RaeRae1

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Hello everyone.  I'm coming clean!  I had my baby girl on March 28, 2011 and I have steadily gained weight.  I haven't worked out in over a year, I still can't eat a whole lot but I tend to graze. I do not drink my water as I should. I did start back drinking my protein shakes everyday. I am going to start doing them at least 2x per day if not 3. My life is BUSY. I'm in school for my doctorate, I'm in ministry, I'm a full time mother, wife, employee..It's a LOT. But today, it hit me. I didn't go through everything that I went through just to end up almost back to where I was prior to the surgery. I look at myself now and I don't like what I see.  I'm not being hard on myself, I'm being real with myself.  I KNOW what to do. I just need to do it.  OH kept me honest and accountable. When I stopped coming here, I stopped tracking and measuring. I started doing all of the things that I shouldn't do.  I've watched the scale go back up over 200. Why?  Because I took this surgery for granted. It's not a magic pill, you STILL have to do the work.  So I'm back...And I'm going to do this!!  My future begins TODAY....

So in one year,  I have lost a total of 91 pounds..gone from a size 24 to a size 12 and I've lost  11 inches in my waist, 16 inches from my breasts, 12 inches from my hips and 13 inches from my thighs...WOW...I really can't believe the transformation.  I still have a ways to go.  My weight goal is 170 so I still have 25 pounds left to lose.  My size 12's are getting too big so I believe I will try on a size 10 the next shopping trip!!  Simply amazing.  I'm so very happy.  I was actually looking at my before and after pics and I couldn't really believe that it was me.  You just never really know how big you are!!  I thank God everyday for the opportunity to have this surgery and allowing me to come through with no struggles.  This past year has been wonderful and I thank God first and foremost and I thank God for my surgeon, Dr. Richi.  He's a wonderful guy and a great DR.  Since I've had my surgery, 3 people from my job went to him and also had the surgery.  What a great accomplishment for all of them!! 

On Aguust 11, 2009, I celebrated my one year surgery date.  Up until now, I really truly had not realized the amount of weight and inches I had lost.  OH sent me a Congratulations e-mail and along with it, they asked me for before and after pictures.  My husband pulled up several but the picture that I chose was a picture of me taken in early 2008 at a birthday party at my heighest weight.  I could NOT believe that it was me.  I didn't realize how big I was until I looked at the picture of myself at my cousins wedding in June 09.  It was unreal to me that I was EVER that big.   I thank God for this surgery. It has changed my life completely.   I'm so pleased with the outcome and I know that although I have a long way to go, I have come so far.  I'm down to a size 12 (headed into a 10)  I can't believe that!!  I haven't taken my measurements yet but I will do that tonight and will post them. 

I really can't believe that almost a year ago, I began this wonderful journey.  It has been a wonderful ride and I'm so thankful to God for allowing me to take it.  I'm glad to say that a year later, I am just as excited about my surgery as I was on August 11, 2008!!  I didn't know what to expect but my expectations were exceeded. What I have realized is that it is not just about losing weight. We've all done that before. It is about other things like really being able to enjoy and live life to the fullest without being hindered by weight.  I still have some body issues..I look at my self and I don't always see what others see. I really have to do my stats and will at the one year mark and I will post them.  I look at myself and all of the changes are amazing.  People look at me and sometimes do not know who I am.  My husband, who adored me at 286 pounds cannot keep his hands off of me!!  He tells me all of the time that I'm beautiful and I'm sexy and although he said it before, it took on a whole new meaning for me.

But I also realized this, I realize that this is not surgery on my head. I still fight food demons and exercise demons and any other demon related to me bettering myself.  The journey did not end on August 11, 2008 and it will continue.  I've seen what this surgery can do to a person and it's not pretty.  This surgery can change you for the better and for the worse (if you let it).  I know that I have gained new confidence and I'm very proud of that.  Although I have always been a confident person, I am more so now because I just feel better about me.  I'm more involved in things because I know that I don't have to be concerned about being "the fattest girl in the room" and feeling like people are judging me based on my appearance.  I just didn't realize how judgmental people are when it comes to weight.  It's really crazy being on the other side of this journey.  The view is eye opening!!

Since I've had my surgery, I have been instrumental in other people having surgery or looking into it.  At work alone, 3 people have been inspired with one having surgery 2 weeks ago.  I have a friend who just had the surgery 2 weeks ago and she is doing well. My sister had the surgery and is doing well and looking wonderful and I'm glad that I was able to inspire others.  Now I just want to continue to do well,, not just for myself but that others can see that it is worth it and it is possible.

I will be back to post more pictures soon.  I'm not on line often because I'm doing what I should be doing..LIVING!!

All is well..I"m doing great.  88 pounds lost size 12 clothing, lots of inches lost...I am officially in onderland!! I am at 198.2..Very exciting.. Gotta keep on working it out!!  I will post more pictures soon....Take care everyone!!  God bless you.

Well, I celebrate 8 months of a new life.  I have lost 83 pounds and I  haven't taken my measurements in about 4 months so I know I have lost a lot of inches.  I'll post them after I take them.  At any rate, overall, I'm doing well.  I have some back issues that have prevented me from working out like I should but i do plan on returning to the gym ASAP.  I went for my blood work check up and everything is going well.  This is a wonderful tool but it is still hard work. Don't EVER let anyone tell you that we took the easy way out.....Everyday, we have to learn how to listen to our bodies and not over eat and do all of the right things that we need to do to maintain and to continue to be successful.  I'm the happiest that I have ever been and I'm feeling great.  Love to you all and God Bless...

7 months, 77 pounds and feeling great!! 

I've fallen off the exercise wagon due to my schedule but I'm trying to get back on the horse!!  I know that exercise is very important and I really have to do better with it.  I'm doing well but I don't want to be flabby so it's back to the gym I go!!!  My energy levels fluctuate, sometimes I have it, sometimes I don't. Overall, I feel good.  I do worry about getting to small now because In this 7 month picture, I can see my collar bone (I have NEVER seen that before) and My head looks little!!!  Still loving this journey!!!

I can hardly believe it but I am at my six month mark!!  I have lost a total of 71 pounds.  I haven't taken my measurements yet but I will take them this weekend.  I'm feeling really great, just struggling with working out consistently.  I'm working on it though and I won't give up!!  Just wanted to tell everyone that all is well and I'm doing just fine!!!  I'm still loving this journey and it is Wonderful!!!

It's been sometime since I've posted.  My sister (Leesha S) graciously informed me that I needed to update my blog and my picture.  So, since my last post of December 2, 2008, Let me say HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  What a wonderful year 2008 was.  On August 11, 2008, My life changed forever.  God granted me another chance to get my health right and I thank Him everyday for that.  I'm feeling very good and I have no complaints.  At my three month check up, my doctor stated that everything was looking good, including all of my blood work.  He said that I looked "wonderful"!!  Physically, I feel great.  I started going to the gym and I'm trying to be consistent and I actually was consistent until the holidays and this crazy CT weather hit.   I went back this week and my goal is to go at least 3 times a week.  If I go more, great but I need to go at least 3 times.

I'm down to 215 and I'm wearing a size 14.  I have lost 65 pounds!!  I haven't taken my measurements in a couple of months but I plan on doing that this weekend.  I'm so excited about this journey.  I have a new lease on life and for that, I'm Grateful!!  My husband just took new pictures of me so I will post them as soon as I can.  Love to my OH family!!

I know that it has only been a few days since I last posted, however, I had a great experience that I wanted to share with you all.  On yesterday, I went into The Avenue.  As I checked out, I asked the sales lady about their bras and how a person is measured for a bra.  She looked at me and she tells me where they would measure. She then says "you are small, you look like you are about a 38D."  I just laughed and she was like "what?"  I then proceeded to tell her that I had gastric bypass
  and that I had lost almost 60 pounds (By the way, I'm down to 221 now!!)  I told her that I went from a size 22/24 to a size 16. She said "I was looking at you and I was saying why is she in the store". She said pretty soon, you won't be able to fit into our clothes...

I tell you people, I never thought I would see the day when I had to go to a "regular" store for clothes because the "BIG GIRL" store's clothing was too big for me.  I'm SOOO loving this journey...

I have other things to write about but it's getting late and It's time for bed. I have my 3 month doctor's appointment on tomorrow so I'll post after I come back from that.... SMOOCHES!!!