Brenda C.
WLS Bodies Change.... Maybe quicker than our Minds!
Feb 05, 2009
I have to be honest since that's what this journey and the purpose of this site is all about. I weigh myself each and every day and when I do I expect that my weight will go up and up and up. I guess I am so accustomed to the past weight loss experiences and the creeping back of the lost weight that I am TERRIFIED! 
Now some might think this means I need to seek psychological help.... I don't agree... I just think it is a matter of my mind catching up with what my body has done. I mean let's face it, I have lost almost 140 lbs in a little over a years time. I have to get used to the person in the mirror staring back at me to really believe it.
I was looking at pictures of myself before my WLS the other night and I really couldn't believe how big I was. I mean, I believe it but WOW. All I can say is John must really love me! (Thank you ~SC~ 
)
Now for anyone who has read my entries so far.... I have had a fairly easy time of things. There are very few things I CAN'T eat and I have come to know my limitations pretty well and pretty fast. I feel pretty fortunate with all of that.... now the things that I have had trouble with....
#1 My coccyx.... it sticks out like a tail and feels like I am sitting on a flaming sword almost all the time. I have trouble sitting, even on a sofa sometimes. This causes problems since my family lives 6 hours away. Traveling is extremely painful. Walking for long periods of time, like shopping (Christmas shopping all but killed me) is horrible and I have trouble standing up straight. I finally had an MRI last week, no fractures or anything so finally my doctor is referring me for pain management. The trouble, as I understand comes from the fact that I no longer have padding there and over time my coccyx has shifted to accomodate the weight I was carrying.
#2 Here comes the "TMI" 
I can't go potty! When I say I can't go I mean for a week or more at a time and that is after taking a couple days worth of laxatives. I take Benefiber everyday, first thing in the morning (John stirs it into my coffee) and the doctor now has me on what he said and I hoped would be the "miracle" pill Amitiza. I have been on it now for a couple weeks 2x a day and nothing. For those of you who don't know, there is only one thing left to try and I have been dreading it and putting it off as long as possible... I am not going to say what it is but it rhymes with PHLENIMA....
Now, I have never been one to share this kind of information (for one cause I like to save my complaining for John 
) but it occurred to me that my entries have given the illusion that my journey has been pretty much nothing but smooth sailing. I just wanted to give everyone a real sense that although WITHOUT QUESTION I would do it again in a heartbeat, my journey has not been without its snags. I owe my ~SC~ so much for sticking by me through ALL of it. Believe me, I know that it is not easy to be around me sometimes when I am full of sH**, literally [or is that literately (inside joke)]! 
The purpose of this entry is to let anyone who reads it know that everyone has their pitfalls, some rougher than others but hear, honesty is the most important thing.
As always.... I wish health and happiness to all on this journey that we share each and every day!
Shopping
Dec 22, 2008
Wow.... a whole year!
Dec 12, 2008
I can hardly believe it has been a year. A year ago I weighed close to 300 lbs. It is surreal most of the time. Not sure when it will stop being so. A lot has happened over the past year some good, some not so good, but the journey has been well worth it. Now that I am looking back on the past year, my answer to anyone asking would I do it again would still be "YES, I just wish it could've been sooner."
My blood pressure is under control without meds and my cholesterol is good. My knees feel better and I have the desire to do more than I did before. I am back to work and feeling good about that too.
I am hoping to post some new pics over the weekend cause John and I will be going to his company Christmas party. I haven't submitted my before and after pics yet but hope to do that soon as well.
I wish health and happiness to all on this journey that we share each and every day!
10 Months and Counting
Oct 28, 2008
I knew I would lose weight but I never expected to be where I am now so quickly, or maybe at all. It still blows my mind to pick up a pair of size 8 pants, walk in a dressing room and have them fit. I know that my brain is still processing things and probably will be for quite some time.
It feels good to have so much less of me to carry around everyday. Getting myself ready for work each morning is not the chore it once was. I don't have to worry about whether or not I am going to fit in my clothes or how I look in them. I feel okay about the way I look pretty much all the time.
I am still looking ahead to the possiblity of some plastic surgery. a possible tummy tuck, breast lift, brachioplasty, thigh lift..... yeah, I guess that about covers it...... but even without having the plastic surgery, I can be proud of my accomplishment.
You may have people say to you that you are successful because "you don't have a choice." That statement couldn't be less true. We all have choices and yes WLS helps me but it does not do the work for me.
For those of you considering WLS... I will say again that the only regret I have is not being able to have the surgery earlier in life. To those of you who are traveling this road with me.... we know the decisions and changes that have to be dealt with on a daily basis.... we know that at times it is difficult but always worth it!!! We need to always be there for those who are anticipating a trip on the road we are all ready traveling and be ready and willing to answer any questions or be there to lend an ear or a hand when needed.
John and I wish health and happiness to all !!!!
THE CRUISE WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!
Sep 04, 2008
8 Months out ....But not finished by a long run!!!!!
Aug 04, 2008
Hey everybody......getting geared up for that cruise later this month! I can't wait. I had two dresses altered from size 22 down to what I am guessing is about a size 12. They were 2 of my favorites; 1 was the dress I wore when John and I got married and the other was a dress I bought for the same trip to Vegas. I can't wait to get before and after pictures in my wedding dress to post after the cruise (this time my honey will be wearing his kilt!) . Just a couple of pounds to go until goal weight of 160. I don't want to stop there because as most of you know under these blasted BMI scales with my being 5'6" that still makes me overweight. I have not come this far to still be overweight!!! I would be comfortable in the low 150's for a maintenance weight and that is what I am striving for.
Just found out that my Potassium is low again so I have to take that disgusting liquid Potassium. I had forgotten how horrible that stuff really is! I certainly don't want to end up back in the hospital with chest pains though, so I am taking my "big girl pill" and taking my medicine.
Well all, be healthy and be happy. Each of deserves it, this is a long road and we travel it together!!!
100 Pounds.....11 TO GO!!!!
Jul 17, 2008
There are things that I can't eat or chose not to eat and all that is worth it to me at this point to be able to fit into "little girls clothes." I know that I get a lot of conversation from others who say that "my appetite will come back" or "I will have to watch it" but that has been my mindset from the beginning. I did not enter this journey to fail. Failure is NOT an option. This was my last hope for a healthy life and I will not throw it away on food.
John and I will be cruising to Bermuda in August and I can't wait. We will be going snorkeling, something I never would have done a year ago! It is just so nice to be able to walk around in a bathing suit without my legs clapping for me. This is the first year in I don't even remember how long that I have been able to wear a skirt in the summer with or without pantyhose and not have chaffing between my legs and be totally miserable. It's pretty cool!!!!!!
One more cool thing.....We went to Busch Gardens a couple of weeks ago and I did not have to, for the first time in a very long time, worry about fitting in any of the rides. OMG......that was AWESOME. I know I sound like some kind of valley girl but I am not sure of any words that say it better!!!! We even went to Water Country and I walked around without a coverup on and sat and ate in my bathing suit......as they say "You've come a long way baby." I guess that's all for now......
Health and happiness to ALL!!!!!!
Size 12 Pants and some other stuff! New pics posted!
Jun 30, 2008
On the mend again!
Jun 08, 2008
To begin on a wonderfully happy note...John and I celebrated our ONE YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY yesterday and spent a wonderful day together! I got an awesome gift of concert tickets to go see Neil Diamond in concert in September !!!!!!
I had a hard time trying to decide what to title this blog entry. This entry comes after another setback unrelated to my WLS. I had another surgery at the end of May and am recovering. This was another slight setback in my weight loss because it has again prohibited me from exercising. I do look forward to exercising again and speeding things along.
I have had a little trouble with some hair loss but that seems to be tapering off now which I am very happy about. It is very troubling to have handfuls of hair come out in your hand when washing it even when you are prepared for the possibility.
Well that is all for now..... Best wishes to everyone!!!!!
A first in a very long time!
Apr 25, 2008
I have noticed a lot of changes in my body. I have collar bones that I forgot I had. I have hip bones that have been buried I think since I was 12 or so and I actually have ribs!!!!!! It is so nice to not have a quadruple chin, I think I am down to just a double now, but I had a double chin for as long as I can remember (it is a family thing). John is away this weekend but I look forward to having my measurements taken when he gets back. I do have one problem in that my wedding and engagement rings are almost too big for me. Need to figure something out there until I am done losing.
I miss working out. I am not supposed to lift and physical activity brings about physical pain for me now so I haven't been able to do it. I never thought I would be a person to say that I missed working out but I really do. It will be so nice after surgery to be able to get back to it again. I know that my weight loss and my tone would be so different if I were able to do it now, but I am happy just to still be losing.
Well I hope that everyone is doing well. God bless and good health to all!
