Happy Birthday to Less of ME!!!!!

 Happy Birthday... to Less of Me!!

I found it horrifically sad that I couldn't find a picture of me last year to put up a comparison... but I guess that was normal in my old self. I wouldn't dare let myself be in front of the camera- and if I did- I was ultra depressed with the results. Now, I love to look at pictures and think... "wow, is my face really shrinking?!" or "wow, I'm glad I have pictures of me and _____". It's a nice change.

DO NOT WORRY FELLOW WLSers.... the cake was for the pose. I am definitely not eating/attempting/wishing/hoping/tempting any cake. At this point it is hard to keep some fruits down because of the natural sugars and I definitely don't want to upset my pouch over processed sugar crap. 

It's hard to imagine what next years pictures will look like... but I am ready and excited to see them. The more weight I lose the more motivated I am to make changes to my life as a whole. This week? It was bringing less processed, more lean lunches to work. And I felt so much better. Lean chicken, lean fish, fresh veggies and fruit... yum! It makes the thought of eating the bad crap not a thought at all. 

Now if only I could break this stall!! I've been in the 260s FOREVER it feels. Cross your fingers for me that this week we see some pounds shed or I may go crazy. I have been pretty lucky to not have stalls last too long. On OH I read about people who stall for weeks at a time- thank god I'm not there yet. A 5-6 day stall is enough to drive me crazy! 

Until next time friends :).........

Month 4 Updates!

Here we go... a quarter done of my new life! What a journey it continues to be. We just got back from an amazing vacation so it is a nice way to wrap up the summer. Some things that made vacation awesome compared to last year?
1) I sat indian style... on the beach... without it being uncomfortable!
2) I felt way better in my swimsuit than last year
3) The summer is hot (Indiana is in the middle of a heat wave as we speak) and I wasn't 1/2 as uncomfortable as I was last year
4) Swimsuit buying wasn't so bad (see my previous post about that)
5) I was actually in family photos this year!


As the months crawl by I get more and more happy about the decision I made in March to have this surgery. I had my 4 month check up with my doctor and she was happy with my progress. She did switch me to a new antacid medication that she hopes will help my nausea as I am still taking anti-nausea medication daily. We will see. I also switched to B-12 injections instead of the sublingual. I don't know why but those seem to work better for me. 


Without further ado... Weight loss for Month 4?

261 pounds even! That's a total of 70 pounds lost since March 17, 2011!!!

And now the me today versus the old me:

I feel definitely feel like I look more "put together" this month. I think I need to go down a size in my jeans though... I'll try for month 5 and hopefully the effect will be more noticeable! 

Swimsuit... No worries!!

So today was the day... the dreaded day that I needed to buy the swimsuit for our vacation coming up next week. And you know what? It really wasn't so bad!

I really wish I had a picture of me prior to surgery in a swimsuit... Ha, I don't think I was 400 feet around a camera at that time. I am definitely not saying I'm at a place in my mind/body where I will be taking beach pictures this year... but I feel sooooo much better in this bathing suit then I do in the big one from last year.

So, what was the deal maker? I found a great deal on a tankini at Lane Bryant. The top is fit just like a bra so it holds the girls in place (the girls who don't seem to be getting ANY smaller at this point...) and the bottom is just a bikini bottom. I have to take the top in to get altered so the straps are shortened a bit so I'm hoping I feel even better after that's done. And the bottoms? A size 18. They are a little tight, not going to lie, so I'm debating going up a size. My husband says they look fine (isn't he suppose to say that?!) but I'm not 100% convinced yet. :)

I'm looking forward to the idea of not being overly hot and uncomfortable down in Florida. Last year I was miserable- I never wanted to get dressed. I feel like I've lost enough weight that getting dressed won't be such a chore and I won't have to wear a potato sack to make myself feel good about what I look like in my clothes. Those, my friends, are happy thoughts that make me going into my 4th month not completely regret the surgery. Every NSV I have reiterates to me how necessary the hell of the first 2 months were. So pre-opers and newbie post-opers... It will get better. Just maybe not as quickly as you pray, hope, beg for it to!

3 months!!

Wow... I can't believe I am 3 months post-op now. It really feels like much longer. I am so much happier with my decision to have WLS now.... little NSV are really exciting to me. Here's a few I would like to share:

1) Swinging on the swings at the park with my daughter :)
2) Fitting into any booth at a restaurant without worry that I won't fit
3) Wearing underwear that doesn't constantly give me a wedgie (when it's not suppose to, that is!)
4) Having people tell me how good I look
5) Knowing that all of this is just the beginning and so much more will come my way!

So month 3 updates:
1) I'm feeling much much better. I've finally gotten into a routine of how to take all my medications. Nighttime works best for me so I take all my vitamins during the day and my prescriptions at night. I'm on an anti-acid pill for my ulcers, nausea medication, and an anti-depressant which was given to me prior to leaving the hospital. I know if I skip a night or two of medication I will get sick. It's inevitable. I hope I don't have to be on these medications forever but for right now I'm fine taking everything as long as it makes me healthy and not vomit-ty.
2) I need to get better at taking my vitamins. They are SO very important. I've done really good this week with making sure I have got in extra protein and all my calcium. Calcium is my hardest vitamin to get in. I'm also going to be switching from an oral B12 to the shots. No, I haven't done labs yet (yes, that worries me too that my doctor hasn't ordered any and I'm going to force her too next month) but I think it is easier for me personally.
3) Exercise makes me feel good! I just wish I found time to do it more often. With summer activities, vacations, etc. things are getting harder to get a schedule to exercise. I keep telling myself that I've exercised more these last few weeks than probably I did total last year. I can improve and I will!
4) Learning what foods are good with my pouch and what foods aren't has been an adventure to say the least. Watermelon, as wonderful as it sounds, makes me dump. Cantaloupe and me are best friends. I don't do well with eggs but cottage cheese and I get along swell. I have developed a lot of anxiety about eating new foods. I'm so scared to make my pouch mad!
5) My eyes are WAY hungrier than my pouch. I measure out 3-4 ounces, think it is way not enough, and then add more... to only eat 1/2 of the original amount. I'm barely getting 3 ounces a meal in. Liquids I drink in the gallons a day... food just fills me up so fast. I wish my eyes would get on program! Wasting so much food isn't good!

Month 3 weigh in:

Yes, friends, that is a total weight loss of 61.8 pounds since the morning of surgery!

I'm really excited to share my pictures this month! I can see the difference so I'm hoping you can too!

Here we go Month 4! I'm taking my husband's advice and getting a new swimsuit before our beach vacation in less than a month... hopefully my Month 4 pictures will have a bit of a tan! 

Keep safe friends and remember... "nothing tastes as good as skinny healthy feels"!!

Ugh... Swimsuits.

It's that dreaded time of year... Swimsuit season.

I thought this year would be better but it's just not. I still hate the way I look in swimsuits. I keep telling myself "wait, next year will be better" and "you look better than you would have without the surgery"... but it doesn't help.

I've only had to face the world in a swimsuit twice this season already... both at a water park. This summer we are heading to Florida so I know that number will only rise. My husband suggested going out and buying a new swimsuit (one that actually fits right... the old one is way too loose). I'm hoping this helps.

As far as an update on how life is: life is good. I'm getting sick less often and I have found a good routine for taking all my vitamins and medications. It really took almost the whole 3 months before things "clicked" with my mind and body. I still tend to overestimate how much I can eat and then waste a bunch of food... but at least I'm not trying to finish everything and making myself sick. This Friday will be my 3 months mark... I can't wait to show everyone here my progress!

Exercise!

Today's the day, folks! I started really exercising. I have been walking since surgery but the skin is starting to sag and my weight is not falling off me a quickly as it was the first few weeks. So it was time to stop grumbling and complaining and get my butt to the gym.

The first day wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. That is probably because the last time I worked out I was 50 pounds heavier and couldn't breathe to save my life. I got a sharp horrible cramp in my "barbie crease" (where your leg meets your torso... like where Barbie's legs bend... Don't ask...) and cut my walking/running in half. That's right- running! I've always wanted to be a runner and now I'm finally going to try. Then I did lots of arm exercises and some stretching.

Then instead of coming home, eating something, and hitting the couch, I worked out in the yard. I have honestly spent more time in the yard this year than ever in my life. I mowed the whole yard and helped my husband weed eat. I really want/need to start my garden... maybe Tuesday.

It feels really good to get that "day 1" out of the way!! If you haven't started exercising yet, you should. I know, "Hello I'm pot, meet Kettle"... but really, it gave me so so so much more energy today and over 1/2 the day is still left!

Month 2

No exclamation points for this one, friends. It's been a really hard last couple of weeks. I thought things were getting easier... then everything happened with the ulcers, getting sick, etc. (See 6 week blah) And I haven't fully recovered. Still no energy... I still have a hard time keeping foods down I know I should be able to... I am so sleepy.

Yes. I am a huge Debbie Downer lately.

To make matters worse? I took my stupid two month pictures and can't tell a difference at all. Maybe (and I hope) it is just my mood... we will see. For your viewing pleasure:

See that fake smile? and the hair... it just wasn't my night....

So... boo. I am in smaller jeans in my 2nd picture... same shirt- just more loose. But other than those subtle differences I can't tell. Again, I hope it is just my mood.

Here is a scale picture of my week 8 weigh-in:

Not horrible... I feel like I've been in the 280s forever though... TIME TO MOVE ON! :)

I hope to be more uplifting next post... I've already got the gym in the plans for tomorrow so maybe adding that to my plan (religiously) will help. Until next time... Happy Losing, friends!