2 year check in - how are we all doing???

Hey Kellie My numbers: Before surgery: 284 After surgery: 176 Current weight: 197 As you can tell I have gained weight. Mostly the last year. Alot has happened and I use these as excuses. Father passed away, daughters wedding, mortgage trouble, etc. But when reality strikes... I just am not as in control as I was. I am very happy with the surgery. Just need to get motivated. Any suggestions???? Wow moment: My husband and I actually "danced close" at my daughters wedding. Never really felt him close to me like that before. It was wonderful. Biggest Change in My Life: I can breath. I can run. I can go, go, go with my husband. I went back to college and will graduate in May 2008. Life is really good. Just need to lose this extra weight gain and then it will be up to plastic surgery. Alot of loose skin around the middle. Sounds like you are doing well. Any suggestions would help me in my "return" to healthy living. Terri

Hi, Terri! I'm glad you are doing well, even though you've experienced the oh-so-common rebound weight gain. Boy, suggestions about how to "return" to healthy living... For me, it's about making the right choices most of the time. It's been about finding things I like to eat that are healthy for me. It's about realizing that I feel so much better when I'm not carrying around an extra 10-20 pounds. Now some details about what's working for me. First, I keep track of everything I eat and drink. I use software from calorieking.com for my PDA; there's similar programs available for free online at fitday.com and sparkpeople.com. Second, I weigh myself every day and record my weight in the same software. I've been doing this for about 18 months now. Having this information has helped me create a relationship between how much I eat and how much I weigh. It's also helping me "fine-tune" how many calories I need on a daily basis to maintain my current weight. I'm hoping that I can avoid the usual regain by continuing to monitor my daily food intake and my daily weight. Some folks might think I'm a bit obsessive; I just know myself and how easily I could go back to old, unhealthy habits. So if I need to keep track to stay on track, that's what I'll do. Second, I make a food plan for what I'm going to eat that day first thing in the morning. That helps me avoid making bad choices, and I always include some kind of treat in the evening (1/2 cup ice cream, a couple SF fudgesicles, a 100-calories cookie pack - whatever I'm in the mood for). Knowing that I've got a little something waiting for me at the end of the day sometimes helps me say no to all the goodies that are available in my office. Third, I exercise regularly; lift weight 2x per week, 40-50 minutes of cardio 3-5x per week. Do I truly LIKE to exercise? I'm working on it, but the truth is that I still like to eat. And if I want to eat as much as I do, I have to exercise to burn off some of those calories. (I've been averaging 2200-2300 calories per day for about 3 months now. At that calorie level, I'm maintaining right around 200 pounds. I'm working on cutting out 200-300 calories per day; if I can do that, I should be able to lose my last 20-30 pounds.) Fourth, when I want a treat, I have it. But I make a conscious decision to eat treats, and I make sure it's something that's really worth it. Why waste calories on mediocre cookies or chocolate or cake? I'd rather have a small portion of something totally indulgent (Godiva chocolate, Haagen-Daas ice cream, rich cheesecake) and really enjoy it. Also, I do dump if I have too much sugar, so my pouch keeps me from eating too much of any treat - otherwise I'll pay the price. Good luck "returning" to healthy living, Terri. It's all about making good choices on a regular basis; you can do this! Kellie

I'm a little late at posting this but...here it goes! Before: 256 lbs After: 156 Current: 165 As you can see, I have gained some weight back. However, when I was at 156, my body didn't feel well and I didn't look well either. I still want to get down to 145 and I know that's just a number but I don't think my body will let me get there. I feel pretty good at where my weight is at now. I did get down to a size 4 at 156lbs..but I'm happy to be in a 5/6-7/8. I still have problems with body dysmorphia and I don't think that will ever go away for me. I try really hard not to let it get me down. Right now, healthwise, I'm battling stomach ulcers that are on my staple line. Those darned things are not healing and I go in for my third endoscopy December 10th..so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they have healed. The Gastroentoroloist has said that they are caused from restricted blood flow where the staple lines are and that it is directly caused from surgery in that area But hey..I'll take ulcers over diabetes any day!! The biggest things in my life that has changed are these things: 1)my health has improved *type II diabetes in remission since surgery, no more high blood pressure, no kidney problems, no heart problems, no edema!!! 2)I can participate and actually finish somewhere close to the front of the line in my physical agility testing at work. I can actually run/walk a mile and a half under 19 minutes..where as before I had to wear a heart monitor and walk only A MILE in 28 minutes. It's awesome!! 3)I'm not invisible anymore. I can actually go into Victoria's Secret and be waited on instead of ignored and stared at like I didn't belong in there. 4)I can go into any store and buy clothing. I love to shop and I love my clothes. It's just nice not to be limited to Lane Bryant! Or the plus size department at Khols and JC Penney. There are things that I still want to do with my body. I'm still thinking about Plastic Surgery to get rid of the extra hideous skin on my stomach and I'm in desparate need of a boob lift and perhaps a reduction. I got down to a 36C and now am in a 38 D. I'd be sooo freaking happy as a B!! I still struggle cutting out the crap in my diet too. I don't and haven't dumped on sugar and re introducing that back into my diet has been to ultimate mistake for me. My husband tells me to stop eating it and I say look..it's not that simple. It's like a really bad bad craving. I'm sure if I cut it out, I'd be back down 10 pounds. My weight has been pretty much holding steady where it is right now for a year. Kellie, It sounds like you have done very very well for yourself and I'm proud of you for doing so. This hasn't and won't be an easy journey for all of us. We just have to keep our heads up and keep plugging along. Good luck to you!!! Bridgett

I don't see you on the main board, but I've been raving about Lane Bryants Balconette bras. They're like an instant boob lift. You'll love them. They go down to a size 36C

Hell'o to you all as for me I am great I have about 30lbs to go I do no I would have WLS again if I had to that is one of the best thing's I ever did next to my family it is the best thing I ever did I have had a lot of wow 's one!!! Some of my family that had not seen me in a year did not no me when thay saw me again wow, wow and the one that got me my little grandbaby ask me and papa when do I get to see my nana she said the one that did live here with you papa ((((it was me )))) he showed her some picture's and she get so happy ..Saying that's the one ... I was sad to no she missed me that much she don't understand and then a few week's ago I was doing house work and she said papa look nana look's like a little girl that just made my day just wait when I get all the lbs off ha,ha I am only 4"11 well you all have a good xmas and glad to see you all doing great linda youngblood

Beginning weight 286 Goal weight (according to BMI chart) 150 Weight for the last year 144 (give or take a couple pounds in either direction) Call me crazy or lucky, but living with my DS has been easier than I ever imagined it would be. I'm at the point now, where nobody can tell that I've had any wls when they watch me eat. I'm also getting in all of my protein via real food since I was 6 mos post op. I've had a hernia repair over the summer, but no other complications. My nutritional levels are all good exept for my Vitamin D. I think I have it conquered, though. I'll know for sure next month on my checkup. I'm wearing a size 6, sometimes 8. I've never been thin before since I was a little girl, so this is all new to me. I've got some skin issues that are easily camouflaged with my clothes. Overall, I'd say my general body looks 10 years older than I am, but my face looks younger. Funny huh? I just love living life and the fact that I'm not so insufferably hot all summer. I have developed a fetish for coats now, to assist me in my being cold all of the time.

Unfortunately, I am not doing so well. Surgery was Oct. 28, 2005 Starting wt: 309 Oct 28 wt: 294 Wt now: 220 Goal weight: 170 About 6 months out I had lost 87 pounds, and unfortunately I had a problem where I ate too much and did not CHEW well enough. Needless to say I pretty much ruined my surgery on accident. The opeing from my pouch to my sm. intestine got stretched, so now I get hungry more often because the food empties out too soon. Well anyway, I am scheduled to have my anastomosis repaired and a ring put in so the problem does not happen again. My new surgery date is May 5th, 2008, my doctor says I will lose the rest of my wt. in about 4 months. So I am a lil excited, but I am bummed because I have to have another surgery. My doctor is AWESOME and he stated that he has to do this same surgery about 3x a month so I am not the only one suffering from this problem. Phew! If you know someone who has/had this problem please have them contact me, so I know what to expect. Thanks Blessings Robin