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Hi Everyone.....I love this site..It's such a source of strength for me.....it gives me a home-base.  Somewhere to ground myself in my Weight Loss Journey....which, includes the fact that I am Post Op!!  I still would like to lose another 37 pounds, but after having lost about 130 pounds, total, I'm excited to say that I'm proud of where I am.  Okay--not totally satisfied, because I have gained a little back and terrified that I might continue to gain, but because I have caught it early, and am on this site, and have a plan--back in the gym hard-core, I feel like I have it under control.  Tomorrow could be a different story....lol

 

I'm trying to figure out how to post pics of before...after...now., but I will have to get to that... I think it's on the pic tab....until then...feel free to respond, join  me as a friend..share and let me know your struggles and the strengths you possess!!

 

 

Yesterday I started feeling pretty run down in the morning--thought I was coming down with the flu---I was getting feverish & then I got a pretty strong pain right under my ribs on the right side....it came & went but at the worst I was doubled over & at best it was just throbbing....called Dr. Houston, went to the ER...ultrasound was done & it confirmed I have a 2cm gallstone. Shoot.  So, Dr. Houston is going to remove my gallbladder, but we agreed that I could take some meds this week to get through Thanksgiving & then have it done next week.....that good because it's a really busy week....

So, despite faithfully taking the Ursidiol med post surgery, I still have to have it removed....wish me luck!

Oh wow....I had a 3 pound weight loss this morning (which is rare lately..as I get closer to goal my weight loss is slowing) and weighed 167.  So, I decided to go on the Centennial site & calculate my BMI and it was 24.7!!!! That puts me in the "normal" range!!!

7.5 months ago my BMI was 43.3!!! I am so happy that I actually teared up reading the "normal" quote!!

Now, 12 more pounds to the upper end of my goal range (145-155)....I couldn't have asked for a better result than this from my surgery.  I am so thankful for Centennial & the program that I am involved in.
xo, Micheala.

 

Today is my six month "Surgiversary". I saw Dr. Houston and...drum roll...weighed 175 pounds.  I started at 294 six months ago (was 289 on morning of surgery after 2 day liquid diet), so I have lost a total of 119 pounds!!! 

Dr. Houston said I have lost about 80% of my excess weight & that I am "rockin-and-rollin this weight loss".  That made me smile.  I did have a WOW moment when he said that looking at me he would never know that I had been overweight.  That is surreal to hear. I guess my mind has not caught up with my body yet.  Don't get me wrong, I am still not at goal (although we did talk a little about maintenance menus & how I would transition into maintenance). 

I had thought this entire time that I was 5'8" tall---my husband thought I was taller, so we measured today.  He's right...I am actually 5'9-1/2!  Who knew?!?  (Apparently he did!).  So, at 5'9-1/2" my normal weight range would be 149-170 (if I am considered large framed, which I had considered myself until now--maybe I am actually medium framed--which would mean that I should weigh 139-153). 

So, at 175 pounds I am just 5 pounds from the top of a normal weight range. That's crazy!  My personal goal for myself is to be between 145-155 & stay in that range.  I think that's a healthy goal!  I guess I will know when I get there!  I sometimes think about getting to 135....that would be 30 more pounds.  Again, we'll have to see!!

Well, I am off to spend some time w/my hubby & go to bed...early morning tomorrow w/the kiddos & a playgroup at 10am.

I am so thankful to have had WLS....it has been amazing.  M.

Strange as this is...I just typed my weight (188) & height (5'8") into a BMI chart on the OH website & this is what it said:

Height:	feet   inches
Weight:	pounds

You have a BMI of 28.5.
This shows that you are moderately overweight.
Your BMI is not high enough to qualify you for bariatric surgery.

The table below shows value ranges and what they mean.

Range	Meaning
less than 18.5	Underweight
18.5 - 24.9	Normal
25.0 - 29.9	Overweight
30.0 - 39.9	Obese
40.0 - 50	Extremely Obese
over 50	Super Obese

OH MY GOSH....I AM NOT OBESE ENOUGH TO HAVE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY...IN FACT, I'M NOT EVEN "OBESE" ANYMORE & ONLY HAVE TO DROP MY BMI FROM 28.5 TO 24.9 TO BE CONSIDERED "NORMAL"...I don't know why, but this really excites me......five months & three days ago I weighed 293 pounds & was looking 300 pounds right in the face....now, even with my heaviest shoes, clothes, etc. on I can't get the scale to 190 pounds.....this is so stinking great!!!

OKAY...I JUST REALIZED THAT WITH TODAY'S 101 POUNDS GONE FOREVER, I AM NOW JUST "OBESE"!!!!

I am sure someone who has never been classified as morbidly obese would think it was funny to celebrate now being "obese", but I know you all understand that this is a "wow" moment for sure.....I just put in my height and weight on the Centennial site and here is what it said:

"A BMI between 25 and 29.9 indicates you are in the overweight category"

MY BMI:  29.2!!!!!

So....when do I officially lose the "overweight" classification.......???? At 164 pounds....so, that's 28 more pounds to "normal".......EXCITING!!!!!

I am sooooo excited....this morning I got on the scale--after a three day "stall" and had lost a couple pounds, which means....

I HAVE LOST 101 POUNDS SINCE MY SURGERY 4 MONTHS & 3 WEEKS AGO!!!!

Wow---such a great feeling.  I had to do a 2-day pre-op diet & I weighed 293 pounds the morning I started that...today, I weighed 192......so, 101 pounds gone forever!!! 

My next goal will be to get to 189---because that is what I weighed the day of my surgery....then, Dr. Houston's goal for me is 155--that's 37 more pounds...I'd like to stay between 145-155....so, somewhere between 37-47 more pounds to goal & then I will have lost all my excess weight!

I am so happy about this....there are  a million things I should be doing right now, but I just wanted to post this.....I am so thankful.

I have, however, had some new "issues" creeping up that I am concerned about.  It's funny...I watched "Ruby" last night--I don't know if anyone follows that show, but she is a woman who lives in Savannah, Georgia who weighed 700 pounds &, as of last night, weighed in at 333.....she has not had weight loss surgery....she is doing it with diet and exercise, but, last night she touched on a few subjects that made me think.  First, her fears about gaining the weight back & the times she had failed before.  She didn't want to let go of her "big" clothes, because she was afraid she would need them again. 

Now, I have no problem getting rid (quickly) of my big clothes...in fact, I have said g'bye to 24s, 22s, 20s, 18s, 16s, 14s &, soon, 12s.....that is a great thing for me.....but, I have, just recently, started having some fears about not being able to lose any additional weight....of course, today was a relief, because the two pound drop made me feel better, but I am starting to have to change my focus on getting to goal & staying there.  First, it was all about getting approved....I was so focused on that & getting the insurance company to pay for my surgery.  Then, it was being able to follow the plan after surgery & getting all my protein in & my fluids, supplements, etc......

Right now, I am battling a little bit of a sweet tooth and fears that this weight loss will not be long term.  This scares me because sweets were definitely my downfall before surgery....I was a complete sugar addict.  I am not caving into the sweet tooth, because I am terrified of dumping....and I want it to stay that way. But, I notice that instead of eating a piece of cheese or lean protein, I will have a teaspoon--or more--of sugar free cool whip...and I really look forward to it.  It hasn't hurt my weight loss, but, still, I worry that I am going back to bad habits.  I am getting my protein in, for sure, and my fluid & supplements.  But, the other night I even had a sugar free pudding & it was so so so good.......then I wanted another one.  I am worried about that, a little bit.  This is the first experience I have had since surgery where I am actually "craving" things....and especially, since a lot of protein (chicken, etc) still gets "stuck" and I do have to deal with frothing & throwing up a bit....especially if I don't chew enough.....I enjoy things that go down easy....like Crystal Lite Decaf Tea w/lemon (which is fine) and sugar free cool whip & that dang pudding.  I have also had nuts---pistacios, which are high in fat---they are small & I like the salty taste, so I do eat those---not a ton, but sometimes...it gives me a little protein, but it does add quite a few calories to my 600 calorie/day limit & fat, too. 

So, what do I do?  I have already said no more pudding in the house----even if it is sugar free....and I am battling with outlawing SF cool whip---but I haven't been that strong yet---part of me doesn't want to b/c it is really just sugar free cool whip (in the big picture, it's not Cadbury Cream Eggs or cup cakes & I'm not baking Toll House cookies and eating 12 of them in a day)......but, I don't want to slip back into old (bad) habits.....I am trying to think through this all & work it out so I can make good decisions....I guess that's a good place to start.  I'm just starting to realize that I am going to get to goal & I wonder if there is some underlying issue that is making me add things that might hurt my weight loss or if I am just naturally starting to want more/different things because I am 4.5 months out.  If I am sabotaging, I wonder if I should seek therapy...I will admit that I have never, ever been a big believer in therapy-----I feel like I have a great support system & I am able to see problems that I might have & find ways to resolve them on my own so that I have a happy, healthy life.  But, what if, like Ruby, there is some deep underlying issue that is making me want to eat sweets......should I go talk to someone about that or should I just tell myself to stop eating sweets & be done with it....hummmm???

I just don't want to fail & gain this weight back.....
Okay......101 pounds....gone forever!!! xo, M.

I MADE IT TO ONEderland TODAY!!!

This has been such a goal of mine for so long....it's been 12 years since I've seen the "ones" and let me tell you about the party in my bathroom this morning when I weighed & it was at 199......of course, (TMI, but)...naked jumping (because, of course, I weigh naked....lol), dancing.....screaming for my husband to come in so I could show him (the number on the scale...not my naked jumping & dancing....lol).........a big party...I could have hugged that scale today...in fact, I think I might go do that!!!!

Ah....March 17th surgery & 4 months & 2 days later...Onederland...amazing!  That's a total loss of 94 pounds!!! I love this! Now, my next goal:  to get to 100 pounds LOST...

Thanks for all your support in my journey....I am not stopping here......I am 5'8", so my original goal weight with Dr. Houston was 155, but my personal goal is 145....I'd like to spend the rest of my life with the 145-155 range....and make sure that I don't go over 155, but stay closer to 145......

This exciting news makes me want to go take a spin class at the Y, but they don't have one on Sundays....WOW--funny, 4+ months ago good news would have made me want to go out to eat!!!  How things have changed!!!

Lovin' life!  Lovin' RNY!  Thankful for my OH support group!

xo, Micheala -------IN ONEDERLAND!!!!!!!!!

YIPPEE----my right foot is not broke---well, it is, sort of--I had my visit with Dr. Derr--the ortho & there is a tiny stress fracture, but, what is giving me the pain/swelling is tendonitis from working the same muscles day after day in my runs/walks.  So....the prescription....MORE WORKOUTS....oh my gosh....well, okay---more cross-training.  I can only run/walk 1-2 times a week 3 days apart, but I am suppos'd to fill in the other 5 days with spinning, swimming, elliptical, recumbent, weight training, etc...whatever I want.  Apparently, mixing up our workouts is really important so that the same muscles don't get overused each day.  I couldn't have asked for a better diagnosis & plan!  Plus NO CAST FOR DISNEYWORLD IN TWO WEEKS....that, of course, will limit my getting moved to the front of the line, but I'll wait to be able to go to the water parks & walk w/out a cast!  WOOT WOOT!

And....yesterday & today I had two WOW Moments.

Yesterday I was at the mall & needed to shop. I have been trying to put it off until right before our trip to Florida because, as you all know, two weeks can mean a full size difference.....but, since I started out (pre-surgery) in size 24s (I know...ug!) & since surgery have said good bye (happily) to 24s, 22s, 20s, 18s &, as I found out yesterday, 16s....I was very, very, very happy (I actually let out a squeek in the dressing room & just cackled with happiness) to get into size 14s.....and....then, to my surprise when I was in the dressing room (with my size 18s & 16s, which I thought I would be wearing.....I just brought one pair of 14s in for fun, figuring they would never fit) someone had left the clothes they were trying on on the hook---and, they were all size 14s.  Now, these were not the typical size 14s, they were all "slim" and "skinny" styles...all flat fronts, low waisted capris with no pockets in back, etc.  And one pair of Buckle Jeans (I don't know if you know that brand, but they run small usually).....OH MY GOSH...what fun...I got them all on.....WOW...... I was careful & only bought one pair because I am really, really hoping that size 12 might be in my future in two weeks for our trip....I haven't been a size 12 since 1999...10 years ago.....ahhhhhhh!!!!  At least those size 14s fitting a little looser....that's fine, too.

Second WOW Moment happened today.....I went to our church picnic last weekend & I thought I got chigger bites on my arm....the debate was if it was chigger bites or poison oak, but, after a week & them spreading, I went back to my PCP today & they said it was definitely spreading so I needed a steriod shot & some topical steriod and antibiotic cream.  No...that's not the wow moment.  I walked in & got on the doc's scale.....113 was the weight on their scale....mine says 221....so, that was cool, but then the WOW moments started....the nurse that walked me back (she was a doll!) looked at my last weight & said..."Hold on...your last weight was 292.....what?  Did you lose that weight?"

I said, "I did...I actually had bariatric surgery 12 weeks ago...I've lost about 70-ish pounds".

She said:  "I have been thinking about having it...."  So, our conversation continued about WLS & how I had no regrets & was so happy I had the surgery.  She then told me that I looked "great" (what....ME?  This is NUTS!!) and then the WOW MOMENT....she said, "I looked at you when you walked in the office and thought to myself that I wanted to know what you weighed because that was my goal of an initial healthy weight to be". 

OH MY GOSH.......SOMEONE WANTED TO BE MY WEIGHT?  THAT IS INSANE!!!!  My first reaction was that she should really have a better goal than that, but then I tried to remember that she looked at me and thought that I looked "normal"......WOW!!!!!  Made me feel so good....I mean, 12 weeks ago I was 7 pounds from weighing 300 pounds in those size 24 pants!!!  She made my day!

Life is great!

Today is my THREE MONTH Surgerversary Date (am I even spelling that right?).  I weighed in this morning at 221 pounds....took some new pictures (which I posted) and my measurements.....

The pics that I took today actually did make me smile...I put them next to the pre-surgery pics (when I weighed 293) and I could actually see the change.  Funny how it takes us so much longer than others.  Tonight my girls had t-ball practice & I saw a lot of parents/moms, etc. that I had not seen since pre-surgery.  One of the mom's kept telling my husband that the change in me was "amazing" and that the pounds were just "melting" off of me.  It is hard because I still have 66-76 more pounds to my goal weight of 145-155, so I still know in my mind that I am 65+ pounds overweight.  But, I guess I was really, really fat before because people definitely seem to be noticing.

Because there is more to this than just weight loss (okay--I definitely did this for the weight loss, but inches matter, too)....here are my inches lost so far from 3/15/2009 (Pre-surgery)  to 6/9/2009 (Three mo. post-op)

WAIST:              - 8.5"
NECK:                 - 2"
UPPER HIPS:      - 8.5"
LOWER HIPS:    - 6.5"
RIGHT THIGH:  - 6"
LEFT THIGH:     - 6"
RT ARM:             - 2.5"
LEFT ARM:         - 3"

TOTAL INCHES LOSS (ALL OVER BODY) SINCE PRE-SURGERY:  -53.25"            

Since this week I had Bronchitis, found out I have two stress fractures in my right foot & poison ivy on my arm from the church picnic, it really helped me to take some new pics & do my measurements.  I have not had my foot casted yet---I am seriously debating not having it done & letting it heal on it's own....at least then I can get my foot in a shoe & do my recumbent bike for cardio & then do weights, too......

So, that's my stats....still not on the A-Team, but feeling pretty good about moving up to at least C-Team-ish!!!

xo, Micheala.