KimZ
Plastics - Round 1 :-)
Apr 07, 2009
It's been forever since I updated my blog - and there is a lot to catch up on. The holidays were a mixed bag for me this year. It was good because I was comfortable with my food limitations and stuck to it. Continued journeling has been very helpful. It was bad because I discovered that there are so many good tasting stuff that we can eat. I sampled and then made this sweet bread with Splenda, FF Cream Cheese and Crescent Rolls. This was probably one of the most delicious things I have eaten in years and yet a very small amount over a couple of days added 9 pounds of bloat that took me over 3 weeks to get rid of.
I stayed true to my exercise and in fact by mid-December joined a new gym in Wisconsin, hired a trainer and completely changed my routine. I began a 3 day rotational lift program with less cardio and more attention to my hips and butt. By February - the new lift schedule was producing wonderful results. I was feeling more fit than ever!
In the middle of January, I met a man from Bensalem at a dance club. It had been almost 9 years since I dated, but this man and I clicked almost immediately and I decided to give dating a chance. He was very different than what I am attracted to - and although I shared with him my WLS journey - I dont think he ever really understood the work involved that I have done to get to this point. I continued the relationship through February, March and into April. We interoduced our families (6 kids between us) and the kids all seemed to get along really well - the the foundational relationship between he and I seemed to deteriorate as quickly as it started.
I think he is quite intimidated by my independence and pushed for me to change. I despise the weak allure that alot of women put forward just to 'fit' into a relationship. My ideal would be a man that appreciates my independence and then compliments with his own and yet fully enjoys coming together and doing things together. This is definately not part of the current relationship and although I am trying to salvage a friendship with this man - I dont see him agreeing to that. It will end very ugly and for that I am very sad.
The kids are doing very well. Stella and Nick have both been accepted to University in the fall and now begins the task of funding and Student Visas. Since its now April - I really need to buckle down and get those things done. In June we will all embark on a 4 day graduation cruise to Mexico. I am most excited about this!
Back in February - I opted to go and interview with Dr. Herman - a plastic surgeon in the poconos. He is the same surgeon who did Shauna and Nicole and others. His work is flawless. I was so impressed with the visit that I agreed for him to do the first round of plastics on the 3rd of April - a lower body lift with contouring.
Reaching out to the local support community - only one other - Shauna has had this much plastic done at one time - so I have leaned pretty heavily on her for advice and in true Shauna style she had completely prepared me. The operation was a complete success. It was extremely painful the first few days out and now (day 5) I just feel like I have been hit by a truck. Finally this morning I had my first BM and it felt like I was delivering a watermelon - very painful and lots of it. I have been taking the collace and miralax - but it still was very very difficult.
Tomorrow I will get my drains out and get the first glimpse of the new body once he removes the bandages. For this I am most excited. Right now I am extremely swollen all the way around and sleeping on and off throughout the day. I am taking advantage of the rest and surprisingly I do not miss the gym at all. I am equally as anxious to hear just how much skin he removed - all I have heard was that there was 'quite a lot' of it.
Thats it for now - just day to day and recovery stuff. Life goes on, kids are getting bigger, I am getting smaller (lol) and one step at a time. Its all about successing now. More to come....
3 Week Stall...UUGGHHH!
Nov 22, 2008
I havent blogged in a couple of months - but then again life seeems to be moving at warp speed these days. August, September and October were slower months for weight loss - but still loosing pounds and inches (about 10 pounds per month and as many inches).
Since 10/27 I have been stalled - up and down the same 3 pounds and its killing me. Since I have been home again and not flying, I have increased my exercise 3 fold. Somedays actually going to the gym 3 times a day. I also started counting calories which was probably not a good idea as I never did before and was doing just fine.
In mid Oct - I took Stella and Nick over to London, Cork (Ireland) and Cardiff (Wales). We toured their university (they will attend next year) and did some site seeing along the way. I have posted some new pics from the trip. It was great to be back across the pond - almost feels like home every time I go over. I did pretty well while I was there- finding greek yogurt and cheese sticks. As well as sticking to grilled meats and veggies. I only had 1/2 pint in 2 weeks which was tasted good - but not worth the empty calories.
I should be back to traveling on 12/1 and will really miss the kids again when I go. Still not sure where I will end up - could be Madison, WI or Charleston, SC. If Im lucky it will be Wilmington or NYC - crossing my fingers for one of those assignments.
Stella is doing so much better. She is running with me now 3 - 4 times a week. YES I SAID RUNNING!!! Who would have thought that even 6 months ago - I was almost 300 pounds and she was in so much pain in a wheelchair unable to stand or walk or anything - to running. She is also taking MMA classes and is just getting stronger both emotionally and physically day by day. These are great things.
I saw Dr. Lam this week to review my Plastics wants and needs. Although I have about 25 more pounds to loose - he said its never too early to start the insurance process as it can take several months. I want to see one more surgeon before I fully decide.
Life is well - kids are good and the economy sucks!! Here's hopin for at least 12 of those 25 pounds gone before Christmas.
More to come...
Summer of Fun...
Aug 02, 2008
Ok I had to post a couple more things since I am catching up. Indeed work is crazy busy and kids are equally as busy - but I decided a couple of weekends ago to surprise Stella and Nick with an impromptu cruise to the Bahamas. We had never been there and Frankie and Sammy went to Camp Buskey for a couple of weeks - so why not.
I drove the three of us from Philly to Atlanta and worked 3 days and then actually took 2 days off. Nick knew what we were doing - but Stella did not. She was grumpy. We then drove to Cape Canaveral and got on the boat. Stella's attitude completely changed when she saw the boat. It was only a 4 day cruise - but man it was fun!!
The first afternoon after we set sail - I set out to locate the running track and the gym. I ran 5 miles in the misty but beautiful sunset rain on the very top deck of the boat. It felt glorious!! I then went to find the gym thinking it would be like a hotel gym with one or 2 treadmills maybe. To my surprise - it was incredible!! The onboard gym was actually nicer than the Planet Fitness I go to. There were 30 eliptical, 30 treadmills, freeweights, machines, trainers - OMG I was in heaven!! I didnt work out that night as I had just run - but am proud to say that every morning of the cruise I was in that gym at 5:30 and did my 2 hours!!
The 3 of us were paired with a single dad and his two younger daughters (ages 7 and 10). We spent quite a bit of time with them at the rest of the cruise. On the day we docked at Nassau - I had signed us up to Swim with the Dolphins. Guess what - in public in a bathing suit - life vest fit - I was not self conscience at all. It was so kewl!!
We had great fun and it was weird not to feel restricted because of my weight. I ate only what I was supposed to - I did not cheat. I only drank one drink on the last day (it was hot in the sun). I will try to post some pictures when I get them.
Life is changing as I get smaller - its weird but I am really seeing what fun things I have missed during my past life when I was so big.
More to come....
Catching Up....Late Summer 08
Aug 02, 2008
August 2, 2008
I realized that I had not posted in a while and so here I am again. The past couple of months have been crazy busy. I have bascially come back to a typical 'Kim' routine (pre-Stella incident and pre-surgery) but now I have had to build in time for Stella's doc appointments and my gym time - so I am busier than ever. (Hoping this makes sense).
I am working with 2 clients at the same time - one allows me to work from whatever location I choose which is great! The other needs me at their location in Atlanta 4 days a week. The fulltime travel is a bit much getting used to again - but I am managing. I have made some awesome friends there (other project mates from Salt Lake, NYC and of all places Little Rock) and it is those friends that keep me sane while I am working. I found an apartment there very close to the Planet Fitness and so I am able to make it to the gym every morning at 4:30am for 2 hours before I work.
My nanny is helping out at the house with the kids and without her I would not be able to manage my schedule at all. Kids are now basically calling her Grandma and to be honest I refer to her as my Mom most of the time. She has been such a dear friend for so many years - I shouldnt even be calling her my nanny anymore.
Stella is going back downhill physically. After the 3 hip surgeries and 7 blood transfusions earlier this year - yes out of the wheelchair - but her osteomalascia is getting worse. She is literally a walking mess. Her bone quality is so bad that at anytime they could break. She is back to using the walker a bit and almost asked for a wheelchair last week. One more coming appointment this week with a new medical endocrinologist to decide on which bone hardening drug will help - but even after that decision - how long will these drugs take and can we get them into her system before another bone break.
Her spirits are good. Together since April she and I have completed the timeline of detail for the attorney. The court cases against the monsters that did this to her will be unbelievably hard on all of us - not just her - but we are as ready as we can be.
I am still following the rules, still loosing weight every week, still going to the gym every day, still working my butt off. I feel good, knee is giving me a bit of trouble - but no pain no.....the ortho is on board with my weight loss. He says that the knees needs replacing anyway and as long as I can manage the pain - keep up the good work with the exercise and weight loss and we will replace it when I am ready.
Ok this is long enough - more to come.
Month 7
Aug 02, 2008
July 12, 2008
Keeping busy and posting this late. I knew at some point I would even out to a realistic level. At least I have not stopped. I am weight training 5 times a week and cardio 7 days. I am feeling great and keeping positive.
Here are my results this month:
Inches Lost Pounds Lost
Pre-Surgery 18.8
1st Month (1/11/08) 28.75 21.4
2nd Month (2/11/08) 14.00 13.4
3rd Month (3/11/08) 17.75 15.8
4th Month (4/11/08) 22.00 12.2
5th Month (5/11/08) 15.00 14.6
6th Month (6/12/08) 16.75 13.0
7th Month (7/11/08) 7.5 12.2
TOTALS 121.75 Inches Lost 121.0 Pounds Lost
Crossing over to the Other Side
Aug 01, 2008
Turning one year older this week - I did a bit of reflecting over the past year and beyond actually. I was remembering as a 13, 14, 15 yr old kid the frustration in my mother as she could only buy clothes that fit me from the Sears and Roebuck or JC Penney Catalogs. Occassionally on 'special occassions' we would go to the Lane Bryant (at that time it was the only retail store available for larger sizes), but it was oh so expensive.
I know alot of the ladies post about how happy they are to shop - but I am just not a shopper and I cant justify spending much now as the sizes of my clothes continue to drop. Safety Pins continue to be a staple in my wardrobe. So, yesterday I went in search of a pair of dress pants as I am growing tired of pinned skirts for work. I went into the local Fashion Bug and immediately gravitated to my 'comfort zone' side, but I realized that the clothes on that side were now all too big for me, so I asked the clerk for some help.
After I explained the problem , she just kept raving about how well I am doing and how proud of myself I could be, but actually I was feeling a little nervous about even being in the other side of the store. It was very foreign to me - I mean after all this is where my daughter shops for her clothes. I found the pants I was looking for size 14 and a nice blouse and some new work out pants. All I could think about on the drive back home was - a year older and I'm smaller now than I have been in over 34 years.
Succesing into Month 7
Jun 18, 2008
June 13, 2008
Well this week marked my 6th month surgiversary - and I thought for sure my results would be much lower than previous months. I had picked up a little bug in early May and coughed my way through - sometimes down with fever and chills. By pilgrimage the coughing was worse and it all came to a head last week when the docs finally diagnosed me with bronchial pnemonia and a double ear infection. For the most part the scale was stalled for 2 - 3 weeks. When my lungs started feeling better - the scale began sliding again. I also have added a more concentrated weight training to my weekly workout routine and cut out all slider foods. So here are my official results:
Inches Lost Pounds Lost
Pre-Surgery 18.8
1st Month (1/11/08) 28.75 21.4
2nd Month (2/11/08) 14.00 13.4
3rd Month (3/11/08) 17.75 15.8
4th Month (4/11/08) 22.00 12.2
5th Month (5/11/08) 15.00 14.6
6th Month (6/12/08) 16.75 13.0
TOTALS 114.25 Inches Lost 109.2 Pounds Lost
Clothes are just hanging again. This week I was able to get into a size 16!! All I can say is WOW - 6 months ago was squeezing into a tight 32W.
More to come....
Is PAP really here?
May 29, 2008
Its been a few weeks since my last posting. I am still coming down off the flu I caught before Mother's Day. All of the symptoms are gone except for this dang dry cough that keeps me awake at night. Its been hanging on for almost 4 weeks now. Im tired of coughing!
I finally went back to work fulltime this week. I accepted a new client in Atlanta - a school district. They have retained me for the next 18 months - which means weekly travel to Atlanta. That is the hardest part of my job is when certain clients insist that you travel to their site every week. I have been spoiled over the past 3 years to have worked with clients who were happy to let me work from my remote office.
I located a Planet Fitness there and went every day this week before going into the office. I did not eat out at all - and bought my groceries - so work and WLS lifestyle seem to be meshing as well as can be expected. Next week I will begin to look for an apartment. Its a far better option than a hotel every week (and easier to keep groceries and cook every night).
I have been pretty stubborn about not buying clothes. I cant justify buying clothes when they will only fit me for a month or two. Anyway - going into this client's office for the first time on Tuesday with my size 28 jacket and size 26 skirt (both pinned up) - I looked in the mirror and saw what appeared to be a 10 yr old girl in her mommies dress clothes. It was embarrassing.
When I started this journey in December of 07 - I was in a very tight size 32. Most of my business suites were 30/32. I had a stash of size 28 and (3) size 26 skirts left over from years and years ago. Last month - I donated all of my business suites because they were too big to pin anymore. This left me with essentially 5 outfits. But after work on Tuesday - I had to go out. I tried on a few things and realized that I am now in a size 18!! OMG no wonder the 26 and 28 didnt fit anymore. I ended up buying 3 pair of dress pants and 3 blouses (2XL). I bought everything on clearance - and am hoping to maybe find a couple more outfits at the pilgrimage this weekend.
Speaking of PAP - it starts in about 14 hours from now. I am very excited about this event. I will finally get to meet so many of the folks I have chatted with through email and blogs and phone.
All is good on this end. More to come....
Kim
Five Months Down - A Lifetime to Go...
May 11, 2008
Inches Lost Pounds Lost
Pre-Surgery 18.8
1st Month (1/11/08) 28.75 21.4
2nd Month (2/11/08) 14.00 13.4
3rd Month (3/11/08) 17.75 15.8
4th Month (4/11/08) 22.00 12.2
5th Month (5/11/08) 15.00 14.6
TOTALS 97.5 Inches Lost 96.2 Pounds Lost
More to Come....
Riding the Emotional RollerCoaster
May 08, 2008
As I am loosing weight - I am definately feeling better. My blood pressure is down, I dont feel as bulky and I can move faster and longer without feeling worn out. But my joints - knees mostly hurt more these days and (dare I say it) I am hornier than normal.
Being heavy - one of my biggest fears (as a 40 something woman) was that I would never be able to enjoy sex again. Now that my body is getting smaller - I am itchin to get back into that area, but oh am I more self aware of my body now more than ever. So rather than date - I just think about it (kind of makes me sound like a man doesnt it..ha ha ha). Anyway - I know that I will meet someone someday - and I am realistic that my plate is way too full with kids and family and job and and and to even try to meet new people. So I am resolved to just think about it.
The job has been interesting. Since I am with new clients all of the time - they typically do not know me as I was - only what I am currently. Its ultra embarrassing when my business suits are literally pinned and belted together and hanging off of me. My overcoat is wrapped around me 2 and a half times more like a big comfy bathrobe than part of business attire. And yet I am too cheap to go out and buy new clothes just yet.
Less than 5 months down - 50% to my goal - I think I am doing ok. I work out alot to try to get those inches and pounds off, and yet I was reminded (not once but twice) by two different people this week that I am exercising for nothing because they know of people who has WLS and the weight came off even without exercise. (Boy that really felt good when they said that!) NOT.
Moving into the next 5 months - I am worried about how hard the next 100 pounds will be to loose. The average wt loss seems to be 125 - 140 and my fear is that I wont get past those numbers. I will continue to work hard at it - continue to love and suppot my family - continue to work at my job and continue to live day to day.
Wouldnt it be nice if Life were happy and issue free every day???
More to come...
