~*~*~June 9, 2003~*~*~
I have a date to see an internist! July 7, 2003! I am really excited. I think the anticipation is going to kill me....

I am 23 years old (24 in September), and have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I went from a chubby baby, to a "thick" pre-teen, to a way-overweight teenager. Now, I am MO. I remember wearing a size 20 in high school. In college, it escalated to a size 24. Now, I wear a 26-28. WOW. The numbers are even bigger when they are in black and white, right in front of you!

I am recently married (April 26th of this year), to the most wonderful man in the entire world. He was there with me when I had my Breast Reduction in July 2001. (I don't even know the size I was before, I had NEVER found a bra to fit. After the removal of 3 pounds from each side, I now wear a 40 D.) He was also there for my laparoscopic Gallbladder removal in March 2003. He is supportive of my decision to have WLS. He understands how gaining weight can really affect all aspects of your being. When we met 3 years ago, he weighed 140 and played football, ran 2 miles per day, and lifted weights religiously. Today (thanks in part to my entire family's tendency to eat compulsively) he weighs about 230. (Most of his is still muscle, though, because he still lifts weights.)

I would love to be able to work out with him. I would like to be able to play with my little nephew, Jacob, who is 8 months old. I can't get in the floor and play with him, because I might not be able to get back up!! I would like to start doing Yoga or Pilates. I, basically, would like to be able to walk from my car to my desk at work without being winded. I would like to be able to shop as long as I want to, without having to sit down because my ankles and heels hurt SO BAD!!!

When I look at my family, though, I can't say that it is entirely my fault. Genetics HAS to have something to do with it. I think the only person in my immediate or extended family that isn't overweight is Jacob!

I do feel as though I am pretty healthy, though. I don't have diabetes, high blood pressure, or any of those serious things yet. I DO think I have sleep apnea (I wake up about 1,000 times a night) and I have migraines CONSTANTLY. That, and about an extra 150 pound person that I have to pack around constantly is causing my ankles, heels, knees and back to ache!!

I just want to be normal...

*~*~*June 16, 2003*~*~*
Well, nothing has really happened in the last week. I am basically just waiting for my appointment. I am really excited. It seems as though the only thing I think about or talk about is the WLS. I know my family has got to be sick of hearing about it, but...sucks to be them!!! ;-)

~*~*~June 23, 2003~*~*~
AAAHHHHHH!!!! I think I am going to die from the WAITING DISEASE!!!!!! Nothing new to report. Still WAITING. My nephew, Jacob, has surgery on July 3. (He is almost 9 months old, and has to be re-circumcised. I guess they didn't take enough off the first time.) So, that will be scary for all of us, but other than that, it's just work and sleep. (Well, TRYING to sleep. I never sleep well.)
I am having a lot of emotional issues right now, concerning the surgery. I am SO scared that I will be the only one that this surgery doesn't work on. I have read other profiles where they think that as well, but I just think...They just thought it, but it REALLY won't work for ME. I am scared/excited. I am having a difficult time thinking about the fact that I MIGHT be HEALTHY one day. I have NEVER been skinny OR healthy, so I am not really for sure what it is like. I have never seen myself the way I am meant to be. ALTHOUGH...my husband (it's still really weird saying that, even though we have been married almost 2 months) had a dream the other night that I had my surgery. He said that I was thin, STILL beautiful, full of energy and we were jogging together. He said I looked really happy. Do I believe in omens? I am not for sure, but still, it is a nice thought. I just wish that the day would finally get here. I think I am healthy enough to have this surgery. I basically have no co-morbidities, and I am not so huge that a surgery couldn't be done lap (I just had my gallbladder out lap in March!). Still, I am worried. What if I die having this "elective" surgery? But, like I told someone this morning, what if I don't have it done and I end up getting diabetes, heart problems and lung problems (which run in my family) and end up dying a SLOW, HORRIBLE death with those? I would just like to have a good QUALITY life for however much time God chooses to alot me.
I guess I am done rambling for today!!!!

*~*~*June 30, 2003*~*~*
Well, just one more week until my appointment. Time seems to be at a STANDSTILL!!!! I honestly don't feel like time is moving at all. It is coming up, though, and it will be here EVENTUALLY!!!!!!!!

~*~*~July 3, 2003~*~*~
I got a letter yesterday saying that I am going to have my first consultation with the nutritionist on July 7th, also!!!! I am so excited. In the letter, it stated that I will be put on a pre-op "liver shrinking" diet. WWOOOOOOO HHHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
ALSO, I am going back to school in August! I am really excited. I go July 11 to schedule my classes at the University of Kentucky!! YEA!!!!!

*~*~*July 8, 2003*~*~*
Yesterday was my appointment with the internal medicine doctor at the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at St. Joe East. He was really nice, and told me I was a PERFECT candidate for WLS. That was really exciting. The nutritionist and exercise physiologist that I was supposed to see yesterday both left before I got to see them, so I will see them the next time. I only have 6 more things to do before surgery. I have to see the nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and I have to have lab work, an EGD, a pulmonary functions test and my psychological evaluation. The first 5 are being done on July 28, 2003. I am REALLY excited!!! I saw both the surgeons yesterday, walking around. (Dr. Nighbert and Dr. Steiner). They are both really nice. I am just ready to get this over with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~*~*~July 14, 2003~*~*~
I got a letter on Saturday, telling me that my psychological evaluation is August 8, 2003. I am REALLY excited!! Less than one month and I will have everything ready!!! WWOOOO HHHOOOOOO! Two months ago, I stopped drinking anything with caffeine in it. In the past few days, I have not drank any soda at all. I have only been drinking water and Crystal Light. I have also been trying to eat mostly things that are sugar-free. I have tried the sugar-free jello and pudding, and SURPRISE!! They aren't bad!!!! At least I know that I CAN live with it!!!

*~*~*July 29, 2003*~*~*
Well, went to St. Joe East yesterday for some testing. First, I registered, then waited forever. Then, I went to do my Pulmonary Functions test. I think I really sucked at it. My biggest fear is not being able to breathe. Therefore, I am not too good at exhaling as much as I can. ANYWAY...I guess I did okay. Next, I went and had my lab work done. They had to stick me 3 times to get it right. (That doesn't bother me too much though. I am used to having to get stuck several times for blood work and IV's.)

Then, I went and paid my $75 dollars for my nutritionist fee. (It covers pre-surgery consult and a year after surgery. Pretty good deal, huh?) She put me on a low carb diet before surgery, to shrink my liver. I am allowed 30 grams of carbs a day. She also told me to start finding a protein supplement. She told me "If you find a protein shake that you just LOVE, drink one a week until surgery. If you can't find one you love, find one you can tolerate and drink it every day until you do love it!" So, I ordered some samples from Vitalady.com, and bought a chocolate flavored protein drink from CarbSolutions. The bars are pretty good, so I am hoping their shakes are good too. One shake has 20 grams of Protein and only 5 grams of Carbs. Not the highest amount of protein, but pretty good.

After the nutritionist, I had to wait in a waiting room for an hour waiting on my EGD. It was scheduled for 1:45, but I didn't get called back until 3:30. Luckily my mom and husband came with me, so they kept me company. I got to keep all my clothes on, just had to put a gown over them. They only had to stick me one time for the IV, which wasn't bad at all. (There was this woman beside me (there was a curtain between us) and when they tried starting her IV, she was screaming and yelling, "What are you doing to me? OUCH!! That really HURTS!!" I have never heard such a baby! Mom was like "I really hate those kind of patients. All of that jerking and twisting they do just makes it harder to put in the IV" (She's works as an RN in the ICU.)

Anyway, they wheeled me back into the little room where they do the scoping. She put some stuff in my IV, and out I went. I did not even experience any gagging or anything. Next thing I knew, I was back in the little holding area and waking up. There was nothing to it. My throat kind of felt like the beginning of strep throat, but nothing painful. I wasn't numb or anything. Well, then Dr. Childers, the internist who did the scope, came back and told me that I have a hiatal hernia and esophagitis from acid reflux. I don't know how this is going to affect my surgery. We'll find out after I meet with a surgeon. I am REALLY EXCITED. I am ready for the surgery...Just one more step...the dreaded....psychological evaluation!!! AAHHHHHH!!!!

~*~*~August 5, 2003~*~*~
Well, today my husband and I have been together 3 years. (Only married 3 months, though.) When I got to work this morning, there were a dozen pink roses (my favorite!) and a teddy bear on my desk. Apparently, he brought them over yesterday when I was working in another office. He is SO sweet!!!

My low carb diet is going good. I hate to say the word DIET, though. I am trying not to look at this as a diet, but as a healthy lifestyle change. I am eating mostly meats, veggies and fruits. I only drink water or crystal light. I am feeling a lot better. Justin is very supportive. He is not eating as many carbs either. He says that he will eat whatever I can eat. (He says he needs to lose weight, too. We did his BMI, and he came in at 32.2! Obese!! I can't believe it! I don't think he looks it, but he says he does. But, anyway, it doesn't matter to me. I still think he's pretty hot ;-) !!)

My psych eval is on Friday. I am getting really nervous about it. I'll update again after the psych eval!!!!!


*~*~*August 6, 2003*~*~*
I realize that it is not after my psych eval, but I am so nervous and excited that I have to post again. I am not sure when my surgery is going to be, but...it's all I can think about! I really want this to happen. There seems to be a lot of approvals on the message board lately, so hopefully that is a good sign. My mom signed up for a seminar with the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at St. Joe East. Even though I have already been to it, and am one step away from being ready for surgery, I am going to go with her. My husband is going to go also, because he missed the one I went to. (He had to work.) I guess he is going to make it up! :-)

Well, I guess that is about all I have to say today. I am getting that nervous "school's fixing to start" feeling in my belly. (Probably because school is fixing to start on August 27th, but mostly because I am nervous about having this surgery.)

I guess I'll get going. When you see my next update I will have my psychological over with. See ya'll!!!

~*~*~August 8, 2003~*~*~
The psychological is over. Today I went and talked to Dr. Steger in Lexington. He was really nice, and I liked him a lot. He told me he was going to recommended me for counseling! He said that I have self-esteem issues (show me one MO person that doesn't have a few self-esteem issues...) and that I laugh instead of showing real emotion. It is uncanny how he picked that up just by talking to me for an hour. I feel as though I always have to be in control of my emotions. If I am not, I am vulnerable, which I DO NOT like to be!
Well, That's not all. I walk out to go home, and I locked my keys in the car! Justin had to drive an hour to Lexington to bring me a spare key, then we had to drive two vehicles an hour back home! I felt really stupid!!
Well, we'll see what happens from here!!!!


*~*~*August 12, 2003*~*~*
Karen, the program director for the Center for WLS at St. Joe East called me on my cell phone this afternoon! She said they already had the report and recommendation letter for the surgery from Dr. Steger. She said that Dr. Steiner (the surgeon) would dictate my letter and they would send it to Humana this week! I am REALLY excited! I was getting ready for a 4-6 week wait before I heard anything! Well, I will let ya'll know!!!!!!!


~*~*~August 20, 2003~*~*~
Yesterday was my first day of therapy. It was great! I thought it was going to be terrible, but it was fine. She asked a lot of questions, and it was not as terrible as I thought it was going to be. I have to read a book called The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner. It is really good so far. I have already read half of it! I am waiting to hear from the insurance company or St. Joe East about my approval or denial. I am really nervous. Everything seems to be falling into place for it to happen, so maybe God is smiling on me! Well, I am really busy right now, just thought I would take a few moments to update. Until next time.......

*~*~*August 27, 2003*~*~*
Well, apparently my surgeon does not participate with Humana on this surgery. The program director told me that they were working on a contract with Humana so that I won't have to pay the $6000 surgeon fees out of pocket. We'll see!!!!!

~*~*~September 4, 2003~*~*~
Karen from St. Joe East called me at work just now. I AM APPROVED!!! ALSO...they signed a contract with Humana yesterday, so I shouldn't have to pay much out of pocket!! It doesn't go into effect until November 1, so my surgery date is NOVEMBER 4!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!

*~*~*September 12, 2003*~*~*
Well, only 52 days and a wake-up until my surgery. I am getting nervous and excited about it at the same time! I am READY!!!!!!!!!! My birthday is in 4 days!! On September 16th, I will be 24 years old!!!! My surgery is going to be my belated birthday present to myself!!!!!!!!!

~*~*~September 16, 2003~*~*~
TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! I am 24 years old now!!! Justin and I aren't going to do anything for my birthday yet, because we are strapped for cash right now, (got some unexpected bills), but everything will be back to normal shortly, so...we're going to celebrate then! I am still REALLY REALLY excited about my surgery. I am just ready for my life to START!!!!!!

*~*~*September 22, 2003*~*~*
Still just sitting around waiting. I am still going to therapy every week. I have been 5 times, tomorrow will be 6 weeks of therapy, and I am still going every week. I really like it, though. I thought it would be really difficult, and it has been. But, it has been a GOOD difficult. I have started working through things that have been bothering me for a while. It also helps that I like my therapist. It would be really hard to go to someone that you weren't comfortable telling everything to! So, I am just eating low-carb (per surgeon's request) and WAITING!!!! Actually, I am blessed. It will only be 5 1/2 months from my first seminar to surgery day. There are some people on this site that have been waiting for YEARS. I am TRULY BLESSED. But still...the waiting is the hardest part. Til next time......... :-)

~*~*~September 29, 2003~*~*~
OH MY LORD. I was SO sick over the weekend. I guess I had some sort of stomach virus or something, but I'll tell ya...I haven't been that sick in a long time! I didn't even feel that bad after my gallbladder surgery! It was all I could do to get up out of the bed this weekend! Although, I HAD to get up, because I was having some...."intestinal difficulties". Too bad my surgery wasn't this morning, because I would have had my bowel prep done already!!!! I am feeling a little better this morning, though!!!

*~*~*October 6, 2003*~*~*
ONLY 28 DAYS AND A WAKE UP!! Woooo Hoooo!!! I am getting really excited. I went shopping this weekend and bought 3 pairs of pants and 3 sweaters. I was practically nekkid, with no winter clothing! I realize I am having surgery in a month, but it is getting COLD here in Eastern Kentucky and I still have to go to work and school every day this month, so I figured it was a good investment. Plus, they are a little tight, so they will still work for me for a couple of months! I am feeling better though! I was REALLY sick last weekend and most of last week! I went to pick my mom up from work, and I weighed myself to see if I had lost any weight since I've been on my pre-op diet. (Mom works at the hospital, she's an RN in the ICU, and they have one of those REAL scales, you know, where you slide the little metal things over). ANYWAY...I have lost 7 pounds! I was pretty excited about it! Well, I had better get to work. Buh BYE!!!!

~*~*~October 8, 2003~*~*~
ONLY 26 MORE DAYS!!!! It really feels like time is not moving at all. I am REALLY excited, and REALLY wanting to get my life started. It is getting really cold here in eastern Kentucky! I had to wear a big, thick sweater today to keep from freezing to death! I always dread wintertime, though, because you know what that means...ICY ROADS. My butt is squenched all winter long, especially when I am driving! The only two wrecks I've had have been on black ice. AAHHHHH!!!! Anyway, I am just sitting around waiting. I would like to have some words of wisdom for any pre-ops that might be reading this months or years from now, but I don't. Just be patient, time IS moving, whether is seems like it or not!!!!! See Ya'll!!!

*~*~*October 10, 2003*~*~*
ONLY 24 MORE DAYS!!! AAUUUGGGHHHHHHH!! I'm so EXCITED! WWOOOOHHHOOOOOO!!!

~*~*~October 13, 2003~*~*~
21 MORE DAYS!! It's getting closer, but it's getting here REALLY SLOWLY!

*~*~*October 15, 2003*~*~*
19 MORE DAYS!! Last night I was making dinner, and my back started hurting so bad that my sister had to take over the cooking duties. I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I LOSE WEIGHT!

~*~*~October 27, 2003~*~*~
7 MORE DAYS! WOO HOO!!! It's really starting to feel real now!! I am really excited and I CAN NOT wait!!!!

*~*~*November 9, 2003*~*~*
Well...I am 5 days post-op. I have read over my profile, and I can't believe how stupid I was. I was so excited to have this done, but, even though I knew what was supposed to happen, I didn't KNOW it. I am just feeling a little depressed. I am HUNGRY. Not physically hungry, but...I want to chew something so bad. I could just CRY thinking about having to stay on liquids for another week. I really hope that I start feeling better about this whole situation. On a brighter note, I am feeling better physically. I can practically move around without hurting anymore. I guess that's a blessing, but it still doesn't make up for the fact that I am starving to death. (In my head). I'll update when I start feeling better.

~*~*~November 17, 2003~*~*~
Well, I am feeling a little better, so I thought that I would relay my hospital story this morning. November 3: The hospital called me last week and said that my iron levels were really low and Dr. Steiner wanted me to have a colonoscopy, just to make sure. Well, the 3rd was my colonoscopy day. It wasn't too bad. November 4: SURGERY DAY! We had to be there at 5:45 in the morning. (That really sucked. We had to leave the house at 4:30.) Anyway, I was taken back to the little surgery prep area, and I got into this gown that would have fit 3 of me in it. (I guess it's better to have one too big as too small!) The nurse gave me a couple of pills to help with nausea, and I got to drink 1 oz of water with them. It was the best water I had ever tasted!!! She started my IV, and my family came in and sat with me. Then, they wheeled me off to the OR. (They gave my family my room number, and let them wait upstairs in my room. I HAD A PRIVATE ROOM!!!!) They were playing Fleetwood Mac in the OR. I got onto the little table, and that's all I remember. I was in surgery by 7:30 am. I woke up a little bit, and I don't really remember a whole lot about the waking up process. I just remember I felt like an elephant was sitting on me, and I had that stupid oxygen thingie up my nose! I had a catheter in, too, which REALLY sucked. I hope I never have another catheter experience. I got up and walked two laps around the med/surg floor twice that evening. It was painful, but definately worth it. I had lots of family there, and my husband, Justin, stayed the night with me. Basically, surgery day was pretty uneventful. November 5: I got my breakfast of a popsicle, tea, crystal light and broth. The tea was the best part. It was warm and soothing. I was feeling spry, so I got up and walked a couple of laps around the floor. I got back in the bed and watched a little tv, and had a couple of phone calls and some visitors. Then, lunch came. I ate some of the broth, and part of the popsicle. I thought it was good, until a few minutes later I was SO sick to my stomach. I was frothing at the mouth and spitting up. It was so disgusting, and I was trying my best not to throw up! The nurses gave me a few things for nausea, and Dr. Steiner ordered an Upper GI. If I never have another one of them, it will be too soon. All I can say is, BLECH...that stuff is DISGUSTING! It was neat watching the fluid go through my new, cute little tummy. I didn't have a leak, so I was sent back to my room. I just sat there and rested the rest of the night. I only drank the hot tea off of the dinner tray. (I got my catheter out that day, too!!!!) November 6: Dr. Steiner came in and took my drain out. It didn't hurt, it just felt gross. Like I had a long worm in me and it was being pulled out. (I know, it's gross.) He said I could go home that day!!! I was so excited!! So, I ate some breakfast, got dressed, and left. That was the best feeling...getting out of the hospital. I felt like I had been in there for DAYS!! So, that is my story. I am feeling much better, and I am doing my best to get in all of my water during the day. It is really hard, though. Ice water HURTS SO BAD when I try to drink it, so I have to wait until it gets about room temp to drink it. Other than that, everything is just great. I go to the doctor this afternoon to get weighed and (hopefully) get my staples out. YIPPIE!!

*~*~*November 19, 2003*~*~*
Well, I went back to see Dr. Steiner on Monday, and I have lost 21 pounds in 2 weeks!!!! I was really excited about that! I got my staples out, which didn't hurt, but, BOY am I SORE!!! I'm gonna go buy me a scale tonight...so I can have something to obsess over besides food, I guess!!!! (joking.)

~*~*~December 16, 2003~*~*~
I went to see Dr. Steiner yesterday. It has been about 6 weeks since my surgery and I am down to 286. It is really exciting. I wish that I had lost more, but that puts me at -33 pounds. I guess that is a decent loss. I wish that I was losing faster, though. I feel pretty good, though. I have only thrown up a couple of times. Once was after eating some ham, and once was after eating toppings off a piece of pizza. UGH. I didn't realize how much effort it would take to throw up. *this is gross* It didn't take much effort when you threw up pre-op. Now, there isn't all of that stomach acid coming up with it, so while it doesn't BURN to throw up, you have to do a lot of hocking and spitting. Isn't that terrible? I'm just writing this incase there is a pre-op reading this. This is something I never thought about before surgery.
DID YOU CHECK OUT MY MEASUREMENTS?!?!? I can't believe I lost so many inches in one month! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

*~*~*December 22, 2003*~*~*
I am down to 281.5. That is so exciting! That is a loss of 37.5 pounds! I am still sort of skeptical that I will ever make it to 150 lbs. I don't ever even see myself getting below 200. I guess it will happen, but...it still seems hard to believe that it ever will. I started exercising last week. I am doing some weightlifting (benchpress, curls and something for the triceps), walking on the treadmill and trying to do Pilates. The Pilates DVD is really fun, but I can only do about half of the beginners section. OH WELL. At least I'm doing it, I suppose! Hopefully I will be able to do more and more as I go along. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I will report back with my 2 MONTH MEASUREMENTS on January 4th! Til then....

~*~*~January 14, 2004~*~*~
I got on the scale this morning and it said 269. Since I started at 319, that means that I have lost 50 pounds. Yes, you read it right...fifty, Fifty, FIFTY whole pounds!!! I am really thrilled. I'm not going to say that those were 50 EASY pounds, because they weren't. I still have many food deamons, it just makes them easier to deal with! ALTHOUGH...I really don't have any DESIRE to eat anything sweet, which was my DOWNFALL pre-op. So, I guess that is a blessing! My measurements on the 4th were so sucky that I am not even writing them down. I pretty much stayed the same. DEPRESSING. Oh well....maybe my THREE MONTH MEASUREMENTS will be better!!!!!!!!!

*~*~*January 22, 2004*~*~*
I am weighing in at 267 now. I am not losing weight. Darn it. People ask me all the time how much I have lost. I say "only 52 pounds". They say, "ONLY 52 pounds?!?!" I guess it's okay, but I wish that it was a lot more. I'm just feeling sorta BLAH.

~*~*~February 4, 2004~*~*~
I now weigh 259, that is down 60 pounds. I still can't tell a difference, though. I still feel the same, and I think I still look the same, but I am going to do my 3 month measurements and pictures tonight. I hope I can see changes when I get the pictures back! I will update tomorrow with measurements!!

*~*~*February 23, 2004*~*~*
Well, I guess I didn't update my measurements, did I? Oh well, they weren't that amazing, anyway. I am getting really frustrated by the whole "measurement" thing. I guess it's because everything is "falling", causing inaccurate (hopefully!!) measurements. How depressing.
Anyway, the good news is that I now weigh 250 pounds! That is pretty exciting. Only a million more to go!!!! Well, I will talk (write?!?) to ya'll later!!!!

~*~*~March 10, 2004~*~*~
The last time I weighed myself, I was down to 245! That means that I only weigh 20 pounds more than my husband! WOW!

I had been telling Justin that I was stuck and not losing any weight. He was in the bathroom when I weighed myself last, and was like, WOW you've went down ALOT! Come to find out, the last time I told him my weight I was at 261. He was pouting, saying that I was losing weight and wasn't telling him about it. LOL!

I still can't believe that I have lost 73 pounds. It just doesn't seem real. I wore a sweater this weekend that was a SIZE 14/16. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! I was shopping, and they had these sweaters on sale. BUT, they had a 26/28 or the 14/16. So, I figured I was more likely to fit in the SMALLER one. (THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MY LOGIC BEFORE!!!!!) Needless to say, I told EVERYONE what size my sweater was!!!!

*~*~*March 24, 2004*~*~*
My scales are saying that weigh 241, and my dr's said 244. SO, guess who's I'm going by....LOL! It doesn't feel like it is coming off fast enough. Maybe...because I SUCK at excercising. I HATE IT. I guess I had better get to LOVE it though, because it is a life-long friend. lol. *SIGH* I guess I shouldn't complain though. I have lost 77 pounds in 4 and a half months, but....I just wish it were more. Isn't that awful?

I read about people that had surgery the same day as me, or worse, AFTER me, that have already lost 100+ pounds. That makes me feel like a failure. BUt, on a lighter note, I only have to lose 81 more pounds to be at my goal of 160. Actually, I don't know if that is my goal or not. MY ACTUAL GOAL IS TO WEAR A SIZE 10/12. WOULDN'T THAT BE COOL?!?!? lol.

~*~*~March 30, 2004~*~*~
Well, the scale is now reading 239. That means that I have lost 80 pounds in 5 months. BUT...that means that I only have a month to lose 20 more pounds. I would LUV to lose 100 in 6 months. BUT...it doesn't look like it is going to happen...:-(

Today is my mom's birthday. She is 44 today! She is having RNY on April 7th. I am really excited for her!

*~*~*April 12, 2004*~*~*
Well, mom was supposed to have surgery on the 7th, but got really freaked out, and rescheduled for May 12. It's probably for the best, seeing as though she had so much going on in the past couple of weeks.

The GOOD news is that I am down to 234. That is a loss of 85 pounds!!! I got up at 5:30 this morning to get in my new elliptical trainer before I came to work. I am REALLY not used to getting up that early, but hopefully, if I start getting up that early regularly (and going to sleep before midnight!!!) I will not be so tired. HERE'S TO HOPING!!

~*~*~April 19, 2004~*~*~
I weighed 230 this weekend! It is REALLY exciting. I can tell a difference in clothes that just fit 2 weeks ago! YEAH!!!!

I am still not exercising as regularly as I should, but I do try to do something every day. I gotta get going with the exercise!!

I had 3 different people over the weekend tell me that my head was really small. I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not...I guess I am glad something on me is small, though!

*~*~*May 12, 2004*~*~*
Mom had her surgery today! She is doing very well! I am down to 226 now! That is a loss of 94 pounds! I got all of my hair cut off, because I am losing so much of it. It is SO cute! I really love it! I guess my head is REALLY small now, huh?!?!?

~*~*~May 14, 2004~*~*~
Mom is coming home from the hospital today. She is doing great! I updated my measurements with my 6 MONTH measurements, and guess what?!?!? I HAVE LOST 67 INCHES IN 6 MONTHS!! That's almost as tall as I am!!! WOW!!!

*~*~*May 24, 2004*~*~*
Mom is doing good. She lost 19 pounds when she went back for her 1 week visit. Isn't that GREAT! I am weighing in at 224 now. 96 pounds! Getting closer and closer to 100!! It didn't happen in 6 months, but I guess I can't complain about losing "only" 90-some pounds. Basically, life is going pretty good right now!!

~*~*~June 3, 2004~*~*~
My scale said 220 all weekend. I want it to say 219 SO BAD. But, I guess 99 pounds is ALMOST as good as 100. But I'm SO close! I can't believe that 7 months ago, I weighed 100 (almost) pounds more than I do now. YEA FOR ME!!!

*~*~*June 7, 2004*~*~*
I weighed this morning, and the scale said 215. That is 104 pounds! I am SO SO EXCITED! I am feeling pretty good about myself these days! This has been the greatest journey EVER! And hopefully it just gets better and better!! YEA FOR ME!!!

~*~*~June 25, 2004~*~*~
I am still weighing 215. *SIGH* oh well. My brother-in-law graduated from Basic Training on June 16, and my brother graduated from Basic on June 17. It was fun. Alan's (my bro in law) graduation was in Fort Knox, KY and my brother's was in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. It was a LONG DRIVE to Missouri...almost 10 hours to get there from my house, including stopping time. No wonder I haven't lost any weight...I ate A LOT during the drive there and back. OH WELL. :-)

*~*~*July 4, 2004*~*~*
I now weigh 213! Yeah!!! I am really excited. I now wear a solid 18. I hope everyone had a really fun Independence Day! Mom is doing good, she has lost 40 pounds. Basically, my life is going pretty good right now, and I can't complain about much! This surgery has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!!

~*~*~July 15, 2004~*~*~
Still weigh 213, but I have been exercising regularly now! It is really fun being so active. I LOVE buying panties and bras at Victoria's Secret, too. *smile* YEA!! I am loving my new life!!

*~*~*July 26, 2004*~*~*
I weighed 209 this weekend! YEA!! That is 110 pounds gone! I am feeling a lot better about myself these days, but I am really looking forward to getting my abdominoplasty and having a flat tummy! I am so excited!!

~*~*~August 6, 2004~*~*~
Still weighing 209. Justin and I just got back from San Antonio, TX. We went to see my brother, Tyler, who is in the Army there. We took Tyler's girlfriend Melissa down there with us. I GOT A TATTOO!! It is a cute tribal on my lower back. I love it! Justin got one too. He got an eagle on his right upper arm. It's so awesome!

*~*~*August 25, 2004*~*~*
I now weigh 203! WOOO HOOO!!! 116 pounds lost! YEAH! School started back today. I am taking biochemistry and physiology this semester. Needless to say, I am going to be spending a large portion of the next few months studying. Wish me luck!!

~*~*~September 19, 2004~*~*~
I have only lost another pound since my last update. My 25th birthday was on the 16th. School is going good, and I am taking my vitamins regularly. Even if I didn't lose another pound, I am SO thankful that I had the opportunity to have this surgery, and I would have it again RIGHT NOW if I had to. Weighing 202 is so much better than weighing 319!

*~*~*October 15, 2004*~*~*
I weighed 197 this weekend! I also have went to a plastic surgeon for a consultation for a tummy tuck. It is going to cost me $7500. Whew. That is a lot of money, but it will totally be worth it. :-)

~*~*~November 1, 2004~*~*~
I figured this was close enough to my one year anniversary to do my measurements and 1 year weight. Well, one year ago (actually, on November 4, but close..) I weighed 319 pounds and was a size 28. Today, I am 193 pounds and wear a size 16. It just doesn't seem real. When I look in the mirror, I still can NOT tell a difference. I think that I look exactly the same. I realize that I couldn't possibly look the same, but when I look in the mirror, I just don't see it. I am sure that there are a lot of people out there that feel the same way that I do.

My tummy tuck is scheduled for December 17, 2004. Merry Christmas to me! Every one tells me that I don't need it, but then I tell them that if I lifted up my shirt, they would be grossed out and be sick! lol. Well, I will update later!!!

*~*~*November 15, 2004*~*~*
I still weigh 193. Haven't lost anything in a few weeks. BUT, I would definately rather be stuck at 193 than be weighing 319 pounds! FOR SURE!!! I am still really excited about my tummy tuck! WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

~*~*~December 21, 2004~*~*~
I am now 4 days post-op! My surgeon took off about about 10 pounds of skin. She said that during her usual tummy tuck, she will take off about half a pound. WOW. I am feeling pretty amazing. This is one of those instant gratification surgeries. I mean, the pain is there, and it sucks, but you can actually SEE the results immediately, unlike the gastric bypass. It sort of makes the pain easier to deal with.

My surgeon cut me from one side, all the way to the other side, and I have a vertical incision all the way up to the breastbone. She didn't want to do the vertical incision, but she said that it would not be nearly as tight if I didn't have it. I said that I was more concerned about the contour under clothing that I was about scarring. Chances are, I am not going to be an underwear model or anything! lol

SO, basically, it is going pretty good. I am weighing 189 pounds (there is still a lot of swelling and stuff!!) And, I am feeling great! I will see ya'll later!!!

*~*~*December 28, 2004*~*~*
I am now 11 days post-op from my tummy tuck. I went to see my surgeon yesterday, and she took out my drains! That was SO exciting. There were two drains in my superpubic area, and they HURT SO BAD! Needless to say, I am thrilled that they are out! YEA!!!!

I am feeling great! Still sore, but not really in any pain. I have to say, this has been pretty much a painless surgery (except for the drains.) I mean, the incisions are pretty much numb, and there is no pain. There is just a "pressure" feeling, like they are going to try and come apart, but no shooting, sharp pains like other surgeries. I am glad about that!

This is going to be so great whenever all of the swelling goes down. I weighed 186 this morning! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

~*~*~February 18, 2005~*~*~
I am feeling SO great! I weighed 176 yesterday morning, and I am SO excited. I have lost 143 pounds!!!!! I am now wearing a 14 bottom and a large top. Everything is going great!

*~*~*July 14, 2005*~*~*
It has been a long time since my last update! Now I understand why the profiles on here can become neglected. You get so busy living life instead of concentrating so hard on "obesity" that you forget to update! My weight is now bouncing around between 175 and 178 lbs. I would like to lose about 25 more pounds, but if I don't, I sure can't complain! The tummy tuck was FABULOUS! It was TOTALLY worth the money that I paid for it! Basically, my life is going WONDERFULLY right now! WLS was the best thing that I have ever done for myself!

~*~*~January 7, 2006~*~*~
Well, I am now 18 weeks pregnant! I have lost about 11 pounds since I became pregnant, and am down to about 165 pounds. I am due on June 12, 2006! I am not going to lie...I am nervous about gaining weight. My husband has accused me of trying to lose weight instead of gaining weight, but I honestly haven't been. I feel reallly hungry, and it feels like I eat everything all the time!

About Me
Stanton, ky
Location
29.5
BMI
RNY
Surgery
11/04/2003
Surgery Date
Jan 28, 2003
Member Since

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