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                      Weight
07/01/07    317    My OMG! Weight
11/19/07     280    morning of surgery
11/27/07     270     1 week out (47/10)
12/03/07    263     2 weeks (54/17)
12/10/07     261     3 weeks (56/19)
12/17/07     261     1 month (56/19)
01/15/08     251     2 months (66/29)
02/15/08    242     3 months (75/38)
03/15/08    235     4 months (82/45)
04/15/08    228    5 months  (89/52)
05/15/08    224    6 months   (93/56)
6/15/2008   210    7 months (107/70)
7/18/2008   199     8 months (118/81)
8/19/2008      194      9 months (123/86)
10/24/2008    190      10 months (127/ 90)
1/27/2011  225  - but am in my 9th month of a pregnancy. 


2 months:  I really thought the weight would continue to fall off as I went about my normal day.  This is harder than I imagined. I feel good, my clothes fit looser every week, but I've been hovering at 251... 252 for almost two weeks.   Punch anyone in the nose who suggests this is an "easy" way to lose weight.  Still - ten pounds in a month is more that I could ever do before, so let's celebrate for a moment.. Woo Woo.  Ok, back to it... water, protein, dreadmill

4 months:  Those folks who suggest this is easy can kiss my ass!  I only lost 7 pounds last month.  ARG.  I'm feeling good, I'm down 8 pant sizes and moving more than ever.  But easy... no.

6 months:  Oh my, what a difference 7 months can make.  I'm more than halfway to my goal, I'm working out at the gym and enjoying it, I've started dating (no one special just yet...but I'm having a blast.)  I never imagined the confidence that I have these days.  When I weighed what I do today I was shy, unhappy, and felt like a blob... it's totally different this time around.  Maybe because my weight is going down rather than up, or because I'm (almost) 40... whatever it is I feel sexy and healthy.  Woo Woo. My first major stall is over and I'm trying maximize this renewed movement.  (newbies who "stall" at 3 weeks crack me up.)  Anyway...let's keep up the forward momentum, remember to love ourselves, and for pete sake drink your water!


6 months:  I feel great!  I'm down 10 sizes (28 to 18)  But, I guess it's time to admit that I'm in a stall.  I'm sticking to the plan, working out and keeping up on my fluids but keep dropping and adding the same 2 pounds over and over again.   I worry at my low points that I'm done losing weight, but know that it can't be so.  My heart is still in this process and I haven't regretted it for a moment.    
I'm having to have my passport, drivers license and employee badge photos retaken because they don't look like me at all. FUN.  I should post new photo's.  The number of current photo's of Terri have dwindled to two. 
My hair is falling out - but the pace has slowed from its most horrific rate (which wasn't too bad)  It will come back.  
My PCP is thrilled with my progress and my labs came back - mostly ok.  Low iron, so I'm on some crazy drug for that.  
I'm having regular visits from Aunt Flo - which is totally unusual.  I whined about it to my friend and she gave me the finger.  (tee hee)
Posting this update has boosted my mood - it's so good to take stock every now and then about progress.

6/3/2008:  100 lb Loss!  Yeah!  The scale is moving again on a regular basis.  I've been on a date, and an feeling pretty fantastic today!  Happy Happy Day. 

7/18/08:  After days of flirting with it, I finally dipped under 200.  Pretty exciting.  I'm amazed.  I've been dating (two guys!?) and having  a blast.  I looked at a picture of me from last May and I remember that gal, but I'm so not her anymore.  *weepy*  I still love her, but am thankful to be the me today.  This just keeps getting better and better.

8/18/08:  Certainly the weight loss has slowed, but my body is changing as is my life.  I feel fantastic.  The dating thing calmed down and I'm seeing someone who for me is really special.  That has thrown my schedule into a bit of a tailspin, I'm finding it hard to break away and go to the gym.  I have to make it happen.  This is my window of opportunity.  Since I blogged last, I turned 40!  Happy Birthday to me - in every way.

10/26/08:  11 months out, I'm in a crazy long stall, but I attribute it to bad habits.  I met someone and we're spending so much time together that they gym has been an afterthought.  However, tomorrow we are joining a gym that is close to where we live.  I have to work in the working out portion of my life.  Other than holding steady with my weight, I am happy.  Falling in love was unexpected but amazing.   There's a woman in my life who just had her surgery last month.  It's exciting to see her progress through the first few milestones.  I hope to be helpful to her.

1/27/2011 - well, time goes by.  I've been busy.  I dropped to 180 and then got into a relationship, which resulted in my adding another 180 pounds (a husband).  I see myself as a "fit" person now, and the inner big girl is a memory.  I still carry her with me, but my eating habits are just that - habits.  I find I can eat sweets (some) but never ever ice cream.  I suppose that's fine.  I have sacrificed nothing to be who I am today.

I'm having a child next month and that brought lots of issues up regarding weight (would I gain too much, would I be able to eat enough to keep a baby healthy...) and everything has gone very well.  I think having a great relationship with your primary care doc (not just your surgeon) is critical for success.  I do regular bloodwork and  never forget that i have the ability to eat myself back to 315 lbs.  I choose to stay focued on my future.

I'm happy and that means everything.

Yes, I know 10 days out from surgery is too soon to go shopping, but my size 28s  were falling off my person.   The two pair of 26 pants are summer weight and are honestly, getting a little baggy. 

I hit the mall yesterday and found two really great pairs of size 24 pants for $19.00 each.  One is fully lined and the other has a little "stretch" .   I'll drop them at the dry cleaner today and get them hemmed.  (I'm short)  By next Monday they will fit perfectly for work!

How fun to go back to work in nice pants that are 4 sizes smaller than the ones I left in!

In other news, I was cleared to move to the next food stage.  I never thought that one tablespoon of oatmeal would ever fill me up, but it does.  It's filling when you add the one tablespoon of yogurt and applesauce.  The great thing about this stage of the diet is that meal times are more spread out, so I feel more mobile. 

The doc also cleared me to remove the wound strips.  Most of the sites look really good and will heal with minimal scaring.  The big site (where they do most of the work) is still kind of red and pissed.  I think I'll drag out the vitamin E oil and get to work on scar minimalization.  (it's a word...)

I'm 10 days post op and I seem to be losing about 2 pounds a day.  That's totally crazy... if that rate keeps up I'll be a member of the century club before the year is over and out of the 200's in January.

That's  not possible.  I'm sure I will encounter a stall before then - or the weight loss will slow when I move to pureed foods.

Still... it's exciting to think about!

I got a very nice question from a gal asking me to share the story of my friend who died and I thought I would post the reply for all (if you're at ALL interested.)

Shannon wasn't a close friend and I found out recently that he had an enlarged heart.  The surgery probably prolonged his life rather than caused it (like I thought.)  I think the important lesson is to have a complete work up by your primary care doctor vs. the WLS doc.  before heading down the path of wls. 

Shannon was in his 40's and didn't know about the enlarged heart and I have to wonder if a complete physical before the surgery (or ever) could have saved his life.  We'll never really know.

What I do know is that his life changed dramatically after surgery and he was a whole different person.  He was happier, motivated to get a better job, more engaged in his social life and enjoyed the hell out of his last two years of life.  While he would probably prefer to be here today, I doubt he would change his mind about having the surgery.

I strongly believe that an unbiased opinion from a doctor who isn't going to benefit financially from your having surgery is important.  I don't think my surgeon would have done the surgery if he thought the risks were high, but I think his focus is on the risks  and complications he's familiar with, and while we now have a relationship (return appointments and 3 -6 month follow ups) my PCP and I have a much more substantial medical history and future.

Shannon was great!  He is missed by his family and friends.  When I told one of our mutual friends that I was having the surgery (and had hesitated to tell her because of the Shannon story) she gave me a huge hug and said that she was excited and thrilled - and that he would be too.

So.. there you go!

Surgery went well.  I tapered off the morphine drip before they took it away.  So far things are good. 

I'm still somewhat bloated from all the IV's and the surgery but it gets better every day.  My mom is bored because I'm doing so much for myself.  She is however keeping the laundry up to date (which I could get use to.)

We're going to venture out today to run errands.  I expect it to be slow and for it to wear me out, but I'm excited.  (who would have ever thought that a trip to the post office would be a treat?)

I am struggling with the stage one diet.  By 8pm I am so sick of drinking that I want to throw myself off the balcony.  I never could have imagined that it would be hard to get 6oz an hour into my system.

I foolishly stepped on the scale yesterday (I don't recommend it for at least a week after surgery) and my weight had gone up by 16 lbs since the day of surgery.  It's better today and I'm sure by Monday it will be even more encouraging.

My pain level is low.  Maybe a 2.  I sneezed yesterday and it spiked to a 4 for a brief moment.  I'm getting in and out of bed without help and can put on my own shoes (yippie)

My belly looks crazy - little black dots from the heprin shots and the tiny surgery wounds.  The only thing that is worrisome is that the area where my drain was is still oozing and it's gross.  It's still a good color and the wound is nice and pink - but it's not a fun thing to deal with. 

All in all I'm danged happy to be home. 

I'm excited for sure.  I've lost almost 40 pounds since I've started down this path so I can see that it is going to be amazing.  I'm already out of my big pants.  The give away pile is growing and growing.  That's fun.

I'm a little bit in denial.  I finally went to the store to get the last things I'll need for the last day and then the hospital stay.  I've been putting that off.  And, since my mom is coming for almost two weeks I've been cleaning and cleaning and cleaning.  I can't stand the mess of company (I have a small condo without an extra room so company lives in the living room.)  She tends to let me pick up after her, so during this time when I can't I'm hopeful that I can remain nice and just go with the flow.

Friday at work was a lot like being the bride.  Total center of attention and I just wanted to keep my head down and work.  Everyone has been really supportive.  People are excited for me- so great!

I'm nervous.  While my primary doc says I'm in great shape and the surgery shouldn't be an issue the fact that people do die is not lost on me.  So, I've put my stuff in order - left a letter for my best friend (to help my parents).  I put it in an envelope and will throw it away when I get home.  No one ever has to read it.  Still... it's a lot to take in.

I had an event at church tonight -- woo hoo last Saturday night out and I'm wrapping boxes for the adopt-a-family program.  The people are fun so it was good.  They served pizza for dinner and damn it... I had a slice.  I've done really well on the liquid pre-op program and while I shouldn't have done it, I did.  Clearly, for me, social eating is going to be an issue.


I'll probably pop in again tomorrow. It's clear liquid day!  Fun fun fun.  I'm super excited about the magnesium citrate too!  I bet they are really tasty.  (I'll be drinking them cold - or breaking out the college beer bong... I wonder if that would work?)

7 days to go.  By this exact time next week I'll be "on the table".

Getting nervous - but there's so much to do.  No time to dwaddle.  Thank heavens for a goodly timed three day weekend.

Gotta get that guest room ready for mom.

Oh lord what an ordeal.  It just wasn't my day yesterday. 

Things I learned:

1) Call to confirm your appointments
2) Carry SOME food at all times
3) Ask - how long will this appointment be?  (The moment you assume its a one hour meeting it will instantly tun into 6.5 hours.)

Pre-Surgery liquid diet starts Monday.  I'm in denial.  I have a dinner party tonight and I may eat anything in the world I want.  May... so far today it's been protein and water... so maybe I'm not one to do the one last meal thing.  We'll see.

November 19th. 

My pre-op appointment is the 2nd and because I'm the last single person on earth my mom is coming to take care of me again.  She's required to come to the pre-op appointment, so she'll be here in a couple weeks.

Surprisingly, scheduling the surgery was an emotional thing for me.  I'm scared and excited.  I wish I was blinded by hope and optimism, but there are little nagging voices in the back of my head.  (am I doing the right thing, is it too much of a risk, will I ever be able to eat again, can I do the 2 week pre-op liquid diet...)

Balanced against that is the fact that every day when I get dressed I'm pulling out clothes that I long expanded out of.  That feels pretty good.

I'm still losing weight (pre-op) but have noticed that my momentum for the surgery is slowing down.  It's a scary thing, this WLS and I'm still on board but I've decided to wait until November.  I have one last business trip to take this year and I don't want to be on the liquid diet during a week long trip.

I'm a little sad about Thanksgiving , but hope to be able to munch on some food by Christmas.  

I'm thankful for OH, but wish I had a live in-person support group to attend.   Not to imply that you all aren't real people.  :)

On a different note, I had dinner with friends last night, they served a yummy squash soup and a wonderful chicken salad (not the mayo drenched cs, but a big green salad with veggies and grilled chicken on top.)  It was really good and I couldn't eat it all.

After dinner they offered up dessert, double cream vanilla ice-cream with a lemon iced shortbread cookie.  My mouth was watering and the desire for it was palpable.  In the end, I split a cookie with someone and ate it really slow.  It was good but this is what I wish.:

a) that desert hadn't been offered - they know I'm dieting
b) that for every pound adding food battle that we win that we would lose an extra pound for saying no.    (Want pizza for dinner?  No, I'll have turkey breast and carrots instead.  BOOM: -2 lbs.)  Not gaining weight isn't quite the reward that losing is.

Have a delightful day!