Week 15 - HUGE NSV!!

Weigh In

Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 262 lbs  (- 58 lbs)
Weigh In: 261 lbs (-1 lbs)
Total Lost: 59 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 50 lbs

Before Surgery:

Week 15:

The Journey

This week I decided to increase my protein to see if that helped my lack of energy. I was only getting in 76-80g a day when I should be getting in a minimum of 90g with no exercise, or 120g if I do exercise.

I also realized that I can do anything I want to exercise and fitness- wise. Obviously not at this particular moment, but as far as goals, anything was possible. Nothing was holding me back anymore. The weight was slowly coming off. In the past, the weight definitely held me back from trying different programs. But now that it was coming off, the sky was the limit!

So I ended up ordering a few things: Just Dance 4 and Chalean Extreme.

I even looked up some workouts online. I had to pause it a few times and took it slow but I finished it. I woke up with sore abs and was happy because that meant I was getting stronger :) I even did a P90X Shoulder and Arms workout and Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home DVD.




What I Have Been Eating Lately

Tacos with no shell, extra sour cream and cheese. This is actually 2 meals here.

BBQ hot dogs and hamburgers :) First time using this BBQ in 2 years!

Didn't eat the potatoes but had some tri-tip at a restaurant, loaded in gravy and butter for fat, and took the rest home for 6 more meals.

Typical breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, 1/4 cup cheese, 2 bacon = 26g protein

Breadless pizza

NSVs

I had a HUGE NSV this week. I ended up donating my wheelchair, rollator, and cane to Goodwill. I no longer needed them. This was huge. I had been tied down to those things for years. And now it was time to say goodbye to them; to say goodbye to the person I once was.

It was an emotional day and I was crying, realizing how far I'd come. My life at one time had revolved around the wheelchair, as I couldn't walk anywhere.

I made myself sit in the chair to remember. It was less snug than it was a few months ago when I wasn't in control of my life and was in this chair. I felt trapped in that body. I didn't know if it was going to get better or not due to the insurance battle. Every day I would wake up praying for surgery. I remembered how life was in this chair, who I was in this chair, only a few months ago, and I felt so bad for her.

Before I was even able to afford a wheelchair, I was stuck in bed. I had to have people help me move around. The biggest NSV was being able to donate this because I got my freedom back. It was exhilarating.

Weeks 13 and 14

Weigh In

Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 267 lbs  (- 53 lbs)
Weigh In: 262 lbs (-5 lbs)
Total Lost: 58 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 49 lbs


Before Surgery:

Week 14:

The Journey


Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Weight loss is a mind game. Here I was 14 weeks out and I still didn't really notice that I had lost any weight. Sure, the numbers were moving and I saw pictures of myself but seeing and believing are two different things.

I ended up going out to breakfast with my grandma. She commented on how she was really noticing the weight loss. This took my by surprise. I still felt like my before picture and I thought that was how others viewed me as well, so I was kind of taken aback by this, but in a good way. I ended up having my husband take a photo of me.

I guess that 4X was getting big. It was too tight going into surgery, as I was a 6X. I kind of see it. But there are days I still feel huge. And then there are days I feel great and physically different and see the changes. I am not sure why I don't feel that everyday; it is like my mind is in a constant struggle to accept the changes I am going through. It is very hard to get your mind wrapped around it all. It is very much a mental journey as well as a physical one.


Or perhaps, I am focusing more on where the end result will be in this journey instead of enjoying where I am at today. I need to take it slower, take it day by day, and enjoy every part of my journey and stop worrying where I am at.



And there are days where I don't feel very motivated like a lot of people. But I keep telling myself I can do it and move forward. After all, I am only one person, and some things you just don't have much control over, so there is not much else you can do other than move in the right direction and stay positive.

3 Months

Weigh In

Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 269 lbs  (- 51 lbs)
Weigh In: 267 lbs (-2 lbs)
Total Lost: 53 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 44 lbs

Before Surgery:

3 Months:

The Journey

I was really starting to notice the physical differences in myself this week. Thanks to Muzy, I was able to do side-by-side photos to see the difference.  I showed this picture to friends, family, and facebook, where others said they noticed a difference as well.

I had my three month follow-up appointment at my surgeon's office with the PA. I told her about the whole chicken thing, how I used to be able to tolerate it and now I suddenly can't. She wasn't sure why that happened either but told me to stay away from it now, maybe introduce it again later. We also went over the rest of my labs. My copper was really high before surgery. She thought the surgeon might want to test for Wilson's disease since I wasn't eating anything that would cause that. I did some research and found out that the main ingredient in oral contraceptives is copper. I was on those before surgery. Not now as the malabsorption is tricky. They also cleared me for exercise. I was super excited! When I got home, I got right on my exercise bike and did 20 minutes.

 

The next day I even did a half hour program on the bike! This was a huge milestone for me as I haven't been on an exercise bike since 2008 when I injured myself. I also started lifting weights in my arms. I started with 2-lb dumbells. Have to start somewhere! I also found out it is more important for me to focus on strength training since I am losing a lot of muscle.

And I noticed I was going to have to make a trip to the thrift store soon, as my clothes were getting to big!

Food

I tried my first vegetable this week. It was a quarter cup of mixed greens with Caesar dressing. It was delicious! Yes, I said a vegetable was delicious :) I had been craving a Caesar salad, of all things, since surgery so was glad I could tolerate it finally :)

 

Week 11 - Reached My First Mini-Goal

Weigh In

Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 274.4 lbs  (- 45.6 lbs)
Weigh In: 269 lbs (-5.4 lbs)
Total Lost: 51 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 42 lbs

The Journey

I celebrated my birthday this week and it was special. Not special like a number or anything, but special because it was one of the healthiest birthdays I've had in a long time. And, as a plus, it wasn't really focused around food, as it was in the past. Before surgery, I used to go to an Italian restaurant that had all you can eat bread, pasta, and salad. But I didn't do that this time. This time I just went out to a movie.

And I felt really healthy this birthday. I didn't have to use the wheelchair anymore. It felt good to be alive and not be held down by the health problems I had in the past. And losing weight was a bonus!

I noticed my hair was starting to thin out. I wasn't too concerned; I knew this would happen. And it would grow back.

I also reached my first mini-goal, which was to lose 50lbs. My next mini-goal I would do in 25lb increments.

Lab Work

My labs came in from a few weeks ago. My B6 was high and zinc was low, To fix this, I went on the Costco multivitamin and stopped taking the B Complex.  I also started taking the vitalady plan minus the iron and B complex.

PCP Visits

I went into see my PCP for the first time since surgery. He refused to give me anti-nausea meds, despite my vomiting still. I explained how it was common after surgery but he didn't care. I needed a new PCP!

NSVs

The good part about saving all of your clothes that became too small at one point in your life is when you finally lose weight, you can just open your closet and pick something out that fits :)

I tried these on this week and amazingly they fit. Before surgery, I wasn't so lucky!

This black dress was a size 3 from Torrid that I hadn't worn for years.

Another size 3 dress from Torrid.

Week 10

Weigh-In

Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 276 lbs  (- 44 lbs)
Weigh In: 274.4 lbs (-1.6 lbs)
Total Lost: 45.6 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 36.6 lbs

Before Surgery:

10 Weeks:

The Journey

I ended up having a scare this week. Out of nowhere I started to get an excruciating gas pain. It hurt so bad sometimes I could barely take in a breath. I was doubled over in pain on the bed crying and my husband called my surgeon. We weren't sure if it was a bowel obstruction or what. The pain wasn't constant, it came and went. With a bowel obstruction it is constant. So, they said it was probably a food I ate but to monitor it and if it gets worse, head to the ER. I was also throwing up and couldn't keep anything down. The pain finally ended up subsiding. As it turned out, my stomach no longer liked chicken. :( I was sad as chicken was easy to cook. Now I had to figure out something else for protein. Silly, picky stomach :/

Week 9

Weigh-In:
 
Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 279 lbs  (- 41 lbs)
Weigh In: 276 lbs (-3 lbs)
Total Lost: 44 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 35 lbs
Before Surgery:

9 Weeks:

The Journey

This is probably TMI but I'm trying to keep it real here. Aunt Flo showed up for the first time since surgery. I thought for sure I was going to gain weight like before surgery but somehow I didn't. I was so happy! The period itself was a nightmare! I had such horrible cramps I had to lay in bed.

My brain fog was still there. I thought it was normal, just having surgery and everything. My memory felt gone. I had to write things down and half of the time I couldn't remember what I did the day before or what I had eaten.

Food

I tried bacon again. It sat well this time so this became a daily staple for me.

Overall, I was happy. Something I hadn't been for a long time. I felt like I was finally taking back my life. And I loved every bit of this journey.

2 Months (Week 8)

Weigh-In:
 
Highest Weight: 320lbs
Weight Before Surgery: 311 lbs (-9lbs)
Previous Week: 284.2 lbs  (- 35.8 lbs)
Weigh In: 279 lbs (-5.2 lbs)
Total Lost: 41 lbs
Total Lost Since Surgery: 32 lbs

Before Surgery:

2 Months Later:

NSVs to Date

1.) No longer SMO (super-morbidly obese)! SMO is having a BMI greater than 50!

2.) No longer a diabetic!

3.) Less medications and no more heart failure!

4.) Ankles! No more edema! And no more water pills!

Before vs 2 months:

5.) I can do a tiny squat without knee pain!

6.) Walking! And it's mostly pain free and without heavy breathing!

Before surgery I couldn't walk, as you can see the above wheelchair picture.

Right after surgery I could walk a tiny distance with assistive devices:

And at 2 months I could do this:

7.) Wearing smaller clothes!



Before surgery I could only fit into my sweat pants as my size 32 pants were too small. And I had to wear 6X shirts. At 2 months, I was able to fit into a size 24 pants and 3X shirt from Ross!