gdsmom
Nipping it in the bud!
Jul 20, 2011
July 21, 2011
I have gained 21 lbs from my low of 153. I NEVER want to go back to the life I led when I was obese. This surgery has given me the tools and the wonderful knowledge of how good it feels when my clothes fit and I look good. My clothes were getting too tight - in fact, some of them didn't fit at all!!! I eat like a "normal" person in terms of volume. I need to eat like a healthy person in terms of food choices. So, on Monday I joined Weight Watchers. I joined so may times in the past (pre-surgery) and always joined with the belief "I hope I can do it". This time, I joined with the knowledge "I KNOW I can do it". This is a HUGE difference in my mindset. I need to nip this weight gain in the bud. I need to know that this is a TEMPORARY set back and that I CAN and WILL get back to my healthy weight.
I know why it happened. I just survived a horrendous divorce (8 days of Trial), took a new job out of state, moved to Virginia, got my house ready for sale, etc. This type of stress could send anyone into emotional eating! Fortunately, I have wonderful tools and a newfound (since the surgety) self-esteem that makes me know that I will loose the weight. I refuse to become one of those statistics or to be someone that others will point to to bash weight loss surgery. "Yeah - I knew someone that had WLS. She looked great for awhile, but then she gained it all back!..." NO WAY!!!
So I am back to making healthy choices. It feels so good to be back in control!
0 comments
I have gained 21 lbs from my low of 153. I NEVER want to go back to the life I led when I was obese. This surgery has given me the tools and the wonderful knowledge of how good it feels when my clothes fit and I look good. My clothes were getting too tight - in fact, some of them didn't fit at all!!! I eat like a "normal" person in terms of volume. I need to eat like a healthy person in terms of food choices. So, on Monday I joined Weight Watchers. I joined so may times in the past (pre-surgery) and always joined with the belief "I hope I can do it". This time, I joined with the knowledge "I KNOW I can do it". This is a HUGE difference in my mindset. I need to nip this weight gain in the bud. I need to know that this is a TEMPORARY set back and that I CAN and WILL get back to my healthy weight.
I know why it happened. I just survived a horrendous divorce (8 days of Trial), took a new job out of state, moved to Virginia, got my house ready for sale, etc. This type of stress could send anyone into emotional eating! Fortunately, I have wonderful tools and a newfound (since the surgety) self-esteem that makes me know that I will loose the weight. I refuse to become one of those statistics or to be someone that others will point to to bash weight loss surgery. "Yeah - I knew someone that had WLS. She looked great for awhile, but then she gained it all back!..." NO WAY!!!
So I am back to making healthy choices. It feels so good to be back in control!
2 Years Out Today!!!
Jan 22, 2010
It's been 2 years since my surgery. I have maintained my weight loss. I weigh anywhere from 153-159 depending on what time of the month I weigh. As soon as I see my weight creeping up, I focus on what I am eating and get it back down immediately.
I separated from my husband in September. I would never have had the confidence to do that if it weren't for this surgery. Not only that, but I don't know that I would have faced my feelings. I would have kept eating and eating until I got bigger and bigger. Because I can no longet "eat my feelings", I had to face them. I highly recommend therapy. My therapist has been a Godsend. She made me realize the crap I was putting up with and accepting was not normal! I wonder what it was about me that allowed myself to get into that place in the beginning. Now I am learning to say NO and mean it.
Life is good now. I am happy. I am dating and learning who I am and what makes me happy. I am not so much a people pleaser like I used to be. I think that I always tried to please people because I did not feel that I was good enough. I was fat, so I had to be extra nice - to the point of being abused and taken advantage of.
I remember hearing Oprah say - "Its not the food that is making us fat" I never really understood what that meant until I could no longer abuse food. She was right - it's not the food. For me, it was the emotions that I could not face. Now I am facing my fears and living life to the fullest. I am no longer "a heavyset woman". Now I am a happy woman!
0 comments
I separated from my husband in September. I would never have had the confidence to do that if it weren't for this surgery. Not only that, but I don't know that I would have faced my feelings. I would have kept eating and eating until I got bigger and bigger. Because I can no longet "eat my feelings", I had to face them. I highly recommend therapy. My therapist has been a Godsend. She made me realize the crap I was putting up with and accepting was not normal! I wonder what it was about me that allowed myself to get into that place in the beginning. Now I am learning to say NO and mean it.
Life is good now. I am happy. I am dating and learning who I am and what makes me happy. I am not so much a people pleaser like I used to be. I think that I always tried to please people because I did not feel that I was good enough. I was fat, so I had to be extra nice - to the point of being abused and taken advantage of.
I remember hearing Oprah say - "Its not the food that is making us fat" I never really understood what that meant until I could no longer abuse food. She was right - it's not the food. For me, it was the emotions that I could not face. Now I am facing my fears and living life to the fullest. I am no longer "a heavyset woman". Now I am a happy woman!
Take Your Iron!!
Jul 09, 2009
July 10, 2009
I have been exhausted for awhile. I brushed it off as stress as work for awhile, however, I had to face facts when 2 nurse friends told me to get my blood checked asap. I was chewing ice like an addict, and when i pulled down the skin under my lower eye, the color was almost beige, not red-ish pink. I never knew those were surefire signs of an iron deficiency. Sure enough, my labs showed my iron levels are scary low and that I have no reserves of iron. My doctor told me that if I were in an accident, I wouldn't be able to make new red blood cells! OK she sure got my attention with that one! I now take an iron pill every day. She wants me to work my way up to 3 a day. How many times do we have to hear, "this is a lifetime commitment to change" before we know that it it pertains ALL of us. No one is above the rules - even if you feel fine. If you break the rules, it's just a matter of time before you won't feel fine! I feel tired all of the time. I get wicked leg and foot cramps and killer headaches. Sound like a picnic?? It all could have been avoided if I had simply taken my iron as instructed. My doctor told me it will take about 3 months to build my iron back up. So it looks like the summer of 09 will be a tired one!
On the weight loss front. I have been losing and gaining the same 7 pounds for months. I range from 153 to 160. This month I had been as high as 162. Thankfully I freaked out and decided to go back to the rules and eat right. High protein, no junk, healthy snacks and complex carbs. I was not going to accept the "its normal to have a small weight gain of 10-20 pounds" explanation. I still want to loose another 20 pounds! So let's see if I can finally get below the 153 number...
0 comments
I have been exhausted for awhile. I brushed it off as stress as work for awhile, however, I had to face facts when 2 nurse friends told me to get my blood checked asap. I was chewing ice like an addict, and when i pulled down the skin under my lower eye, the color was almost beige, not red-ish pink. I never knew those were surefire signs of an iron deficiency. Sure enough, my labs showed my iron levels are scary low and that I have no reserves of iron. My doctor told me that if I were in an accident, I wouldn't be able to make new red blood cells! OK she sure got my attention with that one! I now take an iron pill every day. She wants me to work my way up to 3 a day. How many times do we have to hear, "this is a lifetime commitment to change" before we know that it it pertains ALL of us. No one is above the rules - even if you feel fine. If you break the rules, it's just a matter of time before you won't feel fine! I feel tired all of the time. I get wicked leg and foot cramps and killer headaches. Sound like a picnic?? It all could have been avoided if I had simply taken my iron as instructed. My doctor told me it will take about 3 months to build my iron back up. So it looks like the summer of 09 will be a tired one!
On the weight loss front. I have been losing and gaining the same 7 pounds for months. I range from 153 to 160. This month I had been as high as 162. Thankfully I freaked out and decided to go back to the rules and eat right. High protein, no junk, healthy snacks and complex carbs. I was not going to accept the "its normal to have a small weight gain of 10-20 pounds" explanation. I still want to loose another 20 pounds! So let's see if I can finally get below the 153 number...
It's been one year...
Feb 25, 2009
February 25, 2009
It's been one year since I came home from the hospital. Since then, I have lost 90 pounds. I love getting dressed in the morning. I love shoppping. I recently bought size 10 pants! I have way more energy than ever before. I thank God and my doctor for giving me this second chance at life! It truly is a new life. I feel like my weight is not the center of my universe. It's not what defines who I am anymore. I am no longer described as "that heavyset woman" (Thank God!). Now I am just Gwen.
I had to learn to handle my emotions without turning to food. Now I actually have to feel them and process them. I talk things out more. I have more confidence and can now say how I feel rather than trying to please everyone all of the time. I am happy most of the time.
It's been one year, but it feels like a lifetime of changes!
Whoo Hoo - Bub Bye 160's
Feb 04, 2009
Wow! It seems like it took forever, but I am now 157 lbs. I wear a size 12 usually. (At Coldwater Creek I wear a 10 and sometimes an 8!!) I still can't believe it! This surgery is the best thing that ever happened to me! I would love to lose another 15-20 pounds. They say the last 20 is the slowest, but I am so grateful that I am here! Before surgery, I used to listen wistfully when people talked about losing 20 pounds. I needed to loose 100, so 20 seemed like nothing!
I started taking Lexipro. I was feeling so sad about the economy and things that I could not control. I was lashing out at my family and those that I love. I had no idea that anger was a common female symptom of depression. I now feel like I am back in control. Thank God for medication when you need it. I am now enjoying life again and am my usual positive self!
I am going to Florida next week for 5 days to see my sister and my new baby niece! I have nothing that fits from last summer. There is a Talbots outlet in Florida, so I will be hitting that as soon as possible! Also, I will be able to visit Theresa at Bariatric Eating and stock up on some yummy treats.
I was so happy this year at New Years. Every year I would make a resolution to loose weight and would hope that I could do it. It was so wonderful to realize that I kept my resolution last year by being brave enough to undergo weight loss surgery. I know I have a little way to go, but I don't have to wonder if I will be able to accomplish it. I KNOW that I will thanks to my wonderful surgeon and the wonderful tool that he gave me.
0 comments
I started taking Lexipro. I was feeling so sad about the economy and things that I could not control. I was lashing out at my family and those that I love. I had no idea that anger was a common female symptom of depression. I now feel like I am back in control. Thank God for medication when you need it. I am now enjoying life again and am my usual positive self!
I am going to Florida next week for 5 days to see my sister and my new baby niece! I have nothing that fits from last summer. There is a Talbots outlet in Florida, so I will be hitting that as soon as possible! Also, I will be able to visit Theresa at Bariatric Eating and stock up on some yummy treats.
I was so happy this year at New Years. Every year I would make a resolution to loose weight and would hope that I could do it. It was so wonderful to realize that I kept my resolution last year by being brave enough to undergo weight loss surgery. I know I have a little way to go, but I don't have to wonder if I will be able to accomplish it. I KNOW that I will thanks to my wonderful surgeon and the wonderful tool that he gave me.
Time for an Update
Nov 30, 2008
December 1, 2008
Weightwise, I have been bouncing between 165 and 161. I have been eating too many carbs and too little protein.
Emotionally, I have been bouncing beween staying and leaving my marriage. Things need to change permanently and I haven't seen consistent change.
I have been feeling a little down lately. We are going to have to put pur house on the market after the holidays. The real estate market is just too tough for my husband and I to stay in this house. It is time to scale back. In my head, I know that this move makes so much sence. In my heart, I am not so sure. I believe that we are heading for a depression. This recession is too deep. The bail outs too big. I believe that we need to batton down the hatches and prepare for more hard times.
I am actually looking for a new job. With my law background and mortgage background, I would love to work for a large mortgage company in the REO/Foreclosure department. If anyone out there has any leads, please let me know. I am thinking that it would make sence to relocate to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There are a lot of jobs out there in this field.
Wow, I just looked at the clock. Gotta run to work!
Till next time...
-Gwen
Weightwise, I have been bouncing between 165 and 161. I have been eating too many carbs and too little protein.
Emotionally, I have been bouncing beween staying and leaving my marriage. Things need to change permanently and I haven't seen consistent change.
I have been feeling a little down lately. We are going to have to put pur house on the market after the holidays. The real estate market is just too tough for my husband and I to stay in this house. It is time to scale back. In my head, I know that this move makes so much sence. In my heart, I am not so sure. I believe that we are heading for a depression. This recession is too deep. The bail outs too big. I believe that we need to batton down the hatches and prepare for more hard times.
I am actually looking for a new job. With my law background and mortgage background, I would love to work for a large mortgage company in the REO/Foreclosure department. If anyone out there has any leads, please let me know. I am thinking that it would make sence to relocate to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There are a lot of jobs out there in this field.
Wow, I just looked at the clock. Gotta run to work!
Till next time...
-Gwen
Status update
Oct 27, 2008
October 28, 2008
About 3 weeks ago, when I was positive that I wanted out of my marriage, we went to see a movie called Fireproof. It is a Christian movie that is playing in regular movie theaters which is pretty amazing in and of itself. In the movie, the main characters are about to get a divorce when the husband's father introduces him to a book called the Love Dare. For 40 days, the husband follows the instructions in the book. His wife resists him at first, but slowy begins to see the change in him. I agreed to hold off filing for 40 days. My husband is really trying. He is becoming the husband that I need him to be. He is also seeing a Christian marriage counselor. This man said something interesting to my husband yesterday. He told him that there is a difference between trying and training. You can try to run a marathon, but unless you train, you cannot finish it. He is now in training to be a good husband. I am thankful for the analogy. I am applying it to my weightloss journey.
I have really slipped in my eating habits for the last 7-10 days. I am feeling the results of this poor eating. First, I gained 4 pounds. Second, I feel so bloated and constipated that I feel disgusting. I have such bad gas pains. I can hear my stomach and it isn't pretty! Today, I am going for a liquid diet. I am in training to get my digestion back on track. I had a protein drink for breakast, and I plan on tomato soup for lunch. I will have chicken broth for snacks if I get hungry, or maybe some sugar free popcicles. Kind of like the first days out of surgery! My digestive track needs a rest from all of the junk.
I was down almost 80 pounds. Now being down 75 is disappointing. If I can't end the month with a loss, I at least want to end it without a gain! It's time to get back on track and back into training!
About 3 weeks ago, when I was positive that I wanted out of my marriage, we went to see a movie called Fireproof. It is a Christian movie that is playing in regular movie theaters which is pretty amazing in and of itself. In the movie, the main characters are about to get a divorce when the husband's father introduces him to a book called the Love Dare. For 40 days, the husband follows the instructions in the book. His wife resists him at first, but slowy begins to see the change in him. I agreed to hold off filing for 40 days. My husband is really trying. He is becoming the husband that I need him to be. He is also seeing a Christian marriage counselor. This man said something interesting to my husband yesterday. He told him that there is a difference between trying and training. You can try to run a marathon, but unless you train, you cannot finish it. He is now in training to be a good husband. I am thankful for the analogy. I am applying it to my weightloss journey.
I have really slipped in my eating habits for the last 7-10 days. I am feeling the results of this poor eating. First, I gained 4 pounds. Second, I feel so bloated and constipated that I feel disgusting. I have such bad gas pains. I can hear my stomach and it isn't pretty! Today, I am going for a liquid diet. I am in training to get my digestion back on track. I had a protein drink for breakast, and I plan on tomato soup for lunch. I will have chicken broth for snacks if I get hungry, or maybe some sugar free popcicles. Kind of like the first days out of surgery! My digestive track needs a rest from all of the junk.
I was down almost 80 pounds. Now being down 75 is disappointing. If I can't end the month with a loss, I at least want to end it without a gain! It's time to get back on track and back into training!
Confession
Sep 19, 2008
September 20, 2008
Before I had my surgery, I had heard that weightloss surgery can affect your marriage. It can make a good marriage better, and a bad marriage worse. I kept pretending that everything was fine. I kept thnking that he would change. It isnt happening and it's never going to. So now I am at a crossroad in my life. Do I stay on the unhappy path I have been on for too many years, or do I work up the courage to change?
So here's my confession. My life isn't perfect. When I was morbidly obese, I was not always jolly and happy. Most of the time, I wan't comfortabble in my own skin. I worked up the courage to change my weight. It took me awhile to get the courage to have surgery. I was worried about the lifestyle changes I would make as well as making it thru the surgery itself. I was worried about the post op pain. Lucky for me. many others walked this path before me. Their wisdom and experience made everthing easier for me. It's a decision I will never regret. My health, my looks, my attitude, my confidence are all better for this decision. I believe that I have now worked up the courage to walk away from my unhappy marriage. I am worried about where I will live with my 3 kids. I am worried about the pain of ending a 23 year relationship. But many others have walked this path before me. I am in counseling. I am getting the support I need.
I will try to journal more often and to keep being honest with you all. Life after weightloss surgery is still good for me. But it isn't perfect...
Before I had my surgery, I had heard that weightloss surgery can affect your marriage. It can make a good marriage better, and a bad marriage worse. I kept pretending that everything was fine. I kept thnking that he would change. It isnt happening and it's never going to. So now I am at a crossroad in my life. Do I stay on the unhappy path I have been on for too many years, or do I work up the courage to change?
So here's my confession. My life isn't perfect. When I was morbidly obese, I was not always jolly and happy. Most of the time, I wan't comfortabble in my own skin. I worked up the courage to change my weight. It took me awhile to get the courage to have surgery. I was worried about the lifestyle changes I would make as well as making it thru the surgery itself. I was worried about the post op pain. Lucky for me. many others walked this path before me. Their wisdom and experience made everthing easier for me. It's a decision I will never regret. My health, my looks, my attitude, my confidence are all better for this decision. I believe that I have now worked up the courage to walk away from my unhappy marriage. I am worried about where I will live with my 3 kids. I am worried about the pain of ending a 23 year relationship. But many others have walked this path before me. I am in counseling. I am getting the support I need.
I will try to journal more often and to keep being honest with you all. Life after weightloss surgery is still good for me. But it isn't perfect...
Lose weight - Add confidence
Aug 22, 2008
August 23, 2008
I never really realized how insecure my weignt made me. Now that I am losing weight, my confidence is soaring. I work in sales (mortgage loan officer) and confidence is important. My career is doing so much better since the surgery. I received a promotion at work and I am being given so much more responsibility. I am loving work again!
I am now in the 170's. I know that I want to be in the 150's. It seems so surreal to want to lose 20 pounds instead of 100! It is like a dream. I love buying clothes. I love being able to find great things on sale ad to choose what I really like instead of what fits! I am so grateful to God for this surgery and my wonderful doctor - Dr. Brolin.
We are starting up our support meetings again in September. I am looking forward to seeing everyine again. One week after the support meeting, Doctor Brolin is doing an information meeting and he asked me to come and speak as a patient. I know how much it helped me to be able to talk with others before my surgery, so I am happy to do it. I would love to help others discover this wonderful life changing opportunity!
I never really realized how insecure my weignt made me. Now that I am losing weight, my confidence is soaring. I work in sales (mortgage loan officer) and confidence is important. My career is doing so much better since the surgery. I received a promotion at work and I am being given so much more responsibility. I am loving work again!
I am now in the 170's. I know that I want to be in the 150's. It seems so surreal to want to lose 20 pounds instead of 100! It is like a dream. I love buying clothes. I love being able to find great things on sale ad to choose what I really like instead of what fits! I am so grateful to God for this surgery and my wonderful doctor - Dr. Brolin.
We are starting up our support meetings again in September. I am looking forward to seeing everyine again. One week after the support meeting, Doctor Brolin is doing an information meeting and he asked me to come and speak as a patient. I know how much it helped me to be able to talk with others before my surgery, so I am happy to do it. I would love to help others discover this wonderful life changing opportunity!
Lose weight - Add confidence
Aug 22, 2008
August 23, 2008
I never really realized how insecure my weignt made me. Now that I am losing weight, my confidence is soaring. I work in sales (mortgage loan officer) and confidence is important. My career is doing so much better since the surgery. I received a promotion at work and I am being given so much more responsibility. I am loving work again!
I am now in the 170's. I know that I want to be in the 150's. It seems so surreal to want to lose 20 pounds instead of 100! It is like a dream. I love buying clothes. I love being able to find great things on sale ad to choose what I really like instead of what fits! I am so grateful to God for this surgery and my wonderful doctor - Dr. Brolin.
We are starting up our support meetings again in September. I am looking forward to seeing everyine again. One week after the support meeting, Doctor Brolin is doing an information meeting and he asked me to come and speak as a patient. I know how much it helped me to be able to talk with others before my surgery, so I am happy to do it. I would love to help others discover this wonderful life changing opportunity!
I never really realized how insecure my weignt made me. Now that I am losing weight, my confidence is soaring. I work in sales (mortgage loan officer) and confidence is important. My career is doing so much better since the surgery. I received a promotion at work and I am being given so much more responsibility. I am loving work again!
I am now in the 170's. I know that I want to be in the 150's. It seems so surreal to want to lose 20 pounds instead of 100! It is like a dream. I love buying clothes. I love being able to find great things on sale ad to choose what I really like instead of what fits! I am so grateful to God for this surgery and my wonderful doctor - Dr. Brolin.
We are starting up our support meetings again in September. I am looking forward to seeing everyine again. One week after the support meeting, Doctor Brolin is doing an information meeting and he asked me to come and speak as a patient. I know how much it helped me to be able to talk with others before my surgery, so I am happy to do it. I would love to help others discover this wonderful life changing opportunity!
About Me
Colts Neck, NJ
Location
25.6
BMI
Surgery
02/21/2008
Surgery Date
Jan 02, 2008
Member Since
