18 months ago....

18 months ago, I was awake..and nervous. The next day was my big day...my rebirth. 18 months ago, I weighed 344 lbs and wore a size 26/28/3-4xL. 18 months ago, I was a diabetic, suffered with joint pain in both knees, had asthma, chronic bronchitis, sleep apnea, PCOS, and unsual liver functions. 18 months ago, I had already had a hysterectomy, gall bladder removed, uretha sling put in (for stress incontinence)...all due mainly to my weight. Today, I contemplate all that has occured since September 17th, 2004. I have lost 164 lbs. I now wear a size 10-14 (depends on style/cut). Mediums are starting to get loose on me. Today, my ailements? I have an underactive thyroid and my sugar drops too LOW. One little pill takes care of one and eating 3 snacks along with my 3 meals a day takes care of the other. Today, I've had a few more surgeries and (ALOT) more endo's than I had planned...but it was well worth it. Tomorrow.....I continue on my path to loose that last 40 lbs. I have never been an 'ideal' BMI...but I WILL be. My all time favorite saying is "To thine own-self, be true". When I had my RNY, I was true to myself for the first time in a very long time. My RNY helped me find me. I was hidden away in all that fat so much that even I had trouble seeing through to the real me. I am still finding out who that person is. What I know of 'me' though I am beginning to like alot! People who have known me awhile are still adjusting to 'me' though. I'm not the jolly fat girl I once was. Why is it that obese people has such a need to be liked by everyone that we become class clowns? That's a rhetorical question. I know for me it was because I couldn't imagine someone liking me for me so I tried to be funny instead. Besides, if I made a joke about me being fat, maybe it would put others more at ease. Hurt less if I said it instead of just 'knowing' that was what they were thinking. You all know what I mean. Anyway....here I am at my pc tonight just thinking about these past 18 months and all the changes. I just think 'Whew girl! You did it!!' LOL! Just had to share... Sherri

Life is good! Congrats! Kathy O.

Yep, tears of a clown was MY song... Happy on the outside crying on the inside.. I have lost almost 100 pounds.. would have been a 100 by now but chose to get my knee fixed once and for all...it was just to painful not to fix it. so it set me back on the weight loss for a while but I am working on it again by being more active..and eatting better choices... Saw the Dr today and he says the bending was going fine but I am not stretching it out enough.. so he showed Hubby how to stretch it more...lucky me as if PT wasnt painful enough now I get it at home too.. Thats ok really.. Thanks for shareing Sherri...18 months of a journey to get to where you could feel good with yourself, have a life you are happy with... wow... seems like such a wonderful journey... I know you have had lots of problems and sidetracks in your journey.. but you are such an inspiration... I am so happy to have friends like you and Deb and Angie and Peggy and Julie and and and..... just makes my journey much more special Linda

Congrats!!!!!

Absolutely terrific work! The changing life, self image and personality are all part of the trip as well. The only thing I'll harp on is the concept of BMI goals. Remember, BMI doesn't take anything about YOU into account. It's only numbers. One of my favorite stats is that there is only one NBA player who is in the ideal range: Shawn Bradley ( http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nba/2001/0124/photo/s_bradley_i.jpg ). I went in for a body composition analysis last week and found myself in the 'Lean/Athletic' range with 12.5% body fat. The thing is, at 200 pounds, I'm 20 pounds overweight according to BMI. To get to ideal BMI, I'd have to lose all but 4 pounds of body fat--and that falls into the range of 'minimal fat needed to survive.' As you get close to goal, I'd recommend having a body composition analysis done to find out where you stand physically. You may be surprised. BMI provide decent guidelines, but they don't necessarily provide really good guidance for fine points. Again, great work and keep it up. Eric C.

Eric, Thank you for the great advise. I'm 20 lbs from plastic surgery and I'm going to let their magic remove most of the last 20. I think less than that and I would look anorexic. NOT a goal of mine! I have my 18 month check with Dr. Gupta in a few weeks so I'll bemaking sure that she stil thinks this is a reasonable goal. Does insurance normally cover the body composition analysis? If not, how much is it (approximate)? And, where do you go to get it? Is it something Dr. Gupta would order or does your PCP or do you call about it yourself? I know, a hundred questions but inquiring minds....... Thanks again, Sherri

Insurance doesn't cover it, but where I have it done it runs $40 for one session, or a package of $60 for 2 sessions in a year. I have a Bodpod analysis done. It takes about fifteen minutes to run through the whole thing. Basically, you sit in a pod for a couple of minutes while they do an air pressure displacement process. You can see the pods at http://www.bodpod.com . I have mine done at St. Vincent's Sports Medicine at 465 and 82nd on the west side. I know they also have a Bodpod at NIFS, but I don't know the contact information there. The St. Vincent's information can be found at: http://www.stvincent.org/ourservices/sportsmed/contact/default.htm . Hope that helps, Eric

Thanks Eric! I'll probably call them and get an appointment set up. Sherri

Sherri Congrats on your sucess story. Dan

Sherri, Thanks for sharing. I think that is one of the most inspirational postings I have ever read! I am 21 days away from joining the "losing side". I can't wait! I look at your picture and can't see where you could have ever weighed an additional 164 lbs. You look beautiful. Cindy