nicole W.

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 Well it has been 5 years today. In total, I went from 270 at my highest, to 143 as my lowest. Today, I am honestly not sure what I weigh. I went through IVF last year, and currently have the most perfect baby ever! I got up to 208 during my pregnancy and weight gain from IVF. Last I checked I was 177, but I have lost more since then. My big news is that I am scheduled for an abdominoplasty in 15 days! 

Anyone who says this is the easy way out is so wrong. I went through some major blood loss of unknown etiology during my first surgery, so I needed a transfusion and an extra day in the hospital. 8 days after going home, I was diagnosed with a leak, and had emergency surgery, a near death experience, and a very painful recovery. My body changed, but it is funny how your mind starts to let things slip, even when  you swear you will be a perfect patient and never break the rules. I know I will never get back to 270 pounds, but I really hate where I am right now too. 

The one rule I have never broken, is to take my vitamins!! I have suffered debilitating back pain for the past 3 years, so that is the biggest reason for the abdominalplasty, and part of the reason I have fallen off the wagon on exercise. I do keep my portions small, but I drink pop, I don't count my protein, I drink during meals and I can tolerate some sugar on most days, although other days I cant. I also dont take NSAIDS for pain control, which has been challenging with the pain. Hopefully the next 5 years are kind to me, and I can get back on track with exercising. 

Almost 5 years post op and ouch has the weight came back! I went through IVF in march of 2011 and those meds add on the weight. I was so so so lucky to get pregnant on the first try and delivered an 8 lb 13 oz beautiful baby on Nov 15th. Now the problem is how the heck do I lose all the weight?? I have developed bad habits as well as find it impossible to find time to work out which I hate anyways. I need to lose 30 pounds to get back to my goal weight. I really need to get back on track.

I have really settled into the RNY lifestyle, as has my family for the most part. We are all together and settled in to our apartment in Bismarck. I continue to maintain my weight, and had my labs drawn a few weeks ago. They were perfect, infact, my B12 and Calcium were actually higher than a "normal" person's labs! I found a job with amazing benefits, including 3 weeks paid vacation, dental, vision, and health, paid 100% that started MY FIRST DAY, and paid sick leave. We are so lucky after all that happened in the past year with the death of my beloved dog Bella, the Florida move which ended up with us having to move back, and fears of financial issues. We are now getting caught back up, and are getting things taken care of. The other day, I actually RAN WITHOUT BEING CHASED, and I wasn't even winded. I love this surgery and the life it is allowing me to live!!!

I have now moved yet again, this time to North Dakota. My husband lost his job due to lay offs, so it was time to find a more stable job market. So we are now in Bismarck, and he is working for the rail road. I am still looking for a job, but I have only been here for 3 weeks, and already had one interview, so I am hopeful. My 2 year surgiversary was on June 5th. I have maintained my weight for over 15 months now, and am still in a size 4. I am not as good at the "rules" as I should be, but I do take my vitamins and calcium, I do eat small amounts and avoid snacks for the most part. I need to work on the water intake as well as the protein intake, but so far this tool has been amazing. Next step is to get a job, get debts paid off, and start saving up for my tummy tuck and breast lift. Thank God I had this surgery, it has saved my life.

The Holidays were fine, didn't gain. but holy crap Batman, after the Holidays, I totally forgot that I am postop, and went back to a lot of bad habits. So the scale finally told me it was time to suck it up, and get back to basics. I gained two pounds over what I have always called my comfort zone. Daily and weekly I fluctuate between 141 and 144. So when two pounds added on and didn't fluctuate, I knew it was time to stop the insanity and detox. So here I am day 2 of my self imposed 5 day liquid diet. Need to get the carbs and yes, wine, out of my system. Then it is back to 64oz of water, protein,protein, protein, limited carbs, no sweets, limited alcohol. and get my butt off the couch. At least I have the vitamins and minerals thing going for me, I am good about that part.

I have not lost a single pound since June. However, I have maintained the same weight the last 6 months. I am totally ok with that. I am looking forward to going to MN. This will be my second Christmas post op, and I am hoping I can maintain my weight over the holidays. The lifestyle definately gets harder the farther out I am. I continue to take my vitamins and calcium religiously, but I have a nasty carb habit, and I realize it is going to catch up with me. I also believe I am allergic to excercise, and tend to avoid it. I know, Bad post op. It will catch up with me. When I notice a pound or two on the scale (I weigh daily), I realize it will be time to get back to the basics, and I will do it. I am never going to be fat again!!!

It's been an interesting few weeks since our move to Florida 2 months ago.  I was low man on the totem pole at my job, and they realized they hired too many people, so I am once again jobless. It is a HORRIBLE job market down here, so I am having a hard time finding another job. It is tough, but I kind of enjoy being a stay at home mom.The lizards provide lots of entertainment for all of us. Tehya and I have seen all sorts of critters lately. We had a sea snake on the beach the other day, saw manatees on the pier in Sebastian Inslet, saw a mole running on the road at the condo, and lots of dolphins when we went fishing on Saturday. We dont go anywhere without a camera, so our project this year will be putting together a photo album. At Kennedy Space Center we saw alligators, egrets, turtles, and a bald eagle. I am continuing to maintain my weightloss, which is a struggle with all the stress. I have been doing a lot more cooking though, and been really enjoying experiementing with different foods and spices. I have also been having issues with hunger at night, so been working on that. My inches continue to shift around. I am now having problems with my 4's fitting right, they are too big. I have not lost or gained any weight, I am at 140 now, and maintaining for 4 months, so I am very happy with that.

13 months out and feeling great. Down to size 3/4. Down 126 pounds. Maintaining the weight loss so far. My BMI is now "normal" at 24, down from "morbidly obese" at 44 pre op. We are thinking about moving to FL. Saw Dr. Glass a week ago, he seems happy with the weight loss. Only issue I am having now is slightly low iron, so I take a supplement for that but otherwise everything else is great.

It has been a little over 11 months now. Finally I am starting to feel the actual affect of surgery. I am actually energetic, my muscles are finally starting to come back, and my hair is just about back to normal. I am even seeing a difference in the skin starting to go back a bit now. I know my recovery took a lot longer than average, and I know that it was from the complications. I am still so glad I did this, I wish it would have been sooner. I have so much more self confidence, I have such good health, and I am going to be around for my daughter now. I never could have said that with such certainty before. I even allowed myself to be photographed in a swimsuit on vacation, and actually LIKED what I saw. I am down 123 pounds and in a size 6 pants and S/M for shrits. Wow is all I can say about this surgery. Now I just need to save up the money for a boob job.....,

Wow, in only 9 months I have accomplished more than I ever though possible, thank god every day for this surgery, and freak out even more that I am going to wake up in the morning, and have gained it all back. I am more and more aware that "This is a tool, it is only a tool". It has taken very little effort to loose it, but I KNOW that this is a temporary thing, and I have to make the effort to make this whole ordeal worth it. I have to remind myself everyday that unless I follow the program, I will have died for nothing. On a positive note, I have MET MY GOAL!! I now weigh what I weighed the day I graduated high school, and I am a SIZE 8, which I have never been in my life. There are days I really miss food, I just want to go on a junk food binge. But them my little tool reminds me, and I don't do it. All I have to do is look at my scar to remind me not to eat, and I do that often. My battle scars are my daily reminder, and I am actually thankful for them.