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and still going strong.  I am loving my life and it is all possible because of WLS!  I have lost 150 lbs and althought the lbs are coming off real slow now - my body continues to change.  I am also doing sooo much more with my life and am soooo much healthier.   There is no diabetes, no joint pain,  even the depression is gone ...... there were some real low points over the past 15 months and looking back I remember feeling like the emotional titlewaves would never end.  But I am hear to say that it definately does end - - so if your reading this and wondering if it gets better - ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS ABSOLUTELY!!!    Now I found counselling during this year of rapid change very helpful.... kept me sane.

I am still dating my Honey for approximately 6 months and he has been imensley supportive.  I at times struggle with this relationship only because pre-WLS I felt soo crappy about myself that I pushed men away ..... 12 years of that and you develop some real maladaptive "relationship strategies"  - or as some would know them as disorted thinking/thoughts.  I work through these distorted thougths with my therapist and close friends and am amazed how many of them there are and one by one I am breaking them down.  I have become more assertive in my relationship as a result  - I am pleased to say that we have a very HEALTHY  relationship which includes a very healthy sex life ;-)   -  something else which was non-existant pre-WLS.  

Other improvements - I am taking a "Learn to Run" program at the Running Room,  I can now do most of the moves in my Bodyflow class and doing some RMP clases (spin).   My home is more organized,  my friendships are stronger,  I seem more connected at work and I can finally buy clothing in a regular store and not just the Plus size store!!!

There is sooo much more to brag about but I will leave it at that right now ..... for anyone thinking about WLS - do it - it saved my life ..... and if your thinking about an RNY - PM me and we can chat.

Well May 8th was my 1st year anniversary.  The year really did fly by for the most part.  I lost 140 bls and feel great. 

Some of the low-lights were the emotional lows brought on by huge hormone surges, fear and just being unprepared for the drastic changes both physically, emotionally and spiritually.  There were times when I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the person staring back.  This sometimes would great such a emotional chain reaction that I avoided mirrors for a while.  LOL  All I know is that I've been seeing a therapist who has helped me deal with all the changes in my life .... because change is like domino's one little change in one area of your life leads to change in other areas like tipping off the the first domino and watching the rest follow suit until there are no domino's left to tip. 

As for the wonderful things that have happened to me:  I have met some wonderful people both in OH.  I am more confident and self assured this means I am taking more risks and am more social than I have been in years.  I am enjoying for the first time getting out there and cutting the grass, doing the weeding and even cleaning the house - although I hate doing all these chores still - I LOVE the fact that it doesn't take as much effort!!!!  I can bend over with more ease and have almost no aches and pains after wards.   My neightbours commented the other day how wonderful my front lawn looks already..... last year I would procrastinate and thus things would get crazy out there. 

The other plus is that I have been dating.  Decided in December that I have been hiding for too long - haven't dated in over 10 years and the thought of getting out there scared me but I decided to start and get some experience - was not expecting more than a couple of blind dates or some coffee dates.  Met a couple really interesting men some I am still friends with but also met someone who is really special.  Its only been a couple of months and of course I am convinced that it will fail or end any day now, nevertheless - no matter what happens I am learning so much about myself and learning that my issues with weight and loose skin and stuff are really not as big as I make them.   Because my boyfriend is sooo supportive and soo loving. 

I also started jogging a couple of months a go - had to stop because of back pain and a really bad cold that wouldn't go away.  Have started back up again and will complete the 5k race weekend even if I have to walk most of it.  In the past I would have just dropped out and not honoured my comittment ... today its important to carry out my commitments.   I have decided what even time I get this year will be my base-line and then I can work towards beating my time.

I am loving my bike - I use to bike alot even when I was overweight but the last 3 years were almost impossible so I had given up.  Now I am on my bike all the time - I haven't been this weight in almost 20 years so its a great feeling.  My dog is loving going out for more walks and I am loving just being out doors now that the snow has melted.  But even in the winter I went skating and would go for walks, shovel snow and of course went to the gym religiously. 

As for health - things have been pretty good.  I am still a bit low in Vit. B and D but everything else is good.  I do have kidney stones which I hope will just pass normally.  May have Gallbladder but waiting to hear about the results from that. 

Over all life is good .... if you would have told me a year and a half ago or even a year ago that all this would happen I would have laughed - I was sooo discouraged and had given up hope at ever losing weight.  I am loving having some hope back.

E

Haven't updated in a while ... and its been 8 months since my surgery ... I can't believe that last year this time I was submitting OHIP forms! 

Its been a bumpy ride and over all I am very pleased with my progress.  I have lost 104 bls since surgery and 125 lbs from my heaviest.   My vitamin B12 and D are a bit low so will need to up the vitamins. 

Physically I feel pretty good most days.  A few aches and pains which I think are a tributed to the rapid weight loss and the bodies need to find balance or equilibrium.  They never last long. 

Still struggle some days in getting all my water in and sometimes in taking all my vitamins but I am definately getting better. 

I work out regularly and recently found out that i have actually increased my muscle mass from regular strength trainining which means my weight loss has been primarily fat and water ...... hurray.  Last time I lost weight I lost muscle mass even though I was working out .... so I increased my strength trianing this time around.

My moods have been getting better but I went through a real difficult patch between month 4 to 6.  Still strugglle from time to time.  All beware that estrogene is stored in fat cells so when you rapidly loss fat ..... you get real powerful estrogen surges.

Also my bariatric specialist states that the newest research shows a high correlation of clinical depression after bariatric surgery.  Now I know this to be true with other types of surgery like heart, etc.

Other than that things are plugging around ... don't post as much or lurk the boards as much ..... have been too busy at times and find it difficult to catch up.  Miss the support but have also found that my circle of friends have been there for me outside of the OH Board.  I am appreciative of this thats for sure.

Well I am not sure what to post here.  I have lost 92 pounds to date since surgery which is quite an accomplishment.  I that would be 112 pounds in total.

over all I am feeling pretty good.  Energy level has been fairly good and the stomach and  issues have really resolved.   My cloths are all too big for me and I am wearing things that I haven't fit into in almost 10 yrs.  YEAH!

The down side is I am going through this real "I don't know who I am" phase.  This has lead to some pretty emotional times and some really interesting thoughts and insights.  I have decided to go see a shrink for some support as I am no longer using my old coping strategy - food!  There are all kinds of things that seem to have come up for me. 

I also know that estrogen is stored in fat cells and thus when we loose weight quickly the estrogen gets released.  So being patient with myself is probably the biggest obstacle right now. 

The other things that has been my saving grace has been my work-outs.  am strenght training 3 times a week and doing a pretty good cardio work out (45-60 min.) 4 -5 times a week.  

Not journaling as much as I use to.... need to get back to that and I also would like to get back to formally tracking my food again with the Dailyplate.com

Can't believe that its been 3 months already.   I have lost 56 lbs and am feeling pretty good. 

Yesterday I pulled out a pair of 24 size shorts that I had bought last year for $5 and tried them on to see how much longer it would be until the fit.  And guess what ..... they fit.   This was a real good feeling.

I still have my days that food is an issue - my first 6 weeks were a breeze but since then I have my days were nothing feels right or good. On these days things feel like they are getting stuck, I get full faster than other days or in the worse case senario .   Then there are the days like yesterday were everything including the sushi with lots of wasabi and pickled ginger went down soo well. 

Like another fellow OH - I too named my pouch - pouchie and am getting better at knowing when pouchie is grouchy or when he's feeling the loving!  Either way its a small price to pay for not having to go on a painful diet where I am constantly feeling deprived, hungry or craving!!! 
Although I still my head plays games with me - like when I portion out my food it says " yeah right .... thats not even a snack!"  and so I put a bite extra and then can't even finish it. I have not felt deprived and for the first time in my life am enjoying food and feeling satisfied even with 4 pieces of sushi!!! 

I am a bit international Foodie and have found that I can eat it all chinese, indian, thai, vetnamese, japanese and of course my mother home cooked greek dishes.  I just eat less,eat my protien first - and eat real slow.  Makes food last longer and the company I'm with more fulfilling.

Now don't get me wrong I don't eat this stuff every day - well except for Tzatziki (which I make myself and usually do it eat daily).  Most often my food choices are chicken, fish,beans or beef. 

My grocery bill has gone way down and left overs last 4-ever!  So I freeze alot and then I can have variety.

I am enjoying the Ottawa WLS support group exercise class, love my walks with my furry boy and have just started doing some Yoga at home (Yoga for weighloss). I'd love to step it up a bit more so I am planing to renew my Goodlife membership in September.  Looking forward to this because I always felt good going to work out. Just not when I was 60 plbs heavier. 

So for now 56 bls lost since WLS is keeping me pumped (although its been more like 80lbs from my heaviest). 

This was the best decision I made for myself - can't believe that I resisted it for years!

So I am over 7 weeks post op and have lost over 40 lbs.   Don't know the exact amount because my scale does not work.   The weird thing is that I am not SCALE OBSESSED - at least not yet.  In the past I would weight myself daily if I was on a diet.  Now I am weighing myself when I go to my Dr's office.  I hope this continues because I am not focusing on the numbers but on the changes.

I have really noticed that my focus has been on "heaing the pouch", eating healthy foods to give my body energy and taking care of myself.  I am exercising every day - but again not being obsessive about it.  Go for walks and really enjoyed the class we did with the WLS group. 

I am having difficulties making my water quota though.... I guess its progress not perfection!!
So last week I started introducing new foods.  Three weeks of fish, eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt was getting a little much.  I still rely on these foods when feeling tired.  They are my new comfort foods. 

So far my favorie is still a little PHO - Vietnamese noodle soup.  Except I don't drink the broth just eat some of the noodles, love the thin strips of BBQ beef and the veggie!  The broth keeps the noodles, meat and veggies soft and warm.  This is a good thing this early out because anything too dry just gets stuck. 

 I have also tried shrimp, cheeses and some veggies.  Taking it slow is the most important thing.  I am being careful to only introduce one new food a day and try eating a very small amount.  Then if it agrees with me I will eat another small amount later.  Also back to regular milk (don't really like soya milk and the lactose free milk). 

One other cool thing that I had never had (even pre-op) was the soya beans - what are they called Edaman beans or something like that.  They are really good and good source of protein.

A couple of times I have eaten too much and man is it every uncomfortable.  Not a fun feeling.   So I am trying to pre-measure or eye ball what I should eat and put the rest away.  Easy to do at home but my challenges have been when I have eaten at restaurants. 

I have a Big Fat Greek Wedding to go to this weekend.  Hopefully things will go well.  I worry about dumping when in public places or eating the wrong kind of food.  I ordered a special meal for the wedding because I just want to enjoy myself - don't want to take any chances and then have to miss the wedding. 

Well I think thats all my news for now.  Life is pretty good right now - which is a nice place to be.

E

just got back from Dr. Graber's office and doing a little shopping in Utica.  My follow up appointment went really well.  Met with Angie (nurse) and I just love her - she is a scream!!! 

So I lost 12 more lbs so a total of 23 lbs since surgery .....  YEAH!!!  Incisions have all healed well - still have a bit of a skin reaction but it is sooo much better than it was.  Overall Angie was quite pleased.  I had to option of waiting to meet with Dr. Graber but really there was no need as Angie did a pretty thorough work up.  The best news is thus far my blood work is all great. 

I was advised to start taking my B complex and to ensure I take 1,000 mg of calcium.

Also found some Fage greek yogurt - which brings me right back to my heritage.  Mmmm it's so good and thanks Marie for telling me where to find it.  Also stocked up on some SF Pudding (chocolate, banana cream, Pistachio, and cheese cake) and found some SF Neskwick.

Even bought some cloths but not much because I don't plan to be fitting into them for very long! 

Ok so I started some food on Thursday and everything went well.  Had some beans on Thursday and some fish on Friday ... all went well. 

Yesterday however I felt like crap.  I had a small piece of boccocini cheese and about an hour or so later started feeling Nauseous.  Not sure if it was the cheese or because I did all this cooking.  Anyhow, felt like grap until this morning. 

Just made some salmon which I was really looking forward to eating but it felt like a ton of bricks going down and again I started feeling nauseous.   I guess I will have to revert back to my old faithful cottage cheese.  Oh well tomorrow is another day. 

Can I tell you how good Tuna tastes - mind you it was just a teaspoon but it was marvelous on a bit side piece of rye toast.  That was yesterdays new introduction.  With it I had my 2 tbs. of yogurt - hard to believe I am surviving on this. 

Today I had a teaspoon of scrambled egg - delicious!  It feels so good to be chewing again. 

My rash is almost cleared up and the incisions are looking good.  Some of the surgical glue has come off the top small incisions.  They are totally healed, despite that wicked rash!

Energy level is still up and down.  Having a few more ups - not sure if its because the energy is getting stronger or if I am learning how much  I can cope with.  I have been enjoying my naps and quiet time.

Also made fudgecicles the other day using chocolate pudding - these are really good.  Get a little fluid in and a little protien.

Still struggling getting in 64 oz - man thats a full time job in itself as you can't drink for 1/2 hour before meals and for 1 hour after meals!!! 

So I am 12 days out ....... hurray!  And I am happy to report that things are going fairly well. 

I did break out in a small rash last week that spread and became quite red and very very itchy.  I called Dr. Graber on the weekend as his nurse had said no antihistamines but he OKed me to take benedryl.  Between the benedryl and a cortisol cream the rash has gotten better.  We think I may have been allergic to the surgical soap.  The only draw back is that I feel pretty doppy at times with the benedryl. 

I have two more days of Phase II - liquids and cottage cheese and yogurt.  I have had some mashed potatoes and apples sauce too.  One day I had a little cream of mushroom soup - which I am not sure is accepted on Phase II but who cares I wanted it and it felt and tasted good.  Am up to 2 table spoons of food and 4 oz of protein shake - had to believe that this keeps me satisfied 

Next phase (phase III)  I get to try some scrambled egg or tuna or some other puree type food.  I will be slowly working up to 4 whole table spoons of food thus we are to stop taking protein shakes.  I think I will miss my Adkins Advantage - have really liked the taste of these and they are ready made. 

Also have been walking everyday - sometimes twice a day - and I have slowly worked up to 25 minutes.   My goal next week is to increase this by 10 more minutes.