Month 3 measurements....and more.

I took my March measurements today and was pleasantly surprised! I have heard that the scale may stop moving as quickly but the inches will continue to fall off....I saw today that is for real!

Bicep- Jan: 13 inches/Mar: 12.5 (.5)
Breasts- Jan: 39.5 inches/ Mar: 36 (3.5)
Waist- Jan: 34.75 inches /Mar: 30.5 (4.25)
Stomach- Jan: 41 inches /Mar: 37.25 (3.75)
Hips- Jan: 46 inches/ Mar: 43 (3)
Calf- Jan: 15.75 inches/ Mar: 15/25 (.5)

Ahmazing huh?????!

I got my happy butt up and went for a run today!!! It felt so amazing to get out there and walk/run by myself with my music and my thoughts!  I haven't even attempted to run in over 1 1/2 years.  I have to say that running with 80 pounds less weight is so much easier!!  My life is changing everyday and I LOVE it!!

New weight class.

This girl hit the 150's today!!!!  I literally gasped when I saw 159.8!!! I haven't felt this amazing in a very long time. I am now down 78.8 pounds!!

I don't ever remember a time where I could feel my bones through my skin.  Since I've lost a whole lot of my ass I now have a tailbone.  Who knew it was hidden under all dat ass ;).

I'm actually dealing with a lot of pain if I sit for to long because I feel like my tailbone gets bruised!  My butt hurts all the time!  I have trouble sleeping now because if I lie on my side for to long my hip bones ache. Who knew all this would start happening?? Some of the achiness may be due to lupus and fibro but I think most of it is due to the weight loss.  I will take these problems all day long because at this moment I feel alive.

The past 2 weeks more so than anytime on this journey people have noticed the weight loss. I am seeing patients I haven't seen for 6 months and they are shocked.  I still have a lot of trouble taking compliments and I'm not sure if that will ever get easier.  After I get the compliment the inevitable question comes "how did you lose all the weight?" or "tell me your secrets!".  I catch my breath every time I get asked those questions. I have a brain battle for a couple seconds trying to figure out if I am going to be honest and divulge that I had bypass or if I am just going to say diet control.  So far I have opted for telling everyone I had gastric bypass.  After I say it I then feel guilty.  I always feel like I am then being judged. I feel like they are all thinking I took the easy way out.  Will I ever feel different??  Will I ever feel like I'm not being scrutinized?  I hate the feeling of guilt.  Bypass may seem like the easy way out to someone on the outside. Living through the process you learn quickly that this is far from easy.  Life is forever changed.  I'm also having a lot of mental battles now that I am able to eat more.  I've had a lot of anxiety come with the fact that I'm not nauseous all the time.  I am terrified that I am going to destroy all my progress.  I'm not making bad food choices by any means but I am eating more often.  I'm sure it's exactly what my body needs right now but to a food addict it's really scary.  I've realized the past 2 weeks that I still have a very long way to go.

5 1/2 months ago.

5 months ago I never would have been able to run through a blow up obstacle course and slide down a inflatable slide. I definitely wouldn't of been able to do it over and over. I was able to have fun at a little kiddos Birthday party!  If it hadn't of been so damn cold I would of continued to do it but I couldn't feel my feet!

This surgery has changed my life.  I can finally do things I've always wanted to do but didn't have the energy to do it.

I feel young, energetic, and healthy. It's all long overdue.
This morning I weighed 161.4 and I have lost 77.2 pounds! I am not losing nearly as quickly anymore but I know inches are falling off.  Since I've started the Carafate I am able to eat much easier.  I am working on trying to eat every 2 hours. That doesn't happen everyday but the more I eat the easier the weight comes off.  Honestly though it's HARD to eat often!  I have noticed that I can eat more at a sitting than I used to be able to. It's all baby steps!  

75 pounds!

Today I weighed 163.6 and I am down 75 pounds!!! 75 pounds!!! I cannot believe that just 5-6 months ago I was carrying around 75 extra pounds. I still have 50 pounds I want to lose to get to goal and I hope to be there within another 6 months! This has been the longest and hardest 5 months but also the most rewarding!  I don't think I have ever felt as confident as I do right now. I still have a lot of confidence to gain but I am extremely happy with my self confidence right now. This has been a true once in a lifetime journey.

I ended up getting a upper GI scan done on Wednesday morning.  The dr who did the scan let me know that I have reflux and a diverticulum on the top of my pouch.  When liquid and food passes through the pouch it is causing inflammation which in turn is causing nausea and pain.  The Carafate that Dr Westmoreland prescribed on Tuesday should hopefully help.  I took the Carafate for the first time Wednesday.  I felt like it was helping on Thursday as I was able to eat without any problems. Everyday since however I haven't felt much better or been able to eat a whole lot.  I'm really hoping it starts to improve so I can get healthy.

5 months post op.

I had my 5 month post op appointment with Dr Westmoreland today. I stressed to him and his nurse that the nausea is out of control.  I let them know I was out of the zofran that was just prescribed to me.  It was nice to finally be heard. I am scheduled tomorrow morning for a upper GI scan.  Dr Westmoreland believes I may have a ulcer or stricture at the opening of the pouch.  He has advised me to stop taking the Reglan and start taking Carafate.  I have a follow up appointment with him next Monday to go over the result. I also had labs done today.  Dr Westmoreland said I have to get to eating more!

These vegetables have become a huge staple in my diet. I found them a couple weeks ago and LOVE them! They sit on my stomach well which is HUGE for me right now! Thank goodness for Green Giant Baby Vegetable Medley!
My weight loss since the day of surgery is 62 pounds (a total of 72 pounds since September) and he said my weight loss is above average for 5 months! Typical 5 month weight loss is 50 pounds! We discussed what my goal weight should be. He said for my height I should weigh 110 pounds but he feels 120-125 pounds is a good goal.  My initial goal was 130 pounds so I'm sticking to that. Any further weight loss will be fabulous!

I decided since I have lost so much weight and have this new found confidence I would get my hair done (get pampered if you will). I told the stylist to do what she wanted. I walked in with horrible hair and walked out with amazing RED hair!!! I feel like a whole new woman! I guess if you think about it I kind of am a whole new woman!
This weekend I went out in clothes and shoes (stilettoes) I never would of worn before the weight loss.

I also went out and danced all night long! I definitely could not do that before the weight loss. I had trouble walking around let alone twerking! LOL. Nah nah I didn't twerk but I did work it!

I had so much fun and was so happy with myself!

Earlier in the day I was able to swing at the park with Ani and race with her! I helped Jason with tball practice and I actually felt like a good mother. I was involved.  This hasn't been easy AT ALL but it has been worth it!