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I am so glad to have had this surgery.
I am doing well and feeling good.
Hubby says I have more confidence and am like the me he married.  He has been wonderful and supportive and proud.
I am down about 135 pounds from my start weight. And about 160 pounds from my heighest. 
   I can fit into a size 8 low rise jean with a muffin top....lol I am bigger in my tummy than in my legs which is most probably due to the extra skin I carry. Very, very odd for me as I have always had more weight in my theighs than anywhere else.  oh, well. I am most comfortable in a size 10 right now, but the 8's are on comfortable and snug.  Mom sent me 5 tops for my birthday and I did not think they would fit as they are all mediums. They all fit. Go freakin figure. I would have NEVER imagined I would fit into a medium. Hell this time last year I was a 3x top and tight 260- should have been a 28- without a surgery date...got that a year ago next week. 
  Now, in all seriousness I never would have imagined I would have gotten into a single digit jean. NEVER! One of my goals was to look good in a pair of jeans and I think i do. I said it then and I will say it now, I do not expect to be Jennifer Anniston, but I would like to look nice in a pair of jeans.
   I have lost most of my bust, hmmm surprised...NO! I can shop at Victoria's Secret and they say I am a 36D, I dont' think that is accurate in the cup, but that is what my bras are. hmmm.  
   **I have been truly blessed with a group of ladies I have met through the support group who have welcomed me and made me feel comfortable. They encourage and do not belittle it is amazing.  The doctors have commented on how close we all have become and how good it is that we have each other.  I wish this kind of support for all weight loss patients. Their knowledge is enough to help anyone make it through.  We are all at different places in our journeys and different medical proceedures but we are all supportive of each other. 
   I can do many things I could not before. I have sooooo much energry. I can run up and down the stairs two flights to do numerous loads of laundry (which I should be doing now), I can bend over to pick things up without thinking about it, I can carry loads and loads of groceries in, I can run...holy shit I can run!!!!! I can workout with much more intensity. What can't I do, really I do not know.
   What should I do more of: EXERCISE...and make sure I get in all my calcium. working on that.
  What should I do less of..: eat sweets. Unfortunately I do not have the physical dumping that many of us RNYers do. I get tired but no running to the bathrooms. ugh. I wanted that. oh well, it just means I have to be more responsible. That sucks but that is life. 
   I have had ZERO complications...zero. I know that I am not atypical but I am oooooh, so greatful. My PCP believes that it is due to the fact that I was in pretty good shape before surgery. 
   Peoples reactions to me have been postiive. But to the surgery has been mixed...you can see it in peoples eyes that they think less of you for doing this. Well, to them I say, but I am doing something about it and it is MY life. Honestly I am glad I did it and really do not care what others think. I will NOT lie about it. IT was bigger than me and now I have a tool to deal with it.  I don't ask them to do this and I wont judge their life so stay the heck out of mine!! So, phooey on them!
   I did not do this to be a barbie. I did this to be able to do things with my son...and hubby. And to do things FOR my son and hubby. I can do that.  Do I need work...oh, Hell yes. Will I do it? probably not. I do not have that kind of money. I want to be healthy and I am. My arms look awful, but I knew that they would...they were bigger than hubby's before surgery. I have have elephant style saggies on my legs and in my belly, but I have my life back so I will take them happily!!! 
  I am glad I did it, but if you are early out and reading this....work your tool in the beginning....that is your most successful time and it does slow down, and do not try and go this alone...it is hard.

  good luck and thanks Dr. for this gift.
teach

PS>>>>Chirstmas was a hoot....My brother over looked me and noted how nice it was that DH was helping "that lady" with directions at the airport when we picked them up. I had to turn around and wave when I saw him for him to recognize me.  Daddy was complimentary and seems very proud.  Mom kept sneeking sideways glances and smiling. My brother of the heart has been there thru the journey but had not seen me and was floored he hugged me sooo tight and giggled when he could grab his elbows. My best friend from high school is a tiny stunning woman and has ALWAYS been there for me no matter my weight was amazed too.  Mother's downstairs neighbor asked mom who was the lady who answered the door.... lol!! Mom has been there 5 years and I have talked to Eva numerous times. Life long friends were just stunned. I am glad they are happy for me, but being the talk sometimes makes me blush.  It was however good to surprise them...they knew but obviously could not imagine.

Hi everyone...and anyone who may want to read my blog

Well is it 8 months and I am now down 125 pounds since surgery. It hardly seems possible, but it is true.
  I bought 3 new items of clothes and they were all size 12! What, ME??? huh?
   I bought some skinny jeans. I know they (fashion gurus) say if you wore them before you should not now...well PHOOEY! I told my dear beloved if I got to a 14 I was going to buy some.  We went to try them on and the 14 was too big I bought a 12!!!  hot dog! And when I owned a pair before they were a bit different in cut (tapered and stopped at the ankle think old style guess jeans), but they were a 15! ha ha ha!
   One of my presurgery goals was too look good in a pair of jeans. Well, Hubby says I do and that must mean I do... he is honest with me.
  People are now telling me not to loose anymore.  That is weird! I know I can easily loose more, and hope to get to the 160 my doc wants.  I am 8 months out and I hope I can loose the last 17 before the year is up. 
   I do find I do better if I eat more and drink, drink, drink...that is hard.
   I noted today that at one point I was as high as 316 on the primary doctor's scale- and I know I was a bit bigger. That means I have lost 150 pounds since my highest, and 125 since the beginning of this surgery journey.
   ** On the down side...
  1- much colder...less insulation, right?
  2- NO clothes...what a problem huh?
  3- can't think of anymore

I am doing well.  I do not regret the RNY in anyway.
  I have gained a ton of new friends and feel great about the changes in my life.

take care of yourself and be good to you
teach

Greetings all my friends in OH land.
I got an email from OH, asking me to post a 6 mo update.
Sooo, here I am. I am posting.
I have lost 109 pounds. I am about 30 pounds from the doctors goal. I do not know what I will look like there but it will be interesting to see.
I eat well and do not get sick too often...like 6 times in the 6 months. I am still a realative chicken shit to eat a lot of things. I tried a couple of sweetish things an have done ok. I can eat a bite of something and have that be enough. It was my cycle so I tried and well Hell I am human.
I feel good.
Hubby says I look good everyday.
Many people comment on my loss and I still get embarrassed. I think it is becuase for me this was about getting healthy and I am surprised byt he comments about how nice I look. You know I was ugly before right?  Well, I have gone from a tight 26 should've been in a 28 I am sure to a fitting well, but not snug 16, I have gone from a 3X shirt being snug to a large shirt fitting fine. From 296 to 187 today; thus -109 pounds
THAT is sooo freaking weird. I know I had surgery to loose weight, but again wrapping your brain around the actuality of if is pretty tough sometimes.
   When I went shopping to get my 16's I was wearing a 20 and they were loose so I grabed an 18 also loose. At this point I cant say I was all there. I think I was in shock. I grabbed a 16 went back to the dressing room, zipped the pants and  turned and looked behind me for the woman whose legs I was seeing in the mirror.  NO JOKE!  I had tears in my eyes I could not  believ that was really me.
I have no lost as much as my son weighs....he is 11 for pete's sake.
   My arms look like hell and you know what Tought S*&t! I relly do not care. Maybe  I will be able to get them fixed, and maybe not but either way is fine with me.
   I look good in a pair of jeans again. I am not Jennifer Anniston, but I look good in a pair of jeans. That was one of my major goals. Wooo hoo!
  Well, I should go. If ya have any questions regarding my journey please do not hesitate to contact me via pm and I will  answer.
teach

three cheers for the 31st of August! 
That was my 5 month anniversary and guess what????  Fill in title here... yup - I have lost 100 pounds. It sounds surreal, but it is true.
Jenny N from work said in like 5 months you will loose 100 pounds and dead on the money I lost 100 pounds.
  Wow, It is odd- I am still me, but people are reacting to me differently. Not the people I saw everyday, but strangers.
  My regulars at Panera have always been nice. Now they are supportive. My coworkers are kind, don't know what they might be saying behind my back and honestly....not worried about it. Men smile more, am I surprised NO. Husband warned me to be ready. He says- and is probably right; but I won't admit it- that I am dense when it comes to men flirting with me.  Good friends have been supportive. What has been weird is how many people, who are being polite and kind, have commented on how much I have lost.  A lady I only see at Panera commented and I blushed.  A lady who helped with me at the Market Day dispursement at my son's school commented that with my jeans on she could really tell just how much I lost. I got embarrassed. I told her Thank You, but again was a bit self conscious. I know that I did this for me and not to be a perfect barbie so that is some of it. I guess I just wasn't prepared for all the public attention.  I am trying very hard to be polite and not blush and run away.  I know they are trying to be positive, but it is weird to be in the lime light.     I feel like I am still me, but a me that can buy jeans at Old Navy in the regular sizes. Hubby laughs that I still grab large sizes.
   My hubby is my biggest supporter. He is so kind and thoughtful towards my changes.  He tells me everyday how proud he is of me and how much he loves me.  Good thing too because he is a keeper. Who would be stupid enough to leave a man who is a partner to me now as he was when I was 300 pounds?  I am damn lucky to have a hubby who ALWAYS found me sexy and attractive. He makes me laugh and smile, and at times scream (those are very few) and what more could I want?  A GREAT Dad to our son? Well, he is that too. Good provider- got that too.  I AM DARNED LUCKY- AND i KNOW IT!
   I have had a pretty good 5 months I am more than a little chicken shit to over eat and the like, but it is good.  I LOVE cheese and crackers for lunch.  Beef in cubes seems easier than ground unless it has simmered for hours and has high fat content. Chicken is my favorite and I still eat it alot. I do NOT eat meat in the am....yogurt smoothies...60 calories or greek yogurt.  Sometimes a protein shake for bfast.  I got sick on shrimp once and have avoided it. Can eat some sweets. I tried a cookie lately and a couple of bites of cake for son's 11th.   I can do milk no problem. But need to stop drinking a latte as I sip it all day and don't do the protien drink I should in the am. So, I think I am gonna turn that into once a week....boo.

   That is me in a nutshell.... from 296 to 195 from TIGHT 26 (probably should've been a 28) to a 16, from a 3x to a Large top.  My legs fit into boots again, and my feet are a size 9 not 9.5 and no W on them.  Will be doing blood work soon and will post how they are.
       thanks for reading and the support. OH is an invaluable asset to my progress....
TEACH

I have no pants....
Seriously I have no jeans.
So, today I went to the mall.  Old Navy was having a sale.  I knew that I would probably be a size 18 as those are the shorts I am wearning now. I thought well, with the full length leg I should do fine it will be a slimmer leg.
I brought a size 18 in the fitting room and quickly left to get the next size DOWN!!
That means that I am wearing a size 16 jean.  What the heck???
I have not worn a 16 since at least 1993.  I moved to KY in an 18.
I had a hard time seeing my legs as my own...they are small. Well, yea ya DUMMY- you've lost close to 100 pounds.
HOLY COW!!!
 
As for my possibly hitting a goal. I wanted to look good in a pair of jeans- and I think I did. Hubby said I do. And he said the sweetest thing...you look like the girl I first fell in love with. He is very supportive, I am lucky.

Now, for a funny...I had on a shirt from before surgery and it is loose, no doubt, but when I put my long messenger purse over my should it slid my shirt and reveeled toooo much. My bra strap was showing as was part of my bra. OOOooops. I will be retiring that shirt for certain!

Who knew that you can see your tendons and stuff in your hands?  Ok, probably skinny people- but I can now. woot!!!

take care all
teach

Well, it has been 4 months and I feeling pretty darn good.

I am down 86 pounds. I can hardly belive that.  I started in a TIGHT 26 and now my 20's are too large. I need to alter them so I have some clothes for the beginning of school.

I still do not eat too much. And some days are easier than others.  I am still eating really small meals. I cannot eat a great deal of meat, I do well with chicken surprisingly enough.  I do well with soft foods and I am still kinda chicken to eat too much.

Afew times of getting sick convinces me I don't want to eat certain items...
         I still do NOT eat scrambled eggs...oh, man they got me the worst.
                                 eat shrimp
                                  eat beans quickly.

People do not recognize me. Hunter's 4th grade teacher did a double take and told hubby he had a vixen now didn't he. I waved to a friends hubby and he waved that - I don't know you but I'll wave back wave. Then I saw him later and he recognized me when I was with other people.

I am not having but a tiny bit of footpain anymore. I can run up and down the stairs endlessly to do laundry. Not that I want to do that but hey necessary evils, right?

I am doing well getting in my 2 shakes for protein and much better at vitamins. 

I forgot to eat today and I would never have imgained in my darkest moments that I would forget to eat.

I definately have more energy.  I can see by what I can do around the house. School starts in one week. I wonder how I will feel when the time comes for me to be interactive.

Mom noticed my waist is back. SO did my boss. Steven loves how he can hold me and lock his hands on his elbows. Son loves that he can hug me more easily.

I can cross my legs and sit comfortably. It is really weird. Lady like yes, but bad for your back.

I can tell I have lost my bust....no more spots on my blouses....may be bust loss or less food eaten. ha haha

Need to send a photo to Dad and brother.

have a great night.
teach

Hi
three months today!
I am well.
I no longer need a large pressure cuff at the docs- found that out yesterday.
Blood pressure though never high was good.
Have gotten rid of 4- 33 gallon bags of clothes and almost done with every piece of clothing I have washed.
Doc was pleased.
Feeling pretty good today and most days.
Can clean my house soooo much longer than ever before.
Do not take naps- except if out of one of my thyroid meds.
My plantar facia seems to be gone!!! Wooo Hooo!
Have been cooking up a storm for my family
stupidly never took measurements...wonder if I can get them from my gym from way before?
***I know I owe everyone new pics...
                 Three months out and cannot wait to see my mother at the end of July.  She will be soooo happy and proud-
Teach

Hi all or Hi anyone as the case may be;

I went to see Dr. tuesday and it went well.  My surgeon is not one to hold hands and I get that. I am actually ok with it. I am a big girl and I can deal with it as long as he is straight forward with me....and he is.
   He asked how I was doing. I said fine, he said, "no, GREAT!" I was happy with his response.
   He asked me questions and I asked some too. So I was done.  As we finished up I asked him what was his goal weight for me. He grabbed my paperwork and said 164, that would be 80% lost.  I would be happy there. I think it is doable. 
  The thing that was odd for me was to realize that with the weight I had lost, I was over half way to where he wanted me.  That was a serious eye opener. In three months??? What the heck?
    I still have huge arms...they are going down now, but really it is not a huge deal. I am who I am and will most likely be able fly away with my bat wings when all is said and done.  BUT as I have said before I am hear for health, not to be anything I am not.
  
I have a hard time seeing myself as smaller. here are a few examples:
   odd to see that clothes I have never have fit like this- my black shorts are an example- the smallest I have owned in 10 years and never fit this well. They are now even more flattering.
    I bought some shorts in May a tad snug and now 20 pounds lighter they are getting loose.  I have NEVER understood how 20 pounds could make that much of a difference.  Apparently that is a fact.
    I cannot see myself in the windows of stores- I just don't see me in my image
   Hubby laughs when I get shocked by my ongoing physical changes. What did you expect? he says.
    I put on my swimsuit thinking it would be fine...it was a tight 26 last summer and now I can get into a 20 suit??
   Clothes- I still grab 24/26's - obviously they do not fit
    Found a real pretty dress for an upcoming trip, but it was a 16 and I put it back on the rack.  Looked at some things and then thought, wait, I bought 4 size 18 shorts...I may be able to fit that.   AND I did. I FIT A SIZE 16!!!! Whoo hoo!
    
I can now completely understand how people have to "wrap their brains around " the changes. It is going fine.

   So, I have lost (according to my stats) as of this am 71.5 pounds. Phew that is amazing.  The doc gave my goal weight as 164, and that sounds extremely do able.  I am now also more than half way to his goal weight for me.That hardly seems possible- at all! The weight loss has been amazing. It just comes off...and off and off some more!
   I feel good. I am finding more people talk to me first than before.  I have always been very social and have no problems with meeting people but more people are initiating converstation with me.

So, that is my news.
thanks for reading.
teach

I have lost 63 pounds; but oh, what I have found

I have found:
that I can move more easily
that I can tie my shoes on top not the side
that none of my jeans fit...even the ones that were too small
that I can go up and down the stairs many, many times a day
that I love to help my son when he calls...used to move pretty slow
that I don't miss the bread as much as I thought I would
that my face has cheek bones again
that I can now fit a size 18 from at tight 26!
that I no longer snore- so hubby says
that I can cook for my family and be ok, eating a little and stop
that I have so much more energy
that I can clean my house like an average person does
the clothes my mother bought for me before my surgery that were waaaaaaaaaaay to small- most fit now
that the ketosis seems to be leaving me and I can taste again
that a can of soup can last me a week
a whole new group of friends on OH

   I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to begin again.  I know that I am not perfect ( I am still not eating many heavy foods, I have had trouble with vitamins and getting enough protein has been hard until the ketosis went away) but I do the best that I can and I am doing fine.
   I enjoy the opportunity to do more physical work and the chance to keep up at a normal level of activity. 
   I did not see myself as a person with a great deal of clothing, but that is not true. I have 4 bags sitting in my house to be donated to the womens shelter.
   I am soooo greatful to be able to be healthy for my family.  I love them with all my heart and only want to be able to care for my husband and son.
   I look forward to seeing my brother, sister in law and father at Christmas time- they will be shocked. Mom has seen a pic, but will be here in a month and she will be surprised when she sees it with her own eyes.  My dear Paul, our son's uncle, has been there with us thru this journey and knows the numbers but will be shocked when he sees me.  My best friend Emmo has not seen me since the surgery nor has Isa, Tony, Lucy, Mike, Stacey or any other the Bay Area friends. 
    I don't look forward to being a barbie doll.  I don't want to be something I am not, if I need to have plastic surgery and can well than I will, but I want this process to be about getting healthy not getting a societally perfect outward image. I want to be an energizer bunny that keeps on going, and going, and going!
           Before I go I need to acknowledge that support that I receive from the great people at OH!  I have found them too!

TEACH

Well, here it is summer time and I find most of my shorts do not fit.  I had some pairs a friend gave me, but they sit on my stomach and kinda hurt.  Mine are all tooo big and apparently I ahve been complaining of having nothing to wear.  So, DH bought me three pair of shorts for this size and two pairs fo rny next size. 
I cannot beleive I am wearing comfortably a size 18.
I have not worn an 18 since I lived in California.
whhoooo hoooo!

Tried on the 22's too big.  Tried on the 20's could take them off with the zipper and buttons still fastened.  On to the 18's woo hoo....they fit.  I got a little surprised, but needless to say I am glad.

I was feeling bad that the scale was not moving like I would have liked, only to find my body shifting and lowering sizes.When this journey began my 26's were tight. and now, I am in an 18 holy smokes!  That is in less than 10 weeks.

I bought a regular XL shirt this week, down from a 3X when I started. I thought it was a fluke, but then today I could fit a shirt Mom got me when the surgery date came... also XL- for me to grow into he he he.  I was kinda shocked again.

Well, that is what has me jazzed right now. I think I better get to the gym that will kick my numbers up again.

thanks for reading my new clothes excitement
teach