Teri D.
My journey started in March of 2006, when I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic. My MD mentioned bariatric surgery, and I went for it. I had my consult with Dr Schram on March 24th. Had to have a cardiac stress test, psyche evalue, and letter from my MD for dieting. Everything went well, had surgery June 14th. All went well, no complications.
Well, Saturday marked the 4 months post op. What changes have I seen? 75 lbs lost, gone from a size 28 bottom to a size 22 and from 26-3x top to a size XL-18. I am able to eat just about anything(within my boundaries). There is really nothing complicated about the eating regamin. I eat 6 times a day and get atleast 64 oz. liquids. I try to keep my protein to 75-100g. a day.
I am going to Curves 3 times a week, that is helping get me in shape. I have lost a lot of inches. I am still haveing hair loss, hopefully it will slow sometime soon.
My surrent weight is 246. I have not seen this weight since 1981, before I got pregnant with my youngest son! It is really fun to be able to enjoy doing things like walking, shopping, cleaning the yard, things that I was limited to because of my size. I still make a wide pass area, still think the behind will knock things over,lol. That will be one of the funnest things to adjust to. What a great ride this has been so far. I am excited to see what the changes are to come!
One of the biggest changes!!!!!!!!!I am no longer morbidly obese! I am only obese!! WOOHOO!!
October 26th, 2006
Got measured today, down 13 lbs in the last month.Measurements are as follows
Bust 40
Waist-42.5
abdomen 52.5
hips 53.25
thigh 28.5
arm 13.
Nov. 13,2006
Tomorrow marks the 5 month point in my journey. I am doing well. I have been sick for 2 weeks, so no exercise. Going back to curves today. My weight is at 234. That is a total loss of 87 lbs since surgery, 103 lbs loss since March, 2006. I am able to eat almost anything within my limits. I have to increase my calories, only getting about 600 a day.
11-21-06
Well, took my measurements this morning. Bust is at 39, waist 40.5,hips 51, left thigh 27.5, calf 18.5. down about 4.75 inches from October. A loss of 31.25 inches so far!Thats not too bad. I bought an outfit for Christmas, hoping that the pants will fit, they are an 18 and I am currently wearing 20-22 depending on brand and cut. All around, things are going well. Mood seems to have some serioous swings right now, hopefully that will calm down soon.
12-01-06
Made it through Thanksgiving. Wasnt as bad as i thought, other than the people telling me i needed to eat more. well, that didnt happen. I am down 96 lbs as of today. I hope to lose another 4 by the 14th. that is my 6 month ann. I am wearing size 20 bottom and xl or 18 tops. things are going well. have increased my protein, that seems to help. tomorrow is my birthday, and we are going to a really nice Amish restuarant for my work Christmas party. the food is soooo good. too bad cant take home extras,lol.
12-21-06
6 months have come and gone as well as 105 lbs and many inches. I feel great, it is a bit scary when you think about losing that much in such a short time, but it has been great. I am able to wear a few size 18 and xl bottoms, and large and xl tops. I have not seen this size since 1978. It is hard to believe where I was 6 months ago, the health issues, the lack of physical ability, now my major complaint is BONES! Havent seen those for so long, forgot they were there!! Skin issues arent too bad at this point, my husband calls me his little sharpei! lol, what a small price to pay for being this much smaller. I have not yet had sugar or major fat. Do not want to dump.
Really dont miss any major food. The hardest thing for me has been making my fudge. That was a challange. Not sure I will make it next year.
01-09-07
Happy late new year!! Things have been going well. Weight is at 208.6 today, that makes -113. since surgery.
Got measured today at Curves. Bust 38.5, waiste 38.5, hips 49.5, thighs 25., arms 12.5, that is a loss of about 7.5 more inches. I am working into 18 pants and l tops. everything is going great at this point. i tried a pair of my husbands pants on the other night and they fit! that was too funny. they are 38-30 painter style.
Feb 13th, 2006
Things are going well. Down 126 lbs since surgery. Wearing a size 18 pants and large tops. It has been a challange this winter to stay warm. I am almost looking forward to summer, but i hate the heat,lol. Still pushing 100g protein a day. Getting more hair back in (yeah). Was afraid for a while I was not going to get any back. Still thin, but better. I have 30 lbs to go to my personal goal and 46 to dr.'s goal. Not sure I will be able to attain that one. I am afraid it would be too thin, we shall see,lol.
March 16, 2007. 9 months out, things are going well. Weight has slowed a bit, only 5 lbs in the last month, but still losing inches. I am back to curves 2-3 times a week. Am anxious to be able to get my bicycle out as soon as it stays warm enough.
The things that I can do now compared to 9 months ago are wonderful. I dont have to worry about fitting into chairs or booths. I can shop in the regular size clothes. I can run and keep up with my granddaughter. My general health is great. No more borderline sugar, high cholesterol,bouncing blood pressure. I HAVE BONES!!
It is still hard to accept the new body, the mind still sees the fat girl. I still guage myself with door openings etc. I hope that will change eventually. At this point I am hoping not to have plastics, we will see after I get to goal and how I manage the excess skin issues. They are there, but not horrible yet.
Should have my bloodwork results in a few days. Hopefully everything is still good.
I am so thankful for this change in my life. I would not go back to the way I was before surgery for any amount of money. I feel so much better and look so much better.
April 16th. I am now 10 months out and down 143 lbs since surgery and 159 since the whole journey began. WHat a trip it has been! I am wearing size 16! I havent seen that since high school. It is really hard to look in the mirror and accept that it is really me there. The brain still doesnt see it as possible. I am eating well, no major problems. Still amazes me that I can only eat 1/2-1 cup of food depending on the density. I am off all of my previous meds except my irregular heartbeat meds, that is awsome. Still taking my vitamins and biotin and protein. I drink one or 2 protein drinks a day depending on my intake. My bloodwork was good, so I do not have to add anything as of now.
May 29th,
16 days to go til my surgeryversary! wow, what a year it has been, i am down 167 lbs and many many inches. i measured out at 33.5 chest, 33 waist, 43 hips,40 abdomen, 22 thigh and 12 arm. what a change that is. the loss has slowed down a lot the last month, but that is ok. i have about 10 lbs to go to where i think i will need to stop. i am moving into size 12 bottoms and m-l tops. you can see ribs and spine! i hvent ever seen those,lol. the dr goal is another 11 on top of mine, but we will see what he says when i go back later in june for my 1 year. i love the changes(other than the skin and breasts)lol. i can ride my bike and play on the floor with the grandchildren and i feel good. i am off all meds but one and that is a maintenance not due to weight. one more pound and i will have lost what i weigh, how weird is that, HOW did i ever let myself get there? stress, depression, and then just didnt care any more. what a viscious cycle it is.
do i have any regrets? none, i would recommend this to anyone, yes there are risks and challanges, but the outcome has been worth it so far.
July 25, 2007
It has been a while since I updated. Things are going great. I am at 159 lbs. That puts me at a normal BMI for the first time since I was very young. The smallest I have been since junior high school is a size 14. I am wearing a size 10-12 bottom and m-l tops. What a change. It is great. Food still can be a struggle. I would expect that to be forever, but I still dont eat what I am not supposed to, and make sure I get about 75g protein every day. My caloric intake is probably about 1200 a day. I seem to be doing well there.
My yearly check up was fine. Blood was fine, no addons. That made me very happy. My pcp says no more weight off. I am skinny! Imagine that,lol! I have a new granddaughter as of June 13th. Number 4 is due Sept 9. What a motivation to be healthy. I am so thankful that things have gone well. God is Great! I wish I could help others to do the same, but I know that you have to be ready on your own to do something like this and you have to be committed.
Aug 17, 2007
I am now 14 months out. I have hit a new low, 156 lbs. I never thougth I would see this weight. I am feeling great, have lots of energy most of the time,lol. I am wearing a 10-12 in bottoms and m top. It is so hard to believe that I am at this place in my life, it just hit me this morning that my husband has never seen me this small. i have not been this small in my adult life. i would have to say that i hvent seen this weight since elementary school. wow. my oldest son is planning on the surgery after the first of the year. i pray all goes as well for him as it has for me!
Nov 8, 2007.
It has been a while since I have updated. I am now down to 145-147 lbs. I have had to increase my calories to keep it there. I feel great! I am wearing 8-10 bottoms and med tops. I am FREEZING!!lol. I am learning what it means to layer. I still eat 5-6 times a day, and try to get some exercize when I can. It is amazing how different life is now, I never dreamt that I would be this small. I really thank God that all has gone so well and that I am feeling this good. I love being able to keep up with my granddaughters-all 4! Had the newest Sept 1. Hannah. I still do not eat much junk. Chocolate is pretty much a nono. I will have a piece of sf occasionally, but dont really want to go there. I do not want to let myself think that it is ok, because it can lead to bad things. My dad asked me this morning if I would recommend it to anyone. ABSOLUTELY! I tell anyone that I can about my experience and how it can make a world of difference in their life. I would love to be able to work in a clinic like Barix, I think that would be awsome to be able to help obese people to get this done and go on with their lives healthy.
04-01-08
It is almost 22 months since my life changing surgery. I am doing well. Weight still 145-148. I have to eat 5-6 times a day to keep it there, I do not want to go below that. I am doing great, i can run up and down the basement stairs, keep up with my grandchildren-even the 2 year old-what a remarkable change. I believe i am as lean as i can possibly be, the only place i seem to have any extra is on my thighs, and i am not sure that it more than skin, its hard to tell. I will not seek any plastics unless it becomes a health issue, i figure if i cant do it all, why bother. my skin is pretty well distributed, so doing one area really doesnt appeal to me, other that the thought of a breast augmentation! that is the only part i would truly like to fix, but that is not an option at this point.
June 16th 2008.
Well, it has been 2 years since my bariatric surgery. I am doing great. I have had no major problems since my surgery. I currently weigh 154 lbs. This is about 10 lbs higher than my lowest point. I feel better here and do not look sickly thin. I am in a size 10 and enjoying life. I can keep up with my 4 granddaughters and play and chase them and even run from them. WOW, what a change.
There are still day to day struggles, carbs are my main one. Some days are flat out bad, but I just take it day to day and if I fall, I get right back up and do better the next day. I do still react to sugars and too many sugar alcohols. This is a good thing. Keeps me in line as far as bad eating.
I am still adjusting to my new body. I have some excess skin, but it covers easily. I would love a tummy tuck and a breast aug, but dont think the pain is worth the small amount of excess skin I have on the tummy.
I have my 2 year check up today. I have switched to a new bariatric surgeon in my town, he has many years experience and I dont have to drive almost 90 min for a 15 min appt. I still do a liquid protein every morning and usually 1-2 pure protein bars a day. I try to get about 1100 calories a day. Some days are higher and some are lower. I eat 5-6 meals a day to keep my body on an even keil. I am drinking atleast 64 oz of water or tea and some flavored waters. I do not drink pop at all, havent since my surgery.
Would I recommend this to anyone>ABSOLUTELY! My oldest son is in the process of getting scheduled right now. It is not the easiest lifestyle, but well worth the changes.
About Me
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
