I was a fat little girl, but slimmed down in early adolesence because I was very athletic and it was easy to keep the weight off back then. After graduating from High School and working in an office, I then spent more time sitting and the calories began to catch up with me. For the past three decades the weight kept accumulating no matter what diet I tried. During the years I got married and raised three sons.
I'm a little nervous about the surgery...but I'm really looking forward to being able to do things I haven't done in years - when I was thinner. I look forward to having energy; walking without my back and feet hurting; going to the amusement park, and knowing I'll fit in the seat on the rides; and living long enough to see my sons get married and give me grandchildren.
Bye for now...Nan
3/16/05 -
I first met with Dr. Garber June 2002. When he explained the whole procedure to Ken (my husband) and I, we both believed the surgery to be too drastic. Ken asked if the surgery would be reversed after I reached goal weight and Dr. Garber said "if she could maintain the weight without the surgery, she would be thin by now." He was right, but I wasn't ready for such a drastic step, yet!
Between June 2002 and December 2004 I tried more diets, but failed. I managed to take off 60 lbs with Atkins, but the minute I started eating Carbs, it all went back on, plus more. I'm addicted to Carbs - pasta, rice, potatoes, bread and my second best thing is sweets - ice cream, pie, cake, chocolate. I didn't get as large as I am by eating salads!
By the end of 2004, I became so disgusted with myself. My personal hygene has gone down the toilet - my arms are too short! If I try to pick something up off the floor, I run the risk of tipping over and falling. None of my size 24 clothes fit - unless I'm wearing stretchy pants and tops. My knees, back and hips hurt. Sleep apnea has me taking off all my sick and vacation days, because I'm too tired to get up and go to work. The five block walk to the train has me gasping for air, as well as a two flight stair climb. When I get on a train, I pray someone will get off next stop, so I can get a seat, I can't endure the 45 minute ride standing. I don't have a full length mirror in the house, so when I look in what mirrors we do have I don't really see myself. When I see a photo of myself, I freak-out, and turn away. I can't believe how I look to others.
So, as I was saying, I became so disgusted that I had to do something. I went online and found Obesityhelp.com, and Dr. Garber's web-site and found out that the support group was meeting at MercyHospitalin January 2005. Ken and I went to the informational meeting and the support group meeting. There were three other women there looking for information as well. We met Dr. Spencer Holover, he did a powerpoint presentation about the surgery, risks, etc. In the month before this meeting, I had done research about the different types of gastro surgery, the risks, the different hospitals that do the surgery, etc. Basically when I met Dr. Holover, I was ready. Afterwards we stayed for the support group meeting, and I was amazed at the people there that had lost 100+lbs. No one looked as if they were ever heavy, there was no sagging skin to be seen - perhaps when the clothes came off, but nothing in plain sight.
I made an appointment with Dr Garber for the end of January. Within three minutes of sitting down with him, I discovered that he no longer accepted my insurance as full payment. I then tried to convience him to please accept it, I hoped that he would because I had seen him before in 2002. He said he couldn't, but that his associate, Dr. Spencer Holover does accept my insurance. Dr. Holover was still there, and agreed to see me. He remembed me from the informational meeting at MercyHospital. Since I was the last appointment, he took is time with us, explained everything, and answered all our questions. I left his office feeling positive, and looking forward to a new beginning.
On February 9th and 10th, I managed to have - the endoscopy, met with the: pulminologist, endocronologist, nutritionist, and my internist. The following week I had the blood work for the endocronologist, and the scan of my gall-bladder. March 1st, I had a sleep study, and have another sleep study on 4/2. I have my psych letter, but I also have an appointment with the Psych at Dr. Holover's office, because I want to meet with a psychologist whose speciality is food additions and bariatric patients. Today I went to the cardologist, as a follow up - I originally had a complete work up stress tests in October. The cardiologist ordered a few more tests, which I should have soon. On 3/29 I have the appointment with the Psych, then the okay from my internist, and then I'm all done! Things have been moving smoothly, so far, I cross my fingers and hope the rest just as fast.
The only family members I've shared all of this with are my husband, my three sons, and my sister. I don't want to hear the negative comments about how - I could lose the weight if I only eat the right things, or learn to say no and walk away from the table. A lot of people can't understand what I, and a lot of you out there have gone through. I have been overweight for pretty much my whole life. The only time I was slim, was in high school - and my mother would tell me I wasn't slim, I had just gotten taller and had grown into my weight. She's probably one of the reasons I've turned to food as comfort, so I really don't want to tell my parents, maybe later.
I've been on weight watchers at least once a year since I was 19 years old. I've tried Atkins when he first came out with the diet, and then again when it gained popularity. I've tried Metabolite, Metabolife, Summerize (Suzanne Sommers Diet), Richard Simmons, cabbage soup, etc. etc. etc. I've taken off 20, 40, 60 lbs, only to put it all back plus more.
I'm realistic and have done my homework on the risks. On obesityhelp.com there is a place where they've listed the names and information on people who didn't make it (died). I read each and every one of them. I'm not going into this blindly. I'm 50 years old and I don't have any heart problems, diabeties, cholestrol problems, circulation problems YET. I want to live another 20 or 30 years and I know I can't do it the way I am.
I'm anxious and nervous about the surgery - but I'm really looking forward to starting a new life. I've seen some really great looking clothes, on sale, in smaller sizes and bought them - size 14, 16. I put them away, but I can't wait to wear them. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas and Santa! Will update soon.
Bye for now! :) Nan
April 16, 2005
From January 2005 till now feels like forever! January is when I first went to Dr. Holover and started the journey for weight loss surgery, just when I think that I've completed all the doctors and tests, there is one more, and then I have to wait for the results of that test and then have them send it to Dr. Holover's office.
This past Thursday, April 14th, I finally finished!!! I've completed all my tests, and had my final meeting with Dr. Holover. The next step is to receive my surgery date. I'm really getting nervous now. Thank goodness I have work and (part-time) graduate school keeping me busy, otherwise I'd be going out of my mind at this point!
When I get the date, all post it.
Bye for now... :) Nancy
April 21, 2005
I work and I'm not usually home, but I didn't go to work today. I was out and returned home right before mail was delivered, and there it was.....a certified date for surgery!!!
WOW! It was so quick. But then I realized I have a problem. My surgery is scheduled for June 7th, and my son has his graduation on June 9th. I must move the date, because I won't miss his or any of my children's graduations for the world. I called Holover's office and explained the problem to Stephanie. I asked to try for the surgery for the following week. She will call me back tomorrow.
Bye for now :) Nan
April 22, 2005
Stephanie called me, just like she promised. I got it - the new surgery date is scheduled for June 14th. I know two months seems like a long time from now, but I'm in school (evenings), I have two sons in school, I have to start going through clothes for my one son because he goes to sleep-away camp. Then there is putting away the winter clothes and taking out the summer clothes. So there is all of these little things to do. Before I know it June will be here!
Will talk soon
:) Nan
June 3, 2005
It has been a while since I updated. Everything was completed and the medical insurance approval was given in April, since then it has only been a matter of waiing. Thank goodness I work and I'm going to school, working on my masters, otherwise I'd be going crazy waiting. Now there is only 11 days left - I have a 10-page midterm paper due in less than a week and my youngest son graduates from 8th grade - so that should be enough to keep me. busy.
:) Bye bye for now, will chat soon....
Nan
June 18, 2005
Well the surgery is over and I'm home!!!!
I want to thank everyone who rooted for me in their prayers, thoughts and email :)
Now that I've had surgery, I will finally admit my weight - I was afraid that my husband or one of my son's would look at the site to see that it was - 344 lbs. When I met with the surgeon in February I was 330, but by June I had put on an additional 14 lbs.
My surgery was on Tuesday June 14, 2005. I was the first into surgery that day. I was at the hospital at 6:00 AM and surgery started promptly at 8:00 AM. In fact, the anesthesiologist said he was giving me something to relax me, and the next thing I knew I'm was entering my room. I don't even remember the post-op room. I guess the anesthesiologist did this because I told him that I usually panic just when I'm going under and will start to cry and that I usually become disoriented and thrash around when coming out of anesthesia (one time I actually smacked a nursing attentant in the face in the recovery room because he wouldn't let me get up and leave - I was drugged up, what did I know!)
I realize that pain is an individual thing, but it's something that nobody really talked about before my surgery. I had spoken to many people about their surgery, from co-workers, to people at the support groups, and no one mentioned it. I always believed that I tolerated pain well...after delivering three big sons, the smallest at 7lbs 15 1/2 oz and the largest at 9lbs 2 oz - and I had no anesthesia with the 9lb 2oz son! I really shouldn't say too much about the pain because I don't want to discourage anyone who is considering the surgery.
My surgery took about 3 1/2 hours and Dr. Holover discovered I had a umbilica hernia, which he took care of while he was in there. The hospital gives morphine, but it didn't seem to help. When I spoke to a couple of patients who had the surgery the day before me, they experienced very little pain. That's when I reaized that the morphine wasn't helping me. I was in a deep constant pain even with the morphine, and sleep was impossible. While on morphine the longest stretch of sleep I was able to get was less then 90 minutes and my my sleep was filled with hullucinating nightmares.When my pain medication was changed, I began to walk around (which the hospital encourages every two hours, to prevent bloodclots from developing)with only some discomfort, but at a faster pace and without holding on to the railings (on the wall). I was even able to get 6 hours sleep - the nurse must have felt sorry for me and let me sleep, instead of walk.
The day of surgery and the day after were really kind of tough. Two days after surgery I was able to eat 'cream of wheat' and no steak dinner could have tasted better than that cream of wheat! I feel like a baby, experimentating with different foods to see what I can tolerate and what gives me a problem. The low-fat cottage cheese mixed with the unsweetened apple sauce that the hospital gave me tasted like sweet heaven; but the pureed tuna seemed too heavy and the taste repeated on me for quite some time.
Next Thursday is my follow-up with Dr. Holover, and I can't wait to get the drain taken out and also to see how much weight I've lost!!!!
Will chat soon....
:) Nan
July 20, 2005
It has been 5 weeks since my WLS, where has time gone!!! I haven't gone back to work yet, so my life is less busy now, but there is plenty to do at home.
I had my one month visit today at Dr. Holover's office. I met with Donna, the Physician Assistant. It seems that I'm not eating enough and have to find a way to squeeze in the third meal. I'm also not drinking enough, I only manage to drink about 40oz a day.
Since I'm not back at work yet, I'm not really into a schedule. When I wake up I'm not hungry, so I don't eat. I have lunch, and then dinner - two meals; and 1 protein drink (plus fluids). I know Donna's right, I know I'm not taking in 60 grams of protein.
The first month was tough. It's hard to eat mush for a month. I've had solid food, even though I wasn't up to it yet. I had a birthday last week, and went out to eat; they don't serve mush in nicer restaurants. When I order out I order foods that are soft - fish, chicken or a rare burger. In a way it's a waste for me to order out, the leftovers last for days - good thing I have kids and pets to share it with (ha, ha)!
Now I have the go-ahead to go to Curves and eat solid food - how good is that!!! I'm hoping to firm-up my stomach, which is begining to get flabby.
I've lost 39 lbs, but doesn't feel like it yet. I don't have to tug my tops down over my hips, and that's the only thing I've noticed so far. I've been wearing stretchy clothes so far, and the clothes still fit; but the minute one of those stretchy pants fall off me, out the window they go (lol)!
Will chat soon.....
:) Nan
8/15/05
It's been 2 months since my surgery and I'm down 52-lbs, WOW! It looks impressive to see the number but, as I said earlier, I have so much knit clothing that I can't see or feel the difference. Recently I have worn a few pairs of pants, jeans and twill, that I couldn't fit in before - I had bought them a year ago and they sat in my dresser.
So, I'm mentally beginning to feel a little better about myself, thinking I'm beginning to look better, when I received a wake-up while shopping at BJs food warehouse. A little boy, about 4 or 5 years old, said to his father "that lady is fat." Surprisingly I didn't feel the embarasment or shame I would have felt in the past. Instead, the remark deflated my swell head and I told myself "I guess I don't look at good as I thought I did!" I spoke to my sister today and told her about the child's remark and she said I should have used a remark made by Fat-Bastard (a character in the movie - Austin Powers). I should have said "Go away kid, I've made dumps (poops) bigger then you!" - leave it to my sister, she can make me laugh (LOL) !!!
Will chat soon....
Bye, bye for now
Nan
8/18/05
During my two months post-op period, I've noticed that I've been becoming more and more obsessed with the numbers on the scale. I get on the scale every morning, usually after I've gone to the bathroom - hoping that every little bit helps. If I have three days or more when the numbers on the scale don't move, I begin to look back and question myself and mentally vow to change the kinds of foods that I'm eating. Most days I'm still only eating two meals a day, and I usually end up sick after eating. Why am I getting sick? Ken (my husband) thinks I may be eating too fast, the problem is - I only eat when I'm hungry and by the time I'm hungry, it's hard to eat slow. Then I'm left with the feeling that the food is stuck in the back of my throat and won't go down. Also, I usually forget to take an antacid; I usually feel better when I remember to take it.
Getting back to the numbers on the scale... When the numbers don't move, I panic and begin to tell myself: "okay, no carbs what-so-ever!" or "alright, my meals will consist of ONLY three bites and I won't eat anymore at that meal." Then the next few meals I skip the carbs and my portions are smaller. I begin to feel better after meals and the numbers on the scale start to move downward - and I'm happy. I then seem to forget about the nausea after meals and the scale not moving and go through the scenario ALL OVER AGAIN.
I realize that WLS is only a tool, but there is so much more going on. Your head/brain must be factored in the equation! I know that getting on the scale everyday is a bit obsessive, but before WLS I NEVER got on the scale. What I didn't see, didn't happen - if I didn't see the numbers going up, I wasn't gaining - talk about denial! Right now I'm afraid of NOT getting on the scale. I'm afraid of my weight plateauing. At times I don't look at how much I've lost, but more at - how much more I have to lose.
Has anyone else out there experienced any of this???
It's difficult to get the brain synchronized with the changes the body is going through. I'm going to grad-school for Social Work, I could look at someone else and assess the problems going on - in someone else - but, I can't seem to catch it or understand it in myself.
I'm hoping that others who have had problems with mentally adjusting to the weight loss and obsessing over the scale numbers - will email and let me know that I'm not alone. Also, I'd appreciate any advice on how you've learned to cope.
Bye, bye for now....Will chat soon.
:) Nan
9/1/05
Hi!
Had a follow up appointment with Dr. Holover yesterday, all was well and he said that I was doing beautifully! He ask about my activity level and whether I was excerising - I told him I have alot of energy and go to Curves 3 to 4 times a week. I asked him if it was normal for my appetite to fluctuate; sometimes I'm able to eat larger qualtities than others. I told him that my weight loss has slowed down to about 2-lbs. per week. He told me I've lost about 20-lbs since my last visit, and not to worry.
Today I had an appointment with the nutritionist. She told me exactly what I was afraid of - I am eating too much! At 2 1/2 months post-op she said I should be eating about 2-oz of protein and I'd been eating 3 or 4 ozs. I'd been eating small portions (about 2 tablespoons) of carbs (rice, potatoes, pasta) - she told me to eliminate the carbs entirely; that there is plenty of time for carbs later. The only carbs I should be eating right now are veggies and fruit.
I also need to get on a routine, since I'm still only eating 2 meals a day and only drinking about 40-oz of fluid. I'm thinking, maybe my meals are bigger because I'm only eating 2 meals - regardless, I need to get on track.
I worry because I know that the window (of time) for weight loss is during the first year - and I have so much more to lose. Come to think of it, I don't remember being given a goal weight. I'll have to email the Doctor's office and find out what's in my file. I know I'd personally like to get down to 150-lbs, that would almost be 200-lb weight loss, it sounds like an awful lot and I don't know if I can even do it. Right now I'm just trying to get to 60-lb weight loss mark. I really only push myself by 5-lb increments, since these goals are more realistic.
Bye, bye for now....
:) Nan
September 2, 2005
Hi!
I did it!!!!! I finally broke through and lost 2-lbs!!!! My weight had been stuck for almost 10-days. I've now lost 60-lbs in total. I know I shouldn't get hung-up on the numbers, but right now that's all I have to go by. I haven't had any recent pictures taken so I can't see the loss. I don't have any full length mirrors at home, and my wardrobe consists mainly of stretchy knits.
Today is my middle-son's, birthday, Chris is 22 years old. Later the whole family will take him out to the restaurant of his choice - our family tradition. I think he'll want to go to the Cheescake Factory, so I'll check their menu online and plan my dinner before we get there. Other than Chris' birthday, we don't have any labor-day plans, maybe a barbeque with just the immediate family, nothing fancy.
Have a great labor-day!!!!
Chat soon....
:) Nan
September 9, 2005
Well, this is it, I go back to work on Monday. I managed to get 3 months off after the surgery, not bad. I really enjoyed the time I had off, but I knew it had to end. I knew that I'd really have to be in good shape when it was time to go back - I have a full-time job, and I have to put in a 15-hour internship for grad school, plus be in the classroom one-night-a-week from 5:00pm till 9:30pm AND have time for my family. I could never do this before the WLS, my sleep apnea was so bad that I couldn't even function on my job part-time! Now, even though I still have sleep apnea, it's much milder and I stopped using the C-Pap machine and have returned it to the medical supply house (it was a rental).
The weather has gotten cooler, so this weekend I'll go through my fall clothes and see what I still fit in - I'm lucky since I have clothes in almost every size imaginable.
Recently I've been so busy that I've forgotten to weigh myself everyday, so imagine my surprise when I got on the scale this morning to find that I've lost 6-lbs.!!!
Will chat soon. Bye bye for now....
NanC
Hi!
weight: 274-lbs, lost 70-lbs. - 3 months.
I just completed one week back at work and I'm exhausted!!! I have a desk job but I'm still tired. At night I was falling asleep at 10pm, while watching t.v. My lower back and right hip have also been bothering me all week. They've bothered me on-and-off for some time and when I lost weight I thought the pain would stop. A few weeks ago I went to an orthopedist and he discovered that I have the beginnings of arthritis! What a bummer, I thought all the aches and pains would go away with the weight because there would be less stress on the joints. Well the doctor gave me a scrip (I don't know off hand if it's a pain killer or an anti-inflamatory) but I still haven't filled it, I don't know what I'm waiting for! Also, since I'm back at work I noticed I'm not as obsessed with the numbers on my weighing scale, because I'm too busy; that's a good thing.
I want to tell about the reactions at work....I haven't been there in three months and have lost 70-lbs. I only told people I'm close to - maybe about 6 people, but those people seemed to have told a few people. Some people told me I looked great, looked healthier; others didn't say anything. So far only one peron came to me and asked if I had surgery while I was out, I lied and said I had my gall bladder removed, the woman replied "Oh, Sola (our superviser) said you were having surgery to lose weight." I was shocked, and didn't say anything else at that point. I haven't approached my supervisor yet, but I want to speak with her about her sharing personal information. I'm aware there are others who know that I've had WLS because I watch their faces while we talk, and with some people I can see they want to say something and they're holding back, I guess they don't know how to approach the subject. One woman, who I told, watches what I eat and compares it to the amounts she eats (she wears a size 4 - it seems that size 4 people eat about the same proportions as a bariatric patient!). I did manage to drink more water and fluids during the week because it's sitting on my desk in front of me all day long - if I see it, I'll drink it.
I've had blood work done two-weeks ago, the first blood work since the surgery. I called to find out the results; I missed the call but the message they left was - my calcium levels are high, but my vitamin D levels are very low, so I'll call them next week to find out what to do. I looked on line and found that vitamin-D can be found in fatty fish like sardines and salmon, so I'll try eating more salmon (I HATE sardines so that's out).
Now I have to drag my butt to the gym, painful back/hip and all. It's harder finding the engery after working all day. My hat is off to anyone who enjoys the gym, I don't! I go because I want this weight to come off and I'll do anything I can to do it.
Bye, bye for now...Will chat soon...
Nan
October 8, 2005
Weight - 266, down 78-lbs.
Hi!
I'm back at work now, and between a 35-hour work week, about 5 or 6 hours of overtime, a 15-hour internship for school, and classes for school, and three times a week at the gym - I'm tired and never seem to have a moment for myself!
I'm still losing, but it's slow. At work, I notice that I periodically snack. The snacks are healthy - fruit or small rice cakes. When I'm not at work I don't snack. So why am I snacking at work? Am I bored? Is it because everyone there is snacking on something or another? I'm not going to buy anymore rice cakes, and only keep fruit at work - I really don't need the carbs. I notice with I eat carbs the weight just won't come off. The first month after surgery the weight came off fast, but after that first month the weight is slow in coming off - I figure because I'm older and my metablism is slow - but I'm not complaining, it's still coming off. In fact I'm about 45-lbs from what I weighed when I got married.
Well it's time to drag my tired bones up and out of the house and go to Curves. I hate doing exercise, but I know it's helping. I didn't go through all of this - wls, dumping syndrome, etc... to look flabby, so off to Curves I go.
Will chat soon.....
NanC
November 18, 2005
Hi Everyone!!!
I've been four months since my surgery and I've now lost a total of 90-lbs. The weight loss has been slower this past month, and that worries me. I haven't lost enough yet. I'm 254 lbs. and I'd love to go down to 150-lbs but I don't think that's going to happen. I go to Curves three times a week since August 1st, and it's still slow. I need to ...LAY OFF THE CARBS!!!! How stupid can I be! Lack of will power is what put me in this situation to begin with!
I've gone through my closet and have had to pack up clothing that I never had to chance to ever wear. I have a co-worker that I'm giving my better outfits to, and I've been donating the everyday wear to charity.
My clothing has gone from size 26-28 to 16-18 or XL in tops and 20-22 bottoms. Wow! It feels great! I can climb up a few flight of stairs without stopping and gasping to catch a breath - that's great too! While going through my closet I discovered that the last small size I wore was a size 16 and it was 20 years ago! I am determined to pass that!
Recently, Danny, my youngest son, who is 15-years-old. Told me that he doesn't see my weight loss. I think because he misunderstod the whole surgery process. He thought it was like lyposuction, he expected me to come home from the hospital thin. I then showed him a picture of me from the morning of my surgery and his jaw dropped. That's when he realized how much I've changed, but he doesn't realize it because he sees me everyday.
Well, must go now.
Bye bye for now....
NanC
December 26, 2005
SEASONS GREEATINGS TO ALLl !!!!
I can't believe how much time has slipped away since I last logged in!
What's new....Let's see..... YES!!!! I've finally made the CENTURY MARK - 100-lbs OFF !!!!!!
Weight loss in the last few months have been so really really slow, that I'd begun to worry that the loss would stop before I would even reach this point. I enjoy trying on my cloths and saying "oh well, I guess I can't this anymore...it's too BIG" - words I thought I'd never ever say! Sometimes my husband will even say - "take that off, you're swimming in it" and that's great because he doesn't acknowledge my weight loss very often. Ken, my husband says he doesn't see the loss, because he sees me everyday and he doesn't see it as a dramatic change like others do; but there are times when he's waiting somewhere for me and he visually scans the crowds and doesn't recognize me until I'm right in front of him, because he's looking for my old body type. Then he'll say "Damn! You did lose weight. You're so much smaller and I almost didn't recognize you!"
My husband struggles with his own weight issues. When we married, in 1980, Ken had a 27" waist; I didn't think a grown man could be that thin! Ken now has a 40" waist. I weighed 220-lbs when we were first married, and he sometimes like to tease me. He was accustomed to always being thiner then me; and his father was thinner than his mother, and my father was thinner than my mother. Ken would sometimes quitely ridicule overweight people; I'd tell him it was cruel, but he thought he was above it all and that he would be slim the rest of his life. Through the years he'd put on a few pounds here an there, but would go to the gym and take it off. Ken would go to the extreme and would drink cup-after-cup of black coffee, take Fit-America (as well as other herbal weight-loss supplements) and go to the gym for a minimum of 5-hours every other day. He went down and maintained a 32-inch waist. I also noticed that he went back to ridiculing overweight people, including me! He probably thought he'd never put it on again. Then, two years ago, he got the flu and didn't go to the gym for a month and put on 15-lbs - when he wasn't exercising, he was eating, and he now has a 40-inch waist - I said he went to extremes. A few months ago Ken went with me to my post-surgery support group meeting and someone asked him (out loud) when his surgery date was scheduled for. I just sat there with my mouth open, but was I laughing inside! Ken said "I'M not going for surgery!!!" Oh, I wished I could have laughed; he was so offended and indignent. Don't get me wrong, he's not all bad. He is supportive and does most of the cooking, making sure I take my vitamins and get enough protein in. Although I sometimes think he's doing it for selfish reasons - to show of his slim and sexy wife - what a catch, you lucky dog....
Getting through Thanksgiving and Christmas wasn't too bad. Our house is under construction so we spent the holidays at someone else's home - they did the cooking. After dinner I pushed myself away from the table and sat in the livingroom - where there were no snacks or desserts to tempt me.
Although I haven't been going to Curves for the last three weeks - first I had the flu, then there were finals (grad school), Christmas shopping, and some days were just too cold to even want to go out. Now that all of that is over so it's back to Curves I go. Years ago saying I'd go to the gym would just be an empty promise to myself, but WLS has changed me. Since August 1st, I'd been going to Curves three-times a week. My hope was that I could prevent some of the lose and sagging skin, but now that I had not been there in the last three-weeks I've noticed my knee-joints are beginning to hurt, so I realize that I need the gym to physically feel better as well.
Got to run....Hope to return soon.
Bye, bye for now....
Nan-C
February 7, 2006
Hi Everyone!!!
Nothing new is happening. The weather has got me down - it's cold and harder to motivate myself to get out of the house and go to the gym. There's work, grad-school, the same old thing. I've now lost 112-lbs, and that's great!!! I feel alive, not in pain or gasping for air. I can't wait for the Spring and warmer weather. You know, the cold weather never bothered me before WLS, I had ample fat reserves to keep me warm back then.
Will try to chat soon....
Nan-C
3/07/06
Hi Everyone!!!
It's been a month since I've last updated. I've only lost 4-pounds, but I know why...chocolate!!! I discovered I can eat small amounts of chocolate if I don't do it on an empty stomach. What was I thinking!!! I actually went through a period of experimenting, to figure a way to eat it without making me sick (I get sick if I eat m&m's, or eat any kind of candy on an empty stomach). Lucky for me I didn't put any weight on, but then again I could have lost a lot more than 4-lbs this month. I was out of control, hiding a bag of chocolate kisses in the house, like an alcoholic. I woke up one day and decided ENOUGH!!! I think I've mentally worked it out of my system.
Last week I had an appointment with Dr. Holover, but saw Donna instead. She said I was doing very well. I also had an appointment with the nutritionist. She told me my weight lose was okay, not great (230-lbs, 112 off); and told me that I could have lost much more that this point (I didn't have the nerve to tell her about the chocolate). She asked me for a run down on what I usually eat, and I that's when I discovered that fruit and vegetables are carbs. I told her I would have a small salad with grilled chicken - she told me to skip the fruit and veggies (but I always thought they were good for you!) To eat 3-4 oz of protein first, and then if I'm still hungry I can have the fruit or vegetable. She also told me to up my fluid intake to 100-oz per day - I'm having trouble drinking 60-oz !!! She's set a goal for me of 30-lbs by mid-June, that's 10-lbs per month and I would weigh 200-lbs by the one-year post-op surgery mark. I could probably do that.
I really want to finish losing the weight. I want to have breast reduction and a tummy tuck. I know my insurance will pay for it, but I've got to finish losing all the weight first.
