Norma C.
11/15/04
I'm having surgery!!!!
12/1/04
Sorry I haven't say anything about me yet. I'm not very good at writing. I'm 31 years old 5'9" 235 lbs. I've always been tall and heavy. I know 235 lbs is probably not to terribly bad but I have been heavier. I think my heaviest has been 262 lbs. When I went to my consultation on 10/08/04 I weighed 242 lbs. and I have lost 7 lbs. Dr. Wongsa only wanted me to loose 0 - 2 lbs. before suregery. To be honest I don't know how I lost 7 lbs. Like a lot of you out there I have been struggling with my weight for the past 16 years. I've tried almost all diet pills there is prescribed and some over the counter. As well as programs like Quick Weight Loss. There's been times when I've lost 20, 40 and even 50 only to regain it all back and even more in no time at all. Because of my weight and family history I have developed diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides and PCOS. I'm hoping that with the surgery I'm going to be able to get rid of all the medications I take. I take Glucophage, Niaspan, Tricor, Altace, Baby Aspirin and Zovia. I'm just so tired of taking that many pills a day. My surgery will be on Dec. 8, 2004. Tomorrow I'm going to Cy-Fair Hospital for my pre-op interview and blood test. Wish me luck and say a prayer for me.
12/2/04
Today I went to my interview with Dee. She is very nice and very helpful. I'm just so excited. Until last week I had mixed feelings about the surgery but I've been praying a lot and that has helped me feel better and get more ready for it. I didn't know that the day before the surgery I have to be on all liquid diet. I know for sure I'm going to be starving the morning of the surgery. May be being nervous is going to help me get that of my mind. I'll try to update more before that day.
12/3/04
Hello everybody. It's Friday woo hoo. I'm so nervous. Only 5 days til my surgery. I know the weekend is going to go by quick.....like always. I'm trying to get everything together for Christmas since I'm going to be home for 2 weeks I'll have time to do my Christmas cards and some little gifts for my co-workers. This weekend I'm going to go shopping for all the foods I'm going to need for after surgery (broth, sf jello, sf popsicles, crystal light, etc.) I also need to buy the soap that Dee (nurse at Cy-Fair hospital) told me I need to buy. I also need to wash all my blankets and clean my apt in case someone decides to visit us for Christmas. We are going to try to take our Christmas pictures this weekend too so I can have them ready for the cards. I'll be busy the next 4 days. Hope everybody have a good weekend. Sorry....I keep saying We this We that. When I say we I mean my husband (we been married for almost 6 yrs.) and my beautiful 3 yr old girl.
12/4/04
Hi Everyone. First of all THANK YOU everybody for your best wishes. I feel much better now that I know I'm not alone. Thank you also for thinking about me and praying for me. You all are so sweet. I'm going to update as much as I can to keep you guys posted on my progress.
12/6/04
Hi I hope everybody had a good weekend. I had a so so weekend. I was so busy and my daughter was sick. That kept me busy for sure. I did most of the things I had plan to do except for the Christmas pictures we'll do that today. I also need to go grocery shopping and need to go back to the pharmacy or Walmart to get the Flintstone's vitamins. Other than that I'm just waiting for THE DAY. Less than 2 days til surgery. I'm not very hungry today but I know tomorrow when I know I'm on clear liquids only I'm going to want to eat a lot. But I'm nervous and maybe that's the reason why I don't have an apetite today and hopefully neither will tomorrow.
12/7/04
Hi I guess I was wrong. I'm starving today. It's 10am and I'm on all clear liquids only all day. It's going to be hard but I know I can do it. It's for a very good cause. Tomorrow is my surgery and I'm not too nervous like I thought I would be. I'm not going to take a lot of things with me to the hospital. I'm just going to wear something loose and comfortable and that's what I'll wear to go home. I did get some slippers and the nurse told me to take some chapstick.
12/11/04
Hi I'm sorry I haven't update yet. I had my surgery on Wed 12/8/04. I came home Thursday the 9th. the surgery went well. I'm doing pretty good. I still feel a little pain when I take deep breaths mainly when I'm laying down for a while like when i wake up in the mornings. My doctor tried to talked me out of doing this. I lost 9 lbs and he only wanted me to loose 0-2 lbs. I'm 5' 9" and I was weighing 233 lbs the morning of the surgery. I told him I still want to do it because I've lost weight before and I end up gaining it all back and more. He said that I better be prepared to get real small and I said "it's OK with me". Today I'm feeling a little depress. I guess I miss food. I'm not hungry but for the longest time eating was my only and favorite thing to do. I hope this passes soon because I still have 3 days of all liquids. My other concern is that I'm getting diarreah every day. I hope that doesn't affect anything. The nurse at the hospital said that it was fine because when we eat only liquids it kinds of goes thru the stomach quick and I guess that's why I'm getting rid of it quick too. I'm going to try to update more often. Thanks everybody for their support. That really helped me.
12/13/04
Good Morning. I've been depress for the past few days but I think today I'm a little better. When I enter this site and I see that I'm not alone it makes me feel much better. I'm sick of broth. I don't mind drinking water. I love water. Sometimes I forget and I think I drink too fast or too much that it hurts a little. Other than that I think I still have just a little gas pain. I'm down 9 lbs since surgery. I was 233 Lbs. and today my scale said 224 lbs. That's it for now. I'll write more later or tomorrow. Until next time.
12/21/04
Hi sorry I haven't update. I had my follow-up visit with Dr. Wongsa last Friday. I lost 17 lbs. since surgery day. Til today I think I'm probably down another 2 or 3 lbs. I feel good but I still miss eating. Every time is time to eat I don't even want to because everything taste so different. I don't like the idea of eating meat for breakfast. Sometimes I wish I could eat fruit or something light. But I know that is a small sacrifice compare to the big difference the weight loss is going to make in my life and I'm willing to work hard to get down to my ideal weight and be a healthy person. I'll keep praying and hoping that it will get better and hopefully easier as the time goes by. See ya.
1/4/05
Happy New Year!!! Hope everybody's holidays were a lot of Joy. Mine were different but still very nice.
1/14/05
Hi Everybody. It's has been a long time since I updated my profile. Well, what can I say. It's been rough for me. In the last 3 weeks my scale has moved very slow. At one point it even went up but I think because it was that time of the month and I was retaining water. I finally started working out more and I can really see the difference on my clothes. I went in for my blood work today and in a week I have my 6 weeks follow-up appointment. I'll try to update more tomorrow. Have to get back to work.
1/19/05
Sorry, I didn't update sooner. I'm feeling better and better every day. My scale says that I've lost 42 lbs but I'll confirm that on Friday when I go in for my 6 weeks follow-up. I hope all my test results are OK. As the days go by I notice that I can eat a little more and that I'm more hungry. I don't measure my food but I always stop after a few bites because I don't want to get sick and throw up. I guess I'm doing fine because I'm still loosing. Even though it slowed down a little after my 2nd week. I sent my picture to be posted on the 12th and I sent another one today. Let's see how long it takes. That's it for today. Til next time.
1/24/05
Hello. I had my 6 weeks follow-up on Friday 1/21/05. Guess what everybody???? I was 199 lbs. wooooohooooo!!!!!! I haven't been under 200 lbs. in 10 years. I'm so happy. My Iron and B-1 levels are a little low but other than that I'm doing great. I lost 17 lbs in 4 weeks. I'm so proud of myself. I don't get too depress anymore. I'm feeling a lot better about my decision of having the surgery done.
2/3/05
Hi. Well there's not much to say. Everything is the same. Very slow weight loss. I think it has to do with the food choices I'm making. I really need to stick to my doctor's diet. I'm probably still at 199 lbs (for the last 2 weeks). I signed up with photobucket.com and now I can add more pictures to my profile. OH added my first picture and I added the second one. I will add one of my hubby soon. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!
2/11/05
Hello everybody. I finally decided to do better on my food choices. I stopped all my snacking. No more nuts, seeds, or SF candies/popsicles. It's been very difficult but I did good the entire week. I'm so proud of myself. I have been eating mainly chicken for lunch and dinner. I think is working because I think my scale finally moved a few lbs. I drink a lot of water and chew SF gum instead of snacking. All I need to do now is get back into my walking routine. This week on Tuesday I went to my first Support Group Meeting. I really enjoyed it cus I got to meet more people that are going thru the same thing I'm going thru. I hope I can loose 15 to 20 lbs by March 11th when I go in for my 3 month check up. That's it for now. Til next time :).
2-14-05
Happy Valentine's!!! Here's a new picture of me taken yesterday at my niece's b-day party. According to my scale I'm down to 192 lbs. Hope everybody have a wonderful day.
2/17/05
Hello. I'm so bad about updating my profile. I guess cus there's not much going on right now. My scale doesn't move much lately. I gave up snacking two weeks ago and I drink tons of water but I haven't start my walking again maybe that's the reason why I'm not loosing like I should. For some reason I have no energy in the evening. I called my doctor because last Saturday I went for some blood work and I wanted to get the results. They still don't have my B-1 results but the nurse told me that my Iron is OK. I'll have another blood test in a couple of weeks for my 3 month follow-up visit. I hope to do better this coming weeks to see if I can loose 20 lbs from last time I saw my doctor. Til next time :o).
2/21/05
Hello. I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. I was busy but other than that mine was great. My scale moved a little more. Now I'm at 189 lbs. I can't believe it. I'm very close to wear size 14 well it all depends on the fabric and style of the clothes. For sure 14w is starting to fit loose....woo hoooo. I have been downloading more picture from my camera. I also found some other ones from before the surgery. I can see the difference but I still feel so fat. I know that's normal. Our brain has to catch up with all the things happening to our body.
3/1/05
WOW 7 more days and I'll be 3 months post-op. Lost 44 lbs since surgery 53 total. I feel great although I would like to loose a little quicker. I go weeks without loosing anything. I've been @ 189 lbs for a couple of weeks. This will be the 3rd week actually. Its frustrating. I met my friend Carmen for lunch today. She is the one who referred me to Dr. Wongsa for the WLS. She looks great. I think she lost 97 lbs or maybe more. She's 1 1/2 years out. She might go to the support group meeting tonight at the hospital. I told her about it and about this site. Tonight a plastic surgeon is going to speak at our support group meeting. It should be very interesting. I'm trying to do better on my eating and hopefully I can start loosing again. Til next time.
3/2/05
Last night was very interesting but I lost hope of having my insurance cover any plastic surgery for me. I don't have that much loose skin. The only thing I really hate and it bothers me so much is my arms. They are getting small but I have bat wings. Too me that's very uncomfortable. I guess I just won't ever wear sleeveless. I haven't til now I guess I'll just live with that. Maybe trying to tone it with weights might help a little. Anyway, we'll see later.
3/14/05
I went to my 3 month check up on Friday. I lost 12 lbs in 6 weeks. Not too bad but definetly not what I expected. I'm 187 lbs. My blood tests came back good. My doctor wants me to loose another 12 lbs before I can eat freely. He added fruits to my diet wooo hooo. I'm going to eat them as snacks because I get so hungry in between meals. I was surprised when he told me that when I start eating freely I can eat anything I want even fried foods and sweets of course my meal size should be the size of my fist and 1/2 of it should be protein but I thought for sure he would definetly forbid those things. I'm going to try very hard to loose the remainder 27 lbs by June which is my 6 months check up. Friday my hubby and I took the day off cus Saturday was our anniversary (6 years). We spent a wonderful day together while my baby was in daycare. We had lunch at a special place we both like and after that we went to the movies and watched Hostage the new movie with Bruce Willis. It was a lot of fun. Hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. Til next time.
3/23/05
Hello friends. Not too much progress here :o(. A few days ago my scale was at 184 lbs but I started my period on Monday and I'm back to 186 lbs. I guess I'm retaining fluids. My typical day consists of: 8:30am Decaf coffe w/SF hazelnut creamer. 9:30am Low Carb Slim-Fast (creamy chocolate), water, 12:30pm Grilled chicken Salad w/ranch, sometimes around 3pm I'll have leftover salad from lunch, more water and SF gum, 6 pm Grilled Chicken fajitas or beef fajitas and a salad or veggies. I take 4 flintstones, 1 hair vitamin and 1 calcium pill. I walk on my treadmill for 40 mins (4 or 5 times a week) and I do stairs at work at least twice a day. I don't understand why I can't loose a little faster. I don't think I'm doing so bad.
3/25/05
Hello everybody. It sucks to be at work on Good Friday but that is not one of the regular holidays for everybody. I have been doing so good with my eating and working out.....I'm proud of myself. The scale has moved just a little. I'm 183 lbs this morning.
3/30/05
Hi It's me. Hope everybody is doing good. 16 weeks today since I had my surgery. I can't believe it. Time flies. Let's see...........I'm 183 lbs. Lost a total of 59 lbs. I can't complain but I would love to be under 180 already. I'm a size 14 mises. I don't expect to go lower than a size 12 but I think that would be perfect for my height. I get very frustrated because I weigh every day and I don't see a difference. The scale wouldn't matter so much to me if it wasn't because my doctor goes by it. I'm happy where I am right now but I know that in June when I go see him for my 6 month checkup he is going to expect for me to be at goal. I'm loosing inches and looking small but I worry too much about what the scale says. 25 lbs is all I need to loose and then is just a matter of maintaining which is not easy but I think I'll be able to deal with that better than trying to loose more. For all the people reading this post and are still pre-op I just want to say that it is worth it and I would do it again. My health has improved a lot, I don't take medications anymore and it feels great to be able to wear almost everything in my closet. Gracie, if you read this..........I miss talking to you, girl. I need your support.......where are you???????????
4/7/05
I'm keeping this information in case I need it later.
How to break a plateau
#1 - Do this for 10 days to break a plateau
#2 - Drink 2 quarts of water a day
#3 - You must have 45 grams of protein supplement and all your vitamins/minerals supplements each day (some suggest at least 60 and up to 80 gr)
#4 - You may consume up to 3 oz of the following high protein foods, 5x a day
beef
pork
chicken
turkey
lamb
fish
eggs
low fat cheese
cottage cheese
plain yogurt or artificially sweetened (?)
peanut butter
beans/legumes
You may also have:
sugar free popsicles
tea or coffee
sugar free soda
sugar free jello
broths/bullion (sp?)
crystal light drinks
#5 - If it's not on the list, you can't have it for 10 days!!!!
#6 - Keep a food diary and try to get up to 30 mins of exercise daily
4/25/05
Good morning. I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. Not much to update about except that I got a haircut on Saturday. Yes, is short. Shoulder length and layered. I'll post some pictures soon. Other than that everything is the same. My scale hasn't moved much in the last 6 weeks. I can't seem to go under 180 lbs for nothing. Yesterday my scale said 181 lbs but this morning it says 184 lbs. I don't know what the deal is last week at my PCP's office it said 188 lbs. I know I had clothes on and shoes but still that makes me so mad. I'm so frustrated because in 6 weeks I'll have my 6 month check-up and my doctor expects me to be at goal. I have to go into a very extrict diet/excersice routine. I have to get as close as I can to 155 or 160 lbs. Until next time..........Norma
5/9/05
Hello all. Today is the first day of my plateau breaker. So far I'm doing good. I hope this jump starts my weight loss because I'm getting very frustrated. I'll go see my doctor in exactly one month and I need to loose at least 15 lbs. Yesterday was my 5 month anniversary and so far I've only lost 51 lbs. I'm definetly a slow looser.
I want to welcome Gracie. She was gone for a whole month on vacation.....lucky you, girl. I missed you very much.
5/10/05
Hello all. This is harder than I thought. I'm on day 2 of the 10 day plateau breaker diet. I did pretty good yesterday and so far today too. I hope it works because I don't know what else to do. I need to be at 168 lbs by June 9th. That would put me on BMI 24.8 which is normal. Even though I won't be at goal I think that would make my doctor very happy. Wish me luck. Til next time.................Norma
5/11/05
Day 3 and still doing good. I had gone up to 186 lbs and after 2 days of this plateau breaking diet, I'm back to 181 lbs. I hope it continues to work because I've been trying to go under 180 lbs. for 6 weeks now. This is not easy, especially because I have a cold right now. I don't really feel like excercising but is part of the 10 day plan so I have to force myself to do it. I'm hoping that in the next 2 days I'll be under 180 lbs. I'll keep everybody posted. Til next time.....Norma
5/13/05
Hello everyone. Guess what????? Yes, I did it!!!!!! Day 5 and I'm 179 lbs. Wooo hooooo!!!!!!!! Now I need to work a little harder to try to get as far as I can away from 180 lbs. It took me 9 weeks to get out of the 180's I don't want to go back. This plateau breaking diet really works. I'm down 8 lbs. in 5 days. Til next time.........Norma
5/19/05
Well, what can I say. My scale hates me and I hate my scale. I'm 180 lbs. I was 179 lbs one day and that was it. Something inside of me wants to give up but at the same time I can't do it. I'm just tired of trying. I know I'm following the rules the way I supposed to and nothing. Til next time............Norma
6/10/05
Hello everyone. It's been a while since I updated my profile. Yesterday was my 6 month check-up and it was better than I thought. I'm at 177 lbs finally, I'm out of the 180's. Everything looks good on my blood test results. I will be having a endoscopy and an Upper GI because of this pain I get similar to gallbladder pain the only thing is that I don't have a gallbladder since 1995. Let's hope is noting major like an ulcer. My doc wasn't very happy because I only lost 10 lbs so he said NO CARBS until you get to 160 lbs. 17 more lbs and he wants to see me again in Sept @ 9 months out. I was hoping not to see him until 1 year in Dec but o'well. I have to do my best to prove him that I can get to his goal. I really hope that my evil scale starts moving a little more now that I'm out of the most horrible and long plateau ever. Hope everybody is doing well. Til next time.............Norma
8/3/05
Hi Everybody!!!!
It's been almost 2 months since I updated my profile. The main reason I haven't updated is that I'm so ashamed of my results of the surgery. Two months ago I was down to 177 lbs after struggling to get down from the 180s. Now after a lot of very bad choice of foods and the ability to eat a lot more I have gained anywhere from 8 to 10 lbs. Yes, that is horrible because I haven't even gotten close to my goal and I'm so affraid that I'll never get there. My surgeon is going to be so mad at me next month when I go see him. I'm supposed to be @ 160 lbs by then and I'm nowhere close to that. As of this morning I'm 188 lbs. I'm so ashamed that I'm starting to think that I should've never had this surgery. I have taken it for granted because I had no problems getting approved (2 weeks) by my insurance and in less than 2 months from my initial visit I had my surgery. I see people on the board struggling with their insurance and wishing they had the surgery and I feel so bad because I have no control over my eating and no will power. I'm so scared to go back to the 200s. I feel like a faliure. Til next time................Norma
8/24/05
Hello everybody. Last time I updated I was feeling terrible. I was completly out of control. I had gained 13 lbs. I still haven't lost all 13 lbs but I have lost some. I'm 184 as of this morning. I think I'm loosing inches because I can tell on my clothes. I'm still loosing some hair. I can't wait until it grows back. I'm watching what I eat and hope I can loose a little more soon. I have to go see my doctor next month. My birthday is coming (Sep 21) and that's another reason I want to loose some more weight. Wish me luck because is not easy fighting this food demons every day. Til next time...............................Norma
10/4/05
Hey, I haven't update in a while. Unfortunately nothing new has happend here. I'm still in the same situation. My body seems to be very comfortable with this weight because I can't seem to get under 185 lbs. Maybe that's my new weight. I had a very interesting birthday (I'm 32). It was the day when the entire city was evacuating for Hurricane Rita (Wed Sep. 21st). We didn't celebrate because the entire weekend we were waiting for the storm to hit. The day after Rita hit and nothing happend in our area I was able to relax so I used the water I had saved in my tub and took a nice warm bath.
10/31/05
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!
I didn't dress up today. I thought that being smaller was going to make me want to have more fun but for some reason I don't have energy to do anything. I'm taking my beautiful girl (sleeping beauty) trick or treating tonight but that's about it. We weren't invited to any Halloween parties this year. It's OK I'm sure my girl is going to have a lot of fun. I hope I can find someone with a camera because I forgot mine............til next time............Norma
11/9/05
WOW!!! 11 months post-op yesterday. I can't believe it. 1 more month for my 1st year anniversary. I hope to loose a little more cuz I have to go see my surgeon. I haven't been too good this last 5 months. I could have done better. This morning I'm still 187 lbs. If I could loose 17 lbs it would make me so happy. Hope everybody have a great time this holidays. Til next time.......Norma
11/29/05
Hello. I'm getting so close to my 1 year anniversary. I thought by now I was going to be so happy and at goal but I hasn't been easy for me. I'm still 185 lbs and I'm not sure if that will ever change. My dream weight is 170 lbs although my doctor wants me to be 160 lbs. I have been around the same weight for almost 6 months. I can't complaint because at least my health did improved. I'm wearing size 14 and some 12's. Most of my blouses are XL but I still see myself as a fat person and can't see the difference. I see it on pictures but when I see myself in the mirror I still see the same fat person (250 lbs). I hope not to do so bad this coming holidays and I'm really looking forward to start a new year and feel better about myself. I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2006!!!!!! Hugs, Norma
12/8/05
WOW Today is my 1 Year Anniversary!!!! I'm not 100% satisfied with my results but I guess is not too bad. I only lost 65 lbs. but its better than nothing. I'm almost wearing size 12. I need to schedule the 1 year check up with my surgeon. I hope everything looks good on my blood test. I'm not sure what my hubby has planned for tonight. We'll see after work. My life has changed somewhat. My health has improved a lot. I'm off all meds and the only pills I have to take are vitamins. I really need to concentrate more on my food choices and try to keep up the work out routine. I want to wish everybody a wonderful holiday season and a terrific New Year 2006.
12/13/05
Hello. This past Saturday was my job's Christmas Party at a nice restaurant. It was excellent and we had so much fun.
1/9/06
Hello. WOW what an interesting journey. I know I sound like a broken record but unfortunately I have been at this same range for 6 months. Up and down between 185 and 195 lbs. 9 days of the new year and I haven't been able to start my resolution. This is harder than I thought. I'll keep working at it and hopefully I'll be able to post something different next time. Good luck to everybody and thank you for reading my profile.....Norma
6/19/08
WOW!!! It's been 2 1/2 years since I updated my profile. I guess cuz I'm not very proud of my surgery's results. I know it's all my fault because I never followed the diet like I was supposed to. My starting weight was 242 lbs. and I'm 5' 10". My lowest weight was 6 months out 177lbs and the highest post-op was 212 lbs. For the past year I have been maintaining at 190 lbs. That pretty much has been my weight throughout the entire time since my surgery in Dec 2004.
I can eat almost anything. There's still some things that make me dump and very rarely food gets stucked and I need to throw up. I think that one of my biggest problems is that I drink with my meals and that is something I can't stop doing. I'm back at taking medicines again for my diabetes, cholesterol and even BP. Sometimes I feel like going thru the risk of a major surgery wasn't even worth it. I still have to battle with the weight problems and mess with dieting. The sad thing is that I'm not happy with my weight but at the same time I'm not heavy enough to even consider a revision. I'm a size 14 @ 190 lbs 5' 10". Hope everybody is doing a lot better than me......Norma.
