Determined_Dawn

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Happy 1st surgiversary to me!!

Wow, can't believe how fast a year has gone by.  My life has changed so much...

I've lost 118lbs

I no longer take Insulin...down from 640 units daily

I don't take meds for high blood pressure or high cholesterol

I can run on my treamill...not a ton, but I'm learning and working my way up

Size 6x to 1x...28 to 16...even my shoe size dropped from a 10 to 9

I can ride a bike, ice skate, go on rides at Wonderland

I have more energy and interest in being active

This surgery has save my life, and given me a chance to live a fuller life

I'm thankful for the support from family and friends...I am working to lose the remaining 40 lbs and look forward to plastic surgery

What a difference a year can make!!

And glad to be there!!

I've sorted myself out and realized if it's going to be it's up to me!!  In truth I've always known that but I guess this journey is about losing weight and shedding the old me for the new me...the one who takes responsibility for her actions and does the hard work...cuz I CAN do hard work.  Day 14 for exercise...never and I do mean NEVER have I done that before.  And it's paying off...down 6 lbs in 2 weeks and feeling more toned and tight.

I am working hard to meet my goal of 198 lbs by my 1 yr surgiversary...to have lost 140lbs and be in wonderland...then onward to my goal...175 lbs.

Not too far off now...it used to be unseeable to me but its in the near future now...just around the corner and if I keep walking it will be right in front of face before I know it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and yes there is a difference.  I got to thinking about the language I use right now re my weight loss and progress so far.  Lets start with I am happy with losing 110 lbs and I feel wonderful...but lets not lose sight of the fact that I still have 50 lbs to go and its not falling off effortlessly like the early days after my RNY.

I have been saying, for several weeks now, that I am maintaining my weight loss.  Sounds good.  No pressure.  Even sounds like I'm on track, right??  Nope.  No really.  Not at all.  I have eaten my way thru the holidays and even though I have not gained any weight (hence the word maintaining) I have not really practiced any of the principals of my WLS that are not controlled by my pouch.  So, not over eating, but not eating the right stuff.  Not drinking nearly enough water...and no exercise to speak of. 

Coasting. Definition:   

(of a person or vehicle) Move easily without using power. Act or make progress without making much effort.

I have been coasting.  Not making much effort.  Not using power.  Just getting by. 

I've been calling it maintaining, but really, doesnt that happen until you reach your goal

Maintaining.  Definition:

Cause or enable (a condition or state of affairs) to continue: "maintain close links between industry and schools". Keep (something) at the same level or rate: "prices will have to be maintained".

So...now what...

1.  Back to basics...protein 1st, careful with carbs, no sugary snacks, water 
                                ...track food intake
                                ...get moving...exercise daily

2. Get real...the 1st hundred lbs was 'easy'...the rest will take some work...if I want it I have to do it!! 

3. Stay supported...family, friends, OH...stay involved

4. Believe...Achieve...Receive
                  ...I BELIEVE I can do this...get to my goal weight and live a strong and healthy life
                  ...I can ACHIEVE my goals when they are realistic and I use the tools I have been given
                  ...I will RECEIVE the benefits of my efforts everyday...by good health, by support of those around me and I can be 
                     of support to those who are struggling.

So, the coasting is over...onward thru this journey...

Went to Buffalo with Nicole and Jan, and did we ever shop til we dropped.  We left the house at 6:30 am and returned at 1:00 am...L>>>O>>>N>>>G day!!  But the deals were good and we bought some great stuff.!!

I tried on a pair of lovely black pants in a 20-too big, an 18-still a little roomy, 16-OH MY GOD they fit!!!  Loved that!!  It's been at least 25 years since I could wear a size 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Sunday we went skating...I was a little nervous, but by the third lap around I was on my own and lovin it!!  Can't wait to go again next Sunday.

So very happy to hit my 100 lbs today!!

Its been 7 months and 4 days since I started this wonderful journey.  Here are just a few of the ways that my life has changed:

from size 28 (very tight, I might add) to size 18

shoe size 10 to 9...did not see that coming!!

can tie my shoes and breath at the same time

some good ole face time with my hubby...if ya know what I mean!!

can use any public washroom...no need to use handicapped stall

ride a bike

walk...walk fast...like to walk fast!!

eat to live not live to eat

moved the seat forward in the car...not so much ass pushing me forward in the seat

soooo much more energy

so many more things and it just keeps getting better

This has been an incredible journey for me so far...so much support from family and friends and a real discovery into who I am and who I want to be...someone who lives life to the fullest, not just existing and getting by.

So far I have lost a SAM...my son's weight...74 lbs
I'm working on losing and Emma...my daughter's weight...113 lbs
Then onto losing a Frank...hubby who weighs 165

Happy Thanksgiving to All

I'm thankful to have my life...to have a second chance...I'm grabbing it with both hands...gotta hang on, cuz this ride is wild!!!!!!

 

So the first 98 lbs was easy...so to speak.  Not a huge effort, the weight just kinda fell off of me...eat right, move some, drink lots and it just happened. 

But...

Did I change my habits enough to sustain the loss and to continue to lose the rest of the weight?????????????????

NO...I did not.  If I am going to be honest...and what's the point of it all otherwise...then I did not change my eating habits in the past 6 months enough to continue to lose the weight and keep it off.

I have been lucky (?) and my food has been pretty good...definately better choices most of the time and always less than before, but because I don't dump (really wished I did..really) I can eat most anything with sugar...and I do!!

Protein is good...always.  Way more fruits and veg...way way less bread, pasta, cereal.  But crackers are a problem...too many at a time..portion control needed.  Sweets...can eat just about anything and I do...less than before but really do I need it...NO NO NO!!!

Read something recently that the body will not lose weight when sugar is consumed...burns up the current load of sugar before using whats stored...and what is stored turns into FAT...huh!

No more sugar....started today...just whole foods...protein 1st, then veg then fruit then carb, but no refined sugars!!

Exercise...more consistency needed...tons of loose skin and lots of fat still to be moved off of this body!! 

I have been in a stall for 3-4 weeks now...losing the same 2 lbs over and over again.  DONE...ENOUGH!!

New rules...

3 meals, 2 snacks
4 liters water
no sugar
no eating after 7 pm
20 min cardio, 15 reps of each Bowflex exercise daily

lets see what that does to the stall

This is my life and I'm going to do this right!!!

No Excuses
Do More
Think Positive

I've done more this summer than probably the last 5 combined...more walking,more biking, more swimming, more fun fun fun.  I'm 5 months and 4 days since surgery and 86 lbs down.  I have more energy, less stress about being in a swim suit in public and I wear shorts every chance I get when I'm not at work.  I sweat less too. I mean when it's hot, ya, I sweat just like anyone else does, but it's not all the time...not the constant hot water works running all over my body just cuz it's 150 plus pounds overweight, 

I'm approaching my six months...I'm 14 pounds from my 100 pound goal by 6 months...I've got a plan to up my exercise and water...like Frank said...if you want big results you have to make big changes...

I began this process at 338 lbs with a BMI of 51.3...putting me in the Super Obese category.  Oh how those two words hurt, as did my feet, my back, my legs...you get it!!

March 5th I began OPTIFAST...March 31 my surgery...I am down 83 lbs and my BMI is now 38.7 and guess what...I've moved from Super Obese, thru Extremely Obese to just simple Obese.  I can live with that little word for a while...it will take many more pounds to get to the next category:  Overweight...but I will get there.

My 5 months is coming near...2 weeks...I'm hoping to be at 95 pounds by then and to hit 100 by my birthday on Aug 20th...

I have to say that I am thrilled with my progress so far and with how terrific I feel.  To anyone who is still in the "thinking about WLS" process, I can only say it has changed my life and most definately has saved it too.

My 9 year old son, Sam weighs 74 lbs...I have lost 75 lbs...I have lost the equivelant of a 9 year old boy!!!  WOW.  Somehow I carried that weight around on my body for years...but no more...and strangely enough I can't imagine how I did that...I'm not sure if I could carry him around or not.

Time for a photo op...

Only 6.5 lbs to half way through this journey

Next goal...85 lbs by the family picnic on July 24th.

Things are going pretty well...still having a little bit of issues with some things...some throwing up...but by and large things are good.  I'm down 64 lbs in total.  In 17,5 lbs I will be at 1/2 way.  Todays weight records me at having only 99 lbs to go...Good Good.

Exercise is still not what it needs to be...committing to exercising everyday this week...before work.  Requires me to go to bed at a reasonable hour so I can get up early enough to get everything together before work.

Work was really amazing this week...I knew people would be happy to see me...but the response was amazing...I'm so lucky to work with such a great group of people...Also, they gave me a $50 gift card to Sport Check to get some active wear!!

Water is difficult to get in at work...will work on that a little more this week. 

Eating too many carbs I think...will begin tracking it this week...I really want to accelerate my weight loss again.  I've become a little too comfortable with being able to snack and eat too many carbs.

So...still definately happy with how things are going so far, but need to make a few changes to make sure I stay well on track.