14 month surgiversary... (long)

Hi all my fellow Junebugs! I hope the end of the summer is finding you all well rested, happy, and looking forward to a fabulous fall. Today is my 14 month anniversary~ and I thought it would be a great time to check in with everyone. Life has been really crazy. We just got back from vacation yesterday from being at the beach for 4 days. The first 3 days were with my hubby's family, the last night we spent at a Bed and Breakfast by ourselves. While there, they had bicycles that we could borrow. I went on my first bike ride since surgery~ several miles along the beach, then up to a bluff and back. It felt so incredible to be active! Yesterday, we went for a long walk along the beach before leaving to come home. I couldn't help but reminisce what trouble I had had a year before trying to walk anywhere, even post surgery. Now I want to walk all of the time! The weight loss has slowed, just like everyones. I did lose 5 lbs. last month, but all of it was in the first week (from July 23rd to Aug. 1st). Nothing in the last 3 weeks. I had soooo hoped to be at 175 by the time that I returned to school in a couple of weeks, but I just don't think that's going to happen. I am currently at 181.6. Still 31 lbs. to go to my personal goal, although I'm already where my surgeon thought I would be at the end of the 18 months. I have been so incredibly blessed by this journey. It is still a process, a challenge, and a journey, but my life has been transformed. I feel like I finally have a life again! The sweetest thing this summer was going to my 20 year high school reunion and having people tell me that I look just like I did in high school. Very few of them had ever seen me heavy, since I didn't gain my weight until the end of college. I just smiled and thought, "You have noooo idea!" I have lots more wrinkles and saggy skin, but I feel as good as I did in high school, well, almost! I don't think I will be fitting into my cheerleading outfit anytime in the near future! I've added a couple of pics from my birthday on my profile. Take a gander if you wish...sorry they're soo big. I had issues trying to resize them. Thanks for all of your support, Junebugs. I couldn't have done this without you! Your friendship, words of encouragement, and cyber-hugs have meant the world to me. Lots of Love, Kerri

That's absolutely awesome Kerri I know exactly how you feel. We have given ourselves some wonderful gifts. I haven't lost much, but at least I finally lost the rest of the 6 lbs I gained a couple of weeks ago. So I'm down to 166 and hopefully the 1st round of plastics will take 10-15 lbs off of me. BTW, a friend of mine told me that after her plastics she had full restriction again and was able to loose a few more lbs before it started to "loosen" again. I hope this happens to me! Love ya Lots Sharyn

Thanks Sharyn!!! Boy the idea of full restriction again sounds heavenly, huh? Are you still rockin and rollin with your workouts? You are a great inspiration for me when I start getting tired! I think your workout regimine would kick my booty! 166...Wow! I can only hope someday!! Keep up the awesome work! When did you say you were looking to do your ps? What will you start with? Hugs, Kerri

Hey Kerri I'm not rockin' my full workouts anymore. My last personal training session was last Wednesday. You know, I couldn't really "afford" the trainer, but it was well worth it. He had me doing things I didn't know I could do. Like 1 set of 30 and 1 set of 20 push ups (real ones). And running suicides. I HIGHLY recommend it. I did 2 sessions a week for 3 months and lost a LOT of inches. I'm in 14s and 16s now. I did workout 2 of the 4 days I was on the cruise, doing And the hill workout on the treadmill with jogging the plateaus. But I did find out that I don't loose while I'm doing those intense workouts because of the acid, water, and extra blood surrounding my muscles to help them repair. Then, when I back off a little (rest) the weight comes off. That's why I returned from my cruise lighter than when I left. I've also backed off the exercise because the plastics are tomorrow. It will be a sma;l surgery from 7:30 am till about 3 pm featuring a hernia repair, abdominalplasty, lower body lift (including the butt), and an armlift. We'll have to workout together someday. And you'll be where I am in no time - I promise! Sharyn

No wonder you're still awake~ I bet you're nervous! I will be praying for you tomorrow, that it will go smoothly and with no unexpected issues. Once you're feeling up to it, please let me know how you're doing. How exciting for you!!!! In a few weeks, I definitely want to hear more about your personal trainer. I know what you mean about not losing during your peak workouts. I find after I do the 10-11 mile walks, I drop a couple of lbs. the next day and then regain it the second day, if not a 1-2 more. Blessings to you, Sharyn! Kerri

Hi Sharyn... I hope that's true for me too. The pouch gets tighter again.. I have two plastic surgery consults scheduled, one for the 31st of August and the second one 11th of September.. I am ready! I'm down to 166.5 as of today... so I'm with you babe Hope all is well. Hugs and kisses, Lucy

good news lucy - i do feel tighter. i can't quite eat as much. or i'm too tired to eat more. surgery was longer than planned. took awhole hr for the hernia. dr said i was close to needung emergency surgery and couldn't belive i wasn' in more pain.

Hi Sharyn! Good to hear from you WOW, close to emergency surgery!! Good thing you had it done now. Yup, a positive effect from the surgery - tighter pouch. Who would have thought it?? I hope that my pouch tightens up again when I have ps. I'm shooting for the week of November 20 or 27th. Sharyn, hope you feel better soon! Remember to take it easy and rest. I know that I was tired for some time after my hernia surgery. God Bless! Hugs, Lucy

Congrats on your weight loss & on the new & improved life! Almost everything is easier for me now & it couldn't have happened at a better time due to my DH being ill. I weghed in this am @ 182. I'm still losing but very slowly. If I get to 175 I will be completely happy with my weight loss. I weighed 350 at my highest so 175 would seem thin to me. Happiness Kathy C.

Hi Kathy! Boy, you and I are almost exactly at the same point since my highest was 358.6. 182 is very cool!!!!! Way to go! I'm so sorry to hear that your DH is ill~ I hope it's not something too serious. Having that weight off must be such a relief! Plus, your stamina must have increased a hundred-fold. I plan to just enjoy this new life that I have been blessed with. I wish you all of the best and continued weight loss. Keep up the awesome work! Hugs, Kerri