finally, after 14 months -- ONEderland! and -200!

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been MIA AGAIN for such a long time. Life takes over, you know....

So today is the day I have been waiting for. As of this morning, my scale told me that I weighed 194.6.

Now, you might say, well, you went into onederland a while ago. Yes, technically.  Here's my logic:

When I went in for my consult on March 2, 2006, the surgeon's scale told me that I was a whopping 399lbs. At this point, I did not have a scale of my own that would not tell me my weight was expressed as a letter, namely "E". So I went with his number.

After having the surgery last April, I bought my own scale, because I sure wasn't going to wait for doctor's appointments to tell me how much I was losing. I weighed each day and recorded the weights. It is thrilling to watch that scale just plummet.

Then, I believe I went in for my 3 month appt or something, and noticed a 5lb difference between my scale and the surgeon's scale. The nurse there told me not to worry, that his scale always weighs heavy. So, from that moment on, I began adding 5lbs to my scale, to get my true weight loss. Also, since his scale was the basis for my initial weight, I find myself wanting to use it as a ruler for my current weight.

So I guess the bottom line is:

Starting weight: 399 (394 according to my personal scale)
Surgery day: 371 (366)
Today: 199.6 (194.6)
Goal: Here's a funny thing. My surgeon wouldn't give me a goal until I went in for my 1yr appt in April. At that point he told me that my goal is 155, because after plastics that will put me at 130-135 (ideal weight for me).

Is it possible? Hell yeah. I was so afraid I'd stop losing after a year, but here I am, continuing to get about 7-8lbs a month. Maybe by 18 months....

Julie- Congrats! You've done so well!  Keep "life" going....as much as we all miss your posts, living life to the fullest is what we're supposed to be doing! Keep it up and before you know it you'll be at your goal!

Thanks Christina! I hope you're doing well too. When is the next meeting at Reston Hospital? I'd love to start getting back into the support groups. And since the hospital is like 5 minutes from me, I have no excuse. :)

Julie- The next Staple Club meeting is July 5 at the Reston Hospital in Classroom C.  Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (7:00 to 8:00 – General Meeting, 8:00 to 9:00 – One year out or more).  I'll be out of town that night, so I won't be at that meeting until the September meeting. Hopefully some people will make it out though...but with the holiday in the middle of the week lots of people will likey be out of town.  Best to you!

Julie you are doing just fantastic!! Last  time I saw you I barely recognized you and I am sure it will be the same way next time I see you!! Over 200lbs lost - that is unimaginable!! I am so in awe of you and wish I knew how to give a round of applause on these stupid boards because if anyone deserved one you certainly do!!!!!!! Long may your weight loss continue!! Congratulations! Jackie

Thanks Jackie! I think it's unimaginable too. I figured out that I have lost more than half of myself  and that totally blows me away. Finding individual ribs under the skin kind of blows me away too. :) How are you doing these days?

Hi Julie - I am doing fine - weight loss has really slowered down - I am down to 154 and it is yoyoing and not really staying there consistently.  So have lost 102lbs. Carbs are really bad for me - I eat those and my weight loss stalls and goes back  up again. I am thinking of plastics end of this year or beginning of next year maybe. I thought I could ge used to the loose skin but really I can't... I hate looking at myself without clothes!  .. I wanted to get down to 140 something before plastics but not sure if my body will let me do that... Finding bones where I never had any blows me away too!! Kind of bizarre that we get so excited over things other people take for granted lol !! It is good to har from you and to see how wonderful you are doing!! Jackie

Congrats Julie you have came a very long way since last June when I met you or was it yr before oh heck I forget, so please pass on your secrets cause I sure would love to see my scale go below 200 Im so sick of seeing the 2's I could scream. But good job and heck yea you go for the gusto.

I wish I had a secret to tell you. I don't. I think I am just lucky. I don't always do what I should -- I try to eat more protein than anything else, I try to get the water in every day like I should, I try to get all of my vitamins (this is easier than anything else, I have the calendar in Outlook at work set up to send me repeated messages about take your multivitamin, take your B-12, calcium, etc. at various times during the day, and this works really well for me). But I eat carbs. I fell in love with chocolate for a time (and I haven't been eating as much of it recently, and I think that's why its coming off more these days). I get a *little* exercise, but not what I should get. Now that I've met my first goal, I'm thinking I'm going to step everything up and start saving as well -- the time for plastics will be coming soon enough. I'm sorry that you're still stuck in the 2's. I hated that. I spent about three weeks going from 203 to 202 to 204 to 201 to 205 and back to 203. It was so frustrating. I am positive it will happen for you as well. Good luck!

HEY JULIE .. I gotta give you  A BIG HELL YEA GIRL ... that is awesome ..  I know you have worked hard for it .. all .  Just remember , that no matter where you are in this journey .. 1 year .. 18 months .. you can still loose . I did not stop loosing until I was almost 20 months out . So yes your doctor is right on about your weight .. OMG how hot is that ...  I miss seeing you around .. and maybe on my travels down that way to see CAppy ... we will run into each other . I have missed you both so very much .  Again .. Way to go .. Be proud .. Shout it from the roof tops ..  Natalie