to print off and colour...you can see how colouring actually can change your brain when accompanied by positive affirmations. You can always contact me at [email protected]

Kathy,

There used to be a recipe that we all made with the protein shake powder. I imagine that Eileen will remember it. But, you mix the powder (chocolate or vanilla) with some nut cream I used almond or cashew or peanut butter and also after you mix it, if it isn't moist enough, you can add some butter to make it easy to mix.  Then, you can can add vanilla flavoring anyway mix it all up and roll in balls and put on a cookie sheet and put in the refrigerator....they make really nice little treats...

I also love to make egg salad and stuff my celery with it...taste real good.  Back when I ate meat, I would take pepperoni and cook in the oven for a few minutes until they turn into chips....anyway, we should do a WLS recipe exchange.  

Hi Ladies,

I've had a busy day. Came home this morning from my brothers. Stopped and got coffee at McDonald's for the drive home. Stopped at Walmart to get milk, got home. Had breakfast and showered. In the afternoon I promised two friends that I take them to Dr's appt so I had to drop one off and go get the other one go pick up the first one and take her home then returned for the other one.

Hopefully tomorrow will be less stressed. I can get my exercise in.

Everyone have a good evening. 

Love and hugs,

Yvonne

Trish,

I'm like you with the fast food....I just want to go in and order food and have it brought to me on a plate with some kind of flatware that isn't plastic. 

Have a good day with Franklin...you are making some mighty strong memories for the little fellow. 

Lost my previous post.

Dear Eileen:  Am here to express my concern for you! You have so much stress going on in your life, you don't need heart problem to add to your worries at work, and your chronic pain needing neurostim implant. Good Luck! 

Jen

PS Just to say am not  on Facebook, so did not follow you posting there.