jennyanniedots

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 I wondered back here after a few people asked me if they could ask me about weight loss surgery. This is the place I always direct people, not because I don't want to talk about it, or because I'm too busy,  but because its a genuine blog about what I was feeling mentally and physically at the time, each step of the way! Funny that I'm here today, because just yesterday morning I sat at Quest for 2 hours while the worker went through each of my doctors panels, inputing them into the computer, getting frozen viles, getting viles covered so the light doesn't shine thorugh, etc...In the end it was 21 viles and a cup of pee they took from me. All for my amazing vampire doctor, who I see in August for my 4 year post opt follow up!

So, 4 years..what's going on? Well, I have an amazing daughter who is a year old. Pregnancy as far as weight is concerned wasn't a big deal at all. Honestly, all I really wanted was a baby belly and  by the time I got it, I delivered and a week  later it was gone! Who wouldn't want to be that lucky?? I was kinda sad about it! In the past year, I've gotten back down to a stable 140, before I was about a stable 138, so I'll take it. I have noticed that my body is different now, which has caused me to go up a pant size in some stores. This is ok, but it still brings with it a fear that I will gain weight back. I have also laxed on my vitamins, well some of them, which is why I decided to go ahead and get the bloodwork done. I have continued to keep up with my B12 and multi vitamin, but the others...not so much. I know I need to get back on track with it, so come August, it's on. Exercise-does chansing around and entertaining a 1 year old count?? We are always on the go! But, I have also laxed in getting to the gym, hard core workouts. Most of that is because I'm not completely sure I want to have my daughter at the gym daycare for an hour-new moms issues, I know-or maybe its just my own excuse. We do take walks and like I mentioned, we are pretty active, but I would like to get into some classes. I've been talking about trying to run (again), but its too hot right now, or thats just what I'm telling myself :)

All in all, my life is pretty wonderful. Again, I do not regret having surgey one bit. It's a complete journey that I dont think will ever end, I'm still learning new things and finding new food to eat (and finding some I shouldn't eat!). A lot of people ask me about alcohol- I never was a huge drinker and I'm still not. At this time 2 drinks max is usually what I have. I still feel the alcohol fast and then the (drunk) feeling fades pretty fast. 

Life is great :)

Health, Wealth & Blessing!

Time sure has flown! Last year this time, we were crossing our fingers for my mom's RNY surgery date and now, she is down 100 pounds. I can't believe that in March I will be 2 years out. I already have my 2 year app. scheduled for St. Patricks Day and I'm nervous to see how my labs turn out, especially since my husband and I would like to start a family this spring/summer.

So, about 2 years out and what's different? EVERYTHING! I'm really living my life now. I can shop where I want-however, at times trying to find a XS and a size 2 pants is equally as frusterating as trying to find the bigger sizes. I had no idea how much all the weight I was carrying around was holding me back. I do not, for anything, regret having this surgery. One thing that has stayed the same is the mental struggle for me to get myself to the gym. At 260 or at 135, the mental struggle is still very preset-especially at the end of a long work day, with the cold, dark days approaching. I try to just tell myself that their will always be an excuese, always be something on tv, I'll always "go tomorrow". I just try to get my mind set and go ahead and go. Don't get me wrong, once I'm there I'm fine and I workout-it's just getting there that's trouble for me.

For those thinking about WLS or about to have it- put one foot in front of the other and keep walking. I continue to believe that its the single best thing that I have done thus far in my life!

Health, Wealth & Blessings!

This week will mark 15 months for me. I can't believe its already been over a year. So far everything has been going smoothly. I really can't complain about much. I have noticed that at times, I can eat more than I used to be able to eat. This scares me and makes me think that I will gain weight.

I've learned that I get board with excercise. I take 7 week long classes at the local YMCA and by the end of the 7th week I am so board with that class. I'm finishing up a strength & conditioning class this week and I'm going to sign up for Yoga for relaxation and Yoga for strength. I'm still working on my bat wings, but taking the weight lifting class has given me just enough confidence to wear halter/sleeveless tops.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Health, Wealth & Blessings!

Last week my husband and I had to travel to Ohio for his grandfather's funeral. No one knew that I had WSL- but I did send some family members a cute little Christmas card with a recent picture of us. Well, his grandmother thought that he (my husband) left his wife (me) and got a new girlfriend (also me). Everyone at the funeral thought that I was the new girlfriend. It was so funny! Then, grandma said, "yeah, I've seen it on tv. They just suck everything right out of you". So, now that she believes that I'm still me, she thinks I got lipo.....


Gotta love 'em!

So, I'm just shy of a year post opt. and I'm currently at 145. Things are going well. I'm doing ZUMBA a few times a week, which is a latin dance exercise class. It's pretty fun. I still get to the gym to do the elliptical at least once a week if I'm also doing ZUMBA, more if no ZUMBA that week and I take the dog on daily walks, but I really don't count that as exercise. I was completely addicted to any  kind of sugar for about 2 weeks, I was starting to get a little concerned, but then my cycle came and I'm thinking it was a PMS thing. I'm in a XS shirt and an 8, sometimes 6 pant. My rings need to be resized again as well. Pics will come soon!

Health, Wealth & Blessings!

Seems funny, but those were the words that I wrote on a sign that I just made last week for my mom that were from 'the rules of the pouch' and I just recently lived in those words myself.

Last weekend we were over a friends house, who we have not seen since August. We went in and sat down, I still had my coat on, but was wearing a very snug size 10 jeans and an XS fitted shirt. Well, I got up and not thinking that these people were going to see a totally different body than what they were used to, walked into a different room. We talked to our friends and their family, who we hadn't seen since I had surgery-stayed awhile and left.

Well, my husband went to the gym 2 nights ago with his friend and it seems like I was the talk of the town after we left. His friends mom (who I knew before surgery), and really wants to have surgery herself, was apparently just raving about me. My favorite comment that was related back to me was "Even when Jen was heavy she was cute. But man, now she's a knockout". Me. KNOCKOUT??? That made me smile! I was half asleep when my husband told me that and just smiled and said...imagine that, you married a KNOCKOUT!! He said, I know I did. Thats why I married you. *Tear*

Health, Wealth & Blessings!

So, if anyone has been keeping up with my posts, they will know my mom has been approved for LAP RNY. Her surgery date is 1/27/09- just 8 days away. Today starts her rounds of pre-op tests. In a few hours she's due to go for her upper GI-which for me, was the utmost difficult part of the entire surgery itself. Tomorrow its an EKG, bloodwork, ultrasound and an app. with her sleep doctor since she has severe sleep apena. Wednesday she see's the suergeon and has a 2 hour session with the NUT. at the hospital.

On one of my OH friends page, Jen, I saw a friend did this Seven Days of Hope for her. So, we decided to do that for my mom. I posted pics of all  the wrapped gifts, but what we did for her was: Day 1- a support letter and card signed by our family and a DIVA sign that has glitter and a boa around it. Day 2- is a LIFE IS GOOD pink water bottle with a heart on it (she likes the Life is Good line), Day 3- a started photo album with BEFORE pics and a story called IMAGINE that I got from an inspirational weight loss website. On the back of the photo alum I wrote "the rest is still unwritten". I'm going to take hospital pics too. She may not like it now, but I think she will looking back. Day 4- I hand wrote the RULES OF THE POUCH (see my blog) on a plaque for her with fancy handwriting. Very cute, I must say. Day 5-Scratch offs in the amount of $2 and $7 since her date is the 27th, Day 6- Victoria Secret gift card with the quote " a girl should be 2 things: classy & fabulous" Day 7- The Angel of Health from the Willow Tree Collection.

We are so excited, scared and nervous for her. As you can imagine she too is on that emotional roller coaster that comes along with having this extreme life change. Yesterday I made her go to the gym with me. She was less then happy. I told her "don't get pissy, just do it". And she did, she walked for 16 minutes, then told me "No wonder your skin and bones, look how hard you worked". I just said "welcome to the rest of your life". My dad called and said that she's going back to the gym again today. Everyone has to start somewhere!

I'll keep everyone posted on her pre-op status as well as post op. I'd really like her to get an account on OH, but shes completely computer illerate, so I figured I'd do it for her!

Health, Wealth & Blessings!

My mom called me today about noon and said that she had called her insurance and she was approved the same day that she was submitted (Dec.19th). They faxed over her info to the docs office so now she's waiting to hear from the nurse for a surgery date. So exciting!!!!

So, as many of you may already know, my mom has been going through the hoops for LAP RNY. She finished all her requirements and supervised weigh loss program the first week of December. We were secretly hoping that she'd be approved by Christmas time, but that didn't happen. I saw her last night and she said that she called her insurance (Kaiser) this week, but they told her that their was nothing in her file. Yikes!!!

I want this soooo bad for her. I just keep thinking and don't really know how to verbalize this to her...but her quality of life is going to improve so much! For instance, last night my family met for dinner at my sister's condo-which is on the third floor and a good maybe 30 steps to get to. My mom was already there by the time I got there, but going down the steps seemed to be so hard for her. She mentioned that her knees were terrible. I kinda said under my breath "not for long". Another problem she has is sleeping. It was deemed through this process (and 2 sleep studies) that she has severe sleep apeana. She has a breathing machine, but can't stand to wear it. She's tossing and turing all night.

I just think about all the things she's going to be able to accomplish without feeling the pain of the knees or feeling tired because the weight has prevented her from sleeping through the night. She's still so young and full of life.

My dad mentioned this week that they are going to the local YMCA and sihn up for a gym membership since they have free registration until January 18th. So, thats one step in the right direction. She's very lucky she has a good support system behind her. Everything is in place...now if only the insurance company would hurry up!!

I recently googled my sign. Which is ARIES. I think this one is pretty dead on:

Energy and love. Good people who care deeply for loved ones. Make friends easily. Highly creative. Unafraid of hard work. Dynamic and talented. Excellent family skills. Artistic, cultivated. Lives in tasteful surroundings. Collects art and other authenticities.

Health, Wealth, & Blessings!
Jen