3 month anniversary (and what a change!)

Yesterday was three months exactly since I had my lap RNY on 4/13/04. Pre-op I weighed in at 277.8lbs (just shy of my top weight ever 280lbs which I've reached several times in the past 5 years). I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4 years ago and have never had regular periods in my entire life. I wore a size 24 pants and top. On an average day I could get one thing accomplished, if I took my 5 yr old and 2 yr old to the grocery store once I got the food put up I was done for the day and in fact would probably need to rest the next day. I was always exhausted and my knees would hurt just climbing upstairs to my bedroom. I had to have my dh carry the laundry baskets up and down the stairs because most days I was worried that I would hurt myself. Due to my size I didn't like to leave my house and I avoided social situations, because I felt so big, ugly and self-conscious. Living in Florida I would get overheated for most of the year, just getting the kids into their carseats would leave me perspiring and exhausted before we ever got out of the driveway. Things have really changed since my surgery only 90 days ago! My periods are like clockwork now, I had one on the day of my surgery (dr said that it is common due to nerves) and am now having my fourth one all starting on the 13th exactly (so weird for me!). On monday, the day before my period started I weighed in at 215lbs - and I can't wait to see where I am after the bloating ends! LOL That means that I've lost 62.8lbs in three months. I'm thrilled! Now I'm wearing a size 16/18 in shorts and tops. At this point I've gone through my wardrobe and don't have anything that really fits. The best part is being able to be a good mom and wife. I'm finding my life all over again. I started back to college this summer about 6 weeks after surgery (when I was starting to feel reasonably good) and I'm taking 3 online classes this summer, planning to be going fulltime and mostly out to campus this fall. As part of my requirements for school I'm teaching two classes on Sunday morning at church. This past weekend after teaching my two classes I came home with still more energy and I packed a picnic lunch and got dh to take us all to the zoo. When we left the zoo a few hours later it wasn't because I just couldn't take another step and was super grouchy from the heat. It was hot and I was glad to get home but we left because the kids were all tired out! That's incredible progress to me! I'm still struggling with my food sometimes and still have a lot of weight to lose before I'm anywhere near thin - but I'm really grateful to be reaching a place where I'm about a normal size and I feel more accepted by others, not so judged all of the time. I know that I could never walk around a regular college campus, carrying books and climbing stairs at 280lbs, it just wasn't practical. Even if I could have managed the walking/climbing I was so self-conscious about my appearance and overheated so easily it just wasn't something I would have been willing to pursue. Now I'm ready to go finish my degree and enjoy myself while I do it! I look forward to the next three months and seeing where that takes me. Good luck and happy losing to you all! Aylene lap RNY 4/13/04 277.8/215/150ish

CONGRATULATIONS GIRL!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't it funny how it is the little things we appreciate most? People who have been thin all their life would never "get it". KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!! I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!! Ronda

YOUR POST TOUCHED ME. I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I FEEL THE SAME WAY IT IS LIKE LIVIN FOR THE FIRST TIME. I AM 3 MONTHS OUT AND AM DOWN 76 POUNDS. MY CLOTHES DON'T FIT AND MY ENERGY IS HIGH. I WENT TO FLORIDA LAST WEEK AND HAD A BALL. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH FOOD AS WELL BUT WE WILL GET THE HANG OF IT. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

Hi Aylene. You are really going to enjoy going to college. Before now, you probably felt you didn't have much to look forward to. Now your whole life is opening up for you. Enjoy! I'm retiring from work in 46 days. I'm down about that many pounds, and I can't wait to be on the go. Isn't life grand? God bless you and your family. Peggy 274/228