Lisa H.
3 years and getting back on track
Mar 05, 2012
I got a great deal on a new gym membership, so I switched over from Gold's to LA Fitness. I also decided to listen seriously to their spiel on a training contract and not just blow them off because of the money it would cost. I got a great deal on that, too. for $312 + $99 sign on fee, I am getting 12 sessions per month for 12 months.. 144 sessions for $411= $2.85 per session.. um, yeah.. I can handle that!! I'm doing something for ME with some of my income tax money!
Day 1.. Alycia is my trainer. She's young and super friendly. She is also a certified nutritionist AND her mom and aunt both had Gastric Bypass. She "gets" my needs!! She asked questions about what areas I wanted to work on losing fat and where I had skin issues. She gets it, she really gets it!!
We did my stats, so here they are..
weight: 183.5
body fat %: 39.2%
bmi 33.5---- still obese
neck: 13"
shoulders 43"
waist: 39"
hips: 43"
bicep: 13"
thigh: 24"
calf: 15.5"
Just looked back on a posting I made from when my first year. I found measurements from the day before surgery. I had done them myself, so they are not exact. But, it's still enlightening!
weight: 234.5
bmi: 42.9
waist: 47"
hips: 52"
bicep: 16"
thigh: 26"
Looking at the measurements around my midsection makes me feel so much better!!
Alycia said that I am well proportioned and that will make it easier to work the whole body. We won't have to focus more on certain areas. She said nutrition and cardio will be the key to my success! I CAN and WILL do this!!!!!!!
I told her my goal weight was around 140. That would put my body fat % between 21-24%. She said that the real goal is to have the least amount of body fat, not necessarily the number on the scale. She also said that I could realistically weigh around 150 and have around 20% body fat and not want to go any lower. I have 12 months.. let's see what I can do!
one year today!
Feb 23, 2010
So, here it is my thoughts on this, my one year surgiversary. Today has been an emotional roller coaster for me and the day is not even over yet. I have cried happy tears thinking about how far I have come and all I have gained along the way. I have cried sad tears thinking about what I have NOT accomplished yet and the people who are not here to help me share this experience.
April 4, 2009, I finally moved out on a loveless marriage and got my own place
April 2009-joined gym and got a personal trainer
April 27, 2009, I made it to ONEderland!
Summer 2009 was comfortable in a bathing suit at the pool and the beach
By the beginning of September 2009, I was down 70 lbs
End of September 2009, my dad passed away
I also have gained physical strength and endurance. I can run for more than 2 secs on a treadmill and on the street. I can push almost 200 lbs with my legs. I can lift up to 60 or 70 lbs with my upper body depending on the machine. I can do at least 10 push ups without stopping. I can do full sit ups. I can keep up with the psycho animal spin instructor on Wednesdays. I enjoy body pump and watching myself in the mirror. I look forward to my Sunday morning 2 ½ hour sessions at the gym and am disappointed when I can’t make it.
A guy in the body pump class yesterday was asking 3 of the girls, myself included, if we liked what we saw in the mirror. The other 2 girls said no. Then he started to say how no woman is ever happy with what they see. I said, you know what, right now at this moment, I AM happy with who I see in the mirror because a year ago, I weighed 70 lbs more and could not do 1/2 of what I do now. He jokingly told me he found the woman of his dreams. (he is married and always jokes around with us) It felt GREAT to be able to say that. Even if I am not completely happy with who I see, I am happy with how far I've come and proud of myself for being able to say it out loud!
Shirt size: was 26-28 now M/L
Pants: was 24, now 10/12
Dress: was 26-28, now 10/12 or M/L
Shoes: was 8 ½ to 9 wide, now 8-8 ½ regular
Bra: was 44DDD, now 38DD
I can wear heels and walk around in them for any given amount of time. I can wear knee high boots and zip them all the way up. I can wear skirts that are above the knee instead of all the way to my ankle and I am comfortable wearing more form fitting clothes that show off my new figure.
Help I’m a food addict
Dec 15, 2009
As a lot of you know, I have been struggling through a stall for several months. In the beginning, I could not pinpoint what was going on. I was doing pretty much the same thing I had been doing when I was losing. I tried to change up my food and my exercise and nothing changed.
I know part of my issue is the hormonal stuff going on with being on the Depo Provera. This should be out of my system in the next few weeks and hopefully that will help some. BUT, I need to be accountable for my actions. I am addicted to food. I like to eat. There are times when I feel that I cannot stop eating and my pouch is not stopping me. I am still not eating pasta, rice or bread. BUT, SF cookies, protein bars and stupid peanut butter have become major trigger foods for me. I cannot eat just one. If I have a protein bar for breakfast, it does not squash the craving, it only seems to make me want more sweet stuff throughout the day. I tried putting the treats in the freezer thinking that would slow me down.. NOT.. I just pull them out and eat them from there. I cannot have these types of things in my house because I will eat them.
I have been feeling very tired lately and could not figure out why. I thought it was from work and the stress of that and of the things going on in my life. BUT, I think it’s been a non-stop carb coma. The cookies have carbs, the protein bars have carbs and the dang peanut butter has carbs. This is also affecting my time spent in the gym. I am still going, but not as often and not working out as hard.
I know what I SHOULD be doing. I just can’t get myself to do it. I have been drinking a lot of decaf coffee thinking it was ok and counting as my liquids—which it does, BUT I always put SF creamer in it.. more carbs and more calories.
I am really having a hard time. I’m not sure what to do about it. I want to get that book that everyone talks about “Diary of a Food Addict”. Maybe that will help me. I am also going to look into finding a mental health professional who deals in eating disorders. I’ve said it before, but I need to do this before I start gaining weight. At this point, I’m just not losing.
I go to the surgeon on Thursday, so I will also see what he says. He probably has the name of a psych and a nut who I can use. But, as you know, I don’t really agree with much of what he says. So, we’ll see how that goes.
Sorry to drag on so long, but I needed to get this out for me. Maybe by putting it all out there, I can take responsibility for myself and finally do something about it.
cholesterol screening!
Dec 01, 2009
The numbers were not "that bad" before, but bad enough for the doc to put me on Simvastatin to try to get the numbers lower. It worked
June 2009 November 2009
Total cholesterol 195 172
HDL (good) 47 54
Triglycerides 64 45
LDL (bad) 135 109
I have a follow up appt on Friday with the doc to see what, if anything, we are going to do. I would assume that she will just keep me on the meds. It's a low dose. But, I am HAPPY to see the numbers and will be even happier to see her on Friday because she has not seen me since I was only a few months post op!
Today's my birthday!
Jul 07, 2009
I had my surgery on Feb. 23. My heaviest weight was 244 lbs. Today I weigh in at 178. That is 66 pounds people!! WOO HOO!!!
I measured myself on the day before surgery and have done so periodically since. This is a spreadsheet of measuremements from day before surgery, the day I joined the gym, and yesterday when I had the trainer measure me again.
2/22/2009 | 4/22/2009 | 7/7/09 | total lost | ||
done by me | done at gym | done at gym | |||
weight | 234.5 | 200 | 178 | 56.5 | |
body fat | 41.2 | need to do yet | |||
hips | 52 | 46.5 | 43.5 | 8.5 | |
thigh | 26 | 22.5 | 19.5 | 6.5 | |
waist | 47 | 45.5 | 39 | 8 | |
upper arm | 16 | 14.25 | 12.75 | 3.25 | |
chest | 49 | 40.25 | 39.5 | 9.5 | |
shoulders | 44.25 | 39.5 | 4.75 | ||
shirt size | 24-28 | XL | L-XL | ||
pants/skirts | 22-24 | XL or 16/18 | L or 14/16 | ||
dress | 22-24 | 16/18 | 14/16 | ||
shoe | 8 1/2W-9W | 8 1/2 - 9 | 8 - 8 1/2 |
04/14/09 51 days post op
Apr 14, 2009
Measurements: lost since 3/13 lost since 2/22
bust 44, band 39 -2,-1 -5,-3
waist 42 -2 -5
hips 48.5 -1.5 -3.5
thigh 24.5 -.5 -1.5
upper arm 15 -0 -1
totals ------- ------------
-7 -19
19 inches total lost!!!!
This afternoon, I am going to join Gold's Gym. This will really show me what I am capable of doing!!! Yesterday, I went out with my daughter's girls on the run group and did 1 1/2 miles with them. Part of it, I actually jogged.. I will be able to add more jogging to the routine each time. I know it!!!
Friday the 13th and oh what a GREAT DAY!
Mar 13, 2009
I measured myself today, as well. Last time I measured was day before surgery 2/22. Here is the comparison
2/22 3/13 inches lost
Bust: 49"/ 42" band 46/40 3/2
Waist: 47" 44 3
Hips: 52" 50 2
Thighs 26" 24 2
upper arm: 16" 15 1
total inches lost: 13 inches!!!
Non weight loss related, I got a big check from my daughter's natural father. I haven't seen any type of support check from him since December and that was really small. So, I guess he filed his taxes or came up with some money some how to get out of jail (where he has been for a few weeks for lack of payment). Then went I went to the bank, I found out that my income tax came today too!!! YAY!! Couldn't have happened at a better time. With moving and everything, I can really use the extra money right now. I put a big chunk on my student loan and that was a huge weight lifted off me. Now, I can focus on moving and getting settled in the apartment without having to worry about money for a bit.
POST OP!!WOO HOO!!
Feb 26, 2009
I thought that I felt hungry at dinner time, but I warmed up some broth and that seemed to help. It didn't help looking at the ribs that my DH and daughter were eating.. but they actually didn't tempt me that much. Maybe if we were in a restaurant, they would have, but I felt ok sitting at the table with them for a meal. My daughter liked having me there even if I was just sipping away.
Tomorrow I am going to try to drive a short distance and see how that works out. I will not go far, maybe just down to the grocery store to see if there are any different broths I can try out and to pick up some more SF Icees.
I got on the scale this morning and it said 225!! Seems that I didn't experience the post hospital weight gain, unless I just lost it right away with all the peeing that I've been doing. 225 means that I have already lost 19 pounds since I started this whole process!! WOO HOO!! Never before have I lost more than 25 lbs, so I am almost there!!!
That's all for now.. had to put in a post op blog to start off!!
APPROVED!!!!
Feb 02, 2009
I started seeing the surgeon at the end of October 2008. I followed all of the rules, including seeing a dietitian, getting Psych eval and getting necessary info from my PCP. It was actually pretty painless. My surgeon does not require anything more than the insurance does so I don't have to go on any crazy long liquid diet or anything.
I am currently on a 3 week South Beach type diet to shrink my liver and I have to do clear liquids for 2 days before. I have an endoscopy scheduled for tomorrow just to be sure the dr knows what to expect when he gets in there the day of my RNY. It is so hard to believe that I am just 20 short days away from my new birthday!!!
There are so many crazy emotions running through my head right now, but the one major one is impatience. I just want to get this over with already!!!! I know it will be here before I know it, but I really wish it was tomorrow!!
My Story
Dec 24, 2008
When she was 3 years old, I met a guy who tried to take me home the night we met and I stood up to him and said no. 6 months later, he asked me to marry him. He said it was because I didn't go home with him that night that showed him the kind of person I really am. Imagine that. A guy who was NOT just after the booty!! They DO exist! He took in my daughter and me and treated us like family. We have been married for 6 years.
I am at a totally different place in my life now, then when I met him. A much better place. I have found positive friends to surround myself with. We attend synagogue on a regular basis and I am involved as much as I can be with activities there. My daughter attends a great school and I help out there whenever I can get away from work. I also work from home, now, so I don't need to worry about daycare or who is going to pick her up from school or take her places.
Enough about that for now.. my surgery date is 2/23/09. I am doing the "healthy diet" thing for now. I have to cut out all sugars, carbs, etc.. and do an Atkins thing for 2 weeks prior and clear liquids for 2 days prior. The countdown is on.. I have about 60 days until my surgery and it seems like forever at times, and at other times it feels like it is tomorrow!! I am so excited to move on with my life in so many ways and am glad to have found this forum for support!
I look forward to becoming friends with many of you!!