2012 - I had Vertical Sleeve Gastric Surgery in October 2012, and this is my journey to push the fat girl aside and start living life without fear of lawn chairs, the middle seat, clothing shops and high heels. Among other things.

2017 - I'm preop for the Duodenal Switch procedure for my sleeve to help me get to goal weight....and to fix another hiatal hernia.


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bike done

Game of Thrones, season two
Butt on bike
30 min done

New set up is kind of sweet! I'm digging watching tv and biking. Hard to say its not easy and convenient. So..... No excuses!!!!


Exercise!

Sunday - House cleaning (2 hours) and biking
Monday - rested
Tuesday - Weights

Last night was weights night.

Front squats
bar x 5 - warm up
65lbs x 5
85lbs x 5
85lbs x 5

Push Press
bar x 5 - warm up
85 x 5
85 x 5
85 x 5

Planks x 2 sets for as long as I could hold it
30sec
25sec

Tonight is going to be back onto the bike - at least 30 min, however it will be ... less exciting tonight, as the cable box crapped out last night. So we will have to watch netflix or hulu... I'm sure that I'll survive! ha! 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Wanted: Fiber

apply within!   I need you badly!

Ug, got my pre period yuck on right now.  Damn it - I know todays weigh in is a total feint by the body cause it is holding on.

Time for some oat bran for dinner.

Monday, March 25, 2013

55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner

This mornings weigh-in saw me hit another milestone.  55pounds lost.   Wow, that one snuck up on me.


And the average 5,000 BTU Air condition (window unit) is around 55lbs.  Wow.  That's a sizable chunk of weight.

I was going to post a picture of a 55lb fish, but really, I got caught up (teehee I'm punny) looking at fish pictures, and then thought, that I don't want some poor man to be all... OMG there is some fat chick with my fish on her blog.  So, should you want some entertainment, plug into google the weight you lost, with fish after it and be prepared to be IMPRESSED with the size of these things.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Biking done

Woot!! That feels good!


Happy Sunday

Lots of chores done today....

Cleaned our three story townhouse, including 3.5 bathroom, kitchen and all vacuuming, 2 sets of stairs. I was sweaty at the end for sure, and I'm feeling it in my legs right now. It's all ready for final walk through on Thursday, and closing on Friday.

The dog was taken to the dog washing station! Scrubbed and blow-dried, nails clipped, ears cleaned out. His butt is super fluffy now!

Laundry is done.

Closet has been thinned of all clothing that is now too big. Stacked and ready for donation.

Groceries have been bought.

Dinner was made, served and eaten.

I am now resting on the sofa, post dinner, waiting for Viking to come on tv tonight. Then I'm going to get on my bike and ride for 30min while I watch Ragnar kill englishmen!! teehee.

Then it's off to bed.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Doing it

Got on my bike today, it was only 15min, but I did it.

Mood: Pleased

We were out of town Thursday - this morning, so no weigh-in yesterday. Got home and weighed in @ 247.6.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Feeling Underwhelmed today

with a number of things...

Me mostly.  Or more specifically, my efforts and weight loss in the last 2 months. 

I HAVE to make some changes, but am just feeling exhausted and spread so thin that I'm sacrificing what is good for me for what is comfortable for me. I've begun defaulting to "easy" instead of smart for meals.

I lay in bed for at least 30min this morning before getting up to get ready for work.  I COULD have been on the bike for 15 of those minutes.  

Change is hard. That's why I needed surgery, but the easy days of just losing weight are over. Now is the phase where I have to take advantage of my surgery and what it has afforded me, and grab the brass ring.

It's there for me, but it isn't going to fall in my lap.



Monday, March 18, 2013

Moved....mostly

Well, we are moved, mostly! 

The old garage is a nightmare, and the house needs a final cleaning, but other than that - we are completed. We close the sale of the house on the 29th of March - so another couple of weeks. 

However, this weekend we are spending a long weekend up at Texas A&M at a George RR Martin library opening/dinner/lecture (nerd alert!).  So the move had to happen this weekend, or it was going to be a mid-week move (ah nothankyouverymuch).

The dog is so confused.  Poor guy. He'll get used to it, but he is a rescue dog, so he doesn't take to much change very well. (like some other people I know... *cough* me *cough*)

I must have done 50 or 60 sets of stairs on Sunday alone.  We started at 6am, the movers arrived at 8am, and we didn't stop until 6pm. I was in bed at 8:30pm... so tired. My legs are just BURNING today.  So all in all, it was a good weekend for activity and fitness.

My water was much better Sat & Sun, so I think that helped out as well.  Weigh in this morning showed my weekend of efforts.  Back down into the 247's.

247.6

I can't wait to get home tonight, walk dog and get my closet organized.  It was a small miracle that I could find anything that matched to wear to work today.



Friday, March 15, 2013

5 Month Sleeversary

Starting weight – 3015 month weigh in – 249.6
Pounds lost – 51.4
Pant sizes down – 4 (16/18)
Shirt size down – 3 (reg XL)
In Month 5 I finally hit the big one – 50lbs.  That was a pretty amazing day, and sometimes I still can't believe it!!!  It was a struggle getting there, and it’s been overshadowed by a general malaise and hellish life/work balance for Feb and March. 
I also think that the vast amount of speed and success in the first 3 months of weigh loss spoiled me!  I’m used to seeing huge numbers and the scale drop drop dropping.  Now, progress is slower and tighter.  I have to remind myself "its still progress", just harder to notice and be proud of it. But I’m really trying to be more mindful.
NSV 1:
The first big deal is that I wore size 16 jeans without realizing it. I had them in a stack of “too small” clothing that I was saving, but grabbed them and wore them all day without realizing.  That was pretty awesome.
I also bought some XL REGULAR women’s pants at a REGULAR women’s store this last week.  That was pretty amazing, since I really can not remember the last time I could just go and buy some pants. My XL women’s shirts are fitting nicely, not snug, and I’m already thinking/hoping/dare I say imagining that I might actually just wear a L?!?!  Could that even happen for me?  
NSV 2:
Yesterday I wore a blouse tucked into a skirt.  It just looked so sloppy hanging out that I couldn’t wear it out.  What a change. I used to purposefully NOT buy things that needed tucking in. I just wouldn’t do it.  I once even bought a blouse and trimmed the tails off, and hemmed it up so that I could wear it out.  I’m embarrassed by how shoddy a job it was and that I would wear it.  But, the past is the past, I’m moving on and very happy that I don’t have to consider that anymore.
NSV 3:
The new job is going well – I’m learning all kinds of new things, it’s very busy, I’m running around and active all the time.  Really loving it.  I haven’t even got into the meat of the role yet, so there is more excitement to come.  I have to plan an offsite in WI for August, and a pre-trip up there for a few days in  June.  Very exciting for me. I’ve never been to Wisconsin and … I love cheese…!! Ha!
I will say this. It is a whole new world looking like a put together person, and not thinking/feeling like people are looking at me like and seeing someone fat. Now I just look … stocky, I would say.  Sometimes I turn sideways and can’t believe that I look almost normal.
The Eating/Learning news:
I am still occasionally trying to eat more then I can stand/fit in “Gandalf” my wizard sleeve. 
I think this is a hold over from years and years of overeating.  When I eat things that I am familiar with, or rather, familiar with the portion that I can consume, I do better. Anything unfamiliar to my new stomach, especially if I used to overeat it on a regular basis, is hard.  I’m not great with unrestricted access to snacks and full plates of food. My mind wants to eat it all.  It takes a significant amount of effort to stop myself mid-eating.  I actually had to spit out a mouthful last week – it was NOT going to go down.  Learning Learning Learning.
I will say that this happens more when I’m eating mindlessly or distracted. I’ve not been throwing up as much, not that I did a lot, but I had a month there where it was really tough. I’m slowly getting the hang of it.
Room for Improvement/Movement:
Last month I said that I needed to get exercising, and I’ve done jack squat about it. 
I need to get on my stationary bike and log some miles on my legs… which I’m just not doing.   I have a billionty excuses for the moment – new job, cleaning the house for sale, staging the house, selling the house, finding a new place to live, packing the house, booking the movers, etc etc etc.   Legitimate excuses, I’ve been pulled in 10 different directions for the moment, so its been tiresome, but this weekend we are finally moving out – house sale is final on the 29th of March and my 1x yoga and 2x weigh sessions a week are not going to cut it.  I have to get back on the bike and start sweating.
The Husbeast and I will be living together again !FINALY! after struggling though 10 months of surgery/nursing care and modified living arrangements for him (no stairs… 3 story townhome = no can do).   This weekend we will finally be back together in one bed on one floor!  HURRAY!  It’s going to be a big change, going from home to apartment, but I know we can do it just fine while we spend the next 3 to 9 months looking for a new home.
Okay – thats all for this Friday.   I have my assignment in here.  Its only two words. Get Moving! 

Monday, March 11, 2013

Day light savings.....

Oh how I loathe thee.

Not enough sleep, water or good food.

New job is kicking my butt, no coasting on autopilot .... Everything is new, so everything requires my alert attention. Which is great but also not great when you're exhausted.

Weigh-in this morning was 248.4

Time for sleep now.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Weekend Packing - check

Saturday I ended up finishing the day with 25 sets of up-down flights of stairs, along with packing and stacking boxes.

Today was easier, most everything was done, another 12 sets of stairs and more boxes of books and shittery taken care of.

Phew!

Food has been total crap this weekend, I've eaten out just about every meal, even tonight's was restaurant leftovers. Ug. Time to get back on the wagon this week at the office.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Stair count

18 sets of stairs so far today. Lots of boxes packed & the house is getting empty looking. 3 loads of donations gone.

This clear out is going awesome.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Salty!

Last night We went to see Jack the giant killer at the movies. I had some popcorn for dinner. And so this morning I had on a massive salt bloat.

Today's food at work was a lot better than the rest of this week has been. I've been on three work lunches this week which is the worst way to eat.

And, I've been having small treats in the afternoons that I don't need. I've had cottage cheese, pineapple, and blueberries in the fridge since Wednesday and finally I have been today for my afternoon snack. Damn! I forgot how delicious that combination is!

So this afternoon I got a massive amount of protein and some great berries instead of half of a chocolate bar. Feeling pretty happy about that.

This weekend is going to be a lot of sorting tossing donating and packing for next weekend's big move. I'm not sure but I'm going to guess that I'll do at least 50 sets of stairs this weekend. Maybe I should put a sticky note and a pen at the top of each sets of that I can count..... Maybe......

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Happy accident

!!Massive NSV today!!

We are in the middle of jeans week (yay) at the office. Got up this morning and grabbed my dark jeans off the shelf, threw em on and went to the office.

Just finally got home and pealed out of my work clothes. I went to get my pj's out of the dryer.... Lo and behold, in the dryer are the size 18 jeans that I thought I was wearing all day.

What!?!?!?

I ran back to the bedroom and looked at the jeans I had taken off. They were accidentally pulled down from my "too small" stack...

Size 16's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Weigh in today - 248.0

Did a little happy dance right there in the newd!

Woooooooooooo!

Monday, March 4, 2013

New Job Monday

Phew.... Feel like I've not stopped moving today. Busy busy busy busy. New job started and I've been on the trot the whole time.

Finally home to decompress and relax with some catching up on The Walking Dead.

Weigh in this morning was up, but I ate like shit yesterday. Hitting the water tonight and getting to bed nice and early.

Ahhhh. Day one is over. Phew.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Harboring Fugitives

Clearly my body has been harboring fugitives for an entire month! 

Weigh in this morning:  247.4

WAAAAA!!?!?!?!

Weighed in 2 more times just to be sure... also got photo evidence.   That's 3.6lbs in 3 days. 

Fraking WOW.



Saturday, March 2, 2013

Down

Down again this morning. Very pleased!

Weigh in: 249.4

Lots of tasks done this Saturday. Volunteered at Dress for Success this morning, then home to move a bunch of extra furniture down to the ground floor. Futon, two bedside tables, desk chair, and a desk. Up and down 2 flights of stairs too many times to count! It was All in the spare room - which we won't have room for in our temp apartment .... Which we rented for March 16.

House closing is imminent!! So we have secured a place to go while we look for a new home.

So the furniture was given to some friends who needed some. A great help to us and them. I love win win.

I got my exercise today, that's for sure.

Pork chops for dinner with applesauce. Yummy! Watching Flight on the sofa with the husband. Good day indeed.

Friday, March 1, 2013

KerBoom!

Another milestone fell this morning.

Weigh in 249.6

I'm under 250.  There is just something about 250lbs that sounds (to me) to be the threshold for largeness.  "Normals", i.e. people who have never had a weight problem, see that number as the over/under. The officially fat number.  

It was certainly one of those numbers that defeated me on the way up.  Over 250lbs, I was crushed. I have fought with that number for ages.  

Yesterday one of my co-workers commented on how I was half the size and looked great!  I talked with her a bit about how that morning I had hit my -50lb goal and that I had another 50 to go. She could NOT BELIEVE that I could lose another 50.  oh no, don’t do that you will be too skinny”.  I didn’t divulge my actual weight to her, but if I had, I bet that would have changed her opinion. Her opinion about it all in fact – her opinion that I look good, that I’m small enough and don’t have a lot more weight to lose. 

So, I’m finally here in my weight loss - the magical place where people who know you think that you are finally just small enough and are starting to think that you should call it off and stay where you are. Of course, my previous size is an illusion, I do look smaller, but I’m far from normal sized.  It’s the illusion from going from so big, to smaller. 

So I’ll take that compliment and move on.  Damn it I’m happy today. Under 250lbs is a great feeling.