2 years!!!!

Wow....I realized this morning that today is my 2 year anniversary since surgery! I really can't believe it's been that long already! I still think the surgery was one of the best decisions I have ever made, I honestly have no regrets. I really don't even remember what it feels like to have a whole stomach! :) I still need to reach my goal weight, and as I stated in the last post, I was planning to get myself exercising and making better food choices starting this month, and I am doing better with my choices and eating more protein but have yet to exercise. It's just so cold outside! That's my honest excuse! I am planning on getting on the trampoline we got Ayden for Christmas as soon as it warms up a bit! Anyway don't have a lot to say but thought this special date deserved a blog entry!

(p.s. my 2 year checkup and lab work is March 2nd)

I'm baaaack!!

Starting next Monday I will be making a comeback on my weight loss blog, so for anyone who is interested, stay tuned!! Most of this blog was written in 2009 when I underwent weight loss surgery and lost 102 pounds. 2010 was a wonderful year in which I was blessed with a much- wanted pregnancy and healthy 6 pound 13 oz baby boy born on Labor Day! I gained 27 pounds with the pregnancy and subsequently lost the baby weight and now am ready to pick back up and lose the last 45 or so pounds to my ultimate goal weight of 175. I know this last 45 will not come off nearly as quickly as the first 45 so I am giving myself 6 months, which is about 7.5 pounds a month. Sounds like a lot...but I DID have weight loss surgery and have an extremely small stomach, so I think with some dedication and serious exercise, it can be done!!!!

Check back next week for my starting weight and measurements and weekly updates!

One year check-up!

This past Wednesday I went for my one-year check-up. It was a little over a month overdue, but I kept having to reschedule until I could find someone to watch Ayden. The appointment went well and the doctor was very excited for me about the pregnancy. The doctor and dietician both discussed weight gain during pregnancy (no more than 15 pounds) and nutritional requirements (additional 300 calories per day, increased calcium supplements) and also encouraged me to continue regular exercise during the pregnancy. I admitted that exercise has not exactly been my #1 priority in the last several exhaustion-filledweeks, but made a promise to start walking again 3-4 times a week as soon as the weather turns nice. Other than that, I have a panel of lab work ordered that I will have drawn at the hospital next week and as long as everything looks okay, I will just go back for my annual check-up next year!

One Year, 102 pounds, & a baby on the way!

Wow...I really cannot believe that today marks my one year anniversary since surgery! In so many ways this year has just flown by, but in another way, I almost cannot remember what it was like before I had the surgery. I still remember every detail of my surgery day and hospital stay and the first (very difficult) days and weeks following. The night before my surgery, I prayed for God to keep me safe and then I tried to imagine what my life might be like on Jan. 27th, 2010. Well...that day has arrived, and this is what my life is like:

I weigh 212 pounds, making my total weight loss 102 pounds since surgery, and 113 pounds from my heaviest weight of 325. I wear a size 16/18 jeans and a large or x-large shirt. I don't get embarrassingly winded climbing a flight of stairs, or even two! I don't worry about fitting in waiting room chairs, airplane or rollercoaster seats. I have lots of energy and a healthy self-esteem. Perhaps the most exciting accomplishment to date is my increased fertility which has led a to very much wanted pregnancy!

In case you are wondering, here is a sample of a typical day of eating for me:

Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, 1/2 cup fruit OR 1/2 cup greek yogurt and fruit
Lunch: 1/2 cup tuna salad, 3-4 whole wheat crackers OR 1 cup soup
Dinner: 1 small serving of lean protein (chicken, fish, or lean beef), small salad or 1/4 cup cooked veggies OR a small lean cuisine frozen dinner
1-2 snacks during the day: 100 calorie pack dried almonds or a slice of cheese or fruit or a granola bar
Beverages: 1/2 cup fat free chocolate milk 30 minutes before breakfast, then 50-60 oz of water or sparkling calorie free fruit water throughout the day.

I honestly don't know the exact calorie intake because I count protein grams more than calories. I aim for at least 40 grams of protein a day. If I were to guess, I would say my approximate calorie intake for the day is between 700-900. I do not and have not felt "hunger" in the way I felt it before the surgery. My hunger is more a slight feeling of emptiness, but it's not overwhelming, and is usually cured by 2-3 bites of food. I still have to eat very slowly and cannot drink fluids within 30-45 minutes of my meal or I will get sick.

Next week I go back to Dr. Roller for my official one year check-up! One year later I can still say I have no regrets and am so blessed for the great outcome I have had! As far as my pregnancy is concerned, all research shows that once the period of rapid weight loss has ended, women can and do have very healthy babies after weight loss surgery. I will just have to make extra sure that every bite counts and to continue taking my vitamins. From here on, I guess the focus of my blog will be on pregnancy after weight loss surgery!

Side by side pics and measurements!

I have posted 3 new sets of pics, see below. These pics compare 3 weeks post-op, where I had lost 29 pounds vs. 8 months post-op (current), where I have lost 100 pounds. Also here are new measurements compared with 2 months ago:

BMI: 32.6 then, 31.6 now
Waist: 38 inches then, 36 inches now
Hips: 47 inches then, 46 inches now
Thighs: 27 inches then, 26 inches now
Calfs: 15 inches then, 15 inches now

Scrub top and bottom 1x
pant size 14/16
bra size 38 D

3 weeks post-op vs. 8 months post-op Side view

3 weeks post-op vs. 8 months post-op Rear View