Sherry S.
Feb. 14th 2010
Feb 14, 2010
Yesterday I went to a photographers and did an 'Art of Allure" photo shoot...it was the most incrediable thing I have experienced!! I now am actualy comfortable with someone taking my picture and can look at them and feel really good about myself!! I just feel overall fantastic!! No health issues, I haven't smoke cigerettes in over 2 3/4 of a year!! I have a whole new life that I can manage and maintain....what a wonderful tool this really is!!
To all those who are thinking about having the surgery...it will change your life if you work with it....and to those I havent talked to or seen in awhile...A BIG HUGE HELLO AND I HOPE YOU ARE ALL DOING WELL!!!
10/12/08 ***PERSONAL GOAL ACHIEVED***
Oct 13, 2008
It's hard to believe....here it is a month away from being 1 yr out and I have reached what I said would be my "ultimate" goal! I never thought it would take less than a year though!!! I know Dr. Glass said i would loose about 75%...or be around 150lbs. I reached that at my 6 month check up just about. I told him I only had 25 lbs to go....that that was my personal goal...which he said was attainable but I would have to work for it. Guess what....I just followed my same program the way I have been and here I am!!!
OMG....I weigh 125lbs!! I have lost 104lbs in just 11 months! Who would have thunk it!! It's so strange....I sit with my family and they are always commenting on something...I sat in my daughters lap the other day and she thought it was so cool that I was so light weight and that she could put her arms around me with ease...but now she says I have a "boney" butt!!
My husband is always "tapping" on my hips or sides or following my rib cage....it feels so strange BUT good...I always seem to chuckle about it!
The best part is I feel so healthy! I walk with ease....I can run, I can fly up the flight of stairs at my office and not think twice....I don't run out of breathe anymore....this surgery gift keeps me smoke free....I quit over a year ago and that makes all the difference to me....I just feel like I got another chance at life....a whole new person...I JUST TOTALLY LOVE THIS!!!
Yes....I still think sometimes that I'm going to "wake" up or that I might end up re-gaining....but it's ok...it keeps me in focus. I know I'm not dreaming....lol...but we all fear that it's to good to be true I think....but I just don't let the thought of it get the best of me...I work at this too...I deserve this.
AMEN....that helps too!!
It's offical..............100 lbs lost!!!!
Sep 06, 2008
Happy day, happy day!! I woke up yesterday and jumped on my scale and it saiad 129#....I LOST 100 lbs in this journey!! Who would have ever thought!! It's not even been 10 full months yet!! This is such a crazy ride....I'm amazed is all I can say! I can't believe the way I feel....I can breath (no smoking for a year now) I can walk up stairs, walk anywhere and not feel the pressure on my ankels, sweat like a little piggy and be so out of breath! After living with the weight you forget about these things....and how important they are and how good it truelly does feel. I don't EVER want to forget again!! I'm more than happy to work this program, I have found what works for me without feeling like I've given up anything, like I'm deprived or "without". I think that's very important to my or anyones success...I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE WHERE I'M AT...VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS PATH TO GO DOWN.
I'm here!!
Aug 04, 2008
8/4/2008-
Well, I know it's been a long time since I've been on line or wrote anything here....for that I apologize! I miss everyone...and I feel bad for being gone for so long...I've been so busy between work, family and just taking care of myself. I do want to say hi to Carol N and Bonnie......I feel badly for not keeping in touch.
I don't even know where to start! So much has changed.....I just went through my pics and really saw the "before and after" and I can't believe what I've all been through and how lucky I am to have gone through it all. My heaviest was 231, the day I walked into the surgeons office to look into surgery I was 229, the day before my surgery I was 220 and today, just shy of 9 months later, I weight 133!! I feel like a whole new person, not to mention how I look like one too! It totally amazes me....sometimes I feel like I'm in "disbelief", like "did this really happen to me"? I don't even know how to explain it sometimes, or explain how I feel. It's incredible is all I can say!
It's been just about a year that I quit smoking....haven't touched one since. I feel so healthy. I can breath, I can bend over and breath....I can sit cross legged, I can pull my legs up, knees to my chest. My hubby can pick me up with ease and I just laugh. What a whole different life I have now.
I haven't stopped loosing weight...I'm sure sooner or later it has to stop....or you'd just disappear! LOL
I do watch what I eat, I stay away from rice, bread and most carbs. I eat meat and fruit a lot! I do splurge sometimes....I have had pizza (super thin crust, 2 center pieces) just sausage and cheese, but that day that will be the only carb food I will eat.
I weight myself every morning and I keep a log. I think about what I eat daily, sometimes I keep a log to keep myself in check. I have noticed that sometimes I can stay the same weight for 2-3 days or I might even gain a pound, but it doesn't bother me....I know I'm sticking to what I need to do and have come to realize that I'm not doing anything wrong so I have nothing to worry about.
Weirdly, I have found on a day that I think I may have done badly (like my sister-in-laws wedding, I picked all day, fruit, pulled pork...I even had a small scoop of potatoe salad and a sliver slice of wedding cake) I thought for sure I had blown it that day....BUT the next morning I was down 2lbs. I know this does NOT give me the "go ahead" to eat what, when or how I like.......but I do believe that you can stall and need to increase your daily intake a bit to help "kick start" the weight loss again. This does not mean to over consume....but to monitor what you eat for a day or two and then give a little increase in healthy good for you foods.
I have learned and changed what I do. I have NOT touched a sugared drink, nor will I....I don't do fast foods, but I don't deprive myself nor do I over indulge. Strangely I keep pretty vigil to all I do now. However, I am far from perfect.....but I am HAPPY with myself and what I do now!!
I do some excersize, I lift light weights to "tone" only....I go for walks....I wear little dresses, we go to the beach every week-end, I have a 2 piece suit I'm happy to wear. I'm active, I'll let someone take my picture now, I'll even smle for them!! I push myself a bit to do things "outside of the box" just so I realize I can keep going forward. I'm comfortable with "me" now. My life has changed all because I have changed.
Merry Christmas!!!
Dec 23, 2007
Merry Christmas 2007! What a great holiday this year has brought! I feel wonderful, I'm becoming healthier...things are just looking up all the way around!
we had our Christmas party for work on the 19th, they were so good to us (I have to include this, it was so great) we had a good time I even had a couple bites of lobster and scallops. YUMMY We got a nice bonus and played games for some fun prizes! I went out and bought a pair of pants (mine were all stretched out and not in very good shape, I refused to shop for "fat clothes" when I knew I was having this surgery) anywho...I got to the store and I was suprised I was in a size "L" for pants...no more 1XL or XL!! I wore them to the party and to my hubby's family Christmas (Sat. 22nd) and they are loose already!! Now all I want to do is wear that pair! LOL I'm trying not to buy clothes right now....it's hard! But all my sweatshirts are sooo big on me now! On the "swap gift" game from at my hubby's party I got a pair of p.j.'s with slippers (all the girls in his family are 1Xl or Xl too) and the p.j.s were in XL so they told me where they came from so I could go exchange them!! LOL
Now on a more serious note....I'm having such a problem getting my protien and liquids in. I'm trying (yeah, I need to try harder) but I'm only getting about 40 oz of fluids I swear. Also for protein I'm lucky to get in 30-40g. of that. I have got to get it together and figure it out! I do so much better at work, but week-ends suck for me! I write this so I have a reminder of how I need to SHAPE up when it comes to my liquids and proteins.
I haven't been loosing weight to fast...I knew that would happen though and I'm not discouraged. The Dr. told me that those who are heavier loose more right off the bat...I (229 was heavy to me) but dang....35lbs in 6 wks...I haven't lost 35lbs in forever. I have, however, lost several inches...I wish I would have taken measurements...I didn't...tis ok though, I can tell. There will be days where I don't loose anything, then I can get on the scale and 2-3 lbs will be gone overnight! I have gotten on the scale and gained a pound too though, that confuses me....I'm not eating over 600 calories, if that! I can't seem to eat very much. My Dr. says 5-6 small meals...I'm lucky to get 2-3 small meals in. I'll get it though, it'll come.
Well...enough for today...by the way---BONNIE is a looser! She is so sweet and she keeps giving me the compliments of helping her so much....I'm just glad I could be there for her. I know how I felt going into all this and having someone who knew what was going on and to expect put me at eas....I'm glad I could "pay it forward" besides....Bonnie seemed alot like me from the start...like we would connect...so it was easy!! Welcome Bonnie!!
MERRRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 month out
Dec 13, 2007
So, here it is 1 month out. I had been sick for a week...couldn't drink, do anything. I had to have a CAT and another scope to look at what was going on, plus 2 liters of IV fluids pumped into me. There was nothing major (thank GOD) all Dr. found was a badly irritated esophagus and pouch. I didn't eat...I didn't do anything I wasn't suppose to. I started thinking and wondering if it's not the whole re-modeling thing going on in our 100+ old building. Who knows but I'm better.
On a lighter note....I went to my internal specialist for a check up on my BP and it was 112/64...I AM NOW ONLY ON 1....YES JUST 1....BP MED!!! No more 5 pills and out of this world #'s. Can you imagine, in just 1 months time!! Its incredible!!! I can see my ankles...I mean no more swelling, I use to get ankles and feet that were like play doh....could mold them how-ever! I just can't believe it.
I am eating now. It's a slow thing...a couple of bites and that's it...and things don't taste the same. I do, however, still love Taco Bells refried beans with onion and cheese. It's 3 meals for me though right now...lol. I've tried lemon pepper Salmon yum, blackened Talapia, very yum...ham-cheese and pickle roll-up, swedish meatball...shooting for high protein stuff and everything seems to be going down pretty good...I just chew, chew and chew. It's funny how you can actual chew the taste out of the food and then just want to spit the "muck" out..lol The hardest part is to not drink during or after you eat. There are times I need a sip so bad...cuz I'm dry is all. Working on it though. Well Christmas is almost here...I will have to finish up my shopping this week-end. I have the perfect gift picked for my daughter...just found it tonight...can't tell yet though cuz she reads this site too sometimes. Goodnight!
Hooray
Nov 26, 2007
OMG....My feet don't swell up anymore...I've been watching them for a few days just to make sure it wasn't my imagination, and it's not!! They look like real "ladies" feet!! It's only been 2 wks!! My BP is good, only taking 2 pills.....this is AMAZING!!! Thank God for taking care of me and watching over me, keeping me safe...I know I have to do the rest now...but with amazing things like this happening, I'm going to make sure I don't fail!
I also LOVE this time of year...it goes up and down, and my moods seem to swing a bit since surgery...but I mostly love this time of year....so to everybody----
Turkey day
Nov 23, 2007
I think I'm feeling a little down the last 2 days, if it's not that, then I'm not sure how to explain it. I wasn't going to make a "Thanksgiving" meal, we had our big meal prior to my surgery. But I can't not cook for my family...I've done this for sooo long, it's part of the tradition. It hurt not to make the full meal....I wasn't all bothered by not being able to eat it...I did try a piece of chicken...yeah, last min. I roasted a chicken. I did the bite, chew and SPIT it out thing...I knew I couldn't swallow it, it's too soon for me. But I felt like a cook out of water....LOL Yeah know when you cook, you do a quick sample to make sure it's "just" how you want it to be....I couldn't do that. The bite of chicken was sort of like it though. It was dang good....then I sat at the table with my family and ate my sf jello. All was well...till this morning...no "black friday" shopping for me....I never imagined I'd feel as good as I do so I didn't make any plans for it. My hubby said it's for the best since I did have some congestion in my left lung...said I shouldn't be out there running around in the wee morning hours, in and out of the cold...I understand....just am having a hard time getting into the "spirit" at this point. It's just one year though....right...1 small sacrifice...it just sucks right now...but that's just right now...I'll be able to eat in a couple weeks....I was hoping to be one of the lucky ones and have that "full feeling" for awhile, but I must not be...I feel slight hunger...I'm sure it's hunger...I REMEMBER the hunger pains. That will suck...I've not had anything more then protein, water, and sf jello. I'm just crabby, I think....
On a lighter more positive note....my whole family and I joined the gym right down the road...I'm kind of looking forward to going...I have my 2 wk check on Wed. and will ask the Dr. if all is ok and I have NO restrictions. I am also down like 16 pounds!!
Almost 1 week post op
Nov 19, 2007
Thought I was going to go back to work today...I really just want to be able to rest up and get good and strong. I woke up this morning with some heaviness in my chest...can feel something (pneumonia??)
going on so I called my PCP and he got me in right away. I also called Dr. Glass's office to let them know ( I really didn't want to be directed to the E.R.) My PCP was so nice...he gave me an EKG just to double check my heart (ALL WAS GOOD THERE 
), and took X-rays to check my chest..he said my left side sounded a bit blocked up but the X-ray was good...so no worries there. I also asked Dr. Glass about the heartburn I've been feeling, just drink slower and smaller sips and keep track. I feel a lot more confident now that all is going to be ok. When I came out of the surgery I still knew that I wasn't out of the woods for a couple weeks. Each day would get better but I still had to live with the "scared"
thoughts...it's not like a surgery that "there, now you're all better" I had to be prepared to take on that extra responsibility to really watch everything, how I felt each step of the way. Nerve wrecking sometimes! I'm calming down now though. I feel so much better each day, it's unreal! My major bonus---my bp from my Dr.'s office was 124/78 on oly 2 pills!!! 
*****POST-OP******
Nov 17, 2007
I did it!! I actual went through with it and came through it!! The surgery went well, my Dr. repaired a umbicical cord hernia, that I may have trouble with down the road he said, but other than that it all went well. I'm so proud of myself. It was hard knowing you can decide at any point not to have this done....I'm a chicken, knowing that there was a chance...why take it was my initial thought. I walk out my door everyday though and take the chances that are out there on a daily basis....this procedure will now make sure I have many many more days to "walk" out that door and enjoy my life...there are risks with everything. I'm still scared though...everyday I wonder if "that pain or this pain" is normal or is this something I need to call the Dr. on or what....I don't know what is normal with this....none of us do...we can only go by those who have had it, and we all know that everyone is instructed differently. I was aggravated to read a post where a girl who just had this done was using Gas-X to relieve the gas and bloating pain...well I can't use that. So I suffer with my bloating. I was told by my Dr. to once and only once use 1 doses of Milk of Magnesia, I had had a bowel movement (not a big one, but hell what do you think I'm eating!!) I need something to help with bloated gassy cramps...I was like LISTEN TO ME!! But what-ever, I'll get through it, just the tougher way. All in all, I think and pray my worst is over. With that, I'll know I'll do my part to use this tool to it's amazing abilities....I look forward to applying what I've learned, to the new ways of cooking and eating and to taking my time to know me, not know and want food. It was funny, last night I was sitting with my hubby (which he has been nothing but FANTASTIC) watching a movie and I saw this part where this guy was eating a burger or some kind of sandwich in the back ground...he was shoving it in like there was no tomorrow, eating it sideways, front ways big bite after bite and I though to myself...I was an eater like that....I would take big sloppy bites one right after the other until it was completely gone and all that was left was a stuffed me with slop on my hand, face and plate....sometimes I would eat and before I knew it my food was gone...like I just ate ALL that...did I freakin breath or come up for air??? I'm glad I noticed that guy last night cuz it made me aware...and that's what I wanted to be...aware of everything about food...not just eat every food there was. It was definatly a thing that made me go Hmmmmmmmmmmmm moment!!!
p.s. I can only take 2 BP meds after this surgery and so far so good, my pressure has been pretty normal!!
