Weekly Update and WOW!

Good morning my fellow Junebugs! First I want to say how much I appreciate your friendship and support on this board. It seems like we've all gone through or are going through the phase of eating more and/or eating things that are not healthy for us; plus the weight loss is slowing down a lot at this point. That's why I think it's important for us to come here and share with each other. It really helps putting things into perspective. I am so thankful for you all! OK, here's my updates. I will be going to the doctor on Thursday for my post-op follow-up after my hernia surgery. I will be asking him quite a bit about my plastic surgery. I looked at myself in the mirror yesterday and see that I really need a lower body lift. I need the work all the way around my body. Yikes, there's so much excess skin plus a lot of sagging of my butt cheeks. But what should I expect after losing 316.6 pounds in total? Yes, I went to weigh****chers on Saturday and lost... I weigh 168.2 pounds and got out of the 170 range. I'm only 8.2 pounds away from my goal. I couldn't believe it! I actually wasn't going to weigh in on Saturday and only attend the meeting. But I weighed myself at home, and low and behold a weight loss occurred. I didn't expect it as I ate a bit more last week and with the little to no exercise (because of my surgery) I thought I would gain. I have to tell you though that I still want to eat everything in sight. My food demons and appetite are there big time! I'm fighting with myself in the head over food. I see it and want it! If only the surgeon would implant a chip in my brain that would tell me that I don't want it !! My mom gave me a beautiful fuscia colored swimsuit that she bought at the Mirage in Las Vegas and has hardly worn! It is a size 10 and OMG it fits!!! The cup size is a bit large for me - I don't have any boobs anymore, only flat pancakes. I like being small but not that small. I've started exercising on my own, on the Tony Little gazelle rider not too fast, but doing 20 minutes a day. I'm being careful and will ask my surgeon if I can start working out on the elliptical again and I hope to be able to vacuum clean my carpets again.. I bought a camel swede leather jacket at Cosco in a size medium - at the time the jacket didn't close. Now it does. So I'm going to return it and exchange it for a size small because by the time I'll be able to wear it, it will be too big! Before it would have gotten too small and then I would have to get a bigger size. Oh well, that's enough about me. How are you doing?? Share, share and share again. Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Lucy 484.8/383.4/168.2/160 pre-surg/surg day/current/goal weight

Hey Lucy! That is really great about the clothes, I am a clothes addict now! I know more surgery for you will be hard, but if you need the lift, then you need the lift. I'm sure you will know when the time is right. I see the plastic surgeon on Sept. 6th to find out what I can have done and what I can afford. As for the food thing. I am so right there with you. I left 3rd shift last night and the last thing I smelled was fresh donuts!!!!!! All I wanted to do was run to Tim Horton's and eat donuts!! But I didn't! My stomach is sooooo much better now! The antibiotics are really kicking in and I am starting to get some energy back. Now if over the next few days I can get myself back to the gym it would be great. Good idea you and Pam have about checking in here. I noticed how slow the board is this summer. I hope this is not a permanent trend. I hope all of our junies keep posting somewhat regular. I think about you all and you have been so important to me in this thing. Wendy

Good mornng Wendy! Yeah, I miss everyone on this board. Perhaps some are on vacation prior to the opening of school. I'm happy to hear that you're feeling better. Nothing's worse than feeling and being sick. I'd rather have a bad day at work. At least I can leave it and come home! I'm definitely a clothes addict, but now I'm trying to get a handle on it because I know that with the next phase of my WLS journey, my sizes are going to fluctuate so much that it is not worth spending so much money until I start to slow way down. My winter wardrobe will mostly be my final change in my size in clothes. Definitely next summer will be purchasing clothes for my WLS maintenance. So I have to be very picky and particular in my clothes purchases. I used to buy anything if it fits. Now I don't have to do that anymore. There's so much out there and pretty vibrant colors.... I love to accessorize too. I need more closets!! I'm going to ask a lot of questions when I see my surgeon on Thursday. I probably will get at least a second opinion - see at least two plastic surgeons. Pricing will probably be an issue, but I have a home equity loan that I can tap into. I know that I can't keep all the excess skin. It is getting in the way! Thanks for your response! Yes, where are all the Junebugs? Hope they're having a fun time... Have a wonderful day! Hugs, Lucy 484.8/383.4/168.2/160 pre-surg/surg day/current/goal

Wow Lucy! Congrats on your loss! That is great news! *ahem* "Hi my name is Pam and I'm a shopaholic" I've been bit by the clothes shopping bug too! I have to FORCE myself to stay away from the clothing stores because I am so addicted. I just hope I can still wear all this stuff next summer! I'm trying to hold out until the end of Sept or October to buy some more clothes...and already planning a post-Christmas shopping spree. I just got an Ab lounge - been giving that a try. I'm paying for a gym membership - maybe I should go? Good luck with the plastics research and journey! Go with who you are most comfortable with. Ask about touch-ups - are they done at no cost to you? or do you have to pay for another surgery? You want a surgeon who stands behind his work. I was surprised to see how many surgeons DON'T stand behind their work. Hugs, Pam

Hi Ginger! Thanks for your response. Shopping!! Yeah, I'm ready right now. I could shop day and night! I'm going full force with my plastics journey I have two names and will call to schedule a consult. Thanks for the added question on touch-ups. Defintely something to ask them! I've got exercise equipment in my house because I like to exercise very early in the morning. Now I got the go ahead to exercise again - so I'll be getting up earlier like around 4 am. Yikes! I say go for it, if you got a membership to a gym try it, you may like it Congrats on keeping us posted on your daily accountability Hugs, Lucy

Hi Lucy~ We just got back from a few days away at the beach. What fun! Congratulations on your continued weight loss. My scales haven't moved much in about 3 weeks, but I'm still down 5 lbs. for the month. Today is my 14 month anniversary, and I'm thrilled about the changes. I'm with all of you...love Pam's idea... "Hi, I'm Kerri and I'm a shopaholic!" Isn't it the truth? I'm still in size 12-14's, lg or xl. If you guys ever have any clothes you want to get rid of, I'd be happy to take them off of your hands!! I think I'm losing, but my clothes sizes aren't changing too much. I did do my measurements today and have lost another 2 inches off of my waist and an inch or so off of my hips. I'm so happy for you that you are feeling better. I have been worried about you! So many Junebugs seem to be having some sort of health issues. The only thing I'm dealing with right now, which isn't WLS related, is a possible pre-cancerous spot on my nose. I've been dealing with it for months. I have a physical on Monday, I imagine they'll do a biopsy of it at that time. When I had seen the PA, they said there was infection that needed to be cleared up before they could biopsy it. It hurts! Probably all of those years of tanning with no spf! I'm paying for it now. We'll see what they say. I just got fitted for some running shoes, registered for the half marathon, and booked my hotel. It's really going to happen!! Hope that I can make it to the finish line! I had a OH'er help schedule a training schedule, and give me lots of pointers. I'm so thankful because I had pretty much been doing my own training regimine. He has done multiple marathons, both pre and post op. What a huge help! Have a wonderful day yourself and keep us updated on your ps journey. Hugs, Kerri

Hi Kerri! Hey, I'm Lucy and I'm a shopaholic! Congrats on your half marathon. I'm not ready for that yet... I'm going to walk on September 30th for the ASBS Walk From Obesity. My surgeons are sponsors for the walk and I hope my surgeon is there!!! I've posted separately on my update after seeing my surgeon today. I am a very happy camper! I've read and posted on your 14th month anniversary post! Congratulations again, Kerri. Love your pictures too. Hugs, Lucy

well, it sounds like everyone is doing really good. Unfortunately, Im stuck. I have been stuck at 188 for the last 3 months. I have been a carb freak as well. As of last week, I am back on the wagon doing protein first then carbs. I have upped my water as well and started working out again. Hopefully I am not done with my loss yet. I still have about another 30lbs I would like to loose. I have been the opposite as everyone else as far as shopping goes. I am too overwhelmed to go shopping. I guess it still has not sunk in that I can truely buy a size 12 or 14. So when I go to the store I look at everything and always assume it is too small. I have been wearing stuff that was given to me from my sister and mom. Now that I am smaller than both of them, I guess I really have to do some shopping. UGH! I get so freaked out thinking about it. Glad to see everyone is doing quite good. Shelley 315/298/188/150

Hi Shelley! Thanks for your response. It seems like all of us here have been through some glitch down the road to our goal. I think we are learning from our mistakes and moving forward. That is a success for us. Prior to WLS, we would have given up and gained more weight. We are stopping this behavior before it gets out of hand. That is positive! I do love to shop. Sometimes the image thing is not there and I start looking at plus size clothes and then a sales lady tells me I'm looking in the wrong section, I'm so slim, I don't belong there. I'm scared about plateauing for a long period of time. I think the most time I stayed at or gained a bit was a month.... I just want to be at goal so much so I hear you too. I know that the scales will move again for you. You are probably losing a lot of inches now... I know that's hard to take but the numbers will go down again. Keep us posted on your progress! Hugs, Lucy 484.8/383.4/166.5/160 pre-surg/surg day/current/goal