Dorothy B.

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I have not posted here for well over a year...so many things to tell, say, explain. Let's begin here...
I had my Gastric Bypass in September of '07, my highest weight was at 310! Through my journey I have lost 163 lbs. Sounds great right, it has it's good and the bad.
Before my surgery (a year) I had a child (a son) that was born with Congenital Heart Disease, he had an open heart sugery when he was 7 days old. He made it, we where by his side vigilently for a month, he came home. :) On Friday the 24th of February I took him to see his Cardiologist, she said that he was doing great, and that whatever I was doing, to keep doing it because they did not expect him to  survive this long. She was going to schedule his final surgery, talk with the surgeons on the following Tuesday to schedule his final procedure, replacing his Mitral Valve....that night, something was off, not right, my husband took the first part of the morning to take care of him, he woke me aboiut 9:30 am to take over so he could rest. I made him a bottle, he was so fussy, walked a bit with him, then sat down on my loveseat with him, my oldest daughter was sitting next to me eating Ramen. While i was holding him he remained unsetteled and I thought it was a good idea to call his Cardologist, to explain the nights events...while I was on hold at exactly 10:14 am my sons eyes rolded back and he was gone,,,,I tried admistering CPR, told my daughter to call 911 (you have no idea to stupid shit they ask you before they send an ambulance out) I rushed into my husbands room and woke him and he tried CPR, the ambulance got there and tried in the house to revive him, then tey took him tlo the ambulance and tried there, it was a rainy morning (I hate rain now) and it felt like a lifetime standing by the ambulance not knowing what was going on, just praying, praying for my baby, my only son. One guy came out and told me they where going to the ER and said he would take me in his ambulance...it felt like forever to get there. They got him into the ER and tried there best, I could see his belly becoming so inflated, I was miserable and beside myself, my husband arrived and then they said it...we have to call it Sir...no, not my William, my sweet William, this is not happening. He said ok, and they called it a 12:01 pm, my baby was gone. Why me? I asked that question for so long wothout answers, I have come to accept that God would not have wanted him to suffer throughout his life because he would of had surgeries on his heart every 3 years. I can live with that.
My husbands oldest son, LCPL Travis T. B. was pondering the idea of joining the Marines his senior year, I called a recruiter and tried to get him into the delayed entry program, but sould not because his mother said he was "man enough" to do it. That is your job as a mother to make your child, encourage your child to become a man/woman, whatever it may be. He finished high school and went to bootcamp shortly after, he graduated bootcamp and we were there for the graduation, he was a man, he was a standing tall proud man, a Marine. I asked him if he regretted me calling, he said sometimes but reasurred me that it was besti .
He was stationed in Hawaii, then we got the news, he going to be deployed to Afghanistan....no, not my only son left, yes my step-son, but I raised him for 5 years, he was an exceptionaly great teenager, always doing what was asked without hesitaion, perfect...I asked him to let his Father and Mother to sign a waiver that would state because he was our sole surving son, he would not be deployed, he said no, he said "Dorothy, go get the Bible, open it to Isiah 6:8 it states "I heard a voice of the sovereign master say, "Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?" I ansered, "Here I am, send me!' Travis told me that is why he wanted to go, I accepted it and let him go,,,He was there 3 months, strong in his faith and was learning to be a Lay Reader for his felllow brothers, on Monday August 3rd he caled and asked us to try to send commuinion wafers and grape juice or wine if we could. My husband always ended the conversation with "I love you son, I am so proud of you" Thursday August 6th we got a knock on the door and opened it to see 2 Marines in there dress blues...I said no, no, no, they came in and started reading the report, they ran over an IED roadside bomb and he was KIA. Why him, he was so good, after that I blackeout persay, I have no recollection of the month of August nor part of September. I was mourning the loss of Travis and the loss of my sweet William, what happened? Where did I go? I have no answers, now, I am at the point that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I was at 163 when all of that took place, I dropped down to 140, where I am now, I take my vitamins everyday, but, I have desire for food.
We bought a new home, a fresh start, a new beginning if you say...I got my dream home, but I have lost so much before it.
I am grateful for my husband, ny children, they all stood by my side. My youngest one day cam and sat next to me and said "I miss my mom, the one that would laugh and make jokes, rearrange songs into funny songs, I want her back" that made me try to move forward, for the sake of my children.
I don't know if anyone would read this because if is so long....but if you do, thank you for taking the time to listen to me pour out my emotions, this is the first time I have written it all down, I feel better, I am trying to move forward, and to eat, I do not want to disappear. I am thankful for my surgery, but I am trying so hard to maintain my healt. I will continue to try....
Dorothy

Well I am down 78lbs in 4 1/2 months...that is amazing!! And I got the flu on Valentines day!! Actually the day before. It bites. I am not hungry, but, i am fighting to get all my fluids in especially my protein.
I have had wow moments, people that I have not seen in a while are blown away!! I am happy. and everyday thankful for the opportunity to do this. I will make this short, seeing how I am way to sick right now to carry on...

Well...been a while since I last posted! So it's been 3 months and 4 days since my surgery and I am so HAPPY to say that I am no longer morbidly obese!!! YEAH!! I officially today weighed in at 210 lbs! That is so AMAZING! This time a year ago I would have never imagined that this is where my life was going to be at in a year...(I also quit my job) But, I am excited and I know that God is good!
I signed up for Real Estate School, I am nervous, but, I have a really good support system through my husband and I know that not everyday is going to be a good one, but, I will succeed at this! So...if you live in San Antonio, and you wanna sell your house....give me a try (of course not until after February) *wink*wink* LOL!!
I will say my final prayer for this year tonight, and I include ALL of my dear OH family, that includes those that I have not had the joy to meet. I thank god everyday for this website, it is a world of knowledge at your fingertips, you guys are amazing! Thank you for everyone that has answered a question of mine, even if it wasn't the answer I wanted! No answer is a bad answer! Honesty is best.
Happy New Year!

I have visited the boards lately and see that there is a fued going on between RNY vs DS...I personally think that it's BULLSHIT.

Of all the things that are going on in our own lives, and what is going on right outside our door...this is what we are consuming our lives with? With my surgery is better than yours? So what...we are all allowed our own opinion, and we all know that opinions are like assholes, we ALL got one!

I was raised to mind my own business, and not go into others yards, same case here. If you don't want to know whats going on...stay on your own board! This is the internet, seriously, let's focus on our protein for the day, and forget about the bullshit!

This is my own blog, and I did not venture off to anyones yard to piss them off. If you don't like what you read....hit the back button.

Thanks!

So I am 6 weeks and 1 day out. Wow...time flies for sure! I have lost 34lbs. and I am sure not looking for them!

I bought some clothes about 1 1/2 week ago...which is always fun, and did not wear one of the pants until today...well now they are loose. That's ok! I will go and exchange them! But this time I will wear them right away! LOL

I hurt my foot on the treadmill about 2 weeks ago, so I really haven't pushed myself on the exercise part. But...I do work retail, and running around for 6-9 hours a day after women is exercise to me! So, in a way I feel bad, but, then I tell myself that at least I don't have an office job. Then there would be no exercise at all! I went to the podiatrist today and he gave me a cortisone injection, so I will start the gym again tomorrow, at least 4 times a week. Come on...work with me!

I am off to a meet and great at starbucks! Till later

So...today I am 1 month out...and I weighed myself! I started this journey at 273 and today I am 242!! I cannot even remember the last time I weighed that! I am so grateful everyday for having the chance to do this! If anyone is ever contemplating whether this is the right thing to do...stop thinking and do it! It has it's challenges but with that....it certainly has its rewards!

OMG! I am 4 weeks post op on Thursday...I went into surgery pushing a 22...and today I went and tried on some pants....about 20 different ones! And ended up with 2 size 16 pants and a 16 jeans!!

I want to cry...I really cannot remember the last time I put on a size 16. This has got to be the most amazing thing that I could of ever did for myself!

I still really don't have a goal...but, I will relish in these blessings that God has given me. Last night I ate one bite of a chicken nugget and lord was it hell for me for the next 2 hours....I wanted to die! But, today...I am so glad I am here!

I work at Lane Bryant, and I must say, it was really great seeing all of my co-workers just as excited with me! They are a great bunch of girls...many of my regular customers have come and told me how great I look. This is great!

I have yet to regret this, even through the hell of liquids for 2 weeks....I am sooo glad that I made this decision, it truly is the best! I never lacked self confidence, but, I have definately found more!

So I went in for my 2 week post op visit. I lost 23 lbs!!! I find that totally amazing.
My nut put me on soft foods...and I have already discovered that anything more than 4 tsp. makes me sick. So, I will not push the envelope on that issue!

Beef

• Hamburger patty, 4 oz – 28 grams protein
• Steak, 6 oz – 42 grams
• Most cuts of beef – 7 grams of protein per ounce

Chicken

• Chicken breast, 3.5 oz - 30 grams protein
• Chicken thigh – 10 grams (for average size)
• Drumstick – 11 grams
• Wing – 6 grams
• Chicken meat, cooked, 4 oz – 35 grams

Fish

• Most fish fillets or steaks are about 22 grams of protein for 3 ½ oz (100 grams) of cooked fish, or 6 grams per ounce
• Tuna, 6 oz can - 40 grams of protein

Pork

• Pork chop, average - 22 grams protein
• Pork loin or tenderloin, 4 oz – 29 grams
• Ham, 3 oz serving – 19 grams
• Ground pork, 1 oz raw – 5 grams; 3 oz cooked – 22 grams
• Bacon, 1 slice – 3 grams
• Canadian-style bacon (back bacon), slice – 5 – 6 grams

Eggs and Dairy

• Egg, large - 6 grams protein
• Milk, 1 cup - 8 grams
• Cottage cheese, ½ cup - 15 grams
• Yogurt, 1 cup – usually 8-12 grams, check label
• Soft cheeses (Mozzarella, Brie, Camembert) – 6 grams per oz
• Medium cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss) – 7 or 8 grams per oz
• Hard cheeses (Parmesan) – 10 grams per oz

Beans (including soy)

• Tofu, ½ cup 20 grams protein
• Tofu, 1 oz, 2.3 grams
• Soy milk, 1 cup - 6 -10 grams
• Most beans (black, pinto, lentils, etc) about 7-10 grams protein per half cup of cooked beans
• Soy beans, ½ cup cooked – 14 grams protein
• Split peas, ½ cup cooked – 8 grams

Nuts and Seeds

• Peanut butter, 2 Tablespoons - 8 grams protein
• Almonds, ¼ cup – 8 grams
• Peanuts, ¼ cup – 9 grams
• Cashews, ¼ cup – 5 grams
• Pecans, ¼ cup – 2.5 grams
• Sunflower seeds, ¼ cup – 6 grams
• Pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup – 19 grams
• Flax seeds – ¼ cup – 8 grams

Wow...I have to say...this morning I got on the scale. Let me first say that when I started this journey and went in for my consult I weighed in at 273. Then when I went in for my pre-op the day before surgery I was at 268. So, today when I got on the scale, Drum Roll please.............................................
it was 259! AWESOME!!!!

My daughter was in the room with me and she asked "is that good?" I said, you betcha! I realize its only a few lbs...but you know. I will so take it! I haven't seen those numbers in years!

I feel kind of weird saying this...but, I don't have a goal weight. I have seen that others do and thats great. But, I would just be happy with being under 200lbs. I was a size 12 before I had my first child. And I thought I was pretty hot. LOL I would be ok with that.