Edi P.

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We all love Barb so much; not sure why, she sure can get RABID!  Hope you enjoy the photo's as much as we enjoyed the evening surprising Barb with a small show of our affection.  

GOOD LUCK BARB ON YOUR JOURNEY!!

Sometimes I can hardly believe the good fortune in my life, and then there are days like these past couple that reinforce the love that I have around me.  First, God loves me!  He's really pulled me through some really hard times lately.  Thank you so much Jesus and thank you Steven and Joe.     Second, God loves me!!  Without faith in Him, I wouldn't be able to take this journey to a healthier life.  The past couple months, I haven't lost much weight....a pound here and there, and then I'd gain it, and then lose it.  This past week, I've been losing, and today, when I stepped on the scale....I was below 180....179.8 to be exact.  Do you realize what this means?????  My BMI is now BELOW 30!!  I'm no longer Obese!!  I'm mirely Overweight!!  I've been crying all morning....it could qualify me for a Kleenex commercial I think!  But they are tears of graditude and humility.  Without God, I wouldn't have been able to do this.  He has faith in me and I have faith and love for Him.  Then, there's my family and friends.  Without their love and support, it would have been much harder to realize I could take this journey.  I've been in the dumps...again....and a visit with Gwen lifted my spirits again.  Not only does she have the most precious twins and "big boy", but she has faith and love of Jesus Christ and shares it so well with me.  Thank you Gwen for your prayers and friendship.  I also visited my friend Sue, she has faced the grim reaper three times in the past two years, and God has granted her life.  She's stronger than she knows and she's an inspiration to me.  Then the friends that I've made on OH and through support groups....what would I do without them!!  They are a constant source of laughter, love, and inspiration!  They are a treasure.  Can you imagine, we're all going through this together, even though it's an individual journey?  Does that make sense?  This journey is life, we each have to make our own way...our own choices, but we have wonderful friends and family to give us a hand when we need it, or even a kick when we ask for it!  I love them all!  And family, what would I do without my family.  Well, one thing....I wouldn't have anyone to take pictures with to help me "see" myself.  It's hard to "see" ourselves, so my way is to take pictures next to people who I consider a normal size.  The more I see myself in comparison to them, the more my minds eye can see me....and I'm beginning to see a normal person too and not a huge morbidly obese person.  That's why I love the pictures of myself with my cousin and sister....I look normal!  And I'm feeling normal too.

So thank you friends, thank you family, and thank you God...for this miracle journey that I'm on. 

Check out the picture of our coffee group!  We've lost a total of 738 pounds!  WOOO HOOO 

Can it be an entire year already???!!!  Time has really flown by and my life has changed sooooooooooooooo much!  I'm just amazed!  Looking back, I think I've accomplished nearly every one of my health goals.  Let's take stock...no more high blood pressure, no more high cholestral, no more sleep apnea, no more acid reflux, no more asthma, no more allergies....WHAT??!!!  No more ALLERGIES???  How can that be???  I don't know, but I haven't had one sneeze, not one running nose or watery eyes this season!  And I can smell things better than ever!  The "no mores" are exciting, but here's what I can do now...walk....yes....and I can walk long distances.  I can take the steps and not get winded.  I can mow my lawn, do the weeding in the garden, do the weed whacking, and not get winded OR have to run in the house for my nebulizer or inhalers!!!  I have energy to walk around Lake Como, or walk around Como Park and Como Zoo, I can walk around the Mall of America for hours without having to stop and take a break every 100 yards.  Oh man, it's a new life and one I thank the Lord for every day!!  I thought I was a happy person before, but I'm sooo much more happy to be healthy now. 

I had my one year appointment with Barb and it was so positive.  My labs were really good, except the iron.  I'm lacking iron, so I've started taking an iron supplement.  Other than that, I'm on track!!

Hey, let's talk numbers!!  I've lost 154 pounds!  Woo Hoo!!  We set a goal weight of 160, but as long as I get under a BMI of 30, PNC will be happy.  I'm happy already, but I know I can continue.  I set my goal of 180 by my nephews wedding in September and to reach 160 by New Years.  Now, more numbers.  Here's the break down of inches lost...
Head                            1"
Neck                           3.5 "
Upper Arms                   7"
Chest                           15"
Bust                             12"
Waist                           12"
Wrists                        2.75"
Hips                              18"
Thighs                           16"
Calves                         9.25"
Ankles                            2"
Shoe size          11W to 10.5M

A total of 97.5 inches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a journey it's been this past year!!  I want to thank my friends, my family, my angel, my nurse, my doctor, and most all my WLS friends at the PNC support groups and the coffee groups....you've made a difference in my life and I couldn't have done it so well without your positive support and friendships..........I love you all!!!             

Last year when I was listing the reasons I wanted to have surgery, one of them was to be able to dance the polka.  On my 50th birthday, I could barely make it once around the room without being so winded that I thought my heart would jump out of my chest.  Well, on April 14th, the night of my cousin Mike's 60th birthday surprise party, I danced like there was no tomorrow!  What a blast!  I was so pumped about dancing that I thought I'd cry with joy.  What a WOW moment!!  Over and over my heart raced with exhilaration.  I could dance!!!!  And I'll just get better as I continue to lose weight and exercise!!  141 pounds ago, I would have been dreading the thought of going to a  polka dance, but now, I can't wait until the next one!!  My sister called me a couple dances later and said in her whole life, she can't recall ever dancing so much with me or seeing me dance so much.  She was so happy for me.  That made me feel so good.  I've heard other people say things like...you look so happy, your smile just shines now...and I thank the Lord for my surgery and how successful it's been for me.

Another wonder event happened that evening.  My cousin Catherine came to surprise her brother.  It was a surprise for a lot of us to see her after so many years.  She was my babysitter and my sponsor for my confirmation.  I really looked up to her like a big sister, since I only had older brothers.  Our age difference really put us in difference social circles and she was off to nursing school and then to Washington.  Her mother was my aunt and godmother and when she smiles, I see my Aunt Helen smile.  There was just one thing...did she get shorter!!!????  Or was I really that little at one time!!  

I was anticipating one dream coming true that night, but two dreams were realized....a renewed friendship with my cousin and MAN!  CAN I DANCE OR WHAT!!!

Disclaimer....apparently, I can't dance a waltz, but I can polka and THAT'S what matters!

Hey, I had my 9 months (really 9.5 months) follow up appointment with Barb today.  We had a really nice talk about limits, future expectations, the weight loss slowing, and some eating habits.  All in all, I'm doing really well.  Yes, I do have stress eating, but I don't eat as much or at all because I listen to my head and ask myself....Am I hungry or angry?  Usually not hungry at all, it's just that old bad habit.  But I'm doing well and I'm very happy where I am.

Here's some stats...
Starting weight 349
Current weight 211.8
Weight Lost in 9 months...   137.2

BMI...
Starting  58.1
Current ...    35.1

Total inches lost.......83.5 overall!!!

I'm going off of my high blood pressure med!!!   YAY!!!  It will take me about two weeks to step down and then that's it for "fat" meds!!!


Yeeee  Haaaaa!


OkayBye!

Hi Everyone!  

December 22nd I had my six month follow up with Barb.  I'm normal, or how Barb puts it....my LABS are normal, the jury is out on if I'M normal!  

Here are some quick stats....I'm no longer super morbidly obese!!  I'm only obese!  My BMI as of today is 37.9.  I'm down 121 pounds.  I'll have to take my measurements soon but it seems I just did that.  I'm wearing a size 18 pants and some of my shirts are 1X...or in some stores, that would be an extra large, most are 2X.  Beats the 5X's I got rid of!  

How do I feel???  Physically, GREAT!  I enjoy walking more, I'm not out of breath, I don't ache so much when walking stairs....I actually TAKE the stairs!!  I haven't had a migraine since pre-surgery or have a needed to take a sick day!  Now, the mental part...I'm SAD.  I've been diagnosed with Seasonal Anxiety Disorder.  It's not really a surprise, I've had problems with this in the past.  This year I've experienced the "Perfect Storm".  Combine SAD, with the stress of a new system at work (which has nothing but complications), the fact that I don't absorb my depression meds like I used to, and not being able to fall back on comfort food like I did in the past; well let me tell you....I'm a freakin mess!  I'm going to fight it with more day light by taking a walk at lunchtime, get back to my pre-holiday exercise routine, and take time for myself.  I might get a light too.  I know this is temporary, so I see the "light" at the end of the tunnel, but right now, I need some help.  Speaking of help...duty calls (yes, I'm typing this at work.)

Peace and love!
 

Hi folks, 

Just thought I'd quickly post some results from my blood work test done at my annual physical...

Cholestral:     2004 = 269 (no meds) 2005 = 197 (meds)    2006 = 163  (no meds)

Triglycrides:    2005 = 245     2006 = 70!!!

Those were my two risk areas, everything else was pretty normal.  How about those sugars!!!  WooHoo!!

Hey, I've reached a milestone in my journey!!!!!!!!!  Saturday morning I jumped on the scale and discovered that I've lost 101 pounds.  Whooooppppeeeeeeee!!!  I'm one happy camper!  I was hoping to lose 100 by Christmas.  Well this just blew me away with joy!!  I jumped on the scale about six more times, just so I could read that number again!!  (Thank goodness it wasn't a fluke!)

I felt like dancing in the streets and shouting "ONE OH ONE".  But I didn't.  Instead, I emailed everyone in my contacts list and posted on the OH MN board. 

I did buy myself a little sumpin` sumpin`.  :-)  I found a lovely Peridot ring at Hoff Jewelers with a promise that I could have it sized down in the future.  I'm so good to myself. 

Only 80 more to go. 

p.s. BMI is now 41.3