4 Months Post Op

(Click pictures to enlarge, if you dare)





I'm afraid that wearing black for these pictures didn't do much to show whether I've lost anywhere.

Pictures on the left were taken 10-11-06 (weight 384). Pictures on the right were taken 2-24-07 (weight 294).

I can't believe how huge my belly still is. I don't see it when I look in the mirror. I guess we see what we want to but pictures don't lie.

-90 Pounds

Weight 294

I finally hit 90 pounds lost!!! It took me 17 weeks, 4 months + 1 week. That is incredible to me.

I'll be taking my 4 month pictures this weekend. I hate to say that I want to take my picture, but I do! I can't wait to see the results. I only hope I'm not disappointed.

What Not To Say

Weight 295 (finally! 1 pound from 90 total pounds lost)

As I lose weight I've noticed that people seem to have a hard time knowing what to say to me. Most comments border on being derogatory. Let me give an example. My grandfather saw me recently and said, "You look soooo much better! I can really notice it in your face. You have expression in it now and you didn't before."

Now, I realize that he was trying to be supportive and kind. I can't understand why people can't just say, "You're looking great." Why do they always have to give the additional put down? It's not like I don't know that I looked like crap before.

When approaching someone who has lost weight, why not ask how they are feeling? How about, "You look great. You must be feeling so good."?

Then there's the person who says something about someone they know that lost weight and now she's ugly. Why must you tell me these things? It's not like I can control my beauty. So I may end up ugly. What am I supposed to do?

My body will probably end up a saggy mess when I'm done but it's a far healthier cry from living as an obese person.

Getting Rid Of It

Weight 311

Before surgery, I had gone through all of my clothes to have some idea of what sizes I had. This has been helpful.

Yesterday, I decided to do it all over again. I took everything out of my closet and sorted it. I got rid of all of my 4X and 5X shirts.

When I was finished, I had three huge bags of clothes to donate and about 15 items to take to the consignment shop. My closet is organized by size, season, then color. I've got my crap together, lol.

I used to wear beautiful clothes since my husband was in retail. He has since left the industry and I now work in a shop so I wear jeans and t-shirts there.

Most of my 2X shirts are short sleeved. I'm kind of between a 2X and a 3X so I probably won't be able to wear the 2X's in the spring as they will be too big then (I hope).

My bottom half hasn't been losing as quickly as my top. My pant size has gone from a 36 to a 26/28 depending on cut. I wish my big butt and thighs would leave me.

A Day At The Beach

Weight 296 (still stuck!)


We took the family on a 3 hour round trip to see the frozen waves on Lake Michigan. The windchill was -1 degree.

(Click pictures to enlarge)

Lighthouse and pier

We forgot the chairs.

Maybe we need a (snow) shovel

Is this Antarctica?


Wait, Mom! Don't leave us!
(If you enlarge this picture, you can see
the snow blowing sideways.)

We found a new home.

The abominable blue snowwoman.





We missed the ice festival by one day.

The waves were frozen at least a mile out from the shore. It seemed strange to be at a place where we are usually so hot. In the summer it's not uncommon to have 90 + degree temperatures.

I know that I would never have ventured out on the ice before losing the weight I have (yes, I still have a long way to go). I'm proud of the fact that I didn't hesitate to do something so memorable with my girls.

Thanks to Cheryl for inspiring me to do this!

A Difference

Weight 296 (stuck!)

I realized that all of the pictures I've posted don't tell my entire story. I was/am huge! Here is proof. This picture of Tim and I was taken in July 2003. My weight was somewhere around 370 pounds, not even at my highest weight of 384. I think I thought if I stood sideways, I would look smaller? I don't know what I was thinking! I can hardly look at this picture.


This was taken last night (2-17-07) before a card party we attended. Tim's weight is 274 and mine is 296. I think I can finally see a diffence.

Losing It

Weight 296

This was taken last night at my daughter's concert.
This past week people have really been noticing how much weight I've lost. Normally I would just cut myself down and say that I have a long way to go. It's taken a lot to get me to the point where I can reply, "Thanks, I'm working on it."

I feel so great now when I'm walking around. I don't ever have to plan out where I'm going so as not to expend one step more than I need to. Maybe you can relate to this. You have to go to the store so you map out exactly where you need to go because you can barely make it where you need to, let alone adding any extra steps.

As of this morning, I've lost 88 pounds!!!!

Valentine's Day

Weight 297

Today was my first sugar free VD. I helped with food at the youngest's school. There was only one thing I really, really wanted. My friend makes sour cream cookies with sour cream frosting. I could smell them. They made my mouth water. But I didn't give in!!!!!

A Warning

Weight 298

I almost typed 398 above. It seems so strange to finally be free of the 300's, hopefully forever!

I'm starting to get some self confidence and don't feel like hiding anymore. People are really noticing that I've lost weight. Of course they all know I want to hear that so hopefully they aren't just blowing smoke up my a$$.

I've been told by several people that I'm brave for having WLS. I would beg to differ. WLS is not something that you just jump into. It's not right for everyone. You must be committed to following the rules or you will pay dearly with your life. I think we need to stress that because sometimes it's all flowers and butterflies post op. We're excited about losing weight and feeling better both physically and mentally. But, if we don't follow the rules provided to us to help us use this new tool, in the end, we will become unhealthy. Maybe even more unhealthy than we were pre op.

I guess this is my warning to remember to work hard at doing what we all know we are supposed to do. That way we can all enjoy this fantastic trip together.

Finally!!

Tim's One Month Post Op Pictures

I thought I would post pictures of my husband, Tim. He was able to diet from the time of my surgery in October until his surgery on December 28th. His start weight was 364 and he is at 284 in the pictures. He lost 46 pounds before surgery and 34 pounds post op.

Between the two of us, we have lost more than 170 pounds!

Missing Food

Weight 300

A friend asked me yesterday if I miss certain foods. To be honest, I haven't really thought about the things I can't eat, like sugar. I'm so focused on finding something that will meet my protein needs that I hadn't given a thought to eating the junk I used to. Focusing on the positives has always been a goal for me.

At lunch yesterday, I had about a 1/2 an ounce of pulled pork from my friend's plate and I could only eat half of the cup of soup I had ordered. My friend was amazed at how little it took for me to get full.

The jeans (size 26) I bought not even two weeks ago look huge on me. When I tried them on they fit slightly tightly (that was fun to say). Now they bag in the legs and resemble clown pants. *sigh* Even though I haven't dropped that much weight lately, I can really notice inches lost.

I did lose 4 pounds since yesterday though!!!

Sigh

Weight 304

As I suspected, the 3 pounds came back. I had a feeling they would.

I know that I've gotten rid of a lot of water today, lol. Maybe the scale will show a loss tomorrow. I keep telling myself not to weigh every day but I'm obsessed.

I have started exercising on the treadmill for that last couple of days. I was able to do about a half a mile in 15 minutes. Today, I was able to do the half mile in 12 minutes. My goal was to do 15 minutes and try and get more distance in every day. When I feel I'm able, I will up my workout time.

So Close!

Weight 301

Can you see my weight up there? I'm so impatient to be in the 200's.

I really don't think I can count this weight since I lost 3 pounds over night. I'm sure some will revisit me tomorrow.

Still getting just the minimum amount of protein in (60 grams) and only just over half of the fluids. I must keep trying!

Poof! 80 Pounds Gone!

Weight 304

As of this morning, I have officially lost exactly 80 pounds! I lost 18 pounds in the two weeks before surgery. That makes 62 pound since surgery on October 25, 2006, just over 3 months ago. Can you tell I'm a little excited?

I'm feeling great these days. I feel almost human. I've noticed that people hold doors for me again instead of slamming them in my face when I'm only a few feet behind them. I'm saddened to think that people somehow think that because I'm fat, I don't deserve to be treated well. I try to treat everyone as I would like to be treated.

I'm reminded of the things I have gained along this journey. One of them is more freedom of movement. Before surgery, I was having a hard time bending over or even taking a shower. I felt so bloated that I feared I would burst if something poked my skin.

I find I'm less winded when walking and sometimes look back to where I have been in awe. I walk all over and don't even realize it. My knees feel slightly better when traversing the stairs but they are still not 100% yet.

I've had to move the seat forward in my van and also drop the steering wheel. I had a hard time before surgery because the seat belt was stretched as far as it would go and my belly touched the steering wheel.

I can easily get in and out of bed and wake up feeling refreshed instead of exhausted.

I can stand all day long at my job and not feel like I can't move at the end of the day.

I realize I have a long way to go but the benefits I already see are amazing!