3 years and getting back on track

Mar 05, 2012

So, I just passed my 3rd surgiversary!  I have lost about 75 lbs, give or take a few.  I am healthier and happier, but never reached my goal.   My stoma is stretched, but I can't get a revision covered by insurance at this time.  So, I have to do this without any surgical intervention.  I CAN DO THIS!

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!
1 comment

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.


In the past year, so much has happened. 


Feb. 23, 2009, I had my surgery

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

This is just a few of the specific events that have happened over this time.  During this entire time, I have been dealing with being a single mom, struggling with finances and discipline issues, and trying to figure out who LISA is. 

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.


I have lost an estimated 40 inches around my body.  I say estimated because this is me doing it myself and that is never truly accurate.

The best thing that has happened to me on this journey is the by far all of the wonderful new friendships I have made.  I have met so many people from PA, as well as other states and have spoken to so many others on OH and FB.  I now have friends all over the country.   My self esteem is growing every day, with some bumps along the way, but still growing nonetheless.   I am sure that I have much more to say about this journey and may come back and edit this as I see fit.  But for now, if you have read this far, I thank you.  I hope I have not bored you too much. 


0 comments

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.


0 comments

cholesterol screening!

Dec 01, 2009

I got the results of my follow up cholesterol screening and things are looking good!!

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! 
0 comments

Today's my birthday!

Jul 07, 2009

So today I turn 37 years old.  I have not felt this good about myself in a long time.  I actually weigh less today than I did my senior year in high school!! What's up with that?!?! I'll tell you what's up.. this tool, my new friends, my new attitude!!

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    

5 comments

04/14/09 51 days post op

Apr 14, 2009

Today I am 51 days post op.  I now weigh 204 lbs with my clothes on.. I am so close to ONEderland, I can taste it!!!  That is 40 lbs lost since my heaviest at the surgeon's office.

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!!!
3 comments

Friday the 13th and oh what a GREAT DAY!

Mar 13, 2009

Today is 3/13.  It has been 18 days since my surgery and I feel great!  Weight loss related, the scale read 212.5 this morning.  My highest weight was 244; highest at the surgeon's office was 241.  I have been using 244 as my starting point because that was the highest weight I remembered being.  So, I have lost around 30 lbs since I started this process !! Woo HOO!!

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.
0 comments

POST OP!!WOO HOO!!

Feb 26, 2009

Well,  here I am  officially post op! I  had my surgery on Monday  and am feeling pretty good right now.  I took my Percocet this morning when I woke up, but have not taken it since then.   I am going to take it before bed to be safe and so  I get a good night's sleep.  I  slept NICE last night!  11 hours with  waking up only once to pee.   I even spent the night in my bed and was able to get out of it with little problems.

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!!

4 comments

APPROVED!!!!

Feb 02, 2009

Yesterday I got THE CALL!! My surgery has finally been approved. 




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!!  


2 comments

My Story

Dec 24, 2008

Well, here goes.  I am 36 years old and only vaguely remember not being the fat chick.  I recently found some old pics from when I was a child and see that I was a little bit chubby in them, but nothing serious.  I was involved in little league baseball, was constantly outside playing, riding my bike, swimming, etc.  As I grew up and went through puberty, I became the fat girl.  I couldn't fit into clothes that the "cool" girls were wearing.  Nothing looked right on me.  At my Bat Mitzvah and Jr. Prom, I had these big ugly dresses because nothing else fit me.  Back then, you couldn't find anything pretty if you were above a size 12.  Everything was made for old ladies.  Now, thank goodness, they at least make pretty stuff for us.  I was constantly picked on in school.  I still participated in some sports activities-like volleyball and softball and even made the swim team.  I was never any good at them, but still I tried.  I was in the marching band and that required a lot of physical energy.  So, what happened? How did I keep getting fatter even though I was doing all these physical activities?  I guess life just caught up with me.  When I went to college, I got involved with guys who just wanted one thing and they would find the girls with the lowest self esteem who thought it was a good thing if a guy wanted to sleep with you, even if that's all they wanted.  It was not an experience I like to think about, but I thought it was fun at the time.  Looking back, I can't believe I even did half the things I did.  After college, I met a guy who again, wanted me for sex.  I ended up getting pregnant, he cheated on me and I moved out of our house while I was 7 months pregnant.  My beautiful daughter is the result of this failed relationship.  At least there was something positive to gain from it.   My daughter has been my reason for going on and becoming the woman I am today.  

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!! 
2 comments

About Me
Whitehall, PA
Location
33.6
BMI
RNY
Surgery
02/23/2009
Surgery Date
Dec 19, 2008
Member Since

Friends 123

Latest Blog 10

×