18 Months Out .. What a ride ..

Can you all believe it 18 months out ... Where did the time go ? I do not come on here as much as I want too .. Life got busy .. I got busy .. but I want you all to know that I have been thinking about you .. When I came here 10 months ago .. my journey had just started .. and I was scared .. lonely .. going thru a bad time with my marriage .. Today however , I am sitting here very healthy .. 182 pounds gone .. fighting like crazy not to loose anymore . My last appointment I had lost 182 and was told that I needed to be putting on the breaks .. Well folks I have been .. and I still loose .. Not only that .. my protien levels are low .. and knowing that I get in 120 grams a day .. has them puzzled .. wondering if I may have been bypassed too much .. WHAT .. yes .. If the weight loss continues they want to do a study to see how much I am really bypassed .. Scary stuff .. so to fight it I am going to up my calories again .. up the protein again .. scale back the areobics .. ( But not my running ) I am addicted to running .. My job is much better .. I am now divorced .. X Hezbend is about to remarry again .. What a true looser .. I feel for her I really do .. My children are doing very well .. My daughter moved to Va Beach to take a really great position there .. My son is working with me in the Air-Frieght business and going to school .. the grandbabies are just that GRAND ! I have new insurance and have been told they will pay for my plastic surgery .. WOO hoo .. so that is an added plus .. I truly miss you all .. and wish each and everyone a Happy Holiday season .. Take care . Natalie 307-125 and holding on tight

Hey girl...I am SO happy to hear that things are going well for you. You sound so happy. I know it is a shame that all of us have gotten caught up in lifebut on another hand....that also means we are all happy and healthy (at least for the most part..I can't speak for everyone). I agree..where did the last 18mo go??? I am doing very well...still not gettign in the protein I should be...I guess I was not bypassed TOO much since my protein levels and vitamin levels are never low. I am grateful for that. I do have lowere energy at times still...I have been having awful modd swings lately too....it just dawned on me yesterday that it could be the birth-control pills that I started taking a few months ago...DUHHH...lol I am still not actually at my goal weight yet. I started at 265 (size 22/24) and I now weigh 139 (size 6) and I am 5'3 so I can't complain. I did have my TT/hernia repair this past may and that helped a lot with being able to get into smaller sizes...I would love to have the other half lifted along with my legs and and breast lift but I am doubtful my ins. co will cover any of those. My hubby and I are doing great..thankfully. I would love to get a little more attention though....wouldn't we all!! My 3 children are doing wonderful and I pray none of them end up with a weight problem down the road...none of them show signs of that but I didn't until I had children. Well this is enough about me......congrats again Nat.... Julie

you both look awesome i am stuck and i know why which is the worst part...frustrating because i have been so sick since may cold after cold then the gallbladder out last week the excersize is bad and the grazing...but i will get there...i am also dealing with some seriuos depression and low energy but levels are okay so i don't know whats going on but i love hearing from you guys and hope to be where you are someday..thanks for all your support or encouragement!!!! my daughter has me concerned she is going to be 4 this month 4ft tall and 60 lbs size 10 pants dr. says its okay she is really tall and big and always been in the 95th% but i am concerned she will be heavy and not sure how to handle it now..i am working on it though!!! love you girls!!!

Hi, I just wanted to comment on your little girl. My little girl is 6, and size 12 is tight on her. She is alittle over 4 feet tall, and all her pants have to be hemmed in order to fit right. I am seriously concerned about it! She is always focused on food, asking about what's for dinner in the morning, asking for snacks, etc. When I serve her meal, before she even takes a bite, she looks on the stove to see if there are any leftovers! I recently went to a nutritionist about it, because she is exactly how I was with food, the obsession, etc. I see her going down the same path as me. I also have an older daughter who is 20, who has a weight problem just like me as well. The nutritionist told me to give smaller portions, and try to increase her activity level. She also said when she asks for seconds to have her wait a few minutes first to see if she is really hungry. She usually still says yes, so now I am saying that what we have on our plate is enough and that the leftovers will be for daddy's lunch. The nutritionist said not to make it a big deal with her, just make these few changes without saying anything. This will spare her feelings and not make her feel bad about her weight, which we all know contributes to eating even more. I already buy only sugar-free or low fat snacks, but I am trying to limit those as well. She only drinks diet soda, and diet juice. Kool-Aid Jammers has juice pouches that are only 10 calories and sugar free, she likes those. You are not alone. I am really scared of what her future holds unless I can get a handle on it now while she is little. We are all changing in my family now that I have had WLS. These changes take time. Hopefully they will work for her and she can be spared the humiliation, etc of growing up heavy like me. Good luck to you. Anne

Mine sounds exactly the same and I am working on it maybe we can stay in touch and put together some ideas along the way..thanks for emailing me back i was struggling and frustrated...your suggestions are great!!!

Natalie, I would also echo the **where has the time gone?** Has it REALLY been 18 months????? LOL Keep us all posted when you can about your 'hanging on'--will keep you in mind that you don't 'dry up and blow away'. I'm between a size 14 and 12 and considered 'normal'. Just gotta to keep the 'good habits' and not fall back on the 'bad ones'. My best to all in this Holiday Season. Debbie R. -108 and holding

It is good to hear updates, we have all really slowed down but I am glad that we can still check in from time to time it really helps me. I am doing very good, I am about 100 lbs. down and have been there since about last Nov., I had a lot of fear about maintaining the loss but have not had too much trouble. I eat things I shouldn't almost everyday but it is amazing to me how I just naturally have started avoiding things that make me too sick ****cream, caffiene, etc.) I went through a really angry period of time and felt like I was also having all these just crazy mood swings.....then realized that I was in many ways I was actually just retuning to normal..I was getting my period again after 10 years without it!!!! and that is a BIG adjustment for me and my poor husband & kids...now I see it coming better and can get a grip. Overall though I am sooo happy and soooooo thankful!!! Going to Christmas parties is not an awful thing anymore! I wore a fun sparkly top this year and people told me over and over how good I looked, I LOVE that! I love when someone who hasn't seen me in awhile sees me, I will be bummed when I run out of people to do a double take Well that's my 2 cents peace and love to all! an my all your plastics be approved in the new year !!!! hee hee Lisa

Hi Natalie - I just saw your post and was intrigued, so checked out your profile. What an amazing and beatiful person you are. I am pre op scheduled for Jan 23 - 1 month away - nervous and scared and struggling to quit smoking. Reading you story was very inspirational to me, and I just wanted to thank you for your candor. I am so hopeful for a better quality of life for myself. Somewhere in life I heard the expression "If you want what I have you must do what I do". I am taking that to heart, because I really want the same things you have achieved by WLS. You are such a success! Thank you again for sharing your experiences so that I could find it and gain strength.