lady_roper2
Memorial Day.....
May 29, 2010
As I sit here this morning, I think of how many of my family members have served in the military. My dad, my uncles and aunts, cousins, son and daughter-in-law have all served . They have served as ground troops, ordiance removal, medics, sailors and presidential protectors. The amount of pride is always there and will remain strong, due to their commitment to the different branches of the military.
My family members served in the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and the Merchant Marines. As long as I can remember there has always been one member in each generation that has served this country. Whether it was for a good reason or not, I am not going to get into sematics and argue why or why not. I am just going to remember that my family has stepped up and given service when needed.
I look back and there are memories of past Memorial Days. Talking about those that have passed and their experiences will continue to live on....I just have to say that there is one quotation that I found that sums up how I feel this Memorial Day:
"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~Maya Angelou
Down 8 more.....
May 23, 2010
One of the toughest things that I had to do this past week....
Before my surgery, there was NO way that I would get on a scale (it didn't matter if it was life or death...I didn't want to know my weight) as it was a way to ignore how fat I was. Now I have to learn how to stay away from one.
It makes me wonder when my brain decided that it needed to know everyday what I weigh. It definitely wasn't in the years before my surgery.....it had to happen slowly (I think it happened the day) whenI found out that I was approved for Gastric Bypass--RNY.) It was really happening and I wanted to know what a fat chick I was. I would sneak a peek when I had to meet with my nutritionist and/or doctor, and pray that I DIDN'T lose too much!
Then I realized that I had the same problem as others here of not wanting to lose too much weight and getting unapproved.All of the sudden, I needed to know....if it was just 1 pound...or 3 1/2 pounds or more. I drove myself totally nuts (believe me it isn't hard after waiting so long for surgery approval!).
So now that I have successful passed the first major stall hurdle, I know that I can get through it. Like everyone who posted to all the questions about stalls, and how to deal with them...you were right! Don't let the scale freak you out.....Don't weigh yourself several times a week....and definitely pay attention when reading the posts.....Dem vets are smart.!!! LOL
I am down to 209 now....only have to work towards hitting that 199 pound mark.....and when I do.....I am going to do the "Happy Zowie---Look at what I did dance!!" lol
3rd time is a charm...(NOT!)
May 12, 2010
I considered calling into work sick, but ended up heading into work. After being at work for a hour , "Eve" reared her displeasure at my eating some crackers, and decided that she was going to make me pay for it. Stomach rumbles, cramps and throwing up increased and I ended up asking my co-workers to get my boss. I must have looked really bad as she said she was going to take me to the ER in her car.
15 minutes later, I was in bad shape with major stomach pain, cramps and nausea. Once I had arrived at the ER, I had the nurses contact Dr. Rahman to let him know I was there. Tests included a CAT scan, a double dose of Diladud, nausea meds and finally, no pain. Diagnostis: I was the proud owner of a new 2 inch hernia due to my vomiting early that morning.
So, I was admitted back into the hospital, and had emergency surgery for the hernia that night. After coming out of recovery, Dr. Rahman said that the hernia was bigger than he originally thought (it was 3 inches and a big tear in the muscle) , and it was good that this had happened. GOOD??? It wasn't good...but I have to thank God that I have good insurance and Dr. Rahman.
Every month for the last 3 months, I have had surgery. I joked with the nurses and doctors that if I had surgery in June, that Arnot Medical Center would have to give me a free tummy tuck and/or 2 weeks in the Bahamas. I am at home and now heading to bed with a dose of Percocet.
Me and my trainer.....
May 10, 2010
As funny as it is, I realized that going to a trainer and working out has had its benefits: I am able to take time out for me, process what is bugging the heck out of me, and de-stressing. What surprised me the most is the amount of endurance that I have....I know that if I have to run for my life, I could do it. To put it simply....it is like viewing a car wreck, you don't want to see it but you look anyways!! LOL
Some of the other benefits are why I want to continue working out: Increaseing the level of my anaerobic threshold, so I can work or exercise longer at a higher level. Second, I want to avoid loss of muscle and bone. Granted, I am almost 50 (only a few more months to go), and I don't want to have thin bones that can break easily. Lastly, I want to be successful with my RNY, many people who have had the RNY say that they are more successful in losing fat when they are more active.
This week I am going to be working with my trainer 2 times. My journey into getting more exercise is beginning, and for once, I am looking forward to becoming a smaller person.
Happy Mother's Day....
May 08, 2010
I was awoken from my sleep by my daughter, who let me know that that someone was sick. It isn't the best way to start a Mother's Day but it is part of being a mom. It hasn't been fun all the time, but I look back at past years and have to smile at some of the other experiences I have had.
From bringing home my oldest son to having my only daughter graduate in a few short weeks, I realize that there are changes that are occurring and there is nothing that I can do to stop them. Not only are the lives of my children changing, mine is also, I am changing physically as well as mentally. As I continue to lose weight, I realize that my life is never going to be the same again.
Someone told me once, "Motherhood is not for the faint of heart," and I have learned that all too well. From late nights with sick kids to the joys of watching them accomplish milestones to wondering just what I have gotten myself into, it has been worth it all. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
As I close this blog at 5:10am...I am hoping that my day will be uneventful...lol...
Me and my trainer.....
May 07, 2010
Kevin didn't give me much time to make a run for the exit...I got to work out on the eliptical bike....2 miles in 16 minutes, 84 rpm, and not bad....He said that I did really well on the time for doing 2 miles. Next was the eliptical arm bike....(this is my downfall-----I hate this because I don't have much strenght in my upper arms and biceps).....I guess that you can say that this machine best imitates the arm movements when you are swimming. A bit more stressful---1 mile of forward rpm's in 6 minutes and 1 mile of backward spins in 6 minutes. All I am going to say is I completed the first part, and halfway through the second part, I thought that my arms were going to fall off!!!
I don't think that I wouild be going to Kevin if I didn't have my RNY...I will admit that I hate working out, but I think that my feelings will change as my body changes too. If this is going to help with the flabbiness of my icky batwings, and tone up my thighs...then I need to be honest with myself, and just get in and get my butt moving.
I am a little sore, but tomorrow is going to be the test...can I get up and move without looking like Quasimoto? I have to work, and hoping that this will not be as bad as I thought.
Surprises galore!
May 06, 2010
The first surprise occurred when I had to do some shopping for work clothes. Slowly I have been dropping down in sizes, before surgery I wore a 26W (Painful to admit it, but true), and hated it. After surgery, I dropped to a 22W, and have noticed that even those pants are a bit baggy.
Yesterday, I found some very cute capris that were a size 18W...and thought "No way are these going to fit!" I put them on and "EUREKA"!!!! They FIT perfectly!!! "OH my sweet Gerkins!" I had to look at the label again and verify that they were a size 18W several times!! I am sooooo thrilled! For the rest of the day, I had this goofy doofus look on my face!!! LOL
Then after I got home from work and grocery shopping (finally!!!), I had to go out and walk Mia (my son's service dog) just because I needed to unwind and both of us needed the walk. It has become a habit now (before it was something I had to do) now it has become something I want to do. Just wish that I could have more time to walk and less time with work and household commitments!
Dinner and dishes were done and I sat down at my laptop to catch up on OH, and emails. I found that I had a message and checked on it, only to find the following:
Dear lady_roper2,
"Your blog has been selected to appear on our homepage in the new featured member Latest Blog Posts section!"
OMG!!! I thought that it was a joke, but it's true. LOL... How great! I try to blog what is going on within my life (both before and after RNY). My blogging has been a good way for me to say what is good or bad, what is going on in my head, and to comment on some things that I just wonder what the heck! LOL I don't think that I am on the level of William Faulkner, far be it from.
Today, I have my first meeting with the trainer. I was supposed to meet with him yesterday but had to work late at the store. I am kinda nervous about the meeting and starting to exercise (Actually it is more about being in a pair of shorts----in a public setting!! I have ugly knees and WL flabby arms and thighs!). I will post here tomorrow about my experience...(hoping that I survive the exercising! LOL)
Well, today needs to start (kids off to school and me to work). I am wondering what today is going to be filled with.....Interesting......
2 weeks and the last 2 months.....
May 04, 2010
It has been 2 weeks of craziness.... All last week, my daughter Samantha (who is a Senior in HS) went to her Senior Prom. She looked beautiful! Hard to believe that she's going to be 18. I am going to post her pic here..just because she looked so gorgeous! Definitely proud of her!
For me, "Dr. Sadha" cleared me to start working out with a trainer, so I thought that it would take another 2 weeks to get into the Wellness Center at Arnot Medical Center...NOPE! I got the call from the trainer today, and I will start working out with him this Thursday after work....Just got to get my head screwed on straight and thrilled about working out again. I guess that I have to forget my old saying about exercise...."When I get the feeling that I am going to exercise, I usually lay down till the feeling passes." lol I will post how well I did or didn't...(granted...that I survive the first hour or so on Thursday.)
I decided that I would post a new picture of me today.... as today is my 2 month surgianniversary. I am now down under 220 pounds and working towards 200 by July 1st. I couldn't believe that it has been 2 months already, and I am doing better. LOL...I celebrated with a Chocolate Caramel Smoothie! And I got brave and ate 1/4 of a turkey wrap up (with lettuce and tomato!) I was thrilled that it didn't freak out my pouch! LOL
This past Saturday, my son Paul and I had a great time at the Golf Expo at Willowbrook Golf Course here in our town. It was 89 degrees with a good wind, and Paul had a great time driving several baskets of golf balls and testing out new golf clubs (Boys and their toys!!) from several golf companies. Ended up buying him a new set of golf clubs....heck! It's cheaper than a car!! LOL
All in all, the last 2 weeks have been full of activities, and changes in me. In the last 2 months, I learned that I am able to do more things as I lose more weight. It was great to go out and not have to worry about being tired. Lastly, I didn't think that I would be 74 pounds lighter...!
Under 230! Whoopie yea!!!
Apr 23, 2010
Second thing that came from this visit, is that I will have my first set of lab work done. I have to go in early on Monday, so the results will be back on Tuesday when I go to my RNY surgery.
And the final and best thing is that I lost another 8 pounds!!! Whoopie diddle do! I weigh 228 now! I haven't weighed this little in over 5 years! As I keep saying---I may have had problems with the RNY and gall bladder surgery, but it has been worth going through it all!!!
Trying this again....lol
Apr 15, 2010
Everything is going good, no infection and I feel pretty good! I am going back to work tomorrow, with lots of restrictions and scheduled breaks every hour!
As much as I didn't admit it----I missed work. I think if I stayed home another week, I would have lost my mind. There is only so much that you can watch and work on the laptop.
I am hoping that this is the last of surgery for a long time! It gets pretty old real fast! The good thing is that I still lost weight through out my recovery...not as much as I would have but who cares? Minus one gall bladder---and no more pain! LOL
Thanks to all that have called and contacted me while I was out. Hugs to all, Lena
