FluffyChix

I am stuck! I am down 40 lbs but I keep dancing around 218-220. The scale said 220 today and I was not happy!

One month away from my one year anniversary - started at 343 - down to 239 - 19lbs from my goal of 220 - Flabby skin - ready to start talking plastics - any recommendations for great plastic surgeons in the Tampa area?

Today is 1-YEAR!!! 1 Year!!! I cannot believe a year has gone by soo fast. I am sooo hyper. I am proud of myself. I hope to keep this going. I hope that by year 2, I have an even stronger body than I do now. 
Happy 1 Year everyone!!!

It's funny; I was really worried the past few days about how easy it's been to reach 1,000 calories, and today I was barely able to reach 850 despite having eaten some good meals and worked out. I just need to be more conscious of what food choices I make. I'm learning more about what makes me feel satiated every day! Definitely tuna and chicken, for sure. Dangerous foods for me include roasted chickpeas, cheese, and nuts... They just don't fill me up much. 

A little annoyed that I'm up about two pounds since yesterday (weighed yesterday because it was my one-month anniversary and today before an appointment with my PCP so I could compare the difference between my scale and theirs), but my doctor says it is likely water retention because I've been spotting the last few days (I don't get true periods anymore because of the Nexplanon implant). I just hope it passes soon.

My surgery lasted six hours because I developed a leak before they closed me up. Surgery was on a Thursday (Feb. 15, 2018) and I went home on that Saturday (Feb. 17). I had five incisions, plus a JP drain, which I went home with. I also had some sort of allergic reaction to the hospital's no-slip socks, which apparently runs in the family. 
Notable: So far, I have not had any nausea/vomiting. Sometimes I get air bubbles in my chest after taking a drink, no matter how small; usually they just feel weird, but sometimes can be painful. Attempted to drink from a water fountain three weeks post-op; that was a BAD idea because even with a tiny sip I took in way too much air, and it gave me a very painful air bubble, though it went away within a couple minutes.
Some post-surgery highlights:
Feb. 18: bought a new mattress because my old one was so worn out it was too hard for me to get out of without help Feb. 22: post-op appointment; down 9.6 pounds (all weights per home scale for consistency); got drain out; started puree diet Feb. 23: switched from Norco to Tylenol, which helped more with the pain Feb. 24: slept on side for the first time Feb. 25: discontinued Tylenol; down 18.2 pounds Feb. 27: attempted to chew gum (OK per surgeon), but it gave me LOTS of air bubbles March 1: down 25.4 pounds; drove for first time since surgery March 4: was able to bend enough to get tennis shoes and socks on March 5: slept on stomach for the first time; scabs started to fall off incisions March 6: down 30 pounds; had hiccups for extended periods three times over the day March 8: started soft foods; tested (steep) steps up to my office at work (success); down 31.4 pounds

Wow, how time flies!  It's been over 3 years since I had gastric sleeve surgery.  I'm still glad I had the procedure.  Some interesting changes after a couple of years - you find that you can eat more than you thought you would be able to.  Your "banana" gets bigger than you think it might.  I can put down two slices of pizza with little to no effort or discomfort.  Which reminds you why this is just a tool; if you are not careful, you will gain back the weight.  But I do have a 5 pound rule.  If I consistently weigh 5 pounds more than my lowest weight after the surgery for longer than a week, I take steps to scale back and exercise more.  This is why I have not gained back any weight from my initial loss.  Before I pat myself on the back too much, I have to admit (sheepishly) I never got below 200 pounds like I was supposed to.  I'm on a real push now to lose the rest of the weight - like I should have done in the beginning - because my other knee is now showing signs of wear.  I am finding that following a ketogenic diet seems to agree with me.  One thing that has really helped is to portion out my meals every day using a Jaxx lunchbox.  Second, not having stuff in the house that has sugar in it that I like to eat.  Third, instead of seeing this as a diet, seeing this as a positive life change.  

Just changed my HW to reflect my weight when I started pre-op diet, which was 3 pounds higher than when I first met my surgeon.  6 more days!!!

Almost 10 months post sleeve, and I have noticed that it's time for me to add in one more lifestyle change on top of my plant based diet.  I have added IF, intermittent fasting, 16:8.  I was going to wait until one year, but it seems as if I've got to a standstill and I've got about 30-40 lbs to lose still.  For those who don't know, IF is not a diet...it's just changing WHEN you eat. I fast for 16 hours (mostly sleeping) and then I eat all my food within 8 hours (or I try to).  I work out during my fast as well for extra benefits.  I implemented it three days ago and I'm down 2 lbs now.  I used to do IF during my obese days and I was successful for three months, changing my body's physique and burning fat, BUT I wasn't successful in my head. I'm sure I probably got injured (as it was always happening then) and I succumbed to emotional eating as I always did.  Now, my head is in a better place, and I'm in control MOST of the time. Still not perfect, and probably never will be, but I'll strive to be so.  So, here's to a Newme...in 2018 too! 

Since this journey, even people at work are treating me differently. People used to never ask me to do physical activities and in the last 2 days, I have been asked to the following:
1) Join the companies 5K marathon team for next year
2) Join the companies Friday Night Bike Ride through Prospect Park
3) Even joining a kickboxing class with another employee
It just blows my mind that people invite me to things like this. I am soo excited to try new things that I would have been afraid to do. 

Hot damn! I feel great this morning. 

Been feeling pretty bummed all day since it was supposed to be my surgery date. Trying to stay positive and think about the big picture!

Do you know how hard it is to find a full body before pic when you don't bother with pics from before!!!!    I finally found one! I searched high and low for this thing.....ugh. Anyway, here are my current before/after pics!  Before=266lbs  Current=184lbs.  Loss of 82lbs  Still have about 40 lbs to go...I'll get there...but at least I'm super duper healthier!!! That's all that matters in my book right now.  I'm way past the vanity issue, think it has something to do with age...ha! 
 

New pic is my labradoodle, Murphy.  Sweetest dog ever!  

Need to incorporate more fruit in. I could eat KALE all day, but starting today, my first snack of the day will only be fresh fruit.  On today's menu it's MANGO.
Here are some awesome facts about mango.  Enjoy!

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/mango/

Despite the cruddy overcast weather, I’m feeling oh so good. I was in beast mode at the gym. Did a ten min warmup, my weights (went heavier today), then a 30 min intense interval training on the bike. My sweat was literally dripping all over the machine. Lol. Out of consideration for others, I did wipe it down with the cleaner they have available. Just wish others would do the same. Anyway, feeling pretty good here, and healthy. Just finished a 3oz snack of a Greek Quinoa Salad. Yum. Full of nutritious goodies. Y’all have yourself a blessed day. Off to the mall....

Just had my 7th and final nutrition appointment this morning -- 5 weeks to go!!  Paperwork goes in for approval next week.  Pre-op diet starts on Feb 27th.  Excited!!!  

So very pissed my PS surgery was postponed due to me getting sick. Waiting room of PCP was filled with sick people when I went for my pre-op testing. Why do they not give masks to the sick people or put them in a different room. There were 20 of us in the waiting room. I wonder how many of them are sick now becuase of 4 that were coughing, sneezing etc?  I became sick on the 30th and am not well enough for them to do the surgery. All that personal testing, setting up  driver,   and work related planning for a substitute teacher, transferring cients etc and now it isn't going to happen. Insurance approved it  until March 20th. It better happen before then as I don't know if we can fight again as it was denied the first tiime.  

Desperately craving peanut butter & banana on toast. This is the first time on the liquid diet I've been truly hungry - had my last protein shake around 9:30, so 4+ hours ago. My stomach is rumbling and gurgling and I can't get the thought of the PB&B toast out of my mind!!! AHHH!!!!!! Not tired enough to sleep yet, but hopefully soon!

Just a share.....  People ask me all the time... Who was your inspiration when you first came here?......  I say with out a doubt.....  Makulafamy & Lellow..... These two chick rocked the band.  Although they don't come here any more.... I still keep up with Makulafamy via FB and her blog.  If you want to be inspired and laugh and cry....  http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/   ..... When i saw these two's before's and after... everything seemed possible.  

Meeting #6 with dietitian tonight -- woot!   Surgery is creepy closer, I'm tired of waiting!!! 

Omg I forgot lol 
Ya'll ya girl went rogue and cut all my hair off. 

With a new year, I need to take accountability for some of my actions which are preventing me from losing weight. I have started grazing again. I have been slacking on my meal prep and have been depending on outside food. I have not been keeping up with my water intake. I am not waiting 30 minutes before or after eating to drink water.
I have been eating way more fruits and processed package foods than I should. I am not eating my proteins first and then veggies.
Also, I have been downing halo top like crazy when I buy it. 
With that being said, I am going to get back on track. I am still exercising like crazy but you cannot out exercise bad eating habits. 
I am going to drink protein shakes as breakfast and dinner since I do not eat much during those times. I am going to use lunch as my main meal, with a high protein and veggie lunch. 

At my WI this past Friday, I surpassed 60 lb total loss! That's 20% of my body weight from my highest weight this summer  I lost 20ish lbs before surgery, and another 40ish lbs since surgery. Happy to keep moving onward and DOWNward! 

This is the first day in a long time I have felt something close to "normal" since having undergoing Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty 18 days ago.  Hopefully I have hit my turning point.