4 year anniversary

Dec 07, 2010

My how time flies!!!  It's been a long time since I've posted so it's hard to know where to start...

Things are going great!  I'm getting back on track with working out and cycling and am looking forward to spring when I can truly get back into it. 
This last year was kind of rough... my knee finally gave up on me.  After years of repeat injuries and carrying all of the extra weight around, I was no longer able to ignore/work around my arthritis.  I had a great 'honeymoon phase' int he first two years after WLS and my knee was basically pain free due to the rapid reduction of weight.  But as my activity increased, it was hard to deny that my arthritis needed to be addressed. 
So in August this year I had a total knee replacement!  It was amazing!  I don't really lookforward to ever having to repeat the first week or two of recovery (yikes!) but other than that, it was awesome!  I am back to full mobility and am building my strength back up in that leg... after favoring it for years, my right leg is absolutely wimpy compared to my left. 
And now that my knee is back in shape, it's time for ME to get back in shape!  During the months leading up to the surgery, my knee was so bad that I wasn't able to be as active as before.  Then, when you add that to the emotional eating resulting from the frustration/depression/etc associated with the pain.... I had gained about 35 pounds back. 
It's definitely frustrating to see the numbers, but I'm not beating myself up.  I know what's going on, and I am back on track.  I've already lost about 10 of the pounds and am on track to get back down to the low 2s in the next few months.  My intention is to get down to 185 (which would be 1/2 of my original weight!) and my goal is to be there by summer.
My husband has been a true inspiration for me.  He has totally changed his eating habits and has lost about 20 pounds in the last 3-4 months.  I had let several bad food choices sneak back into my diet and now that Steve is no longer eating processed-snacky-sweet-salty crud, it has really helped me avoid those foods as well.

Goals: down to 200 by April, resume bike commuting at least 2 days a week, down to 185 by my birthday (May 31), walk the Portland Marathon Oct 2011
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Happy Anniversary to me!!!

Dec 08, 2008

It's hard to believe but it has now been 2 years since my GBS and life will never be the same!  It is amazing to see the differences between year 1 and year 2. 

Year 0-1:
"Wow, you've lost so much weight!"
the rapidly changing body
the constantly changing wardrobe
everything focuses around your new way of eating
Self-control 101: walking away from foods that you can't eat yet
the boldness to share your experiences with others
reaching for the big goals (target weight, target BMI)

Year 1-2
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
learning to appreciate and 'work' your new body ;)
trying to get the focus off of food (new and old habits) and feeling that it is now an automatic part of you 
Self control 401: walking away from foods you can now tolerate again but know you shouldn't eat
Fighting the old demons
the appreciation for conversations that don't focus around your weight loss
learning to appreciate the less dynamic but even more challenging goal of maintaining your target weight

Now is the time to make it real and truly start living your new life.  One of the toughest challenges for me is to live my life beyond the huge goals.  Before there was always a big goal... losing that first 5%, acutally having the surgery, losing the first 50, reaching the century mark, getting into that target size pair of pants, reaching the goal set by my doctor, etc.  Now that those goals are met my current goal is.... maintain?.  That doesn't sound very exciting and dynamic now does it?!  And, as boring as it sounds, maintaining is 10X more of a personal challenge than all the other goals combined.  Because now it's all about me... they say that in the beginning your success is 80% due to your new pouch and 20% your own doing, but once you get past 9 months or so it shifts and your success is 20% due to your pouch and 80% due to your own strength. 

It's tough!!! I've been bouncing 10 pounds back and forth for the last several months.  I understand it's normal as your body figures out it's perfect new balance.  But I don't like it.  I'm not freaking out at the nubmers, but I do get frustrated when I just can't seem to keep the number down there as easily as I did before. 

But, I know it wouldn't be easy and I know I will never go back again.  So now is the time to dig in and show myself that it truly is due to God's strength through me that I will keep healthy, keep the weight off and continue to make the perfect use of this amazing tool!!!

We have entered the ranks....

Jul 01, 2008

Fun new development: Steve and I have started to bike commute to work, so we have now entered the ranks of the neon and lycra clad yuppy riders!  There were so many reasons to ride and only one valid reason not to ride.... we ride because we can, we ride because we are sick and tired of paying for gas, we ride because we are happy to help by taking one more car off the roads, we ride becasue it is great exercise, and most of all we ride because we look sexy in lycra!  The only reason I had put it off until now is that 3 miles of our ride is on Hwy 34, which is a highly traveled stretch of highway that can be scary in a car, let alone on a bike.  However, after riding it now for a while, it really isn't too bad... the shoulder is pretty generous, and the drafting isn't too bad.  We've found that we just have to be very aware and defensive riders...even wearing neon, we can't assume everyone is paying attention to us. We've started using a 'shortcut' which avoids 1.5 miles of the highway by adding 3 miles of country roads.  The commute is 5.5 miles each way... so when you add up the commute mileage and random riding around town to run errands I have ridden 184 miles in June!!!! That's just crazy!! 
Not so fun new development: carbs are soooo evil and maintenance is 10 times harder than losing the weight.  I'm struggling with finding the right balance of carbs (need a bit more to keep up the energy for the bike riding) without getting into old habits.  I've gained a few pounds back (5-10)... nothing tragic, but just enought to give me a wake up call.  I think I'll go for a month of pure protein again to get back on track.  Meat and eggs, here I come!!!

Just checking in

Apr 16, 2008

The recovery from PS is proceeding fabulously.  I have been released for some exercise... I can do weight training on arms and upper body, but only stationery bike and walking for lower body.  There are still some deep stitches healing in the abdominal wall and I'm not allowed to do anything that would strain the abdominal muscles yet.  I have my 2month check up on 4/28 so I should be able to start doing ab/leg muscle work after that.  I am currently doing some scar massage and it is making a significant difference.  My left arm had a little more swelling than the right and the scar was a little more 'puckery'.  That has gone way down and all of the scars are beginning to lighten.  I think a lot of the inflammation is gone... though it's hard to tell because now I have NO muscle tone left in my legs/abs so things still seem softer than they will be once I can start doing weights again.
There are areas around the incisions that are still, and may continue to be, numb.  I shifted positions in bed the other night and my arm bumped into something on my hip.  I thought it was Steve's hand.  It was my own hip bone.  1-I couldn't feel the surface of the skin to know what was what and 2- I'm not used to being able to feel my hip bones!!!  It was the stupidest feeling.
We (Steve, Joseph, Joshua, Keziah and I) went hiking this last weekend at Silver Creek Falls.  There are 10 waterfalls connected by an 8 mile trail.  We weren't able to start our hike until mid afternoon so we didn't have time to do the whole trail, but we did do 5 miles and had a great time!  It feels so amazing to do something like that and not be in pain, not exhausted, not frustrated... just appropriately energized, exercised, and ready for a well earned rest.  Next time we'll get there early enough in the day to hike the whole loop!
I hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful Spring.... now if only the weather would start behaving like spring, I would be much happier!



Who'd have thunk it?!

Mar 19, 2008

I am back at work. Yeah!  Once the drains were pulled on Wednesday last week it was smooth sailing.  And honestly, it's been smooth sailing all along, but getting the drains removed was a huge relief and step in the happy direction.   Hoenstly, having the drains pulled was the worst part of the whole thing.  I wasn't really painful... it was just freakishly sick and wrong to have 8" tubes yanked out from inside your belly... good times.  I am gradually losing the fluids/inflammation which is nice... getting rid of that overall tight feeling.  I have been amazed at how rapid the improvement is.... one minute I might be feeling like "wow, this sucks" and and hour later I realize it's not as uncomfortable now as it was an hour ago.  I still haven't gotten into a good sleep routine.  After several days of being doped up and then several nights of  being propped in less than optimal positions, my sleep patterns are out of  whack.  And on top of that, my usual sleeping position doesn't feel right anymore, now that my tummy is gone.  Weird.  I never would have thought about having to change my sleeping position.  And I can't lay flat on my tummy yet, so I'm trying to find the best position and am looking forward to a good night's sleep soon... it gets better each night.
I just can't believe it's done!!!  Dr Havard has been wonderful, Casey and the rest of his office staff are wonderful.... couldn't have asked for a better team of folks to work with.


minor setback

Mar 10, 2008

So I thought I was going to be getting the drainss pulled today, but NO! 
Apparently the tubes are still gathering enough drainage that they need to stay a few days longer.  I'm bummed, but clearly would rather wait a few days than pull them prematurely and then have to go in and have the excess fluid removed by way of needle..... yikes.  So now the big day is planned for wednesday am at 9:30.  It's only a two day delay, but dang.... I was really looking forward to taking a shower... Oh well.

Other than that, I'm feelin great, hanging out, being lazy, feeling well enough to actually feel kind of guilty.... yeah, don't worry.... I've already gotten over the guilt.  It's just that I'm used to only being home when I am sicker than a dog and feeling like crud, so this is kind of nice.

Still rockin and rollin!!

Mar 09, 2008

Just a quick update... things are still going great!  Every hour is an improvement.   Side to side movements are pretty sensitive, but abdonimal movements are becoming less and less of a problem.  I am taking fewer and fewer pain meds and actually feel like a normal person again.  I can't wait for tomoorw to get the drains removed... Dr H says that's when you really start feeling better!  I have been so blessed!  Steve has been amazing!  I credit him with the lions share of my recovery!  I am so fortunate to have him!!!!
Time for a bandage change and then a drive into town.... I need some fresh air!!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Sue

It's done!!!

Mar 06, 2008

So the plastic surgery is done!  And I am pleased to say that I have not followed the pattern of some of the folks that had a harder time with their recovery.  I have been so blessed!  I'm feeling good, the drains are out of the arms already, the drains are expected to be removed from the abdomine on Monday, the pain is definitely there but definitley managable.  Arms are not painful at all, belly (sides in particular) are sore with any unwise/fast movement.  No problems with the meds.  And every hour is an improvement from the last.... unless I forget to take my meds and then try and figure out why I have more pain all of a sudden.... duh.  So are you ready for this..... 15 pounds!!!... Dr Havard removed 15 pounds of tissue!!! He was very suprised at the amount and had origianlly estimated about 7-8 pounds to be removed.  Now, I won't see that on the scale for a while as I am still pretty puffy from the surgery.  The whole thing is very surrealistic.... and I just took a pain pill.... so I'm going to sign off for right now to make sure my blog doesn't get randomly surrelaistic as well.
Thanks to everyone for all of your prayers!  Once again, they worked and I have been truly blessed with a smooth recovery.
OK, off to la la land :)

The unreal is becoming very real!

Feb 11, 2008

So I had my preop appointment today for my plastic surgery!  I KNOW!!! Can you believe it?!  I can't even begin to tell you how weird it feels to know that, on top of already not recognizing myself in the mirror, things are going to change again... change a lot.... and soon!  My surgery is on March 4 (3 wks from tomorrow-tuesday).  I'm the first one on the list that morning for surgery so I have to be there at 6am.  I'll be off work for two weeks with my promise to Dr Havard that I will extend it past 2 weeks if I am not totally up for it.  I didn't have any problems recovering from the RNY (or any previous surgeries/injuries) and I don't anticipate any problems with this.... though I am the first one to admit that I have never had any incisions like this before so I will definitely extend my leave if I need to.  I can't believe that it is only 3 weeks until my surgery.  The doctor showed me a line about half way down my torso and said that is where he expects to remove all of the skin below and that line will be pulled down and connected to the incision just above the pubic line.  I suppose, since none of you have seen me naked (you're welcome!) that doesn't mean much, but picture, on yourself, a line halfway between the base of your sternum/center of your ribcage and your waist.... then picture all of the extra stretched out skin below that being removed.....  that's crazy intense!  And (I love this) the official medical diagnosis is 'soft tissue redundancy'... does anyone else find that amusing?  I'm not fat, I just have redundant soft tissue! 
They will also be tightening the abdominal muscles, closing up a valley/separation between the muscle bands in my abdomine.  I am happy about that (better muscle tone eventually) and bummed (more painful recovery) but that's ok.... the pain is short term, the gain is for the rest of my life.
I am also having my arms done at the same time.  I'm not sure which procedure I am most excited about!  I can't wait to get rid of the 'flying squirrels', but I also can't wait to get rid of the hangy tummy and the jiggly torso. 
And they took pictures today... not as torturous as I thought it would be. 
So now I focus on getting everything ready (to do list for work done so other folks can cover my desk for me while I'm gone) so I can recover from surgery with no thoughts of things 'to do'.
More later!  Love to you all!

Yippee, I'm overweight!!

Jan 08, 2008

I am so excited!  I'm overweight!  I'm not morbidly obese.  I'm not obese.   I am now officially, according to the BMI chart, just OVERWEIGHT!!!  Now, I don't have any delusions of reaching the chart's 'normal weight' range.... I would need to be 164 or less, and that would just be silly!  So I am perfectly thrilled and content to be 'overweight'.  

My other exciting news is that I am scheduled for my plastitc surgery and will be having my preop on Feb 11 and my surgery (tummy and arms) on March 4!!!!  This is just crazy... I'm having a hard time believing it's been a year since surgery and that I'm at goal, let alone the fact that I am preparing for plastic surgery.  

I'm really having a hard time wrapping my brain around the PS thing.... the WLS was definitely something that I did 'for me', bit it was clearly a medical need.  The plastic surgery is really just for me.  When I tell people I'm having PS they tell me, "Why?  You look great!  You don't need plastic surgery!."  ...to which I must say "You clearly have not seen me naked!"  My husband, though very supportive, appreciative and excited about my transformation, does not care about the skin.  So this is clearly for me.  And this isn't just a gee-I-love-that-handbag kind of 'for me'... we are talking about the price of a car (used maybe, but still the price of a car.)  As women, our minds tend to go towards the needs of our husband, kids, home, patients, coworkers, students etc and not often (to this degree at least) to our own wants.  The other thing that I'm realizing is that having the PS is another level of commitment to my new life.  When you purge your closet of the clothes you never wear anymore, it is so easy see that empty closet rod and promptly fill it with more clothes, whether we need them or not.  I will be physically getting rid of the empty space, the empty luggage that could otherwise be filled up again with unneeded baggage and weight.  Not that I have any intention of ever crossing that 200 line ever again... it's just another layer of emotional realization and commitment to the new me.

Now, that being said.... Bring it on baby!!!  
I am not scared or worried about the surgery.  I know that the recovery is pretty painful, but short lived.  I know I have already added so many years on to my life with the weightloss.... now I get to add a new level of enjoyment to those added years.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!!  
This year is going to be a doozy, don't you think?!


About Me
Albany, OR
Location
36.5
BMI
RNY
Surgery
12/06/2006
Surgery Date
Oct 24, 2006
Member Since

Before & After
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Friends 30

Latest Blog 21
Happy Anniversary to me!!!
We have entered the ranks....
Just checking in
Who'd have thunk it?!
minor setback
Still rockin and rollin!!
It's done!!!
The unreal is becoming very real!
Yippee, I'm overweight!!

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