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Well.. again its been a while since i've been on.. things are pretty much the same.. almost 2 years out now and my 18 month check up appt all went well.  The dr even was like.. when do you want to come back..i was like how about Oct .. before the holidays.. but after my 2 year mark.. he seemed happy with that answer.  All the labs are good.. weight loss good. basically maintaining. but i am not exactly thrilled with where i am at.. so here i am reminding myself to refocus on the important stuff.  Even tonights support group meeting was about keeping on track... so i have re-embrace the committment i made to myself, my family, my dr.. why i did this. To improve my life.. 

I didn't realize i hadn't been here for so long!! Life has certainly been crazy!! But in a good way... Though lately i am finding myself in a bit of a rut and need to refocus and recharge.  I need to dig into the websites and find good recipes and get myself more into protein. i am having more trouble with some foods like chicken than i did before, and am finding i am more able to tolerate sugar than i would like... i think my hormonal cravings have come back full swing.. it was very nice while my body adjusted to the new me that they were gone.. anyone have suggestions for that. it actually gets very bad, and maybe its also b/c i feel i am not getting the protein i need.. or maybe i am missing something else?? 

Otherwise the new me is absolutely loving to travel.. airplanes are now my friends!! :) My husbands job has been able to afford me the opportunity to travel.. and i am absolutely LOVING it!!

Christmas got me a new wardobe..that was very much needed.. if i get myself to the gym more.. i will need another by next!! :)

Wow... where has the time gone!!!?? I am so excited today though.. at my Dr office for routine check-up stuff..and I am officially down over 100lbs!! What a feat!! I was so excited to get on the scale there and see 178!!!!  While i am not completely off all my meds.. my bp was 111/67 and my cholesterol is perfect.. i am taking my meds only mon, wed, fri - and this has really helped my dizziness. i knew it was cause my bp was going too low with the meds.. so when he bumped my crestor down to 3 days.. i adjusted my bp meds too.. and i told him today and no issues.. Excellent... my b12 is also better.. and i will continue taking weekly for the next month and then bump it to bi-weekly.. i stretched this last dose due to my bloodwork, i didn't want to take it the day before and throw off my results too much.  it was 260 last time and up in the mid 500's this visit.. :)

Only thing i am working on now is still excersize.. its been such a crazy busy summer as we convert the garage into my daughters dorm room that i haven't been taking the correct me time and i have a 5k in Nov i want to prep actually running for.  So i need to get on it!! plus i am paying for a gym membership i am not using. 

Well a new first for me.. a complete out of town experience in Chicago this week.  Have never been there, had a GREAT time! I was so excited to be able to do all that WALKING.  The first full day of our trip, my husband was there on business, my daughter and I found this cute little cafe where we sat outside and had breakfast/brunch. then we walked, probably a total of 6 miles thru the whole day.  it was amazing.  Of course i am completely sore now! but i was finding that i WANTED to walk. I didn't want to take a cab/train/bus.  It was a freeing feeling, even in the almost 100 degree weather! Day 2 brought on my first case of public dumping, of course at the most inopertune time...if there is even is a 'good' time for that!! :-) But i made it to the bathroom... climbing stairs and almost running to the closest bathroom (a mcdonalds).  

i have to say though some of my favorite parts of my new me are: bathroom stalls are no longer too small!!! I fit in the airplane seats comfortably! I can shop at normal stores!! 

The shopping one is key! My daughter and I had fun shoping.   Going to H&M, Nordstrom Rack, Forever 21, and just being able to find a size and it fits! Amazing feeling! 

I felt i didn't really eat enough.  I did my best to focus on protein, drink plenty of fluids, and take my vitamins. I wasn't really hungry at all, thats not too unusual though.  I will probably weigh myself tomorrow to get an idea of where i stand.  But now i must try to get some rest.. i am completely exhausted!! 

Wow.. its hard to believe its been over 9 months since surgery.  it dawned on my during my support group that my next dr visit is for my 1 year anniversary.  i kind of shocked myself.  its truly amazing where i have come.  Vacation to chicago in a few weeks and for the first time in a VERY long time i am not even worried if i will fit in the airline seats! i love that i don't have to try and fit in bathroom stalls.  I feel very lucky that i pretty much can have whatever and not get sick. of course eating stuff off plan is bound to make you sick and i stay away from those. i even found sugar-free oreos as a treat in my local walmart. I was shocked and got some for the family to try.. they actually weren't too bad.  Its almost time for another discussion with my pcp about my blood pressure meds. i am getting dizzy sometimes just getting up and down at my desk at work..i know thats a sign my bp is too low. i know he is being safe in not just pulling me off the meds, but its also rather irritating that i am still on them.  hopefully soon the only meds i will be on are my allergy meds.. unfortunately you can't stop those with weight loss.. though i would hope my asthma is better.  overall though, things are going great. i have been actually hungry lately. i am not sure why, maybe the increase in cardio at the gym?? 
I have a couple things i would like to do though.. as i need to increase the variety of foods and i really want to experiment more in the kitchen with foods.  At my bariatric support group thru my surgeon, one of the people brought in watermelon and feta cheese as a topping.  that was great! i would never have thought of that. (though i have heard since that its very common). i see recipes and hear things but i never seem to have the time to actually try and experiment.  and i know i need to.  it will definitely keep me focused and going forward.

Hello all.. sorry for being so behind in posting.. things are going well, just been extremely busy and trying to take time away from the computer and being up and doing things. Unfortunately my computer time ends up being on Facebook doing my farmville! :)  But i am doing great.. down a total of 78.9 per my last dr visit on Monday. Which is AWESOME down to 202.. though in the AM when i weigh i have been in ONEDERLAND!!! 199.8.. WHOOHOO!!! Its been 18 years since i have see that figure!!! Its amazing!!   My back is still giving me issues, but i am getting to the gym at least 3 days a week now, completed the 2 5K walks... so i am feeling very accomplished.  My energy isn't exactly what i was expecting so the dr has me doing the b12 weekly and doubling up on my iron to see if that helps.  I keep going, but not with the enthusiasm that i expect from myself.  i suppose being up at midnight isn't helping either.. but thats my fault i should not have had that unsweet tea!!! Plus my husband is out of town and that makes it more difficult as well. 

Foods are all going well.. i have only real issues with Outback :( And smokey flavored things.  i am thankful for the BE chips that greatly help during the PMS munchies.. otherwise i think i might go crazy! i am really listening to my body and what it wants/needs .. especially as far as protein and iron goes.  I actually get that bean craving which still baffles me.But i am loving it. I have had some rice samplings and i have found as long as i chew no problems.. my aunt is jealous because the same with steak. tender and chew well is the answer.

Only had a slight issues shopping for a swim suit.. the old ones are just too baggy to wear out in public.. at home in my own pool/hot tub its fine... but i don't want the twins just popping out in public and my husband and i are having a late anniversary get-away this week and it had to be done.. smaller sizes are awesome but i am noticing some saggy leg skin that isn't really noticable with regular clothes. But the new skirt/short bottoms are helpful at covering that . 

Well i am going to try and get some rest, off to get the puppy neutered tomorrow.. so yet another busy day. Hope all are doing well!!!

Another month has already gone by.. time is just flying! I completed my 2nd 5K walk.. it was awesome.. included another friend of mine and my daughter and i were actually a mother/daughter team. I improved my personal time by 6minutes overall since my last one and actually completed it in under an hour.  My back was a bit sore afterward and my leg feeling a bit bummy.. but it was still awesome.. next big one will be in Nov when i want to run it.. at least part of it. Thats my new exercise goal. Tomorrow is my weigh in day, but i am down weight-wise almost 80 and am ALMOST into onederland.. Its been great to go shopping (still trying to stick to the clearance racks and the cheap stuff.. ) and get another size smaller to shrink into. One pair of pants was just barely.. but everyone at work is amazed by the difference.   Life/work have been stressful, and its nice to see i am not turning to food like i use to once do.  While there are some times i almost feel tempted... especally with grazing.. thats a tough one for me.. keeping to my scheduled meals..and what i brought to work.  But bringing food is a must to make sure i get what i need and am not grazing or eating all yucky foods.  I am due back for my next Dr visit in a couple weeks.. so all the bloodwork will be done.. and we will see where i am at! Yay! I still feel tired sometimes.. but its been better with my iron.  My hair has good and bad days.. yesterday was a bad day.. and i almost cried w/ how much brushed out. Last week i even had a nightmare that i was quite bald.. that wasn't cool! that was after my scalp got a little burned at a football game.. and it was mildly on my mind.  Oh well..

But its late.. just wanted to check in some.. hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Well i can definitely start seeing the noticable differences!! and so is everyone else. on the 26th i walked my first ever 5k race.  It was definitely inspiring being out there with the people that just finished the 15K, and that were running the 5K. My friend and i are hoping to try to run an upcoming 5K in November.. have to start training now! I have NEVER been a runner due to my asthma.. but with that more under control than ever before.. now is the best time to start.  im really getting excited, on top of that my back is slowly getting better.  i had a bad bout just before the walk, but a couple trips on the inversion table seemed to really help it along.  The only thing that i am not happy about is still not feelng that where i am with weight matching up to my actual clothes sizes.. but i know that as my work-outs increase, that will as well. 

Other than that.. things are progressing very well. Buying new clothes is wonderful.. the stack of unwearable clothes keeps growing.   I am excited that my best friend from Alaska is visiting and this week we are going to the Strawberry Festival.. we haven't been to one together in i can't even remember how many years.. probably over 20.. We are both so excited!!  Tomorrow is a trip to Busch Gardens - if there is no rain - to celebrate a friends birthday... i LOVE being able to ride the roller coasters again! I actually had wiggle room in my chest area last time... and the time before that.. i had to have help squishing them in! How fun!!! 

I still have my challenges.. i REALLY have to watch to make sure i get my protein and that i don't eat too quickly. while i have been spared getting sick, i can tell the times i am not careful!   Though i did find in a local store this week.. Sugar Free cake and frosting.. made by pillsbury.. that was pretty exciting.. of course the flavor is a little different being made with Splenda, but in a pinch or with a real craving.. it works!!  I am still having my cravings for beans.. which even my friend was totally shocked at knowing how growing up i NEVER ate beans.. but i know its my body's way of saying i need something.   Otherwise things are the same..

And its time for me to get to bed.. it will be a busy day tomorrow!! have a great one all!!!

Hello all!! hope everyone is doing well.  things are moving along here.. i am really starting to enjoy all the new things and finding that i can eat most all protein. I do think my iron is a little low as i have been extremely tired, this week i started on my iron supplements and have been feeling much better!! i could have tried to give blood and let them tell me that its low... but i tend to know my own body.. i have been craving beans.. and i have NEVER been a bean person.. like kidney, white, any kind.. so i know my body must be needing something! i took this week off exercising with the fatigue that i had been feeling. but will be back into kicking butt next week... have to get in gear for my first ever 5K walk on the 26th. 

Weird too that my friend and i were walking to a little deli to get her lunch and some guy actually honked at us.. it was rather comical!  i can't even remember the last time that happen to me! 

Also survived my first Valentine's day.. my hubby got me some sugar free candies, which they really should start marketing more for Valentines day... but there are NONE that we found. So while i didn't exactly get holiday themed candy... its the thought that counts!!

As for foods.. Not having too many problems lately.  I stay away from items that i hear are not good for others.. i haven't tried any rice yet.. or steak, though i am good w/ ground meats and beef.. i have found some soups that i like.. yes the bean ones.. lol  I have found that alot of places will accomodate me with a kids meal.  i feel so wasteful getting a regular meal unless its something i know i will be able to eat later. 

Well thats about all.. i know i need to get my workouts more reginmented to help out with my actual size. I am a tad discouraged while my weight is down.. my clothes sizes don't seem to shrinking in the same proportion.  at least not to what i feel anyway!! but its still good..i haven't really bought anything new. all my old clothes are just getting huge.. so that works!! :)

Well time to run for now..everyone have a great weekend!!

I am starting to learn now how the struggles in life hurt me. It was pretty smooth sailing since surgery... then life happens.. i am seriously starting to think about heading back to the psychologist to make sure i can keep myself on track.  I don't want to find myself worrying that i might slip back into old habits due to stress and troubles. 

On a happy note, things are going well.. now down a total of 64.5. Had a mild dumping with a Special K protein bar.  just a little too much sugar w/ 18g.  But i have found that i like the revivial snacks as they help me deal with munchies and still get protein. i have diverted away from my journalling as i feel like i am writing all the same things all the time.  so it just got old to me. but i am still maintaining and doing well.  Foods are going well. trying to keep introducing new foods.  and so far so good.  i love being able to have salads and stuff. i enjoy sugar free ice cream.. my favorite so far is mint chocolate chip, doesn't seem to have the same weird aftertaste.

Well it is getting a bit late here.. just wanted to check in some. you can see thats its all going well. hope to have more pics to post soon!