Lisa_67

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Apr 08, 2011

Well, I'm now 19 months post op and I feel wonderful. I'm not down to where I want to be yet. I have set a goal of 150 pounds for myself. I have 13 pounds to go. I was feeling really down about not losing much weight since my 1 year check up, but this week I had my 18 month check up and as usual, my surgeon and his staff made me feel so much better. At this stage of our progress, they like to see a 70% loss of our excess weight.....I'm at 85%. So, I'm actually ahead. That made me feel so much better. I had went through a really rough time. I had lost my job and my child support all in one month. Leaving me with no income for 6 weeks til I found a new job. I had neglected myself during this time. I wasn't eating right and I wasn't following the rules of my surgery. With no money, I couldn't afford protein supplements or really food in that matter. I had to get food for me and my son from a local food cupboard and I had to sign up for food assistants.(food stamps) Life was really rough for awhile, but finally, life is looking up. I have a new job that I love, I'm back to losing weight again....slowly, but it's coming off. And I'm financially getting back on my feet. Through this all, the support I got from here and from my friends and family, help me so much. I'm so grateful and blessed to have such amazing people in my life. Now, I'm working on losing those last 13 pounds....And I know I can do it. I have also set a clothing goal which I totally surprised myself with. I had a goal of getting down to a size 12 jeans and a size large shirt. I started off at a size Plus size 24/26 jeans, and a size 4x shirt. To my surprise, I'm now wearing a size 10 jeans and med. shirts.....WOW!! I am so happy with my success! Life is beautiful!!!

Aug 31, 2010

Today is my one year anniversary of my Gastric Bypass Surgery. It has been one hell of a year. I had my struggles and to be honest, I would do it all again in a heart beat. I had my one year check up and my surgeon said I'm doing great. My lab work came back good, and I have lost 81% of my excess weight. As of today I have lost 141 pounds. I went from a size 24/26 plus size jeans to a size 12/14 misses size jeans. My shirts are now a med/large, which is down from a 4X before surgery. I have kept the jeans I wore the morning of surgery as a reminder of where I was, and where I NEVER want to go back to. There are days I feel like I haven't done as well as I thought I should have, but when I look at these before jeans, I tear up at how far I have come. I have lost half of the person I used to be.....It is an amazing feeling.
  I'm not done yet either...I have set a goal, and I have had my moments where I thought I may never hit that goal, but now I know I will. My first goal was to be under 200 pounds..I did it. Then I wanted to lose 140 pounds by my one year anniversary...I did it. Now my next goal is to lose 150, and I know I'll do it. But my biggest goal of all is to finally be down to 147 pounds by my 18th month check up...that is my final goal cause at this point I will have brought my BMI down from a 50 to a healthy BMI of 23.7. This will put me at a healthy normal weight....which I have not been for over 20 years. My BMI now is a 26.7. I only have 19 pounds to lose. For the first time in my life...I will finally be "normal", and I'm super excited. Everything I have went through, all the doctors appointments, the blood tests, the pain of getting food stuck, the nausea when I eat something that doesn't agree with my "pouch", and the many vitamins and supplements I take every day has all been worth it....and I am truly blessed to have been given this chance to improve my health and my life. This has been the greatest gift I have ever given myself and I will always be grateful to my surgeon, Dr. Dan for saving my life...he is my hero. For the first time in many years, I'm looking forward to the rest of my life. My life is beautiful, and the best is yet to come......

Mar 05, 2010

Today I hit my biggest goal that I have been working for....I'm finally in onederland...I can't even begin to describe the feeling I had this morning when I finally saw that I was under 200 pounds. It has been 9+ years since I have been under 200 pounds. I'm in shock, but I'm also really excited. When I saw my surgeon for the first time and that scale said 307, I wanted to cry...actually, I did cry. It was one of the most shocking and horrifying moments of my life. I was determined to get healthy and lose this weight, but being under 200 pounds seemed like a dream that was out of my reach....until today! My dream has come true, and I'm so grateful to my surgeon Dr. Dan, his staff, and my friends and family for all the love and support you have shown me. I couldn't have done this without you.....Thank you so much. I love you all...xoxoxoxoxo!

Now...I want to go shopping!! I need some really cute clothes now..and maybe a cute sexy lil nightie...lol

Feb 14, 2010

As of this morning I'm down 102 pounds and I feel fantastic!! Thank you all for all your love and support!

Jan 21, 2010

I'm just over 4 1/2 months post op and I feel fantastic. I'm doing great with getting in all my protein, my water,exercise,  and my vitamins. This has been such an amazing journey. Yes, I have had my bad days and my hair is falling out by the brushful. I do get food stuck now and then, but with a couple sips of water...I'm good! I'm having a fun time learning new and healthy recipes and eating new foods. I have a passion for Blue Bunny Sugar Free Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream and sugar free popsicles...lol But I limit myself to only a couple serving a week. I am now down 93 pounds all together, and 60 pounds since surgery, I went from a size 24/26 size jeans to a 16/18 size jeans as of today. I just got done admiring my butt in the mirror....lol It's starting to look good. No wonder my ex smacked my butt the other day...lol Just kidding. I'm just loving the transformation my body is going through....I have a waist and my legs are looking so much better! I'm very pleased with my success....
Now...the only issue I'm really having is my body while I'm not dressed...I'm sagging everywhere...my arms, my tummy, and my poor boobs! But...I'm not letting this really bother me right now. At least I'm trying. I still have another year of losing weight and my body is going to go through so many changes. When I'm done losing, I'll address my body and skin issues then, but for now...I'm enjoying the new me. Life is beautiful.......

Nov 25, 2009

As some of you know, I freaked out about not losing fast enough. I had my boyfriend take my scale to his house so I couldn't get on it....well, in 3 weeks I have lost another 11 pounds. So far I have lost 77 altogether and 47 since surgery. I am so thrilled. I started off wearing a size 24/26 jeans and I'm now wearing a size 20....my shirts went from a 4X to an XL. All of this in just 12 short weeks.... It is so unbelievable. I'm so thrilled and so happy! My lab work came back great, I feel great, and I'm off all my pre surgery meds. Life can't get any better right now. I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you to all my friends for all your support. I love you all so much. I am truly blessed!

Oct 01, 2009

Sep 05, 2009

I had my surgery on Tuesday, and everything went great. There were no complications, and I'm recovering well. I do have some pain on my left side, and the gas bubbles in my chest can get quite intense at times, but over all, I feel pretty good.
It is really hard getting in my fluids, mainly because I have been sleeping a lot. 2 of the meds I'm on are making me really drowsy. I have not felt hungry at all, and the thought of food actually makes me feel ill...the smell of food has been getting to me as well. I'm hoping this ends soon, but to not feel hungry is so new to me. I have a lot to adjust to, and I know in time I'll get to where I need to be. So far I'm glad I did this. I'm really looking forward to a happier and healthier life.....

Aug 30, 2009

It has been a year since I started this journey, and tomorrow morning I'm leaving for the hospital for my surgery. At times, I wasn't sure this was really going to happen, but I never gave up. I'm excited and ready to start my new life. I'm nervous and scared, but not about the surgery it's self, but afterwards. For 20 years, I have failed every diet I have ever tried, and now I'm afraid of failing again. I know I'll lose my weight, and get healthier, but I'm afraid of regaining the weight. I know this is because of all the times I lost weight and gained it all back. I'm hoping that my fears will actually keep me on track, so I don't regain. I need learn to trust myself, and believe in myself. I want to thank everyone for all their love and support, and for being here for me when I needed to vent. You are all the greatest friends anyone could ask for, and I love you all! I am truly blessed to have you in my life!

Aug 03, 2009

Yesterday, I started Optifast. Which is my last step before my Gastric Bypass Surgery. For the next month, I'm required to basically "fast" so I can lose 20 pounds or more before surgery. Some people ask why am I required to lose weight before my surgery. Well, it's because a person my size has a big liver that is mostly fat. A big liver can cause complications during my surgery due to the fact it lays on top of my stomach. The Optifast is designed to reduce the fat around the liver. I'm not real crazy about the Optifast, but I know that is for the best and I'm sticking with it. Every 2 weeks, I'll have a weigh in with my surgeon, and lab work done to see how I'm doing. It's not going to be easy, but I'll do just fine.
I have also had to stop eating all my favorite foods. but believe me, I had a weekend of pigging out before I started Opti..lol My friend Jennie said something one day that made so much sense. She said that giving up all the foods that we have eaten all of our lives, is like giving up an old friend for a new life. And she is right. Food has always been there when I was sad or depressed, and there to celebrate with me when something good happened. All my life, food has always been a big part of everything I do...family get together, Holidays, Birthday parties, and it kept me company when I was alone. But, it was also a friend that did more harm to me than anything else. I am now starting to have health issues and I'm not allowing that to happen. With my new life after my surgery, I will learn to eat again, but I'll make better choices. One thing about this surgery that some people don't understand is it is not an easy way out. There are some foods that I will never be able to eat again. Especially sugar..And some foods that I like now, I won't like then, and food will get stuck which can cause me a lot of pain. My body will reject certain things now. Bread will be a big mistake, cause it gets stuck, sugar will make me sick, and milk will probably be a no no...most patients will become lactose intolerant. It's going to be a big change, and I'm ready. I have been going through the whole process of getting ready for almost a year, I have the best surgeon I could ask for, and I have the greatest friends and family supporting me. I'm a very lucky lady and I feel so blessed. I can't believe this is finally happening. I can't wait to start my new healthier life...it's going to be a struggle at times, but with the love and support of my family and friends...I can get through anything!