How are we doing?

Water does hurt, try putting either a slice of lemon in it or a slice of cucumber in i****er is har****hink of all the things we use it for for cleanning.....:)

Thanks Darlene, I will try that.
Nan

Aloha Nancy.......How exciting that you can wear a size 6!! You must be very tiny. A friend of mine also lost about 135 lbs. and was 135 for a long time, and then for some reason she began losing again, and got down to just about 100 lbs.....way too low for her. I was worried when I saw her at that weight because her little legs were like toothpicks, and her face looked drawn and sad.

We sure all have our struggles, don't we. It helps me so much to hear about what everyone is working on, and what is going good, and what isn't. They actually made us sign a form that promised we would take our vitamins for the rest of our lives faithfully. Ha...not legal, but it made an impression on all of us how important that really is.

Your participation is really appreciated, and I hope you have no further medical problems.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

1. Surgery date & weight/height at surgery:   July 16, 2009  5'5" 242.5

2. Current weight and lbs. lost: 176 currently,  66.5 lost

3. Main source of protein: Shakes, tuna, jerky, chicken, beans, shrimp, nuts, coffee w/protein pwdr.

4. How much water are you getting in?: Not enough.  In winter it's hard on me.  I can get it in without a problem in the summer.

5. Are you keeping up with vitamins/water, etc? 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 & supplements are you taking? One multi each day, B12 sublinqual (1 a day), ), Vit. D,  one D 50,000 a week, Iron 1xday, C 1xday, and calcium if I remember 1800 mg. daily

7. Any medical problems?   None yet.  My previous problems have actually improved

8. What kind of exercise are you doing? I've been doing almost NO exercise, other than walking the dogs.

9. What are your current challenges? Currently it's remembering to take my pills and get my water in.  oh and exercising.

10. How do you feel about the whole WLS experience? I have never been happier.  I am so proud of myself for making the tool work for me.  I'd do it over in a heartbeat.

11. What are some of your "wow" moments?  Crossing my legs, getting into a size 12 already, getting up from the floor without having to crawl to something to help me get up.  Being able to walk further and longer.  Just walking is a wow moment.

Jan

Aloha Jani.....I LOVE your enthusiasm about the whole WLS process!!

You have done a fabulous job in less than five months! You are losing over 10 lbs. a month and that will get you to goal in a jiffy. However, don't be discouraged if you hit a temporary plateau......I think many of us did the "stair step" thing.....down for quite awhile, then stop, then down again, stop, etc. At 200 I just seemed to come to a halt in weight loss....thought it was all over for me. Then one magical morning the scale said "198." I was so excited I had to call another WLS friend and tell her "I'm in the ones!"

I can imagine that it' much harder to drink plenty of water in the wintertime if you live where it's cold. When I get bored with water I put those little packets into the water and have lemonade, peach or banana flavored water.

Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

!. Surgery date and Height and weight  at time of surgery   DEC 12 2005  5'  252   highest  359

2. Current weight and # lost  149   total lost 200  since surgery 103

3 Main source of protein  Mostly from meat and dairy   I do drink a supplement every day .

4. How much water.  That's not a problem here I drink nearly a gallon a day.

5.  Keeping up with vitamin water regimen.   Most of the time.  Sometimes I cant face the handful of pills so I give myself permission to skip a day.  not very often and my levels are always good so I don't worry about it.

6. Vitim ans and supplements I take.   2 multivitamins   3 calcium's  2vb-12 2  iron  1 evista
I take  other prescriptions but nothing to do with rny.

7. Any Medical problems?  My allergies are much worse  but they might have gotten worse anyway with menopause.   My ms is getting some worse but that would probably have happened anyway also.  arthritis didn't go away.

8. Exercise   Does chasing kids and sitting through shrink sessions count as exercise?

9    Current challenges   I am starting to go back to bad old habits like eating too fast and such.  I really have to watch that.

10.   How do I feel about surgery experience.  I am happy with it   I am healthier   can move easier  just better all around.

11. Wow moments   First time i could cross my legs    first 14 i got into   the time I took a bath and discovered there was extra room on both sides of me in the bath tub~~     the day my husband picked me up and carried me just because he could.      the moment I realize I could continue to do my specialized foster care.

12.

Aloha Jo W........Wow, you have maintained for a long time. That's what I love to hear. You lost a lot before surgery........so you must have already have made some healthy changes. Good for you!

Ha...I know what you mean about the "handful of pills." If I dump out my weekly thingy for the day, it's rough to imagine getting them all in before bedtime. So, now I just take a couple each time I sit down on the couch throughout the day, and eventually I've taken them all.

Sorry about the allergies and ms.........but I think you are right...they probably would have changed without the surgery, and perhaps faster.

Thank you so much for your honesty and sharing. I know you've inspired someone today besides me.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Great idea!  Thanks.

1. Surgery date & weight/height at surgery: December 13, 2007; 360 lbs/6'4"

2. Current weight and lbs. lost: 218 current/142 lbs. lost

3. Main source of protein: Eggs, meat and cheese.  Two eggs every day for breakfast.  About 4 to 5 ounces of cheese every day.

4. How much water are you getting in?: About one gallon a day (but I use Crystal Light, can't stand water).

5. Are you keeping up with vitamins/water, etc? Yes, I keep vitamins in a weekly " pill box" and have my cell phone set to go off with a song by Dr Hook and the Medicine Show.  Use a one quart Rubbermaid container to drink from and carry a 3 quart pitcher to work with me every day besides.

6. What vitamins & supplements are you taking? B-12, Calcium Citrate (3 per day), 2 one a day vitamins (Centrum Silver), Proscar, Vitamin D-3 and Vitamin C.

7. Any medical problems? Had gall bladder removed about one year after RNY.

8. What kind of exercise are you doing?  Not a good answer, but none.  The most exercise I have done recently is all the walking in Branson.  And we did do a lot of walking.  When we went to the outlet malls, we walked the entire strip center.

9. What are your current challenges? Honestly, forcing myself to eat what I know should be enough. There are times I would forget to eat if I did not have my big bag next to my desk.

10. How do you feel about the whole WLS experience? The best thing that ever happened to me.  My doc tried to get me to do it 18 months earlier, but I decided to let my wife do it to see if it works.

11. What are some of your "wow" moments? My latest wow moment was going into Casual Male XL and being told I was shopping in the wrong store.  Every day when I get dressed, I look at my jeans trying to figure how I am going to get this big butt into them, then I remember, I do not have a big butt any more.

12.  My biggest challenge at this time is probably keeping my mouth shut.  Not from eating, but from talking.  I am so happy that I share my story with anyone who will listen.  Some of them will listen, but really don't want to hear it.

Aloha George......you had me laughing there a couple of times. I especially liked the part where you looked at your skinny jeans and wondered how you were going to get you "big butt into them." Ha! I love that! I, too, have distorted image of myself sometimes and try on a Large by habit, then realize what I need is a small!

You are doing a terrific job of maintaining your weight loss, and it seems to me the very best part for you is the freedom you have achieved with this surgery. It really IS amazing how our feelings change when we aren't carrying about 100 plus extra pounds. We have literally shed a whole person!! I know I couldn't climb stairs with that 163 lb. woman on my back.....now I zip up them.

Thanks so much for sharing your story....and for being such a big part of the OFF. I always look forward to your shares.

Aloha nui loa,

Maui Karen

Hi Karen,  I agree with you.

1. Jan. 22nd, 2002   5 ft. 6, 260
2. 160 100-110 lost
3. Meat especially beef, chicken
4. I try to get 64 oz.
5and 6. I take a multivitamin and calcium
7. I had plastic surgery in 2004. I got rid of 8 lbs. of skin and 2 jean sizes.

8. I walk a lot and I dance at home. My job requires me to walk from one end of the hospital to the other.

9 . It is always a challenge to maintaining the weight loss. Especially with the holidays. I refuse to go back to where I was.

10. I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is so freeing not to be hungry 24/7 and to keep the weight off.

11. I went to Walt Disney world and walked at least 3-5 miles a day going through the parks. I did great and didn't poop out.
I also bought a designer dress that still fits. The band is an Awesome tool.
Mona