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as of today has lost 140 lbs and wants to share her story. I have started a blog, here is my link, http://myveryactivecoach.blogspot.com/

It has been a while since I posted, but for the new year, I figured I would post my progress.  As of Jan. 3rd, I have lost 140 pounds.  I am off my high blood pressure medicines, I no longer take insulin and I feel so much better.  I never thought that I would lose an entire person..........  It has been a journey, but a journey that I wouldn't change for anything. I think that this journey is harder mentally than anything else. I find myself still going into the plus size section even though I wear a 12 and can fit a 10 depending on what it is.  I still worry about fitting into booths at resturants.  Does anyone else suffer from this?  Also, I have started a blog, my weight loss journey. I would love for you all to follow me and read. 

http://myveryactivecoach.blogspot.com/

Well it has been forever since I posted.  I login daily to check on how everyone is doing, but I haven't taken the time to sit down and post an update. Well, getting the sleeve was the best decision I ever made.  I had surgery on June 3rd, 2010 and as of today, September 5th, 2010 I am down 80 pounds.  I went to a family fish fry yesterday and it was amazing to see how everybody reacted to the new me.  I feel so much better and I have so much more energy.  I still struggle with eating and I am not hungry a lot at all, so I have to make myself remember to eat.  I also still have a little trouble getting in my required protein.  Protein shakes make me gag and after the surgery dairy products now make me sick.  So, I try my best to make wise eating choices to make sure I get my lean protein in.  Drinking water is now super easy and I find myself drinking way over 64oz a day.  The first month for me was hard because I missed my best friend (food).  Mentally, I missed my comfort food, but physically the thought of eating made me sick.  So, I took that time to work on my relationship with food.  I discovered a lot during that first month, I discovered that I used food for everything.  Now, I have found ways to deal with emotions other than using food.  I have also found activities to do with friends other than eat.  A large group of us are going paintball fighting next weekend.  80 pounds ago I would have never done this. 

I have pretty much followed everything the Dr. said and I have had no problems.  The only rule I broke was I had an alcohol drink on Friday.  Since I am not a big drinker I am not worried.

I wish everybody great success.

Nicole

Well, I had surgery on June 3rd.  I weighed yesterday morning and I am down 27lbs.  I am excited about losing that much weight.  I just pray that it keeps falling off.  I have followed the doctor's orders exactly. I am doing my protein, drinking my water and I am going to the gym.  I start soft foods on Thursday.  I am such a picky eater so we will see how that goes.

Surgery went very well. Only complaint that I have is that my stomach is sore.  Feels like I did a million sit ups. I am still trying to figure out exactly how I feel.  Even though I haven't eaten since Monday, I am not hungry.  The nutritionist told me that I will need 71 grams of protein a day plus 64 oz of liquids.  I am doing these breathing exercises and I am getting up walking around.  I have been realy fuzzy headed since the surgery and I am sure the pain meds are helping me stay fuzzy.  I go back to the doctor on next Friday.  I can't wait to see how I am progressing! 

I have a date, I can't be late. HAHA!  I have an official surgery date.  The date is June 3rd.  I am so excited..................... 

Well, I went to the dietitian and the cardiologist today.  Woke up excited thinking, "two more things I can strike off my list." Well, the dietitian was okay, but the cardiologist, wasn't.  My EKG was normal, but my heart rate was high and my blood pressure was high.  I felt so embarrassed answering the health questions..... Do you have diabetes, cholesterol, etc.  I told the nurse that my cholesterol was slightly elevated. LOL.  Anyway, I just knew he was about to say, "I will send your clearance over to Dr. Smith."  Instead he said, even though your EKG is normal, I am worried about your heart rate being so high and with your blood pressure high I need to do another test before I can clear you.  So, I get to go have a sonogram of my heart.  I am trying not to get down about this but, dang.............. How did I let this happen? I was an athlete in high school, I gained the Freshman 15, but I lost it.  How in the world did I let myself get into this health situation.?

Well, I went to the grocery store and bought veggies, fruits, oatmeal, etc.  Everything that I know will help bring down my cholesterol and blood pressure.  I also plan to start walking everyday.  The heart doctor told me that I won't be having any surgery unless I get all these numbers down.  I really want to have this done mid-June. I just hope I can.

I am going to get off this feeling sorry for myself horse and do something. 

Well after 5 or 6 years of debating I finally made up my mind.  I have to have the surgery.  I am a middle school principal and one of my students passed out on the track during PE, I was in the front of the buidling and I was unable to "rush" to him.  Thank God my assistant principal is in the reserves and runs daily, he took off and left me in the dust.  When I finally got to the field they were waiting on me to bring the water, I was actually attempting to jog and I was still going so slowly that one of my teachers ran from the child to me to get the bottle of water out of my hand, then she ran back to the child.  I realized at that moment that I had to do something. When I got back to my office I finally went online to the website that my primary health care doctor had given me.  I called, found out the next seminar and went.  Even though I have insurance, my insurance group doesn't include wls, so I will have to pay for this out of pocket.  Paying out of pocket has one advantage, I can get it done sooner!  I went to the seminar on April 6th, meet the doctor on April 20th and he said that I should be able to have the summer on June 14th.  As a principal I get three weeks off and I want to get the surgery done at the top of my three weeks off.  So far, I have scheduled ALL of my doctor clearance visits. 

I am sick and tired of this weight.  I have been on every diet known to man.  I am normally successful, I lose weight then I gain it all back plus more.  I have been every size there is to be.  For the past five or so years I have been fluctuating between 280-331 pounds and wearing a size 20-24.  Today, I am 34 and I weigh 331 pounds.  It is time for me to make a change.  I am so excited that I don't know if I can even make it to June.  If it was up to me, I would have the surgery tomorrow. 

After joining this site, I have been obsessed with reading other peoples stories.  Seeing how people have changed so and how people say that this surgery has changed their lives really makes me excited about my future. 

I am in the process of learning all that I can.  Any advice anyone can give me is appreciated. I can't wait to start living again! At 331 pounds, I am not living I am just here.  I want to go sky diving, swimming, shop in normal clothes, get on roller coasters, fit in booths at restaurants, bend down easily and tie my shoes, look down and see my feet, not be squashed in public restrooms, the list could go on for hours. 

Nicole