One year surgiversary

One year ago today I had a vertical sleeve gasterectomy.  I can't believe it was a year ago.  My highest weight was 398, my weight the day of surgery was 341.  Today's weight is 282.  That is a total of 116 pounds lost, 59 of those in the past year.  I wish the results could be better at this point, but I am happy with myself.

A lot has happened in the past year.  I have walked a 5k and will be doing another one in 10 days.  I am down 6 pants sizes (7 depending on the pants).  I can walk and stand for long periods of time without aching feet and the need to sit after 30 seconds.  I am comfortable with how I look in a swimsuit.  I have a lap again, and my stomach isn't pressing into the steering wheel.  I can wear smaller necklaces.  I can walk up and down stairs without feeling like I'm going pass out because I can't breathe.  I can tie my shoes and cut my toenails without gasping for air.  The list goes on and on.

On the medical side....I am no longer a diabetic.  I only take 1 blood pressure medication instead of 3.  My cholesterol is good with zero medication.  Yes I have to take a multi-vitamin, a b-12 pill, and iron along with just a couple of other meds.

There are some issues that will be solved eventually.  I need to have the skin removal surgery, which I hope to find out more about in the next month or two.  I would like to get below 250, and eventually below 200.  I would like to walk more 5k's and maybe even do something longer.

All in all....life is good.  God is good!!

Thanks to everyone who had stood behind me and has helped me and prayed for me.  Thank you for the encouragement and the kick in the butt when I've needed it (and yes, I did go to the gym today).  Thanks be to God for all he has given to me.

Well, I did it

Did what, you ask??

I finally got my lazy ass back to the gym.  And you know what???  It felt good.

I did 3 sets of 10 reps on 11 different machines.  I did legs, arms, and back.  And every single time I work in the office, I need to use my lunch hour to go to the gym.  NO MORE EXCUSES!!!  I'm good at making excuses, that's for sure.  My 10-year surgiversary is fast approaching, and I'm not where I had hoped I would be.  My eating could be better,  but it's not horrible.  What I'm lacking is exercise!!!!  I need to exercise!!!  Come hell or high water, I need to get active.

I've been reading posts from my friends, Kathy and Patty, who get out and walk or run on a regular basis.  I need to use that inspiration and get my butt moving again.

So if you don't see posts at least once a week about me exercising, feel free to call, email, texts, or slap me upside the head.  Enough of this crap!!  I need to DO this!!  I've come too far to stop now!!!

Ok, that is all for today.  Thanks for "listening".  :-)

Lots to talk about

I haven't done a post in about 2 months now.  Part of that is because I was really discouraged with not seeing a difference on the scale, and just not in the mood to write.  In fact, over the last 2 months I was gaining instead of losing.  Even though a lot of positive things have happened, I was still letting the scale get to me.  And I need to stop letting it get to me.

Here are the positives:

• I had a follow-up with my primary and he has officially taken "diabetic" off my chart and changed it to "pre-diabetic".  If my numbers stay good, he'll take that off my chart too.  So the big burden of being a diabetic is now off my shoulder.  And this is a very good thing.
• Even though the scale hasn't moved, I have been still getting smaller.  Depending on the cut of clothes, I can fit into either a 20 or a 22.  I can walk into stores such as Sam's club and Old Navy and find clothes that will fit me.
• I discovered I have space between my toes.  I know this sounds funny, but when you're fat, you're fat all over, and my toes touched each other.  Now when I look at my feet, I actually see space between my toes.
• My wedding band is HUGE!  So is my wedding diamond ring.  I have yarn around it right now so they don't fall off my finger.  I need to find a ring guard that I like.
• I can dance all night long!  We attended a wedding over the weekend and I danced like crazy!!  A year ago I would not have been able to do that.  I would have had to sit and watch.  It's great to dance!!  In fact, I need to be invited to more weddings (hint, hint) so that I can dance more.  I should go on Ellen's show so I can dance! 
• I can wear a dress and it actually flows instead of showing all the bulges (of course some of that is thanks to shape-wear!). 

The scale finally changed over the last few days and now I'm at the lowest point yet, 271.  Which means I've lost 70 pounds since surgery and 127 pounds overall.

When I look at this picture, it all becomes really real.  To see the difference side by side is amazing.  I don't always notice when I look in the mirror or when I look at my body.  I see sagging skin and fat rolls.  I notice how much things wiggle and jiggle.  And I see other things too.  I notice that people still walk much faster than I do.  I notice that I still have problems battling the cravings for foods I shouldn't be eating.  I see how far I still have to go.

Many times the physical part is the easy part.  It's battling the thoughts and emotions that is the hard part.  When I'm "hungry" most of the time I'm not truly hungry, it's just my brain not being nice to me.  I need to ignore that "mental hunger" and only listen to the physical hunger.  I'm not going to starve, that's for sure.  And I need to stay on track (or to quote one of my favorite movies, "stay on target...  Stay on target")

However, I need to focus on the positive.  I need to look at this picture.  I need to see how far I have come.  I need to remember all the good stuff and cast away the bad stuff.  I need to remember the times when people say that I look amazing, and I need to tell myself that too.

And... I need to dance more often.

Started weight training.

Today I started weight training.  I went down to the gym during lunch and learned how to do 5 different machines.  Three are for my arms/upperbody, one for my legs, and one for my lower back.  I did three sets of 12 on each machine.  I kept the weight low, but will increase it as I get used to it.  I'll probably add more machines as I get more proficient and as time allows.  By doing this 2 or 3 times per week (on the days I'm in the office), I hope to build some tone to combat the sagging skin.  On the days I'm home, I'm going to do my darndest to walk either during lunch or when I get off work.

I'm already looking for my next week.  I found a 3k in July and a 5k in October.  I might do both, and get the hubby and kids walking too (just need the funds).

It feels so good to be active...especially when I'm not seeing much movement on the scale.  And the support I'm getting....it's awesome!!!