Cynthia R.

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Wow!  Where has the year gone?  This time last year I was frantically trying to get everything ready for when I got home from surgery.  I was 310 lbs and couldn't get up off of the sofa without a struggle.  Bending over to pick something up off of the floor was extremely difficult.  Washing my feet in the shower...difficult!  It's the little things you take for granted when you're thin..well when you're thin and have never been morbidly obese that is.  Now that I can wash my feet, bend over, sit in any booth I want, etc. I will NEVER take it for granted again. 

My eating habits have changed drastically since surgery.  I can now eat a more normal size portion which is nice.  Normal in the sense of not eating like a bird.   I no longer eat fried foods, except once in a while some chicken wings and fried okra...only way to eat okra! lol  I have no desire for fried foods any more.  I have only had one sip of soda since prior to surgery.  Do I miss it?  Nope...not fried foods or soda.  I don't like bread or spaghetti at all....neither of them sit right with me and I've lost my taste for both of them. 

Clothing...wow!  I started out wearing 28's / 30's and 3X / 4X.  Now I wear 12 or 14 pants/dresses and Large shirts. I'm still losing so who knows where I'll end up.  I don't want to get any less than a size 10 though.  The funny part is in shoes I've went from a size 11 to a 9.  My ring size has dropped drastically too.  From a 10 to a 7 on my ring finger.

I've had a lot of personal changes too.  My husband and I separated and are going to be divorcing.  This was not caused by WLS.  We haven't been happy for many years.  It just so happened everything worked out financially that I could move out.  We still talk and are on good terms though. 

Vitamins have been my hard thing to get down pat.  I have finally found a good schedule that works for me...it only took a year!  My labs have been good so far and I think they'll be even better next year.

If I had to do WLS over again, I would do it in a heart beat.  I've lost 155.5 lbs in 12 months and gained my life back.  The sky is the limit!

God bless!!!

I keep meaning to update, but just haven't done it.  A lot has been going on in my life....some good and some that could be considered bad.  My husband & I separated 2 weeks ago and I moved to the town where I work.  It's only 30 minutes away, but since I don't know anyone here except the 13 people I work with it feels like I'm starting over.  I'm doing a lot of soul searching to find out who I am.  (My marital problems didn't start after WLS.  They were already there many years before this.  So for those of you who are thinking another one due to WLS....not this time.)

Physically I am doing fine.  I will be doing my first annual labs in about 6 weeks or so.  For a little while I had issues taking my vitamins, but I've been doing much better the last few weeks.  I hope all of my levels come back ok.  Right now I feel like my iron is a little low because I get tired faster in the evenings than usual.  Since I've battled low iron for many years I can usually recognize when my iron is getting a little out of whack.  I found a new brand/type of iron (thanks to reading the OH boards....Andrea is the queen of vitamins lol).  I hope now that I'm taking a better kind and dosage I'll get on track quickly.

I'm only 8.5 lbs from goal!  WOW!  That blows my mind.  Before surgery I was hoping to be at goal by my 1 year mark.  It looks like it might happen.  If not, I'll only be a few pounds away.  (Although originally my surgeon set my goal at 160 which is only 3.5 lbs away from where I am now....so I've definitely met my goals.)  Even if I don't hit 155 by my 1 year, it's ok because I know I will get there and I feel so much better now. 

I absolutely LOVE being able to pick stuff up off of the floor without any trouble at all.  That is absolutely awesome!!!  My clothing sizes now are 12/14 in pants and Large in shirts.  Shoes went from 11 to 9.5 and I've been noticing lately that the 9.5's are a little loose so I may actually be in a 9 now.  For a little while I was very cold natured...stayed cold all the time.  I think that is starting to regulate a little because although I get cold a lot easier than I used to, I'm not freezing - just cold. lol  (Or is it my wonderful electric blanket that I can't imagine sleeping without that keeps me nice and toasty? haha)

This is a journey that I would do all over again.  I am so glad I took the step and had this surgery.  My quality of life has improved more than I ever could have imagined.   

God Bless!!!

I have found when I am stressed or have lots going on I can't eat much.  Today is a great example...During lunch I had a stressful phone call and then I couldn't eat any more lunch.  It just felt like my food sat really heavy in my pouch.  Dinner I was still thinking about all the stuff going on and once again I couldn't eat much.  Very little matter of fact.  I'm going to have to drink some kind of protein tonight because there is no way I have gotten anywhere near the amount I'm suppose to.  This is definitely different than before WLS.  Prior to WLS I could eat regardless of what was going on. 

Physically I'm having a lot of hip pain.  I'm going to an orthopaedic doctor Monday to have them check it out and I'm following up on my knee while I'm there.  The hip is keeping me from sleeping so I am more concerned about it at this point. 

Well, for now that is it.  I'll try to post again soon.

God bless!

Today for my birthday I bought a new outfit.  A really cute one.  :)  The pants are a size 16!  WOO HOO!  Although in the last 2 weeks I haven't lost anything significant, I am shrinking.  A week ago I tried on a pair of size 16's and they were way too snug, but today they are snug but not uncomfortable and they look good on me.  I tried on 2 more pairs of 16's.  One was too big and the other fit great but was too long. What an amazing thing!  A size 16!!!  I'm only 2 sizes away from where I want to end up (size 12 - 10 would be ok too). 

I'm still watching what I eat and making good choices.  I plan on doing that the rest of my life.  I'm enjoying my new body and energy level too much to ever let it get back up to 314 lbs.  I went walking Sunday and felt like I wasn't walking fast enough because I didn't get winded.  (I'm not suppose to walk because of a knee injury but I wanted to see how it would do....it did ok although I could feel it while I walked.)

Well for now that's it.  God Bless!!!

The nurse and doctor were both very pleased with my progress.  The only negative thing the doctor mentioned on my blood work is my good cholesteral (HDL) is low.  He would like that number to increase.  I'm going to research and find out what foods have Omega 3's.  Apparently those foods will help raise the HDL. 

I almost forgot!  I asked Dr. Williams if I should still be shooting for 160 as a goal.  He changed it to 155.  So, that means I know have 40.5 lbs to lose instead of 35.5.  It will come off!!! 

Well, that's pretty much it for now.  

God bless!!!

Today my son turned 18 years old.  As of today, I weigh what I did when he was 2 years old.  He doesn't remember me as ever being "thin" (even though I'm not quite there yet) because every year since he was born I have gained at least 10 to 20 pounds.  Today I am just blown away that I weigh under 200 lbs.  It was so sweet to get on the scale this morning and be down 4 lbs from last week.  Totally not expecting it, but in the last 2 weeks I have lost 9 lbs! WOW!  The 3 or 4 weeks prior to that I only lost about 4 total so I'm thankful for a couple of really good weeks.  Since I only have about 35 lbs to go, it will slow down.  I'm just so thankful I am down to where I am.  I do look forward to getting into the 170's. 

At my 2 week check up after having my son (18 years ago) I weighed 172 - that was the start of my obesity journey.  Little did I know then that within a matter of years I would be morbidly obese.  I really think that is why I am so determined to watch what I eat and not gain any weight back.  I know first hand how easy it is to "just have one" over and over and in the process gain 150 lbs.  My new way of eating is a complete lifestyle change and I don't ever want to go back to my old habits.  Only with Gods help will I be able to stay on track!  There is no way I would have been as successful as I have been without the help of my Jesus!!!

For now that's all.  I go for my 6 month follow up (I'm 7 months out) on Monday.  I dread the drive, but must go.  I'll post after that with an update.

God bless!!!

Yep!  That is absolutely correct!  I officially weigh 199.5 lbs!  I had no idea how amazing under 200 would feel.  I haven't weighted under 200 since I was 18 years old.  Today I felt so confident and happy over my weight loss.  I still have a little ways to go, but it doesn't seem overwhelming anymore.  At my highest weight it felt like I would never get where I wanted to be.  Now that I only have 39.5 lbs to go, it totally feels like I can hit it.  It is so encouraging.  I am so much more mobile now and can do things that I couldn't do before.  Man it's wonderful!  This surgery has given me the tool I needed to get my weight under control.  I am so thankful to God for helping me through the first 6 1/2 months.  There is so much more to the surgery than just the physical aspects of it.  There are a lot of mental aspects you have to get under control.  Some of my problems with food was my choices.  We eat out a lot and I would always choose the unhealthy items.  Mostly fried foods and starchy fried foods.  My diet was so unhealthy!  Thinking back on how much fried yucky stuff I ate really amazes me.

My 6 month follow up was rescheduled until Oct. 12th.  This time of the month for me at work is crazy so I called and rescheduled, which worked out great because when I told them what I needed to do they were relieved...apparently this works out better for them too.  :)

Well for now that's it. 

God bless!!!

Saturday I went to the Auburn / Ball State football game.  Last year I went to an Auburn game as well.  The major difference between the two experiences is this year we parked and walked and last year I parked and rode the transit to shorten the walk.  Last year I had a much smaller distance to walk and I remember being so out of breath and tired from the walk.  This year we walked briskly (because of the rain and following after 3 teenage girls!) and I didn't get tired at all. 

While I was sitting there I began to think about me at my highest weight verses now.  I was 110 lbs heavier last time I went to a game.  That is another entire small adult!  That is the reason I was so tired while walking last year.  Then I thought back to the people I was sitting with...they were probably croweded because in my seat there was enough of me to be 2 people!  That is just amazing to me when I think about it.  It is wonderful to feel like a normal person.  That's all I want.  Just to be normal!!!

I still battle self image sometimes.  Even though I am obviously smaller because of the numbers on the scale and the size of my clothes, there are times when I feel like I look morbidly obese.  Granted I am still overweight (barely over 200 lbs.  and goal is 160),  I am no where near as large as I was....this is the mind thing!

In the last couple of weeks I have found myself eating too much.  Not intentionally.  However I was eating my meals until I was really full - you know what I mean...you get done and are like "Oh man, I'm stuffed!".  That stopped Friday when I realized it.  I am determined I am not going to fall back into bad habits again.  I do NOT want to gain this weight back.  I know better than to give myself an inch when it comes to overeating!  If I keep my habit of stopping when I first feel full then it will work much better.  I am proud of myself though (yes, pat yourself on the back - you deserve it).  I still do not eat fried foods or foods high in carbs.  (On rare occassion I will - as a treat only!!!)  Fried foods were my downfall prior to WLS.

This Wednesday I go to my surgeon for my 6 month check up (guess it should be called the 7 month check up since I'm almost there).  I'm looking forward to getting the interpretation of my blood work.  Even though I've already done the research and pretty much have a good understanding of what it means. It will be good to hear it from the professionals! LOL

Well, for now that's all.  I'll try to post after my 6 month appointment.

God bless!!!

Today I went to Wal-Mart after work and in the parking lot I saw a lady that I haven't seen in several months (prior to WLS).  This is the first time I actually avoided contact with someone because I didn't want the comments:  "You've lost so much weight - How did you do it?" etc.  I was in a hurry and just wanted to get in and out without having to talk at length about the surgery.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind telling people about the surgery and giving them my experience because you never know when it might help someone make a decision.

I like the fact that people notice the weight loss, but when people go on and on about it I get very uncomfortable.  I'm not used to getting all of the attention...I also have trouble accepting compliments.  I'm sure over time people will quit making comments because it will become "normal" for me not to be morbily obese.  For now I just need to enjoy it and be thankful.

Over the last month or so I've been able to eat more - still not a whole lot compared to prior to WLS.  Tonight for dinner I ate a bowl (small maybe 4 or 6 oz) of chili with 4 tortilla chips.  That is a lot compared to 2 months ago.  I haven't "dumped" at all and so far have been able to eat anything.   Because of this I'm making sure I eat as healthy as possible.  I do not want to gain all of that weight back or even some of it!!!  I can't wait to get UNDER 200 lbs.  The weight loss has slowed tremendously, which I expected.  I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and the rest of it will come off.  Just have to take it one day at a time.

Well for now that's it....God Bless!!!

Wow!  Has it really been 6 months?! It seems like just yesterday I was waiting to be wheeled back to the OR for my life changing surgery.  In the last 6 months I have met so many mini goals and some major goals.  I am now 106 lbs lighter than I was 6 months ago.  I'm not nearly as excited about the pounds coming off as I am about what it means I can now do.  Here are some of the things I can now do that I couldn't before:

1)  Wash my feet without any trouble (this includes shaving the legs)
2)  Bend over and pick something up off of the floor without any trouble
3)  Sit in a restaurant booth (without having to worry that it is going to be too small)
4)  Cook and clean the kitchen without back pain
5)  Have a normal menstral cycle (I know....doesn't sound like fun, but it is awesome since I haven't had a normal one until now in 19 years)

I could sit here and think of lots more, but those are the ones that come to mind very quickly.  This surgery has changed my life for the better.  I would do this all over again in a heartbeat to get these results again.  It hasn't always been easy, but it is worth the journey.  My relationship with food is a relationship I have to use caution with forever.  The choices I make each day will determine if I ever have signficant regain (which I don't plan on because I plan to make good choices 95% of the time).  Notice I didn't say 100%, because I personally think trying to eat right 100% of the time will set me up for failure.  Plus who can honestly say they will never eat another chip, cookie, slice of cake, etc?  I'm not naive enough to think I won't.  I just make sure to use my brain and stop at a reasonable level.  For example at a baby shower Friday night, I ate 2 potato chips with dip.  That was it.  Then I went and had dinner with my hubby which was steak, baked potato and salad.  More steak than anything...  It's all about choices and making the right ones.

In 6 months I have dropped from a size 28+ in pants and 3x/4x in shirts to a size 18 or 20 in pants and an XL in shirts.  It is truly amazing.  Not to mention the ability to move around now.  I feel like a different person. 

To anyone who is trying to decide if this is the surgery for you, dig deep and make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.  Don't do it just to be skinny.  Life isn't about being skinny, but about being healthy.  Skinny and healthy are too totally different things!  Good luck!

God bless!!!