I'VE LOST 162 POUNDS!

Aug 19, 2012

I can't believe it's been over two years since my last blog entry! Time flies when you are busy living your life... and I have been living a busier, happier and far better life since WLS.

In just over 3 months, I will reach my third "surgiversary", and things could not be better. I have lost ALL the weight I expected to - and more!! And, thanks to the new, healthy habits I adopted (and have kept) after surgery, I am finally *keeping it off*.

I look and feel much younger, I can buy clothes anywhere I like - and look fab in them. Even skinny jeans! I can sit anywhere I like, and cross my legs (and ankles too!) I can polish my own toenails... hell, I can see body parts I haven't seen in years!

My weight-related health problems are gone. I no longer need meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Despite my high-protein, low carb lifestyle, my cholesterol numbers are perfect! Take THAT, FDA!  The arthritis is still there, always will be, but it is much improved -- especially in my knees. Stairs are no longer an issue.

Today, I weigh 103 pounds. At 5' 7.5" that is a bit low on the charts - but I am comfortable at this weight. My body fat is down to 14%, due to exercise. To strengthen my bones (I have Osteopenia in my hips) my prescribed activities are primarily weight-bearing.  I started out with Nordic Walking (using 2 poles) which was great. Now I do Zumba and Belly Dancing for fun. These days I speed walk - daily - 5 to 7 miles @ 4.5 mph. I am trying to hit 5 mph, but this old body is not cooperating the way I would like it to. No worries. I'll get there in time.

Time! I like to think about all the extra time WLS has given me. Imagine the good years this has added to my life! The surgeon and nutritionist gave me the tools, but *I* made the necessary changes. Now it is all down to the choices I make every day. WLS gave me a green light. My body is my vehicle; I am the driver, not a passenger. As long as I follow the map (nutrition plan + exercise) and make all the right turns (good food decisions), I won't get lost along the way.

MY STATS:

I'm 61 years old.  Married 21 years (3rd + last time!) to a patient and tolerant man. I’m an only child of an only child, mother of one, grandmother to one. I am a graphic designer by profession, an avid reader and an equally avid gardener. I love classic movies, classic rock, art and mystery books. I ride my own motorcycle. I have two opinionated Terrier dogs and I breed and sell Zebra finches. I live in the mid-west and am a (politically disappointed) middle of the road, ex-hippie type. Just your typical, somewhat over-educated, ageing worker bee - with a colorful past.

BEFORE: 265 pounds, US size 26, BMI of 41 and tired all the time 

AFTER: 103 pounds, US size 2, BMI of 16 and full of energy (and loose skin!)

I was fat, and miserable about it, for most of my adult life. Either "on another diet" or gaining it all back, all the time. It has taken me over three years of total dedication to change all that. I am not going back there, ever!

MY PLAN GOING FORWARD: STAY ORGANIZED

* Plan ahead, plan a lot. Make a LIST... lots of lists!  

I am a bit OCD, especially about tracking foods. Gotta be! I weigh and measure all foods. I pre-portion and zip-bag goodies and such, and label each bag with calorie/carb info. I log EVERYTHING I eat and drink on the LoseIt website, and wear a FitBit 24/7. I weigh myself daily, and my Withings scale automatically uploads my weight, BMI + fat % directly via wifi to the LoseIt and FitBit websites. All three websites are free. The FitBit was just $99, and worth its weight in gold! The scale was $160, and is very accurate and easy to use. I cannot recommend this combination of tools/accountability highly enough! It keeps me on track and lets me know exactly what my body needs every day. No cheating. No denial. Awesome! My husband does all this too, and has also lost weight

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