Michele T.
18 month Surgiversary - Maintenance
May 30, 2011
Hello everyone!!! Long time no see. I had my 18 month surgiversary last week so wanted to stop by to give an update for anyone that still remembers me!!
I had hoped to get down a little lower than where I stopped, but found I wasn't willing to put in the effort. This weight seems to fit me well. I stay between 210 and 215 (down 104-109 lbs) and am a size 16. I have all the health benefits of a lower weight but without having to really kill myself to maintain it. My skin is also manageable at this weight, but I think if I lost any more I would be looking at plastic surgery. I am not the perfect size 6 poster child for weight loss surgery, but I like to think of myself as the "every man" poster child. I don't eat perfect, I don't exercise perfect and I get off track drastically occasionally with those sugary carbs. But all in all, I feel like I have balance. 215 is my magic number, when I see it on the scale, I immediately go back to eating protein first every time I put food in my mouth and that is all it takes to drop back down to the 212 area in a couple of weeks. But it is work to maintain!! I could easily let the weight creep back on, I have to constantly work at all of those demons I learned about in counseling. The difference is I CAN do it now, where I couldn't before surgery no matter how hard I tried.
My husband and I separated in January. There were just some things I was no longer willing to put up with. However, we continued to go to marriage counseling, we both made some big strides forward and he moved back in May 1. So far it is going well, and I am glad we split up for a time, and glad we got back together. Everything isn't roses but we are working on it a day at a time.
This surgery gave me my life back. I can eat anything I want now. I can control my weight. I can do anything I want to do. I added who knows how many years to my life span. I am off all medications. This is as close to a miracle as I have ever experienced. Most importantly, I eat about the same amount as my skinny friends, and for the first time in my life, I know how normal people feel.
I AM NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs to you all!!
Michele
2 comments
I had hoped to get down a little lower than where I stopped, but found I wasn't willing to put in the effort. This weight seems to fit me well. I stay between 210 and 215 (down 104-109 lbs) and am a size 16. I have all the health benefits of a lower weight but without having to really kill myself to maintain it. My skin is also manageable at this weight, but I think if I lost any more I would be looking at plastic surgery. I am not the perfect size 6 poster child for weight loss surgery, but I like to think of myself as the "every man" poster child. I don't eat perfect, I don't exercise perfect and I get off track drastically occasionally with those sugary carbs. But all in all, I feel like I have balance. 215 is my magic number, when I see it on the scale, I immediately go back to eating protein first every time I put food in my mouth and that is all it takes to drop back down to the 212 area in a couple of weeks. But it is work to maintain!! I could easily let the weight creep back on, I have to constantly work at all of those demons I learned about in counseling. The difference is I CAN do it now, where I couldn't before surgery no matter how hard I tried.
My husband and I separated in January. There were just some things I was no longer willing to put up with. However, we continued to go to marriage counseling, we both made some big strides forward and he moved back in May 1. So far it is going well, and I am glad we split up for a time, and glad we got back together. Everything isn't roses but we are working on it a day at a time.
This surgery gave me my life back. I can eat anything I want now. I can control my weight. I can do anything I want to do. I added who knows how many years to my life span. I am off all medications. This is as close to a miracle as I have ever experienced. Most importantly, I eat about the same amount as my skinny friends, and for the first time in my life, I know how normal people feel.
I AM NORMAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs to you all!!
Michele
1 YEAR SURGIVERSARY - 105 LBS GONE
Nov 22, 2010
This is the day to celebrate!!!!!!! To celebrate me, celebrate my accomplishments and celebrate the sleeve!!! My life is so amazing now. I have boundless energy, can do anything I want to do, fit anywhere I want to fit, am off all my medications, have perfect blood and cholesterol scores, eat healthy 80-90% of the time, and am thrilled with my life.
This is some of the stuff I have done in the last year since surgery:
1. have a new Coach purse for my 100 lb goal
2. Threw away my seat belt extender
3. Trip to San Francisco
4. Trip to Disney World and riding every ride
5. Alaskan Cruise
6. Eastern Caribbean Cruise
7. Sat in movie seats without even thinking about raising the arms up
8. Tons of room in booths
9. Shopped at normal regular stores (even though I still feel a little lost on this one)
10. Ziplining on the Alaskan Cruise (just because I could because I was under 250 lbs)
11. Went to Atlantis Water Park on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise
12. Went to Six Flags Over Texas Fright Night and riding every ride
13. Riding the bike trails behind my house
14. Put in a new swimming pool so I can exercise
Honestly, every weekend is a new adventure. It is like I spend the week thinking, "what can I do this weekend that I have always wanted to do, but not been able to because of my weight?"
It is great to stop and really realize how much my life has changed!!!! Please don't put if off if you are thinking about this surgery. I am even encouraging my daughter to leave her job of 5 years with no weight loss surgery coverage to find a job with insurance that covers the sleeve, because I feel so strongly that this is so life-changing that whatever it takes to accomplish it should be done. It is still hard work, but it can be done, where that has never been the case in my life before.
What a glorious enchanted ride this has been. By far, the best decision of my life!!
4 comments
This is some of the stuff I have done in the last year since surgery:
1. have a new Coach purse for my 100 lb goal
2. Threw away my seat belt extender
3. Trip to San Francisco
4. Trip to Disney World and riding every ride
5. Alaskan Cruise
6. Eastern Caribbean Cruise
7. Sat in movie seats without even thinking about raising the arms up
8. Tons of room in booths
9. Shopped at normal regular stores (even though I still feel a little lost on this one)
10. Ziplining on the Alaskan Cruise (just because I could because I was under 250 lbs)
11. Went to Atlantis Water Park on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise
12. Went to Six Flags Over Texas Fright Night and riding every ride
13. Riding the bike trails behind my house
14. Put in a new swimming pool so I can exercise
Honestly, every weekend is a new adventure. It is like I spend the week thinking, "what can I do this weekend that I have always wanted to do, but not been able to because of my weight?"
It is great to stop and really realize how much my life has changed!!!! Please don't put if off if you are thinking about this surgery. I am even encouraging my daughter to leave her job of 5 years with no weight loss surgery coverage to find a job with insurance that covers the sleeve, because I feel so strongly that this is so life-changing that whatever it takes to accomplish it should be done. It is still hard work, but it can be done, where that has never been the case in my life before.
What a glorious enchanted ride this has been. By far, the best decision of my life!!
My Life Since Surgery
Oct 29, 2010
This is some of the stuff I have done in the last year since surgery:
1. have a new Coach purse for my 100 lb goal
2. Threw away my seat belt extender
3. Trip to San Francisco
4. Trip to Disney World and riding every ride
5. Alaskan Cruise
6. Eastern Caribbean Cruise
7. Sat in movie seats without even thinking about raising the arms up
8. Tons of room in booths
9. Shopped at normal regular stores (even though I still feel a little lost on this one)
10. Ziplining on the Alaskan Cruise (just because I could because I was under 250 lbs)
11. Went to Atlantis Water Park on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise
12. Went to Six Flags Over Texas Fright Night and riding every ride
13. Riding the bike trails behind my house
14. Put in a new swimming pool so I can exercise
Honestly, every weekend is a new adventure. It is like I spend the week thinking, "what can I do this weekend that I have always wanted to do, but not been able to because of my weight?"
It is great to stop and really realize how much my life has changed!!!!
1 comment
1. have a new Coach purse for my 100 lb goal
2. Threw away my seat belt extender
3. Trip to San Francisco
4. Trip to Disney World and riding every ride
5. Alaskan Cruise
6. Eastern Caribbean Cruise
7. Sat in movie seats without even thinking about raising the arms up
8. Tons of room in booths
9. Shopped at normal regular stores (even though I still feel a little lost on this one)
10. Ziplining on the Alaskan Cruise (just because I could because I was under 250 lbs)
11. Went to Atlantis Water Park on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise
12. Went to Six Flags Over Texas Fright Night and riding every ride
13. Riding the bike trails behind my house
14. Put in a new swimming pool so I can exercise
Honestly, every weekend is a new adventure. It is like I spend the week thinking, "what can I do this weekend that I have always wanted to do, but not been able to because of my weight?"
It is great to stop and really realize how much my life has changed!!!!
11-month Surgiversary - Dealing with Regain Successfully
Oct 21, 2010
I am still loving the new job in my same company I started last month. Of course, I am working on the 2011 budget and have worked over 65 hours this week, but I don't even care!
I decided I had to get control of my eating. Ever since the 2 cruises, I had not really been in control. The catalyst for me was that I had gotten down to 219 lbs briefly, and then one morning (9/28) I weighed 226. Well, I instituted a 5 lb gain rule before I had surgery, and this was over the 5 lbs I allowed myself and I panicked. I refuse to fall back into the old patterns and mindsets that destroyed me before. So, I started logging on fatsecret, and saw how many calories I could actually eat now if I eat all of the wrong foods. My goal has been 1,500 calories a day and I haven't quite made that (averaging 2,000 a day), but I am still losing. I have been trying to exercise at least 3 times a week as well. I am down to 217 now. This proves that you can gain weight back with the sleeve, you have to be ever vigilant, and that the good news is that it is fairly easy to get back on track once you have the sleeve.
I still believe if I stay this weight the rest of my life, I will be perfectly content! I went to my surgeon and he said if I eat clean, I could lose another 30-40 lbs in the next 6 months, and to eat 90% for health, and 10% for pleasure. The nut told me that sweets are my weakness, so I should only have 1 sweet thing a day, even if it is healthy sweets. So, I am going to see if I can get under 200 lbs (which is another 18 lbs or so) so and then reassess at that time.
I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable. I also meet up fairly often with various friends I have made on this journey. I plan to attend the OH conference in Houston in November also.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. I am leaning more towards staying at this point. It is really hard to know what the best course of action is.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
2 comments
I decided I had to get control of my eating. Ever since the 2 cruises, I had not really been in control. The catalyst for me was that I had gotten down to 219 lbs briefly, and then one morning (9/28) I weighed 226. Well, I instituted a 5 lb gain rule before I had surgery, and this was over the 5 lbs I allowed myself and I panicked. I refuse to fall back into the old patterns and mindsets that destroyed me before. So, I started logging on fatsecret, and saw how many calories I could actually eat now if I eat all of the wrong foods. My goal has been 1,500 calories a day and I haven't quite made that (averaging 2,000 a day), but I am still losing. I have been trying to exercise at least 3 times a week as well. I am down to 217 now. This proves that you can gain weight back with the sleeve, you have to be ever vigilant, and that the good news is that it is fairly easy to get back on track once you have the sleeve.
I still believe if I stay this weight the rest of my life, I will be perfectly content! I went to my surgeon and he said if I eat clean, I could lose another 30-40 lbs in the next 6 months, and to eat 90% for health, and 10% for pleasure. The nut told me that sweets are my weakness, so I should only have 1 sweet thing a day, even if it is healthy sweets. So, I am going to see if I can get under 200 lbs (which is another 18 lbs or so) so and then reassess at that time.
I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable. I also meet up fairly often with various friends I have made on this journey. I plan to attend the OH conference in Houston in November also.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. I am leaning more towards staying at this point. It is really hard to know what the best course of action is.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
10-month Surgiversary
Sep 27, 2010
Well, I made it thru my 2 cruises and had my giant pool birthday party (60 people came). I am just exhausted now, and relieved that my life may get back to normal for a while. I also started a new job in my same company last Monday and absolutely love it - I am out of IT and back into accounting which is where my heart is. I love accounting and missed it so much! Of course, I am working on the 2011 budget and will be working a LOT of hours the next 6 weeks, but I don't even care!
My eating has been topsy-turvy. I gained 3 lbs on the first cruise, lost 2 lbs in the week afterwards, then gained 3 lbs on the second cruise. Then, I was getting the landscaping and house done for the pool party. So, all in all, I am still up about 3-4 lbs from my lowest weight, and about the same for the last month. And I am noticing I can eat a lot more now that I could a couple of months ago.
So, here is the most awesome news of all for me: I have been eating what I want when I want and even overeating on occasion, and have pretty much stayed the same. This has never been the case for me in my entire life!! I am in a size 16 now, and have lost over 60% of my excess weight. I can do anything I want, and have tons of energy. If I stay this weight the rest of my life, I will be perfectly content! However, I have decided I would like to head towards weighing 199 lbs (which is another 25 lbs or so) so I hope to spend the month of October losing a little more.
I do want to get a regular exercise program in place. There is a nice trail in back fo my house, and now that the pool is starting to get too cool to swim in, I am going to try to walk regularly. I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. It is really hard to know what the best course of action is.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
0 comments
My eating has been topsy-turvy. I gained 3 lbs on the first cruise, lost 2 lbs in the week afterwards, then gained 3 lbs on the second cruise. Then, I was getting the landscaping and house done for the pool party. So, all in all, I am still up about 3-4 lbs from my lowest weight, and about the same for the last month. And I am noticing I can eat a lot more now that I could a couple of months ago.
So, here is the most awesome news of all for me: I have been eating what I want when I want and even overeating on occasion, and have pretty much stayed the same. This has never been the case for me in my entire life!! I am in a size 16 now, and have lost over 60% of my excess weight. I can do anything I want, and have tons of energy. If I stay this weight the rest of my life, I will be perfectly content! However, I have decided I would like to head towards weighing 199 lbs (which is another 25 lbs or so) so I hope to spend the month of October losing a little more.
I do want to get a regular exercise program in place. There is a nice trail in back fo my house, and now that the pool is starting to get too cool to swim in, I am going to try to walk regularly. I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. It is really hard to know what the best course of action is.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
9-month 7-day Surgiversary
Aug 31, 2010
I am running only about 7 days behind this month. It is true what people say, you just get so busy living life that it gets harder and harder to find time for OH. I find that while I still read posts by my friends, and occasionally comment, overall I spend less and less time here.
I went on the Alaskan cruise Aug 22. I made the 100 lbs weight loss goal the day before I left (which I was sure wouldn't happen) so I got the Coach purse (100 lb reward). Another reward to myself was to go ziplining in Alaska (by myself as the people I traveled with were all older) just because I can because I am under the 250 lbs weight limit. It was harder than I thought, it was raining and about 35 degrees - I was frozen afterwards but it was awesome and I did it!! I gained about 3 lbs on the cruise. It was really hard having so many choices available to try, I was overstuffed most of the trip, but I was very active or it would have been worse! Proves if you want to gain weight with the sleeve, just go on a cruise! I am trying to lose that this week since I go on an Eastern Caribbean cruise Sept 5 with my immediate family, and I don't want to add another 3 lbs on top of this 3 lbs! I lost about 6 lbs this past month, before I gained the 3 lbs back, for a net of 3 lbs.
I am still looking forward to getting a regular exercise program going in the pool, but I have to be home long enough to get it going. I have a big party planned for Sept 25, but I hope after that things calm down. I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month. I stopped seeing the bariatric therapist once a month for financial reasons, but I am finishing an 8 week group session conducted by my bariatric therapist that I believe is helping me in this journey, that I would like to continue, if possible. I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much because my husband has been working 70 hours a week, and then I was go on the cruise so we haven't seen much of each other. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. I know I won't be ready to make any changes before our big party Sept 25, but I am trying to get things in order for the future just in case.
I have been really lenient this month, pretty much eating what I want. I eat 5-6 meals a day (except on the cruise it seemed to be constant), with protein first (even on the cruise I was careful to get my protein in). I am not focusing on losing this month, given the 2 cruises and the work to get ready for the party, but I do want to end the month still maintaining my 100 lb weight loss. I have decided I am still not quite happy with my weight so I would like to head towards weighing 199 lbs (which is another 20 lbs) so I hope to spend the month of October continuing to lose.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
0 comments
I went on the Alaskan cruise Aug 22. I made the 100 lbs weight loss goal the day before I left (which I was sure wouldn't happen) so I got the Coach purse (100 lb reward). Another reward to myself was to go ziplining in Alaska (by myself as the people I traveled with were all older) just because I can because I am under the 250 lbs weight limit. It was harder than I thought, it was raining and about 35 degrees - I was frozen afterwards but it was awesome and I did it!! I gained about 3 lbs on the cruise. It was really hard having so many choices available to try, I was overstuffed most of the trip, but I was very active or it would have been worse! Proves if you want to gain weight with the sleeve, just go on a cruise! I am trying to lose that this week since I go on an Eastern Caribbean cruise Sept 5 with my immediate family, and I don't want to add another 3 lbs on top of this 3 lbs! I lost about 6 lbs this past month, before I gained the 3 lbs back, for a net of 3 lbs.
I am still looking forward to getting a regular exercise program going in the pool, but I have to be home long enough to get it going. I have a big party planned for Sept 25, but I hope after that things calm down. I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month. I stopped seeing the bariatric therapist once a month for financial reasons, but I am finishing an 8 week group session conducted by my bariatric therapist that I believe is helping me in this journey, that I would like to continue, if possible. I also still go to my Jenny Craig Counselor weekly to keep me accountable.
My marriage situation hasn't changed much because my husband has been working 70 hours a week, and then I was go on the cruise so we haven't seen much of each other. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I am still reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. I know I won't be ready to make any changes before our big party Sept 25, but I am trying to get things in order for the future just in case.
I have been really lenient this month, pretty much eating what I want. I eat 5-6 meals a day (except on the cruise it seemed to be constant), with protein first (even on the cruise I was careful to get my protein in). I am not focusing on losing this month, given the 2 cruises and the work to get ready for the party, but I do want to end the month still maintaining my 100 lb weight loss. I have decided I am still not quite happy with my weight so I would like to head towards weighing 199 lbs (which is another 20 lbs) so I hope to spend the month of October continuing to lose.
I will say again, if you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! And make sure you get bariatric counseling to succeed. My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
8-month 10-day Surgiversary
Aug 04, 2010
I am running about 10 days behind this month. I had a severe ear infection that put me out of commission the last week but I am feeling much better today.I have lost 97 lbs total.
I am still going on an Alaskan cruise Aug 22 and an Eastern Caribbean cruise Sept 5. One reward to myself is to go ziplining in Alaska (by myself as the people I am travelling with are all older) just because I can because I am under the 250 lbs weight limit! The Coach purse (that is sitting on my table tempting me) that I can't have until I lose 100 lbs is getting close enough to imagine now. My goal is to take the Coach bag on the cruise with me!!
My swimming pool is finished, and soon my ear should be well enough to start swimming in earnest. I am looking forward to getting a regular exercise program going in the pool. I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month. I stopped seeing the bariatric therapist once a month for financial reasons, but I am attending an 8 week group session conducted by my bariatric therapist that I believe is helping me in this journey.
I have seen a slight improvement in my marriage although it is still struggling. I am still in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. I have started reading "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" and hope that when I finish it I will have an answer. I know I won't be ready to make any changes before our family cruise Sept 5, but I am trying to get things in order for the future just in case.
I am eating overall much healthier, but there are some days I just want to eat all of the time. I just try to stick to healthy choices on those days so as not to sabotage myself. Other than that, I am pretty lenient on myself. I eat 5-6 meals a day, and mostly eat what I want, just with protein first. Once I get to 100 lbs lost, I am going to re-evaluate if I want to stay at 219 lbs, or continue to lose. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to have the sleeve, I say get off the fence and get on the bench!! My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
7-month Surgiversary
Jun 23, 2010
Well, last month I was trying to decide if I wanted to lose more weight or if I was happy where I was. I just woke up one morning and decided I did want to lose more. I decided to shoot for 100 lbs total lost, and re-evaluate then. So, I started watching what I was eating (but just barely, not that much effort really), and trying to do a little more activity, and I lost 10 lbs in the last month. On top of that, as of today, I have lost 50% of my excess weight (87 lbs lost, 87 lbs to go). Woo hoo!!
I am going on an Alaskan cruise Aug 22 and an Eastern Caribbean cruise Sept 5. I bought a Coach purse (that is sitting on my table tempting me) that I can't have until I lose 100 lbs. My goal is to take the Coach bag on the cruise with me!! They started building my swimming pool yesterday, so I should be swimming sometime in August. I am so excited, because swimming it the only kind of exercise I really enjoy and I hope to start getting in better shape once it is done. I did sign up for a free boot camp at 5 am, and then chickened out and didn't go when it was time to get out of bed. I just decided I am not yet ready for a boot camp, as I don't do any regular physical exercise program right now. That is still my biggest challenge.
I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and the bariatric therapist once a month. I am starting an 8 week group session conducted by my bariatric therapist tonight, so I hope that also helps me in this journey.
My marriage was not very strong to begin with, but it is really struggling now. I am in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. There is a book someone here on OH recommended titled "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" that I want to get and read as the title itself sums up how I feel. I know I won't do ready to make any changes before our family cruise Sept 5, but I am trying to get things in order for the future just in case.
In summary, eating: I still have hunger pains and still like sweets. But there is really only 1 rule I have to follow to be successful: I eat every 3-4 hours and if I eat protein first every time I eat, everything else falls into place. I still eat whatever I want including sweets, but I can't eat but a bite or two if I eat protein first so I never feel deprived but still lose weight. I do drink between 48-64 oz of water and it is no problem - I actually like it. exercise: I continue to struggle with getting into a regular routine, however I am much more acitve in the yard and the house than ever before mental health: I am very happy outside of the issues in my marriage. I continue to work on understanding myself so that I never regain the weight I lose.
All in all, this has been an amazing tranformation, and I wish everyone that has suffered with obesity their entire life would just get the sleeve - life is too short to live any other way! My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
2 comments
I am going on an Alaskan cruise Aug 22 and an Eastern Caribbean cruise Sept 5. I bought a Coach purse (that is sitting on my table tempting me) that I can't have until I lose 100 lbs. My goal is to take the Coach bag on the cruise with me!! They started building my swimming pool yesterday, so I should be swimming sometime in August. I am so excited, because swimming it the only kind of exercise I really enjoy and I hope to start getting in better shape once it is done. I did sign up for a free boot camp at 5 am, and then chickened out and didn't go when it was time to get out of bed. I just decided I am not yet ready for a boot camp, as I don't do any regular physical exercise program right now. That is still my biggest challenge.
I am still going to the 2 support group meetings a month and the bariatric therapist once a month. I am starting an 8 week group session conducted by my bariatric therapist tonight, so I hope that also helps me in this journey.
My marriage was not very strong to begin with, but it is really struggling now. I am in the process of trying to decide what to do about it. There is a book someone here on OH recommended titled "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay" that I want to get and read as the title itself sums up how I feel. I know I won't do ready to make any changes before our family cruise Sept 5, but I am trying to get things in order for the future just in case.
In summary, eating: I still have hunger pains and still like sweets. But there is really only 1 rule I have to follow to be successful: I eat every 3-4 hours and if I eat protein first every time I eat, everything else falls into place. I still eat whatever I want including sweets, but I can't eat but a bite or two if I eat protein first so I never feel deprived but still lose weight. I do drink between 48-64 oz of water and it is no problem - I actually like it. exercise: I continue to struggle with getting into a regular routine, however I am much more acitve in the yard and the house than ever before mental health: I am very happy outside of the issues in my marriage. I continue to work on understanding myself so that I never regain the weight I lose.
All in all, this has been an amazing tranformation, and I wish everyone that has suffered with obesity their entire life would just get the sleeve - life is too short to live any other way! My only regret is that I didn't do this when I was younger! I love my sleeve!!!!!!
6-month Surgiversary
May 24, 2010
What can I say about this last month? It has been a doozy of a month. It has been a month of self-discovery and a time for making some tough decisions.
Let's start with the weight. For the month, I stayed the same overall, 242 lbs, 77 lbs lost (stayed the same, lost 3 lbs all at once, and then gained 3 lbs back all at once this past weekend).
Now let's discuss why my weight loss stalled out. First, I will say that for the most part it was a conscious decision. I realized that I had accomplished the goals I had when I set out: I am at a size 18 instead of 28, am able to do all of the things I want to do, am healthier (I went off all of my medications over the last 2 months - including anti-depressants), and I do not have all the restrictions that come with being so obese (not being able to fit places or do things). So, I have a decision to make about if I want to continue to lose more. The last month I ate what I wanted to eat when I wanted to eat it and never felt for 1 second like I was deprived or watching my weight while I considered whether I want to stay the same or continue to lose. Obviously, it would be super, super easy to stay this weight with my smaller stomach. And while I would love to look like a super model, that is not the reason I did this, and I am at an age where that is not as important to me as stopping at a weight I can maintain without too much sacrifice - much better to stop now, than lose another 75 lbs and gain it back. My bariatric therapist is really helping me work through where I want to be and what I want to do with my weight to be happy. I ultimately decided that what I am not happy with is the shape I am in. I am having a pool put in right now, and I am so excited! I think this step is every bit as important as the surgery I had. I love to swim and know I will use the pool all of the time.
I also found out that you can stop this weight loss if you do not try to continue to lose weight. It has seemed like a miracle in months past, but now I know that I am in control of how far I go. It has been a very busy month for me working full-time and taking care of my granddaughter while her mother took on a second job, and I haven't been able to give my weight the attention I have in past months. I haven't taken care of myself like I should have and it shows.
So, these are my thoughts: First, Congrats to me on accomplishing all of my main goals!!!
Second, I am going to make absolutely, positively sure I don't gain any weight back (gaining the 3 lbs back this weekend scared the hell out of me)! I am going to make sure I eat protein first, and I am going to start exercising to get in better shape. And we will see what happens with the lbs. But, honest-to-god, other than refusing to gain any back and making sure that I never gain any back, I don't really care where the lbs end up, but I do want to be stronger and in better shape (and if I lose a few lbs and/or a size or 2 so much the better). However, I did buy a size too small dress for a cruise in August so I guess I think I am going to lose another size. LOL
I know for all of you die-hard fanatics out there, this post has to be perplexing. But for me, this journey is all about balance, and finding that perfect balance of happiness, health, activity and living life without feeling like I am sacrificing too much. It is not about having a perfect bmi or wearing a perfect size. To balance!!!
3 comments
Let's start with the weight. For the month, I stayed the same overall, 242 lbs, 77 lbs lost (stayed the same, lost 3 lbs all at once, and then gained 3 lbs back all at once this past weekend).
Now let's discuss why my weight loss stalled out. First, I will say that for the most part it was a conscious decision. I realized that I had accomplished the goals I had when I set out: I am at a size 18 instead of 28, am able to do all of the things I want to do, am healthier (I went off all of my medications over the last 2 months - including anti-depressants), and I do not have all the restrictions that come with being so obese (not being able to fit places or do things). So, I have a decision to make about if I want to continue to lose more. The last month I ate what I wanted to eat when I wanted to eat it and never felt for 1 second like I was deprived or watching my weight while I considered whether I want to stay the same or continue to lose. Obviously, it would be super, super easy to stay this weight with my smaller stomach. And while I would love to look like a super model, that is not the reason I did this, and I am at an age where that is not as important to me as stopping at a weight I can maintain without too much sacrifice - much better to stop now, than lose another 75 lbs and gain it back. My bariatric therapist is really helping me work through where I want to be and what I want to do with my weight to be happy. I ultimately decided that what I am not happy with is the shape I am in. I am having a pool put in right now, and I am so excited! I think this step is every bit as important as the surgery I had. I love to swim and know I will use the pool all of the time.
I also found out that you can stop this weight loss if you do not try to continue to lose weight. It has seemed like a miracle in months past, but now I know that I am in control of how far I go. It has been a very busy month for me working full-time and taking care of my granddaughter while her mother took on a second job, and I haven't been able to give my weight the attention I have in past months. I haven't taken care of myself like I should have and it shows.
So, these are my thoughts: First, Congrats to me on accomplishing all of my main goals!!!
Second, I am going to make absolutely, positively sure I don't gain any weight back (gaining the 3 lbs back this weekend scared the hell out of me)! I am going to make sure I eat protein first, and I am going to start exercising to get in better shape. And we will see what happens with the lbs. But, honest-to-god, other than refusing to gain any back and making sure that I never gain any back, I don't really care where the lbs end up, but I do want to be stronger and in better shape (and if I lose a few lbs and/or a size or 2 so much the better). However, I did buy a size too small dress for a cruise in August so I guess I think I am going to lose another size. LOL
I know for all of you die-hard fanatics out there, this post has to be perplexing. But for me, this journey is all about balance, and finding that perfect balance of happiness, health, activity and living life without feeling like I am sacrificing too much. It is not about having a perfect bmi or wearing a perfect size. To balance!!!
5-month Surgiversary
Apr 27, 2010
Hi everyone!
Well, I lost 7 more lbs this month, down to 242 lbs. As I read over my blog at my 4-month surgiversary, I realize that I have let myself down this last month. All of the things I committed to improve upon: journaling food, exercise program, starting at OA did not happen. Also, I have not lost any weight at all the last couple of weeks and for the first time, I do not think this is a stall, but rather a lack of focus, exercise and some bad food choices I have made.
But as my bariatric therapist is teaching me, it is all about balance and not going to extremes and not beating myself up. So, these are the things I have done well: I have spent the month getting off all of my medications which includes steroids and anti-depressants, I have drank most of my water most days, I have made good food choices most of my meals, although I did not develop a formal exercise program, I have remained very active working in my flower beds, etc, I have taken my vitamins and calcium almost all days, and I have went to my weekly weigh-ins, bariatric therapist, monthly support group meetings and to see my nut and dr (who were delighted with my progress when I saw them in early April - just recommended I work on chewing slower).
So, my therapist is right. I haven't done so bad, after all!!! I will keep all of my good habits plus:
Exercise is overwhelming me so I am making the commitment to just swim 2 days a week. That is easy....I should have no problem doing that. And I will journal my food for 1 week in the coming month. Anybody can do anything for 1 week. I am not committing to OA in the coming month because I am starting a new project at work and am not sure of my schedule which I need to define before I pick a meeting.
Onward, forward, I can do this! Hell, I already have!
2 comments
Well, I lost 7 more lbs this month, down to 242 lbs. As I read over my blog at my 4-month surgiversary, I realize that I have let myself down this last month. All of the things I committed to improve upon: journaling food, exercise program, starting at OA did not happen. Also, I have not lost any weight at all the last couple of weeks and for the first time, I do not think this is a stall, but rather a lack of focus, exercise and some bad food choices I have made.
But as my bariatric therapist is teaching me, it is all about balance and not going to extremes and not beating myself up. So, these are the things I have done well: I have spent the month getting off all of my medications which includes steroids and anti-depressants, I have drank most of my water most days, I have made good food choices most of my meals, although I did not develop a formal exercise program, I have remained very active working in my flower beds, etc, I have taken my vitamins and calcium almost all days, and I have went to my weekly weigh-ins, bariatric therapist, monthly support group meetings and to see my nut and dr (who were delighted with my progress when I saw them in early April - just recommended I work on chewing slower).
So, my therapist is right. I haven't done so bad, after all!!! I will keep all of my good habits plus:
Exercise is overwhelming me so I am making the commitment to just swim 2 days a week. That is easy....I should have no problem doing that. And I will journal my food for 1 week in the coming month. Anybody can do anything for 1 week. I am not committing to OA in the coming month because I am starting a new project at work and am not sure of my schedule which I need to define before I pick a meeting.
Onward, forward, I can do this! Hell, I already have!
About Me
Houston, TX
Location
32.9
BMI
Surgery
11/24/2009
Surgery Date
Oct 28, 2009
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
