I was trying to keep a running update going, but I guess I missed a month ago. Oops. So much for keeping track of this journey. On the up side, a lot of the reason I don't have as much time for blogging is that I am back to living my life, doing things, and actually being able to breathe while I do it. Yay!

So today is my 5-month post-op anniversary. I have lost 97 pounds since the surgery. I confess I wi**** was 100 as that seemed within possible reach a few weeks ago, but 97 is close enough and for a change of pace I am not super annoyed with myself for not making that goal. The problem is that I will still love to be down 120 by 6 months out, but I will settle for 250 as that is only 18 pounds away and that seems pretty doable. I think my goal after that is to hit 240, which would be a total of 200 lost from my high weight.

After talking to Tracy about jeans holding in the flubber better, I sifted through some old clothing of mine and found some jeans. I was really looking for a size 26 from Silhouettes that were my absolute favorite when my 12-year-old was little, but couldn't find them. I did, however, find a pair of 22s with some stretch and they actually fit! I wore a size 20 shorts yesterday and a 2x from Old Navy top . . . so I am actually getting to where I might be able to normal clothes shop! This is exciting because I have been fat all of my life so I have never really been able to shop in regular people clothing stores. But now with a bunch of things going to 2XL I can.

Today is also my 23rd wedding anniversary -- so we have officially been married more than half our lives (we're both 45, met in college and got married after graduating). I weigh less than I did when I got married. I am within 7 pounds of the lightest I have been since my husband has known me. He actually commented last night that if he is not careful I will sail right by him and reach my weight loss goal before he does. He is down 30+ pounds but has been stalled for a long time and is frustrated by that. Honestly, I hope he can lose another 30 to get to where he should be and that I can still get to be lighter than he is for the first time! Wouldn't that be fabulous for both of us?!?!

I have made some plans like I haven't made in ages . . . we are going to take a long weekend downeast between the boys camps and therapies in July. Then after my older son does his sleepaway Boy Scout camp, we're going to pick him up and go to New Hampshire so we can go to Story Land and maybe some of the other parks. We'll see what my younger son can handle since those places are very over-stimulating, but I think he will love what he can handle and we just have to go expecting that he may not last long. We won't know until we try. But now I feel like I can walk the parks without carrying oxygen and stuff like that, so we should go while the getting is good, and before he gets much older. The 12-year-old will still have fun and is a very good sport about doing things with little brother, so that will help.

I go to the pulmonary doctor this week -- I just followed up with my cardiologist this week. The cardiologist took me off half of my diuretics as he said my craving salt was an indicator that I was on too much. I thought I might gain weight after going off, but I have continued to lose so far. I changed the dose on Thursday. I am actually never expecting to get off those meds completely, so I was surprised to have them chopped in half. And even more surprised that I don't see a difference (other than no real urge to pour salt in my mouth, but that could be mental!).

I have been told by two doctors now that I need to aim for an hour a day of exercise, so I am working on it. Yesterday I spent three hours in the swimming pool and a lot of that time I used resistance weights and such. I am also a tad crispy on the shoulders, but I am happy!

I tried flat diet sunkist....it hurt. I know I will NEVER drink reg soda again, but I wont lie, I will likely have a diet sunkist a time or two a week. OK, wait....a few SIPS of sunkist....i wouldnt be able to drink a whole can.

Hi everyone,

I was wondering/hoping someone could refer me to a good Personal Care Physician. I've moved to a new area and am in desperate need of a new doctor. My last physician was willing to give me a referral to have gastric bypass but wanted me to decide where I wanted the surgery before the referral; well now he's not my doctor anymore so I'm kinda SOL right now. Does anyone have a good PCP they can recommend in the Portland (ME) area?

Thank you!

Patty:

I was at the Support Group for the first time on Tuesday and listened to you story.  So glad your hernia repair went so well and that you will be able to get back to Zumba!  But as others have said, rest for a bit first!  I was so impressed with all the stories shared and it has given me a lot to contemplate.  I'm ready to take control of my life and not let eating be the control in my life.  I think RNY is the way for me to accomplish this task.  I will need to make many changes in my ways of thinking, acting and reacting to food.  I am up against some not so supportive members in my family but my husband is extremely supportive and he is the most important one as far as I'm concerned.  The non-supportive members not so surprisingly are the ones who have never struggled with weight issues while I have struggled my entire life.  But I digress...lol.  Just wanted to chime in and say glad everything went well.  I was so excited to recognize your photo from seeing you at teh Support Group the other evevning.  Take care and best wishes for a speedy return to Zumba!

Andrea

Enjoy the ebb and flow of the ocean and remember that your healing will be like that - some days good, other days not so good, some mels good, other meals lousy,

Be good to yourself!