Vicki V.
Big Granite Dome or Milestone?
Oct 21, 2009
About eighteen miles north of Fredericksburg, Texas on Ranch Road 965 an enormous pink granite dome rises out of the Texas Hill Country.
Enchanted Rock is the 500 feet high centerpiece of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. And, it's impressive. You can see it from miles away. It is designated as a National Natural Landmark and is among the oldest exposed rock in North America. Enchanted Rock received it's name from reports of spirit lights and night time noises emanating from the giant rock. The Native Americans had great respect for the huge natural monument, and some would not set foot upon it. Others used it for ceremony or observation and possibly human sacrifice.
I first saw it about 6 years ago when Grandad and Grams were weekending at a Sunday House in Fredericksburg. We had heard our daughter, Katy, and our soon-to-be son-in-law, Travis, talk about hiking at Enchanted Rock so we decided to take a drive out and see it.
As you wind through the hills it suddenly appears in the distance. From the day I first saw it, I wanted to stand on the top. At that time, I weighed in at 300 pounds, making such a climb impossible, or at least highly unlikely. But it became a dream that I tucked away in the back of my mind and my heart.
Three years later, when I was in a San Antonio hospital bed recovering from gastric bypass surgery, I still thought of standing on top of Enchanted Rock. When Katy and Travis visited, I told them of my dream to stand on the summit of Enchanted Rock. They enthusiastically agreed to take me to hike it when I was in good enough shape to make the climb. Thus my dream became a goal.
In the ensuing three years, I have walked many miles in my neighborhood and at the nearby nature trail. I have worked hard to retrain my eating habits and learn to live a healthy lifestyle. On September 27, 2009, I celebrated the three year anniversary of my surgery and the loss of 125 pounds. I knew it was time to tackle my long tucked away dream. We chose a date and I began training in earnest to hike up Enchanted Rock. On Sunday, October 18, we made the drive from San Antonio to Enchanted Rock.
We hiked the Loop Trail to the far side of the Summit, past Moss Lake to Echo Canyon where we began our climb to the Summit up the West side of the dome. The hike around the Loop Trail was beautiful. We saw all kinds of cacti and, even this time of year, there were wildflowers. We took a short side trail to an overlook that gave us a beautiful view out to the West. When we got to Echo Canyon, the hike became challenging. The approach is littered with huge boulders and loose rocks. Traversing this terrain is tough for a novice hiker and climber.
After hiking a few yards into the boulder field where I actually had to begin climbing over boulders and stepping across gaps, I looked at Katy and Travis and asked them a one-word question, "Seriously?!" They both were extremely encouraging and reassuring; they told me I could do it. In fact, not only could I do it, but they were going to make sure I would do it.
As I scrambled, sometimes on hands and knees up and across the boulder field, a family of four came walking along and passed us. Yes, they were just walking briskly along with poles in both hands, upright the entire time, and passing us right up. It occurred to me that perhaps I should follow them; and I did for a short way. But they were headed a different direction, so we made a turn toward the summit.
We cleared the boulder field and began climbing the smoother granite face of the dome. It was steep and challenging. Katy encouraged me to climb at an angle and track back and forth across the hill. I had to stop every 50 yards or so and catch my breath. This was truly challenging. I might have even quit, except I knew that the only way down was up and over. We climbed and climbed. Every time I thought I could see the Summit it turned out to be a lower outcropping. It seemed to take forever. My legs felt like lead and at times I couldn't catch my breath. Travis and Minnie, their Jack Russell Terrier, led the way. Katy stayed right by my side every step of the way.
As we neared the Summit and I realized I was actually going to make it to the top, I was overcome with emotion. I began sobbing aloud and could not catch my breath. I had to sit down. Travis and Minnie climbed back down and joined Katy and me as we took a break. As we shared a Granola bar and an orange, we talked about how far I have come. Just a few years ago, I could not walk through an air conditioned mall without sitting down to catch my breath. Now I was climbing the face of a huge granite dome. After a little rest, we resumed our quest.
When we finally stood on the Summit of Enchanted Rock it felt amazing. The 360 degree view is awe inspiring. Small pools of water are accumulated in the natural indentations on top of the dome. A lone tree grows there. There were also lots of people at the top. We had taken the path less traveled. Most visitors go up the South face of the dome, a much easier climb. We descended that way and were passed up by many, many kids. Apparently this climb is a piece of cake for the kids. They were often running up and down, not even out of breath.
With the help and encouragement of my wonderful daughter and son-in-law, I had reached a major milestone. It was so much more than I expected. Not only did I feel a sense of accomplishment and follow-through, I felt an opening up of possibilities. Dreams can come true if you're willing to put in the work.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Would I do it again? Positively! I don't have to sit and watch other people any more. I am no longer an observer; now I am an active participant in life. I don't just dream of doing things, I actually do them!
So next time you're driving through the Texas Hill Country and see Enchanted Rock in the distance, don't just think of it as an enormous granite dome ... think of it as a milestone. It was hard ... but Grams made it ... because I can do hard things!
1 comment
Enchanted Rock is the 500 feet high centerpiece of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. And, it's impressive. You can see it from miles away. It is designated as a National Natural Landmark and is among the oldest exposed rock in North America. Enchanted Rock received it's name from reports of spirit lights and night time noises emanating from the giant rock. The Native Americans had great respect for the huge natural monument, and some would not set foot upon it. Others used it for ceremony or observation and possibly human sacrifice.
I first saw it about 6 years ago when Grandad and Grams were weekending at a Sunday House in Fredericksburg. We had heard our daughter, Katy, and our soon-to-be son-in-law, Travis, talk about hiking at Enchanted Rock so we decided to take a drive out and see it.
As you wind through the hills it suddenly appears in the distance. From the day I first saw it, I wanted to stand on the top. At that time, I weighed in at 300 pounds, making such a climb impossible, or at least highly unlikely. But it became a dream that I tucked away in the back of my mind and my heart.Three years later, when I was in a San Antonio hospital bed recovering from gastric bypass surgery, I still thought of standing on top of Enchanted Rock. When Katy and Travis visited, I told them of my dream to stand on the summit of Enchanted Rock. They enthusiastically agreed to take me to hike it when I was in good enough shape to make the climb. Thus my dream became a goal.
In the ensuing three years, I have walked many miles in my neighborhood and at the nearby nature trail. I have worked hard to retrain my eating habits and learn to live a healthy lifestyle. On September 27, 2009, I celebrated the three year anniversary of my surgery and the loss of 125 pounds. I knew it was time to tackle my long tucked away dream. We chose a date and I began training in earnest to hike up Enchanted Rock. On Sunday, October 18, we made the drive from San Antonio to Enchanted Rock.
We hiked the Loop Trail to the far side of the Summit, past Moss Lake to Echo Canyon where we began our climb to the Summit up the West side of the dome. The hike around the Loop Trail was beautiful. We saw all kinds of cacti and, even this time of year, there were wildflowers. We took a short side trail to an overlook that gave us a beautiful view out to the West. When we got to Echo Canyon, the hike became challenging. The approach is littered with huge boulders and loose rocks. Traversing this terrain is tough for a novice hiker and climber.After hiking a few yards into the boulder field where I actually had to begin climbing over boulders and stepping across gaps, I looked at Katy and Travis and asked them a one-word question, "Seriously?!" They both were extremely encouraging and reassuring; they told me I could do it. In fact, not only could I do it, but they were going to make sure I would do it.
As I scrambled, sometimes on hands and knees up and across the boulder field, a family of four came walking along and passed us. Yes, they were just walking briskly along with poles in both hands, upright the entire time, and passing us right up. It occurred to me that perhaps I should follow them; and I did for a short way. But they were headed a different direction, so we made a turn toward the summit.
We cleared the boulder field and began climbing the smoother granite face of the dome. It was steep and challenging. Katy encouraged me to climb at an angle and track back and forth across the hill. I had to stop every 50 yards or so and catch my breath. This was truly challenging. I might have even quit, except I knew that the only way down was up and over. We climbed and climbed. Every time I thought I could see the Summit it turned out to be a lower outcropping. It seemed to take forever. My legs felt like lead and at times I couldn't catch my breath. Travis and Minnie, their Jack Russell Terrier, led the way. Katy stayed right by my side every step of the way.
As we neared the Summit and I realized I was actually going to make it to the top, I was overcome with emotion. I began sobbing aloud and could not catch my breath. I had to sit down. Travis and Minnie climbed back down and joined Katy and me as we took a break. As we shared a Granola bar and an orange, we talked about how far I have come. Just a few years ago, I could not walk through an air conditioned mall without sitting down to catch my breath. Now I was climbing the face of a huge granite dome. After a little rest, we resumed our quest.
When we finally stood on the Summit of Enchanted Rock it felt amazing. The 360 degree view is awe inspiring. Small pools of water are accumulated in the natural indentations on top of the dome. A lone tree grows there. There were also lots of people at the top. We had taken the path less traveled. Most visitors go up the South face of the dome, a much easier climb. We descended that way and were passed up by many, many kids. Apparently this climb is a piece of cake for the kids. They were often running up and down, not even out of breath.With the help and encouragement of my wonderful daughter and son-in-law, I had reached a major milestone. It was so much more than I expected. Not only did I feel a sense of accomplishment and follow-through, I felt an opening up of possibilities. Dreams can come true if you're willing to put in the work.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Would I do it again? Positively! I don't have to sit and watch other people any more. I am no longer an observer; now I am an active participant in life. I don't just dream of doing things, I actually do them!
So next time you're driving through the Texas Hill Country and see Enchanted Rock in the distance, don't just think of it as an enormous granite dome ... think of it as a milestone. It was hard ... but Grams made it ... because I can do hard things!
The Rules I Live By (Most of the Time)
Feb 10, 2009
My favorite scene from the Disney movie "Aladdin" is when the Genie tells Aladdin that he will grant him three wishes but there are rules. He says "There are a few provisos, a couple of quid pro quos. Ah, rule number one: I can't kill anybody. So don't ask. Rule two: I can't make anyone fall in love with anyone else. Rule three: I can't bring people back from the dead. It's not a pretty picture, I don't like doing it! Other than that, you got it!"
I think this pretty much sums up my life after weight loss surgery (RNY). There are rules. As long as I follow the rules life is good. If I don't, in the words of the Genie "It's not a pretty picture, I don't like doing it!"
So these are my rules, in no particular order. Some were set forth by my surgeon and some I've come to on my own. But these are the rules that work for me. Remember, everyone is different and what works for me may not necessarily work for you.
Rule #1 - I take my vitamins and supplements religiously. It's the first thing I do every morning when I get out of bed. I don't want to develop any of the health problems that some long-term post-op patients have and this seems pretty simple to me. It was part of the deal I made with my surgeon and my family. It's not hard to stick to and it's important.
Rule #2 - I drink 60-80 ounces of liquids daily. Most instructions are to drink 80 ounces of water. I have found that my body doesn't really know what liquids I drink. I stick to very low calorie drinks and limit my caffeine intake. The reason for this much liquid intake is to keep my kidneys flushed from the high protein intake of my diet.
Rule #3 - I don't drink anything for 30 minutes after meals. My doctor's original instructions were nothing to drink 30 minutes before or after meals. I did this for about 18 months, but I have found that this modification works for me and is more tolerable.
Rule #4 - I don't eat in the car. For most of my life I have eaten breakfast in the car on the way to work (or school when I was younger.) In addition I often ate lunch on the run and occasionally dinner on the way to or from something I had to do. Seriously, most foods that I can eat while I drive a car are not good for me. In addition, I'm too distracted to realize how much I've eaten and when I should stop.
Rule #5 - I don't eat snacks out of boxes or bags. I have discovered that this is "mindless" eating. When I eat out of a box or a bag, I don't pay attention to what or how much I'm eating and I eat way more than a serving. I bought myself some 4 ounce bowls and use them for snack servings. I allow myself to eat a whole bowl of most snacks and then I'm done.
Rule #6 - I eat dessert every day, but I've learned to be satisfied with just a little. I'm not shy about asking a hostess to serve me half a piece of pie or a small sliver of cake. I've learned to bake with Splenda and I love most of the desserts that I make. I have 2 pieces of dark chocolate every night after dinner. When we go out to eat with friends, we order one dessert for 6-7 people and pass it around. It's fun to share and it satisfies my sweet tooth.
Rule #7 - I use a salad plate for my meals at home. I have discovered that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I can fit my entire meal on a salad plate and it's just about the right amount of food. If I use a dinner plate, I put too much food on it and find myself eating more than I should.
Rule #8 - I choose my food consciously. When I forget I get sick. I know that I can't eat a tough cut of steak and a big piece of cake. If I do, it's usually my old habits coming back and not a conscious decision. When I do, I pay with dumping.
So, these are my own rules. I probably have a few more which I'll add as I think of them. I consider them part of the commitment I made. I always keep in mind that when I asked my family if they would support me in having weight loss surgery, my daughter said "Mom, we'll support you, but you have to do what you're supposed to do." I promised them that I would follow the rules. That's how I choose to live now, by the rules - most of the time.
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I think this pretty much sums up my life after weight loss surgery (RNY). There are rules. As long as I follow the rules life is good. If I don't, in the words of the Genie "It's not a pretty picture, I don't like doing it!"
So these are my rules, in no particular order. Some were set forth by my surgeon and some I've come to on my own. But these are the rules that work for me. Remember, everyone is different and what works for me may not necessarily work for you.
Rule #1 - I take my vitamins and supplements religiously. It's the first thing I do every morning when I get out of bed. I don't want to develop any of the health problems that some long-term post-op patients have and this seems pretty simple to me. It was part of the deal I made with my surgeon and my family. It's not hard to stick to and it's important.
Rule #2 - I drink 60-80 ounces of liquids daily. Most instructions are to drink 80 ounces of water. I have found that my body doesn't really know what liquids I drink. I stick to very low calorie drinks and limit my caffeine intake. The reason for this much liquid intake is to keep my kidneys flushed from the high protein intake of my diet.
Rule #3 - I don't drink anything for 30 minutes after meals. My doctor's original instructions were nothing to drink 30 minutes before or after meals. I did this for about 18 months, but I have found that this modification works for me and is more tolerable.
Rule #4 - I don't eat in the car. For most of my life I have eaten breakfast in the car on the way to work (or school when I was younger.) In addition I often ate lunch on the run and occasionally dinner on the way to or from something I had to do. Seriously, most foods that I can eat while I drive a car are not good for me. In addition, I'm too distracted to realize how much I've eaten and when I should stop.
Rule #5 - I don't eat snacks out of boxes or bags. I have discovered that this is "mindless" eating. When I eat out of a box or a bag, I don't pay attention to what or how much I'm eating and I eat way more than a serving. I bought myself some 4 ounce bowls and use them for snack servings. I allow myself to eat a whole bowl of most snacks and then I'm done.
Rule #6 - I eat dessert every day, but I've learned to be satisfied with just a little. I'm not shy about asking a hostess to serve me half a piece of pie or a small sliver of cake. I've learned to bake with Splenda and I love most of the desserts that I make. I have 2 pieces of dark chocolate every night after dinner. When we go out to eat with friends, we order one dessert for 6-7 people and pass it around. It's fun to share and it satisfies my sweet tooth.
Rule #7 - I use a salad plate for my meals at home. I have discovered that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I can fit my entire meal on a salad plate and it's just about the right amount of food. If I use a dinner plate, I put too much food on it and find myself eating more than I should.
Rule #8 - I choose my food consciously. When I forget I get sick. I know that I can't eat a tough cut of steak and a big piece of cake. If I do, it's usually my old habits coming back and not a conscious decision. When I do, I pay with dumping.
So, these are my own rules. I probably have a few more which I'll add as I think of them. I consider them part of the commitment I made. I always keep in mind that when I asked my family if they would support me in having weight loss surgery, my daughter said "Mom, we'll support you, but you have to do what you're supposed to do." I promised them that I would follow the rules. That's how I choose to live now, by the rules - most of the time.
2 Years, 5 Months and Maintaining
Jan 28, 2009
Wow! I can't believe it's been 11 months since I updated my blog. I guess things have been somewhat uneventful compared to the previous year. As far as my weight loss goes, I have been able to maintain my 125 pound weight loss. Even though I've not reached my personal goal of 150 pounds lost, I'm very satisfied. I feel so good and I can do anything I want to do.
The most notable change is that my knees don't hurt any more at all. Prior to my RNY and weight loss, I was in constant pain. i could not climb stairs or even get up and down out of a chair without excruciating pain in my knees. Now I can even crawl on the floor with no pain in my knees.
I'm still determined to hike up Enchanted Mountain with my kids and to float the river. I've had to postpone many of my activity and exercise goals because of my husband's continuing health problems. Every time we think he's getting better, he has another setback. We are currently awaiting a referral to a pulmonologist in either Houston, San Antonio or Temple.
Otherwise, it's been an amazing year. Nick and Marie were married in November. It was a beautiful wedding at the new Cathedral in Houston. They honeymooned at a luxury resort in Cancun and have settled nicely into married life. They both have excellent jobs and seem to be very happy. They have settled in a cottage in Houston Heights and have two beautiful, but rambunctious dogs.
Katy and Travis bought their first house in Alamo Heights in San Antonio. It's a big, sprawling 1950's ranch. It's going to be lots of fun to watch them as they renovate it over the next few years. They are expecting their first baby, a girl, on or around February 17. And, as if that isn't enough, Katy started back to school in January. She's decided to become a middle school science teacher. I've always thought she would be an excellent teacher. I know she'll do well.
I have not lost any additional weight in the last year, but I haven't really worked at it either. I hope to get back to walking soon. Patrick and I really enjoyed walking together, but he has not been able to exercise for most of the past year. We'll try again though. I have been able to maintain my weight even withough exercising and I can eat almost anything as long as I don't overeat or eat lots of sugar. My weight goes up and down about 5-8 pounds. But I can still wear my size 12 clothes and I'm very happy with that. This photo was taken this month at one of Katy's baby showers.
I got laid off from my part-time job in early December. I'm hoping to find another part-time job soon after the baby comes. I would like to work about 3 days a week. I'm considering signing up with a temp firm to see if I can get started. I don't really want to work full time again. I think I would really like the variety I could get from working as a temp. We'll see.
I'm Stuck!
Mar 12, 2008
I'm stuck at 175 pounds. I bounce up and down plus or minus about 4 pounds but I just can't seem to get below 175 pounds. Now that winter is over and a lot of the stress in my life seems to be under control, maybe I can get moving again and get 25 more pounds off. I hope so. I really won't feel like a total success until I see 150 on the scale.
My Changing Face
Jul 10, 2007
This shows the progression of my face. Clockwise from the top left the photos were taken May of 2006, January 2007, June 2007 and July 2007.
I used to laughingly tell people that I didn't have wrinkles because the fat filled them up. Turns out I may have been right.
I used to laughingly tell people that I didn't have wrinkles because the fat filled them up. Turns out I may have been right.
Proud to be Obese!
Jul 02, 2007
I never thought I would say it but "I'm obese and proud of it." That's right - I'm obese! I'm NOT Super Morbidly Obese! I'm NOT Morbidly Obese! I'm OBESE! You see, I used to be both of those things, but now I'm just obese.
I have my 9 month check up with Dr. Patel scheduled for Friday afternoon. I'm actually looking forward to going to the doctor. Can you imagine? I don't dread seeing the doctor because I don't expect him to say negative things about my weight. There have been times in my life when I've actually cried the night before I went to the doctor's office because I knew what he was going to say. No matter what I was seeing the doctor about, it seemed to be that the only cure was weight loss. It was so frustrating.
I have learned so much during this weight loss journey. One of the major things I've learned is that this is my body and I'm in charge of it. I can actually stand up to a medical professional and tell them that I'm not going to just let them do what they think is best. This is my body and taking care of it is a partnership with my doctor. If they can't see it that way, I will find a doctor who can.
I guess you could say I feel large and in charge. Just not as large as I once was!
I have my 9 month check up with Dr. Patel scheduled for Friday afternoon. I'm actually looking forward to going to the doctor. Can you imagine? I don't dread seeing the doctor because I don't expect him to say negative things about my weight. There have been times in my life when I've actually cried the night before I went to the doctor's office because I knew what he was going to say. No matter what I was seeing the doctor about, it seemed to be that the only cure was weight loss. It was so frustrating.
I have learned so much during this weight loss journey. One of the major things I've learned is that this is my body and I'm in charge of it. I can actually stand up to a medical professional and tell them that I'm not going to just let them do what they think is best. This is my body and taking care of it is a partnership with my doctor. If they can't see it that way, I will find a doctor who can.
I guess you could say I feel large and in charge. Just not as large as I once was!
Feeling Normal
Jun 13, 2007
It's been 3 months since I posted an update to this blog. I've been busy living my new, slimmer life and not spending as much time thinking about it. As of today I have lost 109 pounds. That's 2 pounds lost since last Monday. My weight loss has been stalled for the past few weeks. I understand that it's normal to go through periods of plateaus while your body "catches up" to its new lifestyle. I am happy that the scale is moving again.
I am also happy to report that for the first time in many years I feel normal. I no longer feel like the fattest person in the room. I don't feel like I can't do things because I'm too overweight. I feel normal! That's a big deal for me.
I am also happy to report that for the first time in many years I feel normal. I no longer feel like the fattest person in the room. I don't feel like I can't do things because I'm too overweight. I feel normal! That's a big deal for me.
When life gives you lemons ...
Mar 29, 2007
The six month anniversary of my surgery has led me to review the many recent changes in my life. It's hard to say when this period of change started for me, probably in September of 2005 when my boss got fired. That started a period of major changes at the workplace. I had worked at the same place for more than 30 years, in a variety of positions. At that time I was the Director of Special Projects. It was a job that I loved dearly and planned to keep until retirement in 2009. But it was nonprofit, special-event fund raising, which is a very high stress environment. The benefits and salary were great, so it seemed worthwhile.
In January of 2006 a new director was hired and immediately started making personnel changes. Our happy workplace became almost a terroristic environment. Every month, someone was fired or their job was eliminated so they had to leave. The new director brought her cronies with her and put them in positions of power. These were not nice people. By June I had been moved from the management team to a lower-level coordinator reporting to a new, young and inexperienced director. After two weeks on the job, this director called me in after work on a Friday afternoon and told me that I was too slow and had not warmed up to her. She also told me that she was an expert in nonprofit fund-raising and that I did not know what I was doing. It was clear to me that I was the next target for dismissal.
On July 5th, I tendered my resignation with a 30-days notice. She honestly seemed shocked that I was choosing to leave rather than work for her. After about 10 days, they handed me a severence check and terminated me.
I was an emotional wreck. I spent the next few weeks grieving and wallowing in pity. I got turned down for unemployment. We were okay, because we are a two income family, but our income had been cut in half.
I was 51 years old, I weighed 300 pounds and I had to look for a job. I was terrified of the rejection I knew I was certain to face in the competitive job market.
I started to assess my skill set to see what I might be able to do. I have a good set of skills including event planning, network administration, web design, taking and transcribing minutes of board meetings, word processing, desktop publishing, just to list a few. But I realized that in order to see these skills, I would have to get past the first impression. I knew that it would be difficult for employers to see beyond my 300 pounds.
About that time I saw an ad for Dr. Patel and weight loss surgery. I went to one of his Saturday seminars in Corpus Christi, just to listen and ask questions. After the seminar, my husband and I had a long talk about the ramifications of me not returning to work for a while. He agreed that it was possible for me to take a few months off, we would just have to tighten our belts. Fortunately, I was covered by his health insurance.
We checked with BC/BS of Massachusetts and they reported that my surgery would be covered once my deductible was met. I called Dr. Patel's office and scheduled a consult. We went on the day that Dr. Patel was conducting a seminar too. I wanted my husband to hear everything that I had heard and be able to ask questions. He was convinced and so was I.
Then began the long list of tests and examinations that are required before surgery. It took me about 2 months to get all of them done. But within a couple of weeks after that last test Dr. Patel's staff called to report that insurance was approved and September 27th would be my surgery date.
I was scared and nervous, but I had such a peaceful feeling about the decision to have weight loss surgery. I felt that I was taking control of my weight for the first time in a long time. This has led me to taking control of other parts of my life too.
In December I was contacted by woman I had known as a volunteer at my previous job. She said that if I was not headed back to full-time work, she was interested in hiring me part time, to work as a project coordinator and webmaster.
I've been working for her almost three months now. I love working part-time. I have time to keep my house and spend time doing what I want to do.
I could not be happier with the changes that have brought me to this place.
When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me!
In January of 2006 a new director was hired and immediately started making personnel changes. Our happy workplace became almost a terroristic environment. Every month, someone was fired or their job was eliminated so they had to leave. The new director brought her cronies with her and put them in positions of power. These were not nice people. By June I had been moved from the management team to a lower-level coordinator reporting to a new, young and inexperienced director. After two weeks on the job, this director called me in after work on a Friday afternoon and told me that I was too slow and had not warmed up to her. She also told me that she was an expert in nonprofit fund-raising and that I did not know what I was doing. It was clear to me that I was the next target for dismissal.
On July 5th, I tendered my resignation with a 30-days notice. She honestly seemed shocked that I was choosing to leave rather than work for her. After about 10 days, they handed me a severence check and terminated me.
I was an emotional wreck. I spent the next few weeks grieving and wallowing in pity. I got turned down for unemployment. We were okay, because we are a two income family, but our income had been cut in half.
I was 51 years old, I weighed 300 pounds and I had to look for a job. I was terrified of the rejection I knew I was certain to face in the competitive job market.
I started to assess my skill set to see what I might be able to do. I have a good set of skills including event planning, network administration, web design, taking and transcribing minutes of board meetings, word processing, desktop publishing, just to list a few. But I realized that in order to see these skills, I would have to get past the first impression. I knew that it would be difficult for employers to see beyond my 300 pounds.
About that time I saw an ad for Dr. Patel and weight loss surgery. I went to one of his Saturday seminars in Corpus Christi, just to listen and ask questions. After the seminar, my husband and I had a long talk about the ramifications of me not returning to work for a while. He agreed that it was possible for me to take a few months off, we would just have to tighten our belts. Fortunately, I was covered by his health insurance.
We checked with BC/BS of Massachusetts and they reported that my surgery would be covered once my deductible was met. I called Dr. Patel's office and scheduled a consult. We went on the day that Dr. Patel was conducting a seminar too. I wanted my husband to hear everything that I had heard and be able to ask questions. He was convinced and so was I.
Then began the long list of tests and examinations that are required before surgery. It took me about 2 months to get all of them done. But within a couple of weeks after that last test Dr. Patel's staff called to report that insurance was approved and September 27th would be my surgery date.
I was scared and nervous, but I had such a peaceful feeling about the decision to have weight loss surgery. I felt that I was taking control of my weight for the first time in a long time. This has led me to taking control of other parts of my life too.
In December I was contacted by woman I had known as a volunteer at my previous job. She said that if I was not headed back to full-time work, she was interested in hiring me part time, to work as a project coordinator and webmaster.
I've been working for her almost three months now. I love working part-time. I have time to keep my house and spend time doing what I want to do.
I could not be happier with the changes that have brought me to this place.
When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me!
Twenty Things I Can Do Now!
Mar 09, 2007
I've been thinking a lot about how my life has changed in the past year, especially since my surgery 5 months ago. Here are some things I can do now that I couldn't do before.
1. I can polish my own toenails.
2. I can get in and out of the bathtub.
3. I can walk 2 miles without even breaking a sweat.
4. I can cross my legs (for the first time in more than 10 years).
5. I can sit in a booth without feeling wedged in.
6. I can wear cute clothes.
7. I can go up and down stairs.
8. I can go to my daughter's apartment, which is about 5 flights up.
9. I can eat almost anything I want in moderation.
10. I can have a salad for lunch and be satisfied.
11. I can be in a room full of people and not feel like everyone is looking at me because I'm the fattest person in the room.
12. I can sit on the floor and play with my nieces.
13. I can wear "regular" sizes.
14. I can walk through crowded places without bumping my butt into people and things.
15. I can wear long sleeves because I'm not hot all the time.
16. I can wear jackets and sweaters.
17. I can live without Diet Coke.
18. I can eat 2 bites of dessert and feel satisfied.
19. I can eat one square of dark chocolate every day and not binge.
20. I can do anything! I'm no longer limited by my weight.
Two Pounds = New Status
Mar 03, 2007
I have reached a milestone. I am now classified as obese. I'm not super morbidly obese any more. Today I weigh 210 pounds, down 90 pounds from my surgical consultation weight. My BMI has gone from 56.6 to 39.7.
My weight loss has really slowed down the last few weeks. I have only lost 2 pounds in the past three weeks. But 2 pounds lost is 2 pounds gone. My total weight loss is now 90 pounds in 5 months. I could not be happier with my success.
I have managed to reach a few of my goals along the way. Yesterday I took a bubble bath. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but believe me it is. Bubble baths have always been my escape, the best stress reliever that I could always afford. But around two years ago I found that I could not get out of the bathtub without help. Not only that, I barely fit in the tub. My butt was literally squeezed into the tub. Yesterday afternoon I found myself home alone. I grabbed the novel I'm reading and my bottle of Sweet Pea bubble bath and headed for the tub. I confess that I took my phone with me just in case I had to call for help. I soaked for about half an hour and was able to get up with no problem. It was heavenly. Trust me; there are a lot more bubble baths in my future. Calgon take me away!
Some of the other accomplishments I'm proud of - I can sit in a booth at a restaurant, I can shop for hours without having to stop and catch my breath, I can buy regular size clothes in regular stores, and I can climb stairs.
My next area of concentration is going to be exercise. I pledge to myself that starting this week, I'm going to do some kind of exercise three times a week. It may be walking, riding my stationary bike, or something else, but I'm determined. With or without my darling husband, I'm going to get after it.
About Me
Corpus Christi, TX
Location
33.1
BMI
Surgery
09/27/2006
Surgery Date
Sep 07, 2006
Member Since
