Jennifer M.

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So, I've lost a whopping 170lbs since beginning my WLS journey. Truth be told, that's how much I lost my first year! I know it's a lot of weight to lose but I haven't lost any in the past 3 months (but I believe I'm slowly losing inches because I've dropped 2 more pants sizes). My weight fluctuates; one week I'll remain the same weight then two days later I'll gain 5 and then 3 weeks later I've lost the 5lbs. It's been a vicious circle. Sadly, I let the Holiday's get the best of me and I lost focus of eating right and exercising. I've been really bummed that I haven't lost a pound since January but I wasn't really doing anything to change things either. 

SoooOOOoooo....I began walking in the evenings and semi-watching what I eat. I've lost 4lbs in less than a week and I'm super excited about my weight loss again! I must admit that I love walking again. I forgot how great it feels...how great I feel! I'm getting my energy back again and I don't feel as lazy as I did a month ago. Now, I'm at the stage where I REALLY have to work at it to lose the weight and I'm fine with that b/c I feel like I'M doing this and it's not so much my surgery anymore. Oddly, that makes me feel normal again; the average American woman that's dieting and exercising to gain better health lol

My short term goal right now is to lose 20 lbs by the time I go to Vegas (mid-May). If I accomplish this, I'll FINALLY be under 200lbs at that point and I honestly can't remember the last time I was under 200 lbs. I've been 200+lbs all throughout my teens and adulthood. I would love to have plastic surgery by this time next year to remove all of my excess skin. Lord knows, I have skin hanging in places that I didn't know it could hang lol It literally hangs everywhere! lo Unfortunately, I've become self conscious of wearing really short sleeve shirts or tank tops because my arms look like wings lol When I buy shirts and they have short sleeves, I make sure it's no shorter than to my elbow. I'm already missing winter because I could wear long sleeves with no problem.

I'm also itching to become pregnant, too but I know I need to wait until after I have plastic surgery. I know that if I have a baby before then, I would wait a really long time before I have plastic surgery. Then again, I don't want to get the surgery and my stomach stretch back out, too. Decisions, decisions lol

All-in-all, I'm very happy with my surgery and the new life it has given me. I'm not afraid of sitting in chairs with arms anymore or going through turn stiles or worrying about breaking a chair due to my weight or leaving my house afraid of hearing people make comments about my size or see people stare. Believe it or not, I used to have mini panic attacks if I was faced with any of those scenarios. My boyfriend and I were looking at old pictures of us together - pre op - and I was crying because although I know that is me in the pictures, I can't believe how far I've come in such a short time. I was a large woman and I my body felt the weight every second of my super mobid obese lifestyle. It always ached and I was always tired. Ladies & gents, I can honestly say that I never want to go back to anywhere close to where I was 15+months ago. More so, once I'm out of the 200's, I never want to see it again!

For those of you who read this and don't know if you want to get WLS or not, I can truthfully say from the depths of my soul that this was the very best decision I have made for my health. I've always been overweight/obese and to go from my highest weigh-in of 390lbs to 219lbs today, speaks volumes for me. I know I have a long ways to go but the journey is well worth it. For those of you who have helped me through out this time, I appreciate you more than you'll ever know. I know I can count on you when I need you the most.

October 7, 2008

Here's a brief update:
* I'm below 250 lbs! Barely, but it still counts, right?

* I'm offically too small to fit Lane Bryant's tops. I'm kinda sad about that but not really b/c I can shop at more places

* I'm still making healthier food choices. I slip every now and then but I limit myself to 1-2 bites of something and be done with it. That's enough to usually satisfy my taste & still feel like I fit in with society (e.g. Wedding cake at a reception).

* I'm now in a size 22 pants!

* I know there's no excuses, but my exercise regime has been extinguished the past 3 months. I still take the stairs as often as possible & take the long route when walking and/or parking but I need to plug in at least 30 mins a day for cardio. I miss it!

* I plan on doing another 5k by the end of the year.

* I'm not as self conscious anymore when I leave the house b/c I don't feel like everyone is staring at me and making judgements.

* I can walk long distances w/o getting tired.

* I bought a compact car and fit in it w/room to spare! Woot woot!

There's a million mile stones that have been made inbetween but these are the highlights. My goal is to weigh around 215-220 by the end of the year. If I accomplish that, I would have lost over 175 lbs! I'll keep everyone posted.

Now, I'm about a week shy of my 7 months post-op anniversary and I'm down 121 lbs. I am just now starting to do cardio again, otherwise it would have been a lot more lost. I haven't worked out on a regular basis since the end of April. I'm down to a size 24 pants and a 14/16 top. It's nice to go into stores, other than ones geared specifically geared towards full figured women, and buy clothes off the rack. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE me some Lane Bryant but it's nice not having to spend so much money on a pair of pants. My goal is to be less than 250 lbs by the end of summer. I'm 16 lbs away from that.

Words really can't explain how great I feel! I take the stairs more often than taking the elevator and I have so much more energy. I've already participated in one 5k marathon and I plan on participating in at least 2 more by the end of the year. I'm addicted! I can fit in most chairs now where before I would be nervous that I wouldn't be able to fit or that I would break it. I still have to get used to picking up the right sized clothes. I'll pick up a 24 pants and say "there's no way my hips can fit in that" and sure enough I have room to spare most times. Now, I have a tendency of picking up clothes that I currently wear and think to myself "God - a year ago I would have laughed at someone if they gave me clothes in this size thinking I could fit it". Science amazes me!

I don't eat anything fried. I still eat healthy and snack on fruit, vegetables, & nuts through out the day. I drink plenty of water and take my vitamins faithfully. I haven't experienced any hair loss or fatigue...thank God! I still haven't experienced a dumping syndrome yet b/c if I'm not sure about something, I either: a) don't eat it, b) nibble on it or c) take an hour to slowly eat it.

My life partner, Josh, and one of my best friend always parade me around people I haven't seen in awhile and say "Look at Jennifer! She's lost over x lbs since January!" It's flattering and embarrassing at the same time. I hate attention but it nice to see people's jaws drop. I love being able to go walking in the parks or working out with my man. He's always been SO physically active and it's nice to be able to keep up with him...or at least try. I can also jog now! Not long distances yet but it's still something I haven't been able to do in about 12 years.

I'm excited to see what the next 6 months has in store for me and then reflect back on this blog!

I'm about a week shy from my 3 month WLS Anniversary and I'm already down nearly 70 lbs! I feel absolutely great, people! I went shopping at Lane Bryant last night and I can FINALLY where their size 28 pants again AND I'm permanently in an 18/20 top! I haven't been able to fit those sizes in at least 5 years! Ah-mazing! 4 months ago, I was having to buy my jeans at a specialty shop for the Super-Plus Sized woman. I was wearing a size 38 jeans and 30/32 top. I can't believe what 3 months can do. 

February 18, 2008

I joined Methodist (Charlton) last week to start working out....although I knew I wouldn't be able to "start working out" until Wednesday of this week. Yet, I walked for 15 mins today on the treadmill. God, it felt good! I could've went longer but the nurse guy told me not to go over 15 mins b/c of the weight on my knees, I'm knew to working out, & he doesn't want me to wear out. 

I can't wait for tomorrow night! It's Post-Op Meeting Night! I LOOOOVE going! 

Also - I began meeting with Sarah the Nutritionist as her post-op patient. I just want to make sure I'm staying on track, seek healthy alternatives and advice, & just to maintain a healthy perspective. 

I'm going to Disney World for my 2 year anniversary in May and I REALLY want to lose enough weight to where I'm not wore out from walking the parks and I can ride most rides w/o worrying that I can't fit.

Lastly, I've been quiet inventive in the kitchen lately...seeking healthy - nutritious - tasty alternatives. I've discovered extra lean Jenni-o groun turkey and I've made SOOOOO many recipes with that stuff! Also, low carb tortillas are great, too! You'd be surprised what you can do w/those two combinations. So far, I've made pizzas, tacos, quesadilla burgers, and taquitos. All of them had extremely healthy yet tasteful alternatives.

I've found myself lately throughly checking the nutition labels on EVERYTHING. It takes me about 20 mins to go down each isle. My boyfriend HATES grocery shopping with me now lol

Got my degree in Psych last summer and landed a dead end job at a bank a few weeks before graduation. I was promised that I could use the position as a foot-in-the-door technique but finding out that it's in a dept that recruiters look down on. Anywho - I'm needing a job upgrade...majorly. If you have anything in mind....hook me up!

February 6, 2008

I went for my 1 month post op today and I found out that I've lost 44.7 lbs! Wooo whooooo!!!! Can you believe that?! Also, Dr. C said that I need to start working out at least 5 hours a week. SoooOOOOOooooo on my way home from Methodist Dallas, I decided to check out the fitness facility at Charlton Methodist b/c it's closer to my home and it's open 24/7 (which REALLY appealed to me). And let me say, it was love at first sight  I go in Tuesday for my orientation and I pay my 3 month fee (only $54 for post-op patients!) and wha-la! I begin working my butt off...literally. It's amazing how much energy I have now. I can't wait to keep it building. I'm also going to begin visiting w/Sarah the Nutritionist again starting next week to help keep me on track.

I'm SO excited!

P.S.
Forgot to mention that I had to have an endoscopy done last week to re-open my valve to my stomach which was making it incredibly difficult for me to hold anything down. After that was done, I could eat soft-solids again. It was bliss

January 29, 2008

I just measured myself and I'm down 4.5" in my hips & 2.75" in my waist! Woooo whoooo!

January 27, 2008

I'm SO frustrated right now! I've progressed to the stage of "soft-solids" and everything I've tried under the provided list, I can't keep it down. It doensn't matter how small the bite is, how many times I chew it, or how long I take between bites, it comes back up within an hour. I finally got some extremely watered down mashed potatoes yesterday. It was nice. But I can't eat the tuna salad, chicken salad or beef stew that it says I can. Until my follow-up I presume I'll stick to my full liquid diet.

January 15, 2008

So I'm now at 12 days post-op and I feel absolutely fabulous! I don't have a scale around the house that will accurately weight me b/c I exceed the limits but I can tell how much I've lost by how loose my clothes feel. I'll list the measurements for which I went down (others are still the same):

Left arm: -1/2"
R & L Calf: -2"
Hips: -1.5"
L & R Thigh: -1/2"

My waist & bust is still the same as last week; although thoselook the smallests! 

Tonight I pushed Lazy aside and went to my WLS group meeting. I'm glad I decided to go. They're SO inspirational to me. It's great to sit in a room filled w/people I can relate to. Since I'm the only person in my family and friends who have had WLS, it's nice to sit in a room full of people who understand exactly what I'm going through. Also, I love how my medical staff/office shows up, too! It shows us that they truly care about our well-being. Other's who I've known that have gone to other surgeons/hospitals doesn't offer what Methodist Dallas does. It's a wonderful bonding opportunity for the patients and medical staff.

I LOVE METHODIST DALLAS!