mkieffer
07/17/07
Jul 17, 2007
I am now down to 178 pounds and wearing a size 12/14. I am so happy with that. I went to my PCP yesterday and she was so amazed at how good I am doing. My blood pressure was 120/62. It has not been that good in I don't know how long. I do for sure have some skin issues that I will be addressing when I am allowed to see a plastic surgeon. My husband and I have been joking around about me weighing less than him and he says no way, he still weighs less, so last week we were at a park that had teeter totters and he told me, we will do the teeter totter test, who ever ends up on the bottom, is the one who weighs the most, so I agreed. Needless to say, as I was up in the air and his butt was planted firmly on the bottom, we decided it was the perfect time to pick on me and not let me back down. I think he was jealous. I have to go back on July 30th for some blood work to see how everything is doing. I do have some complaints recently, every time I eat solids, I get a pain in my tummy, so for the last few days I have just been taking it easy and eating liquids or really soft foods. I also have been more tired than usual and seem to be bruising easily. We will see what the blood work says.
It has been so hot here lately (in the 100's) for a few days now, I don't know how I used to stand the heat. Right now, I am pretty comfortable when it is like 90 degrees outside. We bought a little plastic pool and set up under the covered part of our deck for the dogs. They love it!!! We have 2 Shi-tzu's and 1 black lab. The little ones go in and lay down while the lab thinks it is great to stick her face in the water and splash every one who is around her. She is also enjoying putting her ball in there and putting her nose under the water to try and bounce the ball back out. It is so funny and cute to watch.
I will have to update some pictures as I get them unloaded from my camera. Huge difference now. It does amaze me sometimes to see myself. I can't hardly believe it is still me, I find myself looking in the mirror trying to figure out who is looking back. We had a 70th birthday party for my Mom on the 7th of July and 2 of my brother's who didn't know I had the surgery were here and did not recognize me. It was funny. They really were in shock. I guess I thought everyone in my family knew I had this done, but I guess not, even one of my neices wanted to know what I was doing to lose weight. It was funny. This was the first time in forever that I didn't mind being in the pictures when they were taken.
So, until next time. May God Bless all who read this.
06/15/07
Jun 14, 2007
Oh, did I mention, I am OVERWEIGHT!!! How exciting is that. I haven't been overweight since I don't know when. I weighed this morning and I am down to 185 pounds. YEAH me!!! Just one more pound to go and I will weigh less than my husband!!! I can't wait. I actually even borrowed a sweater from a co-worker yesterday (our office is freezing) and when I borrowed it in the past I could only wrap it around my shoulders, well, yesterday, I put it right on and zipped it up. It was a size Medium!!! I was so happy. Anyways, I must go pack and get ready to hit the road.
GOD IS SO GOOD!!! I GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY AND HONOR FOR WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED ME WITH OVER THIS LAST 6 MONTHS. HE MADE THIS SURGERY HAPPEN SO SMOOTHLY. I KNOW HIS HAND WAS AT WORK. I TO THIS DAY CONTINUE TO PUT ALL MY FAITH IN HIM!!! THANK YOU LORD JESUS!!!
5/3/07
May 03, 2007
by hand. One day I fertalized and then shoveled dirt for an hour or so. One day I did a pilates tape and then yesterday walked all day shopping with my mom and if anyone knows her, walking around even stores with her I have to take 5 steps to her regular long strides. We started shopping at 10:00 then I finally took her home at 5:30 last night. WHEW!!! Now today I am waiting for Cliff to get back and we are going to take the dogs for a walk, I will probably do that again tomorrow.
Well, I pray God's richest blessings over everyone's lives and always remember life is a journey so sit back and enjoy the ride.
4/21/07
Apr 21, 2007
I am also excited about the fact that I am finally down to 200lbs. 1 more pound to go and I will offically be in the ONE HUNDREDS!!!! again can I hear a WHOOT!! WHOOT!! I haven't been there in 20 years.
I am turning over a new leaf starting this Monday. My plan is first thing in the morning do my devotionals, Pray, Listen, then excercise. I haven't had time to exercise since I started. I have done really good without exercise, and now I am excited to see what I can do if I actually apply myself. I will have to ask for the Lord's help on this one since this is a commitment I want to keep.
So, the next time I post, I WILL BE IN ONEDERLAND!!!! God's richest blessing to all!!
3/25/07
Mar 25, 2007
I am only down 2 lbs in a couple of weeks. I know a lot of that is my fault since I have been blowing it big time with my eating. I have been really craving sugar and carbs this past couple of weeks and have been indulging. I did start exercising by walking a 3 days a week. I know it's not much but it is better than the not doing anything I have been doing since the surgery. I do know after I am done working, I will totally be able to boost it all up.
My son turned 20 on March 12th and my daughter turned 18 yesterday. It is a little sad to have them so grown. I really miss them around here, even though Kyndra still lives at home, she works all the time and is still in High School so she is never home and when she does get home I have been so depressed lately that all I want to do is sleep so I am in bed by the time she comes home. I do put all my faith in our good Lord that things will be getting better soon.
I saw my oldest sister from Colorado yesterday. She is doing great!!! She had Lap Band surgery on January 17th and is down 27 lbs. She is feeling great and looking great also. I am so proud of her for making this life change also.
3/17/06
Mar 17, 2007
It has been so long since I posted. Time is really flying by. It is good to know that I don't sit around the house on the computer anymore. I actually find things outside to do and it is great. I have come down from 272 pounds to 212 and my BMI has gone from 49 to 34. I have gone from a size 24 or 3X clothes to a size 16 or XL. I can't wait to keep losing more and really feel the WOW of shopping in normal stores. I am trying to not buy a lot of clothes right now. I have 1 pair of jeans that I can wear which is getting too big and 1 pair of regular pants, other than that, I am still making due with my old clothes. Thank goodness that for work I have to wear dresses, you can get away with wearing them bigger and it is not too bad. Well, I have a screaming head ache that I have had since yesterday so I am ending here so I can close my eyes and not stare at a screen. GOD IS GOOD!!!
1/28/07
Jan 28, 2007
Today has been a lonely boring day. It is great to be able to stay inside and do nothing since I am running non stop, but I have so much I need to get done that I don't know how I will do it. I have so much homework that is due by next Saturday, I don't know if I will be able to get it done. I just need some energy to get busy. I also need to pack up all my old clothes and send to my sister in Colorado, but, that's not getting done either. Lord help me!!! Can you say 911 prayer. I need to slow down, I don't know how long I can go at this pace...
... Ok, did I mention that I am no longer Extremely Obese, I am just now Obese. Oh yeah, as of yesterday I am now down to 230 lbs. with a BMI of 38.2. GOD IS GOOD!!! I still and always will give Him all the credit for everything in my life.
Psalms 91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling-even the Lord, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
1/21/07
Jan 21, 2007
The weight loss is going GREAT!!! I am down 40 lbs in 4 weeks. I am getting pretty saggy though so I don't feel like it has been that much, but everyone I see keeps talking about how much weight I have already lost. One of these days I am sure my eyes will catch up with the scale. I need to get a tape measure and take some measurements. I wish I had done that before surgery, then I could see where it is coming off from. One of my biggest problems is that I carry my weight everywhere and so I also lose my weight everywhere so it is not as noticable as if I were to just lose my tummy first or something like that.
I have been craving candy lately. It is a terrible thing. I know it is just my mind going back to my old eating habits, but it is still frustrating. My husband bought me some sugar free dove chocolates (also for himself since he is a diabetic). All I have to do is eat one and it seem to satisfy me, so that is good.
I was sick for 3 days last week which is partly why I am down to the 40 lb mark. I caught the flu from one of the kids at my work and boy was it aweful. I never wish that on anyone, even water went through me, so this caused a little dehydration. I was extrememly careful to make sure I still drank water even though I couldn't eat anything. I am feeling so good now, it is unbelievable. I feel awesome. My feet and legs have stopped hurting and I am getting some energy now also. I just wish I could get on the exercise wagon. I have found out that I HATE treadmills so I ordered some videos and will try them when and if they ever get here. Hopefully that will get me a good kick start.
01/01/07
Jan 01, 2007
I want to remember the experience of surgery so here is a list of everything I went through that week.
We arrived in Sioux Falls on Monday 12/18/06 night. Went out to dinner to Olive Garden and ordered Hot Spinach Artichoke dip before dinner, then had a wonderful cheese stuffed chicken with yummy potatoes, onion and red and green peppers, then ordered tarimasu (don't know how to spell that) to go for dessert. We went back to the hotel and relaxed and ate my dessert.
Tuesday, we got up and went to the hospital at 9:45 for an ekg, chest x-rays and blood work, then off to the nutrition class untill 4:00pm. It made for a long day. We went to Sonic for supper and had a great cheeseburger and onion rings and a orange cream icy drink thing. Then we went to Cliff's cousin's house to visit for a bit.
Wednesday we had to be to the hospital at 8:45 for so I could get the scope treatment. I was more worried about this, but turned out to be no big deal. Dr Glatt was running 45 minutes behind, but when he finally came in, he was so excited because he had just come from a hospital around the Dallas area where they have an awesome Gastric Bypass program there and he learned a new technique where instead of putting staples in, they use some kind of netting to close up things and the recovery time and pain is shorter. He said I would be able to get out of the hospital the next day. He had done this proceedure on his first patient that morning which is why he was running behind so I would be his second patient he would perform this on. Not real sure how exciting that is for me, but he seemed extremely confident in it which eased my mind.
We did a little shopping for some things I would need after surgery and for that night on my liquid diet. We went back to the hotel and I drank my Magnesium Citrate which by the way is awesome compaired to caster oil that I have had to drink in the past. I had such a restfull sleep that night. I don't remember the last time I slept so good.
Thursday we got up early, showered and headed to the hospital again for surgery. We arrived there and everything went smoothly. They got me all ready and then I got to walk to the operating room. I was so calm it was an awesome experience. It truly is amazing the difference in how things go when you give everything up completely to God. I knew He was in total control and I felt His presence the entire time. While they were hooking me up to an IV (nurses couldn't get it started) I laid there and prayed over the surgeon, all the people in the operating room and over the proceedure itself. Next thing I knew, I was being taken to my room.
I was in a some pain, but the morphine was taking the edge off and then when they came in later to get me up to walk, I started feeling so much better. I didn't sleep really good that night. I hated the effects morphine had on me, so I refused to take it and just delt with the pain. It wasn't that bad. The nurses were GREAT expecially this one named Cathi, she was an angel.
I was supposed to get out on Friday, but I started having extreme pains in my stomach and couldn't hardly function. I felt so bad I even agreed to morphine again, so the nurses decided that I should spend the night again. I also was supposed to start full liquids on Friday, but no one seemed to have gotten that message and they continued to bring me chicken broth and jello. The broth was ok, but I couldn't do the jello, everytime I put it up to my mouth I wanted to throw up.
Dr Glatt came in on Saturday morning and released me. He is such a caring doctor. He told me how proud he was of me, something I have never heard from a doctor before. So, we got all ready and left the hospital around noon. The nurse gave me some pain meds for the ride home and shortly after we left Sioux Falls, I slept all the way to Chamberlain. I got out there and walked around for a few minutes then got back in the truck and slept until we hit home.
I have had a hard time sleeping in my bed due to a pain I have in my left side which I have found out is from where they take your old stomach and stitch it to part of our lower intestine to hold it in place. I sit around with a heating pad on my side and sleep with it on my back and have just now these last couple of nights have been able to sleep in my own bed instead of moving from the couch to the air mattress we set up in the living room.
The only negativity I have gotten about the whole thing came from my daughter after we got home and she found out how much I could eat. She was mad and began to tell me that this whole thing is nothing but starvation and that if she had known that before she would have never let me have this surgery. She makes me laugh. Like she has control over what I do. I guess when you are almost 18 you still think you have control over your parents lives. She has calmed down a bit and is accepting it.
So, this is my adventure and now that 2007 is here, I will begin my new life.
Happy New Year
12/31/06
Dec 31, 2006
