Way to go, Jenn, and congrats on your "almost six months" post op.  You are doing terrific and I am proud of you!!

101 pounds is awesome!!  Just think  how your bones and muscles must have felt carrying that extra weight around.  I think about myself often as I think about the 75 pounds I've lost.  Still can't believe it's me when I see myself in pictures.  I think our heads take awhile to catch up with our bodies when it comes to weight loss.

I'm with you on the bat wing thing.  There is sagging skin on other parts of my body too but no matter how hard I pump those machines at Curves and pump my arms when I'm walking, I still have ample bat wings!  As you said, I can live with them if that's the exchange for my health.

Thanks for the post and keep posting.  I hope that things continue to go well for  you.

Carol

I cant believe its already been 5 1/2 months since my surgery! 24 weeks tomorrow to be exact!  I havent updated or hardly been on OH for a while either, so I thought I should check in and maybe it will motivate me to get on more often.  I really havent been on the computer much lately, I do what I can on my blackberry if i get online....summer is always so busy!! :S

Alright so 5 months out I can eat pretty much anything and not have any problems....still not sure that Im happy about that as I now know that i can have some sweets and nothing happens, and also a few french fries (but ive only tried a couple) and nothing.  However, there are a few foods I cannot eat....biscuits and gravy for starters.  At least not the ones from caseys, and not that I need them either.  They sounded good one day so i bought them and when i ate half of a biscuit, my pouch started turning....not good.  I have made them at home however and had no problem.  I should probably stick to making them myself if I want them, and then I know exactly whats in them!!  I am down 101lbs total and 76 lbs since surgery...which is right on target according to Dr. Samuel's office.  They said 75lbs by 6 months....so I couldnt be happier!  I am down to a size 10/12 depending on brand of course, from a size 22 in Jan before my surgery.  Most of my 12s are baggy and loose and i dont have a lot of 10's yet, but Im meeting a friend for some hand me downs today!! I think my head hasnt caught up with all this weight loss stuff.....i still go to the plus size section when shopping, not purposely, but I think my brain is just programed to go strait there.  Also I know that I look different and weigh less but I still see the same person/body....I think my body image was waaaay of kilter before surgery and now its finally catching up with what I had always thought I looked like!!  I had to take my wedding ring in to get sized last week (i still dont have it back yet), it kept falling off and i was afraid I would loose it!! I went from a size 11 to a size 8 ring!! :)  It will be so small compared to my size 11!!! When I get it back I need to drop off my mothers ring to get re-sized....boy it feels weird not wearing any jewelry on my hands!  My 10 yr high school reunion is coming up at the end of the month and I cant wait to go back home (to Kansas) and let everyone see the new me!! My family hasnt seen me since May when I was a size 16, except for my parents last weekend for a few hours (they had my kids for a week so we met in KC to get them back....the halfway point) so it will be great to show the rest of the family my progress in a short time.  But i cant wait to see the reaction on my classmates faces as I am smaller now then I ever was then!!! :0)

Of course all the other great things you hear from everyone...my energy level is waaay better now then before, im not on target to have a heartattack by the time im 35!!! I had no co-morbidities so I cant brag about any improvements there other than that I will have no co-morbidities in 5 years like i was on pace to have!! I do have one complaint.....my batwings!!! UGGGHHH!!!! They are so nasty!!! But i can live with em if thats the exchange for the health ive gained from this whole experience. Once again, Im so glad that I have done this.  I have absolutely NO regrets.  Dr. Samuel and UIHC is an absolutely STELLAR program and I wouldnt have it anyother way.  I am so greatful to them for giving me my life back......and I think my children are too! :) 

Well enough rambling....i hope you all are enjoying your summer....I know I am!! Im not ready for school to start back up in 6 wks!! (can you tell i work at a school?? LOL)

Jenn

Hi Heather,

I had RNY with the Mercy Center in May 2008 with great results.  I haven't been on OH for quite a while, so my avatar/profile is way out of date.  I've lost right at 100 lbs.   I got on today to start getting some info on plastic surgery and just thought I'd stop by the Iowa board for a sec.  Dr Smolik did my surgery, and I could not have been happier with him or his staff.  They are the best!  Good luck to you during your journey.  It will be well worth jumping through the hoops!...Natalie

 I attended the introductory seminar yesterday and the support group meeting today.  Both were great!  I  waivered somewhat toward RNY during the seminar, but by the time it was overwith, I knew the lapband is for me.  I live 2 hours from Des Moines, so I won't be able to attend the support groups every month, but I will try to attend as often as I can.  I feel that this is something everyone should do.  I spoke to my surgeon-to-be too and am looking forward to my consultation with her on 7/20.  I will call my insurance company again on Monday as a follow-up and will schedule my 2nd weigh in with my regular physician next week.  The hoop jumping begins today! I'm geared up and ready!

HEY,, I walked a total of 10 miles this week and lost 5.2#,, so hopefully, I will be able to continue walking : as long as my stress fracture doesnt decide to give me fits again,, so that makes a total of 112# since January 1st,, it was a hard week but now it seems worth it,,
Bonnie