Lamont Pippins, RN, CNN

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Well, I have been on hiatus huh. Well school is almost complete that goodness. I really don't think becoming a nursing educator is what I want to do regularly. So I will apply for a post master certificate program at the University of Hawaii and focus on adult/gerontology practice. Anyway my weight is stable though I don't believe I am getting enough calories everyday. Just got a real handle on my fluid needs as well as vitamins. I found an adult gummy vit at target so I can stop taking the kids dose. Hmmmm, other than that as I have always said I've got to get started on a regular exercise program. Aloha and Mahalo everybody!!

Well, I am doing ok. changing jobs, battling, anxiety disorder, coping with my new body is a bit overwhelming. I also was not happy at all at my previous employer (administration) and their uncaring attitude toward their employees. Still practicing my love for, respect to, and worship of Jehovah. We celebrated the Lord's evening meal and had a following talk the next week which was entitled "Is there a True Religion from  the Standpoint of Jehovah?" very good talk. Well  that's it for now will chit chat later.

Aloha, well I am updating my blog, everything is going fairly well. I am pretty much staying 210-213lbs which is good. I saw Dr. Cirangle for my 1 year evaul some months ago and I was shocked by my liver condition when I was so obese shocking. Well, thats fixed with this weight loss. I am still happy that I made choice and would do it again. I complete my BSN and I am now in the graduate program for my Masters degree but will transfer to a nurse anesthesia program. I am looking forward to attending the district convention here in HI this June. Talk to you later.
BTW, went shopping today and waist 36 (I feel normal), though now I am seeing like 40-44 in places like old navy and Macy's (go figure). 

Well, I have been busy and neglecting my blog. School is going well though I earned a C- in Statistics I was doing well but the final really was tough. I am doing my Community Nursing Clinical and just did my 1st teaching project today to some members of my congregation. I was a blast and I felt I selected a good topic. Well, I just came back from shopping and I ran into a brother who used to attend meeting here in Ewa Beach and I said hi to him and he didn't even reconize me. This is taking some getting use to I tell you. Kinda feeling weird about it, I mean the guy I was a year ago who I have known for the past 15yrs or so is gone and its as if he's dead. I mean I still have pic of myself and all but I just feel free of that shell. I donated all my old stuff to the National Kidney Foundation and that was cathartic. Shopping for new cloths has turned out to be a weekly thing for my I mean I am not going to turn into a cloths horse (maybe hehehe). But thinks are way cheaper than shopping at the big and tall store. I mean I am wearing Large size and my waist is now 38 and that falls off me and this is from a waist of 48 in and 3xlt shirts. Even my scrubs are large. Well thats enough of that, I hope that all who read this will be encouraged. Mahalo!!

Well, I have been in bed for most of the day, wasn't feeling well after work so just veged out. I am gonna say it again, I am totally amazed with this whole thing about loosing weight. I mean I remeber dreaming about being thinner and now it is becoming a reality WoW!! However, I need to buckle down and get into some serious excercise. It seems to be a hard thing to do, but I need to make rooom for it. Well, thats it for me tonight. Will talk more later this month.

Hi folks, well I have been very neglectful of this blog. I have continued to loose slowly but I know that I need to begin to work out so as I pan this endeavor I really need to stop working so much. I have been working fulltime in in acute hemodialysis along with some agency work one extra day a week with a local agency to do staff relief at some local hospitals. Of course, this weight loss gives me new found energy but I still crash after a bit. I look foreward to channeling this energy into a good work out to tone myself up. Please give me some encouragement. Well, school is going well. Currently taking Nursing Research untilization (Boring). I mean don't get me wrong I am learning some good techniques at critiquing research reports but there are so many research terms that are just don't seem possible to remeber.  However, I must say that I am begining to understand what it all means. So I will say this again, I will try my best to keep my blog updated. Laterz and ALOHA!! BTW, I uploaded new pics!!

Well, here I am again not updating this blog regularly. Been pretty busy, just last evening on April 2nd observed the memorial of Jesus Christ's death as he commanded his diciples to do this in rememberance of him. I was glad to see so many there as this event is held every year on the date that corresponds with Nisan 14 at sundown. School is going well in addition to work. My weight loss is pretty steady and comming along well. One of the nurses in my class recently had a VSG done by Dr. Cirangle after she saw how I am doing. I really feel overall better since this procedure. Still I have a hard time getting use to complements however, I am having a blast when people I have known for a while can't reconigze me. Well take care all. BTW there will be a special public talk given world wide at Kingdom Halls of Jehovah's Witnesses given on April 15th 2007 that will center on the meaning of Jesus Christ and the ransom and how it serves to benifit faithfull mankind. Please attend. Aloha everyone.

Howzit all, well beeb a while again since I have updated my blog. As usual worship, work and school are taking up my time. Want to just get a way over the weeken, maybe go to the outer islands (Kauai, Maui or Big Island) for a retreat. Finally I got thru the stages that one makes when contemplating lifestyle change. I started walking every eve for 30-40 mins. Feeling great and I am looking forward to start working out at the gym. I was talking to one of the nursing assistants at work and he encouraged me to go and join the gym as I would be saving money in the long run. So I will be getting over to 24hr fitness to start my weight training program. Otherwise things are pretty good. Mahalo my friends!!

Well, I am just back home from a very long workday. Not much goin on just taking everything in stride. Still feeling great, but going to sleep now.

Tuesday 8/15/06:
Well so far I have completed all of my Lab, Radiological testing and echo; my next is my step is medical clearance. I have paid the 1st half of my uncovered charges and will send the rest Thursday. I am excited and nervous at this point and pretty much think about the surgery daily. I wonder what things will be like right before, right after and how successful my weight loss will be. I guess I worry too much huh? I am so appreciative of all members of this site for sharing their experiences and results of surgery and life in general. I wish there were more men who have shared their experiences so I can gauge losses better from my peers, although those who have shared give me great encouragement. I will put as much information about my experience on this site as it happens. Keep checking. Lamont.
Wed. 8/23/06
Howzit, well 7 days to go before the big day. I am pretty nervous, talked to my Human Motivation instructor at the University of Phoenix, this class is so interesting, but, I have a lot of writing to do. He told me to turn in my work when I can, I don't want to be late as I need to maintain my A average. I hope to compete this degree as scheduled in Feb. 2008. Anyway I got my Lovenox yesterday, Lovenox is a low molecular wieght Heparin that is used to slow blood clotting time preventing thrombus formation on my plane ride back and forth from HNL to San Fran. Did I say that this is self administered (LOL), I haven't given my self an injection before only others. Hmmm, guess i'll be ok. Went to GNC to purchase my protein drink and I have settled for Isopure as I feel it delivers a great amount of protein which will be of benifit I hope during my post-op liquid phase. Well cya laters. Lamont
9/2/2006
Well here I am 3 days post-op and I am still here in San Fran till tommorrow. I got here on the 29th went in from my pre-op visit with Dr. C then straight to Ambulatory surgery. My co-worker who was having surgery the next day sat with me until I sent her out to eat as she had to do fluids that afternoon. I remeber walking into the OR meeting the peri-op holding nurse who had a DS done 5yrs ago( she's in her 50's and she looks gorgeous). Met with anesthisia and saw Dr. C on my way into the room. Got on the table I was stoked not nervious at all, I remeber recieving Versed, Fentanyl and Propofol IV and that was it. According to Dr. C I became severly bradycardic (my heart rate was 40 beats per min) and my blood pressure dropped. I had to get a arterial line and go on a special drip to raise my B/p so or time was ~3hrs but as you all can see I survived and had my VG done. Post-op is not fun though. Getting used too everything and feeling pain is not my fav expereience, however, I can't believe I have done this and I am on my way to a thinner healthier life. I would change only one aspect of my expereice and that is to have someone come with me, That was incrediblly stupid and macho on my part but I have learned. I must say that the staff at California Pacific Medical Center and Dr. Cirangles, Jossart and Feng office are the most professional and caring group of people I have met in a long time I take my hat off to them. Well I am feeling great from my Lortab elixer so I will update soon. MAHALO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9/13/2006
Well, here I am 2 weeks pos-op on phase 2 of my diet. So glad to have some substance to my food. I am dow to 340lbs from 354lbs, 14lbs so far. I am feeling better everyday. This is all a learning phase for me concening food and I sit and think that I hope this all works. Well all my friends notice my loss, my cloths are feitting more comfortable, however, I can't wait until I really loose LOL!!! So, thats me 2 week post-op will keep you all updated, MAHALO!!

9/30/2006
Howzit Folks!!
Sorry I have been away for so long, however, I have been just trying to get back into my work routine. Looking for a new job for more hours, just read an article in last sunday's honoluluadvertiser which said that the highest paid city for registered nurses is San Jose, so I possibly will be moving there. Lets see, I am down to 331lbs so far 28bs since surgery. I have been a bit more tired this past month though I feel my energy level is picking up. I say this because I went walking and felt... well I felt freakin GREAT!!! I felt non of my pre-op feeling after walking like the shortness of breathe or tiredness. I will be seeing a cardiologist on thursday to see the condition of my cardiovascular system, my blood pressure is down to norm, in fact I was shocked I have never had a b/p of 126/76, my diastolic was always higher despite b/p meds.
My diet and getting my protien in is workingout great, I must say that the actual process of eating is a chore gotta CHEW, CHEW, CHEW, because it does take time to get an appropiate sized meal in, like after the first few butes I have to stop and allow my stomache to basically get ready for food. After about 15mins I can eat at a somewhat good pace but half way through stop and see how I feel about continiuing the meal. I must say that the key is listening to my stomache and not my mind. Concerning my weight loss I have last a lot of inches even when the scale doesn't move I can notice a difference, I just keep a level head about everything. Well thats it for now I gotta get some rest. ALOHA!!!

Jan 28th 2007~~~~

Well I have become one of those people who have not updated his profile in 4 months. Well I've been doin pretty good. In December I left my position as staff nurse in ICU and return to acute hemodiaysis. I am pretty stoked about this move. School is doing great, I was kinda disappointed with the grade I recieved from my last class and now my GPA is down to 3.66. I realy gotta bust out an A with this current class I am taking. My weight loss has been steady I am now 277lbs been pretty steady at this weight. I know I need to start more excercise, just need to find the time to do so. I must say I have a big change in my personality as I am less shy, less moody and overal happier. I also can't say enough about the compliments I am recieving some people don't even reconize me which is a pretty good ego boost. Well plan on making this web page better, Need to get a good digita camera as my last one in not working. Watching the latest episode of Extra's with Daniel Radcliffe being hilarious. Mahalo people.

Jan 30th 2007

Well doing wel today, now down to 275bs=79lbs lost!!. Went shopping though I don't think I'm ready for Macy's or Old Navy. I went to my old haunt Kramer's Big and Tall and was supprised greatly by the changes in my wasit size and shirt size. Well one of the salepersons told me that if I keep loosing I won't be shopping there anymore so I had to be nice and said I would still come by because they are a good goup of people and never made me feel like a fat person. Decided not to buy any suits right now until I am down to a weight that resizing them would be easier and economical. I can't get over the way people are treating me now calling me THIN and SKINNY (hope I spelled that right). Anyway as promised I will try to keep this site updated but I think I will transfer this info to the blog section MAHALO!!