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Wow! Hard to believe it has already been a year. Today is my one-year surgiversary!!
What an incredible year this has been. I have seen things come to fruition that I never would have believed possible a year ago. To date I have lost a total of 149 pounds and can run a personal best of 4 miles! My goal is to lose 15 more pounds and to eventually train for a half-marathon. Although I am pretty darn happy with where I am now.

But my journey really started in October of 2008. That was when I decided that I had had enough of being an obese, diabetic woman with sleep apnea. I decided that I was tired of the pain, both physical and emotional, of weighing over 300 pounds. I was tired of the silent stares, the not so silent snickers and the misery I felt at being me. Tired of over-compensating for the pain by pretending that I didn't care, I made an appointment with the Association of Southbay Surgeons and was assigned to Dr. Houman Solomon.  What a blessing that man has turned out to be. I truly don't know that I would have been as successful as I have been without his care and support.

Although at the time I wasn't so sure he was such a blessing.........The first thing he told me was that I needed to lose 30 pounds and quit smoking! I thought he was smoking rope! I had been a smoker since the age of 16 and hell, if I could lose 30 pounds why would I need him ! :) Ha! I actually bargained him down to a 20 pound weight loss, but the funny part is I ended up losing 39 pounds and oh yeah, as of November 9, 2008, I am a non-smoker!
After many tests and a change in procedure ( I was originally scheduled for an RnY but changed it to a Sleeve Gastrectomy two weeks prior to surgery), my surgery day arrived on April 29, 2009.

To say I was excited is an understatement! This was the moment I had been waiting for and it finally happened. I was a little nervous but mostly just excited for my new life to begin. Surgery was pretty uneventful for me as was recovery and indeed most of this journey. In the beginning it was very difficult to get in all the liquids and protein but it got easier as time progressed and now it has become second nature. I sometimes forget that I had surgery.  Both the diabetes and sleep apnea have been completely resolved! I am also no longer near-sighted and the pain in my knees has disappeared.

I watched the weight drop off of me as if by magic and could hardly believe this was me! I went from a size 26 to a size 6 in one year and a half! Unbelievable! But before anyone starts thinking that this is all magic, let me assure you it took a lot of hard work and commitment. Not to mention the pain of self-discovery and change. I had to commit to a complete change in life style and that has not always been easy. I still journal everything I eat, eat protein first and exercise even when I don't feel like it. I am vigilant on taking my vitamins and keep up with the water intake.  I've also had to dig deep into my soul to deal with the emotions that come with all of this! It is not easy but so well worth the effort.

What have I learned along the way?
That I am a capable and intelligent woman, that I am in control of my life, that I can face my demons and beat them down,  that change is possible and that we are never stuck as long as we choose to move forward and not give up or give in. I also learned that I will make plenty of mistakes along the way, but it's ok. I can start over every time! The confidence I have now I would not trade for anything in the world. The feeling of accomplishment and self-worth is sometimes overwhelming and I fear that I will revert back to the old ways. But I know that the choice is mine to make. I choose to continue striving to be the best me I can possibly be.

Ok, I'm a little behind since my 6 month anniversary was on October 29th, but here goes.
In the past 6 months I have lost a total of 77pounds, with an overall weight loss of 116 pounds.
A year ago I was a sedentary smoker with diabetes, sleep apnea and joint pain. Today I am a non-smoker, who runs 2 miles a day and can wear 4-inch heels! Oh yeah!!!
The past 6 months have been a whirlwind of wonder! I have learned that I do have self-control, that I can achieve goals and that nothing needs to get in the way of those goals, as long as I don't allow it to happen.
I have also learned that change is possible. That it is never too late and most of all I learned to love the face looking back at me in the mirror. I would not trade this for anything in the world! There is no food out  there that tastes as good as this feels!To be fully engaged in life once again is more wonderful than I ever imagined.  To hear the sound of my own laughter and realize that I am once again happy is a gift beyond measure.
Life is precious gift and I am finally enjoying it!!
Praise God for all He has done in my life! May it be to His glory!

The journey so far......
July 29th was my 3-month surgiversary.  Hard to believe how much my life has changed in only 3 months! I have lost a total of 50 pounds and countless inches. Prior to surgery I had lost 39 pounds for a grand total of 89 pounds!! Woo Hoo! I would have never believed this could be possible. Only by the grace of God. I am so grateful to Him.

It's been a very interesting 3 months, sometimes harder than I imagined and sometimes so easy I forget I had surgery at all........
Adapting to a completely different way of eating has been challenging, especially working in the 120 grams of protein my surgeon says I need to consume daily ( my labs keep coming back low on protein) and getting in enough liquids is a definite challenge. But all in all I am incredibly happy. I have not had any problems whatsoever related to the surgery. Everything I eat settles well and I am even able to guzzle a pretty good amount of water! Yay! 
This is starting to feel like just a normal way of life! I love that! all I ever wanted was to be normal......whatever that means.

Do I miss eating large quantities of food?  Not really. Food was never my friend; always the enemy that defeated me. For the first time in my life I feel as if I am the one in control. Nothing compares to that! Well, except maybe rediscovering.......SHOPPING!  I am a little over half way to goal and can now wear a size 14!  I can't get my head around that! Awesome!

I have an incredible support system- wonderful friends, family and co-workers, plus the best surgeon anyone could have hoped for! Yup! Life is pretty darn good!

Wow! I can hardly believe its already been a month! I have lost a total of 29 pounds since the surgery date and I am starting to regain some energy. So far this has been an amazing ride! I have not felt any nausea or gotten sick and for the most part  have felt pretty good (except for some pretty bad shoulder pain, which has now gone away on its own.)
I am off all diabetes meds and no longer use the C-PAP machine to sleep. Amazing!
Don't misunderstand me,  it is not easy! It is hard work! Getting in the prescribed amount of liquids and protein can be downright impossible some days but it is getting easier. My biggest fear now is transitioning to solid food as I don't cook and don't have a clue what I will eat...oh well, I have two weeks to figure it out.
This is the best thing I could have ever done for myself! The future is bright and full of possibilities!
My deepest, most sincere thanks to all the wonderful friends that have helped me through this but mostly I thank and praise God. He has held my hand every step of the way and I know will continue to do so.
Life is good!! Ha!!

Tomorrow will be exactly 2 weeks since I had my sleeve gastrectomy. So far this has been a great ride! I have lost a total of 14 pounds since day of surgery and I feel great!!!
Yesterday I saw my surgeon and he said all my blood work was fine except I'm a little low on iron.
What a wonderful experience this is turning out to be!!

I have been approved for the Gastric Sleeve and get to keep my surgery date!!! Yay!!
In exactly 9 more days I will be starting a new and exciting chapter in my life.  Sooooooo very happy!!

Ok, it's been a long time coming but I finally got a surgery date! I am scheduled for April 29th! So excited!!! Yay!!

I have been waiting 3 weeks to hear if the insurance has approved my surgery and to get a surgery date.  I finally called the insurance yesterday and was told that South Bay Surgeons submitted the request for the after surgery meds but had yet to submit a request for the surgery approval! Unbelievable!!  3 weeks later!!
So I called the surgeon's office yesterday only to be told that someone would call me back. Of course no one called back. I called back again this morning and was once more told that someone would return my call.......so it looks like I will have to camp out on their doorstep until I can get an answer.
I detest incompetence!!
 

Saw my surgeon today and I am cleared for surgery. Ulcers have healed! Yay!
Just need to wait for the insurance approval. I am starting to get excited!

Had an endoscopy done on the 19th. Turns out I have ulcers. Yuk!
Was supposed to meet with my surgeon tomorrow to schedule surgery but won't be able to have surgery until the ulcers heal....
On the other hand.........don't think I want him cutting into an ulcerated stomach.
Still, kinda bummed but it is what it is. This too shall pass.......and any other platitude I can think of.......