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February 19, 2007: My goal today was to get this profile updated...but here it is 4pm already and I am just now getting started on it.  Oh, well...better late than never... 

February14, 2007

I am finally back in the real world.  I feel like I have been out of touch with everyone!  Both of my computers died within a day of each other!  ARGHHHH!!!  I had to have a new hard drive put in my laptop - but it's as good as new now!  I lost my quilting "homework" I had been working on for 2 months - but I didn't really like it any way...so now I am in the process of re-doing the whole thing!

Jon is in onederland already.  He seems to be doing really good.  He is finding that he needs to slow down when he eats.

I am doing good.  I am still in PT for my shoulder...and trying to be real careful on this snow and ice with my knee.

I would really like to get my weight up to 135 pounds...but just can't seem to get it there.  I think it was Monday - I was 134...but today I was back to 128.  I seem to stay right between - 127 and 133...no matter what I do....it just stays there.... I think I have been at this same weight now since August...  I'm not complaining... I just would like to be able to put some more muscle on...I can't wait until I can get back to the gym...and back to walking every day.  I really miss it!!!  

Well, it's late - they have already cancelled school for the third day...so I won't get anything done around here again tomorrow.  I am tired of this snow and ice...I am ready to move to some Caribbean Island with a nice tropical breeze! 

January 29, 2007

Once again it has been forever since I have posted.  It just seems that I don't ever have the time to spend on the internet anymore...so here is a quick update...My weight seems to have stablized...I almost always weigh the same now...it doesn't matter if I weigh myself at night or in the morning...I am always right around 130 pounds - give or take a pound or two either way.  It works for me.  Jon is doing really well with his too.  He says he has been at 201 for 2 weeks now.  I am amazed at the amounts he can eat.  There is now way - I could eat as much as he does sometimes....especially when I was only 8 weeks out....oh well, I have to keep reminding myself that everyone is different. 

I am still seeing the orthopaedic doctor for my shoulder and my knee.  I think the shoulder is coming along really good...slow...I go to physical therapy twice a week, but I can finally do things again.  I had an MRI of my knee last week and we will go over the results.  The MRI wasn't pretty...but there is really nothing we can do until my shoulder is better, because I will have to be on non-weight bearing on crutches for 6-8 weeks because of the type of surgery he thinks he will have to do....so.... who knows!

I have to get some more pictures on here.  I found some the other day when I was sorting through stuff.  Looking at them, I can't believe I was that big.  I am so much happier now.  I love being able to go into stores and just buy things off the rack.  My biggest complaint with stores and online shopping is...they think if you are a small size then you have short legs!  Pants/Jeans with a 32" inseam are high waters on me!...and then you have to pay an extra $10 for talls (for an extra 2" of material)- if they even offer them.  Oh well...  Anyway - hopefully, I can get my act together and get some more pictures loaded here soon.  I have to get them scanned in....

Oh, I almost forgot...I have a website...it is: http://www.freewebs/we3beelieve - it's about our weight loss journey.  I am trying to keep it updated...and post some interesting things that have worked for me.

November 30, 2006

I can't believe it has been a month since I posted!!  Time has gone by so fast - yet slow...I had my shoulder surgery 5 weeks and 2 days ago...and we are now back from Hawaii.  Jon had his WLS on November 20...10 days ago and has already lost 20 pounds since his pre-op visit!  He is doing really good.  I posted pictures today from the photo shoot back in October.  They turned out pretty good.  The Beyond Medicine magazine will come out on January 8, 2007.  It will be really strange to see it in print.  I have already seen the article and the picture they are going to use...it's one of the one's of Jon and I...Iit is in my photo section.

October 30, 2006

Tomorrow will be one week since my shoulder surgery.  It's still pretty rough!  I hope I will be able to do this trip to Hawaii - I am really worried about the plane ride.  I go back to the surgeon on Thursday.  I will post again before we leave...it's hard to type with one hand.

October 24, 2006

Today was my photo shoot for the Inova magazine-Beyond Medicine.  We met the photographer up on skyline drive.  It was very cold - but it was fun.  People kept stopping and looking at us - I know they were wondering what was going on.  I will get copies of the pictures - so I will make sure I get them posted.  The magazine is supposed to come out on January 8, 2007. 

Tomorrow is my shoulder surgery.  I will post again when I can. 

October 21, 2006

Today we went to Romney, West Virginia and road the Potomac Eagle train.  It was a lot of fun.  I can't wait to feel better and go back and do it again in the spring. 

The photographer called today to confirm the time for the photo shoot on Monday.  This is so weird.  I still can't believe that they want to do a story on me.  Anyway - we are going to meet at skyline drive to do this photo shoot for this article about bariatric surgery and beyond.  I have already been interviewed.  I think they said the magazine comes out in December.  It's an Inova Fair Oaks publication.  I think they have also interviewed Dr. Moazzez for the article.  I am going to ask for copies of the pictures too.  I will update later.

October 19, 2006

Hello - I'm eventually going to get this all straight...but I think I will start posting different from here...from now on all the new posts will be in the beginning instead of at the end...this will give me time to fix the missing parts...I don't know where they went...off in cyberspace...but I did print off a copy so I will just start the process of recreating it...I did always want to go back in and fill in the gaps anyway....this will make me do it.  I figured since I will be laid up and not allowed to do a whole lot over the next eight weeks I will have plenty of time to get it all fixed. 

I want to take a second to thank Natalie (Tinkerbell) for fixing my profile.  I just love it!  Thank you so much Natalie for keeping me straight!  I love you and I am so blessed that God has put you in my life!

5/10/05 - Today I had my appointment with my PCP, Dr. Jessica Byrd. We talked about WLS...she said go for it!...and she thought I would be an excellent candidate.  (Update...12/29/05 - I just found the slip of paper where I had written down my weigh at this appointment...UGH...I was 278 pounds at this visit!)

5/12/05 - Did more research on WLS and found a doctor - called his office. I have an appointment with Dr. Chebli on June 15th.

5/16/05 - Got labwork back - everything was good with the exception of the LFT's...they are still elevated. Going to see Dr. Nemec, my gastroenterologist on 5/24/05

5/24/05 - Went to see Dr. Nemec and talked to him about the LFT's and the WLS. He asked me how come I had never scheduled the endoscopy the last time we spoke...(caught!!) He explained that it was very important that it be done asap. So, after my appointment I went and scheduled...He said it normally takes a week or two to get scheduled. Would you believe it...they had a cancellation for the 25th! I guess I won't have time to get nervous. Jon is out of town - but my son Joey said he would take me.

5/25/05 - The endoscopy itself was not bad at all - only because I don't remember anything about it. Dr. Nemec was great...I remember talking to him before in the procedure room and then again back in my room (I don't remember going back to my room!). He gave my son a copy of the report (which wasn't so good) and sent us home. I had a sore throat for rest of the week and was pretty sleepy for the rest of that day...

6/1/05 - Got a call from Pam at Dr. Chebli's office. He is moving to Washington State...I now have an appointment with Dr. Amir Moazzez on the June 14th.

6/10/05 - Today is my birthday...by this time next year I will be a new person...a smaller person...

6/14/05 - I had my consulation with Dr. Moazzez. I really liked him a lot. He was very thorough and answered all of my questions. He said I would make an excellent candidate for WLS. I am going to have RNY-LAP.

6/20/05 - Recieved a letter from my insurance Anthem BCBS - it was dated 6/14/05 - the same date as my consultation with Dr. Moazzez. I was approved as of June 14, 2005!!! Awesome!!!!

6/30/05 - Today I scheduled my WLS date: August 30, 2005. I am excited but nervous about WLS.

7/6/05 - I made it through the long week-end and didn't do too bad. I stayed busy and that helped. On Friday I bought myself some of the protein drinks to try. They aren't as bad as I thought they were going to bad. I have really been trying to stick to the pre-surgery diet that Dr. Moazzez has asked me to do. It is a modified Atkins diet of 70 protein and 30 carbs. I haven't been back on the scale...I am being very careful and watching what I eat - I want to be able have the RNY-LAP.

7/8/05 - Tonight is my second test...the Sleep Study. It should be interesting...I'm really not looking foward to it. It's just weird having someone watch you while you are trying to sleep.

7/13/05 - Well, I made it through the sleep study. I don't know why they call it a sleep study - you really don't get much sleep and the glue they put in your hair - it was miserable to try and get out. I'm glad it's over...I don't have sleep apnea so that is a good thing. I haven't heard anything about the results.

7/15/05 - I got a call from Dr. Small's office today. They have moved my psychiatric evaluation from August to this Monday @ 9:00am. This means I will be leaving the house about 6:45am to get there in time. It's about an hour and a half drive with traffic and all...and Monday rush hour traffic at that...it should be fun! We will see if I am sane or not!!

7/18/05 - Well, I had my psychiatric evaluation today with Dr. Small. Traffic wasn't too bad and I didn't get lost!!! I even got there early. I finished the 567 question test before he saw me. He was a little late...but it was painless. He was rather nice to talk to and he has relatives in western New York. He asked me if I always smiled so much and if I always had such a good outlook. I told him I tried to. He also gave me some suggestions for protein drinks from GNC. He said don't even waste the money on the GNC brand because they were nasty in his opinion. Anyway - I feel like I'm doing pretty good...on the pre-weight loss and I'm very excited to be on the losing side of life! Until next time!

07/30/05 - One month from today at this time (9:20am) - my surgery will be over and I will be on the loosing side. This next week I have a very busy week with my 4-hour nutritionist class and 2 days full of labs and stuff...I must be loosing some too...I put on a pair of jeans yesterday and they zipped up without lying down on the bed! I've been trying to be really good. I even lost 2 pounds while we were in Texas last week. I don't know how I did it - I just thank God!

7/31/05 - Last night my husband and I were at Walmart and we bought a AbLounger(Sport). On tv they are advertised for $99.00 plus shipping and handling...JC Penney also has them in their catalog for the same price. If anyone is looking at buying one of these - Walmart has them for $93.99. It was easy to put together. It comes with a really good video...and workout. My husband and I both did the work out...I figure anything should help...and with this you don't have to get down on the floor and hurt your knees and back! Also - this morning my husband and I decided to ride the harley's to church...my usual jeans were in the laundry...Jon told me to just get another pair out of the closet... well what I hadn't told him was the four pairs in the closet didn't fit anymore - hadn't fit in two years!!! Guess what?? I tried on three of the four pair and they all fit! I was impressed!! I think two of the pair were a size 20 and the other pair was a pair that I had swiped from him and then did some embroidery on them! I will keep you posted on the AbLounger workouts!

8/1/05 - Did the AbLounger this morning. Took a walk this evening to my friend Raynelle's house who had GBS on February 22, 2005. She has already loss 100++ pounds!!! She looks awesome!

8/2/05 - Got up this morning and walked again...just up the driveway and as far as Raynelle's house and back...it was pretty hot already...I figure it's a good start...I'll figure out exactly how far it is later. Tomorrow I go for my nutrition class with Linda Aillis, RD. My mom is still here from Florida and she is going to go with me. She still thinks there are other options other than having WLS - but she said if it's what I want then she will support me. I think this class will help her to see that all of the myths about you starving to death, etc...are not true...
On Thursday - I go and have another whole day of tests...I don't remember everthing...and then on the 17th it's back to see Dr. Moazzez for my pre-op. I can't believe how fast it is going by!

8/3/05 - Today I had my Nutrition Class. It was a lot of help. I was really glad I went...it was very imformative. My mom and 10 year old went with me too.

8/4/05 - Today I went back to Inova Fair Oaks again...this time I had my chest x-ray, ABG, gallbladder sonogram, labs and had my pre-op interview with the nurse. She is WLS patient also...and looks great! She is about my height and build and is in a size 6. I thought she looked great! She had time before her next appointment so she took me upstairs and showed me the bariatric rooms - they are really nice...everything is new!! OH, I FORGOT THE BEST PART...WHEN SHE WEIGHED ME...I WAS SO PSYCHED... I WEIGHED 225.5!!!! Dr. Moazzez had said I had to loose 10% of my body weigh and I've passed the goal by almost 10 pounds!! Now everyone that I have told has said - well now you don't have to have the surgery! WRONG!!! I've been down this road before! I can't wait to be a size 7/8 or even a 6!!!

8/10/05 - Today I went to do my Cardiac Clearance...they said everything was great...(and I am now down to 224)...until we were ready to do the stress test... I was never told anything about a stress test!! The doctor explained that I would have to run/walk for about five minutes...I told him no way and explained to him about my knee and the fact that I had recently had surgery to repair my torn achilles tendon...He then said he could not clear me unless there was some sort of stress test performed...so now... on Monday, the 15th of August - I have to go to Leesburg and have a Cardiac Nuclear Study...if everything was okay with the other echocardiogram and the EKG...I don't understand why this has to be done...oh well...I will do it...to make everyone happy!

8/11/05 - 12pm: The Cardiac Nuclear Study people called - Anthem says that their request has gone to Medical Review:o(. She will call me back as soon as she finds out something.
Update: 3:45pm: The Cardiac Nuclear Study people called: I have been approved for the nuclear study...they just wanted to see if it was medically necessary?? Hello...pay attention to everthing else that has been going on in my life and put 2 + 2 together. Anyway -Monday I now go at noon for the cardiac nuclear study.

8/15/05 - 9:20am - Just popping in minute to check out the message boards and stuff...I am off for my Cardiac Nuclear Study. I will update the happenings later on.
10:43pm - Well, I made it through the Cardiac Nuclear Study. I hope I don't ever have to go through that again. That was the worse feeling. Tomorrow is 2 weeks. I'm nervous and excited.

8/16/05 - The other day I found this little poem by Donna/Diamond Girl. I really like it a lot and thought I would include it...
The countdown begins...two weeks from today is my WLS! Tomorrow I go back to see Dr. Moazzez for my pre-op visit. I am nervous for some reason...I don't quite know why. I will update tomorrow - whatever he says...

A Life Well Lived

Ready or not, some day my Life will end.
There will be no more sunrises, days, hours or minutes.
No more cell phones or calls and mail to be returned.
Every thing I will have collected, be it treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.
MY wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what I owned or what I was owed.
My grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.
So,will my hopes, ambitions, plans, and To Do List: All will expire with me.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important to me, will fade away.
It won't matter where I was born or what side of the tracks have I lived.
It won't matter if I rented, or owned a house or lived on a boat.
It won't matter whether I was clever, beautiful or brilliant.
My gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.

SO WHAT WILL MATTER?

What will be the measure of my days,weeks and years passed?
How will my life be valued?
What will matter is not what I bought, but what I have chosen to build.
Not what I received, but what I shared and given you.
What will matter is not the level of my success, but my significance.
What will matter is not what I learned, but what I have taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate from my example.
What will matter is not my competence, but my integrity and character; my true grit.
What will matter is not how many people I have known,rich or poor,
But how many will feel a lasting loss when I am gone.
What will matter are not my faded memories,
But the memories of those who knew and have loved me.
What will matter is how long I will be remembered, by whom and for
all the multi reasons that exist, like a brilliant rainbow.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance.
It is one made of choice; one of my own choosing.
And in so doing, I dance and write my name with Destiny.
I Choose to live a life that matters.

Donna/Diamond Girl

8/17/05 - Today I went to my 2 week pre-op test with Dr. Moazzez. Jon and TJ went with me. I am down to 225. Dr. Moazzez said he was proud of me for losing! I am psyched!!!
Tonight we went to the county fair and I had my last funnel cake. I couldn't even eat it all. Actually...it was kind of gross and now I feel sick to my stomach.

8/18/05 - 11 more days and a wake-up and it's surgery day! I'm excited and nervous!

8/21/05 - I can't believe how fast the time is going by now!! 8 more days and a wake-up!! Wednesday we are leaving for Tennessee for vacation. We will be back on Sunday - just in time to take my lovely surgery prep. I bought it yesterday...Even the pharmacist said it was nasty...but he did say to mix 8 ounces of ginger ale or something and it would go down a lot quicker...we shall see. What will be really interesting is I have to pick up my mom at the airport on Monday at 1pm...and there is really no place to stop to use the bathroom for the first 20 miles...hmmm.

8/23/05 - One week from now I will be on the losing side! I am so excited. Tomorrow we are leaving for vacation - so I know the time will just fly by! I can't wait!

8/22/05 - Well, I was supposed to have my pre-op consult with the nutrionist this morning...but she never called. I called her three times and no answer...I don't know what's up with that...I will try her again later.

8/27/05 - I can't believe it is only two more days and a wake up!!  We have been in Chattanooga, TN since Thursday - so that has really helped the time just fly by!  Tomorrow we are heading home - it's about a 10-12 hour ride - just depending on traffic and the weather (since we are riding the bikes (harley's))...I'm sure I will update again tomorrow evening or Monday morning.  Tomorrow when we get home - I get to take the lovely fleets stuff!  YUMMY!!!  Plus - traveling tomorrow - all I am allowed to have for the next two days is liquids!  Then - Monday afternoon I go to the airport to pick up my mom!  I am beginning to get a little nervous - but I think I am even more psyched!  I just cannot believe the time is already here!

8/29/05 - Last night we got home about 6pm and I drank my lovely Fleets phoso-stuff.  OMG - that stuff is sooooo nasty!!!  Needless to say I did not have a very enjoyable evening...and the fun has continued this morning!  As of this morning I have lost three more pounds and am down to 222!  No one can say I am full s--- any more!  Now today I am doing clear liquids only. 
I have to drive to the airport and pick my mom up at noon...
In less than 24 hours I will be in surgery and beginning my new life!
I will do my best to keep this updated!

9-1-05 - I'm home...I will update all the details later...right now I'm really tired...Surgery went off without  a hitch!  I have my follow up visit next Friday with Dr. Moazzez.

9/4/05 - I have had company since Friday morning.  Everyone is going home tomorrow accept my mom.  I am whooped!  My son and his family are visiting from Niagara Falls, NY...and Saturday we had a full house.  It was fun...but I am soooo tired!
Today we all went to church.  It was good to go...I will update later with the sermon because it was really good!  But - I just wanted to pop in here and update! 
The whole liquid diet thing has not been too bad...I feel like I have been peeing continuously.  I guess that means I'm getting enough in.  Other than being tired I feel fine.  I'm a little tender where the staples are...but they come out on Friday.

9-7-05 - I got my staples and stitches out today!!!  WOOOOHOOOO!  I had to take my mom back to the airport...so we called to see if I could come in today and get them out instead of Friday!  They said sure!  I feel better already!  And....drumroll..... I am now down to 214 by Dr. Moazzez's scales!  He said I was a model patient!  I am sooooo psyched!   47 POUNDS GONE!!!  YEAH!!!

9/11/05 - I know you are not supposed to weigh yourself everyday...but I just had too...things are getting loose!  It's 4:30pm and when I weighed myself a few minutes ago I was 209!!!  So, since June 14 - I have lost 52 pounds!!!
I've been really tired the past few days, but I know it's because I have been doing so much!  I have been walking every single day too - with the exception of today...

9/17/05 - Well this morning I got sick and threw up for the first time.  I was sitting there eating my scrambled eggs and all of the sudden I just new I was gonna puke.  I just made it in to the bathroom!  I don't know what started it...now I'm not really sure what to do...should I eat normally the rest of the day - or go back to liquids...I know I don't want to do that again.  I drank some green tea a little bit ago and that seemed to calm my tummy down some.

A little good news - when I got up this morning and weighed...I just had to...I was down to 204!!  - I may be even less now...haha!

9/21/05 - Went for my visit with Dr. Moazzez this morning.  Everthing is great!  I told him about the urso being so gross and making me gag...he said just do my best to take it...and if I can't take it than I can't take it...he doesn't want me to be puking everytime I take it.  I will try it a few more times...it is just sooooo gross.  Anyway - their scale said I was 206 with clothes on of course.  I am psyched!  My next appointment is in a month.

9/27/05 - Last night when I weighed myself with clothes and shoes on I weighed 201.  This afternoon with clothes and shoes on I weighed 202.
Jon and I went to the Obesity Walk in Richmond over this past week-end.  We had a lot of fun.  It was great getting the chance to meet everyone!  I will try to get some pictures posted later.

10/2/05 - This morning weighing in at 193!!! 

Yesterday was an awesome day!  I went shopping at Kohl's - I had to get some clothes that fit.  I was tired of looking like an orphan!  I started out in the women's section...no luck.  Finally one of the sales clerks said - hunny why don't you go over and try the misses side.  I was thinking to myself - Yeah Right!!!  So I went over - tried on an 18 - too big!!!  I was astonished.  I tried on a size 16-misses jacket and a size 16-misses pair of low rise jeans and they fit perfect! I haven't worn low rise jeans since I think 12th grade!!!

10/10/05 - Yesterday morning I weighed in on my scales at 190.  I keep fluctuating between 190 & 193.  Tomorrow I am off to Nevada for a reunion with my Mom and Dad.  I am excited and a little bit nervous.  I am excited because I know I will be able to buckle the seat belt!!!  I am nervous about eating all of the right things and making sure I get all of the protein, etc. in.  I sure things will go okay.  My Mom hasn't seen me since a week after my surgery and my Dad hasn't seen me since June....

10/24/05 - I can't believe I have waited so long to update.  The trip to Reno was good.  One of the most amazing things - was even on the 2 small airplanes I flew on - I had plenty of room and could buckle the seat belt and pull it tight!

I went to see Dr. Moazzez last Wednesday.  By his scale I think I was 188 - I can't remember.  Anyway - he said I was doing great and I had lost 60% of my weight!  AMAZING!!  He said keep up the great work.  I go back in December and get labs and all of that too.  He said an ideal weight for me would be 140-148 pounds.

This morning when I weighed my self I was 184.

11/3/05 - Today I am at 180 pounds.  My son Joey came over at lunch and took some pictures for me in my new size 14 Harley-Davidson low-rise jeans.  I could not believe they fit!!  I have to figure out how to add pictures on here.

11/29/05 - Today I am 173 pounds...!!!  Just 2 more pounds and I will have lost 90 pounds~!!~

12/6/05 - Today I am 169 pounds!!!  YEAH!!!
I have been having problems with my heel again...I have an appointment tomorrow to see what is going on.

12/7/05 - I can't believe this - I have the same thing going on as last year - even with the weight loss.  I am ticked!!!  I went to the foot doctor today and the heel spurs are inflaming the tendon in the arch of my foot and it also has my achilles tendon inflamed again.  He gave me three shots in the arch of my foot and my heel.  OUCH!!!!  I was in a cast for 5 months (from October 2004 - March 2005)...UGH!!!!  Now I am back to wearing the brace at night and if it hasn't improved in two weeks then it is back in the stupid cast again!  UGH!!!!!

12/8/05 - Tonight we have our first of many Christmas parties to go to.  This one is one of Jon's big clients.  It should be interesting...it's at an Italian restaurant...I don't know what I will eat...since I don't do really well with sauces and stuff like that.  Any way I am wearing new clothes...so that's real exciting for me.  I bought this really pretty blue lacy shirt and a pair of black slacks.  The slacks are a misses 14 and the shirt is a misses 12!!!  YEAH!!  I will see if someone will take a picture so I can have a new picture to put in here.

12/13/05 - Today I am 168!!!  Dr. Moazzez's office called about my labs.  My protein and calcium are a little low.  I told him I was back on track with my protein...and I will have to increase the calcium.  He said everything else was great!  I go back to see him on January 5.

12/20/05 - Yesterday my daughter moved back home...she is 19 and has been going to college in Florida.  Please pray - I'm sure it will be stressfull for both of us.  This morning I weighed in at 166.  I need to go and buy new jeans - the 14's are baggy in the waist, butt and thights - but I just got them!!  Maybe I will buy some more after the first of the new year!

Tonight I went to a Christmas party at my friend Sharon's house.  There were so many good things to eat...it was a little hard - because I really wanted to eat the cookies.  I picked one small one and then had this REALLY good mexican dip thing...it had beans and cheese and sour cream...it was REALLY good!  I had a little less than 2 teaspoons of it and four tortilla chips.  It was great!!  I felt satisfied and I didn't feel left out at all!

12/23/05 - 164 pounds last night!  A long time ago I wanted to be down 100 pounds by January 1...hmmm...I just might make it!!!  YEAH!!!

12/26/05 - My daughter, and youngest son and I went to Pennsylvania today to my cousin Merry's house.  We went up to see my cousin Kelly and Aunt Janice who were visiting from New York.  My cousin Kelly is going to have WLS.  I am soooooo excited.  She has already had her visit with the nutritionist...she will be having her surgery some time in the spring!  I am soooo excited!  We will both be losers together!  Her site is:
Kelly Savey
Olean, NY, USA
Hoping to have surgery - BMI: 60.1
Member ID: S1132844037

12/29/05 - Today I weighed in at 163...slow but steady now... Tonight after dinner Joey and I took our new dog for a walk...he couldn't believe that I wanted to take a walk...he told me he was proud of me!  It made me feel so good!!

Also, tonight I came across a post from Natalie (below) it is about protein and VERY IMPORTANT!!  Everyone needs to copy this or print it out!!!

Protein
Original Post by ~~Empress Pixie~~ at 6:09 PM EST on 12/27/2005
Pixieland....Not to Far Away ~~~~~, VA – RNY (05/27/2004) – Neil E. Hutcher M.D.

 I am begining to see more and more newly pre-ops and new post ops . I wanted to share this with you . Many post about what suppliments to take , " I can not do them " I can not eat meat .. or everything taste weird or makes me YAK .. Well ladies and gentlemen .. you have to have protein .. This is a long post .. I hope those that are struggling with protein give it a look .. read it .. or print it out .. This may help you .. it is easy to understand .. and if you ask anyone that knows me .. they will tell you .. I am the Protien Queen .. 186 pounds gone .. and I believe with my heart .. Protein .. was my first key to success !!!

Why protein supplementation?
It’s about Absorption

Proteins form the body’s main structural elements and are found in every cell and tissue. Take away the water, and about 75 percent of your weight is protein.
Your body uses proteins:
for growth
to build and repair
bone
muscles
hair
connective tissue
skin
internal organs
blood
virtually every other body part or tissue

1/25/06 - Well - I have no idea what has happened to my site - but it seems like I am missing all of January's posts and the rest of Natalie's post above...I will try to update later.

1/26/06 - As I said last night - I have no idea what happened to a bunch of the previous stuff - but it didn't magically reappear over night so I guess it's gone into cyperspace somewhere....and of course I didn't have a back up...oh well...

Tomorrow it is off again to Fair Oaks Hospital for my gallbladder surgery.  I am more nervous about it than I was the WLS surgery.  I have no idea why.  I guess it's because I just remember how I hurt afterwards.  People keep telling me it's not as bad...I will just have to believe it for now.

To try and re-cap - what is now missing...last week-end was the Winter Conference for Weight Loss friends in Richmond.  Jon wore a tux!  He was soooo handsome!!!  I had gone shopping in the beginning of January with Donna Mae from the board and she helped me pick out a green dress - very slinky - very vavaboom!!  I had my doubts about it - but it fit and I wore it to the ball.  It was totally unlike any other dress I have ever owned!  I will try to get some pictures in here in a bit.

1/26/06 - Well tomorrow's the day - I thought I should post - just in case I didn't have time to in the morning.  I know it will probably be crazy here.  I have to be at the hospital by 1:30pm - so, we will probably leave here between 11:30 and noon.  I will post again when I get home.

1/27/06 - Today's the day!!!  I 've been up since 5:30am...I just couldn't sleep.  I started a load of wash and decided to come and check e-mail.  This OH board is so great!  They make me feel sooo good!  I don't know what I would do without them!  I have to take TJ to school in about 45 minutes then I am going to run by Target and print out my pictures so I can take them with me to show Dr. Moazzez.  I will post when I get home to update.

1/30/06 - This surgery I think was tougher than the WLS surgery.  I had the surgery 3 days ago and I still feel like s...t.  I don't know if it isthe hernia  repair or what....it just hurts!  I just feel totally exhausted.  My belly button hurts and looks nasty.  I am going to call Pam at Dr. Moazzez's today and get a post-op appointment.  I'm going to see if I can get it for the second - that's when Yvette has hers...maybe we can ride in together.

2/1/06 - This picture is of my 20 year old daughter Erin and I in the pants that I wore to the hospital on 8/30/05 for my WLS!!! I need to do my measurements again...and weigh myself.  I will update that later.2/2/06 - Went to see Dr. Moazzez.  He said everything looked really good and wants me to get some pictures for him at his office.  Jon wants me to make his appointment for the surgery.2/3/06 - 2/5/06 - We took a trip to Fayetteville, NC to see our son-in-law and granddaughter, Eva.  Matt has recieved his orders to go to Iraq and will be leaving the first week of April at the very latest.  Jon's daugher Tara is such a b--ch.  She doesn't deserve the things she has...she is one of the most unhappy people I have ever met in my entire life!  When Jon asked her how I looked she said I looked like a cancer patient that had lost too much weight.  Anyway - it was a pretty good ride down there - but I am very sore.  Today I am just playing catch up and trying to clean off my desk.2/8/06 - This journey never ceases to amaze me!!!  This morning I weighed myself and I was 152!!!  I have been stuck at 157-159 for about a month and then all of the sudden - five pounds gone...over night!!!  AWESOME!!!  2/11/06 - This morning I am 151 pounds!!!
Last night and yesterday we got about 8 inches of snow.  Yesterday while it was snowing Bo (my dog) and I walked up to the mailbox.  I kept thinking the whole way up there - that a year ago I couldn't have done this!!!  I wouldn't even have attempted it!  By the time we got back to the house Bo was panting and I wasn't!  It was great!  The only problem I had was I don't have a winter coat.  My daughter Erin told me I could wear hers...so I did!  I love it!  Now they are out on the 4-wheeler.  I wish I could go out and ride it - but my tummy is still a little too tender to attempt that.2/16/06
This afternoon I decided to take a motorcycle ride.  It was so beautiful and warm outside...it's hard to believe that just four days ago there was 10-inches of snow on the ground...now there is just some left in the shady parts.  Anyway...I rode for about half an hour and then met my son Joey for lunch and then road home.  I am kinda sore now - and very tired.  I think I will be going to bed early tonight!!! 

2/17/06 - 2:15pm
OMG!!!!  I just took a shower and weighed myself after I got out and I weighed 146!!!!  I don't know what happened!!!  I am ecstatic!!!!!  WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!3/2/06 - Wow...I can't believe it's been so long since I have updated this!  Time goes by so quickly!  Nothing much new has happened with me.  Monday I am going to start going back to Curves.  I miss it...I think I will start easy and see how it goes.

This morning I called and made an appointment for Jon for his first visit with Dr. Moazzez.  It's April 6 @ 10:15.  Dr. Byrd said he would be a riskier patient because of the diabetes but she thought the surgery would be good for him.  I hope he follows through - I really would like to keep him around!  I love my PapaBear!

This week-end I am driving down to Betsy's (BetsyAnitahug) house in Danville.  Today is her birthday!  Happy Birthday Betsy!!!  I am excited to have a girls week-end! 

3/6/06
Today I changed my profile name.  My daugther told me that if you entered your name or anyone's in a search engine like aol or google, you could pull up your OH page.  I entered my name and it did - and a lot of other stuff!  Kinda scary!!!

This past week-end was awesome!  I went to Betsy's and we had such an awesome time!  I have not laughed so much since high school...we were like a bunch of high school girls...what a bunch of clucks!!!  It was good to get to know each other even better - it was the perfect size group!  I just loved it!  JoAnn and Holly (aka Thelma and Louise) you too are hysterical...!!!  Tink and Cappy - OMFC!!!!  It wouldn't have been so much cluckin' fun with out you!!!  Shannon - I'm sorry you weren't feeling good....next time you won't miss out!!!  Betsy - my bed partner!!! (lol) I love you bunches!!!!  You are such a sweet, sweet person!  I am honored and blessed to have you for my friend and sister!

3/7/06
We were talking about changing our situations while down at Betsy's this past week-end...and it reminded me of this poem... I told them all I would post it...it is so true...It is definitely one of my favorites!

“Doing the Remarkable” by Stanley E. Gresham, Sr.           

DOING THE REMARKABLE

When it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in your life,

Here is a key question:

What can you do, starting today, that will make a difference?

What can you do during economic chaos?

What can you do when everything has gone wrong?

What can you do when you are out of money, when you don’t feel well?

And when it’s all gone sour?  What can you do?

Let me give the broad answer first.

You can do the most remarkable things, not matter what happens.

People can do incredible things, unbelievable things, despite the most

Impossible or disastrous circumstances.

Here is why humans can do remarkable things:

BECAUSE THEY ARE REMAKABLE!

Humans are different than any other creation.

When a dog starts with weeds, he winds up with weeds.

And the reason is because he’s a dog.

But that’s not true with human beings.

Humans can turn WEEDS into GARDENS.

Humans can turn nothing into something, pennies into fortune,

And disaster into success.

And the reason they can do such remarkable things is because they are remarkable.

Try reaching down inside of yourself; you’ll come up with some more of those

Remarkable human gifts.

They’re there waiting to be discovered and employed.

With those gifts, you can change anything for yourself that you wish to change.

And I challenge you to do that because you can change.

If you don’t like how something is going for you, change it.

If something isn’t enough, change it.

If something doesn’t’ suit you, change it.

If something doesn’t please you, change it.

YOU don’t ever have to be the same after today.

If you don’t like your present address, change it – You’re not a tree!

If there is one thing to get excited about, it’s your ability to make yourself do the necessary things, to get a desired result, to turn the negative into success.

That’s true excitement.

Each one of us has been given a chance to make a difference in someone's life...Whose life are you going to touch?  Remember it may be something as simple as a smile or a wave...maybe a kind word or a simple "hello".
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tomorrow morning I am heading to New York.  My Uncle Lenny died this morning of cancer.  We will be there until Sunday or Monday.

3/26/06
Wow!  I can't believe it has been so long since I the last time I posted!  I have been in kind of funk lately...I can't explain it... I just haven't really wanted to be around anyone.  Anyways...I will try to re-cap some of the stuff that has been going on.

After spending a week in NY - I just came home in kind of a depressed funk...I can't explain it.  Life is just so short - it all just kind of made me re-evaluate everything in life...and then I realized that there really isn't anything I can do about it.

Last week-end I went to Career Conference for Mary Kay in Baltimore, MD.  I got to see a lot of my MK girlfriends that had no idea I had even had gastric bypass surgery.  I will add some pictures later. 

I am still so sick and tired of people telling me not to loose any more weight...They have no clue!  Some days it just really ticks me off.  99% of the people never knew me when I wasn't fat.   AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!

Weight wise - I am staying between 145 and 150 - it seems to just depend on the moment...no particular rhyme or reason for the fluctuation!

I am now in physical therapy three times a week for my foot.  If it's not better in six weeks - then my foot doctor wants to do surgery.  I told him - I just don't have time to do that right now.

I will try to be better about posting and updating here.

3/27/06
I am feeling more like myself today.  I just seem to be so tired.  I think I have been over doing it...there just doesn't seem to be time to get everything done.

Physical therapy went better today...I don't know if I have posted this or not...I am going to physical therapy - three times a week for six weeks to try and get my foot worked out...if it's not better in six weeks then my doctor wants to do surgery.  I just don't have time for that right now!!

3/29/06
Physical therapy was rough again today.  I don't understand it.  I'm not going to worry about it anymore.

This evening we had our first missions trip meeting at church.  Jon, Erin and I are going to Uriri Village, Migori, Kenya to an orphanage.  We will be leavin gon August 4th and returning on August 15.  I am soooo excited - but also very nervous about getting in enough protein and water, etc.  I'm sure it will work out!

Tonight after the missions meeting I had to run in to Walmart.  I picked up a pair of Levi's jeans - size 8....and they fit perfectly.  The only time I ever remember being a size 7/8 was in 7th or 8th grade.  They look great on too!!  This is such an awesome ride!!! 
Since May 12, 2005 ~*~ I have now lost 134 pounds!

3/31/06
I got a call from my Aunt Janice this morning at 10:36am - Kelly is through her WLS and she is now officially a loser!!!  YEAH KELLY!!!!  WELCOME TO THE LOSING SIDE!!!!!  Everthing went well and a few minutes ago (1:12pm) - she was still in recovery - just waiting on a room.  My other cousin, Suzanne is at the hospital too...she has also had wls.

4/2/06
Yesterday was our 6th wedding anniversary.  We went for a motorcycle ride and then dinner with some friends.  We had a great time.  I wore my new "Size: Small" chaps.  It is such an awesome feeling...I can't even begin to explain!  I hope Jon will be able to have this surgery...so he can see how good he can feel again.  He gets so out of breath - so easy.  People keep telling him it looks like he's losing weight and he believes them.  He can't even go up the stairs anymore without getting winded...but he is in such denial.  I just hope this will work for him.

My cousin Kelly - should be on her way home from the hospital by now or even home.  I am going to wait and call about 7pm.

Bo (my dog) and I took a long walk this afternoon.  I don't know how far it was...but it was awesome being able to walk it, and through the ball for him and not feel like I was going to die.

4/19/06
Wow!!  I can't believe it has been so long since I have updated.  A lot has been going on.  My dad's little sister (my aunt - who is only six years older than me) died on April 7, 2006...exactly one month after my uncle died.  It's been tough.  She has two girls and wasn't married.  Sarah is 16 and Rosie is 14.  Keep them in your prayers...

Today was kind of a sucky day.  I have still been going to physical therapy...and yesterday my physical therapist reviewed everything and said there wasn't much sense in continuing.  Today I went back to see my foot doctor and he told me the same thing.  So...to make a long story short - I am once again having surgery on my foot...on next Wednesday, April 26th, 2006.  I will be in a cast, non-weight bearing and crutches for two weeks and then weight bearing in the cast for about a month...then once again back to physical therapy.  I will be so glad when this is over.

Then...I got a call from Pam at Dr. Moazzez's office.  Dr. Moazzez wants me to be interviewed by Channel 5 (Fox) on the 29th of April at the Second Annual Bariatric Patient Reunion.  I said sure...I will be on crutches...but I think it will be pretty cool.

Also - Jon had his appointment with Dr. Moazzez on the 6th and was approved by Anthem in less than 30 minutes...and had his letter in two days!  He is going to wait until November to have his surgery - because of his work schedule.

I also had my 6 month (a little late) check up and Dr. Moazzez wanted to know if I would consider being interviewed with him for a documentary that ABC is doing on him and bariatric surgery.  I told him sure - this is supposed to take place in June.

This is going to be a crazy summer!!!

4/24/06
Friday I got a call from Pam at Dr. Moazzez's office.  They have possibly moved the ABC television interview up to May 12.  She wanted to know if that date was okay.  I told her sure...this is all so strange.  ME????

Today, I had another stress test - I hate those things.  They have to inject you with this stuff that makes your heart funky...it feels like you can't breath...it only lasts for 6 minutes - but it is awful!  After that I had to go over to the hospital where I am having the foot surgery for a meeting with the anethesiologist.  I will be having the same one that was there when I had my achilles tendon repaired.  He couldn't believe I had lost that much weight...he went and pulled my file...to veryify that I had really lost that much weight or that I had even weighed over 200 pounds!  The look on his face was great!

Anyway - he was concerned that my blood sugar may get too low being with out food or protein for so long - so he wants me to come in early and they will start an iv with some sugar in it.  I thought it was very nice that he cared about that.  Anyway...so I will get to the hospital about 9:30am and my surgery will be sometime between 11 and 12....I am really not looking forward to hurting again and being on crutches again...maybe it will be different now that I am not so big...we shall see.

4/26/06
Well - I am off - I am going up to take my shower with the lovely betadine stuff...and no lotion....ewwwwww...I will update as soon as I am able to get back down here to do it.

Saturday night Jon took me to the 2nd Annual Bariatric Reunion sponsored by Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.  It was held at Lifetime Fitness in Centreville, Virginia.  It was fun.  Courtney and her friend Tony were there, Kathy and Rich were there and Dianna and her sister Julie were also there from the boards...also Sue and Ginger..and a couple others, I can't remember names right now.

I won a plastic surgery gift certificate from Virginia Plastic Surgery - Goldberg and Krieger.  Pam Cunningham (from Dr. Moazzez's office) introduced me to Dr. Krieger.  He was very nice...and he said they would honor the certificate anytime I was ready to use it.  I told him it would be at least a year. 

Jon won a gift certificate and a huge gift basket from Organize U - a consulting company that will come to the house and spend four hours with us and get us started at organizing.  I don't think they have a clue what they are in for.  I will have to wait for the foot to heal before I can handle that one!

5/12/06
Today I had the ABC (Channel 7) interview with Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and Dr. Moazzez.  It was fun.  I left the house at 5:45am and got to the hospital at 7am.  Lovely commuter traffic.  The interview was fun...it was interesting...I can't wait to see what kind of an idiot I look like on television...I mean, come on, I don't even like how I sound on the answering machine!!!  Anyway - the show is supposed to be on televsion on June 3, on ABC, from 7pm - 7:30.  I don't know how much of it will end up on the cutting room floor...but we shall see. 

After I was finished I came back to Winchester and went shopping.  Isn't that what every television personality does?  Actually, I had about an hour to kill before I picked my son up from school and I couldn't see going all the way back home.  Anyway, I went in to Ann Taylor Loft.  What an awesome store!  I loved it!!!  I got a really cute shirt, a pair of capris and a new pair of sunglasses.  The shirt and the capris were a size 6!!!!  Can you believe it?  I can't!!!  I am still amazed!  I have been so worried, that I may be gaining, because I haven't been exercising at all because of my foot surgery.

5/15/07 - This morning I went back to see the foot doctor.  He cleaned up the suture line again and told me I could start wearing a sandal for about 1/2 an hour a day...and possibly my tennis shoe.  He told me the shoe would probably hurt my arch.  He said to start out in the morning, when it isn't swollen at all.  I feel like I have been away from here forever.   I need to check in here more often!  Life is just so busy!

Oh, I forgot to say I now have lost 140 pounds by my scales!  On May 12, 2005 I weighed 278 pounds.  Yesterday morning I weighed 138 pounds on my scales!!  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

5/20/06 - OK - time to update again...Thurday I went to COSTCO and bought a pair of size 6 Levi's.  They are TOO BIG!!!  I wore them for about an hour and they were falling off!...so...tomorrow...I am going to go back and get a size 4!!!!  What I don't understand is - why I have two other pairs of Levi's both size 8's and they are a little baggy but not as baggy as the 6's...strange...

NEXT...Friday I got a wild hair up my butt and decided to go and get a new tattoo.  I was going to wait and get my lower back done...but decided I didn't want to wait...so ... I got a new really cool blue and peonie pink butterfly on my left shoulder...it's my new beginning butterfly...I can't believe that in 10 days I will be celebrating my 9 month anniversary.  It truly has been a life chaging 9 months...I cannot believe the changes!!!

NEXT...Today Jon and I went to get our routine labs...one of the lab techs was talking to us about our Harley's...and some how we got on the to the subject that her husband had one for sale...well it's a 1992 Super