A few updates from me and James has a surgery date!

Hello All! I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd give a few updates...   Firstly, James (my husband) is scheduled for RNY on June 5! Dr. Mann is performing his surgery and he's nervous/excited, everything that goes along with setting the date.  It's hard to believe HE'LL be on the loser's bench with the rest of us in TWO WEEKS!  He has been doing his low-carb, pre-op diet for about 2 weeks and has already lost 15 lbs... I hate how MEN can loose it so fast, but oh well. I told him, at least I had a 7 month head start. *HAHA!*  I'm so proud of him though and ready for him to be at the point I'm at now. Now for a few updates on me! I just past the 7 month mark and I've officially lost 100 pounds since surgery.  I am right around 140 pounds TOTAL lost. It's hard to believe that much weight is gone, but I can certainly see it when I look in the mirror and put on clothes... it's an amazing feeling.  I'm fitting comfortably into most 1x clothes and some size 20 pants... I even have a few shirts that are size 16 or 18. I've definitely seen that not all clothes are sized the same... I have gotten back into eating some bad food, which is not good and I'm putting a stop to it immediately.  It's so easy to fall back into bad habits, especially as you get further and further out and pouchie is able to tolerate it.  I keep trying to tell myself it is just a tool and I have to WORK it. One thing I still struggle with is exercise.  I am MOVING more than I used to (stuff around the house, etc), but it's not the same.  How do you all get motivated to exercise? I wish I was one of those people that LOVE to exercise, but I'm not... I've thought about joining a gym, but if I'm not using the treadmill and weights that I have at home now, what makes me think I'll go to a gym?  We are going to try to clean out the garage and make our "own gym", but it's hard to find the time to do it. I guess there is always an excuse... Any suggestions on how to get motivated to exercise? Anyway, that is my update... Thanks to all of you for your support.

Hi Melinda! First of all congratulations to you and to James on your choice for a healthier life together.  That is just wonderful! Second congratulations on your incredible success in losing weight!  You will likely see a slowing down of the rate of loss happening soon, so take advantage of where you are at now.  Like you, I started eating the wrong stuff for a bit and it slowed me down.  I quit that right away and now consume NO white carbs other than milk and yogurt and cottage cheese. What motivated me to start exercising was the fact that my weight loss STOPPED at around 7 months!  I couldn't lose another ounce!  It wasn't until I added exercise into the equation that I began losing again, but at a much slower rate, of course.  This is because as my size decreases, along with my BMI, I need fewer calories just to sustain life.  I think my Resting Metabolic Rate is around 1200 calories.  Which means that in order for me to lose weight, I need to burn more calories than I am consuming (which of course applies to everyone).  In my case, in order to avoid having to be on a DIET for the rest of my life, I needed to add some calorie burn.  Since I hate dieting more than I hate exercising, close call though, I chose exercise.  But it is SLOW!  It's good you are looking ahead.  I stayed in denial for two months!  Tee hee! All the best to you and James!

hey MINDY!! as i told you previously.. you look gret and im sure you feel just as good. im so happy for James as well. you ask a great question, as im not into exercise either. i try to chase after my toddler now and im out of breath. thats one of the main reasons i want the WLS. i look forward to reading more replies. maybe we can get a walking group together on the weekends in Greenville at EB Ay****'s track or something like that. hey, its a start.. just let me know  :)

Hey Mindy... Congratulations on your incredible weight loss.  Exercise is hard for me too.  I've found that the thing I'll do most consistently is walk especially on a pretty day.  I walk every day for half of my 1 hour lunch break with a buddy and then I try to walk in the afternoons on the days my daughter is with the ex-husband.  To make the time past quicker I either listen to music or use my cell phone bluetooth and talk the whole time I walk.  Its a great way to catch up with family/friends and exercise at the same time.                 Christy

Hey Mindy! That is just wonderful that your husband has his surgery scheduled and it is a day before mine on the 6th. It is hard to believe and it seems like it is just around the corner. Thumbs up to you for your sucessful weight loss. I can't wait to report those numbers as well. I have a hard time getting motivated to work out. The one thing that I do is, I go to the local YMCA and swim and run in place in the water. I don't tire so easy and I work out longer and I come out more refreshed and full of energy. That might be a suggestion. Are you going to be able to make it to the next support meeting? I think my Fiance wants to come with me this time so he can talk to Dr. MacDonald since I think he is suppose to speak at that one.  I will chat later!!

Hey Angie! We are planning to come as that is the day before Jame's surgery... we hope to see you there and if not we should definitely see you in the hospital!!!  :)

Hi Melinda,

First of all CONGRATULATIONS to you and James. Congratulations on your incredible success during the past 7 months. Congratulations to James on his upcoming surgery. He and I will share our surgery dates ... they will just be one year apart. As we await Ben's surgery, I can only imagine how excited you are to have James experience the life-changing effects that this surgery will bring about for him.

Re: food and exercise. I don't know if you log your intake and exercise, but if you haven't started, I strongly suggest that you do. It makes you accountable to yourself and you are the one that counts. As you document your choices ... good and bad, if you are like me you will reflect on those choices ... good and bad. I've come to a point where I don't really beat myself up about my mistakes, but I take an honest look at them and the impact that they have on me. I tend to make better choices more often than not when I am logging my food and exercise. I find that it works for both food and exercise for me. The other thing that I do re: exercise ... which I HATE ... is to committ to a minimum of 10 mins a day. I can DO that no matter what. I often find that if I'm already doing 10 mins, then I go ahead do more ... but at least I do some if I can commit to the minimum of 10. Try walking ... if you don't have a dog, I strongly recommend getting one because you'll have built in walking buddy that provides lots of extra perks. If you do have one, your walking buddy will truly enjoy the walks and so will you.

Wishing you continued success,

Barb

Hey Melinda: congrats on your wt loss...that is incredible.   I also hate to exercise but I have a pool in my backyard and can't wait for the weather to warm up so i can swim daily.   Good exercise and i love it.   I also enjoy yard work and spend my entire weekend working out in the yard and it doesn't feel like exercise.   I do have to start a routine tho as during the week....i get home from work and am pooped.    The only thing i do during the week is play Wii which is some but no where near enough. Take care and congrats to your husband. Pam

Yea Mindy!! That is wonderful news. Tell James I am so happy for him!! Mine is June 9th and I haven't lost 15 pounds. What is he eating??

I am so happy for you also!! You look great!! Keep up the good work!!!!

Hey! He's doing the low carb thing... he's been doing it a couple weeks. You have to remember, men lose weight SO MUCH faster than women... I did low carb almost four weeks and I though tI lost about 10-15 pounds total... I'm sure you are doing fine.