donnasowa
I am a seperated Mom with 3 children. My oldest is 24 and lives on her own with her husband and their 3 children. My son is 13 and my youngest daughter is 12. I have been a little overweight for most of my adult life but the past 10 years I have really gained so much that I don't even like to leave the house. I am not proud of how I have put on so much weight and have developed joint pain because of it. This does not help with being active and/or leaving the house. I had my surgery on August 8th, 2005 and am excited about my new life! My weight was 237-239 lbs. pre-op and my size 22W were getting tight! I is time to begin to live again!
8-16-05
I went to see Dr. Elias today and got those staples out and had my 1 week check up. I am down to 218 lbs! WOW! That was 19 lbs in one week! I feel so good and can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!
8-23-05
I am finding myself missing those late night crunchy-salty snacks. Before surgery, it was not unusual for me to be in bed watching TV with a bag of Kettle Cooked Potato Chips. I suppose there is going to be days when I do miss that but, I am "keeping my eyes on the prize". I weighed myself this morning and I am at 206. That is a weight loss of 31 pounds in just 2 weeks, 1 day post-op! Hoorah!
8-30-05
Today is 3 weeks plus 1 day post-op. I went to see Dr. Elias this morning. I weighed in at 210. :( I guess that my scale is wrong! Oh well. That is still a weight loss of 27 pounds in just 3 weeks. I would of liked to see more but who wouldn't? I am doing very well and the first thing that the doctor said to me was "Your neck is much longer than it ws a few weeks ago." And he smiled. He is such a nice doctor. I am glad I chose him.
Everyone I know is commenting to me that the weight loss is really beginning to show. I want to find something healthy to do with those times when my 'head hunger' tells me to eat something. I am doing better with dealing with the emotions that surface during those times. I have been using the phone to call my good friend Stephanie who has also had this surgery and has lost a ton of weight. She looks great and keeps asking me, "Are you sure the doctor cut you because you are doing so well!"
9-12-05
I wore a pair of jeans the other night, size 16W! Just 5 weeks ago my size 22W were tight on me. I am figuring out and adjusting to this 'culture shock' as far as eating goes. What a change! At first, it was so hard to see that tiny amount of food and imagine it satisfying my hunger. Sometimes, it is still hard to believe it, but it really does! I wish I had this surgery done 10 years ago! I have not been on a scale in a few weeks. (my choice) The best is yet to come!
4-28-06
Wow! It has been a while since I have updated in here! My life has changed so much it is unbelievable! I am down to about 120-125 lbs. I am wearing a size 4 in jeans and most tops are size small. It has only been 8 months and I am down about 117 lbs, give or take a few pounds. I am able to eat almost anything now. In much smaller portions of course, but I can eat almost anything. Ice cream, One of my old time favorites, I can eat, but only a tiny amount or I 'dump'. I do not like that dumping thing so I really watch what I eat. It feels so good to be a NORMAL weight. Some people tell me that I am getting too thin~ I do become concerned at times that I may not stop loosing. It seems to be leveling off now. I hope so. More later!
01-26-07
Once again, it has been so long since I have updated on here. (Sorry) My weight has remained around the same for at least the past 10 months or so. I don't get on the scale very often. I can judge by the way my clothes fit. I need to get back to the doctors office to get a check up but with no insurance right now~ I don't want that added expense.
I can eat just about anything I want. Fruit, veggies, ice cream (yes, I said Ice Cream) candy, soup, steak and whatever I feel like eating. I drink soda pop. People told me I would never be able to drink soda (or alcohol). I do not know why they say that. I have had no problems what so ever. I continue to take my multi-vitimin every day (I have had problems remembering to take them) I have had no hair loss.
The only negitive change in regard to the surgery has been the amount of loose skin that I have. In comparison to some people I have seen on tv and things, I do not have it to where it hangs off of me but I am not comfortable with the skin that I do have. It is so loose. In the summer, in shorts, I am more self-concious of the loose skin than I was of the fat, when I was 250 lbs. My tummy area has a good bit and I noticed my back sags. My arms seem to be ok. Not much there. It really bothers me. I have a hard time being in a swim suit around anyone that I do not know (family) I have caught my self 'covering up' a lot.
Isn't that strange? At 250 lbs, I would walk right past you in a swim suit to get to the pool, and feel a little concious of how big I was, but it was not a big deal. Now, at 120 lbs, give or take a few pounds, I want to cover up because I have loose skin and it makes me feel ugly.
