Kimberly Day
New Profile!
Oct 15, 2006
Hope you like the new profile! Still needs some tweeking, but I think it looks good! What do you think? Leave me a comment!
Old blogs from previous profile!
Oct 15, 2006
10/13/06
Happy Friday the 13th! Things are much better than the last time that I updated. I am finally figuring this band thing out. I am not able to eat breakfast of any sort, which is fine by me. At lunch I have to stick with mushies, and I pretty much can tolerate anything for dinner, except meat and bread (I know, it sucks!), but I am still losing. I am down to 297 as of this morning. My clothes are all getting to big, which is good, but not when you can't afford to go buy more. It would really be pointless to go buy anymore anyway because they wouldn't fit long. It is like a double edged sword. I haven't been exercising much because I haven't had the energy, but it is slowly coming back. Only 3 more pounds until new pictures! Have a good weekend!
10/8/06
I am down to 299 today. I don't know if I can actually rejoice in meeting my first goal though. I am barely keeping down any food and I don't know how much longer I can deal with this. I went back to Little Rock this past Wednesday to have some fill taken out, but he ended up only taking out 1/10 of a cc (hardly anything). It makes things only about 1/10th better. I cannot keep anything down until about 4 or 5 o'clock and then we are talking only a few very tiny bites. I know that this cannot be healthy for me. I am not taking any vitamins, but I feel that I need to. Kenneth wants me to call them back, but I don't know if I will. I don't know how to describe it, but I don't feel hungry, but my stomach growls! Plus the fact that I have lost 11 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Eating is no fun anymore! I didn't expect that! Here's a tip for new banders and alochol...DON'T DO IT! It takes very little! I had a great reunion, though no one really can see the weight loss b/c the last time that they saw me, I weighed 185 pounds! GO FIGURE!
10/1/06
I am only 4 pounds away from my first goal of being under 300 pounds and only 9 pounds from taking pictures again! I just feel like things are falling into place. I am really starting to see some changes in myself. I seem to be losing alot of the weight in my upper body. I know I am smaller in the bottom half, but it doesn't seem to be coming off down there as easily. I am definitly a pear at this moment! I'll take it;) I curse my mother for these thunder thighs! Oh well! This fill that I got last week is so tight. I can't even think about something solid until 2 or 3 o'clock. I have been PBing alot the last couple of days. I definitly can't handle bread of any kind! I was able to eat some thin spaghetti last night, but I chopped it up real small and then chewed the heck out of it. Later that evening, I tried to eat some chex mix and OMG did it get stuck. I threw it up and then tried to drink some water and that came up to. I am going to have to be alot more careful than I have been. I am also handling the drinking with your meals restriction alot better. Things are going well. I'll update again when I get to TWO rifficland! Love ya, Kim
9/28/06
I am having an absolute fantastic day. I went today for my second fill in LR. I now have 2.6 cc's in my band and I am proud to report that an amazing 36lbs are gone forever! Actually my scale says 308 and his 310 (so that would actually be 38lbs), but we'll go with his! I think my goal of being under 300 before my 10 year high school reunion is within my reach, but I am going to have to work hard at it. I think this new fill will do the trick. My body is actually starting to shrink and I can tell. For those of you that don't know...I met a mini-goal of mine yesterday. When I order school shirts, I always order a 3x (because that is as big as the usually are) and up stretching it to make it loose. Well, I actually got a t-shirt yesterday that was a 3x and it was HUGE on me! YAHOO! I might acutally be able to wear it more than once! I just keep thanking God everday for allowing me this blessing!
9/18/06
I am refusing to weigh for the next 6 days because my dreaded TOM visited today! I will not even torture myself to death b/c I know once I step on that scale, it is going to shoot up a couple of pounds and I don't think that my heart can take it! Things are great other than that. I go for my second fill on the 27th and it is definitly needed! The Walk from Obesity was awesome! Kenneth went with me for support and wanted to know when Little Rock got hills and said I should have warned him! We made it despite it all! So, don't expect and update until the weekend! Love you all:)
9/15/06
Another 3 pounds have left this body for good! I think that having this surgery was the best decision that I could have ever made for myself. I know one thing that is definitly helping is drinking the water. I am trying to shoot for 160 ounces of water per day...that is 8 of those 20 ounce bottles of water that you can buy in the store. The way you figure up how much water you should drink is taking your weight and dividing it in half. I have also started working on the weight machine to tone these flabby arms up. Kenneth has been helping me out on what exercises to do to tone up my triceps (thats the flabby part). Tommorrow we are heading to Little Rock to participate in the Walk from Obesity at the Riverfront. Watch the Channel 4 News tommorrow and maybe you'll see us on there!
9/9/06
30 pounds gone forever! This is actually turning into a game for me to see how much I can lose in a week! The average is suppossed to only be 1 to 2 pounds, but I have been losing 3 to 4! I think I am doing well sticking to the diet, except I went to eat Mexican last night and went a little overboard!! However, I am getting my water in and exercising everyday! I have only seen slight changes in my body, but the scales don't lie! I really want to take some pictures, but I promised myself that I would only do that every 30 pounds, so looks like I have 25 more to go! I hope I can get there by reunion time, but I think that might be a stretch:( I went to watch the Eagles play last night and might have lost a pound or two just from the sweating and screaming! We didn't went, but they have nothing to be ashamed of! GO EAGLES!
9/5/06
Whew, it has been a crazy week so far. Things are in full swing at school and have me on my toes! That is a good thing. I am down to 318 and a total of 28 pounds down. I am having some restriction, but not a whole bunch. I suspect that I will be going back to see Dr. W in about a week or so. Most of you know that I have been struggling to get the water down, but I have just made up my mind that I am going to do it no matter what. I bought a bunch of those single serve Crystal Light powders that you mix with a bottle of water and they are delicious. It makes drinking water so much better! I think that I will begin to see this weight come off a lot faster now. I also have a buddy at work that is walking with me at lunch. We bring our tennis shoes and get it good for about 20 minutes around school. She is a slave driver, but I look at it as having a free personal trainer! I wish she could be with me all the time and the pounds would just fall off....it makes a world of difference having motivation everywhere I turn. People are being so supportive of this journey everywhere that I turn. I couldn't have asked for better. I am sticking in there with the new eating habits I am developing. It is not easy. Rome wasn't built in a day and all this weight didn't attach itself to me overnight either! I even have some clothes that are becoming loser. I haven't actually went down a size because I have been stuffing myself into my current size for so long. Now they actually fit, but I still can't wait until I start dropping sizes. You know how I love shopping! It would be great to actually have a reason. Zachery started soccer practice today and Johanna is still dancing. It is actually good for me to be shuffling them here and there....keeps me away from the food! Hope everyone is having a good week! Thanks for still checking on me:)
8/29/06
MY FILL WENT GREAT! I have 1.5 cc's in my band, which at the moment seems perfect! He did say that this first fill wouldn't last that long...he said I would be back in a couple of weeks for another, BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE SOME RESTRICTION! YIPEE! What made me even happier is that I weighed the same at the doctor this afternoon that I weighed at home this morning! That is a total of 25 pounds! 25 pounds that I will never have to see ever again! What a relief! The only discomfort came from two numbing sticks..the first one was to far over. Dr. Wellborn was great and always his talkative self! I am back on a liquid diet for 2 days as I transition back to regular foods. Thanks for all the encouraging words and support!
8/28/06
I am headed to LR tommorrow for my first fill. I am a little apprehensive about it, but I am ready. I have eaten like a little pig tonight because I know that it will be all over tommorrow! I am suppossed to stay on liquids tommorrow and the next day, so I went to Wal-mart and got a bunch of yogurt and water. I still don't know if I will be able to stomach and soup after all the soup I ate the first two weeks. Say a prayer for me tommorrow because I am traveling to LR by myself. Kenneth is going to pick the kids up from school, so we won't have to ask anyone to keep them. I am going to work until 11:30 tommorrow. You can see that I finally got some pictures up! I am only going to update them after every 30 pounds is gone, so I won't change them again until I hit 293. I think that is feasible. School is going great so far and the kids are doing well in their classess. Kenneth also started back and thinks he is going to have an easy semester. Hopefully he will finish by next December 07. I am taking my last grad class and thank the Lord that it is online and I am not traveling back and forth to Monticello. Thanks for checking on me. While your sending up prayers for me, don't forget about the Hurricane Katrina and 9-11 victims and families. Love, Kim
8/25/06
Hi all....I was told the I needed to update my blog (Jessica), so here goes. The scale is down to 321! YIPEE! It can't possibly be because I am eating all that healthy, but I have worked myself alot this week. Now that I am back at work, I am constantly moving around and working this backside! That is definitly a good thing! I do go back to the doctor on Tuesday to get my fill and I am really excited. However, I have been reading the message boards and have found that most people get very little restriction on the first fill....that it takes about 2 to 3 fills to get the restriction right. Now let me tell you, if I have waited this long and don't get some restriction on Monday...I AM GOING TO BE PEEOD (sp?)! I am going to beg Dr. W to please put as much as possible in the band as he can! This is such a slow going process. I was watching one of those gastric bypass documentaries on Discovery Health the other night and the woman was my size when she started...she lost 75 pounds in 3 months! It just isn't fair! But I know in the long run I will lose as much as someone that has GB and I will keep mine off! Even though I have lost 25 pounds, I don't really see it when I look at myself and my clothes haven't really changed that much. Only 2 people (Jessica and Officer Sadler from school) have said anything about me looking smaller. Last time that I lost a bunch of weight, I had to lose 50 pounds before anyone really noticed. I WANT TO BE NOTICED! I know that is kind of selfish, but oh well. Thanks for checking in on me:) Love you guys!
8/21/06
I am happy to report that my scale has been holding at 323 for 3 days now. I am relly surprised considering that mother nature decided to visit today. Typically, you gain a few pounds during this time, but I could be wrong. I am still eating normal regular food and average portion sizes. I am surprised that I am even losing. I am not drinking lots of water, but I have been quite active in the past week. I am scared to lose too much before I go to the doctor next Tuesday for my fill! They will base how much fluid they put in my band partially on how much I have lost and how much I can hold. At this point, I have no restriction and I want as much as he can put in there (that is still healthy and I can still eat!)
School was wild today! The kids weren't wild, but we have had so many changes that it seemed like chaos today. Johanna started her first day and boy was she exhausted and hungry by time I picked her up, but she loved it. She also started dancing today!
Zachery also had a good day. Since he has a few years under his belt, he was not as excited. His teacher called me to make sure he was a car rider and commented on how quiet and well behaved he was. He came home with the work he had done and how "easy" it was. I told him not to hold his breath!
I hope your days are fun and as blessed as mine!
Kim
8/19/06
OMG....school starts MONDAY! I can't believe that the summer has passed already, but I am kind of ready to head back to work. Everything is ok on the weight loss front. I am back down to 328 and holding. I am still hungry all the time, but I only have 10 days until my first fill and I can't wait! Thanks for checking on me!
8/15/06
I read an interesting post today on the message board and I thought it best to post it here for family friends to read. It is so hard to explain this transition phase that I am in right between surgery and my first fill. This post and reply made perfect since.
Here was the original post from another LAPBAND patient:
"i was banded on 7/31, 15 days ago. last week i was full from a small bowl of cream of wheat or a protein drink. this week, not so. part of it might be in my head. we're on vacation at the beach, i think all this fresh air is making me hungry? all i know is i'm hungry and i don't get my first fill until 9/13. is this normal? also, i'm not really having any problems eating, i'm on soft , mushies but not having a problem eating anything( this morning i tried a pringle, no problem). i couldn't deal with crushing the med's so i've been breaking them up and taking them, all without a problem. is this normal too? nothing has gotten stuck, (well except i thought what could one jelly bean slowly chewed hurt, it's stuck i think). just want to know if this is normal. up until now i've been full, eating right, (lost 18 lbs. to date) is this the way it's going to be until my fill? i'm afraid that i'll gain my weight back.
as always, thanks for the advice."
Here is the wise reply from a different LAPBAND patient that I find to be very wise:
"You have an empty band and the swelling has gone down from your surgery. So, yes, until you start going through the fill process, you're likely to feel almost the same as pre-op. Don't even worry about the scale right now...all your pre-op research told you that any loss during the healing phase and prior to proper restriction is merely a bonus and not to be expected. It's normal for folks to not lose a pound during this time, and if they've lost (which a lot is fluid dump), may have some regain as they transition back to solid foods. All normal, so don't waste a minute fretting about it. Remember, it typically takes 3-5 fills to get things working properly. Just focus on the slow transition back to solid foods, and relearning how to chew and eat, and start exercising, all stuff that will help prepare you for when your band starts working. Nancy"
Here was my reply to Nancy:
"I appreciate your comments because I am in the same boat. I had initially lost about 23 pounds, but have gained back 7 pounds and am very discouraged. I feel like I can eat anything and I even have been cheating on the doet restrictions. I feel like a major loser and I don't mean the good "loser" kind. I feel like I am being weak, but if the 29th doesn't get here quick, I am going to lose my mind. Everything you said makes perfect sense!"
I just thought it all made perfect sense! Pray that I make it to the 29th for my fill and that I will be strong and follow my diet until then. It surely is a struggle!
LOVE,
Kim
8/13/06
Sorry that I haven't updated in several days, but I have been busy with work and other obligations. Things aren't really going that well on the weightloss front. I had gotten down to 323, but as of yesterday my weight has creeped up again to 330. My only excuse is that I am fixing to start my period any day now. BUT I also have been eating out quite a bit in the last week and I know what I have been eating is not on the diet list I have. I haven't actually been exercising this week, but I have worked my butt off doing other things. I am really dissapointed in myself. I am going to have my husband hide the scale from me until after this next week. I tried to make myself not weight, but no such luck. I took the ticker off my page because it is so daunting to look at every time that I log on. I know that one thing that will help is if I can get back on my Lexapro like I am suppossed too. I haven't been taking it on a regular basis since the surgery and everyone knows that it will not work if it is not taken correctly. I have been on that for about 7 months for anxiety and depression and it was working wonders. This morning I lost control when my 7 year old beaned my 5 year old in the head with a block and left a huge bump and bruise. My husband had to step in because I thought I was going to beat his butt! I don't like feeling out of control because I am a control freak! I have got to get my mind straightened out again, so I can concentrate on living a healthier lifestyle and feeling good about myself again. Thanks for reading.
8/8/06
I had a really good day today...being back at work is helping me tremendously. I know I said I wouldn't weigh anymore, but I am weak! One more pound today..yea! I go back to the doctor next week, so we shall see what the doc has to say. I also have a support group meeting next Tuesday...if anyone is interested in going, let me know. I would love to have a friend of family member go with me. However, they did say this month's meeting would involve tennis shoes and sweats......hmm maybe a workout????
8/7/06
The scale is my enemy, or so I am learning. Either that or my scale is possessed! I weighed twice this morning and the first time I weighed it said 323..that would be one pound less, but I waited about 5 minutes and weighed again and it said 326. Same thing 5 minutes later and it kept changing as my weight shifted and finally stayed on 325. What is the deal? Should I be upset? I don't think so. I am working really hard and sticking to the diet, but I think I am expecting miracles from myself. Everything that I read on the messageboards says to not weigh everyday, infact most of them say throw the scale out and only weigh when you go to the doctor. I CAN'T DO THAT! I want to see results people. I have made the decision not to weigh until Sunday. I hope to see at least a 3 to 5 lb loss. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure, but I beleive I can do it.
I want to stop and take a minute to thank my husband, my mom, my BF Jessica, and my boss/friend Susanne for giving me the support I need to make this happen and for always listening when I rant about this journey. I am so lucky to have these people.
BTW...I have to add another mini-goal..
18. To lay in a tanning bed w/o the fear my fat arse will break the glass!
They get better and better don't they????? :)
8/5/06
I don't know what I am really updating for, except that I am finding this to be very theraputic. I haven't lost anymore weight, which is kind of depressing. It is fluctuating 2 to 3 pounds everday. I have found, from reading on the posts on the messageboard, that this is quite common and I shouldn't worry about it. Weight loss should be 1 to 2 pounds per week, but I wan't to be the exception so badly!!! I think going back to work Monday might do the trick. I am so active there and don't have time to think about food. When I am at home, I constantly sit around and think about food and what I could be eating that I am not. After reading other blogs, I thought that I should make a list of mini-goals that I can reach as I continue to lose weight. So, here is a beginning list:
1. To shop in the misses sizes and not be only restricted to Lane Bryant if I want nice clothes.
2. Be able to work out for more than 30 minutes.
3. To fit in a regular sized chair and not worry if it will buckle beneath my weight.
4. To not worry about fitting on an airplane comfortably.
5. To walk without my pants or shorts riding up my crotch.
6. For people to quit telling me what a beautiful person I am...if I could just loose some of the weight.
7. To feel sexy in my clothes.
8. To wear lingerie in a normal size...I guess that really goes with number 1.
9. To wear a bathing suit without a skirt or cover-up.
10. To not be embarrassed to weigh at the doctors office.
11. To eat like a normal person and people not stare at me like, "OMG I can't believe she is eating that!"
12. To have the nerves to go to a gym and watch myself in a mirror as I work out and not be ashamed.
13. To not feel like I have to make fun of myself for being fat or laugh at fat jokes so that people think I am not offended.
14. To feel as comfortable as possible about going to the OBGYN.
15. To keep up with my children when they play.
16. To share clothes with my friends.
17. To stop fidgeting with my clothes all the time...making sure my stomach is covered or my fat rolls are covered up or my pants are not pulled up enough or crawling.
The list could go on and on.....I will add more later!
8/3/06
I have lost another 3 pounds! However, the appetite is coming back and I can tell that my stomach is healing because I feel like I can hold more food. I can't wait for my first fill. It really helped having the restriction I felt the first two weeks after surgery. I am keeping pretty active and now that I am back from my trip, I have to get started back on my tredmill. I do go back to work Monday, so I know that I will be a movin' and a shakin' soon. I think that having this surgery was in the top 5 best decisions of my life! Thanks for checkin' in on me! Love to all:)
8/1/06
I just realized that it is the first day of August! UGH! I have to go back to work Monday and those wretched children will start back on the 21st. I am just kidding, but it does seem as though the summer has flown by and yet another school year is beginning! The diet is going well. I am sticking to it like a champ. As I mentioned before, I am currently on a trip with some other lasies I teach with and we have been going out every night to dinner. They have been very supportive and for that I am grateful. What is really hard is not finishing off my plate...even if it is a crappy bowl of soup. So, what I do so that I don't eat everything on my plate is to destroy what's left in some way. I either throw my napkin in it or dump a bunch of salt on it...either way, it is not edible and I will not sit there and continue to pick at it. Works for me! I have no idea if I have lost anymore weight because I am not near a scale to weigh, but I am positive that I have lost some more. I am definitly getting my exercise from all the walking we have been doing around Hot Springs! I have had a minor problem....I might have caused a hernia underneath one of my incisions from overdoing it this week. I have a terrible ripping pain under it and, according to the docs office, have probably caused a ripping of the muscle, aka a hernia (from straining and lifting too much). They told me to watch it because the Wellborn's are out of town. Cross your fingers thats not what it is! The moral of that lesson is to follow your doctors instructions on lifting and straining! Hope everyone is having a great week. Thanks for continuing to check on me. When I get home, I will weigh and update you on any new loss!
7/29/06
I am currently down to 327, which is a total loss of 17 pounds. I coudn't be happier, although the loss has curbed in the last few days. GOSH! I hardly feel like I am eating anything. My stomach is a constant noise maker. I am having a hard time sticking to the liquid diet restrictions. I laughed when I was reading another profile because she was in the same predicament that I am in.....I am tired of eating cream of shit! I am not really starving...I guess I am still fighting the head hunger. I started a walking regime yesterday. I made it 30 minutes at 2.2 MPH. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but I guess it is a start. I have to go out of town tommorrow for work with several other women. I am worried about the eating arrangements because I know that we are going to be eating out. I have come clean to them about the surgery because I know that they will wonder why I am barely eating anything. I am not sure how vocal I am going to be to others, but I worry about how I am going to explain being the incredible shrinking woman at school this year. I don't want to lie, but I have already received some negative comments from some. Beleive me, this is and has not been the easy way out. Well, it is Saturday and I need to get off my arse!
7/22/06
I had surgery on Thursday morning. Everything went well at the hospital. I can't say it has been all rosey since then. The first and second day all I did was sleep, once I could get comfortable. I have had a lot of back pain...due to gas (I think). I am having a hard time keeping alot down without feeling nauseated. I know I am not drinking enough, but it really hurts to swallow alot. I am doing much better today though. The worst pain today is from belching. Everytime I burp, I have some pain in my chest. I tried to do too much today (cleaning house) and wore my self out. My incisions look good and are not bleeding and the only pain I have from them is getting up and down. I haven't had much of an appetite, but I forced down some applesauce this morning and a few tablespoons of broth tonight. Although, everytime my husband cooks, I get a little desire for what they are eating. Some advice I might give is to take the ducolax tablets for gas, instead of liquid MOM. I had a really hard time getting down the MOM. With the tablets, Dr. Wellborn said to take them on an empy stomach, one at a time (same with the pain pills). The most dissapointing event at the hospital was not seeing Dr. Wellborn. My husband did talk to him after surgery, but I was really hoping to see him either before or after the surgery.
Here is the good news...I weighed 344 at the hospital and this morning I weighed 337! 7 pounds! I am really excited about that!
Happy Friday the 13th! Things are much better than the last time that I updated. I am finally figuring this band thing out. I am not able to eat breakfast of any sort, which is fine by me. At lunch I have to stick with mushies, and I pretty much can tolerate anything for dinner, except meat and bread (I know, it sucks!), but I am still losing. I am down to 297 as of this morning. My clothes are all getting to big, which is good, but not when you can't afford to go buy more. It would really be pointless to go buy anymore anyway because they wouldn't fit long. It is like a double edged sword. I haven't been exercising much because I haven't had the energy, but it is slowly coming back. Only 3 more pounds until new pictures! Have a good weekend!
10/8/06
I am down to 299 today. I don't know if I can actually rejoice in meeting my first goal though. I am barely keeping down any food and I don't know how much longer I can deal with this. I went back to Little Rock this past Wednesday to have some fill taken out, but he ended up only taking out 1/10 of a cc (hardly anything). It makes things only about 1/10th better. I cannot keep anything down until about 4 or 5 o'clock and then we are talking only a few very tiny bites. I know that this cannot be healthy for me. I am not taking any vitamins, but I feel that I need to. Kenneth wants me to call them back, but I don't know if I will. I don't know how to describe it, but I don't feel hungry, but my stomach growls! Plus the fact that I have lost 11 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Eating is no fun anymore! I didn't expect that! Here's a tip for new banders and alochol...DON'T DO IT! It takes very little! I had a great reunion, though no one really can see the weight loss b/c the last time that they saw me, I weighed 185 pounds! GO FIGURE!
10/1/06
I am only 4 pounds away from my first goal of being under 300 pounds and only 9 pounds from taking pictures again! I just feel like things are falling into place. I am really starting to see some changes in myself. I seem to be losing alot of the weight in my upper body. I know I am smaller in the bottom half, but it doesn't seem to be coming off down there as easily. I am definitly a pear at this moment! I'll take it;) I curse my mother for these thunder thighs! Oh well! This fill that I got last week is so tight. I can't even think about something solid until 2 or 3 o'clock. I have been PBing alot the last couple of days. I definitly can't handle bread of any kind! I was able to eat some thin spaghetti last night, but I chopped it up real small and then chewed the heck out of it. Later that evening, I tried to eat some chex mix and OMG did it get stuck. I threw it up and then tried to drink some water and that came up to. I am going to have to be alot more careful than I have been. I am also handling the drinking with your meals restriction alot better. Things are going well. I'll update again when I get to TWO rifficland! Love ya, Kim
9/28/06
I am having an absolute fantastic day. I went today for my second fill in LR. I now have 2.6 cc's in my band and I am proud to report that an amazing 36lbs are gone forever! Actually my scale says 308 and his 310 (so that would actually be 38lbs), but we'll go with his! I think my goal of being under 300 before my 10 year high school reunion is within my reach, but I am going to have to work hard at it. I think this new fill will do the trick. My body is actually starting to shrink and I can tell. For those of you that don't know...I met a mini-goal of mine yesterday. When I order school shirts, I always order a 3x (because that is as big as the usually are) and up stretching it to make it loose. Well, I actually got a t-shirt yesterday that was a 3x and it was HUGE on me! YAHOO! I might acutally be able to wear it more than once! I just keep thanking God everday for allowing me this blessing!
9/18/06
I am refusing to weigh for the next 6 days because my dreaded TOM visited today! I will not even torture myself to death b/c I know once I step on that scale, it is going to shoot up a couple of pounds and I don't think that my heart can take it! Things are great other than that. I go for my second fill on the 27th and it is definitly needed! The Walk from Obesity was awesome! Kenneth went with me for support and wanted to know when Little Rock got hills and said I should have warned him! We made it despite it all! So, don't expect and update until the weekend! Love you all:)
9/15/06
Another 3 pounds have left this body for good! I think that having this surgery was the best decision that I could have ever made for myself. I know one thing that is definitly helping is drinking the water. I am trying to shoot for 160 ounces of water per day...that is 8 of those 20 ounce bottles of water that you can buy in the store. The way you figure up how much water you should drink is taking your weight and dividing it in half. I have also started working on the weight machine to tone these flabby arms up. Kenneth has been helping me out on what exercises to do to tone up my triceps (thats the flabby part). Tommorrow we are heading to Little Rock to participate in the Walk from Obesity at the Riverfront. Watch the Channel 4 News tommorrow and maybe you'll see us on there!
9/9/06
30 pounds gone forever! This is actually turning into a game for me to see how much I can lose in a week! The average is suppossed to only be 1 to 2 pounds, but I have been losing 3 to 4! I think I am doing well sticking to the diet, except I went to eat Mexican last night and went a little overboard!! However, I am getting my water in and exercising everyday! I have only seen slight changes in my body, but the scales don't lie! I really want to take some pictures, but I promised myself that I would only do that every 30 pounds, so looks like I have 25 more to go! I hope I can get there by reunion time, but I think that might be a stretch:( I went to watch the Eagles play last night and might have lost a pound or two just from the sweating and screaming! We didn't went, but they have nothing to be ashamed of! GO EAGLES!
9/5/06
Whew, it has been a crazy week so far. Things are in full swing at school and have me on my toes! That is a good thing. I am down to 318 and a total of 28 pounds down. I am having some restriction, but not a whole bunch. I suspect that I will be going back to see Dr. W in about a week or so. Most of you know that I have been struggling to get the water down, but I have just made up my mind that I am going to do it no matter what. I bought a bunch of those single serve Crystal Light powders that you mix with a bottle of water and they are delicious. It makes drinking water so much better! I think that I will begin to see this weight come off a lot faster now. I also have a buddy at work that is walking with me at lunch. We bring our tennis shoes and get it good for about 20 minutes around school. She is a slave driver, but I look at it as having a free personal trainer! I wish she could be with me all the time and the pounds would just fall off....it makes a world of difference having motivation everywhere I turn. People are being so supportive of this journey everywhere that I turn. I couldn't have asked for better. I am sticking in there with the new eating habits I am developing. It is not easy. Rome wasn't built in a day and all this weight didn't attach itself to me overnight either! I even have some clothes that are becoming loser. I haven't actually went down a size because I have been stuffing myself into my current size for so long. Now they actually fit, but I still can't wait until I start dropping sizes. You know how I love shopping! It would be great to actually have a reason. Zachery started soccer practice today and Johanna is still dancing. It is actually good for me to be shuffling them here and there....keeps me away from the food! Hope everyone is having a good week! Thanks for still checking on me:)
8/29/06
MY FILL WENT GREAT! I have 1.5 cc's in my band, which at the moment seems perfect! He did say that this first fill wouldn't last that long...he said I would be back in a couple of weeks for another, BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE SOME RESTRICTION! YIPEE! What made me even happier is that I weighed the same at the doctor this afternoon that I weighed at home this morning! That is a total of 25 pounds! 25 pounds that I will never have to see ever again! What a relief! The only discomfort came from two numbing sticks..the first one was to far over. Dr. Wellborn was great and always his talkative self! I am back on a liquid diet for 2 days as I transition back to regular foods. Thanks for all the encouraging words and support!
8/28/06
I am headed to LR tommorrow for my first fill. I am a little apprehensive about it, but I am ready. I have eaten like a little pig tonight because I know that it will be all over tommorrow! I am suppossed to stay on liquids tommorrow and the next day, so I went to Wal-mart and got a bunch of yogurt and water. I still don't know if I will be able to stomach and soup after all the soup I ate the first two weeks. Say a prayer for me tommorrow because I am traveling to LR by myself. Kenneth is going to pick the kids up from school, so we won't have to ask anyone to keep them. I am going to work until 11:30 tommorrow. You can see that I finally got some pictures up! I am only going to update them after every 30 pounds is gone, so I won't change them again until I hit 293. I think that is feasible. School is going great so far and the kids are doing well in their classess. Kenneth also started back and thinks he is going to have an easy semester. Hopefully he will finish by next December 07. I am taking my last grad class and thank the Lord that it is online and I am not traveling back and forth to Monticello. Thanks for checking on me. While your sending up prayers for me, don't forget about the Hurricane Katrina and 9-11 victims and families. Love, Kim
8/25/06
Hi all....I was told the I needed to update my blog (Jessica), so here goes. The scale is down to 321! YIPEE! It can't possibly be because I am eating all that healthy, but I have worked myself alot this week. Now that I am back at work, I am constantly moving around and working this backside! That is definitly a good thing! I do go back to the doctor on Tuesday to get my fill and I am really excited. However, I have been reading the message boards and have found that most people get very little restriction on the first fill....that it takes about 2 to 3 fills to get the restriction right. Now let me tell you, if I have waited this long and don't get some restriction on Monday...I AM GOING TO BE PEEOD (sp?)! I am going to beg Dr. W to please put as much as possible in the band as he can! This is such a slow going process. I was watching one of those gastric bypass documentaries on Discovery Health the other night and the woman was my size when she started...she lost 75 pounds in 3 months! It just isn't fair! But I know in the long run I will lose as much as someone that has GB and I will keep mine off! Even though I have lost 25 pounds, I don't really see it when I look at myself and my clothes haven't really changed that much. Only 2 people (Jessica and Officer Sadler from school) have said anything about me looking smaller. Last time that I lost a bunch of weight, I had to lose 50 pounds before anyone really noticed. I WANT TO BE NOTICED! I know that is kind of selfish, but oh well. Thanks for checking in on me:) Love you guys!
8/21/06
I am happy to report that my scale has been holding at 323 for 3 days now. I am relly surprised considering that mother nature decided to visit today. Typically, you gain a few pounds during this time, but I could be wrong. I am still eating normal regular food and average portion sizes. I am surprised that I am even losing. I am not drinking lots of water, but I have been quite active in the past week. I am scared to lose too much before I go to the doctor next Tuesday for my fill! They will base how much fluid they put in my band partially on how much I have lost and how much I can hold. At this point, I have no restriction and I want as much as he can put in there (that is still healthy and I can still eat!)
School was wild today! The kids weren't wild, but we have had so many changes that it seemed like chaos today. Johanna started her first day and boy was she exhausted and hungry by time I picked her up, but she loved it. She also started dancing today!
Zachery also had a good day. Since he has a few years under his belt, he was not as excited. His teacher called me to make sure he was a car rider and commented on how quiet and well behaved he was. He came home with the work he had done and how "easy" it was. I told him not to hold his breath!
I hope your days are fun and as blessed as mine!
Kim
8/19/06
OMG....school starts MONDAY! I can't believe that the summer has passed already, but I am kind of ready to head back to work. Everything is ok on the weight loss front. I am back down to 328 and holding. I am still hungry all the time, but I only have 10 days until my first fill and I can't wait! Thanks for checking on me!
8/15/06
I read an interesting post today on the message board and I thought it best to post it here for family friends to read. It is so hard to explain this transition phase that I am in right between surgery and my first fill. This post and reply made perfect since.
Here was the original post from another LAPBAND patient:
"i was banded on 7/31, 15 days ago. last week i was full from a small bowl of cream of wheat or a protein drink. this week, not so. part of it might be in my head. we're on vacation at the beach, i think all this fresh air is making me hungry? all i know is i'm hungry and i don't get my first fill until 9/13. is this normal? also, i'm not really having any problems eating, i'm on soft , mushies but not having a problem eating anything( this morning i tried a pringle, no problem). i couldn't deal with crushing the med's so i've been breaking them up and taking them, all without a problem. is this normal too? nothing has gotten stuck, (well except i thought what could one jelly bean slowly chewed hurt, it's stuck i think). just want to know if this is normal. up until now i've been full, eating right, (lost 18 lbs. to date) is this the way it's going to be until my fill? i'm afraid that i'll gain my weight back.
as always, thanks for the advice."
Here is the wise reply from a different LAPBAND patient that I find to be very wise:
"You have an empty band and the swelling has gone down from your surgery. So, yes, until you start going through the fill process, you're likely to feel almost the same as pre-op. Don't even worry about the scale right now...all your pre-op research told you that any loss during the healing phase and prior to proper restriction is merely a bonus and not to be expected. It's normal for folks to not lose a pound during this time, and if they've lost (which a lot is fluid dump), may have some regain as they transition back to solid foods. All normal, so don't waste a minute fretting about it. Remember, it typically takes 3-5 fills to get things working properly. Just focus on the slow transition back to solid foods, and relearning how to chew and eat, and start exercising, all stuff that will help prepare you for when your band starts working. Nancy"
Here was my reply to Nancy:
"I appreciate your comments because I am in the same boat. I had initially lost about 23 pounds, but have gained back 7 pounds and am very discouraged. I feel like I can eat anything and I even have been cheating on the doet restrictions. I feel like a major loser and I don't mean the good "loser" kind. I feel like I am being weak, but if the 29th doesn't get here quick, I am going to lose my mind. Everything you said makes perfect sense!"
I just thought it all made perfect sense! Pray that I make it to the 29th for my fill and that I will be strong and follow my diet until then. It surely is a struggle!
LOVE,
Kim
8/13/06
Sorry that I haven't updated in several days, but I have been busy with work and other obligations. Things aren't really going that well on the weightloss front. I had gotten down to 323, but as of yesterday my weight has creeped up again to 330. My only excuse is that I am fixing to start my period any day now. BUT I also have been eating out quite a bit in the last week and I know what I have been eating is not on the diet list I have. I haven't actually been exercising this week, but I have worked my butt off doing other things. I am really dissapointed in myself. I am going to have my husband hide the scale from me until after this next week. I tried to make myself not weight, but no such luck. I took the ticker off my page because it is so daunting to look at every time that I log on. I know that one thing that will help is if I can get back on my Lexapro like I am suppossed too. I haven't been taking it on a regular basis since the surgery and everyone knows that it will not work if it is not taken correctly. I have been on that for about 7 months for anxiety and depression and it was working wonders. This morning I lost control when my 7 year old beaned my 5 year old in the head with a block and left a huge bump and bruise. My husband had to step in because I thought I was going to beat his butt! I don't like feeling out of control because I am a control freak! I have got to get my mind straightened out again, so I can concentrate on living a healthier lifestyle and feeling good about myself again. Thanks for reading.
8/8/06
I had a really good day today...being back at work is helping me tremendously. I know I said I wouldn't weigh anymore, but I am weak! One more pound today..yea! I go back to the doctor next week, so we shall see what the doc has to say. I also have a support group meeting next Tuesday...if anyone is interested in going, let me know. I would love to have a friend of family member go with me. However, they did say this month's meeting would involve tennis shoes and sweats......hmm maybe a workout????
8/7/06
The scale is my enemy, or so I am learning. Either that or my scale is possessed! I weighed twice this morning and the first time I weighed it said 323..that would be one pound less, but I waited about 5 minutes and weighed again and it said 326. Same thing 5 minutes later and it kept changing as my weight shifted and finally stayed on 325. What is the deal? Should I be upset? I don't think so. I am working really hard and sticking to the diet, but I think I am expecting miracles from myself. Everything that I read on the messageboards says to not weigh everyday, infact most of them say throw the scale out and only weigh when you go to the doctor. I CAN'T DO THAT! I want to see results people. I have made the decision not to weigh until Sunday. I hope to see at least a 3 to 5 lb loss. I hope I am not setting myself up for failure, but I beleive I can do it.
I want to stop and take a minute to thank my husband, my mom, my BF Jessica, and my boss/friend Susanne for giving me the support I need to make this happen and for always listening when I rant about this journey. I am so lucky to have these people.
BTW...I have to add another mini-goal..
18. To lay in a tanning bed w/o the fear my fat arse will break the glass!
They get better and better don't they????? :)
8/5/06
I don't know what I am really updating for, except that I am finding this to be very theraputic. I haven't lost anymore weight, which is kind of depressing. It is fluctuating 2 to 3 pounds everday. I have found, from reading on the posts on the messageboard, that this is quite common and I shouldn't worry about it. Weight loss should be 1 to 2 pounds per week, but I wan't to be the exception so badly!!! I think going back to work Monday might do the trick. I am so active there and don't have time to think about food. When I am at home, I constantly sit around and think about food and what I could be eating that I am not. After reading other blogs, I thought that I should make a list of mini-goals that I can reach as I continue to lose weight. So, here is a beginning list:
1. To shop in the misses sizes and not be only restricted to Lane Bryant if I want nice clothes.
2. Be able to work out for more than 30 minutes.
3. To fit in a regular sized chair and not worry if it will buckle beneath my weight.
4. To not worry about fitting on an airplane comfortably.
5. To walk without my pants or shorts riding up my crotch.
6. For people to quit telling me what a beautiful person I am...if I could just loose some of the weight.
7. To feel sexy in my clothes.
8. To wear lingerie in a normal size...I guess that really goes with number 1.
9. To wear a bathing suit without a skirt or cover-up.
10. To not be embarrassed to weigh at the doctors office.
11. To eat like a normal person and people not stare at me like, "OMG I can't believe she is eating that!"
12. To have the nerves to go to a gym and watch myself in a mirror as I work out and not be ashamed.
13. To not feel like I have to make fun of myself for being fat or laugh at fat jokes so that people think I am not offended.
14. To feel as comfortable as possible about going to the OBGYN.
15. To keep up with my children when they play.
16. To share clothes with my friends.
17. To stop fidgeting with my clothes all the time...making sure my stomach is covered or my fat rolls are covered up or my pants are not pulled up enough or crawling.
The list could go on and on.....I will add more later!
8/3/06
I have lost another 3 pounds! However, the appetite is coming back and I can tell that my stomach is healing because I feel like I can hold more food. I can't wait for my first fill. It really helped having the restriction I felt the first two weeks after surgery. I am keeping pretty active and now that I am back from my trip, I have to get started back on my tredmill. I do go back to work Monday, so I know that I will be a movin' and a shakin' soon. I think that having this surgery was in the top 5 best decisions of my life! Thanks for checkin' in on me! Love to all:)
8/1/06
I just realized that it is the first day of August! UGH! I have to go back to work Monday and those wretched children will start back on the 21st. I am just kidding, but it does seem as though the summer has flown by and yet another school year is beginning! The diet is going well. I am sticking to it like a champ. As I mentioned before, I am currently on a trip with some other lasies I teach with and we have been going out every night to dinner. They have been very supportive and for that I am grateful. What is really hard is not finishing off my plate...even if it is a crappy bowl of soup. So, what I do so that I don't eat everything on my plate is to destroy what's left in some way. I either throw my napkin in it or dump a bunch of salt on it...either way, it is not edible and I will not sit there and continue to pick at it. Works for me! I have no idea if I have lost anymore weight because I am not near a scale to weigh, but I am positive that I have lost some more. I am definitly getting my exercise from all the walking we have been doing around Hot Springs! I have had a minor problem....I might have caused a hernia underneath one of my incisions from overdoing it this week. I have a terrible ripping pain under it and, according to the docs office, have probably caused a ripping of the muscle, aka a hernia (from straining and lifting too much). They told me to watch it because the Wellborn's are out of town. Cross your fingers thats not what it is! The moral of that lesson is to follow your doctors instructions on lifting and straining! Hope everyone is having a great week. Thanks for continuing to check on me. When I get home, I will weigh and update you on any new loss!
7/29/06
I am currently down to 327, which is a total loss of 17 pounds. I coudn't be happier, although the loss has curbed in the last few days. GOSH! I hardly feel like I am eating anything. My stomach is a constant noise maker. I am having a hard time sticking to the liquid diet restrictions. I laughed when I was reading another profile because she was in the same predicament that I am in.....I am tired of eating cream of shit! I am not really starving...I guess I am still fighting the head hunger. I started a walking regime yesterday. I made it 30 minutes at 2.2 MPH. I know it doesn't sound like a lot but I guess it is a start. I have to go out of town tommorrow for work with several other women. I am worried about the eating arrangements because I know that we are going to be eating out. I have come clean to them about the surgery because I know that they will wonder why I am barely eating anything. I am not sure how vocal I am going to be to others, but I worry about how I am going to explain being the incredible shrinking woman at school this year. I don't want to lie, but I have already received some negative comments from some. Beleive me, this is and has not been the easy way out. Well, it is Saturday and I need to get off my arse!
7/22/06
I had surgery on Thursday morning. Everything went well at the hospital. I can't say it has been all rosey since then. The first and second day all I did was sleep, once I could get comfortable. I have had a lot of back pain...due to gas (I think). I am having a hard time keeping alot down without feeling nauseated. I know I am not drinking enough, but it really hurts to swallow alot. I am doing much better today though. The worst pain today is from belching. Everytime I burp, I have some pain in my chest. I tried to do too much today (cleaning house) and wore my self out. My incisions look good and are not bleeding and the only pain I have from them is getting up and down. I haven't had much of an appetite, but I forced down some applesauce this morning and a few tablespoons of broth tonight. Although, everytime my husband cooks, I get a little desire for what they are eating. Some advice I might give is to take the ducolax tablets for gas, instead of liquid MOM. I had a really hard time getting down the MOM. With the tablets, Dr. Wellborn said to take them on an empy stomach, one at a time (same with the pain pills). The most dissapointing event at the hospital was not seeing Dr. Wellborn. My husband did talk to him after surgery, but I was really hoping to see him either before or after the surgery.
Here is the good news...I weighed 344 at the hospital and this morning I weighed 337! 7 pounds! I am really excited about that!
