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As promised, I looked into setting up an online group for us on OH.  This is a chance for us to "meet" at times other than the first Wednesday of the month.  I will check in frequently.  Hope you do as well.

June 9, 2010:  Today I am 15 months out.  My weight has dropped from 282 to 115.7 today.  It's been fluctuating between 117 and 115 for the last week or so.  I still believe that the gastric bypass was the best thing I have ever done for myself.  However, I really thought that food would not be so much of an issue by now.  I expected that once I lost the weight I would have to watch what I ate, so not to gain weight, but I never thought I'd have to worry about eating enough so that I don't lose weight.  No matter the time of day, I am either eating or drinking something.  If I don't eat by the clock, I don't eat enough.  The problem is that I cannot eat that much at one sitting.  I have been struggling to get in 1300 calories a day.  The nutritionist who works with the bariatric surgeon wants me to eat 1600 a day.  I just can't do it.  I thought at first that it was psychological...not wanting to put weight on.  But I really have been trying to eat more, even eating things that got me in trouble in the first place.  We go for a pizza lunch on Saturdays.  I can barely eat 1/2 a slice.  Had a hot dog for dinner the other night.   When I was fat, I could eat 3, bun and all.  Now I skip the bun and can't eat a whole one.  I don't even like the taste of them anymore, and I used to love them!!!  The only thing that I've been able to eat without feeling overly stuffed is No Sugar Added Ice Cream.  I do worry that I am getting into bad habits again.

Bill and I laugh.  When was the last time a doctor told us to eat more or to stop exercising until we gained weight?  My weight will level out, I'm sure.  Until then, I will just keep trying to eat a little more each day.

It's hard to believe that today marks my 1 year anniversary of the gastric bypass.  The results have surpassed my wildest imagination.  I would have been happy to get to 150; no, I would have been ecstatic to be 150.  Instead, I have skipped right on past 150 down to 140, then 130, now 127.1.  I have not been this low since jr. high school!

There have been a lot of changes in my life in this past year, weight loss being only one of them.  When I was trying to get approved for the surgery, the psychologist suggested during his evaluation that I not have the surgery at that time, because of all of the pending changes.  Boy, am I glad I did not take his advice! 

I don't know why I waited so long to have it.

11/09/09:  Today I am 8 months out and I can honestly say I don't want to lose any more weight.  I never thought those words would come out of my mouth (or from my fingers), but I am satisfied with where I am.  I have lost a total of 145 pounds.  That's more than I currently weigh!  Since RNY, I have lost 87 pounds. 

Now the hard part comes.  I need to try to maintain my current weight.  This will be tough.  I am still losing.  I lost 15 pounds this past month alone, most likely due to my bowel obstruction.  I am finding it difficult to increase the amount of food I eat.  In fact, I find I am able to eat less than I could last month.  This makes maintaining difficult.  I know the weight loss will slack off.  Imagine, 8 months ago I was complaining that I was not losing quick enough.  Now I want to stabilize.  Go Figure!

Had a stomach ache 2 weeks ago.  Thought is was simple constipation.  Guess what, it wasn't.  I had a blockage in the small intestine with an abscess.  Pain was bad, hard to breathe deeply.  Went into the hospital on Sunday 10/11 in the evening, had surgery on Tuesday, and not released until this past Saturday 10/24.  NPO for 10 days.

Anyway, the thing is I was not getting in enough fiber.  With a history of diverticulitis, I knew I needed to get in the fiber.  It's just that in order to get in fiber, your carb count has to go up.  Trying to keep my carbs below 60 and getting in 34 grams of fiber (recommended for those with diverticulitis) is impossible.  However, I have resolved, that I will get in the necessary fiber without worrying about too many carbs.  I will not go overboard, but I won't pass the salad or veggies either. 

10/9/2009 - Seven months ago today I had RNY surgery.  My how the time flies!  In these 7 short months I have lost 74 pounds.  When you add in the weight lost since starting the journey, I have lost a total of 132 pounds, and I am not done yet.  I am still overweight.  Imagine, losing 132 pounds and still being overweight.  It's inconceivable.  I am 5 pounds from having a normal BMI and 16 pounds away from the ideal weight.  I may never see that, but I will work hard to lose the next 5 pounds.  At the rate I am losing, it should take about a month.  Actually, I am quite comfortable at the weight I am at now, 150.0.  If I could maintain this weight, I would be very happy.    Prior to surgery, I had successes with weight loss, but only short term.  Lose 90, gain 100.  Lose 100, gain 120, etc.  I'm hoping that this does not happen now.  Although I can't imagine being able to eat enough to gain much weight, I have no idea what the future will bring.  I can only hope that I won't be able to eat much more and that I will continue to exercise.  Lately, I have been slacking off, and this scares me.  This past month I have made excuses for skipping my evening exercise.  It also has not been difficult for Bill to convince me to skip the morning walk and sleep a little later.  I just need to keep focused on the the outcome and exhibit a little self discipline.

09-09-09:  Six months ago today I had my RNY.  I expected to do well, but I did not expect it to go so smoothly.  Yes, I've lost slowly (by comparison to others who have had this surgery), but I've lost nonetheless.  When I started this process a year ago, I weighed 282.  This morning I was 155.9 pounds.  That's a total of 126.1 pounds gone; 68.1 since surgery.  The good thing is that I am still losing.....about 1.5 pounds a week.  I don't expect to lose like that much longer.  I feel good.  I haven't lost too much hair.  My nails, though, are a mess.  There are vertical splits on half of them.  I'm keeping them real short so that they don't split much more. 

Now I  need to focus on eating better.  I am still not getting in enough calories (according to the dietician I saw yesterday).  I don't know how I can get in more calories, unless I start adding more carbs and/or fats to my diet.  I could not possibly eat any more food.  I have a difficult enough time eating 2 oz of protein at a meal.  I do a protein shake in the am (with PB2, 1 oz banana, and milk), cottage cheese or yogurt for lunch, usually a snack of cheese or SF pudding mid afternoon, 2 oz of chicken or fish for dinner, and another protein shake(minus the banana and PB2) around 9 pm.  In between I drink a lot of water.  Where can I fit in any more food?  If I eat too much, it doesn't stay down.

Oh well, I hope this success continues.

8/9/08 - Five months ago today I had the surgery.  Progress has been slow, but steady, losing a little over 10 pounds each month since surgery.   On August 21, 2008 I was 282 pounds and freaking out, spiraling out of control.   Now, I weigh 164.6 pounds and feeling better than ever.  My friend once told me that I really only had six months post-op to get the weight off.  After that, it's really difficult to lose.  I hope she's wrong.  I still have 30 pounds to go before my BMI is normal.  I've only been at my ideal weight once in my life (for about 45 minutes).  Who knows, maybe this time I can do it.

7/30/2009 - I was really getting concerned about finding a bariatric surgeon in New Mexico.  I had my records sent to a doctor in El Paso for evaluation, but his office never got back to me.  A friend visiting from NJ got a newspaper at the airport in El Paso and read about a support group meeting there.  Thank goodness she told me about it.  I went, even though it's about an hour away during rush hour.  I actually got some good information and someone finally answered my question regarding my caloric intake.  I was told I should be consuming between 800 and 1000 calories at this point.  I have been getting in about 550-600.  I also met the nurse coordinator of the program.  After talking to me, she took my information and two days later they called to schedule an appointment.  I have to fill out an application, but at least the doctor is going to see me.  It's the only bite I've had.

Regardless of seeing a doctor for follow-up, I'm feeling great.  I exercise everyday and have plenty of energy.  The weight continues to come off slowly, but it's coming off. 

7/6/2009 - Today I finally arrived at my new home in Las Cruces.  No more staying with friends (although they were very kind to allow me to stay with them for two months and went to great lengths to make me feel welcome).  No more long distance relationship with my husband.  I am truly home!

Arriving in Las Cruces is enough to make today a great day, but it got even better.  I got on my scale and it said 174.2.  That is a 50 pound weight loss since surgery.  I am three days shy of 4 months, so I am averaging about 12 pounds a month.  Since September I have lost 108 pounds.  I no longer wear size 32 slacks.  Even size 18 slacks are big in the waist (but not in the hips).  I've gone from 4x tops to xl tops. 

I can't wait to get out with my walking stick and start exploring the trails in the neighborhood!