6 Months Post-Op

Today marks 6 months since I had the Duodenal Switch Procedure. I stepped up on the dreaded scale this morning and was pleasantly surprised at the number staring back at me. In 6 months I have lost 123 lbs!!! It's like I lost a whole person! I had been carrying the extra weight of a person on my back, literally. But now I'm down 123 lbs!!!!! Hip hip hooray & Bless God!

I was nervous, as usual, to step onto the scales this morning. I was especially nervous since this past weekend was Christmas and I did quite a bit of celebrating in the form of food. :- I ate more chocolate than I thought was humanly possibly. There were M&M's from my stocking, cookies from an exchange earlier in the week, cake balls, chocolate covered pretzels, and chocolate covered popcorn, just to name a few. I felt the need to sample these treats every time I walked passed them, hungry or not. My stomach would even start to hurt and grumble but I would continue to eat the sweets. Really? Thank God for a surgery that works, even when I do not work the way I should.


6 Months Post-Op photos!

The best part about taking these pictures this evening is that I had to keep pulling my pants up. They are falling off of me! Yay! The shirt is even getting a bit baggyish too. Hooray!

I Can Relate

I received a forward today from a friend with these weight related quotes. I thought they were hilarious and I could absolutely relate!

"I have metal fillings in my teeth. My refrigerator magnets keep pulling me into the kitchen. That's why I can't lose weight!"

"What fits your busy schedule better, exercising on hour a day or being dead 24 hours a day?"

I'm going to order a broiled skinless chicken breast, but I want you to bring me lasagna and garlic bread by mistake."

"If you put a crouton on your sundae instead of a cherry, it counts as a salad."

"The handle on your recliner does not qualify as an exercise machine."

"I was going to wake up early to go jogging but my toes voted against me 10 to 1."

"My doctor told me to start my exercise program very gradually. Today I drove past a store that sells sweat pants."

"The healthiest part of a donut is the hole. Unfortunately, you have to eat through the rest of the donut to get there!"

Target Clothes

Okay, get this...I bought a pair of jeans from Target! Yes, me! No, for real! Can you believe it?! TARGET CLOTHES!!! Me! I know you are thinking, "That's common and everyone does it." Not this big girl...not until now!

I was floating on air two weeks ago when I purchased my first pair of jeans from Target. I've never been able to wear clothes from there before. Yes, they were still plus size, but I could shop at a regular store just like anybody else. I've needed new jeans for awhile now. When others start to notice your pants are too baggy it's a bit embarrassing. I attempted to buy some at Wal-Mart a few weeks back, but after trying them on they were too short, tight, and looked cheap. Of course I don't want to spend much money on clothes as I shrink through the sizes, but still, I want them to look alright. I really didn't think the Target jeans would work either, but I figured why not check them out. I was nervous putting them on and zipping them in the dressing room. I nearly teared up when was able to get them on! I was on a natural high when I left the store that evening.

I was completely bummed out when I wore them the next day and the zipper wouldn't stay up. I figured it was because I was too big for them and was making them bust at the seams. That night when I got home I inspected them and the bottom of the zipper was missing the little clasp thing that holds it together. Yay, it wasn't me! I returned them to the store and sadly, they didn't have any others in that size and color. After going to two more Targets, I found the size and color I wanted and was thrilled once again. So much so that I got brave a tried on a few shirts, which fit also. How cool is that? I did the smart thing and only bought one. ;) You can't imagine the feeling of being able to shop for clothes at Target if you'd never been really overweight. I normally just shop at Lane Bryant & The Avenue and have to pay their expensive prices because that's what fits. Not any longer! Yippee!!!! I've even asked for a Target gift card for Christmas so I can do a little more damage in the clothing department. I can't wait! ;-)

5 Months Post-Op

Sunday was 5 months since I had my DS weight loss surgery. I can't believe it's already been that long! It's not always smooth sailing, but as I've said numerous times, it's worth it.

I weighed myself this morning and in 5 months I've lost 106 lbs!!!!!! Yes, I am thrilled. However, I can't help being a little disappointed that I only lost 10 lbs in the last month when the month before I lost 20. I know, I know, shut up, right?! I know my weight loss will not be the same from month to month and there are even things I could have done in the last month to help it along more. I haven't been exercising AT ALL. I hate it, and therefore I come up with every excuse in the book to not do it. Yes, life gets busy and a few excuses are valid, but really?! I'm pretty sure I managed to fit in a lot of TV time, some of which I could have exchanged for the dreaded exercise! :-P I also need to watch my carb intake. I've gotten a bit lax lately. I've eaten too many chips/crackers, potatoes, and the occasional bread. It's time to tighten the reigns on those things once again and remember the long term goal.

I took my 5 month pictures yesterday. It's so fun to see the difference.

I look a bit lopsided here. I think I had my pants pulled up weird! lol!

Getting smaller! Yay!

These pants are starting to get a little baggy!

I even think the back fat is getting a little smaller. Not a ton yet, but maybe a little.

4 months post-op and 96 lbs gone!

I had my DS surgery 4 months ago today. I cannot believe it's already been that long. What I also can't believe, and am SO THRILLED about, is that in these past 4 months I have lost 96 lbs. Yes, 96 lbs!!!!! I weighed myself three times yesterday because I couldn't believe it. I thought surely the scale was wrong. That's 20 lbs in the last month! OH. MY. GOSH! I am so excited! No, it's hasn't all been a walk in the park, but it's been worth it. Even the days when I don't feel well because some food didn't agree with me, I'm still thankful for this procedure. It has definitely given me a whole new outlook on life. It's given me my life back. It's pretty awesome!

06-27-10 - day before surgery

I can't believe my eyes! This comparison has seriously taken my breath away!

10-31-10 - 4 months post-op

I was asked by a fellow blogger about what I eat. I eat a pretty big variety of things. The thing that really helps me is that my stomach is 2/3's smaller than it originally was so that gives me restriction. I also only absorb 20% of the fat I eat which I feel is my saving grace. I try to eat healthy though; lots of protein with salads or veggies. My breakfasts usually consist of 2 scrambled eggs, or an omelet that I eat on for half the day, or a cup of cottage cheese, sometimes along with a fiber bar. Lunches, as I said, may be salads, or some type of meat along with veggies and/or a salad. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I've had nachos as well. I just try to not make that a daily, or weekly, event. I've been trying to stay away from carbs as well; things like breads, pastas, rices, and potatoes. Unfortunately potatoes are one of my faves and I've had them one too many times lately. The good thing is I definitely can't eat as much of them as before surgery. My dinners are pretty random. Last night it was just cottage cheese because I felt kinda icky. Sometimes it's scrambled eggs, refried beans, fajita meat with the fixin's, minus the tortilla, tuna, chicken, whatever. I eat out a lot too, but try to make good choices. But like I said, I'm nowhere near perfect. This month, being my birthday month, I had a lot of celebrations and eating out so there was definitely an over abundance of chips to munch on and sweets to partake in. I think what I'm learning is that I can have those things occasionally. It just has to be in moderation. Not daily, like the old me. I also need to learn not to beat myself up when I do splurge. I'm not there yet, but trying. I don't want to feel so guilty every time I eat M&M's or crackers. I want to find that healthy fine line in between going hog wild over things and feeling total guilt from eating them. I will get there. It's a process.

What a difference 4 months make!

Thanks again for following me on this journey. I look forward to lots of more fun weigh-ins and before/after photos! :-)

Dallas Komen 5K

Dallas Komen Race for the Cure was Saturday, October 16th. Leigh Ann, Joy, & I, as well as what seemed like a trillion other people, participated in the 5K event. There were so many participants that we couldn't walk very fast if we'd wanted to. It seemed like we were just taking a leisurely stroll through some pretty neighborhoods. We finished the 5K in 1:32.12, however we technically didn't even cross the start line of the Race until it had been officially going on for at least 20 minutes. ;)

the sea of people

As we were walking the 3.1 miles of the 5K I was thinking to myself what an incredible event this was. Komen and Race for the Cure is an awesome organization that is helping to find a cure for breast cancer and for that I am above and beyond grateful. But I was also thinking about how it was incredible that I was participating in my 2nd 5K in 3 weeks. I thought about the ease in which I was able to walk the 5K. Yes, I was hot and sweaty but I was in no great pain. I thought back to 3 1/2 month ago, pre-surgery, where walking from the parking garage at work to my desk had me winded and sweaty. What an incredible difference weight loss makes. When you are at your highest weight and have completely given up, everything seems impossible; kind of like you are drowning. But now...now I sort of feel invincible. Like I have been given my life back. It's weird to stop and think about. My weight has kept me a prisoner my entire life, and now I feel like the chains are gone. It's a fabulous feeling.

crossing the finish line

I can't wait to see what else this wonderful weight loss journey will hold!

3 Months Post-Op

As of September 28th it's been 3 months since my DS surgery. Time flies when you're having fun!

At my 3 month check-up on 9-16-10 I had lost 66.5 lbs. I was thrilled! I had a good check-up with my surgeon and he said I was doing well and on track. Yay! My blood pressure is good too since going off meds. I weighed on my own scales on 9-29-10 and my total lost was 75 lbs!!!! I couldn't believe it. Having surgery was the best decision I could have made! I look forward to the months to come. This is working! Praise God!

Here are my 3 month post-op pics that I took yesterday.

Back fat, oh back fat.

I decided to post this photo because I want to be able to see the shrinkage of the back fat and back spare tire during this journey. I hadn't taken pictures of my back until now, but after trying on clothes in the 3 way mirror yesterday I saw the way my back looks in clingy clothing. YIKES! I've lost in my stomach, in the front, but what about this?!?!?! I sure hope it's next to start shrinking. Stay tuned!

Oh, and on a side note, trying on clothes yesterday didn't make me want to cry and go into a deep depression. Some items were actually TOO BIG! Whoo hoo! I even bought a pair of pants for work that are 2-3 sizes smaller than what I've been wearing. It was VERY exciting! AND my foot is shrinking too. The size 11's didn't fit. It was GREAT!