Trace Lynne

Warrior Dash, Michigan II

Sept 19, 2015

Walker, Michigan

Your pants fall to the ground in public.

OMG!!!! That totally happened to me yesterday! I was wearing a half-slip under my skirt, and when I was on the elevator, I looked down to see that the slip was on the ground. I had coworkers in the elevator with me and was mortified.

When you don't worry about someone else parking too close to you in the parking lot for you to get into your car.

As a corollary.... When you don't waste time driving around the parking lot looking for a closer space, because it's faster (and healthier) to grab a farther space and walk in. Furthermore.... When you run upstairs to get something – whenever you need it – rather than waiting until you have a bunch of reasons to climb that mountain. Okay, one more.... When you compare the weight you've lost to other heavy things -- I've lost just about 3 bags of mulch! I mean, think about that... I'd have trouble picking up two bags of mulch, let alone three. Imagine carrying three bags of mulch everywhere you go, including upstairs! Ouch!!! And freakin' YAY!!!

OMG, I do that all the time! I have a big dog, mastiff mix who weighs over 100 lbs... I said to people once that I've lost my dog... which I then had to rephrase... meaning that I've lost more weight than what my dog weighs... at 120 lbs, some people respond back with, wow, you've lost a small person... who knew, right?

That is a difficult question to respond to. I mean, I didn't start putting on a lot of weight until after I finished college. I seriously considered WLS in 2007, when I weighed about 260-270lbs. I made it through three months of the 6 month liquid diet program, and I was ready to kill someone. I was advised by my therapist to stop, because the 600 cal/day program affected my job and relationships.

Since then, I put on another 100 lbs before I decided to move forward with WLS. Nothing I tried helped me to lose weight. However, if I would've been introduced to someone like the trainer I started working with before I actually had surgery back in 2007, I'm convinced I would not have needed the surgery to begin with. Working out with my trainer, I lost about 40 lbs in less than 2 months before I even went in for surgery.

However, there were still things I needed to go through emotionally before I was ready to fix myself. I spent about 5 years in therapy before I was in the right mind-set.

So, I guess to answer this question: on the one level, if I had proper trainer work in my early 20s, I could've avoided the massive weight gain all together. However, I still had things to work on to stop the patterns that caused me to gain the weight I gained. ... Also, if I would not have gone on birth control in college, I probably would have avoided quite a bit of the weight gain.

Congrats and best of luck!

When you can finally get pregnant after trying for 17 years and all it took was a major weight loss. My doc always said it was possible but it seems losing 20-30 lbs never did it but losing 100 lbs was the remedy!! Going on 11 weeks and super excited!!! What a great reason to gain weight...I just have to tell myself, I am not getting fat, I'm just pregnant!!

I did what it takes to get down 100 lbs and I wasn't even stopping so I know after the baby, Imma be on the road again....EASY as 123!!! GOOOOOOO VSG!!! LOL

I can't imagine this happening for a while...

When you get tired of compliments from people

I still sit gingerly on folding chairs and outdoor plastic chairs. I've had those things collapse and break on me before. Its difficult to forget those moments, and they are always in the back of my mind.

when I don't feel like I'm going to collapse from taking the stairs from the 5th floor down to the 1st floor and back up to the 5th floor...

A former doctor told me "if you would just stop eating so much food, you would lose weight." Are you kidding me?

This was back in college. At that point I was eating between 1200 and 1500 calories a day, exercising like crazy, and walking to all of my classes on campus. I was about 100 lbs overweight at that point. And they had me on the depo shot for birthcontrol... I gained almost 20 lbs/year while I was on the depo shot, but the doc was saying it had nothing to do with being on the depo shot.

I was diagnosed with PCOS after I graduated from college and was at my first full-time job.

This is a fun topic, kind of to piggy-back off the "you know you lost weight when..." thread I came across the other day.

As we are losing weight, are there things you do that are remnants of when you were at your largest weight?

For example:

• I still default to the handicap stall in the restroom
• I try to park with more space between me and the car next to the driver-side/or in an end spot to make sure the space isn't too small (because I had moments where I couldn't get into my car when someone parked too close to me)
• I see my smaller clothing and still wonder how that is going to fit me, and am surprised when it does.
• I am struggling to get used to more fitted clothing, because I don't want to go to work looking sloppy.
• Pulling my seat belt out to its further extension to buckle it, then having to tighten it up a lot because I don't need that much belt.

I have had the Mirena for almost 4 years now. I have not experienced any side effects, nor have I had any bleeding since insertion. I don't think it has slowed down my weight loss since WLS. Unfortunately, every body is different and handles it differently.

I have been quiet about the procedure with family and friends, only a handful of people have been told. Some probably suspect at this point, but haven't come out and asked me. Others have asked. If someone asks me, I will not deny that I had the procedure, however I do not want to over-emphasize the role that the procedure has made. I mean, I have been working out like a fiend, and I have not been quiet about exercising or the progress I am making. I am working my butt off to hit my goals. I mean, I lost over 40 lbs in the three months prior to surgery, thanks to going to the gym 3 times a week and working out with a personal trainer.

Sure, I've kept quiet about the procedure, but its the results that people are commenting on. I mean, my sister continues to make comments about how she needs to get back into shape, but then says something like not having the time I have because she is a single mom.

I have been keeping more to myself with this, because I really want to focus on working out and not involved with other people's drama. I do like the positive feedback, though. What I really love are the people I didn't think were paying much attention start telling me that I've been inspiring them to work out and try to get healthier. I feel amazing with those comments.

Walking down 5 flights of stairs:

• I don't have to hold on to the rails to support/steady myself
• I can face forward, instead of sideways,
• I can pick up the pace and don't get winded
• I can walk down in successive steps, instead of stepping right foot down a step, then left foot on to the same step... this is the ritual I picked up after my knee surgery, since my knee didn't bend well after surgery.

My regular shows include:

• The Daily Show
• Real Time with Bill Maher
• NCIS
• NCIS: LA
• Revenge
• Once Upon A Time
• Madam Secretary
• Walking Dead
• Game of Thrones
• Newsroom (which just ended)
• Biggest Loser
• Amazing Race

I record these on my DVR and watch them when when I get a chance. A typical Sunday morning is playing catch up with the TV I've missed because I tend to be busy during the week.

My roommate and I are also watching through Breaking Bad. We just started season 4.

I really wish I had more data on my phone so that I could watch some of this TV when I'm over at the YMCA working out.

I was originally asked what I thought my ideal weight/goal would be when I started the process at the weight management center. I said I would like to get down to 130-140 lbs. However, as part of my intake/tests, they did a full-body composition test, which gives body weight by bones, organs, fat, muscle.

When the results came in, the doc said that I seem to have fairly dense bones, which explains how I managed to avoid breaking bones over the years despite several falls which should've broken something, I guess. But based on the body scan and my height, my ideal weight range is 150-170 lbs. He said anything below that would be muscle loss and/or too low bmi.

I remember that discussion really well, because it took me back to my experience as a larger teen, I was chastised by my PE teacher who took to publicly shaming in class because her expectation was that I should weigh 130 lbs, but I was about 160 lbs at the time. All that time and torment, and I was right where my body wanted me to be.

I would like to get down to 150 lbs, if that is within the healthy range my doc wants me to be in. However, its not really about the number. If I'm fit, able to do the things I want/need to do, and I'm health, the number doesn't matter to me as much. Except, I would REALLY like to get back down below 200 lbs... only about 60 lbs to go on that.

There are people I've dreaded running into over the last 20 years... my high school classmates, a former roommate, and my exes.

I still have a ways to go before I feel comfortable to appear at my 20 year class reunion... however, I still have three years before I'm at that point... And once I hit my goal, boy-o, I will want to go. Yessirree!

it will be interesting to see the exes and how they respond...

but also, my former roommate and I departed on not-so-good terms... and one thing he made sure to do on his way out is torment me about my weight, because he knew it was my biggest weakness. (It was bad enough that it gave me nightmares and the thought of running into him gave me panic attacks for a couple years afterwards.) I'm not saying I would want to see him again, however, I'm confident enough in myself now that if I were ever to bump into him, I wouldn't respond the way I would've before.

When you go back and visit your surgeon a year later and even HE almost can't believe I'm the same person.

I hope to do this at my 1-year follow up with my surgeon!

I came across this article: http://www.boxingscene.com/weight-loss/30698.php

It seems that their could be several reasons for this happening, but first and foremost, the body is losing weight rapidly and the temp regulation needs time to catch up.

1) I was mistaken for my younger (smaller) sister at a recent family gathering...

2) I was not recognized by some extended family

3) I went to an off-site meeting for work recently, the receptionist at the organization did not recognize me, despite having worked with her a few times last summer for some event scheduling.

4) Getting double-takes from coworkers as they start noticing the difference.

5) I've been posting comparison photos of me when this first started last spring with new photos each month. I get SO MANY comments about the difference... and many, many people have told me how much I am inspiring them because of all of the changes I've succeeded in making in my life.

6) My grandmother has stopped ragging on me about my "weight issue"... but has started in on asking when I'm going to find a nice, young man to settle down with.

When you take a new home sleep study and can turn in your CPAP machine!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS! I just had to have my pressure turned down from 12 to 8. By summer I want to be off the CPAP machine.

I take it that being cold is not uncommon. Ever since the temp dropped below 60F, I've worn at least 2 layers, if not 3. I just bought a pair of fleece tights, and am tempted to go back and get a few more pairs. They are amazing!

I'm really looking forward to warmer weather.

Quick question, how long does it take the body to adjust/normalize to the loss of insulation? A year? two? never?

I went into the ER yesterday with extreme pain. So much that I was throwing up every 10-15 minutes. It was sudden on-set. I had no symptoms before yesterday. The ER doc ordered a CAT scan, and there was a 1.3 cm stone in my kidney. The pain was being caused by the stone blocking the tube from the kidney to the bladder. They said there is no chance of this stone leaving without assistance because it is so big.

They've managed the pain, and I'm waiting to see a urologist who can take care of the stone. I also have a call into my weight management office to see if I need to come in to adjust my consumption. I've been trying so hard to follow the rules. I'm disappointed that I have to deal with this.

My RnY surgery was August 28, 2014, and I've lost 105 lbs to date.

To answer the question, no, I don't see myself the way others do. I've lost 105 lbs as of this week, which is almost half-way to my goal weight. I find myself struggling with the change in a couple of ways:

1. As far as clothing, I'm wearing size XL in workout clothing, size 14/16 in dress shirts, and size 18/20 in dress pants. These sizes all seem a bit small to me. Some mornings I go to put the work clothing on, I am not convinced they will fit. However, they do, and it still surprises me. Also, I'm reluctant to go out an purchase lots of new clothing while I'm still working towards my goal. I only have a couple items at the new sizes. I still have work shirts that I wear in the 24, 26, 28, and 3X sizes. They look baggy on me, but I have spent so much money on working out, the medical stuff, and nutritional supplements that I can't bring myself to renew my wardrobe every 20-30lbs.
2. My trainer came up to me in class last week and complimented me. He said, hey there, skinny girl! My instant response was: "Haha, funny. You know I still have a lot of weight to lose." --- Thinking back on that, I really shouldn't down play the progress I've made, despite not being at my goal. When I walked into his gym, I was 350+ lbs, and needing to lose 35 lbs more in the 6 weeks before the surgery, per my surgeon's request. When I walked in, I was exhausted after 30 minutes of training with him. Now I will work through an hour of crossfit or kettlebell class, then go and ask for more (envisioning the scene from Oliver Twist, "please, sir, I want some more"). Last saturday I did 1 hour of kettlebell class then an hour of Zumba. I'm working out almost every day for at least 45 mins to 1 hour.

Ever since I lost about 60-70 lbs, my family has been complimenting me on my efforts. It is nice to not be harassed about being overweight by them, since they can see progress (they still are unaware of my surgery). However, I still get negative comments from strangers on the street when I'm out walking my dog, which has led to me only wanting to go out walking after dark.

My Progress:

Pic 1: Starting Weight: 367 lbs 5/24/2014

Pic 2: Current Weight: 262 lbs 1/5/2014

Surgery Date: 8/28/2014

Congrats! Doesn't it feel wonderful to do things that we may not have been able to do even just a few months ago?