Graduation Day!

Hi there friends and family, Hello All! I went to the body analyst this morning for the 4th time to find out how much of what kind of weight I have lost thus far (fat loss vs. muscle loss) and how my loss has impacted my metabolism. **drum roll** There are 4 dates: Preop 10/24/03 1st Postop 9/11/04 2nd Postop 12/17/04 3rd Postop 5/15/05 The results are as follows: Weight - Preop: 388 (I had already started losing from my high of over 400lbs) 1st postop: 249 2nd Postop- 212 Today - 194 (I'm on a bit of a bounce since I started running - you'll understand soon why I'm not worried) Total weight lost: 194 lbs (It's 206 when you include pre-op known high) Fat Mass - Preop: 184.7 lbs 1st Postop: 83.2 lbs 2nd Postop: 57.9lbs Today: 39.8 lbs Lean Mass - Preop: 203.3 lbs 1st Postop: 165.8 lbs 2nd Postop: 154.1 lbs Today: 154.2 lbs (Yes, read that correctly - I've managed to gain .1 lb of certified muscle since December - hence not being worried about my bouncing - I do believe that my running is the "culprit" of my weight gain) Total Fat Lost - 144.9 lbs - 74.6.0% of loss Total Lean lost - 49.1 lbs - 25.3 % of loss True BMI - Preop: 47.6% (Through electrical impedance testing. . .I was too boyant to do the underwater weighing successfully) 1st Postop: 33.4% 2nd Postop: 27.3% Today: 20.5% This means that for women my age, I am in the 60th percentile - meaning that if 100 women aged 20-29 were together in a room that I have a better lean/fat ratio than 60 of the people in the room. It BOGGLES THE MIND! - I'm slightly above average . . .I'm not only well into the "normal" range - under 24.9%. . . but I'm getting into the athletic range. . . ! - also note that according to the chart, my BMI is 24.3 - I'm in better shape then the charts per Hydrostatic Weighing. Basal Metabolic rate - note - this is MEASURED metabolic rate as tested through expired air testing for O2 consumption. Preop: 2750 calories/day 1st Postop: 2433 calories/day 2nd Postop: 1981 calories/day Today: 1887 calories/day - meaning that when I'm not doing ANY activity - I must get in almost 1900 calories just to maintain my weight. . .and when I'm doing my running - I need to get in even more. On my run days, I figure that I'm burning up to 2400 calories that I have to get in to maintain my girlish figure (NO WONDER I'm hungry all the damn time!) And the fact that I've lost fat, and gained muscle. . .says that I'm feeding myself nicely! Goal Weight - Preop: 261.0 lbs 1st Postop: 212.8 lbs 2nd Postop: 190 is an achieveable goal (top 50th percentile). 180 is an aggressive goal (top 70th percentile). Today: He asked me - "You don't plan on losing any more do you?" I said, no - not really. He said - "You're done. You've done it!" What does this all mean: 1. I achieved my goal of retaining the majority of my muscle mass. I did this by walking 30 minutes EVERY day, and beginning to find ways to make my life more active (THERE's NO stopping me now. . .especially once I get rid of this skin!) 2. My metabolism is still quite high. Since I can eat plenty these days, its not a big problem. 3. I have significantly reduced my risk factors for Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabeties, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, and MANY many more diseases and causes for early death. 4. I think I'll see him once more - after/if I achieve my goal of running a marathon next spring. It will be after plastics, and after significant training. . .we'll see where I end up at almost 2 years out. Thank you to all who have supported me on my journey. This is a LONG road, and it makes all the difference having good friends and supporters cheering me on. It means more to me than I will ever be able to adequately express. ~Lara Lap RNY 4/1/04 6'3" 400+/355/AT GOAL - DONE DONE DONESKI! Riding the Maintain Train!

That is just way too cool - the testing - and your results! What kind of specialist does this testing? -Beth http://meltingmama.blogspot.com

He's a scientist at a local college - he is a PhD in human performance and Kinesology. If you ask around there are people in most areas who can do this - it's just a matter of finding them. He worked primarily with High Performance athletes before we fatties found him. (Someone who had the surgery was dating a triathlete . . .and thought "Hmmm . . .I wonder if he'd be able to give me a goal weight?" ) Now he's actually running a study on us surgical patients, because he's so intrigued with how we lose, and what kind of weight we lose. Thanks for the encouragement lady! ~Lara

Neat! There are probably similar folks up at my hospital (teaching hospital - Tufts).... And, yw! BTW- great new face. I'm sending in yet another face - I don't know how I ended up with this sad "new face" it's not what I submitted. -Beth

Congratulations, youve done great! Dianne

Thanks Dianne!!!!

All I can say is WOW! ..and AWESOME! ...and GO GIRL!!!! ...and DAYYYUUUUUMMMMM BABY!!!! Congrats on your successes!!!! Janice

Thanks Sweetheart! I never in a million years thought I'd ever make it this far. Thanks for sharing this incredible journey with me lady! ~Lara

Lara - you have done such an amazing job. Congratulations. I've been thinking of finding a similar kind of analyst here. It's great that you'd had it done while on your journey and again now that you're at your goal. You are certainly a rousing success. Ruth

Lara...my running buddy! You've hit it on the head. Its not all about the scale. The scale can be a liar. What an accomplishment. I'm grateful to be walking (or running) this journey with you! Rachel PS...baby...you should see my legs...I've got muscles!