Karen C.

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Hello Everyone!  Just thought I would share a picture of my beautiful family with all of my great friends!  I was so anxious this year to take our picture.  Life is so great for us all these days.  We truly hope that you have all had wonderful and blessed holidays!   

Love, Karen

Wow, as I set here contemplating what I should write, I am thinking of all the wonderful thing that have happened in my life in the last year.  To begin with, I am now smoke free for 16 months!  WOOHOO....that is the first of my major transformation.  Second, I am officially down 107 lbs.  I am thrilled to be where i am, and for the first time in years, comfortable with ME! 

I no longer struggle to keep up with my husband or children.  In fact, now days, I can outlast them most of the time.  I've learned that some foods are just not for me, and those often are the ones i shouldn't put in my mouth to begin with, so no great loses there.  It has taken some time, but I am finally getting used to the idea that I don't have to shop in the 'big girls" department anymore.  I can actually wear smalls and mediums since the first time in over 30 years.  I had trouble believing that I would ever get down to wearing a size 10 in jeans, let alone the fact that these days I am wearing a very comfortable size 8.  I still have a hard time however with looking into a window reflection, and even sometimes a mirror and realizing that it is me.  I struggle also sometimes when I look back at pictures of myself and wonder.....how on earth did i ever let things get so out of control.  And, amazingly enough..the answer is, it's a disease, not something that every single person can handle.  I've had to learn new rules, and form new habits, and the road has been a little crooked at times, but for me.....the only road I ever ever want to be on. 

I feel blessed each and every single day to have Dr. Warnock in my life.  Even more blessed that my husband and children have been so wonderful through all of this and the greatest of my fans.  My parents have been truly awesome as well...and each of my family members keeps me inspired on a daily basis.

Tale care my friends until we chat again!

Hugs, Karen

 

 

Wow, as I set here  and look back, it's  extremely difficult for me to imagine  that is has truly  been since  April  when  I  last  updated.  Since  that  time, so  much  has  happened...all good  thank  goodness...and life  has  truly  turned  out  to  be  an  incredible  ride  this  last 11  months.  Just  a  few  short  days  ago,  I  celebrated  my 11  months  out  from  surgery. Although  I  quit  taking  pictures  on  a  monthly basis, simply  because  for  me,  I  wanted  a  bigger  gap  in  time  to  be  able  to  see  more  results,  I have  been  very  vigilant  in  keeping  myself  in  the  eye  of  the  camera.   I  am  enjoying finally  being  able  to  be  silly  with  my  kids , with  my  husband,  and  enjoy  life  while  being  in  the pictures  rather  than  the  one  hiding  behind  the  lense. 

At my last Dr's  appointment with Dr. Warnock, I was so shocked when I  actually stepped up on his scale.  I  have  successfully  gone from 249 lbs  on the day of my  surgery, to 152 lbs  on the 14th of  July.  And, as   of  today, I  am down an additional 4 lbs, to  148.  I  am 2 lbs  below Dr. Warnocks personal  goal for  me, and  since  I  had  never  actually  set  one  myself,  I  can honestly say, I want to take off  8 more  pounds,  and  then  I  will  be  at  the  goal  I  can  invision  now  when  I  look  in  the  mirror.  Before  it  was  too  hard  to  even  believe  that  I  would  be  setting  here  typing  this  in  just  these  past  11  months.  I  have  accomplished so much!!!  I can  proudly say that I  have  gone  from  a  size  24, to  a  size  8, and  from  a 3X top  to  a  medium  and  to  some smalls,  depending  on  the  cut  and  style.   I  should  be  totally  ready  for  my  tummy  tuck  in  about  5  more  months.   I  am  actually  ready  now,  but  my  insurance  requires  that  I  maintain  for  6  months,  so  I  am  on  my  final  leg  of  my  journey...and  can't  wait  till  I  am  done!   I  love  my  life  so much.   I  love  waking  up  every  single  day,  feeling  rested,  feeling  good,  and  not  being  ashamed  to  be seen...even  in  my  lounging  around  the  house outfits..lol.

I  will  leave  you  all  with  a  couple  of  pictures.   The  first  taken  of  my  parents,  my  brother  and  me,  1  year  ago  in  May  at  my  niece's  graduation. 

The  second...taken  this  past  May  at   my  nephew's  wedding.   The  same  four  people,  minus  the  101 lbs on  ME!  I  have  officially  lost  more  than  either  of my  two  daughters  weigh!   Woohoo!!!!!

Hugs  to  you  all,  Karen

Gosh, it's incredible when you actually set and put together an animation of the changes you have seen from the beginning.  Reminds you quickly of exactly how far you have come....at least for me!  I'm so glad i worked on this today!!!

Hugs, Karen

I'm so sorry friends, I have not had the time to update more, but with summer approaching, I should have more time on my hands.  

Things have been really busy.  Our daughters have now been through competition for the next years Pom Squad and Varsity Cheer Squad, and both of them were successful!  Our youngest made the High School Pom Team as a Freshman, one of only 2 chosen.  Our oldest daughter made the High School Varsity Cheer Team, and so we are looking forward to a very busy school year next year!  

I've been struggling a little lately with being able to eat enough.  That truly sounds strange, but I think that this is what has caused my weight loss to slow down a bit, and the fact that we have not been able to get out and walk like we love to do.  Hopefully with spring in the air, we will be able to get out butts back out side and spend some time walking and breathing in the fresh air.  I'm truly tired of being cooped up inside.  Of course, it's almost time for the kids to be out of school too, so I am definitely looking forward to that.  Another 7 weeks or so....it's going to be awesome!!!

I did manage to get down to my goal for my birthday, weighing in at 171 on my birthday, not quite 170, but whose going to argue over 1 stinkin pound....surely not me!  The weight it coming off much more slowly not, but one thing I have noticed, is although the numbers are not changing so reapidly on the scale, my clothes are continuing to get too big, so I've now officially moved into most of the JR. department.  I'm wearing 10/12 pants and 14/16 shirts.  Honestly, I could wear a smaller shirt, but I am still very very self conscious I guess and like them a little bigger.  This just frustrates my daughters to no end, but, I say comfort is most important!.

Mark is doing well, he's had his first fill and that has helped some with his weight loss.  He's lost a total of about 28 lbs I think.  He's not on the scale near as much as I am.  I'm totally a scale freak.  He is supposed to get another fill in about 3 weeks or so, and we are hoping that the 2nd one will really kick things in motion full blast for him.  He's not nearly as impatient as I am waiting on the scale to change numbers.

Well friends, be blessed, and check back soon, I'm sure with things slowing down at home, I'll be able to update more often.

Huge hugs, Karen

Wow, it  has been a while since i've been here and updated.  I guess it's been so hectic around here that while reading the message boards, i forget that I can update things on my own here.  As of today, I am down 70 official lbs, and teetering back and forth with the same two pounds for a couple of days now.  My new number?  Woohoo, 179~and I'm loving it.  I am still hoping to get to 170 by my birthday in March, so I have a little over a month to accomplish that.  Surely it's going to take a lot of dedication, because things are slowing down for me and on a daily basis I can feel my body shifting.  I'm sure now would be a good time to take some measurements.  

On the homefront....Guess what?  My hubby Mark had Lap Band Surgery on the 8th of February.  We were out of town for 3 days and it was nice to be able to rest and just take it easy.  He came out of his surgery very well, had his galbladder removed while they were in there, so he's a little extra sore during the day, but nothing he can't handle.  He has progressed to moist and mushy as Dr. Warnock calls it and has now found his and mine I must admit new best friend.  Flavored instant oatmeal.  Most of them have 4 grams of protein, so add in the milk and you get 12-13 depending on how much milk and sometimes, adding in a spponful or more of unflavored protein helps too.  I feel like helping him get through is like starting all over for me as well.  I can handle it, it will be good for us both.  I feel so blessed that we have both been able to have these surgeries to improve our healfh and our lives with our children.  

Oh well, I suppose for now, that is the best of the best.  Things around here have been great, my kids keep us busy and my son was home for the weekend to stay with his sisters while Mark was in the hospital, so it all worked out wonderfully.  I love it when he's home and all of my babies are  here with me!  Have a blessed day everyone and keep up all the great work that you have each been doing.  I read the updates and visit different profiles everyday to check your progress as well.  I'm thrilled to be a part of each of you!

Hugs, Karen

PS....My latest collage!

 

 

Here is a recipe for a "Flatout Pizza"  This recipe was given to me by the nutritionist at my Dr's office.

1 Multigrain Flatout Bread (looks like a tortilla)
3/4 cup part -skim mozzarella cheese, shredded or cheese of your choice.
1/3 cup tomato sauce (Ragu's Robusta Parmesan Ramano is great)
1/2 cup red onion thinly sliced
1/2 medium green bell pepper, sliced
1/2 medium red bell pepper, sliced
1/2 medium yellow or orange bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)
8 slices of pepperoni (70% less fat - found next to the regular sliced pepperoni) optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees or use toaster oven.  Place flatout directly on oven rack and bake for 2-4 minutes, until firm (it will become more firm as it cools off).  Remove from oven and sprinkle cheese over fatout bread.  Spoon tomato sauce over cheese in small dollops  - placing sauce on the cheese helps maintain a cripsier crust.  Place veggies  and pepperoni over the cheese/tomato layer.  Return to oven and bake until cheese is bubbly.  Remove. Cut into pieces and serve.  

Serving size:  1 Flatout Pizza
Sugar......9 grams,  Fiber.......16 grams, Fat.....19.75 grams, Protein.....37.5 grams


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been really trying to create a different menu for myself, and up until I tried this one, I truly had not accomplished much in the way of diversity.  I am truly wanting to gain in my recipe collection because I find that eating the same things day in and day out is what put me in the position to be over weight to begin with.  I wish I had been wise enough to know all the things I know now.  Hind sight?  20/20 of course, but, I must admit, that had it not been for the weight problem in the past, I would not be experiencing the many wonderful things in my life that are happening on a daily basis now.  I am blessed......more blessed each and every day!

Hugs to all my friends and fellow bench sitters!  Karen

Wow, it's so hard to believe that all my babies (which are not really babies) started back to school today.  I've been so thrilled to have them home to do things with during the holidays, and it was really odd to have to get them up for school this morning.  The alarm sure went off early...so it would seem. 
 
I feel as though I have succeeded in getting through the holidays with my new tunmy, not to many upsets..lol.  Finding what you can eat and not eat has been the real journey, but I am surely loving each step of the way.  

It struck me a few days ago, that although I have posted the animation and can watch it to see the difference in how I look, it's not quite as noticible until you actually put the pictures side by side, so that is what my morning project has been.  I'm going to post it for all the world to see...lol, not that so many folks are looking, but it's there if you care to take a peek.

I'm down 61 lbs so far to 188.  I'd like to see 180 by February 1st if possible.  And, long term for me, *that is my birthday in March* I would like to see 170 by the 14th of March.  I think it can be done, just going to have to hit the treadmill a little harder and start some other form of exercise to rev it up a little.  

Hope all is well with everyone, and that you are as blessed on your journey as I have been.  
Hugs, Karen

I'm so excited to be setting here on New Years Eve, writing and reflecting on the past 4 months.  On Christmas Eve, I celebrated my 4 month anniversary since my surgery.  It was an awesome day spent with family and friends in anticipation of the next morning. Christmas morning came and my world was even brighter.  For the first time since my son was born I was in total anticipation for the day to be here.  I was the first one up this year...amazing, but totally true!  

My family has a truly blessed day with many gifts being exchanged and tons of laughs.  It's the first time in years I didn't hide from the camera, and the first time in years I have totally wanted to take those morning pictures with my children and with my parents at the end of the day.  My husband for the first time bought me clothes, not just nighties etc, but actual jeans and shirts and they were so beautiful I cried.  I'm proud to say I have now gone from a 24 and some 26/28 shirts to a LARGE!  From a 24W jeans to a 16regular!

I feel so blessed that I have been allowed to take this journey, and while the losses to some may seem slow, I've not played the yo yo game, when it's gone on the scale, its gone for ever, so I am pleased.  I woke up Christmas morning to a greater loss than I had truly anticipated.  I had set my goal to 199 for Christmas and here I am, 11 lbs lighter than that. I have also passed up my New Years goal of 189!!!  Woohoo for me   I am currently today, 188 lbs.  I'm so thrilled!!!!    I'm posting for you my updated animation of my weight loss. 

I hope that you have had truly blessed holidays and are looking forward to a wonderful New Year!!!