JamGal77

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Hi, OH family! I'm so embarrassed to say that it has been over 2 years since I posted a blog. So much has happened- highs and lows. I'm currently re-focusing on my health after 5 pounds shy of my goal weight and then lapsing into so really poor habits. After changing careers and starting graduate school, I began snacking on poor choices, neglecting my workouts, adopting poor sleeping habits to name a few issues. Seeing 170+ on the scale has really given me a shake-up and I've recommitted to taking care of myself and to stop making excuses. Now I'm coming back home to OH to reconnect with what helped me to be successful three years ago. I started the Beachbody 21 Day fix program, primarily for the workouts... I see the need to modify the diets to combine the snacks with my 3-4 meals a day which is more in line with my surgeon's guidance. However, counting calories and tracking meals will go a long way by itself for me to regain the discipline that I used to have... Stress eating is what caused my extreme weight gain pre-surgery. I also see the need to resume going to support groups offered at my surgical center... Well, sorry for the rambling message today... Taking the first step in taking both accountability and action. Will be posting more pics and status a long the way... I appreciate any all comments of "tough love" and encouragement. XOXO

 

Well, today I finally decided to purge my closet. Years ago, I was always afraid to get rid of the big clothes just in case I needed them again.  I pray every day that I follow the guidelines and make the best use of this tool I was given.  Every day is a victory as I get closer to the goal weight. However, I have achieved so much in the way of better health including less joint and muscle pains, fatigue and headaches.    I do realize that I have to keep myself in check from too much retail therapy because its such a rush not having to shop in plus size stores... However, shoe shopping is frustrating... Can't seem to find the right shoes for work since my shoe size has also changed. Very small price to pay for all the other benefits. After 8 months, I rarely stress out about what to eat... I still have slip ups with eating too quickly but more importantly I'm better at identifying good choices just about anywhere. (Side note: in heaven that sushi zushi will make any roll rice less).   While WLS isn't for everybody, it was the best thing that I could have done considering the state that I was in. As I was pulling clothes out of my closet, I found a size 26 pair of jeggings. I cried not simply because they were a size 26... I cried because I realize that when I was wearing those, I wasn't living my life... I was avoiding family, life long friends, travel/airplanes, exercise and so much more.   I am really appreciative of life and will do everything to maintain a good quality of life for me and my family.

I'm so happy to say that I'm now OVERWEIGHT... My new BMI category. This roller coaster has been worth it. Thanks to all the support of my friends, family and OH siblings, 2013 is getting brighter and brighter. Although I'm continuing to lose weight, I'm very concerned about getting enough water and protein... Still exploring other options besides Bariatric Advantage which is making me nauseous just thinking about it... Will post more later, gotta get this protein-rich dinner in... LOL!

Woo hoo! I'm finally in Onederland!!! Hit 199.5,today 

When I started this journey last year and attended the WLS seminar with my husband, I believed that I would lose some weight and improve my standard of living. As I'm going through my favorite clothes that I haven't seen in several years now fit or are a little baggy, I'm so grateful and humbled that I'm finally able to walk anywhere, fly to anywhere I want without the physical and emotional pain of being so different. While I'm 60 lbs away from my preferred weight, I'm thrilled to get closer to century club, onederland and a normal BMI... My family and friends have been surprised by the changes and thankfully not a lot of acquaintances have pried too much into the how or why...

I really appreciate my surgeon and nursing staff that gave me the opportunity to have a great life again. Can't wait to live it up on our cruise this month!!!

It's official! I've made it to halfway mark of my weight loss goal. The hubby thinks that 150 is too low. However, in order for me to consider pregnancy at my "age", I want my expected weight gain to keep me in a decent BMI... Anyways, I'll continue crawling before I start walking LOL.... WOOO HOOOO, 82.5 left to go!!!

Well, this is my 2nd attempt at posting an update... the last time my laptop spontaneously re-booted in the middle of my typing  So, although there is no way that I can recapture what that post was about, I'll do my best.

The last few weeks have been very stressful- work-wise. I'll avoid the details there because it's pointless to re-hash. However, I'm doing my best to balance my work life with what I need to make my WLS successful. While I'm continuing to lose at a decent pace, lately I'm not satisfied with my lack of regular exercise, water and supplements. My main goal has been to increase my water since last Saturday. I had a very scary episode....

On Saturday, I had breakfast at 10 which consisted of a hard-boiled egg salad with lite mayo, salt, pepper and paprika. (A meal that I've had several times before). About 2 hours later while drinking water, I felt nauseated. I stood up and I immediately had saliva filling up in my mouth as if I needed to vomit. But nothing came up but saliva / water... Of course, I started googling potential causes... postnasal drip came up as a possible reason (TMI). So what do I, gargle with Listerine. Well that was the DUMBEST thing that I could have done because I must have swallowed a bit of it... which led to most God-awful symptom - DRY HEAVING. For those who haven't experienced this torture, dry heaving, at least for me, resonated throughut every nerve ending in your body. I was so exhausted after that episode for at least 12 hours... And  I only dry-heaved for what felt like 10 minutes!! I was so scared that I almost called an ambulance... I was able walk it off / calm myself down enough to call my surgeon's office. When the surgeon on call heard what I had eaten and that I hadn't have any major complications in the last 3 months, he told me to wait 2 hours for stomach to settle and then try to keep down warm liquids. He said that food reactions can be unpredictable. I decided to only eat sem-solid foods for the next day to give my pouch, Sammy, a rest. It's so bizarre, Sammy is great today. No eggs for me for awhile. Sorry for the long story...

Other than that, things have been pretty uneventful. More folks keep asking me if I've lost weight over the last week. I think because I started buying smaller clothes it's become more noticeable.  I feel a bit guilty when someone asks me what I'm doing and I say that eating healthier and working at it every day. However, it's my body and my business and I get over that fairly quickly. My closest family & friends know and that's all that matters to me.

In order to get me motivated to get my butt in gear, I signed up to run in the Color Me Rad 5K in December. Now, I'm training and I (me!) actually jogged for the first time in SEVEN years. It felt great.

Well, I've rambled enough, peeps! I'll do a better job of blogging more often to avoid these looooong essays.  I hope that everyone is doing great! Ya'll are my inspiration and motivation. Life is GRAND on the Losers' Bench!!!!

Can't believe that I lost 23 pounds since last month's visit. I had a few concerning lab results but my PA has me taking B1 (thiamine) 100 mg for 3 months, 36 mg of iron due to anemia and Vit D weekly dosage for the next 3 months. I'm encouraged and feeling very optimistic about my progress... Just 101 lbs left to go..... :) one day at a time, right?? Good night OH fam... totally exhausted....

It's hard to believe that I only had surgery 2 months ago. Personally, it seems as if I have been going through post-op for at least 6 months... hard to explain. It's hard to imagine how much weight I've lost since surgery... As of this morning, I've lost a total of 49 pounds.  My December goal of 70 lbs seems very attainable!!!

I've had a few struggles over the last few weeks with nausea but it wasn't food related. Rather it was due to starting hormonal BC a few weeks ago. This week has been a lot better for me- THANK GOODNESS!

The really good news is that I have been able to "shop" in my closet and wear clothes that I haven't touched in several years. My pre-op pants / dresses are not wearable. While I have kept my surgery decision pretty confidential to just a small group of friends, I suspect that my co-workers are seeing the change but don't know what to say. When I walk up to folks that I've known for years, they are sizing me up and down quizzically...I've thought about letting them off the hook by just telling but my decision to have surgery was a private one and I really don't owe anyone an explanation. I don't want folks scrutinizing my decision or giving unsolicited advice. I can't say enough how nice it was to travel with no seatbelt extender, walk for hours without running out of breath, eating at restaurants and making healthy decisions, comfortably wearing heels (not too high yet.. baby steps, right?!?!) and just feeling normal!!

I am still amazed by the periods of rapid weight loss. I still have a daily scale / weighing habit. I just keep trying to keep my eye on the prize and avoiding "head hunger"... commercials are the worst and so is vacation in the most flavorful city in America- MIAMI!! But I made it and am encouraged by family to make even more progress... Well, I hope that I haven't rambled too much. Just wanted to get some thoughts out there and thank everyone for their support and sharing their experiences with me. Good night!!

Yesterday was the first time in years that I've been able to fly WITHOUT a seatbelt extender!! I was even able to tighten the strap... Go Me!!!! It just keeps getting better!