jennfraker
I had my initial meeting on my 35th Birthday. I met with my surgeon this past Tuesday and have my surgery scheduled for October 26th, 2005. I am the proud mother of two furry felines..Thomas and Sweet Pea. I love reading, surfing the net, spending time with friends and listening to all kinds of music. I am anxiously awaiting my surgery. I will be going to a doc who is Dayton because she works so well with my insurance. That has me a bit worried. I am single and disabled. I hope that with the changes that happen I will eventually be able to pursue my life's dream to be a missionary.
10/14/2005
Wow...went to get vitamins today and I thought I had it all figured out and then all of the sudden I wasn't sure which ones to buy. I got Centrum and Caltrate and the Iron...already had the B12. I found the sublingual B12 at Trader Joe's (100 pills) for about $8.00. They are pretty good in taste. I am getting nervous and anxious. 12 days will fly by. I wonder if I can do this? Will I be able to make the permanent lifestyle changes? I want to get a treadmill so bad. I have started drinking water like crazy, cut way back on diet coke. I know it is going to kill me to give up diet coke. One day at a time rite??? So between diet coke and other bad habits this surgery is not only going to give me my life back but put money back into my pocket every month. Now, I am not motivated by the money, but I won't refuse the savings either.
10/24/2005
Well, only about 48 hours till surgery...I can't believe it has gone so fast. It is a good thing because I am running out of money getting things I will need post surgery. I probably bought too much to drink and too much protein powder but then who knows what I will like and won't like. Variety is the spice of life!!!
The weather here is quite nippy. I sure hope I will be able to walk outside when I get home from the hospital. I want to make sure I walk 30 minutes a day. I decided to not buy a treadmill. I am going to join the YMCA.
10/25/2005
Well, less than 24 hours now...it is amazingly going by so quickly. I ate my last meal and am on clear liquids till midnight then nothing till after surgery. I called my docs office today with last minute questions they were so nice and answered every single one. I am not worried just ready to get going tomorrow morning. My surgery is at 2 in the afternoon. I am glad cause I am not a morning person and I will be driving about 2 hours to the hospital. Well, I did a bit of yardwork today. I came in and told myself that next year this time yardwork will be a breeze for me and I will be able to trim everything all at the same time.
I am going to miss my kitties. I sure hope someone can come in and look after them while I am away.
More later!!!
11/9/2005
14 days since surgery..official weight loss of 22 pounds...feels great...just trying to work out all the kinks to get in my protein and liquids and keep my calories low....
Went for my post-op app't on Tuesday. Got cleared to drive and doc sent me to the pain management clinic to help with the soaring pain I am still having. Nothing seems to work and I am still on liquid morphine.
11/14/2005
Well..I just got back from my weigh-in and am down 26 pounds..yeah...so since last Monday that makes five more...
I am finally off of liquid morphine and sleeping well with sleep aid and a muscle relaxer..and I have been sleeping on my side since 2 weeks out...oh, what a relief...
Walked 1.5 miles on Saturday...decided to walk to my favorite thrift store..I didn't buy anything because I couldn't carry stuff and me all the way home...that was a great feeling!!!!
Sunday I walked an hour and a half..partially outside and then at Wal-Mart with a friend...
Funny thing Friday nite I went with a friend to the grocery store, she has cerebral palsy and so she is in a wheelchair..I wanted to go to get something to eat and knowing my limits I picked Steak and Shake cause I know they have cottage cheese...well, before surgery I ate like I was in a pie eating contest, now I actually eat slower than Cate and I was only able to eat 1/4 of the amount on my plate...WOOHOOOO!!!!
11/17/2005
Yeah...34 lbs gone now..I had to go to the doc or I wouldn't have weighed so quickly...encouraging though...one more pound and I will be under 300 again...can't wait..
The weather here is very cold now..I hope my YMCA membership comes through quickly so I can go walk at the gym..rite now I go to Target and walk around and around....one nite I think the clerks thought I was going to rob the place...oh well....
I am finally out of my binder...I couldn't handle it anymore and it was bothering my back.
11/26/2005
I started at the YMCA on Wednesday and it has been great so far...I love working out in a group setting...plus I get to watch TV at the same time. I am under 300 now...I haven't weighed in a week and will be anxious to go on Monday to weigh.
My doc's office said I need to eat more and this has been so hard to get in more calories...I am definitely going to talk to my family doc about a referral to a nut...I can't do this on my own...I am worn out trying to figure it all out and I need the extra support...I freak out when I eat more than 500 calories and my fat grams are higher than 10...I know it is all about balance, but I fear that I am going to not lose and then I don't want to eat....
Pulled a muscle in my stomach and am back on Ultram...I am taking a day of rest from exercise, even though I don't want to.
11/29/2005
OK, so it isn't a pulled muscle in my tummy...when I had a CT scan a few weeks ago they found a cyst on my left ovary...so here we go...it looks like this is the reason behind all the pain..and I will be having an ultrasound this week to confirm the CT scan....hummm...I am still gonna work out...and I am trying to eat more every day...at least 700 calories a day. I am getting in all my water and then some. When they drew blood at the docs office today they had to stick me four times......after all this I am learning to dislike having my blood drawn.
295 as of today...down from 335...a bit discouraged but I have read enough on this board that I know I will lose more eventually. It is a good thing I only weigh once a week. I would be super depressed. If I could only stop comparing my loss to that of others then I would be OK. I am an individual and doing everything rite..no cheating so it has to come off, rite???
12/05/05
Well, I got weighed today and I am down 40 lbs..I am excited.
12/07/2005
Things are going well...I couldn't be happier with the progress I have made. I am working out everyday at the YMCA and I love it...I even bought one of my fav magazines to read while I walk on the treadmil...Real Simple. My pants are about to fall off me and I am about to get down to the size before the size, before the size...feels great!!! I am eating about 700 calories a day...70 grams of protein and drinking between 90-100 oz of water..I am still caffeine free and I don't really crave caffeine at all. I was an addict prior to surgery so this is a definite plus. I feel healthier overall..and have so much more energy. People are noticing big time and my friend was like, hey you have boobs...I wasn't offended..after all they were so many rolls who knew what was what...I laughed and it felt great!!!
12/9/2005
I went to the gym tonite like usual and was able to walk a full 2 miles...it felt great!!! According to the machine I walked off 332 calories...that is almost half of my daily allowance...so I am gonna ask surgeon if I need to up my calories a little bit. Went to Max and Erma's last nite for dinner with a friend..I got a kids meal and it was really, really good. I have only eaten out 3 times now and each time I know better how to ask them to prepare my food. Like really steaming the veggies...broccoli never tasted better than last nite....and I had a half meal to eat for lunch today...all for $3.50...never woud have happened before surgery!!!!!
12/11/2005
Well, I took the day off from the gym yesterday and went to see Chronicles of Narnia after having some friends over for dinner...we ordered a pizza...but I ate only cheese topping and it was very good...I took my time and didn't overeat at all. I served fruit for dessert and no one complained. They were shocked that there was no diet coke in the house....they were like well what do you drink then? I said water, milk and tomato juice sometimes....they think I am deprived but I explained that I really enjoy drinking a lot of water and it is so much healthier for a person...
So, today I go back to the gym and walked 60 minutes and 2 and 1/2 miles...I felt good...I am a bit sore tonite..but hopefully it will go away by tomorrow morning!!!
12/13/2005
Down 44 lbs.
12/16/2005
I am keeping up with walking 65 minutes a day..today a littler over 2.6 miles...I feel good and can't wait to go back tomorrow!!! I took yesterday off because I had a procedure done at the docs office. So hopefully I will get in 6 days this week....doc says to increase calories...I am up to 900 a day now..or at least as close as possible.
12/19/2005
Down 48 lbs.
12/26/2005
2 months since surgery...doc's office was closed today so I didn't get to do my weekly weigh in....I will weigh tomorrow...anxious to see the results...
I had a great Christmas...I went to my mom's and spent the day after going to Church, I really enjoyed the day even though I drove over 300 miles...for breakfast, my usual protein drink and then on the way to mom's I had a SF Yogurt and a protein bar...for dinner I had ham, the insides of a deviled egg and cheese for dinner...I had 2 oz of peanuts for a snack...over all I did very well with the eating for the day...no desserts, too afraid of dumping...
12/27/2005
53 lbs down in 2 months...I lost 5 pounds this past week...I am still not sleeping well since surgery...I don't know if this will ever get better...
1/3/2006
down 2.5 lbs this week...I hope my body is just catching up with the losses...I am grateful that I have always had a loss....and I haven't cheated so I know the weight will continue to come off...Sunday I had dinner out..I chose chicken fajitas...no tortilla though...and I figure I have about 5 meals from that one dinner...it was very good too...I really enjoyed eating slowly and savoring each bite...I am working out 5 times a week now...7 days was just a bit too much...I take Wed/Sun off since those are days I go to my fellowship....
1/9/2006
down 5.2 lbs this week...I reached the 60+ lb loss..it feels good...
1/12/2006
I am able to walk faster than when I started at the YMCA and on an incline..I try to pick a speed and stick with it until I am really comfortable and then move forward..which seems to happen when I reach certain levels of weight loss. I am at 2.6..with an incline from .5-1.0 ...I recently am able to not hold onto the treadmill and walk with my arms pumping I have noticed it allows my heart rate to reach a level of more cardio workout. I would have never thought it made that much of a difference.
I need new clothes...but keep making what I have work until I can afford some new stuff. I am not too worried though. If my friends notice they don't say anything.
1/16/2006
4 more lbs for the week...continuing with my workout..last nite I did my 65 minutes on the treadmill and then got on a bike for about 2.35 miles...I did a total of a little over 5 miles between the two yesterday...it felt great!!!
1/23/2006
3 lbs this week...I worked out like crazy last week...I am now at 2.7 at .5-1.0 incline..I alternate the incline till my body gets used to it..I am finally below 50% BMI....as of today I am 49.9%..from well over 60%, that makes me very happy...
I never feel deprived for food...I have never even come close to eating junk food...I don't know why I am so strong but thank You God because I couldn't do this without Him!!!
1/27/2006
Ok finally today I made it to 3 miles...I am at a steady 2.7-2.8 with a 1.0 incline..I walked a bit longer today to reach 3 miles..wow..I really can do this.!!!! so far I have worked out everyday this week...Oh, and did some arm work on the equipment....
OH, and I managed to get in 919 calories today...this is such a hard thing...I am always glad when I have met my goal!!1
Jenn
1/30/2006
4 more lbs this past week.....I am very excited...nutritionist says to increase calories again.....
2/6/2006
2.5 lbs this past week. very tired and will share more later.
2/8/2006
OK, so started cymbalta this week..it is going very well. I hope it helps, prozac just wasn't doing the job. Exercise is a joy for me now..even when I am struggling on a machine..it is like can I outdo this machine or not? I always exceed my goal for myself that is my goal. Today I did 1.5 on treadmill...1.5 on eliptical and 5 on the recumbent bike. 8 miles in total...and a workout for my arms.
I am never in a race but I do like to see the results of my hard work.
2/13/2006
7 lbs this past week for a total of 84 lbs..my first wow moment..I am now officially out of the Super Morbidly Obese Category and into Extremely Obese...pretty darn exciting!!!!
2/22/2006
4 lbs...now I am at 88 total..I have been super ill..with PCOS issues...I am just glad to have lost a pound at this point...
2/27/2006
2 lbs lost...total 90...
only a few days since my last post...I have been back and forth from the hospital with lots and lots of issues...I am finally feeling a bit better...at least rite now...I have lost 90 total lbs. I have no veins left for them to stick me in...no joke either...I pray I don't need any more needles for a long, long time...it has been incredibly scary for me...but I know God has been rite there with me...
3/1/2006
2 lbs lost..total 92
3/6/2006
4 lbs lost...total 96
this has been so incredibly difficult I go back to the doctor today..the EGD didn't show anything...they did do a few biopsies...I am sure it will show nothing....rite now I am just trying to get my stamina back...I felt the best yesterday so far...I am finally eating more normally...
3/12/2006
will weigh tomorrow...i am lost rite now...will be seeing a cardiologist on the 31st for a tilt table test...doc thinks something with my heart since surgery...not really scared..too sick i think to be scared...everything seems to be going wrong rite now...i haven't been able to exercise for 3 weeks...i tried once it nearly killed me...nut says i have malnutrition...will have a breast biopsy and a v ultrasound later this week...may need a D&C...
3/13/06
5 more lbs...total 101...
3/21/2006
4 lbs..total 105...
3/27/2006
2.5 lbs lost...very, very exciting...I finally took a pic of myself today...my roomate bought me a groovy nice digital camera...wooohooo
4/3/2006
2.5 lbs lost...nothing new here...my mom is coming for a visit today..i will go halfway to pick her up......so this crazy lady has been cleaning like a mad woman...it is great to be able to manage getting things done so much better...
225 lbs as of today...down from 335...110 lbs lost total...
4/10/2006
221...4 lbs lost last week...finally feeling much, much better...
5/14/2006
211....forgot to post losses for a while...so I guess in the past month I lost 10 lbs. i will weight tomorrow and see what the results are...I have been working out like a bandit...
5/22/2006
207.8 as of today...
5/30/2006
200.4 as of today...a big loss this past week...yesterday i took on the project of painting my basement stairwell..i sweat so much i am not surprised at the weight loss today...i worked in the yard too and did so much that I was worn out...i slept very good...I am so grateful for this surgery...
6/5/2006
i made it to onderland today...I am at 199.2 lbs...what a glorious day...
6/19/2006
I am at 196.8 today...last week no loss...it feels good to lose again..
6/24/2006
I am working out on average an hour + a day. I usually get to 5-6 miles per workout. I am trying to crosstrain and enjoying it immensely. I am doing a 5K in October with my some friends. Life is great. I felt a weird feeling of success while working out today. I got past the wall feeling and I can't tell you how wonderful I felt sweating away on the machines. I could have stayed longer but am trying not to workout too much. Who would have ever thought that might be a problem?
Monday is 8 months..as of today I am at a loss of 140 lbs....other than my legs kinda looking like a sharpei my skin has stood the test of time. Well, my arms sag a bit but I can live with that one.
Life is so extremely well...I am able to work part time now and it feels great to be able to go to work everyday. I may be finishing my degree online and graduating in about 1 year. I am super excited at how losing this weight has reopened life's many opportunities for me.
I will update on Monday as to my 8 month progress.
6/26/2006
I weigh today 192.2...a total loss this past week of 4.6 lbs...I started at 335 and so my grand eight month total is 143. I played softball yesterday and had so much fun. It is exciting to be a part of normal life again. There is so much out there for me, I can't wait to discover more things. I actually had an RBI and a run. WOOHOO!!!
7/3/2006
191 as of today...hey any loss at this point is a positive for me...about a pound last week. I usually take Monday off from the gym but went and worked out for 32 minutes tonite. It felt great and I know I will sleep much better because of the exercise.
Here are two photos I took...one called Trust and the other just a cool pic I took in Arizona. The first is a friend and her newborn infant. I don't think it gets any better than that folks!!!
Here is the most recent photo taken today...7/6/2006. I weigh 191.
7/10/2006
I weigh 186 today...down from 191...so a loss of 5 lbs this past week. Hip, hip hooray!!! My nut was like hey we might eventually need to slow this down and I am like I don't think that is gonna be a problem. We'll see..
Here are pics of my fur babies..Thomas and Sweet Pea.
7/15/2006
Hey all...ten more days till 9 month anniversary. It is really going by very fast. I got together with a friend today who knew me pre weight gain and she said I look smaller than I did at my lowest...how exciting is that?? I really think a lot of it is the amount of exercise I do on a daily basis. I may be the same weight in #'s but smaller in physical size. Exercise for me has been a huge factor in the whole process.
I updated a pic of me at 186. I don't think I will lose weight this week...but I had a big loss last week...we'll see what the scales say on Monday. I think even when I get to goal I will always weigh on a weekly basis. It really keeps me accountable and for me it is not too often. I have only had one weight gain...that I know of...this entire time...it was rite after my second shot of steroids for skin rashes and it was gone the next week. I think I am very, very lucky in the this department. Thank you Lord!!
A pic I took of a butterfuly on my butterfly bush...
7/17/2006
Lost .6 lbs this week...just glad for a loss...I am in a wedding in November so it is gonna be bust this but to lose the rest of the weight by October.
7/24/2006
1 lb this past week...picking self up and dusting self off and gonna lose the other 35 lbs....
7/31/2006
lost 5 lbs...grand smashing total of 155...i now weigh 180...
8/16/2006
Not much going on in the weight loss dep't. I am finally at 179. 1 big lb since the end of July. It's OK, I expected it to slow down soon. My health is better than ever. I havent needed to go to the doc in months now for any health related reasons. I am so glad to not be a regular in my doc's office anymore. Whipppeee...
I took on a few electrical projects here at home this week. Replaced one outlet and a switch...unbelievably simple and relatively easy. I could never have done this before. I had to crouch underneath a desk for the outlet and let me tell you I would never have fit under there pre op. What a definite blessing!!!!
I am focusing on protein, protein, protein this week. I hope every week, but really wanting to exceed 100 grams per day. I want to start losing a little bit. I am to be in a wedding and want to look my best.
8/21/2006
Lost 3 lbs this past week...I now weigh 176...what a milestone for me. My mom is coming for a visit tomorrow. I can't wait for her to see all the progress I have made on my house and of course my body. My birthday is coming up so I made a few purchases the other day at TJ Max...a ring, some earrings and some sunglasses. I feel like a glamour chic.
9/4/2006
official weight today is 175...seems to be coming off much slower, which honestly is OK with me rite now. I am still working out at the gym and training for a 5K in October. I went hiking yesterday...a small miracle in itself...last year it was not even possible. God has been so good to me...
9/7/2006
I just have to write today. It seems I have passed a major hurdle with exercise. I am enjoying it soo much and am able to rest when I need to and do a lighter routine. I used to rollerblade a lot and today I got them out and went to the park. While I was more scared of the hills than before I really enjoyed it a lot and will be looking for a flat trail so I can do more distance without worrying about those darned hills. I can't believe I can do it again and I really felt my form was so much better than before. After that I went to the gym and did a little over 4 miles on the elliptical machine. It was great and it is funny how one learns to enjoy sweating.
I am so content and clear headed. I wonder too if the iron prescription is helping me to have more energy and want to do the workouts I was used to a few weeks ago. I don't know but whatever has happened I am happy and glad.
9/13/2006
One more lb lost today. Total 161.
9/18/2006
Total loss now 164. I lose a bit over 3 lbs this past week...well 3 and a half. My doctor's scaled keeps track of the ounces which you can't do on the tracking system here on this website. I am almost into the 160..I can't believe it...I weigh 171 and it feels great.
10/12/2006
Only one pound lost in the past three weeks. Not too much going on other than being diagnosed with vasovagal syncope. I took over a week off from the gym. I think it didn't help and I was experiencing a lot of what I thought were low blood sugar episodes so I was eating more often to compensate for my body feeling so shaky and sick. I am just glad to have a diagnosis now and I can start losing weight again.
Today I did 8.50 miles at the gym. This past Saturday I did my first 5K and it felt great. I have worked out everyday this week. Monday I played tennis and it felt good. I can definitely chase down a ball much better than I ever could.
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