Patricia S.

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Current weight = 161

Still loving LOVING LOVING my new life.

This past month I have noticed the most change in my appearance.  It helps that I got my hair all cut off.  I am also getting more and more comments every day.

My life has changed completely!  Clothes shopping is so much fun.  I am blessed in so many ways.

Here is the list from the summer again - with all my new adventures added...


So far this summer  (and fall) I have...

ridden a roller coaster
hiked to the highed point on the Appalachian Trail
started riding my bike regularly
ridden a scooter (well!)
jet skiing
driven a boat
done a summersault!
wore clothes the same size I wore in JUNIOR HIGH!
water skiing 
kayaking
roller blading! (not well)
running (with the dog on the weekends)


Still Left to do...

white water rafting
rock climbing
snow skiing
obtaining my personal training certification

Current weight = 181 lbs.

Loving my new life:

So far this summer I have...

ridden a roller coaster
hiked to the highed point on the Appalachian Trail
started riding my bike regularly
ridden a scooter (well!)
jet skiing
driven a boat
done a summersault!
wore clothes the same size I wore in JUNIOR HIGH!

Still left to do:
water skiing (this weekend probably!)
kayaking
white water rafting

I am now officially Mrs. Staus.  I made it to Onederland with a pound to spare on my wedding day!

My new life opened up a whole new world to me in Bermuda.  We went snorkeling and jet skiing and would have done more - but we were too early in the season for most watersports.  I even wore a wetsuit...TWICE.  It was so nice to go to a sports shop, and have the person renting the suits and equipment look at me as a totally normal person and not look worried as they asked my size.  Of course, I had no idea what size wetsuit.....so they looked me up and down and came out with a large and it fit!  It was at that point that my DH (hee hee) mentioned that we were wearing the same size!  Thats a first.

The week was filled with activity, hiking, walking, exploring, swimming, and yes, some relaxation.  But more than that - it was filled with WOW moments galore, from the moment we stepped on the plane and the seats where roomy and the seatbelts fit - with extra slack.

I am pleased with this new life!

It's a crazy week.  I'm going to post 1 day early.  I'm not sure I will get to taking and posting updated pictures tomorrow...so today just a post.

6 months (minus 1 day) ago I was wheeled into surgery.  The Boy stood beside me and for the first time ever said the words "I love you" just as I was wheeled away.

In 4 days I will walk down the aisle and become his wife.  He said one of the things that solidified in his mind that I was the one was how I handled my whole obesity issues.  I never once blamed my genes, I never once crawled in a whole and said "I can't help being this way."

I was fat, I hated it, it was my fault.  I fought hard to overcome major health issues to get to a point where I thought I would benefit from WLS.  

I watched as obesity issues damaged the heart of my father, the knees of my mother and brother and watched as they each continued to harm thier bodies.  I looked at myself and said "NO MORE" and took a stand.

I have come a long way in 6 months.  I walk past a mirror and am startled (pleasantly) by what I see.  I consider taking pictures of myself and e-mailing them to The Boy while he is working just because I know it will make him happy.

Some have asked if I had this surgery for him?  No!  I had this surgery for me.  These are my dreams that are coming true!

I reached my 5 month surgiversary yesterday with little fanfare.

Current weight is 218, that number is unreal to me.  By the time I was out of college I was up around 250, and it just kept climbing from there.

This weekend, I grabbed a pair of pants that were a size 18.  I haven't worn size 18 since the 9th grade, and...THEY FIT!

I celebrated with a quick trip into Old Navy.  I didn't buy pants (I have plenty from Goodwill at the moment) but I bought some fairly low cut tops and am ready to wear them!

My 4 month anniversary has come and gone.

As of this morning I was down 100lbs.  that is from the start of the journey...which would have been last May when I went for my first appointment with the doctor.

20lbs of this was lost before surgery, so I've lost 80 since.

The past few weeks I hvae noticed a bit more hair loss, not enough to make me look like I'm loosing my hair, but enough that I need to clean my hairbrush every day.

Today I am trying something new.  I saw a special about "eating in reverse" on tv last week so I am trying it this week to see if it helps.

I eat dinner first thing in the morning (this morning was lean spaghetti/meat sauce w/out the pasta and cheese), have my heavier snack after that and then a normal lunch.  If I work it right I am at 45g of protein by 1pm.  This means I can "back off" as I work towards the end of the day.  Today I am planning 1/2 a protein bar before I teach piano lessons and go to the gym and then dinner will be a small piece of cheese.  I have noticed with my late night workout / teaching schedule that I was eating a heavy dinner at 9pm and going to bed feeling stuffed.  I am hoping this curbs the problem, and helps make sure I am not scrambling at night to meet my protein goals.

Something must be working because I dropped 4lbs in the past 2 days.  Hmmmmmm.

t-minus 2 months (even) and counting to my wedding day.  29lbs to go to my wedding day goal of 199!

Tomorrow is my 3 months anniversary.

The past week and a half has been hard.  I've had a terrible cold that has kept me feeling "flat" so to speak.  Plus the sinus pressure and tickly throat.  I haven't felt like eating, but I've been trying to force it in.

Today has been the first day I haven't taken any cold medication of any sort, I'm trying to let it all get out of my system as my nose and sinus begin to return to their normal state.

Excercising was put on hold for the past week (Tuesday - Tuesday), but I have no excuse today.  Yes, I'm stuffy and still coughing a little, but I'm much improved, it's time to get this butt moving again.

My 3 month check-up w/ Dr. Moein was problem free.  The worst part was the drive, 2 1/2 hours in the grey cold, snowyness. On top of that I wasn't feeling good and didn't feel like eating, I did drink a lot of bottled water all the way down and back, so it wasn't at all a failure.

The weight continues to drop off, more slowly now - but it's going.

I started the Y last week - I gave myself one week with a trainer to get me going. This week I start some classes as well - water aerobics and toning type things.

It was so hard to leave this morning, due to my busy schedule at night w/ piano lessons and now the Y for at least an hour every night, we made the decision that it would be best for me to stay at my place (closer to the Y and my students) at least from Tuesday - Thursday.  It as so hard to say goodbye to Clarke this morning. 

It helps that I know that I am doing what I am doing for me, to get me into the best shape of my life. I need to be doing this.  It is still hard though.

At about 11:45 on New Years eve, Clarke "popped" the question.  I was definately not expecting it at that point.  I was 1/2 asleep on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket and bam!  Of course I said yes.

So...now I am looking at my "to do" list and realizing that "get married" has moved up on the list.  I had it in my mind that we would do that sometime at the end of May or June..but nooooo, we can't wait, so we're getting married...in APRIL.

I would love to be at 200 pounds by then...thats 55 pounds in 4 months (less than 4 months really) - so I am thinking that won't happen.

Now, to figure out what the heck to do about a dress!

Christmas was good.  I didn't eat enough - but its the first year I can say I didn't eat TOO much!

I am ready for a new me.  I am down about 60 pounds from where I started on this journey.  My energy is good, my eating habits are improving.  

I still struggle with the liquids, but I am working on ways to force it in as much as possible, and even that has improved from 2 months ago.

Last night I stopped at the Y to activate my membership and get my picture taken for my card.  I signed up for a water aerobics class on Tuesday nights and for a session for a fitness evaluation (ha!) and for a trainer to get me onto a routine.  I wanted to take a 3 week targeted class for folks that are just starting to get into the workout routine.  It was with a personal trainer, but, the class is full, so I need to wait until March for it.

I am looking forward to 2007 and the new things I will try and the things I will accomplish.

My 2007 to do list:
Jan: begin regular workout classes at the y
Feb: try skiing
Mar: find that old mountain bike and give it a go
April: kayaking class
May: get married
June: amusement park rides while on vacation
July: boogie or surf boarding
August: rock climbing (?) - I'm still not sure about that one
Sept:  Take a trip and enjoy the roomy airline seat
Oct: Celebrate 1 year on top of Hawk Mountain (without killing myself getting to the top)
Nov: regular sized clothing stores!
Dec: Enjoying Christmas w/ renewed vigor and looking forward to a wonderful 2008.