arenneking
I am 4 months post op as of 2/16/04. I have lost almost 60 pounds and feel good and am looking better and better. Started at 275 and now around 216 or so. My high was around 325 or so a couple of years before surgery. I worked for 1 1/2 years to take off 50 pounds and my body just refused to give up any more, even though I was eating not over 1200 or 1300 calories most days and exercising, not consistently, but more than I ever had done in my life. So, I decided to have the surgery.
2/19/04 - Still at the same weight, 216 or so. I am trying not to get discouraged because of my body's refusal to let go of any more weight. I am exercising a lot and am trying to contribute it to that, but as we all do, I want to see hard numbers! I am just trying to concentrate on getting all my protein in and cut back on almost all carbs. I know I will see more results soon. I guess I just felt like the weight would just fall off me after surgery and that I would never have to worry about it again. Look at me now, still counting calories and obsessing and worrying about it constantly. Although I must say it is easier to eat much less calories now without wanting to eat something else! I guess what they say about this surgery only being a tool is right. It does help me do what I need to do in order to lose the rest of this weight. I am happy with the weight I have lost, I feel much better than I have felt in years and am wearing some size 16s. Any clothes I have bought lately came out of the regular size department rather than the plus size and that feels pretty darn good!
2-21 - stuck at -60 pounds still! Little discouraged, but I guess I have just reached another plateau! I can't wait to get below 200, which by my scales is 11 more pounds (by docs, 16 more, since I weigh 5 pounds more on his scales). Trying not to be too depressed about it, though.
2-25 - now stuck at -61 pounds! Frustrating to say the least!. I want to get below 200 soon and be to at least 80 pounds by six months. At this rate, I am not going to make it.
3/9/04 - I have now lost around 66 pounds, which by my scales puts me at 204 (my doc's, around 209). This is going way slower than I wanted it to. I can't believe how fast some other people lose and it's like I have to struggle for every pound! Been that way all my life though, so I don't know why this should be any different. I eat right, drink my water and exercise 4 - 5 times per week at Gold's Gym, which I really do enjoy. But on the bright side, some 16s I started wearing a couple of weeks ago are getting lose now, so I guess I am losing inches at least!
3/15/04 - I am now at - 69 pounds. I am pretty happy about this since it took a while to get the scales moving again and when they did, they moved a few pounds over the last week. Below 200 is just around the corner!
3/24/04 - I am now at 197 pounds, loss of 73 pounds. Hit the below 200 mark over the weekend. This means I have lost about 12 pounds the last month. Wish it were at least 15, but hey, I'll take it! Pretty pumped about it!
3/29/04 - I am now at around 195 pound, for a total loss of 75 pounds! 16s getting too big and actually got my butt into a size 13/14 yesterday, but it was a 13/14 that was larger then the rest on the rack, but said 13/14 nevertheless!
4/6/04 - I am now weighing in at around 192 for a total loss of 78 pounds since surgery (128 overall). Tried on a dress the other day that I wore when my husband and I got married (7 1/2 years ago, then gained over 100 pounds) and it was too big! I knew I was weighing less, but didn't feel that I was really smaller now than I was then, but lo and behold, the dress hung on me. Pretty psyched about that. Also, the same day, I put on and wore a jacket of my mother's that was a size 10! Could not wear bottoms in a 10 (very bottomheavy, I am), but the jacket fit. It felt good to have something on that actually said size 10! Couldn't believe it fit. My next goal is to be at over an 80 pound loss by my six month anniversary, which is April 16. I know now that I will make that goal. Next goal is to be at 100 pounds lost by 8 months, June 16, I know I will make that too. I will continue to eat right and exercise, although I am going to have to give up the gym. With teenage drivers, car insurance is eating into any extra money I even thought about having.
4/8/04 - Weighed 190 this morning, so I made my 80 pound goal with 8 days to spare, so anything else beyond this point before next Friday will just be icing! Down 130 pounds overall (including the 50 I lost pre-surgery).
4/28/04 - I have only lost about 5 pounds in the last 20 days. That really upsets me. I must get back on track, I have been snacking a little lately and I am sure that is the reason. I want to make it to at least 90 pounds by May 16, which will be my 7 month marker. I will update again once I hit that 90 pound marker, preferably 91, that will put me in the 170s for the first time in 17 or 18 years!
5/10/04 - Well, I said I would update again when I hit the 90 pound mark, and according to my scales, I weighed 180 this morning, which is 90 pounds. I am having some difficultly with the different scales weighing differently, but according to the gym (which I weigh more at) and my own scales at home (1st thing in the morning, naked), I have lost 90 pounds. The docs scales Wednesday said 82, but I dropped a few since then, but I am going by my scales and gym scales! Makes me feel better!
5/24/04 - It has been two weeks since my last update and I have hardly lost anything. Maybe 3 pounds if I am lucky. I have had several social events though and have eaten some things I don't normally eat, so that is probably the reason. I am getting back on track today. If I can be at -100 by June 16, I will be happy, that will be 100 pounds in 8 months and I can deal with that! On the positive side, I saw my ex-husband this weekend and he took a double take at me! Said "damn girl, I like to not have known who you were." Not to be conceited, but I look way better than the woman he is dating, and I hope he is eating his heart out! That is definitely a good feeling!
6/3/04 - I am hanging out at about 175 now. I have two weeks to lose five more pounds for my goal of -100 by 8 months! I know I can do it; however, I have been wanting to eat more lately, but am keeping the calories below 1000 most days and eating mostly protein. The sugar free ice cream gets me every night though! I need to quit that! I will update again when I have reached the magical century club! (really I am already past that, but just talking about since surgery, overall down 145 pounds! Amazing!) wearing size 12s and 14s (14s on bottom, I am definitely bottom heavy!)
6/10/04 - I am hovering around 171 now and have about six more days to get to the century club, by my lastest (revised from original) goal. I have had to revise my goals to something more realistic for the way I have lost, kinda slow compared to some, but am so happy for my loss. I feel so much better every day!
6/23/04 - Boy is this slow now! I have only lost about 3 pounds in the last 13 days, but I will take it! I guess the closer you get to goal, the slower the loss goes. Only 18 more pounds to my initial goal, but that is going by my scales first thing in the morning, nekkid! At the gym with clothing on and much later in the day, I weigh about 10 pounds more, so really I am looking at about 25 more pounds, if I let myself stop then, which I probably won't want to, but I may not have a choice in any of the matter! I would really love to get down to 137, my ideal weight, but don't know if that is even realistic for me at this point. That would mean an overall loss from my highest of 183 pounds!
7/13/04 - Have been at a plateau for about three weeks - hanging steady at 165 pounds. But, I must have lost some inches because clothes are getting looser. Size 14s all getting loose now. I still want to lose 25 more pounds.
7/16/04 - Nine month Anniversary! Today marks my nine month anniversary and I didn't make it to the goal I set for myself. I have lost around 106 pounds so far, with only about 7 being lost in the last month. Weight 164 or 165. The worst month I have had so far and I have been on a plateau for about three weeks. But considering it is my first real long-term plateau, I guess that's not too bad. I still want to lose at least 25 more pounds to get down to my normal weight of 138 pounds. I am trying not to be too disappointed about not making my nine-month goal and just be positive that I will make it to my goal of 138 pounds! On the bright side, I have on a pair of jeans today that I bought a couple of months ago and they were marked size 14s on the tag outside and whereas I have been wearing 14s for a while now and they are getting loose, I have really just been able to wear these jeans without feeling like I was poured into them, but I wasn't surprised about that, because since I am bottom heavy, sometimes it takes a larger size in jeans than in dress pants, but when I went to the bathroom earlier, I noticed that they had been marked wrong on the outside and they actually are 12s! (or the inside tag is wrong and they really are 14s, but hey, I think I will say they are 12s regardless!). So anyway, nine months and less 106 pounds I feel like a different person and considering the fact that my highest pre-surgery weight was 320 pounds (270 at time of surgery), 163 is quite an accomplishment! I will focus on that for now.
7/16/04 I have finally made it to about 160. I want to lose at least 20 more pounds or get to a size 10, whichever comes first. I can actually get into some 10s now, but they are way too tight, so I figure around 15 or 20 more pounds will do the trick! Went on a trip last week to St. Louis and the airplane seat was such a better fit than the last time I went on a plane about 1 1/2 weeks prior to surgery! Travelling was much more comfortable and less stressful at 160 pounds than it was at 270 pounds (or 320 for that matter!) The only thing I hate now is the fact that I have so much loose skin on my legs. I want plastic surgery on them, but will probably never be able to afford it. I will just have to try to live with it. Otherwise, I am so happy with myself and the way I look and feel now, that I constantly look in to mirror! Gotta quit that or people will think I am conceited!
8/16/04 Ten month anniversary! I hit 155 this weekend, which is only five pounds from my initial goal, which of course, I have revised to 145. Gotta get in those size 10s. I am so happy the plateau finally broke and I lost a few more pounds, which really put me at about a 9 or 10 pounds loss in the last month, which I guess ain't too bad for month 10! I am happy. All size 12s fitting good now and 14s too large. My clothing obsession will not let up though, I just can't get enough of clothes, but not spending much, as I shop clearance and thrift stores. I not only look like a different person, I act like a different person too. My self-confidence is so much better than it was at 320 pounds. My depression hardly ever shows up any more. I can't keep still. When I was so heavy, I just wanted to stay at home, so nobody could see me, now I want to stay gone all the time! My husband says he can't keep me at home now.
9-2-04 I have only lost a couple more pounds since my 10 month anniversary. I cannot wait to lose about 10 more pounds then I will call myself done (with the weight loss part at least, I still have major skin issues to deal with, but one bridge at a time). I am hoping to weigh 145 for my one year anniversary. I have about 1 1/2 months to go to that and about 8 pounds. Doesn't seem too much out of reach, however, the weight loss is incredibly slow now.
10-20-04 - My one year anniversary was Saturday, October 16. I have lost about 128 pounds now and am wearing size 8s and 10s. I feel great! I can't begin to express how my life has changed with this weight loss. My self confidence level has soared and I like to go places now, not just stay home depressed. I am loving this! I still want to lose a few more pounds, but even if I don't, I am happy. Weight 143 (on my scales, but of course, I weigh a few pounds more at the doctor's office, so am not calling myself at goal just yet). But I think I can lose a few more pounds.
11/16/04 - 13 months since surgery! I weigh around 138 pounds now for a loss since surgery of 132 pounds (total loss of 182 since my highest). Measured my waist this morning and it was 25 1/2!!!! Never ever thought I would see that again. I have on a skirt today (from Gap) that has a size 2 tag in it, but there is no possible way it is a 2, since it fits. I can however, fit in to some 6s and even bought a size 4 dress the other day that fits! I never thought I would be able to put on clothes with those kind of sizes on them. They used to wouldn't have fit on one leg! This has been amazing and I am so glad I did this for myself. I just landed a job making $13,000 more per year than I am making now, as a branch manager at a real estate closing title company, and I never would have been able to have the confidence a year ago to have nailed that job, but I am such a different person now. I am so happy!
12/13/04 Almost 14 months since my new life began! I have continued to lose weight, not a lot, however, I am down to 133 pounds now and am mostly wearing 6s. I really thought I would level off at about a 10, but of course I didn't and now I have to go through and box up all the 8s and 10s that are too big for me now! I am amazed at the transformation in myself. I keep thinking I will stop loosing, but so far, I haven't stopped completely. I really don't mind loosing a few more pounds, but I really don't want to lose much more. Now I just want to get my thigh lift, tummy tuck, breast lift (and refill!) and perhaps my arms done. Then I will finally be happy and feel like the thin person that everyone keeps telling me I am. I still do not see a thin person when I look in the mirror, but maybe one day I will.
12/20/04 - I have lost three more pounds! Unbelievable. If I lose five more pounds, I won't be mad, but I think I need to stop then! 130 pounds, size 4s and 6s, I never would have believed it! I just checked my November entry and I have lost 8 pounds since 11/16/04. That seems like a lot for 14 months out, but I am not complaining! 13 pounds since October 20. I believe that I can lose five more pounds! That would put me at my smallest weight since I was 12 years old.
2/29/05 - Well, I did lose that other five pounds I was talking about and am down to 125 now and wearing mostly size 4s. I would never have believed in a million years that I would ever be this size. Now I have to start my quest for plastic surgery. A thigh lift is #1 on my list of things I want to do as I am liking shorter skirts more and more these days and would love to be able to wear shorts one day and go to the beach one day like a normal person.
7/11/05 - This is my 45th Birthday! Happy birthday to me! I feel better than I have felt in years. I am almost 21 months out now and usually fluctuate between 120 to 125 pounds. I keep it on an even keel for the most part. I am not exercising like I should and am trying to get back on track with that since I am so afraid I will gain my weight back. I need to start coming here again more often to keep me on track.
9/27/05 - I see I have not posted in over two months. I saw a plastic surgeon on August 16 and am waiting to see if insurance will pay for anything. He says he thinks he can get me approved for a thigh life, since I have SO much loose skin on my thighs. I sure do hope so! I have started back exercising and am trying to maintain. I am still between 120 to 125, depending on the day or time of the month. I am happy here, just don't want to go any higher! I am still happy with my results and so happy I had this surgery!
1/19/06 I see I go too far between postings! I am hovering around 125 or perhaps a little more, 126 or 127. I went up three pounds or so during the holidays and trying to get to my mid 120 to 125 range. I can tell my clothes are a tad snugger. I am watching what I eat again, I had kinda slacked off on the calorie counting for a while, but am back to that and am trying to stay around 1000 at least until I get that three or four pounds back off. My only problem now is I want to drink some wine every night! I know I shouldn't but the craving is there and I usually give in. This is probably why my weight has been up a little.I am depressed because of the excess skin. I cannot afford to pay for ps myself and insurance turned me down. I am very distressed about the shape of my legs, everything else I think I could deal with except perhaps the puddle butt syndrome. When I lay down, I swear it spreads out and it looks like my shadow or something. It is disgusting! I am hoping maybe putting these feelings into print will kick my butt back into some action before I gain more weight. I am not concerned with that yet, since it has happened before and I am able to get it back off pretty quick. Not so quick this time though, so I think it is the lack of exercise. I must get myself in a better frame of mind. As you can see, I am depressed about a lot of things these days. But I will get better, I always do.
1/20/06 - Boy it looks like I was having a melt-down above! I am in a better frame of mind now, things have picked up a little bit. Still haven't lost the few pounds, but not letting it get to me. Am really watching my calorie intake and trying to move more and not sit here on my butt at my desk all day. It will come back off. I know it will.
2/24/06 - Things have really not gotten any better for me. I still have the extra pounds, but I have accepted the fact that maybe it is just my body's way of leveling off. If you think about it, since I haven't had any plastic surgery yet, and probably have at least 10 pounds of excess skin, I guess I had gotten a little too thin. I want to start exercising again and really need to start exercising again.
5/2/06 Ok, I guess I will update every couple of months or so! I have been feeling better mentally lately. I seem to have leveled off at 125, or three pounds or so in either direction, which I am ok with. I am still wearing the same clothes I wore last summer, don't know when the last time I could say that was! I usually had to get bigger every summer. Some things are just a tad snugger, but I am ok. I feel pretty good about where my weight is now. Marriage problems seem to have worked out. I started a new job, making less money which sucks, but at least I don't have the stress of not knowing from month to month whether I will have a job the next month or not. It just so happens that an attorney I used to work for found himself needing an assistant, so he called me and asked me to come back. Its been alright. A change was what I needed I think. I still have to be alone five or six nights a week, but I have found my group of friends and spend time with them.
11/8/06 - I haven't updated in a while. I have realized that the scales I was using was about 10 pounds off and I weighed 135 and not 125! But probably if this skin was gone, I would weight 10 pounds less. I still fluctuate between 135 and 140. I am having a hysterectomy and tummy tuck with inner thighs next thursday! So yea, after three years, I am finally getting something done! I am so happy, yet nervous and scared too.
12/2/06 - I had my hysterectomy, tummy tuck and thigh lift done on Nov. 16, a little over two weeks ago. The first few days were rough, but since then, it has not been as bad as I thought it would be. I am up and about and healing nicely. I only have a couple of very small problem areas that are beginning to heal nicely. My scars are going to look phenomenal! I knew my friend would do me right! My tummy is still swollen, but he did an excellent job on my tummy, it is flat and my bellybutton is so cute! My thighs are not perfect, but as bad as they were before, I knew they wouldn't be. We have some tweaking to do, but they are so much improved, I cannot even begin to express how happy I am. It is so nice to look in the mirror and not see hangy ugly skin everywhere. The way he did my tummy tuck lifted the front and outer of my thighs a good bit too, so with the exception of a couple of dog ears on each upper inner thigh, that is not a big deal to fix, and my need for a buttock and outer thigh lift, they really do look so much better. He tightened them up more than I ever dreamed he could. He and I are both very pleased with the result so far. I am still sore, but as long as I take it easy, it is not so bad. I was up about 10 pounds when I first came home, but have dropped at least 15 now, so I am five below I was the morning of surgery. Even with the swelling, I am able to get into jeans that had gotten too tight! That makes me feel good!
10/17/08 - Yesterday was my five year anniversary! I am doing well. My weight is stable. I hover around 135 most of the time, which is good! I am happy at this weight and size, 4s and 6s. I am proof that you can have this surgery and keep your weight off! You new post ops, take heart, it is not easy. I still have to be very disciplined in what I eat or I will gain weight, I just keep a steady check on it by weighing every day! I recently got a divorce, of course he blamed it on my weight loss, but that is so not the case! I am happier now for the most part.
About Me
Before & After
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