Jamie W.

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This is my first full week of exercising 4 days and I still have hiking tomorrow to make it 5!!!  I've been going to the gym to do water aerobics by myself in the morning.

God has been awesome to give me some motivation.  There was a group of 4 women in the locker room and I just joined in their conversation.  Turns out one of them had the Lap Band and has lost 30 pounds so far.  One had her daughter visiting and the others have decided to come in the pool with me in the mornings.  I was able to share about my surgery, my church, my faith and my experience being overweight.  So we've met for a few days now.  They are also taking the evening water aerobic classes.  I may actually go back again in the evenings!!!  I can't even believe I just said that!!!

I feel like I am "addicted to the gym" and can't remember how I stopped...I don't want to stop again.  I weight 329 pounds and didn't make my goal of 299 by my birthday of April 5 since I wasn't exercising.

I had a good friend remind me that I need to take care of the temple that God gave me and not waste the results of this surgery.  There are so many people at my church that made donations and I know they are looking at me and praying for me.  I don’t want to disappoint God, them or myself.

I feel like I have so much more energy and I get so much more done throughout the day.  I'm definitely not as stressed at work with the new promotion.  The workload and stress levels are the same, God has just changed how I handle those tasks and the exercise gives me the release.

I can still remember the first day I tried to get up at 4:30 am.  I had a friend call me at 5 am for a backup.  She was going to her gym and I was going to mine. I take a shower there, change clothes and head to work.

So, here I am proclaiming my new goal....I want to weight 299 at the end of June.  I have a jump on things so I'm pretty sure I can get there from 329.  I don't want to overdo it so 30 pounds in about 40 days is good.

I have lowered my calorie intake, but still haven't found the best protein sources.  I'm back to eating beef jerky and pork.  I love my crock pot for the pulled pork.  I had to make it for a potluck at work and it was really good....not bragging, I just didn't make it in so long.

I want to get back to making more meals for my sister and I so we can eat healthier.  I've been taking lunch to work and that helps (also saves money), but even more so, there's a guy who appears to be interested in me and I'd like to cook for him too!  I really enjoy cooking for others more than myself.  It seems so odd when we should love ourselves.  God doesn't make junk!!!!

Since my highest ever weight of 476 pounds I have lost...147
Since my surgery weight of 441 pounds I have lost....112
Until next time....

God just keeps it all coming and I feel as though my cup is running over!!!  My team at work is awesome and hard working.  It feels effortless to supervise such a great group of people.  I am mainly focusing on getting organized and learning my responsibilities and all the reports that are due.

My direct supervisor is great and her boss is great, I truly have no complaints.  Even if I did, nobody cares....lol  I love the new condo and with the raise after buying, I can start saving more money for emergencies.

I went hiking Saturday and took a different trail because my friend said, "you should try something more challenging".  Now I want to kill her...lol  I'm sore, but stupid because I want to go back and do it again.

I had to go to the gym and use the jacuzzi to soak the next day.  It was fun, I took pics from way up there as proof.  I couldn't believe how steep it was going up AND coming down!!!  I must have been insane. 

One thing my friend said to me was that all I did was just take one small step at a time and then look how far I had come.  It's just like all the trials that I have experienced.  I would have never thought I would have lived through them and now I look back and see how far God has brought me one small step at a time!!

She's so smart, but I still want to kill her for making me take that other trail....lol  Until next time....

I guess I should just begin in chronological order...backwards....lol
Most recent is today, Easter Sunday....I'm at church singing in 6 services with the choir.  The first service began at 5:45 am!  I am wearing an outfit I wore at a friends wedding over 2 years ago.  The top was a little snug, but the skirt fit.  It is so big on me today, I almost didn't wear it.  I will have one of the women take my picture.  Actually, I will have someone take our picture together.  She is the woman that God used to help start the process of collecting money for my surgery here at church.

Yesterday, I was in a wedding.  Me, in the bridal party!!!  Who knew?  They had a dress in my size to try on at David's Bridal and I had to order the correct color.  I had to have the breast area taken in....how odd is that?  That has never happened for me!!!

March 17th, I received a promotion and had to move into another location of our company.  I supervise a team of 7 people and informed them of my surgery.  I didn't want anyone to think I was on drugs or anorexic when the weight loss is visible!!!  LOL  I tell the world of the blessing God has given me.  I don't care who knows!!!

Feb. 22, I closed on a condo I bought and my sister and I moved in the next day.  With all these things going on in my life, I have not been exercising.  That's the excuse I am using now....lol

I was looking at houses, condos and townhouses since December when I was approved.  I was approved for an amount that I would not have been able to afford.  Why do they do that?  AZ has such a change in real estate right now and it is a great time to buy and terrible time to sell.  God blessed me with a great rate and loan when I didn't have to put any money down and the sellers paid all the closing costs.  God is awesome!

I received the promotion after I closed on the home so I actually have extra money that isn't bundled into my new mortgage.  I'm glad God did it that way because I wanted it the other way around....go figure?

Well, I guess that is all that has been going on.  I went for my 6 month follow up and was the only person you hadn't lost 100.  I have lost 131 since my highest, but not since surgery.  The doc wanted to see me one week later and I lost 8 pounds out of fear....lol  Since then I have only exercised one day and went hiking one day.  I need to get back on schedule.

Keep me in your prayers for consistency.  The true blessing with this surgery is that I won't gain, I just stay the same when I don't exercise.  I really want to use this tool the right way and not just maintain.  I'm am nowhere near my goal to be maintaining....LOL

I tried on a size 18/20 shirt and it fit!!!!  What is going on???  I can't even believe it.  If that wasn't enough good news, I just put an offer on a condo and they accepted it.  If all goes well, I'm moving in 22 days!!!

God is awesome and amazing!!!  The offer ended up being $13,000 less than they wanted.  The market in AZ is so bad for sellers that it is great for buyers.  Who knew???

I have been inconsistent with my exercise and I need to get back on track.  The online challenge that I have been doing is helping me stay accountable. I just need to keep praying for the strength to get up and "just do it"!!!

I have my six month follow up appt around February 12 or 14th.  I can't believe it's been 6 months, at least it will be on 2/20/08.  I try to only weigh myself once a month since the muscle was weighing more.  I am now just going by the clothes getting bigger!!!  Time is flying by.  Until next time...

I wanted to be under 350 lbs and here I am at 348.  Now I need a new goal.  I remember weighing 301 when I was about 27 years old and I could not get under 300 lbs.  So, that's my new goal.  If I keep up the constant exercising, I should be there by losing 5 pounds a week.  So, that puts me in March and I will say by April 5 (my birthday) I would like to be under 300 pounds!!!  I can't even believe I am typing this.

Praise and thank God for this surgery!!!!  It has caused so many other things to come into view and change my life and others.  I have a former co-worker who has joined my church, friends listen to me share God's blessings in my life, so much more has happened because of it.

I am so blessed to be used by God to spread His goodness.  I tell people everywhere I go.  It just doesn't get old.  I've lost 93 pounds since surgery and 125 total!!!  I only have 169 to go and at 348, I will have lost at least another 50 pounds by April if not sooner!!!!  What more could I have asked for???

I am so exited!!!  My sis just joined the gym and we came home and threw away all the unhealthy food!!!  It was great.  We go back tomorrow at 3 and she meets with the trainer to pick out her exercise routine.  I'll be there for support and then on my treadmill.  I'm really excited for her because I saw she was miserable gaining and she can lose the weight, I know she can.  When she was 30 to 40 pounds lighter, she didn't have the back and leg pain so I think she will be fine.

Oh, I stopped by the doctor's office and got weighed today and then I went to the gym and got weighed again.  The doctor has me at 357 and the gym has me at 348.  Since the gym is closer and I go there more often, I'm going to start using their scale.  Besides, I'd be an idiot to not want to be 9 pounds lighter!!!  LOL

I'm getting excited for the new January challenge online.  They said they will try and incorporate strength training.  I've been reading a lot about how men burn fat better than women due to testosterone and having more muscle mass.  So, I want to burn fat like a man and build muscle.  I need to be on my exercise ball more and lift weights (exercise bands) so I can lose the weight and stop sabotaging myself.

I'm actually excited.  Next Saturday (1/6/08) the tone and conditioning class starts back after the holidays at the gym and I can use that class to gain more exercises I can do at home.  Besides, the teacher hasn't seen me since WAY before surgery and I think she will be shocked!! LOL

I still want to do my walking but aerobic activity won't have me burn the fat as fast as the muscle toning!  I CAN DO THIS!!!

Jamie

I really needed to participate in this challenge online because I am so not being held accountable right now.  I need more protein, but I hate the shakes and the meat doesn't digest so well.  I'm sure that is what is slowing my progress right now.  I lost one pound in the last 3 weeks.  I feel like such a loser and can't stand the compliments from people any more.  I DON'T DESERVE THEM, I'M CHEATING!!!

I need to stop eating junk food that the staff bring into the office and I need to find some form of protein that I like.  I'm only walking every other day now and I'm not doing the full 3 miles.  I really needed this challenge, but at the same time it's depressing me because I'm failing so miserably....lol

I was weighed today and I'm sad I didn't lose more.  I'm still walking in the morning, but obviously that is not enough. I have to work on eating better.  It's late and I have to get up early.  I have to lose more than one pound every few weeks.  It's better than gaining over the holidays, but I WANT MORE...LOL

I went to the PCP's office before work yesterday and was weighed.  I have lost 6 more pounds since 11/20/07.  I have definitely slowed down the process with eating the holiday junk food.  One more chocolate chip cookie and I don't know what I'll do!!!  LOL

I have yet another party tonight with the church choir and I may eat before I go so I'll be full!!!  At least I'm still walking in the morning.  I guess I'll start over in January, 2008 with the healthier diet when the holidays are over.  I'll just take one day at a time and try my best to eat as much protein as possible.

Keep me in your prayers with this and my job interview promotion.