Quiet

I just posted in a separate post about how I'm doing. JUST recently made it to ONE-derland (from 351 on 3/28/05). Then I bounced up 8 pounds in 2 weeks, down 7 the following week. MADDENING. I have about 25 to go, and I feel like I will be able to lose it. I have lost pretty steady over time, but most of the time have been "stalled". Long stalls, then a few weeks running of big losses, then many more weeks stalled. Been that way all along. But even as recently as June 06, I sometimes have months of 10 lbs lost or more. I only started a seriously jacked-up exercise program in July 06, and I think that is helping to stoke my motor and carry me along a bit more. I am working out 5-6x/week, 45 mins cardio 5 days and weight-training 3 days. Keeping meal sizes to about 4oz (WHY oh why do carbs go down so much easier?????) try to keep carbs under 50, protein 80g, 100oz fluids, basically the "6 months and beyond" program my surgeon recommended (with extra protein & water now). Only complication I've had has been kidney stones and that's been no fun. OUCH. I hope to have the last one removed from my bladder some time in the next couple of weeks in an outpatient hospital procedure (the others have "passed" - OUCH). My stones are oxalate, which accumulates when calcium is not abundant enough to bind & clear it out. And I had not been so good about my calcium supplement (about 50% of the time I wa****ting my marks on that). Needless to say I am better about it now! Also have jacked up my fluids from 64oz/day to 100 because that seems to be what my kidneys & my body need to stay properly hydrated. This hydration thing has been THE toughest adjustment for me post-op. I was never one to drag around a beverage all day, and I have to really work hard to sip sip sip as much as I need to. I've been going for plastic surgery consults. I have not made any decisions yet, and will probably not start any of the series of surgeries I need for at least another year or so. I have a lfe-long skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) which can only be treated with plastic surgery - so I am having to research carefully and am having a hard time finding a plastic surgeon with experience dealing with my skin condition and also the "standard" post-WLS-type skin removal. The good news is, the surgeries I need for the HS are all covered by insurance, and I will be able to get probably 90% of the skin removal and reconstruction covered. It will take many surgeries over a couple of years time minimum to do everything, and the whole idea of this scares me to death. Well that's way more than you wanted to know huh! I've updated my new-school bloggy thing on here. Will look forward to catching up with fellow March 05'ers! Kathy