13 months

morning everyone  it has been 13 months since Open RNY Surgery  i am down 101 lbs -- that was a loss of 3 lbs last month no complications no complaints i never dwell on my weight loss -- the surgical team told me i would lose my excess weight in an 18 month time frame -- i believed them -- i followed 99% of their rules -- i have had birthday cake, new job cake, turkey day cookies, oreo cookies, 3 cans of real coke within the past year -- none of it killed me and i do not do this on a daily basis -- and i don't have the desire to eat those foods anymore i have no idea if i ever hit a plateau -- i weigh myself only once a month -- on the 22nd -- i have lost weight every month  i know the hard part is now -- keeping the weight off -- but i have confidence in myself -- i have changed my eating habits -- i very very rarely eat potatoes (only if we go out and i eat them last so chances are i never get to the potatoes) -- i do not eat rice or pasta -- i have had a dinner roll probably 4 times in the past 13 months -- i always eat protein first -- i do not try to get in that last bite anymore -- i eat very slow -- i am still scared of getting sick -- wheat thins make me sick and yet i continue to buy them -- little stupidity there -- i drink decaf tea when i am cold -- i basically drin****d tea all day long -- i hate plain water -- i drink a protein shake in the morning -- it gets me going -- i am not a breakfast person -- cereal with milk will make me sick -- yet i will have a bowl about once a month -- 2-3 wine coolers is enough for me now (and that's been probably 4 times since surgery) -- i'm cheap now -- used to be a gallon of kahlua wasn't enough and that was in 1 day -- i take my vitamins as soon as i get up -- they are in a pill container and i carry it around with me while i go the bathroom and walk to the kitchen to get something to drink  i make no excuses for anything -- i know the rules -- i try very hard to live by the rules -- i do not want to be fat ever again -- i like to walk and breath at the same time  i have energy -- i don't care where i park anymore at the walmart parking lot -- i can walk without dragging my ass  i have more confidence -- i know that people aren't staring at us when we go out to eat anymore  -- oh my god here comes the fat couple!! they are going to eat everything in sight!! i do not go to fast food restaurants anymore and even the thought of a plain bacon double cheeseburger will turn my stomach now  it's amazing how i view food now -- they had a little 'breakfast buffet' set up the other day as we walked into school -- not a dam thing for me!! donuts, bagels, cookies and sliced fruit -- well the sliced fruit would have been ok -- but it's only fiber and nothing else -- everything else on the table was carbs and that means nothing but ass and thighs!! so i kept on walking and didn't take anything  -- after the holidays we are having a class party -- one lady is making a greek dessert -- have no idea what it's called -- she asked me if i could have walnuts because she wanted to make sure i could eat the dessert -- i was nice and told her yes i could have walnuts -- i didn't want to burst her bubble and tell her that it was probably loaded with sugar and it's the sugar i watch out for haha her mother had some type of RNY surgery due to stomach cancer and they removed her stomach -- her mother is constantly sick -- probably didn't get the guidelines like we did or else didnt' pay attention to the guidelines --probably still eats those high sugar/high fat greek foods -- i can tell by the way the daughter talks -- so anyways, for the party i decided to make meatballs -- at least i know i will get protein in -- everyone else is bringing carbs of some sort -- yes, i look at food as carbs and protein and sugar and fiber -- nothing has a name anymore -- it's carbs or protein -- should i have it or not? that's about it  i do not follow a structured exercise pattern -- i walk the dogs -- i walk in parking lots -- i'm not lazy anymore and will get my ass back up to get something i forgot in the kitchen instead of waiting til the next time i get up i am very grateful to the surgical team i have and all the information they provided me before during and after the surgery -- i was well informed on what was going to happen and when  the car does not bottom out anymore  the couch doesn't bend when we sit on it  a king size bed is WAY too big for us now  my shoes don't fit  -- ok buy new ones --talked me into it  i can drive and wear a winter jacket at the same time i can see the seat of the chair that i am sitting on  cooking is a breeze!! 2 porkchops in the oven with shake and bake or 2 pieces of chicken breast the same way -- no potatoes to peel -- no rice a roni to cook -- no pasta to boil -- just meat please -- or i throw a small bag of shrimp in the frying pan with butter --yes REAL butter  can't wait to go to some Sox games this summer and not feel like i'm taking up the whole row of seats -- people will actually be able to walk past me while i stand to let them by --i won't feel like i'm falling into the lap of the person behind me to let the person walk by -- we'll be going to Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Philly for sox games this season -- i'm not even going to attempt to buy tickets for Fenway  ok that's about it for now -- i've sat and typed and thought from 11:58 til 12:33 -- Pats are on at 4:15 and i have to get ready to watch the game :)  good luck to everyone on their own personal journey  if you need anything at all just shout out  -- someone on the NJ board will answer you :)  take care all and have a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday  Roberta remember to always ask your surgeon first!! do not take the word of anyone on the internet as fact -- ask your doctor -- everyone can compare stories and get a basic idea -- but everyone is an individual and what works for one may not work for another -- also educate yourself on your surgery -- only you can fight for your medical rights -- know what you are talking about -- know how surgery will effect your life -- know everything about it -- take nothing for granted!! Good Luck :)

That was a lot of thinkin there GF!  Way to go. Buy the shoes, not the wheat thins ;-) What a great inspiration you are on this board, as always!  I've said it before and I'll probably end up saying it again. Thanks so much! Pam

your ticker moved :) i see it moving

yep it moved.  one of those nothing for a week and then 4 pounds move!  As long as it moves occassionally I am happy! Pam

You and Ross have done great.  Congratulations.  Have a great Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Jeanne

Hi Roberta & Ross,       Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy, happy, New Year! Congratulations on all of your achievements...you should be sooooo proud. Thanks for always being a wealth of information...you know I love ya!!!                                                             Hugs, Judy

Great post!  You have done a lot of work to achieve the level of success that you've had.   You have such a great attitude.  Thanks for the inspiration! Leah

Congratulations on your weight loss. Your post had some of the most common sense approaches to this surgery that I have read on this site. You will probably be very successful with your weight loss. I have come a long way as well, I first started out with this surgery thinking that I had made a mistake, now, I don't feel that way at all. So far it has been one of the best things I could have done for myself. Have a great holiday! Amy

Again words of wisdom & experience!!! Congratulations on your success and thank you sharing your approach with us.   You have been offering suggestions & support to this board since I started "lurking" about a year ago.    I know I greatly appreciated all of your ideas.   You always remind folks to check with their surgeon but sometimes people really don't want answers but more to know others have gone through the same thing.  YOU are always there to lend a kind word of support! Thank you very much for helping me in my journey so far - even though I'm only 2 months out - and thanks for the wonderful posts! Vicki

Hi Roberta, Congratulations!!!  You have done so well!!! I wish you continued success into the New Year!!!  I love reading your posts, you are an inspiration to me.  Hope your Holiday went well.  Have a great New Year!!! Melissa