8 months and counting...

Jul 01, 2010

The good:
I'm down 116 pounds now!  I don't lose nearly as fast as I used to, of course, nor nearly as much as I'd like, but every time I think, "Is this it?  Is that all?" I drop a few more pounds, so I think I'm still on track!

I'm down from a size 26/28 pants and 3x shirt, to size 16 jeans and Large shirts (for the most part - there's always those odd clothes that are up or down from everything else you're wearing).  It's fun buying cute panties now; remember when all you could find were beige or white?!  Like it's too much trouble to cut some big girl panties out of cute material - sheesh!

My 6 month labs were also perfect.  I asked for a copy of my labs so I could see if things were falling - they're not.  Well, except for my A1C!  Mind you, I was a newly-diagnosed diabetic when I had surgery last October 26th, and my A1C never got higher than 6.5, but it's now at 4.8!  My blood pressure remains around 100/60, and my cholesterol levels are moving closer to perfect numbers, also.

As far as food goes, I can probably eat a lot more things than I do.  I've gotten into a routine of eating a few favorite things, and it seems to be working for me.  I still eat a lot of cottage cheese, and can eat soft meats, lunch meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, milk products, beef jerkey, yogurt, etc.  I never drink protein shakes or supplements anymore, but the doctor says my diet seems to be giving me what I need for now.

I finally found a vitamin regimen that doesn't drive me crazy - Optisource bariatric vitamins from Walgreen's.  A friend of mine is 18 months out and has my same surgeon and nurse practitioner, and she's been taking them all along and has perfect labs as well.  They taste great, and the best part - the calcium and iron I need are in them!  I was really struggling to get the calcium in, now that I have a harder time taking large pills.

What else?  Oh - I'm dating again!  :)  I've dated a few younger guys (ahem...and by younger, I mean young and HOT!), and a few my own age, too.  I'm having a wonderful time, but haven't found anyone yet who feels like a perfect fit for me, so - oh darn...I guess I'll have to keep looking!  ;)  It's been so long since I've been asked out, and spoiled.  Last weekend was perfect - we drove in his BMW to Lake Coeur d' Alene, took his boat out for about 3 hours, and had a lovely dinner on the 7th floor of the resort.  Wow, I'm still smiling!

The bad:
Umm, not much to report in the "bad" category.  I can drink water with no problem now, although it does still sometimes cramp my stomach if I go too fast.  My new water - Minute Maid Lemonade Light - 2 grams of sugar per serving, and it's YUMMY!  Although it's sweetened the same as Lipton diet tea and Crystal Light, it doesn't give me a headache like they do.

I still get constipated, but I eat so much fruit nowadays that it's a rare thing.  I still don't go every morning like I used to, but I'm back to a routine of when I do go, it's usually first thing in the morning, and not a big hassle like before (GOD I hated those days!)

I'm very happy with my weight loss, but hating the saggy skin a lot.  My thighs are loose and over-hangy now, and I have serious batwings.  As you can see from my old pics, I used to have a VERY fat face/neck, and for awhile I had a pretty bad turkey waddle goin on, but it seems to be snapping back some.  It's definitely less pronounced, and it should by all rights be WORSE, since I'm still losing.  My breasts were disappearing fast, and are pretty saggy now, but with a great bra (and I have one!), I have an illusion of a nice rack as long as I'm not naked, lol!.  I definitely lost weight from the extremities inward, but my belly is starting to flatten out, and I've managed to shrink my butt and not lose it all.  YAY!

I still don't exercise like I should.  I'm a little disappointed that I don't suddenly LOVE exercising, but in truth, I've never liked it.  And I don't like it now.  Granted, I can do a LOT more now, like hiking around the forest for my job, and I recently did the light Pack Test (1 mile walk in 16 minutes - I did it in 15).  I think it's time to make room in my life for more activity - I think it will help me start losing a little faster again, and I am sure I lost some muscle and should build it back up!

The ugly:
Okay, let's talk about transfer addictions.  I'm not addicted to anything, and I haven't done too much of anything bad, but what concerns me is that I seem to WANT to.  I will never be much of a drinker, but I've actually gone out a few times and experimented with alcohol.  Wow, what a rush how fast it hits me now.  Of course, it wears off faster, too, but anyway...I normally drink 3 times a year, if that...and I've done it 3 times in 6 months.  I've also felt a little addicted to the rush I get meeting and talking to cute guys!  Not that I'm anywhere near being a sex addict or anything like that, but if a year down the road I find myself there, I'll be looking back to NOW and saying, "Yep...that's when it started..."  I'm seeing a therapist for the first time in my life, and we both agree that I'm seeking a little adrenaline and fun, making up for lost time so to speak, and exploring ways together to keep me safe and appropriate.  I don't want to finally lose all this weight, and find myself with another (possibly more dangerous) problem!  Wish me luck!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my update.  Hope everyone is having much success and feeling as fantastic as I do.  :)

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