Veronica Avila
11/14/07: I had my first consult with Dr. Machado. She was very informative and very down to earth. This has been a long process for me, for starters.... March of 2006 I had gone to a surgeon although my insurance didn't cover him or the hospital for this surgery. UGH! So here I am 1 1/2 years nearly 2 later and I finally found an awesome doctor who is also covered by my insurance. I'll be even more excited once I have a surgery date. For now that's all I have for everyone.
12/10/07: I had my nutrition appt on the 6th of December. All went well, now I am just waiting for the authorization from my insurance. I pray it goes through with-out a hitch. I have all my pre-op testings completed including my Psych eval. So my fingers are now anxiously crossed.
2/21/28: Here's the latest.....I finally got my approval and my surgery date is set for March 10th. I am so excited and can hardly wait. My pre-op is February 28th then it's tick toc tick toc after that. 
5/5/09: OMG has it truly already been a year....where has the time gone? Now it's time to maintain my success. I can't believe a year ago I was 250#'s and today I am at 145#'s. YIPPEEE
2/26/08: I'm beginning to get excited and nervous at the same time. 2 more days til my pre-op then it's a down slide to my surgery date. Sweetness no more up hill battles til after surgery and recovery. Ihope that goes smoothly as well.
3/1/08: Pre-op is completed and ready to go. Only 9 days to go!!!!
3/9/08: Ok, so tomorrow is the day. Less than 16 hours away. 
3/13/08: Well all went well. First day out of surgery I was up and walking even though I got winded easily. I was fairly sore but most of the pain I felt was from the gas. Like eveyone has said....walk walk walk walk. That can not be stressed enough. Day 2 in the hosp I was up every hour walking which helped with the gas build up. 3rd day/ discharge day I spent most of the day walking the halls anxious to go home. Hosp was great but nothing tops being home. I'll update as things progress.
3/14/08: Ok I couldn't resist getting on the scale, you know just to see if I was losing my mind that my face seemed to be getting smaller. Well low and behold I am now down 16 pounds....WOW. So far all is well, I have been able to keep up with all my fluids and my protein intake, lets pray all continues to go as smooth as it is going.
3/20/08: I have my post-op appt tomorrow. I am looking so forward to starting pureed foods. According to my scale at home I am down 28 pounds, But we'll see what Dr. Machado's scale says tomorrow. 
3/24/08: I had my post-op appt on the 21st. All went well and graduated to puree's for the next 3 wks. I have managed to get in all my protein and liquids....Thank you God. My total weight loss at the Dr's was 19 lbs, which differed from the home scale....Of course.
4/13/08: I had my 1 month post op on the 11th and I am officially down 25 pounds even. I just weighed in today on my scale at home and am down 1 more pound. Not sure if walking the golden gate had anything to do with it or if it was the heat.
4/22/08: Well I started back at Curves last week, so far so good. I also started to go on 30 min walks in the evening. Yesterday I was actually able to jog 2 blocks and do 50 military situps....Wow the highlight of my week.
6/8/08: I am at 199.6 #'s as of yesterday on my home scale. YAY!!! I go to the gym 5 days a week, and so far so good on following my plan. Knock on wood...no complications as of yet. Thank you God. 
6/28/08: The Doc's scale showed 197 #'s....YAY!!! Been going to the gym 5 days a week, I love it. I can actually jog for 5 mins now without stopping....yiippppeeee.
9/18/08: Well my 6 month follow up is tomorrow. OMG I can't believe it's been 6 months already. Well all is going smoothly, I can't complain. No complicatins as of yet thank g od. And now I have a wonderful and supportive boyfriend who's looking forward to going to my appt tomorrow. He is so absolutely wonderful!!! I am going to the gym at least 3 days a week but try to go 5 times a week, with school starting for the kids it can be difficult at times. Anyone who has questions or just needs support can contact me anytime. And I'm now down to 164 #'s according to my scale. God Bless.
2/10/09: I am finally only 5 pound away from my goal weight of 140#'s. I am scheduled April 1st to undergoe my abdominoplasty, breast lift/reduction (the loose skin) and a minor aug. to make the girls full again. I pray that the insurance will pick up most of the tab....fingers are crossed. I have been going to the gym daily after work and getting a 30 min workout during my lunch hour...the energy from working out is awesome...nothing like before. Before it was a chore to work out and now it's just what I do. Good luck to all that are reading this page. RNY was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and would do it 10 times over again.
1/10/2010: I have been holding at 143-146 and a size 7/8 since Nov 2008. Plastic surgery was denied, so I am still doing it the old fasioned way....Girdle to hold it all in and exercise. As much as I want it tight and gone, I've come to terms with it. Sorry I don't log on here as often as i should but if you have facebook/myspace you can find me there my email to make it easy in locating me is [email protected]
3/13/2011: I am officially 3 years post op and still holding 143-146# and a sixe 7/8. In three years I have accomplished so much. I walked the Golden Gate Bridge, Hiked a 9 miler with my kids to see Feather Falls, Skydived, met the man of my dreams, and recenlty and I mean just 7 days ago...On 3/6/2011 I ran in the NAPA VALLEY MARATHON....Yup the full 26.2 miles!!! If someone would've told me I would've done all these things in my future, I would've laughed. There was no way that at 260# I could've or would've accomplished all these things. I still long to one day have my plastic surgery...after training I know it would've made a difference. Exercise with that panhandle hurts!
Well It's time to log off and get moving with my day. Please find me on Face book, or email me thru here. Sorry I don't log on as often as I should.
02/04/2012: I'm coming up to my 4 year anniversary! Yaaay!!! I have maintained the same size and same weight since 11/2008!!! In 2011 I ran a 5k, Half marathon and a Full Marathon. For 2012 the goal is do the same as 2011 although this year I wanna beat my times, even if only by 2 mins.
3/11/13: I have now celebrated my 5 year anniversary! I am still holding between 148-152 and a size 7/8. I am running a half marathon on 3/17/13 an look forward to selecting a full one. It's time to challenge myself for a second round at a Full Marathon and to beat my own personal time.
6/24/14: The time has come that every one warns us about....the sudden weight gain that comes from nowhere. I have just turned 39 and my hormones are shifting...UGH! In this past year i have gone up 8-10 pounds and now maintain at 158-162. Not where I want to be, and it literally came from no where!!! I am still running 5 days a week, and when I need a break from running I do the Insanity workout DVD's. I still log my foods, and I am still eating as I have the previous 5 years. SMH! It's all in my tush and thighs. I'm not discouraged by this in the least. I'm just posting about it so others do not get discouraged. Keep on living that healthy lifestyle and continues staying active! Until next time ladies and Gents!
12/30/2015: WLS is a tool not a cure. Maintainance is key and truly much tougher than the initial weight loss. From year 6-71/2, I got engaged, and stopped half marathoning and used the extra cash to put into our wedding. Little did I know that was a big mistake. By doing so, I stop holding myself accountable for my runs and put my gym workouts and runs on the back burner. Here I am 2 months shy of my 8 year anniversary and now weighing in at 182# and back up to a size 11/12. Granted I still consider myself a weight loss success even with my weight gain. But I have told my husband, it's time to get back into taking care of me again. So with Christmas having passed and New Years upon us, and keeping myself from getting discouraged, I have now spent this week back at the gym (day 4 & tossing in a 5 mile hike). I'll admit I am starting out slowly, so I'm doing the 30 minute circuits, then building back up to where I was physically 2 years ago. When I want to skip the gym or a walk/jog, I play back in my head my fathers words when I woke up in my hosp room post op...."Mija you have risked one life, for a 2nd chance at another. Waking from a surgery is never a guarantee. Make the most of your 2nd chance and stay healthy."
7/21/2016: I have officially been back to RNY basics which includes timing my chews and meals. I've also returned full swing to running again. I have cut out ALL THE CRAP that crept back into my life becuase I became complacent. In the last 2 weeks I have offically lost 6 lbs! Thank you Jesus! Now let's keep the scale moving in that direction and let's have the inches start shedding off again. I have found Obesityhelp as well as a gastric bypass suppport groups on FACEBOOK. Being back in some form of a support group has really helped me stay on track and not lose sight these last 2 weeks.
12/6/16: I have managed to lose some of the rebound weight. Went straight back to the basics and kept my food and liquid intake clean. I have manged to drop 20# of rebound weight. the remaining 15-20# is holding but I am sure with exercise it will shed off in no time.
05/4/2020: I have 2 months of returning to my running routine. I have a full marathon scheudled for 8/15/2020 to keep on track with my goals. I am still holding onto 20# of rebound weight to which I am hoping to shed during my marathon training. If anyone would like to reach out my email is [email protected]. I have also become Life Coach certified, if you have any questions regarding WLS, please feel free to reach out to me.
06/11/2020: So I am now up to a 14 mile long run and working my up to a full marathon. I have found that I love running again. I am hoping when I start my graduate program in August, that I do not roll back off my running routine. If anyone has questions regarding RNY gastric bypass, please feel free to reach out and freely ask me questions. I am also a life coach, so if you are also in need of a coach....I am your girl!
