Pat Lawrie

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May 28th 2008 ***** I HAVE LOST 120 POUNDS **********

Well, I am just 20 pounds away from 'ONDERLAND' .. wooo hooo :-)
The past couple of weeks I have not been able to exercise and was skipping meals due to illness (Shingles), although I did maintain my protein and liquid intake. So consequently the scales did not move as they should. However, being back at work this week, and eating correctly the scales are moving again .. thank goodness.
I will be stepping up the exercise now as the pool is nice and warm .. so I must get swimming at least 20 lengths per day... I want to reach Onederland before my 12 month appointment.
I saw Dr Riche yesterday and he has taken me totally off one Thyroid medication (Cytomel)  and reduced my Synthroid to 125mg ... so naturally I worry that will slow my metabolism .. so even more reason to step up a gear.
Before surgery I was taking 2 medications for blood pressure .. now I only take a half dose of one of them. ... so it just shows you how much healthier my body is as a result of the weight loss. 
Having the surgery was the best decision I could have ever possibly made .. it has saved my life !







March 26th 2008 ***** I HAVE LOST ** 100 ** POUNDS
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


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Well, I am 6 months post op and have lost 90 pounds.
I am feeling wonderful, and having the surgery was the best decision I have ever made .... it has given me a new life.
I walk at least 2 miles almost every day and go to Curves 2 or 3 times a week... shifts permitting!
It is my burthday on 30th March and I am gonna make the 100 pounds loss as my present to myself.



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 Well, it is now 3 months since my gastric bypass weight loss surgery and this morning the scales showed a loss of 61 pounds !!!! For those of you in England that is almost four and a half stone. The Doctor Lord said I was right on target and doing very well. The next goal that I have set myself is 100 pounds by the end of February which will be 6 month post op, which is totally achievable. I feel a lot better for it, although have had real bad sciatica the past month or so, I think I overdid the exercise routine and first and put a little too much strain on my back. Fortunately walking does not seem to hurt so much, so most evenings I am walking approximately a mile and a half. Once my back is recovered I will venture back down the gym. Food ... well I have not really missed it to be honest. At first you go through cravings for things, but then you realize that you cannot really eat it anyway. It either gives you tummy ache if it is high in carbs, or greasy and you cannot really eat that much of it anyway so it's not really worth it. In the past with normal diets you can eat things you shouldn't and enjoy it, and get away with it, apart from when you weigh yourself. But with the bypass it is so different. I feel that it is just no big deal to go without things, and to see the weight loss is just so motivating to be good. I have absolutely no regrets about having had the surgery at all, and would go through it all again .. it is the best thing I have ever done. I have only actually been physically sick once, and that was after eating half a bbq'd steak burger ... this is fairly common as the new little tummy does not really like beef as it lacks all the enzymes etc to digest it. That is no big deal and red meat isn't good for you anyway. However, I have had small amounts of Chili and been fine as it is not such a concentrated lump of meat. To be totally honest, I do miss not having any alcohol ... I had my last Jack Daniels and Coke on 23rd July!! However, this is allowed after 8 months. The reason for this is that you loose the weight best during the first 6 months or so, and alcohol is just extra calories. The occasional glass of red wine would be good .... but I do not want to stunt my weight loss, so I shall wait until it is officially permitted...

I will eventually get round to adding a blog about my surgery that took place on August 30th

I am still hungry  and today has been my 
Poopy Day .. ....
I feel awful, and am in terrible pain from my kidney area. I have been drinking plenty of bottles of water - like 1 an hour at least.
I have just had a nice soak in a hot bath and am off to bed because the bedroom is nearer to the bathroom.. just incase..
Well, a little over 24 hours to go till surgery.....BRING IT ON !!!

This SUCKS !!! My stomach is still rumbling and under the illusion that it is gonna get food.        I have been soooooo good, not a morsel has passed my lips.   . I am like a dog drooling  every time my husband has something to eat. 
The only solids I have had are Flintstones vitamins.
I am soooo focussed but Thursday seems such a long way away .  
Well Jan was right -  Liquid In so Liquid out  - My 'Fleet' day is not till Tuesday, so I guess I am having a few extra 'poopy' days. .

OK, my Jello is calling me ...............................

Well, my liquid diet started today  ... yeah if only..lol.. Originally, it should have started on Sunday, however as I have gained weight it needs to be longer that the original 4 specified days. So Dr Lord thought it a good idea for me to start it there and then today at my appointment this morning . 
I cried all the way home from the hospital,    like a child that has just lost his dummy, knowing that I would not be able to eat again, and felt deprived of knowing that I had unknowingly eaten my last meal, but I tried to stay positive and focus on what the fuiture holds in store.
Hey, get this also - last night hubby and I ate at the local chinese buffet and the message in my fortune cookie said " Pat yourself on the back, you have made the right choice"...well how spooky is that!!!

Anyhow, I enjoyed my Chicken broth and Jello this evening, and had a nice soak in the hot tub so hopefully will sleep well tonight

Thursday 30th August 2007 at 10.30am .. I can't beleive it and am in a mad state of shock and panic !! 
I only have 2 weeks to eat all the things I want to eat for the last time    and to get all prepared for everything!! LOL

My pre-op is on 21st August and my appointment with Dr Lord is 24th.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2nd August - **I HAVE APPROVAL **


Well, finally today I recveived notification from Ruth that Aetna have approved my surgery.   It seems forever since I first saw Dr Lord in January and then had to go through the Aetna required 6 month weight loss programme.
That was not a success and I finished heavier than when I started - but - hey if I was good at this dieting thing I wouldn't be writing this now!

I just broke down when Ruth told me, and couldnt speak for crying  - poor Ruth just kept saying 'Are you alright"...
I just have to wait for Jan to assign me a surgery date and I will be almost there

Well, today I had my Nutritionist evaluation. I am pleased to say everything went well and I passed the test. I was also good to hear that I have completed 3 months of the PCP monitored weight loss programme and not 2 as I thought. The original first visit counts as one.So all being well, hopefully I should receive approval from Aetna in July and maybe get surgery for October - I think there is about a 2 month wait list. It is kind of hard to stay focussed when surgery seems such a long time away - but when I start feeling down I try and perk myself up by thinking I will have lost a load of weight by Christmas!
My husband said he would get me a jet ski when I lost all my weight - I fancy the jet ski, but somehow dont fancy the mouth full of flies and bugs that would go with it as I zoom across the bay.......lol......would they count as protein I wonder........ lol

Today I had my first group appointment with Traci, the nutritionist. She is a lovely girl.
I learnt a great deal, and it all started to become very very real of what lies ahead of me. Almost to the scarey stage, and yes, it will be a total life style change for me and its very daunting indeed.
I basically have 2 choices though -

1. To remain obese and become progressively unhealthier and non-active and lead a miserable and shortened life
or
2. Loose the weight, live a normal healthy (fingers crossed) and active life, and if a total lifestyle change is required then that is what I shall have to do.

Number 2 is the only answer for me. I have dieted on and off for 30 years, only to loose it and gain it back again - so I am a total failure when it comes to that. I am far too weak willed when it comes to food - I just love to eat. The RNY is the only answer for me. It isn't as if I cannot eat - just a lot less of it, and in time that will become easier I am sure. I need to become a person that 'Eats to Live' and not what I currently am and that's 'Live to Eat'.
I can do it and I will do it ....
My next one on one appointment with her is on Friday