So.......................

How is everybody doing? Share what's going on with you. Where are you in your journey? I'm 3.5 weeks postop and as of my weigh in on Monday I have a combined loss of 24 lbs. I'll take it!! I'm gearing up to go back to work on Tuesday. I'm stressing a little bit about eating at work. I figure I'll just take things that I've had luck with all along. So, tell me.....how ya doin'? Rachelle

Wow, going back to work so soon. Thats a big step. How is your energy level? Enjoy the rest of your time off. Take good care my friend.... Kathy

I'm enjoying my time off...but I'm ready to go back to work. My energy level is good now that I can get all my protein and water in each day. I'll keep you updated. Have a wonderful weekend sweetie. Rachelle

I only took 2 weeks off and I could have gone back sooner but was enjoying my time off. I am currently 15 months out.. My all time highest weight was 285.. at surgery I was at 264 and I am currently at 120. My docs goal was 150 which i have blown by. My goal was 135 which i blew buy.. now at 120 I am learning to mantenance to not loose more.. I am very happy at my current weight. I wear a size 0 to 3 pants and large miss shirts.. i love my life now.. i no longer have diabetes type 2, reflux, swollen limbs, i dont limb with arthritisis anymore, My PCOS is deminished.. my sleep apena although not gone is very mild, I not longer take 9 medications. I still have psorisis and psoriatic arthirtis, I still need medications for that but my body is completely clear from skin rashes, which was not the case under the same dosage a year ago. I feel wonderful. I spend my spare time now not playing computer games but living life. I cycle with my family, jet ski, horse back ride, camping and fishing. I am never home anymore because I just have to much life to live. it is so much different than a year ago where I would spend 10 to 20 hours playing computer games. all is good.. as time goes by my friend you will learn there is a world out there that we have forgotten about.. its a wonderful place... so sit back and enjoy the journey.. I will be there cheering you along the whole way.. big hug... Carla

Wow Carla...you are so inspirational! You have done extremely well improving your health and you look wonderful. I am really looking forward to getting off some of my meds. At least my BP medication and one of my cholesterol medications. I will always be on medication for my heart, aspirin and one med for my cholesterol. We need to keep my chol. lower than the average person because of my heart disease. I also look forward to less knee and ankle pain...I'm already noticing improvement on some days. I can't wait to experience life as it was meant to be. I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Rachelle

All I can say is WOW! I'd love to have a bike; however, where we live traffic is so crazy my partner doesn't want me to have one so I leave it be and find something else to do -- which I believe I have. Last year a group of women formed a League of Our Own Bowling League and they will be bowling every Sunday afternoon at 2 PM. I'm going to check them out -- it's after church and on the way home. This will alleviate coming home from church and just doing nothing but homework. Although the Sunday's I preach; afterwards I'm pretty tired and that is an exercise in and of itself. I love horseback riding -- so far I haven't found a horse ranch that is close to where we live in Baltimore County that offers such an activity. Yes, we do have much life to live. A week from Monday my partner and I will be taking our first week long vacation in 2 years. We take little short weekend trips -- but nothing like being away for a week -- no worries man -- but I still have to do homework.

I can't wait to be able to ride my bike again. Maybe I'll try it this weekend if it's nice out. I had to stop the little I did ride because it would hurt my knees, but my knees are feeling a bit better, soooooooooooooo. A vacation is such a nice way to decompress. We "try" to take on every year. Next year will be a special vacation since it'll count as our honeymoon.

Rachelle, I was a little concerned about what to eat at work when I went back. But due to the amount of fluids we are suppose to take in -- eating was not a concern. And even now at 6 months out I still drink as much as I can and sometimes I pick up fruit from the grocery store the night before and take it to work with me for the am. My routine now is a Dr Atkins between 7-8 or 8-9 (depending on what time I leave for work). Trust me, you will find a happy medium for yourself and it will work for you. Let us know how your first day at work goes. I'm having fun with it -- people are going WOW you've lost so much weight -- what are you doing? I laugh and tell them I had WLS --then the next thing they want know is if I'm well, healthy no side effects -- then they'll ask how much have I lost and I now tell them the weight of a first or second grader --

I thought along those same lines..I was thinking that between work and drinking all day, I don't think I'll be able to eat. The fruit is a great idea when I'm able to eat it (soft fruit in a few weeks but crunchy fruits at 3 months) Since I start work at 7:30 and I have a 40 minute commute, my plan is to have a protein shake when I first get to work to get some calories in to fuel me and then drink my protein bullets in my water throughout the day to insure that I get my protein in for the day. I'm worried that I won't be able to reach my 75 gr. goal otherwise. 33 for my shake and 42 for the bullet puts me right at the mark. Anythink I eat then is a bonus. If I'm able to eat, then great. Rachelle

You'll make it then. We have a plan to get in our protein -- some days I do and some days I don't; however, don't get down on yourself if you don't. Speaking of which -- let me grab something to drink.