Guate Wife
I 
my DS!!
If you are pre-op, PLEASE do your research on ALL of your surgical options -- this is the rest of your life!
Most people only know about / consider RnY or Gastric Banding, and sadly, too many regret this decision post-op. I knew that I couldn't be happy with the post-op life of either of those options, and delayed WLS for 15 years -- until I found the DS. It just made sense to me -- a fully functioning stomach that doesn't dump and can be scoped, the ability to take my needed NSAIDs, restriction to get the weight off, and best of all, malabsorption to KEEP the weight off. While others who have had WLS continue to struggle & diet, I live a completely 'normal' life.
I didn't have WLS to learn how to have a healthy relationship with food -- I had it to be pain free, gain back my mobility and freedom, to stop, reverse, and cure my co-morbitities, and gain back a quality of life that had been missing for so many years. I didn't need to get right with food -- I had dieted for years & years, lost 100+ pounds several times, exercised, and always gained it all back and then some. I had dieted my way to 370+ pounds. These years of dieting resulted in a very screwed up metabolism, I had a metebolic disorder, and only addressing this surgically was going to have an impact on my weight. Food needed to get right with me -- and I needed the most effective WLS available to change my body's metabolic process.
Pre-ops, research the DS: DSfacts.com <----- links in purple
Read the long-term peer-reviewed studies that prove that the DS is your best chance to CURE your obesity.
Read, read, read the DS forum on OH, and get an idea of what the post-op life of a DSer is.
Read the forums on the three other major WLS options (RnY, Gastric Banding1, Gastric Banding2, and VSG), and decide if any of these options are something you can live with FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Also, read the Revisions, Regrets, and Failed WLS forums -- it is sad to see a WLS fail someone that has given it everything they have. Notice how many of these folks have already had RnY, Gastric Banding, and VSG and are now looking for an alternative to what failed them. Then, notice how many DSers are looking for an alternative.... crickets chirping!
Think twice -- cut once! Revisions are risky, and YOU deserve the best right from the beginning!!
MONTHLY POST-OP PROGRESS:
month 1: 25.3# / 339# - 154# (bmi of 24.9) = 185# / 25.3#/185# = 13.7% EWL
month 2: 12.1# (37.4#) / 20.2% EWL
DS weight loss formula: 25% at 2 months, 50% at 6 months, and remaining 25% over the next 12 months.
This targets my total weight loss to be 149.6#; leaving me at 189.4# at the end of my 18 month window.
This is 50# higher than my goal of 140#, so we shall see if this formula holds true!
month 3: 15.4# (52.8#) / 28.5% EWL
month 4: 11.9# (64.7#) / 35.0% EWL
month 5: 8.7# (73.4#) / 39.7% EWL
month 6: 10.5# (83.9#) / 45.4% EWL
DS weight loss formula: 25% at 2 months, 50% at 6 months, and remaining 25% over the next 12 months.
This targets my total weight loss to be 167.8#; leaving me at 171.1# at the end of my 18 month window.
This is 31# higher than my goal of 140#, so we shall see if this formula holds true!
month 7: 7.0# (90.9#) / 49.1% EWL
month 8: don't know; traveling in Guatemala for a month!
month 8 & 9: 19.8# (110.7#) / 59.8% EWL
month 10: 10.9# (121.6#) / 65.7% EWL
month 11: 3.8# (125.4#) / 67.8% EWL
month 12: 5.2# (130.6#) / 70.6% EWL
month 13: 8.6# (139.2#) / 75.3% EWL
month 14: 2.9# (142.1#) / 76.9% EWL
month 15: 9.4# (151.5#) / 81.9% EWL
month 16: +0.6# (150.9#) / 83.9% EWL
Updated height to 5' 7" -from- 5' 6" ~ yep, my compressed spine has given me an inch back!
month 17: 3.9# (154.8#) / 86.0% EWL
month 18: 4.3# (159.1#) / 88.4% EWL
month 19: 2.2# (161.3#) / 89.7% EWL
month 20: didn't weigh
month 21: 3.7# (165.0#) / 91.7% EWL
month 22: didn't weigh
month 23: didn't weigh
month 24: didn't weigh; off in Guatemala getting married!!
LOST:
top sizes: 5X / 4X / 3X / 2X / 1X / XL (still in XL for fitted / no stretch tops, but L for cotton & t-shirt type tops)
- and - 30/32W / 26/28W / 22/24W / 18/20W / 14/16W / currently in 14 -or- XL -or- L
bottom sizes: 34W / 32W / 30W / 28W / 26W / 24W / 22W / 20W / 18W / 16W / currently in 14 -- no W!!
bra size: 46DDD (really stretched out and after breast reduction surgery) / 40D / currently in 38C (too large in cup size, but
too cheap to buy new until I really have to)
tights size: 5X / currently in 1X (could use a smaller size, but don't have a clue where to look or what brand to buy)
bathing suit: 5X / 3X / XL / 12
shoe size: 9.5W -or- 10M / currently in 8M (still very bizzare to me!)
ring size: 10 / currently a 7 (and I hate that none of my rings fit!!)
chins: 2 of the 3 are gone
watch band: knotch 3 / currently knotch 5
WEIGHT MILESTONES from HIGHEST WEIGHT:
10% weight loss (333#) -- accomplished 12.20.07
50# weight loss (320#) -- accomplished 12.27.07
25% of the way to goal (312.5#) -- accomplished 01.17.08
MORBID OBESITY!! Under 50 bmi / no longer Super Obesity -- accomplished 01.23.08
Weight under 300# -- accomplished 02.18.08
1/3 of the way to goal (298.1#) -- accomplished 02.21.08
100# weight loss (270#) -- accomplished 04.28.08
50% of the way to goal / 50% of excess weight lost (262#) -- accomplished 05.25.08
less than 100# weight loss to go (253.9#) -- accomplished 06.23.08
Weight under 250# -- accomplished 07.08.08
SEVERE OBESITY!! Under 40 bmi (247.5#) / no longer Morbid Obesity -- accomplished 07.14.08
2/3 of the way to goal (226.0#) -- accomplished 09.17.08
150# weight loss (220#) -- accomplished 09.27.08
OBESITY!! Under 35 bmi (216.5#) / no longer Severe Obesity -- accomplished 10.14.08
75% of the way to goal (208.1#) -- accomplished 11.23.08
Weight under 200# -- accomplished 01.13.09
OVERWEIGHT!! Under 30 bmi (191.2#) / no longer Obese -- accomplished 04.14.09
Updated height to 5' 7" -from- 5' 6" ~ yep, my compressed spine has given me an inch back!
Lost 1/2 of my former self (370# / 2 = 185# lost!) -- accomplished 05.11.09
200# weight loss (170#) -- accomplished 09.26.09
NORMAL WEIGHT!! Under 25 bmi (159.3#) / no longer Overweight --
GOAL WEIGHT AFTER PLASTICS: 148# (23.2 bmi) --
WOW!!:
Climbing a flight of stairs doesn't make me at all winded.
Getting out of a seated position doesn't require any rocking back & forth.
My jeans completely fall off with any weight in the pockets. No jeans to wear until I fit into my 'skinny jeans' (size 26); four inches less of waist before this will happen.
Wiping my behind no longer requires strange body contortions.
FINGERNAILS!!!! Oral fixation gone?? I have nibbled on my nails since I was a child, and have never had nails that could be painted. After surgery I started to notice my nails were growing -- hey, I no longer bite them! I no longer have any desire to, which is very odd. Got my first ever manicure at 6 weeks post-op, and my fingernails look incredible.
I was actually able to sit next to my friend in a movie theatre, fit into the seat quite well, and had no bruising as a result.
Bending over to tie my shoes from a seated position no longer cuts off my air flow -- and the laces are tied on top and not off to the side!
'Skinny jeans' (size 26) fit! I couldn't get them buttoned a week ago. Also, a winter coat that was such a great buy (6 years ago) that I got it just knowing I would lose weight 'eventually' -- just took the tags off and wore it to the movie.
Sat on a wooden barstool and I could feel my butt bones on the hard stool. Not to the point that it hurt, but it is the first time I have noticed them. Also, the first time I have been able to sit for a long period of time on the barstool without having to stand up because my back hurt too much.
Went out to eat twice this week, and both times asked for a booth with the confidence I would fit into it and not have my breasts hanging over the table.
Sitting slumped back into a couch, I noticed that I had my legs crossed! It felt so natural. Still not crossing my legs when I sit in 'my' chair or under a table, but loved that I actually could if my belly was slanted back and out of the way like it was on the couch.
Pre-op clothes and what I had in reserve as 'skinny clothes' look sloppy. I have no idea what size I am, and have no money to spend on 'new' clothes. So, I made the trip to Goodwill. I hate to shop, I hate digging through racks (Goodwill, TJMaxx, Marshalls, etc..), but I needed some new things. Not much of a selection in plus-sized clothes, but what I found were two items in size 24, and one in size 22 (bottoms) -- and they fit!! I was wearing size 32 pre-op, then into some stretched out size 26 bottoms. Top size is now 18/20. All I can say is: WOW!
I have been within 10# of reaching 100# lost for 29 days. Of course I would stall, when I am so close to a major milestone. I had every confidence that my DS was not 'broken', just resting. Yesterday I was 0.2# from 100# lost -- oh so close. Today, I breezed right by 100# to 101.2# lost!!! I weighed myself more than once, because I was so happy. Now that it is warmer, I have really picked up on the exercise, and I think that is what pushed me through this stall.
Walked 2 hours + 10 minutes / 15,192 steps! Don't know the distance or calories burned, because I can't quite figure out how to set my pedometer. The important thing though, is that my feet were not killing me, or my ankles, knees, and hips. I felt great the whole walk, hours after the walk, and the next morning. Wow, freedom from pain is an amazing gift!
I have a lap! I can rest a plate of food on my lap, the dog, and my 1 year old niece (not all at the same time!).
My two middle fingers fit around my wrists on both arms.
No longer need a seatbelt extender on an airplane; even a small airplane!
Bathroom stalls -- bring 'em on! Any size; I am ready to use it without any body contortions. I still won't use the bathroom in a plane though, just because it is so disgustingly filthy, not because I can't fit into it.
I rode a horse!! I was so thrilled. Riding through the woods was one of the things I enjoyed most growing up, and I had not done it since high school. I feel like I have really turned a corner -- my weight no longer makes me stop and think 'will I break that' -or- 'will I get stuck' -or- 'can I fit through that' -or- 'will doing that be really uncomfortable'. I can now JUST DO IT!
Patio seating at a restaurant -- I used to dread those small seats and my fat ozzing out from all the holes. No more!
Shoe size has gone from a 9.5W or 10M to an 8M. I am a shoe addict, so this is not a bad thing -- new shoes!
I am torn on this being a WOW: clothing size now has a '1' in front of everything I wear, and not a '2' or a '3'. So while this is a wow, I HATE shopping and I HATE trying on clothes. It was easier just ordering via catalog the plus sized clothes that had no shape. Plus, I buy things knowing that they won't fit in 1-2 months, and it seems like a waste of money. I am hoping that when I settle on a size, the clothing thing becomes fun, but I am not convinced it will. Shoes, bags, and jewelry are still my shopping fun.
BIG WOWZA: Riding around the lake on the pontoon boat, and pull close to some friends -- my sister's good friend says, 'Hey, I didn't know you would be out this weekend (skinny sister, she lives in Chicago)." OMG!! I got mistaken for my sister!! This has NEVER happened before. My sister was thrilled for me when I told her (she not only has a killer bod, she is sweet and beautiful also -- I would hate her if she wasn't the best sister ever).
I sit with my legs crossed all the time now. Either leg, doesn't matter. I feel so lady-like!
Grabbed some long-sleeve t-shirts & turtlenecks in 'XL' at the store (of course I didn't try them on -- hate doing that) for my chilly morning walks; got home and they were too big. Not huge big, but sloppy. How great to exchange these for 'L', instead of the usual 'might as well keep the 'XL' because I will grow into it'. Heck no I won't 'grow' into these larger sizes! How weird is it to buy things that actually fit or are a bit tight?
I cut myself at least once everytime I shave now. Doesn't seem like a great thing -- but, there are bones sticking out now, so I consider this a wow!
Bath towel fits around me, with no gaps for tummy, hips, or thighs! This just feels so 'normal'.
Knee-high boots!!! A little struggle to get them zipped all the way up, but they are zipped, the zipper hasn't broken, the circulation continues in my calf, and I am feeling super sexy! These are riding boots, with very little heal -- so high heels are still on my goal list.
Couldn't even do a men's hoodie pre-op; just too tight around the breasts no matter how large. I was chilly, and just dreaded struggling to put my boyfriend's sweatshirt on -- OMG, men's size M, and it fit great!!! He just lost his hoodie.
I can fit any of my four fingers to my thumbs around my neck. I have no idea why I even tried to do this, but thought it was pretty cool that any of the four made it around without any straining.
Went to Goodwill looking for clothes, and while I didn't find a thing that fit me, someone dropped off some really nice, high quality brands recently in size 14. I bought 8 skirts and 6 pair of pants KNOWING that these will fit me! All this for $40 (tip -- take a senior citizen with you and get an additional 10% off!!). It is great to buy lower sizes when I run across great finds, knowing that I really will wear them.
What happened to that 'shelf' that sat above my ass?? It is GONE!! Okay, so it has moved down and is now some saggy skin in the booty area, but I will take it! That shelf used to be large enough to be extra surface space for a buffet. I am just not hitting things with my extended hips like I used to also. Yah! Less bruising and a whole lot less embarrassment when what I hit was the back of someone's head seated so innocently in a crowded restaurant as I tried to squeeze past.
I waited too long -- I really had to pee. Wouldn't you know it, the string on my jammie bottoms was in a knot and I couldn't slip them over my hips. Pre-op I would not have been able to hold it in, today I did. Without all of the excess weight pushing on my bladder, I now have control over it.
Being pulled over by a police officer is not usually a WOW -- that is until he doesn't believe it is you pictured on the drivers license you present to him! He quizzed me a lot, and said that I had to get a new license, but he didn't give me a ticket! One week later, the clerk at a bookstore needed my license for my purchase, and she blurted out: WOW, you have lost a LOT of weight! She then apologized...yeah right, like she has anything to apologize for! Guess I really should go get a new picture taken for my drivers license.
Boyfriend was laying on the couch, and I snuggled right in between him and the pillows. We both fit, no problem! It was a great feeling to do something so 'normal'.
Met a former boss for lunch (a woman I have known for 12 years and whom I had just seen at 6 months post-op), and when I walked in and apologized for being late, she looked right at me with NO RECOGNITION at all. I spoke again, and she said she would have never recognized me if it weren't the same voice. I am getting this a lot, which is weird, because I really do think that I look pretty much the same, just less puffy.
OMG, OMG, OMG!! The 16Ws are getting baggy, so tried on some 14's (not a 14W!) to check on how close I was to getting into them -- THEY FIT!!! My first 'non plus size' bottoms since my freshman year of college. I had not planned on going out & about today, but I had to go run errands just so I could be seen my my 14's!!!
So much room available in that bathtub! I completely fit, no weird body contortions even with my arms. Did find out that I really don't care to take a bath -- it was just boring -- but it is nice to have the option now.
I used to really need a king size bed when sleeping with someone else. Now a queen is too big, a double is nice, but OMGoodness -- a king is way too big!!
This is kind of a weird one -- I always got pedicures every month or so because of the very deep cuts in my heels and other areas of my feet. These cuts really hurt. Having the pedicure person literally shave the dead & callus skin spots seemed to help. These deep cuts are completely gone (even the ones I got on my fingers), as are the terrible blisters I got from fitness walking, and I have found that I don't care if my toenails are painted or not -- saving lots of $$$.
This is one inch I am very glad to *gain* -- pre-op I was really surprised to measure in at 66 inches. What?? I have been 5' 7" for as long as I can remember!! I am too young to be shrinking!! It was explained to me that it was not unusual that the spine suffers compression (and loss of height) under the weight of SSMO. So, when I got measured at 67 inches recently, I was thrilled! Hey, I have always wanted to be 5' 10", think there is any way I can grow another 3 inches at this age?!?
Wore three inch heels for my wedding ceremony. They didn't hurt, but did feel ackward. I've never been a high heel girl, but these shoes really completed the outfit. I towered over my husband, so I don't need to make myself get used to heels that high. A 1.5" - 2" heel feels very natural, and sexy!
She really DID mean well.... my mother, upon seeing me dressed in my wedding dress (not a traditional dress) says: "I'm surprised you picked a dress that makes you look fatter than you really are." Really, I wasn't offended. It did make me look heavier. Here is the thing --- I didn't care! The dress is what I have envisioned for years and was exactly what I wanted to wear. And, damn it, I could wear it!! So what if it gave the appearance of added weight? When you have lost 200#, looking like you weigh 20# more than you do is hardly anything to worry about. I felt beautiful, the way my husband looked at me told me he thought I was very beautiful, and that is how a bride should feel.
We checked into a hotel and all they had were rooms with two twin beds. We were too tired to push them together, and one of the beds had a rock hard mattress (very rural Guatemala). My husband and I both slept in the twin bed quite comfortably!
Coming back into the U.S. recently..... Immigration guy: "What were you doing in Guatemala?" Me: "Getting married". Immigration guy looks at my passport, looks at me, looks at the picture, and again looks at me: "When did you get this picture taken?" Me: "200# ago". Immigration agent: "Your new husband is a very lucky man, welcome home.". And, what a nice welcome that was!
I can sit on the floor without feeling ackward and nothing falls asleep -AND- I can get myself up from that position with no help, no grabbing on to anything, just my body alone gets me back to a standing position.
Walk a 15 minute mile -- have to get my pedometer figured out! I can probably do this, just haven't mapped out a mile yet.
Hike 10 miles -- I could definitely do this, just haven't had the opportunity to do a good 'in the woods' hike. Hopefully fall11.
Bike - Belmont to Rockford & back -- I could definitely do this, just have to make the time to get to the trail. Use my bike all the time to get around the city whenever I can avoid using the car (and gasoline).
Swim - 2000 yards in 40 minutes / 2000 meters in 45 minutes.
Push up out of the pool onto deck (not using stairs).
Ice skate -- Target winter11 / want to take my niece.
