9 month update

Hey all! It's been a while, I know!!! Shame on me! I've just been so busy!!! I have done more stuff these past few months than I have done in 3 years, and it feels GREAT! I've been going to the river and cooking out with friends, going to a PUBLIC pool, and cheering for my brother-in-law every weekend at the races. (he races a Late Model dirt track car)

I also have gotten back into riding horses, which I have desperately wanted to do for a while now, but always felt I was too big. I almost cried the first time I got back on one, and I have attached a pic of me. Forgive the helmet, hubby made me wear one "in case I fell off". I swear, that man is going to be an awesome daddy some day....

Anyway, on to my stats. I have lost 85lbs. I currently weigh 248, and I am almost 9 months out. It's not exactly where I wanted to be by now, but hey, I'll take it! I was almost 100lbs heavier this time 2 years ago, so that alone is an accomplishment. I do contribute my slower weight loss to not exercising like I should and not being strict about what I eat. I have gotten better, and went back to grilled chicken and salads for supper. I have also started eating tomatoes, which I am very proud of!!! I have been growing Ryan tomatoes for a couple of years now, and thought I ought to try what I have worked so hard to grow.. and I surprisingly liked it.

My momma said one day I would grow up and not be so picky, and ya know... I think she was right! (imagine that)


Me and Ryan - Easter 2011





First time in 7 years on a horse!!!

7 Things for my 7th Month Update

So, it is now my 7th month, so I decided to do a "7 things" about me. So, I'm still at 252, haven't lost any weight this month, but I was kinda expecting that anyway. I am going to have to start working out more often and get back to basics if I want this to continue to work for me. This month was more about just getting out and enjoying my life! I found a 4 leaf clover last weekend, so I hope that is a sign that good things are coming my way!

So, I stumbled on this on Facebook and thought what the heck, I'll bite.

7 things I have to do before I die:
* See the Grand Canyon
* Fly on an airplane
* Go to a concert
* See Niagara Falls
* Weigh less than 200lbs
* Go on a cruise
* Live life with no regrets

7 things I say all the time:
* Yay!
* I know, right
* whatevz
* Im not even gonna lie
* Oh Em Gee
* why don’t we chug on over to namby-pamby land, ya jackwagon!
* shut up

7 things I'm good at:
* riding a fourwheeler
* doing my nails
* fixing computers
* reading
* researching
* arts and crafts
* shooting hoops

7 flaws:
* Stubborn
* Procrastinator
* Too hard on myself
* Indecisive
* Anti- Social at times
* Hot-headed
* jump to conclusions


7 qualities:
* Great sense of humor
* Generous/giving
* Love easily
* Laid-back
* Stern but loving
* Supportive
* Family oriented

Is it bathing suit time already?

Oh geesh... is it bathing suit time already??? It appears so, as I was out and about this weekend and every store I went in to had bathing suits out! The last bathing suit I owned I bought at Fashion Bug and was a size 26, so I know it isn't gonna cut it this summer when I'm splashing around at the in-laws.

I decided what the hell, I'm going to try one on, just to see what size I'm in right now. I was at Walmart and all they had was a 2x (18/20) so I grabbed it and off I went - nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I mean, who was I kiddin', I hadn't been in an 18/20 since... Hell I can't even remember! (Well I was down to a 20 for a few months in the summer of 2005 but quickly blossomed back up to a 24 - so I dont really count that)

Well, to my suprise, IT FIT!!! And I must say, I was happy with the way it looked on me. I snapped a picture to send to the hubby for his opinion, and I thought I would also share it with you guys. I have no shame!!! I know I'm not perfect, but dammit I'm proud, and it's taken a long time for me realize that.



It's super tight, so that is why I went ahead and got it. That and it was the ONLY one they had, so my panic set in and I was afraid they wouldn't get any more in. I can keep it for 60 days and return it with the receipt - as long as I dont use it, so that is another reason I opted to snatch it up!

ABCs of Me

I copied this off of Ordinary Girl's blog. Enjoy!

(A) Age: 24
(B) Bed Size: Queen-sized (shared with hubby and 1 dog)
(C) Chore You Hate: Cleaning the shower. It grosses me out for some reason.
(D) Dogs? We have 3. A pug (Buster), lab (Hershey), and collie (Oreo)
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: Breakfast.
(F) Favorite Color: Purple! I also like pink, too.
(G) Gold or Silver? White gold
(H) Height: 5 ft 4 in
(I) Instruments You Play: Saxophone 5-8th grade
(J) Job Title: Computer Technician Tier 2
(K) Kids: Just my doggies
(L) Live: Tennessee
(M) Mom's Name: Brenda (Toby)
(N) Nicknames: Aimers, Amy Lou, Aimsworth, Spuddums, Pookle Britches, Captn Obvious
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? One night for WLS, One night for a wreck in 2005.
(P) Pet Peeve: Smacking your lips when you eat
(Q) Quote from a Movie: Just one? Ok then, I'll quote my fav movie: "I'm going to take a pillowcase and fill it full of bars of soap and beat the shit out of you!" - Step Brothers
(R) Right or Left Handed? Right
(S) Siblings: 1 brother (21)
(T) Time You Wake Up? 6:15 am.
(U) Underwear: Lane Bryant printed panties
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: onion
(W) What Makes You Run Late: School Buses picking up children
(X) X-Rays You've Had Done: GI for WLS, Cat Scan for migranes, Broke my pinky finger in second grade, got in a wreck in 2005 so I had a abdominal xray, and mouth xrays when I go to dentist
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: Lasagna
(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: Butterfly exhibit

6 Month Update - PICS!!!

Hi all! As promised, here are my 6 months pictures! I can tell in my face and upper body most, but from my belly button down every thing seems the same size to me. I still feel huge! :(

6 Month Update (long)

Hi everyone! Can you believe that it has been 6 months since I had surgery?!?! I looked forward to this day since the day of my surgery, so it seems surreal that it is already here. Well, I am doing fantastic, as expected. I am so happy and thankful that I was able to have WLS to better myself. This update is going to be a bit long, since I plan on giving a full-length update on how the last 6 months have been.

Well, I'm sure you guys want to know how I'm doing in terms of weight loss. I have lost 80lbs and am now weighing in at 252! That is just UNREAL to me! I am almost in the 240s! I haven't been in the 240s since the summer of 2005. I only have 55-60 more lbs to go until I'm at my personal goal (anything under 200lbs) so that is really exciting. I know I'm going to have to work harder the next 6 months to make that goal, as I can tell my weight loss is already slowing down and I am able to eat more.

Now, lets talk about the struggles I've been through in the past 6 months (that way I can end on a happy/high note with the positives!) I guess the biggest struggle I've faced is not knowing when to stop eating. I overeat all the time, and I honestly don't mean to. IDK why I do it, it's not like it feels good; quite the opposite actually. You don't know it until about 5 minutes after you finish eating, but boy you realize it QUICK! I get this pain in my throat and it honestly feels like the food is just clogged up in my esophagus. It HURTS. The quickest way to "ease the pain" is to purge it back up. I know that is a horrible habit to get into, and I really don't do it often, but I have had to do it a few times. And it's always at restaurants. I think it's because the food is just right there in front of me and my head it saying "EAT IT!!!" and blocking out what signals my tummy is sending it. At home I just measure out my portion on my plate, and when it's gone that is all I eat.

I also had a relapse after the holidays. I got back into drinking Coca-cola and eating those Valentine's Heart Shaped Little Debbies. They were SO GOOD and reminded me of a time before surgery. I felt comfortable, I felt safe while eating the snack cakes. They would just slide right through me; I could eat a whole cake at a time, and I would. I ate one every night for about a month (well, until Valentines was over and they stopped making them). But I realize now what I was doing to myself. I stepped on the scale, after not weighing for a couple of weeks, and I hadn't lost a singe pound. It was then that I realized that I need to conquer this problem and get back on track. I started exercising and cut out the snacks, and dropped from 256 to 252 within a week.

Now, on to the positives! I am finally starting to see my collar bones a little bit! I had forgot I even had them, lol. I am also feeling much better about my appearance, although I realize my skin isn't planning on going anywhere or shrinking back up, so that is a little depressing. But then again the hubby doesn't mind, so why should I care what everyone else thinks? Speaking of the hubby, he is awesome. He has been here right beside me, helping me along the way. He doesn't try to control my decisions or tell me what I should be doing, how I should be eating. He supports me no matter what, and I do the same for him. Our relationship is just blossoming and I feel more connected to him now than I ever did before. We had a rough patch back in 2007-2008 and we really became distant, but this surgery has brought us back together and that is probably the best thing that has happened.

I am also able to do so many more things now. I don't get tired as easily, I can sit Indian-style in the car, on the sofa, and I can curl up in the recliner and not feel like I'm being mushed into a sardine can. I have more room to move around in the shower (its a single person walk-in type) and I can give myself pedicures! You should see my toes right now. They are Robin Egg blue with pink spots on them! This weekend I'm planning on Water Marbling my nails. It's this really cool process using nail polish and water. If I end up doing it and it turns out decent, I'll blog about it. This lady does really cool tutorials, if you are interested. http://mysimplelittlepleasures.blogspot.com/

Well, I guess that is about it for now. I'm sorry, I don't have any pictures yet. I'll try to take some tonight and upload them on a new post tomorrow. I promise I will defiantly have some up by this weekend!!!

Happy 2011!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that your 2011 is wonderful!!!

My last post was a debate about whether or not I should cut my hair off to help with "shedding." I decided to just go for it. It's only hair; it will grow back eventually. I ended up cutting about 6 inches off, and I LOVE IT!!!

I also hosted my first ever New Years Eve party this past weekend and it was so much fun. I invited my brother-in-law and his girlfriend over as well as my brother. Us two girls made some munchies and Margaritas then we played Just Dance for the Wii until midnight. It was a blast!

New Hair & Me and the Hubs on New Year's Eve