I'm about five and a half years out and doing really good (weight wise). All in all, I've lost over two hundred pounds and kept it off. So in the Spring of 2012, I finally decided to get rid of some of the massive amount of excess skin hanging around body.

I've been nipped and tucked by my plastic surgeon and am almost back where I want to be as far as my weight. ALMOST!

A few days after my first plastic surgery, I had a strange incident occur; I fell asleep with a heating pad on my knees. Well, nothing wrong with that. HOWEVER...keep in mind that I was on fairly strong pain meds at the time. Ahem. Well, I woke up and the heating pad was under my left hip which still had a drain tube nearby and I was sleeping on a plastic lined hospital pad on top of a plastic sheet underneath that. I woke up didn't think much of it for a few days when a huge (and I mean HUGE) nine inch gooey red spot appeared. I was scared to death!

My first thought was I had MRSA; that had been my biggest fear all along. My surgeon had given me his personal cell phone number and I called him; he asked me to send him a photo of it and I did. He gave me some care instructions for the night and told me to come in first thing in the morning. I had time to think overnight what had possibly gone wrong had remembered the "sleepy stupor heating pad incident".

Anyhoo, he treated me with kid gloves the entire summer while it healed and since then we've had a good laughs since. But the burn prevented me from any serious exercise (because fabric rubbed and chafed the burn) for almost nine months and I couldn't get in the pool (which was horrible for me because I am an avid swimmer). 

During that time, I gained eighteen pounds back, but have spent 2013 working very hard to get that off. I'm half way there; but have hit a little plateau. I know I'll get back where I was and may even go for a little more off.

As far as the plastic surgery, I have had: a tummy tuck, my arms done, breast reductions (and lift) and a few other small procedures like my eyelids done (and yes, I know the proper procedural names). In the future, I'll probably have a few more. For me, I have found that feeling good physically starts with feeling good mentally. Also, I work out in the water as much as I can; whether I am exercising or just floating, it is wonderful therapy for me.

Well, that's all for today. I'll pop in again soon!

FYI: The photos were taken approximately two weeks before my first plastic surgeries (and before I gained the eighteen pounds).

April 1st, 2011 will be my three-year surgiversary. I am happy to report that I have now lost 214.2 pounds and am considering plastic surgery in the near future.

Below is my latest full-length photo.



If I can do this, so can YOU!!!

Down 208 pounds at my thirty-month surgiversary...
A little bit older; but a lot thinner and healthier for the most part!

 

Pre-Surgery Photos With My Fabulous Nutritionist & Rock Star Surgeon:

Two years ago, I was almost as wide as I am tall; I was a prisoner in a wheelchair due to my bad knees. I had zero confidence and was very fatigued all of the time.

Today, I'm very active and able to walk and walk and walk. I'm an avid swimmer and usually average about 300 laps when I'm able to get in the wah-wah (about three times a week in the winter and almost every day in the summer). I also do various exercise DVD's; my fave is Zumba. And I still enjoy the Richard Simmons "Sweating To The Oldies" tapes. Additionally, I enjoy all working out with many of the shows on FitTV.

Even better, I'm almost 200 pounds lighter! Plus, I've lost 114.875 inches since March 30th, 2008. I still want to lose about twenty-five more pounds (maybe thirty). However, I am less than two pounds away from my surgeon's goal. If I never lose another pound, I am much healthier than I was twenty-four months ago and would be content with where I am.

So far, I've had no plastic surgery; but would love to when the budget allows for that. Right now, we're adding a garage onto our home and closing in our existing carport to make a new den. So I'll have to wait until next year to finish "remodeling" myself.

Anyway, this has been a wonderful journey; and I absolutely love, love, love my RNY! I couldn't have done it without the support of my friends here at Obesity Help. You have helped me tremendously with your support and friendship.

Proud Original Member Of The WETEO's=Whatcha Eating Today Every One

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What do your food labels really mean? 'Free-range,' 'natural,' 'non-toxic,' and other myths

Mitch Lipka
Jan 28th 2010 at 9:00AM

Naturally raised. A recent USDA standard for animals raised withhout growth hormones or anitbiotics.

Natural. A term regulated only for meats and poultry -- containing no artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives -- and otherwise meaningless.

Some label terms, although truthful, have little or no real meaning, no standards for definition -- and a high potential to confuse consumers:

• Contains antioxidants
• Doctor-recommended
• Free-range (can mean anything from an animal that roams freely to one that is let out of its cage from time to time)
• Green
• Immunity formula
• Kid-approved
• Made with whole grains
• May lower cholesterol
• Natural (for non-meat or -poultry products)
• Natural goodness
• No trans fat
• Non-toxic
• Parent-tested
• Strengthens your immune system

Content From: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/01/28/what-do-your-food-labels-really-mean-free-range-natural/?icid=main|main|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walletpop.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2F28%2Fwhat-do-your-food-labels-really-mean-free-range-natural%2F
 

I awoke this past Saturday morning and the scales read 199.0! Yay! That means this ol' chickee has finally crossed the border into a beautiful village called "Onederland".

I am absolutely ecstatic!  (((Can you tell?))) This is the first time in over three decades that I have weighed in under two hundred pounds. I know I weighed 180 when I got married in 1975. But it wasn't long after that when I gained a lot of weight. I must tell you that I simply cannot quit smiling.

I'm not one to ever say "never"; but I'm pretty sure that I will NEVER EVER let myself gain this weight back. I am so proud of all of my hard work. I feel so much better and I can do so much more than I ever dreamed that I could do again. The mirror and the camera are my friends again (well, except for the all the wrinkles that have appeared when the fat moved out). At a recent meeting, one of the girls threw me in the front row and said that I was one of the smaller ones in the group. What strange words after decades of always hiding near the back in photos!!

Onederland is indeed WONDERFUL!!!

I recently found a new brand of protein shakes at "Costco". The brand is "Premier Nutrition" and I bought the  Chocolate ones.  They're pretty doggone good. Plus, they have 30 Grams Of Protein each.
 
Check them out at: http://www.premiernutrition.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Scree n=CTGY&Store_Code=PREMIERNUTRITION&Category_Code=PROTEIN-SHA KE 

The cost was about $23-$24 for a case pack of 18.

INGREDIENTS

1-Bag Ready Cut Cole Slaw Mix Or About 4 Cups Shredded/Chopped Cabbage (DON'T USE THE DRESSING MIX THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE)
1 Bottle "Ken's Steakhouse" Lite Raspberry Walnut Or Fat Free Raspberry Pecan Viniagrette (Use More Or Less Depending Upon Your Preferences)
1 Package (12 Oz.)Dried Cranberries Or Craisins (Use More Or Less Depending Upon Your Preferences)
1-2 Cups Sliced Or Slivered Almonds (Use More Or Less Depending Upon Your Preferences)

Also, I've added some sliced grapes, pineapple bits or chopped apples in the mix for variety.

Put slaw mix in a large bowl. Toss in dried cranberries. Slowly add slaw dressing to taste. Sprinkle in nuts, adding more dressing (as desired). Remember it's always better to add more than have to run back to the store to get more coleslaw mixture. Stir until mixed well.

Chill and serve. This salad is best eaten the day you make it; however, it will keep fairly well for up to 48 hours in the refrigerator.That is, IF there is any left! 

* I also stir in some unflavored protein powder in my portion to give it more nutritional value.

This is a wonderful side dish; I especially like it with ham, chicken and fish. Even my friends who don't like slaw, love this recipe. You can't mess it up -- add more or less fruit and nuts as desired. The salty-sweet, crunchy mixture is a hit!

Now that we've had WLS, our pouches are valuable pieces of real estate these days. Aren't they?

I've given up bread, sugar and a lot of processed foods. But I won't sacrifice taste! Eggface taught me that early on. There are so many sauces, spices, relishes, salsas, etc. that can add a zip of flavor without adding a lot of calories.

 "Mrs. Renfro's" collection of salsas are some of my absolute faves to cook with and to dip veggies in. I buy them at "Harris-Teeter" in North Carolina but you can order them online, too. Occasionally, I'll even have a few baked scooping chips with the yummy stuff...but shush on that one. After all, a girl can only be so good, ya' know? Tee hee! http://www.renfrofoods.com/

Their black bean salsa, peach salsa and corn relish are amazing with veggies and all types of meat. They have a new pineapple salsa that I haven't found yet (but I'm definitely on the lookout for it).

So far, I've fixed flank steak, tilapia, shrimp, scallops, flounder and chicken with the salsas. Then in the chicken and beef dishes, I've added some 2% Mexican Cheese to top it off with a little more protein. Yum Yum Yum!

My absolute favorite post-WLS dish to fix at home features their peach salsa. I add a few not-so-secret ingredients (see recipe below in another post) and serve it over shrimp or scallops.

Here's another delectable dish:

Chicken Breasts With "Mrs. Renfro's" Salsa

Grilled Salsa Chicken Ingredients:
4 Boneless Chicken Breasts
1/2 Up To A Whole Jar Of "Mrs. Renfro's" Peach Salsa (Or Your Choice Of Any Of Their Scrumptious Salsas)

Instructions:
Place four boneless chicken breasts in a container and pour about half a jar of "Mrs. Renfro's" Peach Salsa over it evenly. Cover and let marinate overnight in refrigerator.

Grill over medium heat, turning occasionally until done. Heat remaining salsa from jar and serve over the chicken breasts.

Timesaver Step: Buy pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts or chicken strips. Heat/thaw the breasts/strips in the microwave per instructions on the package. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Then in a frying pan, add a few drops of olive oil. Cook the breasts for a few minutes until golden brown, then add your desired amount of salsa over the meat. Continue to heat for a few more minutes. Voila... In just a few minutes, you're ready to serve this restaurant quality meal.

This quick dish would be great over quinoa (or long grain rice). Or you can pair it with your fave veggies.

By the way, the peach salsa has ten calories per two tablespoons and two sugars.

Be sure to let me know if you like it and how you use "Mrs. Renfro's" products!

Well, it's been almost six weeks since I've lost any real weight. I keep gaining and losing the same pound and a half. I now find myself firmly stuck in a stall (and I'm NOT talking about a bathroom). However, a couple of years ago, that could certainly have been the case. I hated public toilets because they were too small; I hated movie theater chairs; I hated booths; airplane travel was a pain; seatbelts didn't fit; I hated my weight.

Eighteen and a half months after my RNY, I can easily fit into the seats at all those public places. In a strange turn of events, I recently got pulled over by a highway patrolman who thought I was a child driving my husband's big truck because I was so short in his seat. After gently admonishing me, he instructed me to adjust the seat (I've since found the adjustment controls and pumped up the seat). There was a time (not so long ago) that I was literally overflowing in that seat; now I've lost  a significant amount of "butt height". In fact, I often feel like Lily Tomlin in her big ol' rocking chair. People actually tell me I'm tiny. "Who woulda thunk it" just a few years ago?

For most of my adult life, I was the one taking pictures. And when people would take my photo, I would desperately hide behind pillows, scarves, whatever I was wearing, cakes, jewelry, my own hands, other people, chairs, tables and many other inanimate objects. Rarely would I allow anyone to take a full body photo and I had to search my archives in order to find the unflattering collection (shown below). I really needed to do that so I could accurately gauge exactly how large I really was. My brain and my mirror don't always see things the same way.

Even at my highest weight, I was always the life of the party. I was constantly doing something funny or silly; looking back I realize that I was trying to make people laugh "with me" and not "at me". I would ask "does this cat cube make me look fat?" (see photo to the right); all the while knowing that nothing could make me look anything but obese. 

However, since April 1st, 2008, I've lost almost 170 pounds (I'm just three ounces away) and have lost an amazing 102.375 inches.  I'm just 28 pounds away from my surgeon's goal; but still have 48 pounds to get to my goal. My BMI has gone from a whopping 62.8 down to 34.6. Having typed all of that, I must add that I really, really want to make my goal and get to Wonderland. I'm so close, I can taste it.

But when I look at the big picture along with my "getting littler" pictures, I can really see how far I've come. And even though I'm caught in this web of not losing pounds right now, I must say that I am very satisfied with my results thus far. I'm fit and feeling better. Most days, I can walk and walk and walk without my wheelchair. I'm still bone on bone with my right knee, but I am so much better off today than I was a year ago, mustless two years ago. I could barely stand up; walking was "muy dificil".

Despite this temporary stall, plateau or whatever you want to call it, I'm definitely not giving up! I started the liquid protein train today and will be upping my daily workouts soon. It's also time to post some stats and new pics to let my mind catch up with my body. It's been quite a while since I added any new pics... So here are some images from the ol' me and the "latest greatest new and improved" version of me. Thanks for sharing this journey with me!