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It's been a few months...and we have made the transition to Pensacola!  We are loving it here.   
I've picked up a few pounds (5+) in the last few weeks as I was busy "celebrating" my youngest daughter's birthday (too much)- she turned 13 on July 8th.  Now it is time to get these pounds off!  Why is it that the pounds so easily come on us, but are such a struggle to come off? 
My daughter's pregnancy is coming right along...she'll be 19 weeks pregnant this week, and she's feeling the baby move a great deal right now.  She's having a girl and naming her Evalyn Nicole.  Her due date is Dec. 17th...just one week before Christmas. 
Well, I am off of here...to work on getting these 5 + more pounds off!
Take care everyone! 
Maybe I will see you in Atlanta!
Love Y'all!

It's been awhile since I last updated~ I reached my personal goal of weighing 168# by Mother's Day weekend!!!  WOO HOOOO!!!!  I now weigh 166-168# and wear a size 12-14.  I am happy in these sizes, well I am in the 12 that is. 
I have reset my goal at 160# by my birthday in December (13th).  Our newest grandbaby is due that day.  (I started out at 168# and have already lost 2#.)  I think the grand is a girl...just my Grandmotherly intuition telling me this.  As of today, my daughter is 11 weeks.
We have one other Grandchild...Dalton James who is the apple of my eye!  I think the world of him!  Now that we have moved to Pensacola, we don't see him that often for they live in Cullman, AL.
As far as my weight loss...read my previous blogs.  I had lost down with RNY, then regained primarily due to a medication I was taking.  Then I had made my mind to relose the weight again, and it has not been easy.  The weight comes on easily, but does not want to leave easily!  I have CHOSEN and set my mind to WIN THE BATTLE...and followed certain rules which have helped me.  They may not help you, but they have helped me.
"See Pouch Rules"

Just a note to say, I am slowly relosing the weight I had gained.  I am now down several pounds with 10# to go until I reach my average weight prior to regain and 15# till I reach my lowest weight ever.
I can do this...we all can do this. 
It is a DAILY, hour to hour choice for each of us!
I have come too far now to turn back.
I am now 4 almost 5 years POST OP!!!
Where has the time gone to?
Man, oh man, it has been a ride!!!
Love to each of you!
Jackie
BTW...we are going to be GRANDparents!!!!

I am the world's worst at updating my profile.  I really need to work on this!  Since my surgery 1/14/04, I have managed to keep ALL of my weight off except for gaining back 20#.  I am not proud of the extra 20#, but I also had "help" with this extra weight gain.  I was on some meds that made my appetite go THROUGH THE ROOF, so it has been a tough 2 years of battling the eating monster.  I chalk it up as a blessing that I didn't gain MORE than I did during this time...I could have gained ALOT more than I did.  I now work at a corporate level position with my company, so I am on the road alot.  My meals are on the road, so Subway has gotten ALOT of my $$$/business for I want healthy low fat meals.  Being on the road also temps you to eat those foods maybe you wouldn't eat if you were at home too.  It is a battle.  Obesity doesn't just magically go away when you have WLS...you will battle it daily for the rest of your life, or at least I do.  That's why I remain on OH/Bama Board for support.  There are folks there that are further out than I am and are SUCCESSFUL...that have KEPT their weight off, so I value their opinion as well as their friendship.  They are gold and a wealth of knowledge.  Whatever you do, no matter HOW FAR OUT YOU ARE, DON'T lose contact of those who are your sisters/brothers of WLS...you NEED them/their encouragement.  They are your lifeline for they know/understand what you are feeling and are going through!!!! 

May 2006 ~ Again, SO GUILTY of not updating my profile! I am maintaining my weight...I can go up & down 5-7# depending on the time of the month, etc. I used to think "thinner" women were CRAZY when they fussed about gaining 5#, but now I know why. My 5# is like 10# gain when I was heavier...I really do feel it in my clothing! I wear a 12-14 depending on who makes the clothing.
The source of my n/v, pain in the abdomen, etc. has been found. I have a herniated disc in my thorasic area, actually just BEHIND my pouch. I don't have pain in my back ~ I feel pain in my rib cage abdominal area. This is why it has taken the M.D.s so long to diagnose this problem...the referred pain I feel. The M.D. said this is a VERY UNUSUAL place to have a herniated disc for it usually happens in the cervical or lumbar area of the spine. I went for a steriod injection a few weeks ago, and for the first time in months I have gotten relief. This pain has been happening for a year now! I will return for more injections as this one wears off. I am LOVING not being in pain though! lol I am also VERY BLESSED that I have a wonderful hubby who only wants the best for me & has been faithfully there for me!
My mother had her WLS Sept. 2005. She is doing well. She has lost 85#. She is also in LOVE...lol. She is a single woman who has for the 1st time in her life found a truly loving, good man. I am happy for her too!
Still 8# more until my goal. Better late than NEVER...I can still lose these last few pounds even though it has been almost 2 1/2 years!

GUILTY...of NOT updating my profile! I am so bad!!! It is now Dec. 25th, 2005. I have lost a total of 131# with 8# more until goal! I AM reaching my goal...I will get there! =) My goal is 160# which will put my BMI at 25 which will make me normal??? lol My life has changed SO much. I am much more confident & happy. My heart still aches for folks I see who are morbidly obese. I just want to reach out & hug them! I know how they feel for I was SO miserable...not necessarily physically, but emotionally.
My aunt put together a collage of pictures with music for everyone this Christmas...several pics of me as a baby until now. You could pic me out each time...look, it is the fat girl ~ there she is again! And again...and again. For me WLS has been more than a physical goal, it HAS been a goal of becoming a normal person with alot of vanity mixed in. I am human...I want to look good for my loving husband as well as making my children proud of me! So, for me to be a normal weight will be a first time event for me! =) AND, I am going to get there. I have confidence I have never had before. I am wearing my hair more FUNKY now! =) I wear a size 10-12 & a 36D bra!!! YIPPEEE!
My mother had WLS 9/26/05 and has lost 53#! I am SO proud of her! She has been following her diet so well...and I tell her all the time how happy I am for her. My mother has (only once in her life) been a normal weight...she is ready to do it again & stay for life! She too from infancy on has been overweight/obese...it is a family battle that is shared.
I also have had the opportunity to be an ANGEL to my 1st new post-opper, Pam Kirk!!! She is doing awesome too! I just love her & cannot wait to see what these next months bring to her life! WAYYY to go Pam!! WOO HOO!!!!
In addition to my weight loss, lately I have had some problems physically. Reality is...this happens to some of us. For whatever reason, I am having reflux each time I eat & drink. AFTER WLS, we are NOT suppose to reflux at ALL! Prior to WLS, I would reflux maybe ONCE in a 2-3 month period...this is not something I have struggled with in the past, it is a new one for me! I have NOT felt the burning sensation or "HEARTburn" since WLS...so I had NO idea I have been refluxing which means I have no idea how erroded my esophagus is either??? I have also been battling nausea with dry heaving & abdominal pain. I have also been awoken in the middle of night with a crushing feeling to my lower rib cage, as if a man with HUGE hands is squeezing me so tightly my breath is being taken from me. I have a very high tolerance for pain, these symptoms began last Spring but have gotten worse & worse over the months. I probably would have been "toughing" this out if it were not for a very special woman, Becky Bellamy, who made me promise to go to the doctor. I kept my promise. I told Becky, as a mother of 3 & one being a special needs child, it is VERY hard to take time for myself ~ away from motherhood & working full-time. I have to take care of myself. I have an ulcer. I also have possible Barrett's Esophagus, in addition to a lower esophagus stricture related to the ulcer. The results of the biopsy of my esophagus will be given to me this week. I will update when I know more.
Dec. 30th ~ My biopsy is FINE!!! YEAHHH!!! I went for a CT scan of my abdomen yesterday. Should know the results next week. I got really sick ~ N/V yesterday, last night & some today. Not really sure if it was the barium cocktail or I am sick with a virus??

 

 

March 13th: Man, time is flying!!! I can't believe it has been one
month since I updated my journal. I am now down 122#!! I cannot believe
how close I am to my goal. I wear a size 14 now with a few size 12's.
My annual labs were all normal, and actually very good. My B12 could
have been higher, but I will start B12 shots soon. One week from now I
am having my gallbladder removed...it is full of tiny rocks! LOL Very
common happenstance with people who lose weight. I feel great other
than episodes of nausea & vomiting related to my gall bladder. I
cannot believe just how pleased I am with myself @14 months post op! I
would do this over & over again!!!

March 16th: Weight down 125# now!!! 14# more till goal!

YIPEEE!!!

Last week of March 2005...my gallbladder was removed! No problems WHATSOEVER!!! Doing wonderful! =)

 

 

 

 

Feb. 14th: Happy Valentine's Day!!! Down now 119#! I have 20# more till
I reach MY goal and 15# till my M.D.'s goal! I feel great. So pleased
with my results of WLS. My mother is doing her 6 month diet to get
ready for her WLS! GO Mom, go!!!

Jan. 22nd: Just celebrated my one year anniversary on Jan.14th! Man,
time has flown by quickly. I am still down 116#, the scales haven't
moved...I'll admit it, I wish they would, but I have done VERY WELL not
gaining over the holidays. During the winter months I have always had a
difficult time getting enough exercise, drinking enough fluids, and my
overall "mood" is usually low due to lack of sunlight, I am sure! I
find myself having to literally PUSH myself to drink anything for when
I feel cold or chilly, drinking is the LAST thing I want to do! I know
this has affected my weight loss too! My favorite beverage is the Fruit
O2 waters. I don't really like Propel...and I do like to add the tubes
of Crystal Lite to my plain water...that is pretty good!!! I have to be
careful when I eat, making sure I get plenty of protein in at each
meal. So many foods have "hidden" sugars/carbs and if I am not careful
my blood glucose levels will drop to 45-60 mg/dl @ 1 1/2 - 2 hours
after a meal. Normal blood glucose levels are 80-120 mg/dl. I am not
diabetic...never have been. If you were to ask me if I would do this
again, I would over & over again. It has really changed my life! I
wear a size 14-16 in clothing. My bra size has gone from a 44DD to a
36DD. Granny panties are GONE! LOL For the first time in my life I feel
beautiful.

Nov. 7th: The scales haven't moved much for me lately. The fat fairy
visited me last night, so I have now lost 111#!!! I cannot believe it!
I have only 28# more to go until I reach my goal and 23# more until I
reach my M.D.'s goal!

Nov. 9th: Another pound gone! That now makes -112#! WOO HOO

Nov. 10th: Down one more #!!! **BIG SMILE**

Nov. 18th: Down 114# now!! WOO HOO!

Nov. 27th: Lost 2 more #s!!! Yeahhhh!! Only 23# more till I reach my goal and 18# more till I reach the M.D.'s goal.