How are we doing? (Yet again!)

Aloha my OFF family.....I like to do this little survey every few months, and I think it's time again. I so much appreciate your all participating. I think it helps each of us (especially newcomers) to see how the others are working their "tool."

Here are the questions......altered a little from before:

1. SURGERY DATE, WEIGHT, HEIGHT: July 26, 2006/319/5'11"

2.CURRENT WEIGHT AND LBS. LOSTt: 155 current/164 lbs. lost

3. MAIN SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Shakes, yogurt, cottage cheese salad, chicken, steak, chili, shrimp, peanuts, Pure Protein bars.

4.WATER CONSUMPTION?: Approx. 70 oz. a day. I sip constantly.

5. ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH VITAMINS? Yes, I keep vitamins in a weekly " pill box" and a water bottle right beside my place on the couch so I don't forget.

6.WHAT VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS ARE YOU TAKING? 2 pre-natals a day, stool softener 2 a day, B12 sublinqual (1 a week), Vit. B 1, Vit. A (5 x week), Vit. D, Magnesium.

7. ANY HAIR LOSS? Lost a little about 4 months out, but now it's very thick again.

8. WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE ARE YOU DOING? Well, since I've actually lost BELOW my goal (goal was 175), I have not been exercising regularly. I should walk on the beach for my health, and I will again one day.

9. WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CHALLENGES? Ironically, my challenge right now is NOT to lose any more. I eat often, small amounts, but still don't eat BAD food, just more of the good stuff. (My current craze is Paul Newman's soy chips...barbeque...yum-o)

10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE WLS EXPERIENCE? I am thrilled to my toes with the results of WLS!! I would do it over again in a heartbeat! I have reached my goal and way below it. That, to me, is a miracle! I thought I would be the ONE that this didn't work for......I had failed so often with dieting.

11. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR "WOW" MOMENTS? I have spoken often about WOW moments, and they still keep coming. One lately that I'm aware of is being able to put on panties and pants without holding on to anything. Another is finding myself using the stairs at my condo complex most of the time rather than the elevator.....I can easily almost run up the stairs. More wows are looking in the "SMALLS" when shopping.......8's, 10's etc. And wearing size 6 panties!! Holy cow!!

12. DO YOU HAVE AN "ISSUE" WITH SLEEPING? This really interests me because I struggle with sleep all the time. I usually get around six hours, NEVER 8! And that's with taking trazadone and OVC sleep aids.

13. OK, we're being open sisters here....ANY PROBLEMS WITH CONSTIPATION? For me, YES.......seems ongoing. Even with taking two stool softeners AND benefiber in my protein shake, it is frequent that I am faced with difficult time going......sigh. Any suggestions much appreciated!!

Thanks for completing these questions with your own success story. We are each a "book" and I want to read yours and be inspired all over again!!

Aloha nui loa,

KarenS

1. SURGERY DATE, WEIGHT, HEIGHT: 5/21/07, 255, 5'6" 2. WEIGHT, LBS. LOST: 193, -62 lbs. 3. MAIN SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, steak, chili, shrimp, peanuts, Pure Protein bars. 4.WATER CONSUMPTION?: Approx. 65 oz. a day 5. ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH VITAMINS? Yes, 6.WHAT VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS ARE YOU TAKING? One Flintstones with Iron and two calcium citrate tablets daily. Monthly shot of B12. 7. ANY HAIR LOSS? Lost a little about 4 months out, but now it's very thick again. 8. WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE ARE YOU DOING? Walk a mile and a half daily (outside of normal walking in a day). 9. WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CHALLENGES? To stop bringing trigger foods into my household so I'm not tempted to eat them. 10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE WLS EXPERIENCE? I'm sad this technology wasn't around when I was younger.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I love my healthier me. 11. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR "WOW" MOMENTS? Smaller sizes, fitting into seats in booths, airplanes, movies, etc.  Walking up and down stairs without getting winded or needing the railing.  More professional respect (this one kind of ticks me off too). 12. DO YOU HAVE AN "ISSUE" WITH SLEEPING? Not any different than before I had surgery. 13. OK, we're being open sisters here....ANY PROBLEMS WITH CONSTIPATION? BIG PROBLEM.  But I've found that making sure I get a dried fruit like raisins, cranberry raisins, apricots, etc. does make a difference. My doc doesn't want me to use stool softeners or fiber supplements. Thanks Karen, Bev

Aloha Bev....thank you so much for doing this!

I'm a very "show me" kind of person, and I needed to have tangible proof of my weight loss. So, in your case, I would get three boxes of 21 lb. kitty litter and try picking that up..........can't do it!! THAT is how much weight you have lost. Amazing when you look at it that way, huh.

You are doing great, and you just keep doing what you know is right, and you'll become exactly what you want to become......!

Yippee!

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Karen, I have a question for everyone.  What date do you calculate your weight loss from? I went and had my consult for weight loss surgery and started with the nutritionist diet on Jan. 13 2007.  I lost 26 lbs. before surgery so really I consider that preparatory weight lost as part of my total weight loss which would be -88 lbs lost since the beginning of my wls journey.  When it comes to getting a Century Card does it have to be what you lost since your surgery date? I'm looking for anyone's input. Thanks, Bev

bev....who is keeper of the rules????? this site (OH)  is not just for ppl who have had wls-tho the majority of folks here have or will....it is for support for those who have weight issues--it used to be called AMOS-which i believe was association (tho that word doesn't sound right this morning! darlene? others?) for morbid obesity support--support being the key word! when you have lost 100# you have lost 100# !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sing from the rafters!!!!!!!!! shout it out and get ye a gold card!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *~*jmho*~*

Hi Margo, LOL. Thanks.  Although I did notice when I filled out all the information to use the new OH ticker feature it only recognizes the weight loss from my wls date. I was talking to LinduhM last night and she said the same thing.  You just create your century card when you know you have lost 100 lbs.  Only 12 lbs to go. Thank again, Bev

1. SURGERY DATE, WEIGHT, HEIGHT: October 8,2007 / 291 / 5'1" 2.CURRENT WEIGHT AND LBS. LOST: 196.6 /  94.4 3. MAIN SOURCE OF PROTEIN: cottage cheese, chicken, fish, cheese, beef, pork, yogurt. I    need to start on the protein shakes again I think. 4.WATER CONSUMPTION?: I work really hard at getting 64 oz. in but most of the time it is more like around 55 oz.. 5. ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH VITAMINS? Yes, I never miss a vitamin at any time. 6.WHAT VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS ARE YOU TAKING? 2 chewable Flintstone vitamins and B-12 sublingual dot per day. 7. ANY HAIR LOSS? I think I can see a bit of it but my beautician didn't see it when I got my hair cut the other day. I have very thin baby fine hair so it is hard to sometimes see. 8. WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE ARE YOU DOING? Well, I am a member of the YMCA and was going religously but lately I have been slacking on the Y. I do some walking on my own. I have to make a decision with my heart to myself to get back to the Y and JUST DO IT!! 9. WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CHALLENGES? My current challenge is getting to my 100 pound weight loss. I have 5.6 pounds to go until I get my century card. The weight is coming off more slowly now. 10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE WLS EXPERIENCE? I am so glad that I did this. My only regret was that I didn't do it when I was younger but now I know that I had it when i was ready for it. Everyones life is full of wouldda, couldda, shouldda's and they belong in the garbage. I am taking my new life and I am running with it just as fast as my short little legs will go. I love the new experiences that I am having and for the first time in my life I am a person that truly loves herself, warts and all. I am the person that God has fully wanted me to be. I have never experienced so much happiness. 11. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR "WOW" MOMENTS? My first WOW moment was in the hospital when I got a look at my nails growning. I haven't bit them at all. I am now buying my clothes in the regular department and not in women's. It is so fun to see the size of my clothes when I hold them up. When they look so small it amazes me. I can fit in the turnstyles now. I weigh less than my drivers license says and less than my husband too. Neither one of them have ever happened. I am now out of the 200's and into the 100's and I vow never to return to them. There is a lot more but I don't have all the space to write them. 12. DO YOU HAVE AN "ISSUE" WITH SLEEPING? I usually always have a issue with sleeping. I have suffered with insomnia since I was in my middle 20's. Usually I can take 1 tylenol pm and I am alright. If I take 2 I am groggy all the next day. At this time in my life I am not having as much of a problem with sleeping. 13. OK, we're being open sisters here....ANY PROBLEMS WITH CONSTIPATION? I have had a problem with it and still do at times. I no longer take the vitamins with iron since the problem got so bad. I do have stool softners from the doctor and take them if needed. Since I have been off the iron I seem to be doing better. If I eat to much cheese it can happen to me too. I can take in a bit more fat in my diet and that usually helps. I can drink a glass of whole milk and usually I am alright..

Aloha my dear Brenda......

You are such a positive force in here!! Look at you! Almost at 100 lost. And, you will be there before you know it. I was such a big baby about my "stalls" and whined in here about it all the time...but you know what, I got so much encouragement and support, and everyone was right.......I did break through each plateau and went down, down, down.

Your wow moments are wonderful!! I, too, was so excited when I weighed less than my driver's license said...and I LIED big time on my license. It was 200 lbs!! ha! Try 300 plus!!

Thanks for playing with us here.......these are so inspiring!

Keep up the great work

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Here are the questions......altered a little from before:

1. SURGERY DATE, WEIGHT, HEIGHT: August 29, 2007  242.2     5'3"

2.CURRENT WEIGHT AND LBS. LOST: 125.8  Lost 116.4 pounds 

3. MAIN SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Beef, chicken, fish, cheese, cottage cheese, refried beans

4.WATER CONSUMPTION?: Approx. 80-90oz. a day. I sip constantly....except during and after meals

5. ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH VITAMINS? Yes, I keep vitamins in a weekly " pill box" next to my computer and water bottle with me at all times.

6.WHAT VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS ARE YOU TAKING? 4 calcium citrate tablets per day, 2 Flinestone Complete Vitamins, 3 iron tablet a day

7. ANY HAIR LOSS? Lost some about 4 months out, it is growing back in now.

8. WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE ARE YOU DOING? I walk twice a day. My doctor said that was enough because I was still losing too much weight.

9. WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT CHALLENGES? My challenge is to not to lose anymore then another 5 pounds....I am actually trying to just maintain.

10. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WHOLE WLS EXPERIENCE? I am blessed. I have my life back. I can do just about anything I want to do. My pain is minimal and I feel awesome!! Plus I have made all these wonderful friends here on OFF!!!!
11. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR "WOW" MOMENTS? Seeing friends that I hadn't seen in awhile and them talking to me and not knowing who I am. Playing on the floor with my grandchildren. Riding a bike.....on and on it goes!!
12. DO YOU HAVE AN "ISSUE" WITH SLEEPING? No...this isn't a problem for me.
13. OK, we're being open sisters here....ANY PROBLEMS WITH CONSTIPATION? No....I eat kashi in my yogurt every morning. I use 2 T. of Benefiber in one bottle of water a day. I have never had this kind of problem.

Aloha Beautiful Connie D,.......You have done excellently and are truly an inspiration to all. 116.4 pounds in 10 months is amazing!

I, too, am trying to maintain, and it's a whole new experience, isn't it. I still shy away from fats and pastas, rice, etc. which I know I CAN eat now, but just don't want to reintroduce those. Sugar is OUT....but I am adding more nuts, soy crisps, fruits, etc.

Thanks so much for sharing.......our journey has been similar.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen