Kimba523

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Hi All -

Well, I cant believe that I am actually sitting here writing my 2 YEAR BLOG!!!  Who woulda thunk it.  (Actually, it is August 16, 2009).

I cant begin to say what an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING 2 years this has been.  I pretty much surpassed my goal at my 1 year - as I would have been thrilled at about 190 lbs and a size 16 (I am 5'10) so  I thought that would be a do-able size for me.  Well, at this point I am still (5'10) No, i havent shrunk in height yet thank god.  But now weigh 152 lbs and am wearing mostly size 8's and an occasional size 10.  Mediums and an occasional small in shirts.  My life has changed so much i never would have dreamed that I would be as happy as I am today.  Its funny, in a way It is hard to remember "the old me", but I guess I am still "me" just a much happier, healthier , smaller (now weigh less than what I lost) and more confident me.  As some of you may know - my husband (2nd husband and only of about 1 1/2 years) did not take well to my surgery for some STRANGE reason.  He was very braggy to other people, my wife lost this my wife lost that - she looks great, etc. etc. etc., but to my face he was very very sabatogy (if thats even a word).  So we separated last July and are in the process of a divorce.  But as pathetic as it sounds - I am totally fine with that.  I have been out in the dating world again (which is still a hastle to some degree)  Men are still men and Ladies - we know what that means.  haha  Actually, just teasing (sort of) but we all know relationships take work on both parts.  But anyway, have met some very nice men over the past year and am with one now that I just adore.  He makes me happier than I ever imagined and I really feel that our relationship is going somewhere and there is a lot of potential there.  I told him about my surgery from the get go and he has been more than supportive.  AND GET THIS LADIES - HE IS A MASTER CHEF AND WAS VOTED TIED FOR 1ST PLACE AS THE BEST CHEF IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND LAST YEAR.  (GO FIGURE RIGHT), I lose 187 lbs and fall for a chef.  haha   But all is good - i have learned how to eat so its not a problem.  haha

Anyway, just wanted to take a minute to THANK EVERYONE out there that has sent me the kind thoughts and emails over the past 2 years.  I have received sooooooo many emails from people telling me how encouraging my story is to them - and that is just such a wonderful feeling.  It is so nice to know that I can be an encouragement to someone else.  And god only knows many of you have certainly been an encouragement to me.  I have met several people on here that I just know will be life long friends and for that I am forever grateful.

So I wish everyone out there the best - keep up the good work and we are all in this together.  It is a whole new world for all of us out there and i just want everyone to join me in the happines that I have found.  You will notice the pictures I just posted.  The one was of me and my son Josh at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh (where I grew up)  It was such a WOW day the day this photo was taken.  I had never been on a roller coaster with my son (except kiddieland eons ago) where he took up no room so that left me the remainder of the seat.  This time, we both fit on all of them with room to spare and it was AWESOME.  At 19 he and i had the best day that day and if you remember from my past blogs - once I had my surgery, he started really watching his weight and he lost 86 lbs and has maintained it just perfectly.  So I pretty much feel like I got 2 for 1 with my surgery.  As excited as I am about my success I am even more excited for him.  No matter how old they are they are still our babies - and all we want is for them to be happy and I know he has never been as happy as he is now.  I could not be more proud of him and how well he has done to maintain for the past 2 years on his own with no surgery.  So, all is great in my household.

Many of you have emailed me and asked about the dreaded "excess skin" issue after such a large weight loss.  I am happy to say that I have been pretty lucky in that area.  As you can see from the other photo, arms are a tad bid (more than a tad really) flabby, but the rest of me isnt all that bad.  Have a few wrinkles here and there (stomach and tops of my legs) but not enough that I would even remotely consider having surgery.  Would like to do something with the arm (batwing) issue, but its the scare vs flab and at almost 49 years old I pick the flab.  haha  My doctor said that my height really saved me with that.  So thats a good thing..............

Well, some of this may have been a tad bit too much information, but on here, i dont think anything is sacred as we are all going through the exact same journey..................

So again, thank you all for your continued love and support..............................

Hi All-

Just wanted to share a new picture with you all.  This was taken today in Virginia.  I was contacted by a girl on here about a year ago - she said my pics were very inspirational to her and she was just getting ready to have her surgery.  We have talked, emailed and texted each other for a year.  I live in Maryland she lives in Illinois.  Her son is in the Army and was going to be in Virginia this weekend so we met tonight for dinner.  HAD AN AWESOME TIME.......Everyone on here is sooooo right when they say us WLS patients form a bond with each other - You would think Ginny and I were sisters, we get along great and had a great time.  She has lost 88 lbs and wants to lose another 40 - she is doing awesome and I am so proud of her.

I went and did some shopping today - bought everything (including a bathing suit) in a size 8.  A FAR CRY FROM THE 32'S i was squeezing into a year and half ago.  I am pretty stable at 155 lbs and loving life - thanks to all for all of your love and support..........

Have a great weekend

Kim

Hi All - Hope this finds everyone well.  I haven't written in a while and thought I would say a quick hello to everyone.  Things with me are going great - absolutely NO COMPLAINTS.  I am LOVING my new life and have never been happier.  I had a pretty cool "WOW" moment last week.  I had a contractor set up to come to my house to measure for some work he was going to do.  This is a contractor I deal with at work on a regular basis.  I guess its been about 6 months since I have seen him.   He new that I had the surgery and was very complimentary last time we saw each other.  Well, he knocked on my door and I waved him in.  When he walked in he said Hi, i am Jeff from ABC Construction.  I looked at him like he was half nuts and said Jeff, i know who you are.  I really truly thought he was teasing with me.  And he looked at me and said OH MY GOD KIM it is you - I thought it was your sister or something.  Im like, yea right you are messing with me and he said NO IM NOT - I swear on my kids I had no idea it was you - you look ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.  Sooooooo, needless to say, I was flying high all day.  I guess it is still a little hard to really believe I look that different.

Soooooo any of you out there struggling with the pros and cons of having the surgery - GO FOR IT  - it is awesome.

I was a year and a half post op on February 16, 2009 and am maintaining between 157-163 but for the most part still stay under 160, which gives me a total weight loss of 178.5.   

My son is still maintaining his 90 lbs weight loss (without surgery) and I still couldnt be more proud of him.  Its been a great journey for both of us and has totally changed BOTH of our lives.

Well, love to all - be back soon.

Kim

Hi Everyone -

Dont really have much to update everyone on - all is going well.  Am maintaining my weight at about 155-160 which is perfect for my height (a little low according to my doctor) but I am comfortable and happy where I am.  Its funny though, its a little harder than I thought to NOT keep loosing.  Have learned to eat/drink higher calorie foods/drinks on occasion and that seems to work for me.

I wanted to ask you all to PLEASE send a CONGRATS to mommymonfort - SHE IS DOING AN AWESOME JOB - SHE WAS (ALMOST) MY STEPDAUGHTER A FEW YEARS AGO and I love her like a daughter and could not be more proud of her - check out her profile and pics - shes doing amazing............

Also, have met a new friend on here Fred_Flintstone whose surgery is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2009.  If you have a minute, please send him a quick note of encouragement - Im sure it would mean a lot to him.

I have told him alot about this site and how wonderful and helpful everyone is. 

Well, thats about it for now - nothing dramatic - but love to all .......................

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

Kim

Hi Everyone-
Its been a while since I have posted anything on here (other than some updated pictures) so I thought I would say hello. The Holidays this year were AWESOME.  Went to Pittsburgh with my son to visit all of our family.  Had such a good time.  I know my family has always loved me unconditionally, but i just feel so much different around them all now.  One, I know they are sooooo proud of both of our WL accomplishments (my son is still maintaining his 80+ lb weight loss) and I am maintaining (and still loosing a little - although I want to stop loosing at this point).  Its just so nice that now when everyone looks at me i dont feel like i am getting that "pathetic" look anymore.  I also got to spend some time with some very good friends of mine that I have had since high school.  We have remained very close for all of these years, but I have to say, until I started this WL journey, i kept in touch with them via, phone, email, etc., did not see them a lot when I went to PA (was just embarrassed at my weight I guess) although I know it never bothered them at all (aside from their concern for me) but anyway, its just amazing how I feel so different now - I am wearing the same size as some of them are (who would have ever thunk it)  haha  and in pictures, etc., I just look like "one of them" am no longer the "fat" one of the group. 

I went to my first support group meeting this week since I have had the surgery.  It was in Crofton Maryland and it was great.  It was awesome to meet other people that have either had the surgery or are gearing up to have it.  Even though I have been very successful with mine - it is GREAT to hear and see other success stories.  It is also great to be there to help the new ones just starting out. 

I have become very good friends (although we have not yet met) with a woman from Illinois that I met on here.  Her surgery was a year after mine and it is great to be a support to her.  She tells me all the time how much I help her, etc., It really really makes me feel good to know that I can help someone thru this.  I also am in more constant contact with Dawn (mommymonfort)  (Check out her profile she looks awesome) who is an ex boyfriends daughter that I have remained very close with.  She had her surgery in August of 08 and has lost 80+ lbs to date AND I COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF HER.  She lives in Arizona but Dawn, I know one of these days we will go SKINNY CLOTHES SHOPPING together. 

Am for the most part wearing smalls and mediums in shirts and 8's and 10's in skirts and pants.  I never in a million years would have ever thought I would get to that point.  Even actually went from a size 12 to a 10 in shoes.  In fact, had a pair of 12 pants on today that I bought about a month ago and I love........the girls at work told me today to get rid of them they were too baggy...........what an amazing thing to hear.

I have said this in all of my posts and will continue to say that THIS WAS THE ABSOLUTE BEST DECISION I COULD HAVE EVER MADE.  I have a wonderful boss/friend that I have worked with for 25 years who made this all possible for me and I will never forget her for this.  I also have a wonderful support group with family and friends. 

Like I said in a prior post, my husband of only 2.5 years is out of the picture now, but I am dating again and it is sooooooo different in every way imaginable (I will just leave it at that)  haha  but for the first time in my life I feel like the ball is in my court and I dont have to "settle".  Have met some wonderful people thru this site and cannot thank them enough.  I know they will be a part of my life (in one way or another) forever.

I am still having a little bit of an issue though actually realizing that I am thin now.  I know it to look at me and I know it in clothes, but actually said to someone the other day, I was going out and I wanted to wear something that looked really good on me.  I asked him, what do I wear that makes me look the thinnist and his reply was, Kim, EVERYTHING you wear makes you look thin - YOU ARE THIN.  And i guess I am just still having a hard time comprehending that.  Am also having somewhat of an issue in the dating category as far as I am used to always being with big guys.  Since I am 5'11 I have always dated tall/big guys and now I am finding that the big guys, god forbid they give me a hug, i feel like they are crushing me.  Mentioned this to my mom and she said that maybe I need to stop looking for big guys now and just date regular built men, but for some reason I am having a bit of a problem with that as I still feel like I am bigger than them, even though I AM NOT.  So if anyone out there has any words of wisdom on that issue - please send them to me.  This is a whole new life and I need to get used to doing lots of things differently. 

Well, enough for now - thank you all for your love and support/kind words, etc.  I have read on here and I thoroughly believe  we are all family as no one knows how we feel except each other................

Love and Happy New Year to All...................

Hi Everyone -
Well I am ALMOST 14 months "Post Op" and I still feel absolutely amazing.  So for any of you thinking about having this surgery - I STILL HIGHLY recommend it, it is life saving as wll as life altering.  I am still maintaining between 165 and 170 - I am now pretty much wearing size 10's and Mediums (Never would I have even remotely hoped for or expected that).  Am also BACK into the "dating" scene somewhat.  I think I mentioned in one of my previous posts that my husband and I (of only 2 1/2 years) recently separated.  But ALL IS GOOD - I have never been happier.  I also think I wrote in one of my past blogs that after I had my surgery my son lost 80+ lbs on his own - I AM VERY PROUD to say that he is maintaining at about 195-200 and is 6'4 AND LOOKS AND FEELS AMAZING AS WELL.  Well, need to close for now - but hope you are all doing well and thank you all again for the many many kind emails I have received.  Love and Happiness to all of you..........

I just wanted to take a minute and THANK all of you that have sent me emails since I posted my before and after pictures.  It is such an awesome feeling to hear that I am actually an inspiration to others.  I know this site helped me a lot in the beginning (and even now) and it is a great feeling to know that I can help others.  I can honestly say that this was the best decision I have ever made in my life.  It has changed every aspect of my life TOTALLY.  I never realized just how bad I felt until now that I am feeling so good, off all meds, can actually walk without pain.  Its funny the little things you realize now, like how much better you fit in a chair, etc.  No longer do my hips and butt touch both sides of a chair - thats a big deal.  haha

Went to my one year follow up 2 weeks ago.  Was at 173 lbs from a start of 338.5  My dr actaully told me that I did not need to lose anymore weight.  (I asked him to put that in writing, as no one has ever told me that before)  haha  teasing, but I thought about it.  I did want to get to 170 and hit that last week.  My BMI is 24.4 which is in the normal range for the probably the first time in my life.

THIS HAS BEEN AMAZING - SO FOR ALL OF YOU CONSIDERING THIS SURGERY - GO FOR IT.  IF I CAN HELP, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.