How are we doing? (Yet again!)

Thank you Connie,  I am going to the OH conference next weekend and plan on seeing Julia, so hopefully will have lots of pictures to share.

Debi

I was thinking the same thing!  New picture for sure and we probably won't recognize you...but will be soooo happy for you!  Congrats....I have been away way too long!

Hi Karen,

I think this is one of my favorites to read when you do this.  I LOVE to follow everyone's progress and it's great to read the fabulous successes!  So here goes......

1.  Surgery date & weight/height:  June 5, 2008/237/5'5"

2.  Current weight and lbs. lost:  207 current/30 lbs lost since surgery/79 lbs lost since highest weight 14 months ago.

3.  Main source of protein:  Whey (Isopure & shakes), AchievOne, cottage cheese, yogurt, turkey, fish

4.  Water:  75 - 85 oz a day

5.  Vitamins & Supplements:  Doctor's office does not have me on any as yet

7.  Medical Problems:  Protein absorbtion problem in the beginning but that has improved

8.  Exercise:  I'm bad at this as well.  Treadmill in the house but that doesn't seem to be enough to help.  I've been thinking I need to join a gym to force myself to do it.

9.  Current Challenges?:  Oh so many..... Exercise.  Frustration I'm not losing as much weight as I had hoped.  Trying to stay positive.  That is a fight with myself every single day.  I am so grateful to have this opportunity and every pound or inch I lose is a true blessing. 

10.  Feelings about the WLS experience?:  Grateful.  Positive.  Still hopeful it turns out to be the answer for me that I've seeked for years and years and years.

11.  "Wow" moments?:  Shopping two weeks ago and buying sizes so much smaller.  I still don't see the results people comment on.  I looked in the mirror the other day and I still see myself as I always did.  I look at the pants before I put them on and don't think they should fit.

Hugs,

Kathi

Aloha baby sister........I am SO GLAD that you responded to these questions, because it is so important for all of us to go along with our sisters who are newly on the Loser's Bench. It brings back all those fears of being THE ONE who doesn't succeed, and how much the support from the OFF helped us through those times.

I have a feeling that you are going to be a total success story......and that a year from now you will be posting a HUGE number of lbs. gone, gone, gone. Please try not to get discouraged....it's easy for me to say that, but I sure had my sessions of worrying about stalls and plateaus. I came in here and got encouraged again, and eventually the lbs. came off, and in the end, I'm lower than goal.

Thank you so much for sharing your adventure with us! We will be here cheering you on all the way down the scale to where you want to be.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

1. Surgery date & weight at surgery/height: April 25, 2006 - 290lbs and 5'1"

2. Current weight and lbs. lost: 135lbs current/155 lbs. lost

3. Main source of protein: protein shakes made with orange flavored crystal light (Walmart brand and added fruit), yogurt, cottage cheese w/SF blackberry jam, chicken, steak, shrimp.

4. How much water are you getting in?: I keep a mug that holds 64oz of water flavored with SF syrups such as caramel, Khalua, etc. and drink that daily plus crystal light and decaf tea.

5. Are you keeping up with vitamins/water, etc? Yes, I keep vitamins in a weekly " pill box" .

6. What vitamins & supplements are you taking? One senior vitamin each day, B12 sublinqual daily, Vit. B complex daily, Vit. A daily, Biotin daily, two calcium citrate daily.

7. Any medical problems? I've had things that I've had to see the doctor about, but most not WLS related...like torn rotator cuffs...am suffering from 2nd one now.  And after fall at airport in Chicago after visit with daughter in Colorado Aug I am hurting from a sore tailbone and left arm that is sore not only because of rotator cuff but now elbow.  But at least my headache has stopped...thanks to the Lord.  I almost had to stay in Chicago but convinced paramedics and airline staff that I truly needed to get home.

8. What kind of exercise are you doing? Was going to our gym but with shoulder problem that has been hard but I am so much more active in my daily life that I know I am working out. 

9. What your your current challenges? To do more formal exercise at home and gym.  My arms are my most hated aspect of my body.  I would love to have plastic surgery but that is impossible but I would love to wear shirts and dresses with sleeves shorter than elbow length.

10. How do you feel about the whole WLS experience? All aspects!  I am no longer ashamed of how I look and I feel great!  At almost 59 I know I would not feel this great if I had not had surgery!  I do long to correct some skin issues but that will most likely never happen baring a miracle of course but I can cover the flaws with clothing and wearing size 4/6's is amazing to someone who was ready to move up and out of size size 3X!

11. What are some of your "wow" moments? My wow moments are continuing and always blow me away!! Small things lately make me smile inside...like putting on panties without holding on to something, or sitting on the floor with crossed legs and getting up from that position, or shopping in the "petite" section, or never thinking twice about any chair, theater seat, or airplane seat. (I used to dread those things...always worrying that I wouldn't fit or they would break.) Huge wow is just looking in the mirror or elevator doors or store front windows and still shocked that it is really me I am seeing.  I also love my shadow now that doesn't take up half the pavement when I stand outside and work.  Too amazing. And too many more to type out...but they are numerous for sure.  I love not worrying about being the heaviest one in the room anymore and have so much more compassion for obese people now.  I pray for them and when opportunity arises I tell them about my WLS.

Aloha Joan....and it is so good to see you again!! Thank you so much for joining us in this celebration of our lives.

I am so sorry about the fall in the airport and the sore tailbone. It hurts just thinking about that. I used to be uncomfortable in airline seats because I was so BIG, and nowadays I'm uncomfortable because my boney buh-tocks make me shift positions constantly. Do you use a "donut" to sit on to help with the pain? I hear those help a lot.

Your story is always so inspiring, my friend. 290 lbs. on a 5'1" person is a lot to carry around. And now...look at you......in size 4/6's!!!! I'll bet you never, in your wildest imagination thought you would ever wear a size 4 anything!! I know when I put on my size 8 jeans......I'm just grinning inside and almost still unable to believe that I can get them on!

Thanks again for playing with us here.....and I MISS YOU! Please don't stay away so long.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Karen you are one of the most gracious people i know and I count myself as blessed to be able to converse with you and count you as a friend, albiet long distance....

Yes, I do have a donut to use since DD fell a couple years back and did the same thing.

I agree we all have a lot to be grateful for...I too sometimes wear a size 8 in jeans due to the zipper and button waist although the but-tocks and legs are sooo loose.

But it is still a joy to fold clothes and be surpirsed they are mine...size 5 undies crack me up.....

ALOHA Karen!!! sorry i am late responding to your post but here i am....

surgery date & weight & height...10/17/06 334 lbs 5'7"

current weight i believe is still at 190 (haven't been weighed last couple weeks) lost so far is 140 lbs

main protein is meats, cheeses, protein bars and shrimp

water...not sure how much i am drinking all the time especially at work where its hot...lol

vitamins & water...yuppers i sure am except when i forget to take them once in awhile...grrr

what types i am taking...calcium citrate 4 a day 2 in am 2 in pm, flintstone chewables 2 a day, vit A, vit B12, and iron 1 a day

medical problems...only that my vit a is low will know after blood test if its up more

exercises?? walking walking walking....now that i am working i am lifting, bending, stretching...and more walking (does sex count?? lol)

how do i feel about WLS...my only regret is i didn't have it done sooner!!! i am sure all the stress in ly life has put the halt on my weight loss but i am happy where i am if it doen't come down any lower....

WOW moments...i have had a ton of those...not so much now because i am around new people that never saw me "fat" but when i tell people here the reason i can't eat certain foods i have to explain to them about WLS and they ask me how much  i lost and they are awe-struck especially when i show them my before photos...seeing myself in a window or a mirror i don't know that person...OMG its ME!!!!! sitting in a movie theater seat and still have room to wiggle around in!!! sitting in a booth at the restaurant and lots of room in front of me and not having a table for boob support!!!! so many WOW moments to many to list...LOL

thanks for asking again these ??'s karen!!!

hugs

Aloha sweet Judy.........wow, I am again inspired! 140 lbs. is yet another person NOT being carried around on your back! For some reason I need to visualize what that means....and I usually have a friend or family member who weighs what someone has lost, and I imagine that person on the back of my OFF sister!! Just imagine going through all that you have in the past year or so carrying around a 140 lb. person on your back!! I am so proud of you!

You have faced, and moved through, so many challenges and continue to live life fully. I am happy for you. And, YES, sex does count in calorie burning! Big time!! Also babysitting counts.......each time I've taken care of my grandkids for a few days I lose 10 lbs! Ha! Good thing they don't live on Maui, or I would have disappeared by now....Ha.

Thank you so much for playing with us here....and for sharing your life so deeply with all of us. I wish for you nothing but good things in the future.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Aloha----
1.  Surgery date Nov 2007  Ht 4'11"

2.  Current Weight is 121 and have 6lbs left to go to meet goal

3.  Main source of protien: Shakes, protien bar, chicken, turkey, nuts, jerkey, and peanut butter.

4.  How much water are you getting in?  Sometimes more than 64oz and sometimes just 64oz.

5.  Are you keeping up with vitamins/water, etc?  Yes, I am very faithful to make sure I do drink 640z and take vitamins.

6.  What vitamins & Supplements are you taking:  Potassium, Calcium 1500mg w/vit D & magnesium (spread out through day. Actigol, vit b-12, Biotin, Calcuim, Flintstones iron, stool softener. 

7.  Any medical problems?  When I  eat I have a problem with food getting stuck in my chest (read from people that it might be a stricture) but I have not gone back to the Dr.

8.  What kind of exercise are you doing?  I ride horses, walk, use a stair climber, jump rope and use my hula hoop.  (wish I could say it was everyday- but it isn't).

9.  What are your current challenges?  Exercise!!!  and I can't get the craving for sweets out of my head.  I have not had any sweets because I'm afraid that it will make me sick but I have made Zuccuni ? Bread with spenda and whole wheat and I could have just lived on that.

10.  How do you feel about the whole WLS experience?  At first I was mad because I just wanted to be thin (for once in my life) and I neglected to do the research that I needed to do to get the whole picture.  My nut nor my Dr. elaborated on the forever changes I would have to begin and I know that I am to blame too...  But now that I have the knowledge of what needs to be done everyday for the rest of my life......  I am beginning to like me..  and I can't ever in my life been able to say that.  I can actually climb up on a horse without a chair and I don't look like a sack of potatoes up there.  I am healthy, not on Cholesterol meds or meds for my diabetes and my blood pressure is great... and I have 6 lbs until I meet my goal......   food is no longer my priority.

11.  What are some of your "wow" moments?  Crossing my legs, not seeing my two faces looking back at me in the mirror, wearing cute small clothes, (wearing my daughters clothes) shopping in the little girls section instead of the plus size section, running farther and lonnger than my son and husband.    Yea, thank you Jesus for helping through all of this.....  I love it...