October Roll Call

Nicki-20 months post-op, down 140 pounds. Octobers challenge for me is to stay out of the hospital (lol). Seriously, to get my body physically strong again, through protein drinks, rest and walking.

Hi Nicki! I hope you start feeling better soon! I am 6 weeks out as of yesterday and am down 42.4 pounds, never to be seen again!!!! My outlook on life is so much better than it was just a few short months ago, and even then it wasn't too bad, but it has just gotten better since surgery! I have so much energy and can't wait to see what life will bring me in the upcoming months and years to come!! -Joe-

Dianne RNY 8/3/04 (2 months) -55+ lbs Feeling great. Exercising/Swimming 3-4 x week. Challange - getting more protein in (as always).

Hi everyone!!! Well as you all already know, I hit the century mark a couple of weeks back ... and I must say am pretty dag gone excited about that. Not just hitting that number but to have the scales move again!!! These past few days, my ability to eat a bit more has surfaced on more than a rare occasion ... thus helping me to up my calories a bit for which I am really glad. It seems that the scales are not bouncing around as much with me eating a bit more ... go figure. I just read where Dianne said that Brett recommends 100+ on the protein per day. I have been using the nutritionist recommendations which would put me just above 50 gms per day right now. And since I have been getting in between 60-90 gms per day, I thought I was doing real good. So with this new information, I am going to concentrate on upping my protein gms to up my calories, protein and fluids in one swift swoop. Perhaps this will kick start my loss and put it back into high gear. (A girl can dream can't she?) I am also trying to up my complex carbs a bit to help balance out my diet a bit. Plan to continue with my intake on pure H2O, getting in between 100-120 per day. Perhaps may even try to up that a bit (if possible). Don't want to keep too high protein levels without flushing and stress out the ole kidneys. At any rate ... you all are doing so well. I just love reading about all the changes going on. I am so saddened to see Brett leave ... while I understand that this is a great thing for him, I am a bit on the selfish side and want to keep him all to ourselves!!! Truly I am going to miss him terribly. For some of you who I have not talked to personally, I have a little story to share about Brett ... First time I met him, I about freaked out. I was sitting on the table with my gown on, ready to be examined when all the sudden Brett and I think it was Dr Irgau walked into the room. Usually this is not a problem, but this time it was, BECAUSE Brett looks almost exactly like my oldest son. And here he was, going to check my tummy (hernia). Do you know how weird that would feel to have your oldest son check out your tummy??? To make matters even worse, Brett and my son Brad, talk the same, act the same ... even stand the same!!! I have never shared this with him ... poor guy, I hope he doesn't think I am really weird just because I jumped and hit the ceiling when he tried to check me out. He is such a sweetie!!! We are truly losing a valuable person around here. Perhaps we should all start a campaign to urge him to come and visit us via the message board when he moves down south??? Have a wonderful day everyone! Oh and welcome to our newest post-op Dana to the monthly roll call!!! Hugs, Tammy

charles-5/24/04 RNY,going on 5 months post-op, down 109 lbs.since surgery, 119 total. Achieved--move From MO-morbidly obese to SO- severly obese, I achieved a weight that I can fit into my ski boots!!!challenge for the month, lose more weight, and try to exercise 1 more day per week! PS,I hope you feeling better Nikki!

Linda - 6 months out and down 90 pounds. Busy ALL the time and doing things I haven't done in years. Healthy as a horse and life is good. Goals are to keep my blood levels good, and step up my exercise levels. I am off all meds now and feeling wonderful. I can honestly say if I never lost another pound I would be ok with that. I know I will lose more but right now I feel so normal and happy. I can do all the things I want to do and weight doesn't hinder me one bit. I have regained my health which was my main objective when I went into this. All the rest that may come is just sugar free icing on the low carb cake! This mindset is one of the biggest goals I have met to date. I dealt with a severe case of bulimia and distorted body image. I could never be thin enough and thought I was a complete COW at 120 pounds, how's that for some screwy thinking UGH. I am so much more than a number on a scale, too bad I lost all those years to starvation and then morbid obesity. It feels good to NOT be a woman of extremes anymore. Say oh YEAH! Linda Linda

Ken: I'll be 6 months out next week. I'm down 80 pounds. I've been hovering around 230 pounds for about 6 weeks now. I've gone from two BP meds to one (at one quarter the original dose), Cholesterol issues GONE, back, knee, hip, ankle, foot pains GONE. I still need to use the CPAP machine, but that's OK, it is sort of comforting now that I'm used to it. I now go to the gym 4-5 days a week. I get in around 100-120 grams of protein a day and I feel FANTASTIC !!!

Ken, Isn't it cool about the cholesterol thing!? Mine is no longer an issue either and keeps dropping steadily. Brett redid some of my blood work to double check a few things about a week or so ago and my total cholesterol was 157. LOL I don't think I have ever seen a number that good! Tryglycerides are at 115! Linda

Greetings everyone, RNY 7/19/04; weight loss 40 pounds; down from 24 dresses and pants to 20!! Inches are just pealing off! and so far no hair loss. I feel wonderful! My goals would be to continue to increase my protein from 70 - 80 gms a day up to 100 by adding unjury to my crystal light ice tea (my fav. diet drink) and then I will also be getting the liquid intake up which is still a problem. (right now at 6 - 8 oz cups a day). I also need to join a gym and start working out. I am wearing a pedometer and average about 2 miles a day walking around Christiana Hospital! I am off all my blood pressure meds and have no more knee pains when I climb stairs. Peace be to you! Terre

Valerie - 5 wks/1 day, -35lbs! Yee-haa! My challenge for October is to increase my excercise, work on getting my protein levels to 100 (without protein drinks) and increase my fluid intake.