Chianti

So, I am back on the site for the first time since my bypass surgery back in July 2014. I never realized how much I actually need the support of others who have had weight loss surgery. I thought that having my mother around would be a great support system. Even though the therapist, in the pre-op therapy session, told me that she believed my mother sabotages my weight loss goals. When I said that carbs like potato chips and bread are my down fall, she started bring chips into the house 2 bags at a time, buying 10lb bags of potatos and started buying bread again ALL the time. I realize that it is my choice to eat the stuff but it has been hard to resist in the past two weeks. I have more support from my coworkers than I do her, which is amazing to me. One thing that I have learned is that I can no longer let her be the only person in the house who cooks. I have to take control of my kitchen and make sure that I have more healthy than not food in my pantry. If I hear her say, "Healthy food costs too much" one more time, I am going to SCREAM!!! Of COURSE healthy food costs more, but if she is not paying for it then why is she complaining. Anyway... That is what prompted me to come back to the site. I need support and to see some reminders that weight loss success can be attainable. I had slowed down my weight loss because I did not want it to go too fast and I end up looking like some kind of bobble head. That has happened to a lot of people. I also do not want to start looking too old. Hmmm...vain much? I suppose so. But, hey, I am being honest.

I did it! When I weighed in on 12/16/14, I crossed the line from 98 lbs to 101 lbs lost! It was only three pounds, however, those three pounds pushed me into the 3-digit realm of weight loss. I was so excited. Now I'm down about 105 lbs. It is just crazy to say it, and I've been telling EVERYONE! People I know, people I don't know... EVERYONE... I'm just so excited about hitting this milestone.
 
As a result of this milestone, I decided to treat myself to a couple new clothes. I walked into Lane Bryant after work that Friday after the weigh-in (yeah, I had to wait until payday)... and said, so, I've lost some weight, and I have no idea what size clothing I am. It was actually FUN trying on clothes for 1.5 hours. To put it in perspective, the shirt I was wearing was a baggy 3x shirt and the pants were a size 22 jeans that I had picked up from good will the beginning of October. The size 22 jeans were so big that I could pull them on and off without undoing the button or zipper.
 
By the end of this trip, I walked out with size 18 trouser jeans, a couple size 14/16 shirts, and a couple 18/20 blouses for work. The idea that I am wearing size 16 or 18 clothing again is mind-blowing. I'm quickly coming to the bottom of the Lane Bryant size ranges, meaning I can start shopping in regular clothing stores again. However, I suspect the next down-sizing I do will be back at good will. I really shouldn't continue purchasing brand new clothing that I can only wear for a couple months.
 
Of course, I may need to go through my clothing again soon. Its been 2 weeks since that shopping trip, and I've lost enough weight that some things are fitting awkwardly. After going through 3-4 outfits the other day, I kind of missed the thing I was trying to dress for. I decided, instead, to tend to my closet. I pulled out all of the clothing I purchased at last year's end-of-year clearance from lane bryant, and found that nothing fits me, at all. Some of the stuff still has its tags, even. So, I started going through older clothing, which all ended up in that pile too. I have a huge stack of clothing to hand off to goodwill the next time I go in. I only have 2-3 pair of dress slacks to wear to work and some blouses (old and new). I would much rather have this problem than going the other way, but some days it isn't as easy as others to wrap my head around this.
 
I'm down over 100 lbs, which is unbelievable to me. If its this amazing at 100 lbs, what will it be like when I attain my goal and have lost over 200 lbs????? I can't even fathom that.
 
Of course, having lost over 100 lbs, I am noticing extra skin, which I have no idea how to handle, other than wearing compression clothes and/or always making sure I have a second layer of clothing other to help mitigate the jiggle. There is no way of knowing how bad the skin will be until I get to that bridge. I've started watching Vlogs for people who have lost a bit of weight and are going through the skin removal process. I'm a little nervous about that part... but I know it will probably be a year before I'm there. Some posts I've seen say that women should target body fat % of 17-20 before even considering skin removal surgery. Seeing as I'm still at body fat of 47%, it will be a while.
 
For the record, I'm ready to be at that point, I'm so ready to be past this current phase/stage of the journey... however, I was never given a FF button, so, I have to live through the next 6-12 months while I continue losing weight. It is kind of fun to think that soon I will be approaching the same size as my younger sister, who has always been much smaller than me. While she was in high school, she swam and did equestrian, and wore a size 4. She is currently wearing size 12-14 clothing.
 
Anyone else working to wrap their head around their new/ever changing body? I would love to hear from others about this.

Just had my pre-op visit this week. Everything is on track. I am off on my Xmas holiday on Tuesday until 2nd January. I start my pre-op diet 7th January and my op is 21st January. I still don't know how I am going to manage the pre-op. When I get that hungry I feel nauseaus and I hate that, but I know I have to do this. I'm scared about it all but I'm not going to change my mind!
2015 you and I are going to dance!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone here - may 2015 bring us more health and happiness!

First, let me apologize if this post is too graphic, I just think its a fabulous way to educate you on a sleeve surgery. When I was at OCC the first week of December I had the amazing opportunity to observe several surgeries. One of them was a gastric sleeve surgery. We know that the sleeve surgery has fabulous results. Our OCC Sleeve patients get results similar to a gastric bypass surgery without all the risks and complications. And this is why...look at what is removed during this surgery. This picture is the removed portion of a stomach from a gastric sleeve surgery. Look at it... look at what it stretches out to when inflated. That is all space you can't fill anymore. AMAZING!! And look... even the part we remove is still AIR TIGHT. Remember, on the remaining stomach our surgeons go back and over suture over the staple line to prevent leaks and prevent stretching - but even this part, the part that is removed is totally air tight. Now that is a safe sleeve.
 
I know sometimes its hard after weight loss surgery to think about what we might be missing... the foods we can't eat (or eat much of) but I am SO thankful for this... because if I could be eating more, chances are I would be eating more... and I wouldn't feel this healthy, I wouldn't be wearing a size 4 jeans, and this would be a stressful time for me, thinking of how much weight I would gain between Thanksgivng and New Years... and I'm under control, my sleeve keeps me under control. So goodbye excess, stretchy, haven't missed you for a minute stomach.... hello healthy, portion controlled life!
 
Again, if this is too graphic, I'm sorry, but I can't think of a better way to share this - it was a huge eye opener for me, hope it is for you too!
 
Here are more pictures for those of you that can "stomach" it
 
http://www.occforum.com/gallery/album/336-sleeve-surgery-educational-a-little-graphic/
 
As always, if you have any questions you can reach me at lori@obesitycontrolcenter.com or 1-866-376-7849 ext. 81