Darla S.
Jean Skirt for Two!
May 13, 2008
It's the last one in my pictures (for now), Trav and I in my pre-op jeans together. He agreed to do that, climb in them with me, for Mother's Day! Pretty darn cool. I remember seeing a few pictures like that while I was pre-op, and wondering if I might EVER be able to do that??? I GUESS SO!!!
The weight falls off much more slowly these days, but it still falls off! If I can rid myself of these last 40-50 pounds by the end of the year, I will be blessed indeed. I'm ALREADY blessed!
Another one Bites the Dust!
Apr 30, 2008
He ALSO told me I've hit the grand slam as far as diabetes control is concerned - my last A1c was 6.6!!! Down from a high of 11.5 in October of '06. (that was an EXTREME high, even for me, but there it was!) So as of yesterday, he told me to discontinue the Humalog, but to continue the 12 units of Lantus I give myself each night. I had tried stopping the Lantus and using the Humalog as needed, but the control wasn't as tight. So for now, I have only the one lil' shot to give myself each night, 12 units, compared to 94 each night pre-op. As I continue to lose these last pesky pounds (@ 45 maybe?), I may be able to wean myself off the Lantus as well. I won't lie, I'd like to be done with it ALL, like my hero RON (TheKid)!! But if I have to give myself a whiff of Lantus every night for the rest of my life to keep my blood sugars where they belong, well, I'm still WORLDS ahead of where I was before WLS!!!
YAY!!!
My 360 day check-up
Apr 23, 2008
This morning I saw my hero, Barb J., for my one year (minus 5 days) check-up. I'm happy to say that all my labs look fine, aside from my vitamin D being a tad low (which is pretty typical for Minnesnowtans in April!). I will NOT be taking that news as a green light to let up on my daily vitamin intake! I don't ever want to be one of those 'I stopped taking my supplements and now I'm in trouble' stories. These changes are for the rest of my life here on earth, and that's just the way it is.
So what have I lost?
I'm down a total of 138 pounds (I may go to the clinic to weigh myself on Sunday to get a actual 1 year weight.... MAYBE...)
I've lost 15" from my waist, and 18" from my hips. Those are the only two measurements I take, 'cuz Barb takes 'em and I have a fear of becoming obsessed with things. So I just don't go there.
My BMI has dropped from 54.? to 34.4.
My previously high BP is now fine.
And there's a very good chance I'll be DONE with all insulin and diabetic BS at my PCP appointment next Tuesday! (any and all prayers to that end would be very much appreciated!)
What have I gained?
Many unexpected, very dear friendships.
An ever-changing wardrobe.
An issue with coffee. (Latte, to be exact. I now have cards for Caribou, Starbucks AND Dunn Bros!)
Bones in places I didn't think I had any!
Visible veins and tendons in my hands.
A feeling of freedom in sharing some of the most personal, painful things I've ever experienced, knowing that the people I'm sharing with GET IT.
A very deep respect for everyone else who is finding their way through this whole WLS life.
I can't imagine trying to live this life without the support I get here, and at PNC meetings. I know a few people who have gone through the surgery but opted NOT to take advantage of post-op support, and they are NOT as successful as the people I've come to know here. I may not respond to every post, I may not get on here every day, but I do think of this as one of the most important aspects of my post WLS life. That means that each of you plays a part in MY success, and I hope I can do the same in return.
The gratitude I'm feeling is unreal.
20 days and counting!
Apr 07, 2008
If anyone who is in the researching/pre-op stage of WLS has stumbled upon my profile and is reading this, I won't presume to tell you what to do for yourself. But I am more than willing to share my story, and tell you that WLS has been a gift from God, nothing short of a miracle, for me. My health has improved SO MUCH! I have made some of the best, most wonderful friends in my LIFE by attending support group meetings and coffee gatherings (AND YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE
(sorry, I had to!)I pray that everyone who is looking for an answer to their weight problem finds the answer that is right for them. Even tho I still have a ways to go, I can't help but feel empathy for the MO people I see out and about, and in my mind, I find myself sending up a little prayer that they can figure out how to save themselves from a lifetime of all the bad stuff FAT does to us, physically, medically, and emotionally.
Bless you all -
It's taken 17 years!!
Mar 18, 2008
Much to Bailey's disgust, her teacher invited me to go back with another group of kids 2 days later! And I got to ride Tigre again! She is a FANTASTIC horse - and not even the biggest beast they had! (although the two big half-draft boys were gorgeous, too, and I wouldn't have minded riding either one bit!) I did get a little careless, and she DID step on my right foot - I'm pretty sure the middle toe is broken. It's big, it's purple, it's still throbbing 4 days later, and the top of my foot is bruised. But it was my own fault, and I have NO hard feelings for the horse whatsoever! Oh - and she stepped on the hem of my too-long jeans, which caused me to fall in a soupy manure mess & cover myself in it from boobs to boots! LOLOL!!! MY BAD! And yet, I STILL LOVE HORSIES!!! Dang, I may have to get a second job to support a riding habit, if I can find a better place to go! Not sure I'd return to the stables we went to, they were a bit chaotic, between the mother and the daughter trying to own the show. (The mother owned the stable, but her daughter? Ay-yi-yi..... what a piece of work THAT woman was!!!)
Anyway, this has GOT to be my favorite "WOW" yet!!!! WOO HOO!!!
My 10 month WLS anniversary!
Feb 27, 2008
(Thank you, Tracy L!) I have 2 months to go before my one year. I wonder if it's even possible to hit 150 by then? THAT would be WAY COOL!!! My loss has slowed down significantly, in fact, I think I spent the better part of 3 months in the 250's - but today, since Trav & I had our eye check-ups anyway, I got on a scale at the clinic - it said 248! 



This may sound nuts, but as long as I've been stuck, I've felt stuck. I mean, I went from 22's to 20's in jeans, but still - I just knew the scale wasn't moving, even tho I hardly ever get on one. But in the past 3 or 4 days, I just had a hunch things were moving again. And NOT because of my bathroom endeavors, it was just a feeling. That, and I now have a pair of 18's I can wear!!! Although I'm still more or less a 20, but the 20's are beginning to show signs of baggy-ass syndrome. YAY BAGGY-ASS SYNDROME!!! WOO HOO!!! Maybe I WILL be able to wear the size 16 capri's I bought on faith this spring??!!
My hands
Feb 07, 2008
I first noticed my hands back in June, when mom & I went up to Ashland for my cousin's kid's graduation party. (See my road rage post...) I saw the faint outline of 2 or 3 veins in my hands as I gripped the steering wheel all those miles, and thought - COOL! I looked at them so much, it's a good thing I didn't smash into someone from paying more attention to those couple of veins than the road!
Currently, they're FAR from bony, but I can see all KINDS of movement of the muscles, tendons and bones inside them as I type. I can just watch them while I wiggle my fingers on purpose, and I never seem to get bored with 'em! There were some people that discouraged me from getting my butterfly tattoo before I lost the weight, said it would probably look funny afterwords. I'm happy to report, my butterfly looks FINE on my slimming hands! In fact, I'm thinking that if I had waited, it would have hurt a WHOLE lot more without the fat I used to have there where my butterfly sits!
My weight loss has slowed down quite a bit, but I'm not gonna complain. Others have whined about the same issue (and I don't mean that in a snotty way), so I'm just gonna take the advice I'd give anyone else with the same frustration - just keep doing what I need to do, and it'll come off. I may be stuck here for a short while, and this IS the weight I probably spent the longest time at, so as long as I don't start in with a bunch of bad habits, it'll start coming off again. I could definitely ramp up the exercise, tho....
My Driver's License
Jan 15, 2008
I put down what I think I want to weigh. 185. I think that's realistic, and it gives me something to shoot for! I honestly can't imagine weighing less than that, but I could hardly imagine weighing less than what my license said for years, either. Truthfully? My BIGGEST goal right now is to get below 200. And that's a little way to go yet, @ 50 lbs. But shit - I've already lost Linda Anne or Sandie! For the first time in my life, I believe I can actually get to a "normal" weight! And that HOPE is a gift in itself!
mental note to self.... add air to balance ball and USE THE DAMN THING!
Radom Ramblings...
Jan 08, 2008
I have nothing in particular to record here today, but it seems I should say SOMETHING! Soooo.....
Christmas. My first Christmas since WLS, and it went pretty good! We had Christmas Eve at our house, and I made all kinds of appetizers. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted, I just had a tiny bit of it - as opposed to the heaping MOUNDS of food I'd have put away in the past! So it was good. I did feel a bit of guilt over the naughty things I allowed myself (mostly, those toffee/almond bars at John & Linda's house Christmas day!), but I continued to remind myself that it was just a fraction of my past consumption. A couple of chicken wings, a couple rumaki, a scoop of Daryl's FABULOUS seafood chowder? A couple of treats... Not an angel, but not too bad, either.
Anyway, Rich's "gift" to me was his blessings on my taking a trip down to see Mary in Atlanta this spring! That'll be FABULOUS! She's only seen me at my heaviest, and although I share photos with her along my journey, it'll be something totally different to actually see ME as a non-obese person! And flying will be SOOOO much more comfortable - even more so than it was last August on our trip to Santa Monica!
I got on a scale at the clinic last night - down to 256. Only a 5 pound loss in the last month, but given that was over the Christmas Holiday, I'LL TAKE IT!!! I figure I'm probably actually TEN pounds ahead of a normal year! (Darla's WLS math: Down 5 instead of up 5 = 10 pounds ahead!)
I continue to be so very thankful, not only for this tool I've been given and the health it's brought to me, but for the many FRIENDS I've made so far along this journey! Friends from PNC support group, here on OH, and at the many coffee gatherings I participate in on a regular basis! Friends who completely understand the life I've lead up to and including this current stage. Who don't judge, who love unconditionally, who share and listen and laugh freely! I would never have had the opportunity to meet you all had I lived my life as a "normal" size person. I so cherish these gifts I've been given this past year - and I have NO INTENTION of letting go of ANY of this!
If you've stumbled upon my profile and we haven't ever met online or in person, let me give you one piece of unsolicited advice. Keep coming here. Participate on the boards for your particular area, meet people face-to-face at coffee gatherings or support groups. It is the BEST part of this whole deal! I mean, don't get me wrong - losing weight is WHY we're all here, but the friendships and support that are out there for the taking are the surprising bonus to it all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
My New Jacket
Dec 11, 2007
Last month, I started to realize that I don't have a winter jacket to PLAY in! Leather coats from Brenda & Betsy? Check. Beautiful dressy suede job from Betsy? CHECK! But something warm to play in? NOPE! So when I was at HQ for a meeting, I stopped by Steve's office to look at the new Park District staff clothing. hmmmm.... nice, but do I want to buy a new jacket? hmmmm...
Well, after the meeting, I slipped back into his office by myself, and tried a couple of them on. One was just too light. Not nearly adequate to warm my freezing bones these days! One was just too short. I suppose that will ALWAYS be an issue for me, no matter how much weight I lose. But then, I tried on the 3-in-1 parka. Long-sleeve fleece liner & heavy-duty outer parka shell that zip together, thick & warm, just the right length.... DING! DING! DING!!! We have a winner! Steve came in, saw the look on my face, and asked me if I was ready to order one. Aarghhh.... $100 !!!?! But it was a great coat, so I decided to go for it. He wrote up a payroll deduction slip for me, and asked what size I wanted. The one I tried on fit perfect! Not too small, not too big, still room for me to lose more weight and be able to wear it.
Now, I've worked for the Park District for nearly 19 years, and I've never been able to wear anything smaller than a 2x in ANYTHING. Sometimes 3x. Sometimes, the 2x or 3x wouldn't fit. I've had a closet full of various staff shirts over the years that never even saw the light of day, because they were too tight. So I took a deep breath, and looked at the tag in the coat I had just tried on. Not 2x. Not even XL. I fit in a plain ol' LARGE Park District jacket!!!!! A LARGE!!!!!
... THUD.
Ya know, I'm pretty sure that, at that moment, I'd have bought that jacket even if I didn't LIKE it!!!

I got it last Friday, thinking there was probably a mix-up in the tag, that the Large Steve ordered for me wouldn't actually fit. IT DOES! And it kept me PLENTY WARM when we cut our tree Saturday, even through being bombarded with snowballs and wiping out in the deep powdery stuff!
I love my new jacket. I love WLS.