happy friday!  tgif!  stay off 95 S!!  LOL 

hey guys! just got home from dr appt.  requested to see Dr Halmi, but someone apparently screwed up and i saw Dr Tran instead.  i had never met him before.  i felt rushed.  i wasnt impressed with him at all.  i guess im just spoiled with Dr Halmi.

but......my bloodwork looks good!   my thyroid levels are ABSOLUTELY normal!  NORMAL! woo hoo!!  i was thinking i was having thyroid symptoms, but nope, they were smack dab in the middle of the range.  my iron was "OK", could be better.   when i went into Dr Halmi last year, my ferritin level was 3..today it was 16 (range 10-154) ..still not great, but not as bad as last year.  i weighed 201.7# last year when i was there in 04/09, today i was 189.9# on his scale. 

Dr Tran said i am doing well at where i am with being 5 years out.  i still know that i have a goal to get down to.  my personal goal is 175#, i am looking to be there by August 29th.  my goal of 180# by July 15th.  so, i am going to keep on plugging away at it.  Dr Tran says at this point in my weight loss, i should not be drinking protein shakes.  he said that the protein shakes are easily absorbed, but at this point i should be getting my protein mainly from foods and that getting it that way will make my body work for it more.  but, ive decided to use them in conjuction with food while im in this phase of trying to lose weight.  it helps. 

so, all in all. it was good.  he said he wants me back in 6 months.  i asked him even this far out from wls? yes, they monitor every 6 months.  its easier to spot a problem if you are in more often.  WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE ..look at what happened to me with my iron levels!!!!

so, i had IHOP for breakfast.  the 2 Eggs for Me  (2 eggbeaters scrambled, melted cheddar cheese on top, 2 slices turkey bacon, 1/2 slice of whole wheat toast and a couple bites canteloupe)  YUM!

have a great day!~~

-hugs-
dawn

hi everyone!

today was my fourth day of the 5 DPT.  i have done awesome with it.  had no issues with it and it really helped cut my carb cravings.  ive not been hungry once. 

i have an appt with Dr Halmi tomorrow for a check-up and discuss bloodwork results.  i will let you all know how it goes

how are you all doing? any plans for the holiday weekend?

take care!
-hugs-
dawn

8 weeks.  13.5# lost.  Inches lost (Total): 6"

Good luck tomorrow.  I hope it works out for you.

Today is my 6 year Surgiversary . It is a day I will never forget as long as I live . I went into this weighing right around 309 , but my heaviest weight was 349 ,
Here I am with my grandson at Halloween, I was supposed to be Baby from Monster inc , Then you see the one of me in the hospital bed , that was the day of surgery in ICU .., wanting more pain meds ... Of course ...  ..




SO Here I am today ... I am down to 125 pounds . While I have had no complications from the RNY , I have Addisons Disease. I have no adrenal glands. I have a hard time keeping weight on because I take a boat load of steroids and it has my metabolism whacked ,

I want to thank God for getting me through this , My family who doubted this from day one , who are now my biggest fans . To my surgeon , Dr, Neil Hutcher I will never forget you telling me I brought you to your knees . I had a lot of hernias to repair and he was in there 7 hours.  

Today I sit here weighing 125 pounds . I have had all if my plastics done , Breast Lift , Silicone Implants, Butt Lift ( Used my own skin no implants ) Bracchioplasty ( Arms ) Abdomnioplasty , All I have left is my legs , and I have had people tell me I do not need to do them , but we will see ,

I am the happiest I have ever been in my life ,. I have done things I could only dream of doing , I have snorkeled almost the entire Caribbean , I have learn to run with out getting out of breath , I am a support group leader as well as a Bariatric Life Coach. My goal in life is to give back to those that come after me ,
I remarried in 07 to a man that sometimes I feel I do not deserve. He treats me like a princess  . I am a grandmother of 3 beautiful boys , who with out this surgery I would not be able to play with and enjoy . The list goes on and on ....
I just want to say to those who are thinking about this surgery , what ever type .. do your homework . Make sure you pick the surgeon that is right for you , choose the surgery that is right for you .,., and Never  Ever let anyone tell you you are cheating . This has been the hardest thing I have ever done . No diet out there was this hard . So with that ,I just want to say thank you again to all my friends here on OH ... to my Support Group Leader Mentors who had faith in me to bring me back into the group .
If you find you need help , you can reach me at www.vawlsevents.com  , I also run an on line support group here on OH called LIFESTARTS.
. You may visit the group at http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/LifeStartsWLS08/.
If you are interested in joining I would love to have you . I am also getting ready to partner up ad restart my group in the TRI City Area in Richmond VA Area . This will be announced soon as we get a place to hold our meetings .

Happy i am ... Excited about my life .. knowing that I received the ultimate gift and tool . One I refuse to abuse . You can say pounds gone forever , but I am here to tell you , that is a lie ... you must always fight to keep the pounds off , Nothing is forever with out hard work  .

SO , here is me today .... Yes I am very proud of my accomplishments ... So today I go and celebrate . My Hubs is taking me to Bonefish Grill , where I will have the Chilean Sea Bass , my favorite .
So again .. Thank you to all that have supported me here , and abroad . I love each and everyone of you . I will be your Always Tink ! 

Proud Obesity Help Bariatric Life Coach

Does anyone know anything about this group???? Anyone have surgery through them??? I was driving down the interstate the other day and saw a billboard for them and it states NO PROGRAM  FEES.  That caught my attention lol.  I have a seminar set up for tomorrow.  I was wondering if anyone had any experience good or bad with this group??? Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks, Kerry