The first 50lb. loss
I've still go a ways to go until I reach & then plan to exceed my goal weight of 160 pounds. I'm almost 5'9 so that was a good weight for me 10 years ago when I was actually that size. I do weigh ins every Friday & it's official I've lost from 282 to 232 so 50 pounds gone. I haven't been at this weight in about 4 years prior to my hysterectomy. I'm feeling great these days, I'm more active, enjoy doing more with my family, & have become somewhat of an obsessive house cleaning nut...before surgery I let lots of things that needed to be done slide, I still have an endless list but I do try to work on something around the house every day. Anyway I'm NOT an expert, I don't have all the answers & I'm learning. The one thing I am a vet at is trying to lose weight as I've been up & down with that my entire life. I can not wait to lose 50 more & do another comparison but here's just a few of the things I've learned thus far not in any particular order with the exception of #1 as that's most important to me personally.
1. Take time to pray & thank God daily for all my blessings & this surgery.
2. Get out & live, stop being ashamed- I'm my own worst critic, stop being self conscious, being active & enjoying my family & pets is fun. Be KIND to myself & stop seeing the fat girl in the mirror I'm losing & not where I was in the beginning.
3. Patience is a virtue weight loss takes time but I am losing faster than I realize. Even if I stall what I've lost so far is amazing.
4. Don't look at the food plan as a diet or what I can't have but rather as eating healthy & making better choices for life.
5. Exercise 5-6 days a week is a MUST it relieves stress & helps me lose & feel better. View exercise as a must do like taking a bath or brushing my teeth.
6. Do not spend a lot of $ on clothes. I have smaller sizes on hand already from my up & down weight & I've only bought a few new shirts & work-out clothes. Don't invest a lot of $ on clothes until goal but DO wear things that fit; fat clothes make you look fat. My fav articles of clothing so far are shrugs & push up bras; boobs shrink but push up bras are awesome. Shrugs hide my jiggly angel wing arms.
7. Document progress w pics & measuring tape & keep a journal for daily food intake & exercise- mine's just a plain jane notebook but seeing what I eat & having to write it down keeps me on track. Here's a post of mine from the other day documenting my loss so far http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/5256521/Pics-are-impor tant-to-track-progress-heres-a-few-of-mine/ I know I'm still big but look at the comparison of my before to now progress...
8. Protein shakes are very important, they help with loss & help stave off hunger. My body fortress whey protein vanilla mixed with 1 cup 1% milk & 1/2 banana is my dessert.
9. Crystal light & water are my life time soft drinks now. There is a great debate over being able to drink diet sodas but my Doc said none ever so I'm sticking to his words & it works for me. I don't miss Dr. Pepper anymore & I drink decaff sweetened with splenda tea now instead of sweet iced tea.
10. NEVER use the excuse that eating healthy costs more. Fast food trips when added up over a month are very costly. Healthy foods make me feel healthy.
11. Bask in all the glories of weight loss - fitting into the tub without my butt & thighs touching the sides, wearing normal shoes, wearing a belt, not having to wear necklace extenders, wearing smaller sized clothing...stuff I guess skinny folks who've never had a weight problem take for granted.
12. Be happy, positive & kind & smile- you get what you give in life, not from everyone but more or less if you're kind to others they will be kind to you.
13. I have to take my vitamins every day or I'll be tired. On days when I am tired it's okay to take cat naps if I can & don't be mad at myself if I do take a nap break.
My list so far & as I mentioned not in any particular order & let me again mention I'm NO expert & realize I'm still new. Can't wait to lose 50 more & compare that progress to now. Excited so forgive me for blogging & posting.
With God ALL things are possible! VSG 3/13/14 Dr. John Mathews
What great success you're having!!
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
