Hey There Friends!

Logging on to this site is usually something I enjoy doing daily.  I love to check in with old friends and encourage the progress of people new to the WLS journey.  I haven't been on for almost TWO weeks!!  I had to read three pages of posts!  I hate to answer one post and not another - being so behind I figure I'd just post a general shout out to everybody.  I hate to say "I've been so busy" but it has been crazy!  My son graduated from high school.  We hosted out of town relatives for that.  I threw a party for said graduation.  (It was such a great party and went so well - but I really haven't had an event like that in quite a while and forgot how much work it is!  Worth it for sure, but getting it all together with house guests underfoot...whew!)  If you haven't met me you may not know my house is STILL for sale.  We had showings while we had company.  I had just started "the big cook" when I got one call.  Got through it all and have some great memories, especially how happy my son is.  He can't wait to start at OSU in the fall.  I've seen the Hallmark commercials, but I really wasn't expecting the event to feel so rewarding!  I am not happy to be starting off the summer with the ten extra pounds I gained last fall.  I try to take heart that since I realized it was a real "gain" I took measures to stop the trend.  Why I ask?  I think it is a combination of my knee really effecting my mobility , stress, complacency.  To lose it is going to take some actual effort, and I don't like having to get my head around it.  I have felt so free from the thought of having to lose weight.  Perhaps to give me some perspective, my shrink pointed out that having lost 176 pounds and three years later having maintained 166 pounds of it is still a success.  She wouldn't have noticed I had gained weight, yet I feel like it's so obvious.  It was not cool to have the summer weather come and feel like my clothes were too tight.  I know what I need to do and am looking for  strength and willpower!  I know it's not always recommended, but I do think having my scale and weighing myself every day since my surgery was important.  With my house for sale, I packed it away with other stuff to "de-clutter".  Since I can't find it, I bought my poor husband a new digital scale for Fathers Day.  Hey...he'll benefit from it in the long run! Hope you all are doing well.   You have all been on my mind.  I haven't meant to be ignoring you Patty

Hang in there Patty.  I weigh myself everyday also and I do think it helps.  I realize that I will see fluctuation up also, but I don't let it discourage me because overall I lose weight.  I am hoping to prevent the regain that you have had, but know it can and does happen.  You have done very well keeping off the weight and you can lose that pesky 10 pounds again.  Keep picking away at it!  My thoughts are with you.   Julia

Thanks Julie!  It was kind of hard to get through some of my recent "in the spot light" event.  I really didn't like feeling some of those old feelings.  Like thinking I had to buy an outfit that didn't make me look fat.  It was a liberating day when I asked my husband "does this make me look fat" and he said "you don't have to ask that question anymore.  You aren't fat.  You can wear what you want".  Body image things are powerful.  I don't think my hormones that week were helping either!  This week I feel great.  Want to take care of the ten pounds, but not thinking such drastic thoughts. Patty

Hi Patty.  Thanks for the insight on what to expect down the road.  I'm already worried, as Dr. O'Rourke says I'm a light weight and may only lose 50-60 pounds.  That would be great, but I want ALL of my excess weight off.  I think that once I get the first 20-30 pounds off, moving will be so much easier that I'll be able to work hard to get the rest of the weight off.  I told him I plan on making it a reality for me.  He said he'd do his best to help me. Now, what is your husband going to get you for your birthday, a fishing pole? Linda

No - I think he would rather get me a new piano.  Kind of like he got his mother a Rolling Stones album for X-mas when he was seventeen.  I've seen many light weights lose it all.  Look at  Joy!!  I can't express how much more feasible exercise is as the weight comes off.  I didn't appreciate the pressure that Kaiser put on me to prove my commitment to change by requiring that I work out before my surgery, because it really hurt to move.  Getting through my day and staying mobile was very difficult.  Movement became something I wanted to do as the pounds dropped, and that caused MORE pounds to drop.  It all worked great and I hope the best for you too! Patty

Hi there Patty! Wow, you have a child old enough to start college?  No way!  Go Beavs ... I'm an OSU grad.  Woo hoo! I've wondered why I hadn't seen any of your posts lately.  You've been super busy!  That is a lot to undertake all at once.   I've been chugging along.  I mostly have stopped losing weight ... going up and down the same 2 pounds for a month now.  I've gotten down to 163 and then it goes back up to 165.  But I couldn't have ever dreamed of getting down to that weight so I guess I should be happy.  But there is a part of me that is wanting to lose another 10 pounds!  My dietician said no more weight loss, as my body fat is down to 20%.  And that was a few pounds ago, who knows what it is now!  But I'm happy ... I'm running 5K runs that I'm signing up for each month.  We just got back from a trip to Vegas where we walked up and down the strip in 105-degree weather and I was fine!  A year ago I would have thought I was dying!  Life is pretty darn grand! It's good to see your posts.  I have always related to you so much!  Good to see you back here! Deanna

Deanna!!!!!!!!  You look amazing!!!!!  Listen to your medical team.  When I got down to about 170 I asked my PCP and Dr. Hong what their goal for me was, because I hadn't really ever discussed a number post-op.  They both declined to give a number and really felt that my health, labs, and well being were best indicators.  You also have to remember that your excess skin should be factored in.  I figure at 150, it's probably like being 140 because of that.  I don't want to use that in the same way that I still fully believe that  earrings, bra, pooping, shoes, exhaling, etc. all are important factors when I weigh myself.  I don't think I will ever stop that silliness.    Also, I always have about a five pound variance. I wish my knees would let me run!  While I still don't like heat, it doesn't make me ill like it used to.  It takes a lot more for me to be uncomfortable. Patty

Patty, I love to read about how people like you are doing after two or three years.  I appreciate that you are willing to share some information about how your doing and how you are looking and viewing maintanence.  Thanks so much for sharing this information.  Like Linda said, it gives me and hopefully others a chance to see that this is a lifetime of change!

It's just as wonderful today as it has been all along.  I never take it for granted.  Has gotten easier for me to not really feel "defined" by my past obesity and the post op journey.  I wondered how much maintenance would consume my life.  It has a very nice place, along with the rest of things.  Sometimes I fret more than others, but overall, it has been as great as the weight loss phase.  I kind of felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop..to fail.  So far so good! Patty

Well, Patty, at least you're out there busy living your life! I'm sure you'll be able to take care of that 10 pounds. Lori