Before Pictures 2007

These pictures show just how big I got - these had to be at my highest 274 or close to it. Shortly after then I did an extreme low carb diet and lost 40 lbs but as soon as I started eating carbs, it gradually came back until I was almost 260 again. Then I started my presurgery program that lasted a year.

I'll post a now picture soon.

March 19, 2011 - Saturday

Wow how time flies! Reading my last post was funny - it's amazing how pain medicaton messes with your mind. It is almost a year since my Banding surgery. I am down to 204, not as far as I would like to be, but it's still down. I have been in for(I think) 5 fills. I now have 8.5 cc in an 11 cc band. I finally can say I have restriction everyday - not just randomly which had been the case before. I have gone from 212 to 204 in the last 6 weeks and with the scale moving again I have Onderland in sight. I have gone from an 18 to a 12-14 and a 44DD to a 38DD. Even when the scale stops moving my clothes keep getting looser.

I can eat anything - just much smaller quantities. I have to eat slowly - too fast at the beginning of a meal ends things pretty quickly. I have not PB'd - productive burping, bringing food back up, come close a few times and almost wished I had. When food is stuck it is very uncomfortable, it has to go down or come back up. I don't drink with my meals or for 30 minutes after. I have finally got the pieces together and I think that has made my weight loss get started again. I am taking my vitiamins, because I am eating slower I am actually eating more and I am more aware of how much water/liquid I get. I think my body was worried that I was going to starve so it was holding on for dear life - but now it's getting everything it needs and realizes it's gonna be alright so it is letting go of the weight.

Would I like to be closer to goal right now? Yes, I would but I think slower is better, it will give my body and skin more chance to adjust and it seems more natural - most people don't know about my band. I also know I did the right thing for me - if I hadn't I am afraid I would be up 10 pounds instead of down 30+ and still losing. As of this week I weigh less than my husband - that was a huge goal for me, no woman wants to weigh more than her man. He told me today he folded the clothes in the dryer and my jeans were in there - he said they are so small, they use to be much bigger- yeah my old 22's from a few years ago...

March 31, 2010

March 28, 2010

It will be a week tomorrow so I decided to try to go without pain meds this morning. Not a good move. Went to church with the family and by the time we got home I was sore, hungry, tired, in general terms a bitch. Looks like work is out of the question tomorrow - if I can't get through the morning without medication then I can't do it all day or drive yet.

When we got home - I grabbed my hydrocodone, 1/4 cup tuna and 1/2 cup blenderized chili and headed to my bedroom. Just didn't want to be around anyone one. I ate some tuna and some of my chili and now the med. is kicking in an I am getting tired. Still not in a great mood. Maybe it's because I am full of shit - seriously, no pun intended. I haven't gone to the bathroom since Monday morning at 7:30. I took Miralax for days, in the morning and in the evening. I have switched to prune juice 2 1/2 oz in the morning and evening and apple sauce. Things are moving around and gas bubbles come out every now and then but nothing else. I am concerned after having the hiatal hernia corrected at the same time as my band, it is likely that constipation and straining is what caused the hernia to begin with.

March 23, 2010

Yesterday was the big day. I went in at 5:15 for my 7:30 surgery. At 9:45 I was waking up in the recovery room. I had some issues with my oxygen levels staying up there the should be, so I was put back on Oxygen. Once the level came up and leveled off I was able to go to a recliner and moves to the discharge recovery area. Once there I got some Crystal Light to drink and some Loratab for pain. I got up and shuffled around the room like a little old lady. It was important to be to get up and walk as soon as I could. About 3 weeks ago, a woman on my chat group got a blood clot about 4 days after surgery and she died. So walk, walk, walk...

Found out that I had a hernia that the doctor was able to correct while he was in there. I have been taking my pain meds that Dr. K prescribed. They make me very sleepy. The only real pain I am having is when I move, laying down to sitting to standing - it pulls all the Ab muscles and wow does it hurt. I have learned to use my thighs to get up and sit down.

My weight went up from the day of surgery by 7.5 lbs and has now gone down by 2. I know it's all the IV fluids they pumped into me. But between the major constipation issues I had before surgery, the my period started, I am not sure where my loss from the 2 week pre-op diet was. And since I have only had about 400-500 calories a day since surgery, there should be some significant losses once things settle down.

Fw:

March 8, 2010:

---

So here I am 2 weeks out from my Lap-band Surgery. I have thought about this for over 3 years, at first I thought I could do it on my own. I found a low-carb diet and over the course of 4 months I was able to lose about 40 pounds. Once I stopped the low-carb diet I regained all the weight. As I approached that starting weight, which is actually 20 pounds less than my highest, I realized that after battling my weight on my own for years that I could not do it alone. I began the process in October 2008 by attending an informational session and had my first doctor's appointment in December 2008. When I started, I found out that if there was any chance of having my insurance cover the procedure, I would need to complete a 6 month program with a doctor.

My initial reaction to the 6 month program was not positive. I didn't want to wait 6 months to get the surgery. Not to mention, I was afraid that if I was successful at losing weight again during this time, it would be a reason for the insurance company to deny coverage. I was borderline to begin with at a BMI of 39.

Fast forward to February 2010… was approved for surgery on February 8^th and have it scheduled on March 22. 2010.

---

March 19, 2010:

---

Well one weekend to go until my surgery date. I have almost made it through the 2 weeks liquid diet and I have stuck to the stipulation that I quit smoking thanks to the help of my patch, my coach and a dear friend. I would have thought that it would not have been too hard since I was a closet smoker and could go a day or two without and not be climbing the walls or yelling like a maniac.

This liquid diet took some getting use to – but once I did, it's really not bad. There are 2 keys that I have found: 1. Make your protein shakes the night before – the longer they sit the better they blend and taste. 2. Unjury Chicken Broth Protein Powder is my new best friend. In the middle of the day a cup of that would satisfy me for 3 hours with only 90 calories, 1 carb, but 21 grams of protein.

I have tried to make sure I am getting enough fluids in each day, tracking it, along with food, exercise and weight on www.411fit.com. About mid-afternoon I plan on what I am going to have for the rest of the day and then make changes as I eat if necessary. Tonight I am just feeling bloated, I still have half a yogurt and half a protein shake on the table beside me, but don't think I will be finishing it.

According to the scale this morning I have lost 4 pounds since I started on the 22^nd – that brings me to 236.4 OK that's if I use the weight at the doctors 4 days before. After having my "last supper" weekend the scale had gone up to 244.4, using that it's 8 pounds. I have had a ton of trouble on this diet, keeping working their way out the other end. I have been going days without going – I finally started on Miralax Wednesday night. It has helped some, but I think there is more lurking in the darkness. Then to boot, my period was due Monday this week, I think it's going to make it's grand entrance tomorrow. I just ask it to get it over with before Monday, do not want to deal with that on the operating table.