7 months and so close to 100 pounds

I thought I would never get here! I got on the scale today. I now have lost 98 pounds. 2 more to go till 100. Of course if I added the 32 I lost pre op that would bring me to 130 pounds. What a wonderful journey this has been. I was able to buy some shirts recently that were in size 18! Well, coming out of a size 30-32 this is exciting news. When I first picked up the shirt I thought no way will this fit me but sure enough it did. I am learning though to go to outlet stores now. I can purchase a shirt for $10.00 vs. 30.00 but sometimes I do find myself splurging. I was even excited in being able to bend over to paint my toes without moving my legs. hehehe. I mean, heck I have not seen my toes up close in years. I guess that is called a WOW moment. Each day I get up and see the transformation in the mirror and think to myself I hope others who want this badly enough will get their wish because there is nothing as good in life as feeling well with your health. My blood pressure is down and soon my doctor is going to try to cut me back on one of my pills and even though my asthma has flaired up due to a cold and I am on prednisone again I am finding that my sugar has only gone up twice. All I can say is life is good!!!!!!!

Congradulations on 7 months and almost 100pounds. It does feel good, doesn't it? I am at 7 months and about 95 pounds and feel like a new person!! Let's keep going! Jacqueline

Welcome terri I am new had ryn lap 4-25 -06 but love this site.I could not wait to get home to see what I missed LOL.JUST WANTED TO SAY HI & God bless Becky

WELCOME, WELCOME MS TERRI! WE'RE NOT ONE OF THE LARGEST BOARDS, BUT WE HAVE SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU WILL EVER WANT TO MEET! WITH A 102 # WEIGHT LOSS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'D NEED A KICK FOR ... WE NEED YOU AS OUR INSPIRATION, BUT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR JOURNEY EASIER, JUST SAY THE WORD. ANYTIME YOU'RE IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS, PLEASE JOIN US ON THURSDAY EVENINGS AT OUR LOW COUNTRY BYPASS BUDDIES MEETINGS ... WE ARE V-E-R-Y INFORMAL ... LOTS OF HUGS ALL AROUND & JUST PLAIN FUN TO BE WITH. GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi Terri Glad to hear from you and hope you'll come back to visit us often. There are really great people here. I had surgery 11/29/04-278/161-5'8", 50 years old and still losing. No complications for me either. I am still doing at least 1 protein shake a day, usually 2. I love them. I stay on a low-carb, high-protein diet by choice, because my diabetes improved drastically, but didn't go into remission. I still wear an insulin pump. I am still sticking to the program very well. I am very motivated. We have a great support group here - the Low Country Bypass Buddies. If you come to Charleston to visit your son, maybe you can make it to one of our meetings. But, do stop by the message board. You'll find lots of tough love here. Hugs, B

Hi Terri , I've been off the the forum for a few days...my youngest had his Sr. Prom Sat...so I was a "busy bee". It amazes me how our teens think that events don't need to be planned...they just happen. No wonder my hair looks like a snow capped mountain Well everything turned out just wonderful...thanks to Mom and Dad running around at the last minute, like chickens with our heads cut off. Our kids...gotta em!!! So Terri let me extend a BIG SC Forum "WELCOM!!" I'm soooooo glad you decided to stop by. A Big "TOOT-TOOT" to Dame Tooter for suggesting that you do it I would like to had you to our SC Forum Weight Loss List if you don't mind. The more the merrier!! I'll be posting it today. Tonya

Debbie, congratualtions!! Now, I've heard different points of view on this, but I hear that you should count your pre-op weight loss as part of this journey. I agree with that. Anyway, do you have any idea how to get that spiffy little century card thing that people have? I want one!!! Those little wow moments are awesome aren't they. The painting your toes is really something that thin people can't comprehend. I remember once when I had a pedicure the lady said 'be sure and scrub the bottom of your heels with a pumice stone' and I thought 'that is if I could reach the bottom of my heels!! It's the small things, right. My blood pressure has really gone down, and I had my meds dropped to half, and then last week he cut them out completely. I am so buzzed about that. Yes, life is good for us. And there isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for letting me have this surgery! I am so very thankful. And I am prepared to do whatever I need to do to make this a lifetime commitment. Keep up the good work, girlie!! love donna

Hi Donna, Thanks for your reply. By the way how does one go about getting a century card? If you find out please let me know. Congrats on getting off your meds. That was one of the most important goals to me to. I hope it becomes a reality for me. Take care.

Good morning Dawn! Thanks so much for the welcome. I have no doubt that this board is friendly--we're South Carolinians, aren't we?? As to why I need a kick in the behind......I am sure that you have heard that loosing the weight is the "easy" part and keeping it off is when the real work begins, that is so true. I breezed through my first 18 months and then the appetite came back with a vengence and that old carb demon seems to be back to stay! I have a day to day (sometimes hour to hour) struggle with the mindless eating and wanting to graze. Old habits can come back so quickly and easily. My lowest weight was 128 for a fleeting moment. I maintained around 130-132 for about 4 months, that was before my appetite returned full force. I had people tell me to STOP losing weight, I looked boney (according to my PCP!!), I was also told that I looked frail, gaunt, sickly to name a few. The lead surgeon (now retired) of the group that I used, warned us of "rebound" weight gain. I was bound and determined to prove him wrong, well I was the one who was wrong. I should have known better than to question a man who has been in bariatric surgery for 30+ years! I am trying to maintain my weight between 145 & 147, which seems to be okay for me. At this weight, I have had friends tell me that I am a "good" size now. That I look healthier. That I was getting too skinny before. That word and my name have never been used in the same sentence before! LOL I could sooooo easily go back to eating chips, crackers and cookies all day long. That coupled with sweet tea and pepsi would cause my weight to come back so fast and I do not want that to happen. I did not put my life on the line and have my guts rearranged to return to almost 250 pounds again!! So by keeping in touch with others and keeping focused I am keeping myself on track. Sorry to be so long winded. Hugs to all, Terri

WELL, I'M TRANSPLANTED! SO, NOT A NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN, BUT AS LONG AS I LIVE HERE, YOU BET I AM, MS TERRI! JUST UNTIL LATELY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT OUR POUCH LOOSES IT'S STRONG EFFECT FOR WEIGHT LOSS AT AROUND 18 MONTHS, IT JUST DIDN'T SINK IN THAT THERE WOULD COME A TIME WHEN I COULD STRUGGLE WITH WEIGHT GAIN AGAIN LIKE BEFORE SURGERY. I JUST THOUGHT THAT I'D LOSE IT & THAT WOULD BE THAT ... OHHHH, DA-UHHH, BOTTLE BLONDE, YA KNOW! DENIAL ... BRAIN FART SYNDROME! BUT, I'M ALREADY STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES BACK TO "NORMALCY" SO I DO UNDERSTAND! AS FOR THE ISSUE OF YOUR APPETITE RETURNING, HAVE YOU TALKED TO YOUR SURGEON/PRIMARY DOC ABOUT APPETITE SUPPRESSENT MEDS OR ANTI-DEPRESSANTS (THEY HAVE A REALLY GREAT SIDE EFFECT IN THAT THEY TAKE AWAY THE SEVERE CRAVINGS FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD, CIGS, STREET DRUGS, ETC). I WAS ON THEM PRE-OP FOR THIS & IT REALLY DID HELP TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE OUT-OF-CONTROL APPETITE/HUNGER. MY APPETITE HAS BEEN RETURNING SLOWLY & IN SPURTS THE LAST MONTH OR SO. IF IT GETS STRONG, I'M RUNNING BACK TO MY DOC TO GET BACK ON LEXAPRO. A LCBBuddy HAS ALREADY GONE BACK ON WELBUTRIN TO HELP HER APPETITE CUZ HERS IS COMING BACK REALLY STRONG & SHE'S NOT AT GOAL YET, ALTHOUGH REAL CLOSE. I HAVEN'T HIT THE GRAZING ISSUES YET, BUT I HAVE "WANTED" CRUNCHIES & HAVE HAD TO TELL MYSELF "ABSOLUTELY NO" & "IF YOU DON'T CONTROL THIS, IT WILL BE ON THE NO-NO LIST FOREVER". I "WANTED" POTATOES CHIPS SO I TRIED SOME BAKED CHIPS & THEY WERE GREAT. PROBLEM IS THAT WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, I HAD EATEN THE WHOLE BAG & WANTED MORE, SO NO POTATO CHIPS; THEY'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED IN THE HOUSE ANYMORE. I'M ON THE FENCE WITH THE QUAKER SOY CHIPS ... THEY'RE BETTER NUTRITIONALLY & IF I PUT LIKE CHICKEN SALAD ON IT, I'LL STICK TO ONLY 3 CHIPS ... GREAT. BUT, IF MY HAND GOES IN THE BAG, I CAN EAT THE ENTIRE BAG IN SEVERAL DAYS BECAUSE THEY ARE PUFFED SO THEY MELT IN MY POUCH & NEVER MAKE ME FEEL FULL, SO I'M GONNA TRY ONE MORE LITTLE BAG & IF I CANNOT CONTROL MYSELF, THEY'RE OUTTA HERE. THE FUNNY THINGS I FOUND IS I CAN LIMIT FRENCH FRIES. I LOVE THOSE "BOWLING ALLEY-STYLE" FAT, CRINKLE FRIES AT YE OLD FASHIONED, SO I TRIED A COUPLE THE OTHER DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME & I WAS SATISFIED WITH 3 SMALL ONES. NO URGE TO OVEREAT THEM LIKE WITH THE POTATO CHIPS & QUAKER SOY CHIPS. SO, UNLESS I LOSE MY SELF CONTROL, IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN HAVE THEM EVERY ONCE IN A LONG WHILE. IF I GET A SWEET TOOTH, WHICH IS VERY RARE SO FAR (I'M 6 MONTHS & 4 DAYS POST OP), I ALWAYS GET SF ... DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BITE OF A CADBURY EGG AT EASTER. SHOOT, I'D HAVE BOUGHT OUT WAL*MART PRE-SURGERY. I DON'T EVER ALLOW MYSELF SUGAR PRODUCTS - NOT EVER. I'M REALLY BLESSED THAT I LOVE SPLENDA & EVEN THOUGH IT DOES HAVE A TRACE OF SUGAR, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TROUBLE OR CRAVINGS. I KNOW SUGAR IS MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS & IF I EVER START THAT AGAIN, I'D BE A DEAD DUCK IN THE WEIGHT LOSS DEPARTMENT ... A VERY F-A-T DEAD DUCK! A PRE-OP & I WERE TALKING & I THINK THAT'S MY MINDSET ... THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I WILL JUST NOT ALLOW MYSELF EVER. EVEN THOUGH I CAN EAT ALMOST ANYTHING, THERE ARE THINGS I JUST SHOULDN'T EAT. SO FAR, I HAVE SO MUCH VARIETY, THAT I DON'T MIND GIVING ANYTHING UP FOR GOOD IF I CANNOT CONTROL EATING IT SENSIBLY. I TALKED TO JULIE STINARD, A LCBBuddy, & SHE SAID THAT MY GOAL OF 118-125 WAS TOO LOW, THAT I'D SHRINK MORE THAN I THOUGHT & THAT DR BYRNE'S GOAL OF 140 MIGHT BE BETTER AS I WOULDN'T LOOK SICKLY. SO, I'VE HEARD THOSE COMMENTS ABOUT WLS PATIENTS LOSING "TOO" MUCH, WHICH I STILL CANNOT WRAP MY HEAD AROUND. I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, "TOO SKINNY" & MY NAME HAVE NEVER BEEN LINKED TOGETHER EITHER, ESPECIALLY SINCE MY MID TO LATE 20s! I SURE SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUR STRUGGLE BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED GLIMPSES OF THOSE STRUGGLES. POST OR E-MAIL ME & LET ME KNOW HOW YOU'RE PROGRESSING. I'M REALLY INTERESTED, MS TERRI.