Friday, February 25, 2011

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! :(














Tuesday, February 22, 2011

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!!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

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


Monday, December 27, 2010

Hair today... gone tomorrow?

Ok, so this post is all about hair, or the lack of it! I have been losing my hair like crazy this past month. It is actually driving me mad. Every time I pull another loose hair off my shirt, or every time I clean out my hairbrush, or clean the shower drain (which is every time I take a shower) I get a little more depressed. At first it was maybe 5 strands a week.. now its more like 10 strands a DAY! At this rate I am going to be bald by New Years!

I've seriously considered cutting my hair, to try to help. It is getting SO THIN, and it was already fine/thin to begin with. When I wear my hair straight, I have no volume. It just forms to my head. The only issues I have with cutting my hair is 1.) I really dont want to and 2.) IDK if it will help. I have only had short hair once in my entire life. I cut it off back in 2008 to donate to Locks Of Love, and I have been growing it out since then. I did love my hair when it was short. It was a nice change. I'm just afraid I wont have the same results as I did with it then, since it is thinning now.

Here are some pictures of me, back when I had my short hair and how horrible it looked over Christmas. I just hope I can make a decision before I lose all my hair!!!


Monday, December 13, 2010

4 Month Update

Hi all!

I hope everyone is having a Happy December!!! I know I sure have been (knock on wood!) On Saturday I will be 4 months post-op, and I honestly have to say, I am the happiest I have been in a LONG time! I feel so much better, I feel as though I look better, I know I've done wonders for my health, I have such a positive outlook on life. This surgery has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. If anyone out there is on the fence about surgery, DO IT!!!! Life is too short to waste another day being unhappy or unhealthy. Granted, I have a long way to go before I am at goal, but getting there is so much fun!

Now for some statistics... I am 16 weeks post op, and minus 70lbs. That's right folks, I am weighing in at 262!!! I am halfway to my goal weight of 190lbs. Honestly I will be happy with anything under 200. I hope to lose the other 70lbs over the next 8 months (I know WL will slow down) and when I get down to 190 & 1 year post-op I plan on making babies! lol

Here are some pictures from this weekend's trip to Dollywood & a profile shot of me last week. I am in the black jacket, which, I'd like to add, is a men's XL. :-D