Sara G.
Major Milestone!!!
Dec 19, 2007
It has really helped having small goals to work towards so that I keep myself motivated. Exercising has become a joy and I really do miss it if I don't do it. I'm loving how good my body feels and how easily I can move around. Life is completely different and I am so much happier than I was before.
I had to go to the nutritionist to have her check what I was eating because my weight kept bouncing up and down between 314 and 308. I couldn't seem to get anywhere. She looked over my food diary and said that I simply wasn't eating enough. I was only getting 900-1200 calories a day and with the amount of exercise that I was getting, I needed around 2000. I have not yet been able to meet that goal but I'm trying and the increased calories does seem to be helping!
Who would have thought!!
Oct 23, 2007
I walked 5 miles last Saturday and it felt great. My legs were sore and tired afterwards but the next day I was back to my normal self and things were good again.
I'm down 150 pounds now and feel like I am finally in a place where I can do this for the rest of my life. I love being healthy and being so conscious of what is going in my mouth. I have felt better and am able to do so much more. The compliments keep coming and coming from my friends and family and they make me feel great.
I really think I'm going to do it this time!!
I survived!!
Oct 09, 2007
I did the Race for the Cure at the end of September. I was so happy to be a part of the walk. At the end, the breast cancer survivors were all asked to come up on a set of bleachers and get their pictures taken together. It was a very emotional moment seeing all those women and know what they had been through and survived. This is my first year to do something like this. Before, my weight would have never let me walk in a 5K. I'm so proud of myself for doing this and giving back to the community. I will definitely do this again next year. I am also going to do The 3-Day in San Francisco in September, 2008. This walk is 60 miles spread out over 3 days. Tammy thinks I'm crazy but I'm really excited. I can't wait to get there and be a part of something so great. I have to have $2,200 in donations though to go so I'm going to be spending the next year soliciting everyone that will hold still to donate!
My WOW moments continue to sneak up on my almost daily. I saw a picture of myself and my 2 other friends at the Race for the Cure and was shocked at how much closer to their size I was. I am still feeling fantastic and so very thankful for this surgery and all the opportunities it has given me. I am so glad that I have done it. This weekend I bagged up all my old clothes that are too big and am taking them to the thrift store in the morning. I have only a few shirts that fit me and no pants. Even my underwear are too big. The only things I have that fit me are my socks and bra. Isn't that a pretty picture??? I'm gonna have to do some shopping soon. What a shame, no?!
100 and counting!
Aug 08, 2007
Food has become less of an issue. Not as much vomitting. I've basically eliminated meat from my diet. Eggs, cheese, beans, yogurt, protein drinks and bars, and milk have become my protein sources. My body continues to crave mostly fruits and vegetables so that's what I'm giving it. Forgetting my vitamin is something I am doing more than I should. I finally switched over to Flintstones because the Centrum chewable was making me gag.
Oh and for the bad news...my hair has started falling out. I am taking Biotin, drinking protein shakes, and washing my hair with Nioxin hoping I won't be bald by the time it's all said and done!
I've taken on volunteer work with the Susan G. Komen foundation. I am walking in our local Race for the Cure September 29th and then I have also dedicated myself to walk with some friends in Dallas next year in a 3 day walk that is 60 miles long. I'm very excited. I figure this is a great way for me to keep moving and keep my exercise up so that I can keep the weight coming off. Of course the primary reason is to support the fight against breast cancer. I have known 3 women who had it and 1 of them died in April shortly after my surgery. She never got to see me after the surgery and I'm not sure she even knew I had it...she was pretty out of it towards the end. I hope to be able to honor her memory with this walk and maybe she can see me from up there!
3 months ago...
Jul 09, 2007
I just got into pants that were 2 sizes smaller than what I was wearing right after surgery and got rid of a bunch of clothes that were too big and winter clothes that I am sure will be too big by the time I am able to wear them. I ended up with a whole basket full of clothes and then was able to find some clothes that I didn't even know I had and that I can finally fit into!!!
The only complication that I have found right now is that food makes me nauseated. Meats, beans, and soups are making me sick. I can't do chicken--canned or grilled or baked, soups make me gag, tuna grosses me out, and lunch meats just don't agree with me. I burned myself out of refried beans and mexican food in general. Seafood grosses me out and so I'm stuck with cheese and protein shakes.
I am going to talk to the doctor about this in hopes of finding out what I can do about this if anything. Vegetables and fruits rock!! I think I could eat veggies and fruits for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy. Applesauce is the best thing ever!!!! I am so glad that I like them because I know they are good for me and good snacks too.
And don't look now but I have been wanting to exercise more. Scary I know from the girl who hated working out. But I have been walking on my lunch breaks and I have even wanted to get on the treadmill lately before I come to work to get some more in. I hope this gets better!!
Back in action!
May 24, 2007
I had my 6 week check up with the doctor on May 15th. He was very happy with my weight loss but said my pre-albumin was a little low (i.e. not enough protein) so I have up my protein intake. Maybe 2 shakes a day -- bummer!
Anyway...nothing really spectacular going on...we are going to the lake this weekend and I'm very excited about getting more exercise and getting in the water. I must have been a fish in my previous life because nothing makes me happier than swimming. I think if I had a pool I would be in it every day! This will be a good weekend with friends and my baby girl. I'm very excited. I'm off for 5 days starting tomorrow...hope to see ya there!
Stuck!
May 09, 2007
The first week of solid foods has been interesting. I've learned when I eat too fast, when I don't chew good enough, and when something is just too dry to go down. I am also learning that my eyes are still too big for my stomach. It's funny the food that I take and how much I end up eating. So different. I need to work on leaving stuff at home. I just have a few leftover ideas about being hungrier than I actually am. So much work yet to be done!
My First Dumping Experience! (It's not pretty--be warned!)
Apr 25, 2007
I got changed and was laying down and my stomach just felt queasy! I couldn't figure it out except I just felt like crap. Tammy and I got comfortable and about that time the cramp hit. It wasn't a normal cramp...it was the mother cramp and all her little friends. So I felt like I better get up and head to the bathroom. What took place next can only be described as pure hell!!!! My stomach hurt so bad and then I was nauseated all at the same time. No sooner did I get done with going to the bathroom than I ended up vomitting...or at least trying to. I dry-heaved about 5 times and was only able to get up some saliva. I was hot, sweaty, queasy, and I had a horrible headache. I finally got everything under control and headed back to bed. I still felt like a Mack truck hit me but I was able to lay down and was praying it would go away. I ended up laying there with minor cramps and then finally drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, my stomach was a little sore and I had some residual things to take care of in the bathroom if you catch my drift!! Other than that I felt fine. I still don't know what happened. I had that protein and that flavor before with no problems. I had even had a different flavor of the same protein the day before with no problems. I didn't add anything to it or change it in anyway. Tammy suggested I try it again today to see what my reaction was...uh...I think NOT! I'm not sure I can ever try that protein again. So...I guess it's a almost full tub that will go to waste! Better than going through me again!
Being good and taking it slow
Apr 18, 2007
Well since I have come back to work, they have decided that I needed to work every waking hour. I worked overtime on the weekend and then so far this week, I have worked 12 hour days every day!!! Talk about tired!!!!
The lifestyle change has been going pretty well so far. I can't say that I've been 100% good. My diet has been great. I haven't cheated once. I just haven't been walking as much as I probably should. I'm still getting up and around a lot...cleaning the house, grocery shopping, working where I have to walk often and sometimes long distances. I have walked the length of the factory at least 3 times since I have had surgery. I need to start setting time out of my day to walk at home as well. As long as I am working 12 hour days though it sure is difficult! I am just exhausted by the time I get home and so ready for bed and then it takes everything in my power to get out of bed and go to work.
This is my first day of soft foods. I'm so excited about it. I have been milling over my menu for the day for a least a week!! An egg, cottage cheese, and refried beans with FF cheese on the top. I'm so excited. I've only had time for the cottage cheese so far. I have to say that I ate the cottage cheese with no problem. Ziploc makes these wonderful little 1/2 cup containers and I put my cottage cheese in that this morning and brought my baby spoon to work. I ate it and didn't feel stuffed (no behind the chest pain) and didn't feel hungry after I was done either. So shocking that I can eat just 1/2 a cup of food and be okay. I need to get my protein shake in for the day but have no interest in it at this time.
I've been finally getting the difference between head hunger and real hunger. So far I've actually been able to control it just fine!! I'm so happy about that. I have no compulsion anymore to eat. Before, I couldn't stop myself. Now I feel like I have control. I just hope this lasts. I keep waiting for the times before when I was dieting that I lost control and ate way too much. I hope those days are gone!!!
Hi Ho, Hi Ho....
Apr 11, 2007
I'm back at work now. I went back exactly a week after my surgery. I was worried that I would be too tired to make it a whole 8 hours but I really felt great. I even went for a walk on lunch break since lunch is just a drink right now. My co-workers have been very supportive. They have all wished me well and have even bought me flowers and sent me cards wishing for me to get well soon. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful group of supportive people around me. Thank god.
I am starting to feel thinner. I don't know if that's really possible now but I was standing at the front door at work talking to someone and I just felt longer and leaner. I mean really, it's only one week since my surgery but I can already sense a change. A change in how I carry myself, a change in how my clothes fit, and a change in my attitude.
I've been very faithful with my clear liquid diet. The dietician who talked to us about our post-op diets promised us that if we stuck with the diet and didn't cheat she could guarantee that we would lose at least 20-30 pounds in the first 2 weeks. I am all about losing that amount that quickly!!!
I'm ready for the weeks where something fits the first week but doesn't the next. I'm ready to start feeling so good and having so much energy that I just have to exercise. I can't wait until my entire world is different from what it has been for so many years!
