Dawn T.

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So I haven't done an update in awhile. Well lets see. I have lost 67lbs all together with the pre-op diet. 57 of those pounds are from surgery. I can now shop in normal size clothing. I wear a size 16 jeans and tops and NO MORE GRANNY PANTIES! I haven't bought a new boulder holder yet but  I am going to have to because the ones that I have are very baggie. Generally speaking I feel awesome.
  Yesterday I had to go to a convention and there as no parking near to where I had to go. So my husband and I hand to park about 4 blocks away. Well because the weather is freezing here it was SO cold outside. So needless to say I just about ran to the convention center.  I haven't been able to walk that fast, for that long in forever.  All together I walked a good 7-10 miles yesterday and it felt really good.
   I got my 3rd fill last week. I now have 5.5cc's in my 10cc band. I beleive I am at the "sweet spot' that I keep hearing about because I am not hungry and I do have alot of restriction. And I continue to lose weight.
   Last night when I went out someone that I have known for a long time didn't recognize me. She kept telling me I looked taller and that I look younger. Haha it feels so good when people tell you that.  Funny thing is I am not taller. I guess it's because people are seeing you now instead of huge hips and backside.  Oh and I did get my haircut for the first time.  I went shorter but not too short. It was time to reward myself.
   I still have about 87 more pounds to go unless my doctor decides to go further than that. But all and all I feel great. And I couldn't be happier with myself.

Well today I went for my second fill. The doctor only put in .5cc's. He said I now have 3.5cc in the 10cc band. The great news is WHY he only put that amount in. It seems that I have lost another 15lbs since my last fill in Dec., bringing my weightloss to 44lbs since surgery, 51lbs from the pre-op weight. :)  I feel so much better. 
   I made it through the holidays. YAY!!!!

Let me start by saying Happy New Year. This year will be very different for me. How you ask? Well I got on the scale today and since my first visit to the doctors I have lost 55lbs. Since my surgery date on Oct 23, 2009 I have lost 45lbs. I won't officially change my ticker until I go to the doctors on Jan. 13th.
In 2001 I had open heart surgery because I and an aortic aneurysm. I also had a valve replacement. That was 8 1/2 years ago. I am already back down to the weight I was when I had my surgery. I go to visit my cardiologist on Jan. 25th and am very excited to see what is said. I will need to have open heart again in a couple of years because they put a pigs valve in last time, which only lasts for 10 years or so. This time around I will get a mechanical which should last for the rest of my life. 6 months ago my cardiologist said that I really needed to lose the weight because I was taking the chance of dieing on the table or at the least risking infection if I did lose the weight. So here I am. I have lost about 1/4 of my goal weight.
So here is my New Years Resolution. I am extremely greatful for the support of my family and friends and everyone on here, but I have come to realize that the only person who is truly going to help me do this, is myself. I want to LIVE. I don't want to die young. So I refuse to let food control me any longer. I will however not give up living. I do realize that this is a lifestyle change but it's not a reason to give up living. Everything in moderation. So if I make a mistake I am NOT going to punish myself for it. I am just going to learn from those mistakes and move along. So 'FOOD' move over because I'm taking over. This is MY life, not yours.
Good luck to everyone in 2010. I hope you have as much success as I have had and continue down your path of weight-loss. God bless you all and thanks for being here for me.

So yesterday I did something really exciting for myself.  I dug my car and my driveway out of 2 foot of snow. How in the world is that exciting you ask? Well for the first time in many years I actually started and finished the job without getting winded and having to stop several times. My back didn't hurt and today I am actually not sore. It was great exercise and I definately burned alot of calories. Now don't get me wrong. I in no way want this much snow ever again however I am proud of myself that I was able to shovel myself out. Ok so I had help of my husband and youngest son but still I did alot of shoveling myself.
  I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Holiday.

Well I experienced my first 'Stuck' feeling last night.  It hurt and I did throw up but after it was gone it was ok.  It kind of hurts and feels a little weird. I guess everyone has to experience it once in their banding life. I do know that I will have to chew alot more now then I did.  I felt the restriction as soon as they did the fill yesterday. I'm still feeling the restriction. Good thing is I'm not hungry still. It's great.

Well today was my first fill. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Took about 2 minutes. Since it was done under X-ray the first time I had to swallow that disgusting Barium swallow again. Other than that it went great.  I have to return in 6 weeks for my next fill. That will be done in the office though. No more X-ray and Barium swallows unless there are complications. I have lost 29lbs since surgery and 40lbs all together with the pre-op diet.

Well I survived Thanksgiving dinner.  I probably ate a little more then I should have but I didn't over induldge as I normally would.  Tomorrow I will get myself back on track again.  I think I did pretty good anyway.  Now I wait until Dec. 3rd for my first fill.

    Well for this year, for the very first time on Thanksgiving I actually have something to be thankful for besides my wonderful family. I have to this day, between the pre-op diet and my surgery, I have lost 42 lbs. That's one pound for each year of my life (I'm 42). I can't wait to go back and see my cardiologist and have her say that my echo for my heart looks much better and that my open heart surgery will be prolonged for another couple of years. I feel so much better since I have lost some weight. I know I have alot more to go but now I have the confidence that I can do this, PLUS keep the weightoff.  The amazing thing about it all is that I don't get my first fill until Dec. 3rd and I'm still not really that hungry.  I stil at the table looking at my little desert plate, and then look at the regular dinner plate that my family has and I think, "Oh my God. 1 month ago I would have killed for more food. (not literally)."  And then to put my food on a regular dinner plate is funny because it looks like a baby size portion...lol
    The biggest process for me was learning how to know the difference between actual hunger and head hunger. Once I was able to figure the difference it wasn't so hard.  I can't say that I am not tempted at times to have a cookie or a peice of cake but I have the will power to not give in.
   Anyway I have lost 3 sizes in my pants. I refuse to buy more clothes yet so I bought myself a belt. My clothes are baggy but I don't really care. It makes me look like I have lost more weight.
   So what is my point about all of this?  Be thankful for what you have. It doesn't matter how much you have lost.  Even if you have only lost 1 pounds. It's 1 more pounds closer to reaching your goal.  If you haven't lost anything. At least you didn't gain any weight. If you gained a pound or 2, be thankful that you have the ability to try again.  Most important is to be thankful that you have already had WLS or are in the process of having WLS.
    Remember NEVER GIVE UP! No matter how hard you think things might be, there is always someone in this world that has it worse than you do.
     God bless everyone and may you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!  Put your scales away and don't weigh yourself before or after the holiday.

So last night I attended the local Support Group meeting.  My doctors office recommends it to all of their patients. I'm glad I went because it was very good. I learned that my doctor (who open his second office down here is South Jersey in January), has 554 people on the list for weighloss surgery right now. It's amazing.  Their main practice is in Mountainside NJ. I also learned that all of the tests that I had to go through (stress test, pulmonary test, cardiologist, Phsycological, Gastric, and letter from my primary) wasn't for my insurance company to clear me. My actual Bariatric Doctor makes you get those tests. They said many doctors don't make you get them. But my doctor wants to be absolutely sure before he operates on you that you can go through with the surgery. That's pretty awesome. So if anyone in Southern NJ is looking for a great surgeon. Go see Dr. Reich. He's awesome as well as the staff in his office. He's in the Center for Bariatrics at Southern Ocean County Hospital.

   Well Friday I will be 3 weeks out and I'm still doing great. I'm still not really that hungry. I've made it a point to try and eat my meals at the same time everyday.  I'm still on the mushies and I still have my 3 protein shakes a day.  My co-workers have me on a routine. We go to the cardio room 3 days a week now.  I have been doing the treadmill and the lifecycle. I've TRIED the stairmaster but it's to hard for me. That's ok. I did a brisk walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes and today I did 30 minutes, brisk peddle on the lifecycle which was a bit over 10 miles. Plus I walk on the weekends at least 2 miles a day and I use my WII FIT also.  I go back for another check up on Nov. 16th.  I'm not really sure if I lost anything. According to my scale I did but the doctors scale is different. Go figure when they are both digital.  And it's got nothing to do with moving it around on the floor either because it still weighs the same.  I'm told though I probably won't lose anything until I get a few fills. That's ok. I'm looking forward to the weighloss as it comes. The main thing is I am feeling better. And I am down 2 sizes in my waist and chest so at least I am losing inches.
   Tonight I am going to my first WLS support group. I'm excited to see the people that I had my surgery with.  And to listen to others.