Jen H.

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After much deliberation and comparison, I ordered a Misfit Shine and it came today! I'm really excited and loving the look!  Now...to make those little sparklies light up!

I just returned home from traveling to my son's wedding followed by a girls' weekend.  It was so fun and relaxing.  Most people there haven't seen me since surgery so there were a lot of comments (all good - at least to my face) and we had a ball.

Lots of NSVs

• Flying gets easier and easier.  There is a lot of spare seat belt these days and I don't feel like I have to scrunch over so I don't crowd my seat partners.
• I was not self conscious dancing with my husband.
• I didn't worry about my thighs rubbing together under a dress in warm weather.
• On the girls' weekend I didn't worry about snoring - because I don't anymore!
• There was lots of laughter and fun - without feeling self conscious.

I am now officially two pounds above onederland.  It's there.  It's RIGHT there.  I hope I'm not jinxing myself into a stall by writing about it.  On the other hand, I seem to be nervous about it.  It's two pounds - a drop in the bucket compared to my overall journey - yet those two pounds feel so significant.  I'm excited but also a little scared.  What of?  No idea, but it's there.

Like many times through this journey, I find myself back on OH a lot looking through posts for others feeling the same. Life gets busy and I don't visit for a while and then am back, reading everything I can.  I miss reading R&R. I am not a member anymore for some reason :-(  but am reading the forums and anxiously awaiting the loss of the dreaded two pounds.

I was married in October of 2013 and the dress fit, but as designed it was snug.  On a whim I tried on my wedding dress tonight.  I was holding it up on me and the shoulders and sleeves were slipping down to my wrists.  I held it out away from my front and another half of me could fit inside.  The girls no longer fill and "spill"....they swim inside.  I let go of it and the whole thing slid off of me and onto the floor to which my husband replied, "Now THAT'S a honeymoon jumpstarter!"  I love him :-)

These are the first photos I have posted.  I decided it was time to own it!  Seven months in and feeling great.

I haven't been posting here lately and I want to get back to it. Support in all forms is important, as well as just a brain dump in this blog. My surgeon group and nutritionist have a great support group that I participate in, but this is just as important.

Things have been going well overall. I am down 105 pounds so far. I had a goal to lose 100 pounds by my birthday this year and hit 99 the day of and 100 lost the day after. Losing seems more slow and steady than it did at first, but if I look at my progress graph, it's a steady line down so maybe that is more in my perception than in reality.

Eating has been okay. I still struggle with meats, some days better than others, and just find other ways to get my protein. One thing that has really helped boost my protein is Click Espresso. I love that stuff.

Exercise is meh. I have always been lazy where that is concerned but I am working on it. One thing that has been a fun addition is hula hooping. I am TERRIBLE at it, but it is fun and a good core exercise. I actually keep my hoop in the family room and do it several times a day - mostly just trying to keep it up and going!

I achieved one of my bucket list items! I was able to play golf without pain. That is something that I didn't think I would be able to do again. Golf was a huge part of my life since I was a kid. I had a golf scholarship in college and played every day. The weight coupled with arthritis in my lower back prevented that. Losing has really helped a lot and just being able to swing a club again has been wonderful. I am taking it slow and hopefully will be back to playing regularly soon.

On the negative side, I really want my hair back :-(  I went from very very thick, wavy hair to thin, straight, and brittle hair. I am taking all my supplements so hopefully it will help it come back in faster. I also noticed my nails are weak and the top layer peels off easily on the ends. I am due (overdue by a couple of weeks) for my 6 month labs, so we'll see if there are any deficiencies. I read that both iron or calcium can cause that.

I want to get some progress pics posted. I can see the difference in the mirror, but somehow when I take the picture it doesn't show it as much (at least to my eyes). Will work on getting a good one to post.

This is week seven and I am down exactly 50 pounds from my highest weight.  I was VERY excited to see that number come up after waiting through the 6 week stall!

Things went pretty well on the cruise. There were always choices and of course got a lot of exercise (some days more than I was up for) on our excursions. I ended up losing during the week and then came home to the dreaded stall :-(  That appears to be over though as I dropped again.

I'm starting to see some NSVs - which are fun.  I'm able to wrap a towel around myself after a shower and not have it gap.  My husband sprawled on the couch next to me while we were watching TV and put his head against my shoulder.  He said he could tell I was losing because my shoulder felt bony (and yes, he was happy for me).  He told me this morning that he noticed my snoring has decreased dramatically.  Yay for all the little things!!

Today is one month out from surgery.  Overall I am feeling great.  I still get tired but not as easily these days.  My protein is always on the low end of the prescribed range, but my water has been decent and I always get all my vitamins in.

I am down exactly 40 pounds from my highest weight and so hopeful for the future and continued loss!

My husband and I may be going on vacation next week - won't know until the last minute - so a bit nervous about eating away from home.  It's much easier to control things here, but it's time to start venturing out again!

Surgery was on 9/9.  It went well and I didn't have much surgical pain.  Fortunately I didn't have the gas pains that people talk about a lot.  I was bloated...but no shoulder pain or anything.  I was discharged on 9/12, 12 lbs heavier than when I went in.  Expected due to fluids, but :-(

The extra pounds plus some came off quickly and I hit the dreaded three week stall.  I was prepared (thanks to everyone here at OH), but it's still flabbergasting when it happens.  I had had this surgery, was not eating anywhere near a "normal" day's caloric intake and had diarrhea for four days straight and the scale didn't budge.  The diarrhea passed and hopefully the stall did as well.  I was down a pound this morning, so headed back in the right direction.

I'm feeling good, incisions are healing well, am doing okay on the protein (could be better) and getting in my vitamins and most of my water goal, and I am looking forward to more downward progress!

It's finally here....surgery tomorrow morning.  Like everyone I have a lot of mixed emotions.  I'm excited, nervous, scared, and can't hold a train of thought longer than a minute.  The pre-op diet has gone well after the first couple of days and today is just clears, no shakes.  I lost 15 pounds - a nice little jumpstart.  See everyone on the bench!

My BMI dropped below 50....yay!!! I had a couple of goals going into surgery and that was one of them.

I saw a different PCP today for my last pre-op appointment.  The one I went to initially couldn't work me into the schedule so they just found me an appointment with another at Cleveland Clinic.  I have found the PCP for me long term!!! The first chucklehead was so negative about everything and down on WLS in general.  "Insurance never approves these surgeries."  and on and on.  This doctor was great!  So positive and upbeat.  I loved her!

The first two days I am not gonna lie...I felt like crap on a cracker.  Bad headache, lightheaded all the time, and full tilt dizzy when I got up.  I emailed my NUT who reassured me that it was tough, but it would pass.  Yesterday, the clouds broke and I started to feel completely fine. I was even able to go out to lunch with friends, my water and my protein shake in tow, and just enjoy the conversation.  I haven't felt overly hungry which was a huge surprise to me.

I've got this!