PAMMIE754
3/23/08
Hi and Welcome to "My Story."
I have had struggles with my weight as long as I can remember. At 13 yrs. of age I remember weighing 170lbs. I dieted myself (more like starved myself) over that summer to 140lbs. Over the few years my weight slowly began creeping back up. My weight continued to climb and the next recollection of how much it was was in 1974 (?) and I was about 185lbs.
The following year I had my first child. I gained some weight with that pregnancy but was back to my pre-preg weight shortly after his birth. However, it kept going up, and in 1981 I remember that when I went in to the hospital to have my second child it was 232lbs. Once again, I managed to lose the pregnancy weight. Soon, I was "down" to 199lbs. Two and half years later I delivered my third child. This pregnancy was different in that I actually lost 4 lbs. while pregnant and a few more pounds in the hospital. By the time I went home my weight was 187lbs. So, you see, I can't really blame my weight problems on having babies. I would love to - but nah - I can't!
From that time forward, my weight continued to climb. I can specifically recall weighing 212, 248, 268, 270. I remember 270lbs. clearly - it was April of 2000 and I had had a stroke. I was quite young to have had one, but due to my weight, and acompanying high blood pressure and cholestral and the fact that I smoked, there were many contributing factors. After that I just stopped weighing myself for a long time. You can imagine my horror when one day I decided to check my weight and was at 303lbs. and continuing to climb.
Over the years, I like many people tried every kind of diet imaginable. I lost weight on all of them, was sure that I had finally beat this problem, but gained it all back and then some everytime!!!
In early 2004, I began to research weight loss surgery. I was so very worried that I would have another stroke and this time it would be fatal. So, I read everything I could find about WLS and in early spring of 2005 made the decision to discuss it with my doctor. She felt that I would be an excellent candidate for it. That was in March and I was approved for surgery already in May. On July 1, 2005, I underwent RNY and I truly believe it saved my life. I have never for one moment had second thoughts about making the choice to go forward with it.
I am not quite 5'6" tall and my highest weight was 336lbs. I am now a little more than 2 1/2 years post op and my current weight is at 216. I lost weight very quickly the first several months and hit the 100lbs. loss mark about 9 months out. Over the last year and a half my weight loss has slowed down, almost to a standstill.
First of all my appetite has come back the last year and a half with a vengence. Thank goodness I cannot eat the amounts I could pre-op but I definitely am eating more than I should. Also, I am one of the fortunate ones who since the surgery cannot tolerate sugar however, that doesn't always keep me from eating it.
Plus, I am not excersing 5 days a week as I did for the first year or two. As we who have gone thru this surgery know - it isn't a "magic bullet." We must take responsibility for using our pouch as the tool to aid us in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. I have gotten off track but slowly and steadily am getting my act together again.
For example, as recently as a couple of months ago my weight was stuck at 225lbs. However, by giving myself an "attitude adjustment" I have managed to drop 9lbs. And I am getting back to excersing - still only a couple of days a week and not always every week, but at least I am moving in the right direction.
I hope to have a tummy tuck done as I have a very large amount of hanging skin, espiecially in my lower abdomen and it has caused some problems with comfort and health wise as well. After I reach "Onederland" I will pursue getting that done.
I truly am addicted to food and will use it to comfort me when I'm sad, to celebrate when I am happy, and for almost any reason one can imagine. I am re-thinking my strategy for dealing with lifes ups and downs. Another area I am working on is getting back to strictly following the "Rules of The Pouch." Particularly, remembering to NOT drink anything with meals, nor for at least an hour after, and to also water load up to 15 minutes prior to meal time.
When I began this journey I knew it wouldn't be easy and there would be bumps in the road and there is no end to it. Like most of us, I just didn't realize just how bumpy that road can be at times. Taking charge of my health is a lifetime comittment. Now it is up to me to work my way through the "bumpy" times. I believe I can and I will.
So, check back every so often and see how I am doing. Thanks for stopping by. I hope that reading my story will in some way help you to reach your goals and make your dreams come true! 
SURGERY DATE: 7/01/2005 336lbs. Height Almost 5"6" GOAL is 158Llbs. after my tummy tuck. My plan is to continue to maintain at that weight.
3/28/2008
Heading toward "Onederland!" 220lbs.
4/3/2008 218.5lbs.
4/7/2008 215.5lbs.
4/12/08 214lbs.
4/14/08 213lbs.
4/17/08 217lbs. 
I have no idea where these 4lbs. came from. Very upsetting!
4/19/08 213.5lbs. Now - thats better!
5/4/08 214.5 Here we go again! Bouncing back and forth with that same couple of lbs. What is going on? This is so frustrating!!! At this rate I wonder if I am ever going to get to "Onederland?" The scale is not moving, but I am in a smaller size jean (Size 16) than I was just a couple weeks ago. Plus, my panniculous is hanging lower and looser. I really want that tummy tuck but doubt while I am still over 200 lbs. the insurance company will allow it. I have begun to develope rashes and raw spots on the underside of it and it is quite painful at times. Plus, I am bruising very easily and look like I was in a car wreck at times. Can anyone give me an idea what is happening? I am really confused as to what is going on with my body right now.
5/10/08 211lbs. 
5/12/08 210lbs. Slowly heading toward "Onederland!"
5/18/08 209lbs.
5/20/08 208lbs.
5/21/08 207lbs.
6/2/08 208.5lbs. Back and forth with the weight! Ugh!
6/12/08 215lbs. I have been stuffing myself when ever I feel like it and the scale is showing it! The more the stress in my life escalates, the more I eat. I've got to get back on track. I pray I can find my way back.....I'm so depressed.
6/15/08 211lbs. Moving in the right direction again!
6/24/08 208lbs. Keep on moving toward "Onederland!"
7/06/08 207lbs.
7/09/08 206lbs.
7/15/08 204.5lbs.
7/16/08 207lbs. I GIVE UP!!!!! NOT!!!
7/25/08 202lbs.
8/10/08 205lbs.
8/18/08 204.5lbs.
09/25/08 199.5lbs. ONEDERLAND!!!!!
09/27/08 198lbs.
09/29/08 197.5lbs.
10/08/08 195lbs.
10/12/08 193lbs.
10/15/08 198lbs.
10/18/08 195lbs.
11/24/08 189bs.
11/28/08 188lbs.
11/30/08 186.5lbs.
12/13/08 185lbs.
12/24/08 175lbs.
12/27/08 171lbs.
12/29/08 175lbs. Too Many Christmas Goodies!!!!! ??????????
I PURCHASED A NEW SCALE. I NOTICED OUR ENTIRE FAMILY WERE ALL WEIGHING IN AT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT EACH OF US FELT WE SHOULD BE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A PROBLEM. GUESS WHAT? MY OLD ONE WEIGHED ME (AND ANYONE ELSE WHO USED IT) WAYYYYY UNDER WHAT WE REALLY WEIGHED. I KNEW IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! MY WEIGHT FROM HERE ON IN IS CORRECT PER MY NEW DIGITAL SCALE. I ALSO CHECKED THE NEW SCALE WITH THE ONE AT MY DRS. OFFICE AND WEIGH EXACTLY THE SAME ON EACH SCALE, SO I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT.
01/01/2009 190.2LBS.
I AM SO BUMMED OUT BUT FUSSING ABOUT IT WILL GET ME NO WHERE. WHAT IS, IS - SO I WILL DEAL WITH IT! MY PLAN IS TO WALK AT LEAST ONE MILE A DAY FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE DAYS EACH WEEK. TIME TO GET BACK TO BASICS. I WEIGHED 336LBS. WHEN I BEGAN THIS JOURNEY AND DID NOT DO ALL THE WORK I HAVE DONE JUST TO FALL SHORT OF MY ULTIMATE GOALS. I DO NOT EXPECT PERFECTION, BUT WILL DO MY BEST TO COME AS CLOSE TO IT EACH DAY AS I CAN. WISH ME LUCK!
01/02/09 ADDENEUM TO YESTERDAYS POST
I LIED! TRUTH TO TELL = THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY OLD SCALE. I JUST FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MANIPULATE IT AROUND THE BATHROOM FLOOR AND COULD GET IT TO WEIGH ME AT ALMOST ANYTHING I WANTED TO WEIGH.
OK, NOW I FEEL BETTER. TOTALLY HONESTLY IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN REALLY BE WHO I AM. HOPE YOU ALL DON'T FLAME ME TOO BAD! BUT, THATS WHAT I DID AND THERE IT IS OUT IN THE OPEN.
HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY!
