I'm Successing

Oct 20, 2008

I am now one year post op.  I can't believe a year is gone already.  As of today, I am down 130 lbs!  Even as I type it I don't think it's really sunk in yet.  I know when I look in the mirror someone very different is looking back at me.  Not different internally....but outwardly.  I can honestly say that I really am not having identity problems.  I know lots of that is discussed at our support group meetings, but I still feel like the same Eileen....I just look different.  I look MUCH BETTER!  I actually like looking at myself, and find myself doing that quite often (how vain is that!).  Oh well, I have a lot of looking to catch up with.  I haven't looked at myself for over 35 years. 

I want to document some of my goals that I have reached.

1.  Being able to tie my shoes
2.  Fitting into a booth
3.  Having a lap for Abby to sit on
4.  Climbing steps and not being winded
5.  Fitting into a seatbelt
6.  Fitting into a movie seat
7.  Hell, fitting into everywhere!
8.  Walking two miles
9.  Crossing my legs
10. Buying clothes that I like and not just because they fit
11.  Wearing real shoes (not just sneakers)
12.  Feeling normal when I walk into a crowded room and not feel like everyone is staring at me
13.  Putting on a bathing suit (alright, this one was still tough, but I still did it, and people on the beach never even took notice to me)
14.  Dropping from a 5X to an XL top and from a 34W to a 22W pant
15.  Dropping from a size 10 ring to a size 7 (oh boy, I have over 100 rings in a size 10)
16.  Hearing my children tell me how proud they are of me (this one is really special)
17.  Pushing my car seat up.  It was always back as far as it would go.  Now I find me pushing it up every couple of months.
18.  Dancing more than one dance at a time.
19.  Accepting invitations without having to worrying if I would "fit" at the restaurant, into their car, etc.
20.  Sleeping in bed (I've been sleeping in a recliner for the last 5 years)

I know there are many more, just can't think of them right now, but I will come back to list them as I remember or accomplish them.

Life is so wonderful minus 130 lbs.  Who would have thought that a call to a 1-800 number would have brought me to Barix and Dr. Boe, and to all of my new Barix family.  I can only imagine how much better it will get as I continue to lose at least another 70 lbs. 

Weight loss is not as easy at this point, and I am really struggling to lose at least a pound a week.  I have lots of stalls, but eventually they do break and I see a 3 or 4 lb loss.  Then there's another stall.  But in all honesty, if I never lose another pound I will be okay.  It's not my goal to remain at 220lbs.  But at this weight at least I have my life back.  At this point, any additional loss is icing on the cake.

I am struggling with the carb monster....I am hooked on pretzels.  Thank God for my tool...at least it keeps the amount of pretzels to a much smaller portion.  I really have to get back to the gym also.  I had a fall in July and broke my thumb and badly bruised both knees.  It kept me out of the gym and now I can't get myself to go back.  I have started lifing weights again at home and am getting back to taking long walks.  But the cold weather is coming and that will prevent me from walking outside because I am just too damn cold all the time. 

The first time I went to Weight Watchers I weighed my current weight.  I was 23 years old at the time.  That was 34 years ago.  I remember saying to my mom that I didn't want to be over 200 lbs on my 25th birthday.   Well 25 came and went, and every year after that I was 10-15 lbs more.  God help me, please don't ever let me get back to 350. 

Gotta stop for now....to be continued.


Update to 6 month Update

Apr 21, 2008

Received a letter from my PCP regarding my lab work.  Here's what he found

Iron Level - borderline
Thyroid Level - slightly low
Vitamin D level - low

All other levels are within range.

He recommended an iron and Vitamin D supplement and sent a prescription for thyroid medication, with instructions to have a repeat thyroid level in 8 weeks.

6 Month Update

Apr 07, 2008

Saw my PCP today.  Wednesday will be 6 months from surgery.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  I had my bloodwork drawn today, so I don't have anything to report on that.  However, my exam went well....blood pressure was perfect and I am down 87 lbs.  Not too shabby.  I feel great...lots more energy, and even look pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.  It's funny, six months ago I would shy away from mirrors.  Now, I am constantly looking at myself.  Not because I'm vain, but because I can't believe that's me looking back.  I look so different, even to myself.  

I joined a gym (Curves closed down) and go at least three times a week.  On the days that I don't go I walk on our treadmill.  Hubby has joined a gym too.  He has already lost over 30 lbs (I HATE men) in just over two months.  He looks great.  Both my kids are amazed that their parents are going to the gym.  They never thought they'd see the day!  

I am so happy with my decision to have WLS.  I was definitely heading down a very bad path, but now there is only smooth sailing ahead.

3 month follow-up with Dr. Boe

Jan 09, 2008

Saw Dr. Boe for my 3-month post op visit.  I lost 14 lbs since my last visit for a total of 38 lbs lost since surgery + 21 lbs. lost during liquid diet, for a total of 59 lbs.  Of course, Dr. Boe only counts the 38 lbs.  According to him, I have lost 19% of my excess body weight.  The average at 3 months is 20% to 25%, so I am slightly under.  He's not very concerned but does want me to increase the amount of food that I am eating to try to jumpstart my weight loss a little.  My blood work came back good.  My cholesterol level is 180.  My other levels were all in range, except that my iron was just a tad low.  He didn't prescribe anything for me but will make sure that the level is better at my 6 month checkup.  I also met with the Nut who also said that I'm not eating enough.  So I have to try to get more food in.  All in all, it was a good checkup.

Stall is finally broken

Jan 02, 2008

Those who know me know that I have been on an 5 week stall.  So damn frustrating.  But the best part of WLS surgery is you can't revert back to your old ways just because of the frustration.  I'm not quite sure what broke the stall, but I think being sick with strep throat and not being able to eat or drink for four days may have had something to do with it.  Now that I am better I have been making a much better effort to get all my fluids in.  I have been successful everyday since I resolved to do that.  I think that has made a major difference.  And now that I am getting in more liquids, it's not as hard as it was earlier.  

Anyway, I finally lost 13 lbs since my last visit with Dr. Boe.  I have my 3-month checkup next week (on the 9th) and was worried that I would be the same weight as the last time he saw me.  I believe he's expecting to see more than 13 lbs. but maybe by next week I can drop a few more.  Still won't be the 20 to 40 he said he thought it might be, but at least it's something.  

Losing the 13 lbs finally allowed me to attain my first real goal - being under 300 lbs. by the end of 2007.  I was so happy to see 293 on the scale.  I haven't been in the 200s for at least 15 years.  

I have to get back to my walking routine.  I have continued to lift weights, but being out of work for 10 days has made me a bit lazy.  I've been looking around at gyms, including Curves and the YMCA.  I'm waiting to start seeing some good January deals on TV, but nothing yet.  I know I won't lose if I don't move.   And right now, losing is all I can think about.


A very good day

Dec 04, 2007

Today was a very good day.  First, my hubby says he can really see the weight loss.  Then I go into work and all the girls say "what happened to you overnight."  Where has all the weight gone.  Well, I don't really know what happened overnight.  According to the scale, nothing happened overnight.  But according to the inches, something great happened overnight.  I have upped my exercise to include some weight training and continue to walk the 1.36 miles everyday through the 10 floors of my office space.  I guess all that hard work is paying off.  All those people who say don't look at the scale are right.  Inches are way more important.

Well, the proof is in the pudding.  I had an orientation today with a new employee.  I had to meet her in one of our conference rooms.  I always had a problem sitting in the chairs in the conference room.  I always purposely get to the conference room early so I can get seated so I won't be so embarrassed struggling to get comfortable.  Well, this morning I get there early and I just plob right into the chair.  No struggling to fit...no struggling to get comfortable.  What a great feeling that was.

6-week checkup

Nov 30, 2007

Had my 6-week checkup with Dr. Boe.  Seems my weight loss was better than I thought.  I lost another 12 lbs. since my 2-week checkup for a loss of 24 lbs since surgery and a total of 45, including the liquid diet loss.  So I guess I can't ask for more than that.  Dr. Boe said I have lost 12% of my excess body weight, which puts me right in the normal range, which is 10% to 15% at 6 weeks.  So, I'm normal.  

I've upped my exercise by adding some weight training and increasing my walking distance.  I am so proud of myself.  I am walking 1.5 miles per day.  Never have I walked a mile at one time.  I am still amazing myself. 

No weight loss...

Nov 23, 2007

It's been a while since I've posted.  Really had nothing exciting to post.  I'm very disappointed with my weight loss.  It seems to have come to a stop.  I've only lost 5 lbs in a month.  I was certainly expecting to do better than that.  It's amazing to me that I haven't lost more, because of the little amount of food that is going in.  I'm not sure what's going on.  I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. Boe next week to discuss it with him.  

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I'm very proud of how I handled the day.  I had a small piece of turkey, some green bean casserole, and some mashed potatoes.  I ate the whole piece of turkey in the same time it took everyone else to eat their platters and even second helpings.  I had no dessert because I was satisfied with what I had eaten.  Last year I was on the South Beach diet and did well until Thanksgiving came.  I decided that I would give myself a break from the diet and eat whatever I wanted that day.  Well, we all know what happens when we do that.  That's right, I never went back to the diet and regained all the weight I had lost, and then some.  This year is obviously a different story. 

On to Soft Foods

Nov 02, 2007

Wow, what a difference eating food makes.  I'm finally starting to regain some energy and I'm not as dizzy as I have been.  I have one more week before I return to work and now that I'm feeling stronger I think I'll be okay.  Besides, at work I get so much more exercise.  Lots of walking through the halls and taking a nice walk at lunchtime.  I'm getting bored at home, although having the time off has allowed me to visit some folks at Barix.  On my last visit, which was two days ago, I weighed myself and lost another 4 lbs.  That's a total of 37 lbs. since the start of the pre-surgery liquid diet.  I'm including the liquid diet weight loss even though Barix doesn't.  Why I don't know.  But I feel that that's when my weight loss journey began and damn it, I'm counting it.

All of my tops are hanging on me.  I have nothing that fits my new size (whatever that is).  Of course, the bottoms are just a little looser.  Why can't woman lose the same all over!  Oh well, since my butt is where I carry most of my weight, I guess that will take the longest the lose.  So my initial problem is....what will I wear to work in another week????  I have absolutely no intention of buying anything new yet, so I guess it's the hanging tops for now.  I do have some pants in my closet that are a smaller size, so I'm hoping I can get into them.  Someone is bringing some clothes to the post-op support group so hopefully there'll be some things in there that I can wear.  They are about three sizes small than I was prior to surgery, so I'm not sure if I've lost enough yet to fit into them, but I'll get into them eventually.  Isn't this a GREAT problem to have....all my clothes are TOO BIG for me.  Wow, that has never happened to me before!

Two week checkup

Oct 24, 2007

Saw Dr. Boe today for my two week checkup.  I'm down 12 lbs from the date of surgery.  Dr. Boe was very happy with my progress.  He said since he tortured me so much with the liquid diet prior to surgery that I could start pureed foods today, go to soft foods next Wednesday, and then start regular foods the following week.  YEAH!


About Me
Location
38.0
BMI
RNY
Surgery
10/09/2007
Surgery Date
Jun 19, 2007
Member Since

Friends 30

Latest Blog 23
I'm Successing
Update to 6 month Update
6 Month Update
3 month follow-up with Dr. Boe
Stall is finally broken
A very good day
6-week checkup
No weight loss...
On to Soft Foods
Two week checkup

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