Orchids&Dragons

I have finally shared my journey and here is the link for anyone who is interested. 
 
 

Been awhile since I've come and posted anything, but realized I should share that on July 21st I ran my very first half marathon! And did it even faster than I was hoping!! 2:53:50 for 13.1 miles  The following week, I had a follow up appointment with my surgeon and I got a pic of me and Dr. Wallace while wearing my finisher medal. He was super excited! Now I'm featured on their website and Facebook page, and I even raised my hand to come in and speak to prospective patients at his info sessions about my experience. Right now I'm at 173.2, down from a HW of 300. First goal is to hit 160lbs, then I think my final weight goal will be somewhere around 140lbs. Excited for my next running challenge at the Disney Princess Half Marathon this upcoming February. I'll be doing the Fairytale Challenge - run a 10k on day one, then run a half marathon on day 2. Who knows, maybe I'll plan to do my first full marathon in late 2019!

I now officially have less than 150 pounds to lose to meet my goal! Woot!!

I was reminded today that I have posted in quite some time. I am doing great! I am down 102 pounds from my highest weight and need to lose 3 pounds to get to the doctors goal weight for me of 165. I actually want to get down to 150, but my family thinks that I am getting to skinny! LOL imagine someone telling me that! I have had some stalls and am guilty of weighing myself everyday, but so far so good. When I have a stall or that dreaded teeter totter of bouncing back and forth one or 2 pounds I just adjust my eating and exercise and I start losing again, it has not been easy. It's so exciting to be able to play with my granddaughter and hike and work out and not feel like I am going to kill over. I have also become a sounding board for people that are thinking of have the procedure and that feels good. Over all this has been a godsend for me.

Today I hit 216 and officially weigh less than my husband. That hasn't happened ever in our relationship and I am celebrating this exciting first! Small victories like this keep me going. 

I had surgery in 2008. My comorbidities (health issues) went into remission the very next day. I lost most of my weight within the first 6 months. Over time I managed to get down to 104 #'s. However, I had a full hysterectomy and my body has been out of whack ever since. Originally I lost 109 #'s but then gained 82 #'s back since 2015. Most of the medical conditions have returned and now that i'm older and I've broke the rules for so long, I am finding that losing it all over again isn't as easy as it was the first time around. Knowing what I know now.....I wish I could go back and change several things. 
I had an upper GI with barium not to long ago to see if my pouch is streached or if something was wrong with it. Low and behold the drs said my pouch looked like it was just done yesterday. The Dr said it is literally the size of a medicine cup. So, the tool is still there and is in good shape, just have to reteach my mind & body the proper way to use the tool to my advantage.   

Stall is finally broken and I am losing again. Stalls suck but I understand them much better now. I am still feeling great and have kicked my workouts up a notch. I went to an arm/abs class that turned out to be all men and "me".  The dudes walked in with their 30 lb hand weights and I have my little 7.5/10 lbs and I was thinking to myself...what did I get myself into, and am I going to embarrass myself?  Well I decided to stick it out and although I couldn't do everything the dudes were doing, I did a pretty darn good job of keeping up and I am proud of myself for being able to stick with it. I decided I am going back again tomorrow and I am going to kill it again. I belong there too! 

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

In a few hours, I will be traveling to Salt Lake City to see f'n Slayer! I'm so stoked, I cannot sleep... (-:
 
Also playing at the concert are Behemoth, Testament, Lamb of God, and Anthrax. I have VIP access for Lamb of God and Anthrax, which means I will be able to stand on the side of the stage for the first three songs for LoG and the first four for Anthrax! 
\m/ \m/

160lbs now so Fasting really works, also I'm hydrated AF lol

Well, as of today I am 3.5 weeks out from my gastric bypass surgery. I have had a few high points, but also some lows.  Lowest moments lately are watching people that can have Starbucks Frappaucinos with no issues, and driving by the MN State Fair. The State Fair was always my annual feed fest - tons of eating some of the best tasting items ever! I am skipping this year and it hurts. I am trying to work through my giving up eating the way I used to and I have moments that I question why I did this in the first place. My moods are all over the place and I am trying to find other things that make me happy.  
I had hit a weight loss stall, but I just went to pureed food on Monday and suddenly I lost another 4 pounds, so that is good. I've only had one time I almost got sick and that was because I ate too much, too fast.  I am praying I don't have any other problems as I add more foods.  I am scheduled to move to solid food on August 27th.
That's all for now... Megan

Almost went to the Gym, decided not to.
So i wanted to walk 1.5 miles through park and wooded area (begging to star in a slasher film?) to the pharmacy to get a prescription filled & the gym is only .25 miles more away but then it started to rain so I walked (a different route, I can learn...) 1.6 miles home.
Then it hit me 
walking in the real world is totally different than on a treadmill. So I'm good with my decision.

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

I decided to go to the gym 1 hour before closing, so I can shut that b!+%& down lol
#winning

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

I'm in a deep funk. Instead of helping others, I've turned into a wacko rambler. Off-topic, off period. It's time for me to take a break from this place. 

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

I ate like a normal person yesterday!!!
I was at an all-day training where they provided breakfast and lunch. Since I didn't know what they would be serving, I packed my little cooler with a protein bar, yogurt and a fruit cup. I didn't need it, woohoo! One of the breakfast options was a yogurt parfait and at the lunch buffet they had (in addition to a bunch of stuff I couldn't eat) salmon patties, a squash medley, and orzo. They had fruit cups for the afternoon snack! I was so excited to eat what other people ate! I admit, I did eat some sweets, too. But overall, what a good day!

Hair loss! Oh, boy do I have hair loss! I thought it would not show up until after a few months after I have surgery but it showed up today with a vengeance! What do I do!?! 
 
 

9 months post op and thanks to a birthday in July and using a bad scale at a doctors office I thought I lost and gained but there was literally no change , for a month. Lol. Welcome to the slow down. Now im Focusing on self image, because I'm still dealing with body dysmorphia. Just yesterday I bought a gorgeous bra set , non returnable, and it was too big. But I think I kinda knew it was too big , I just can't stop shopping for the old me. Anyone else do dumb sh#+ like this? Lol

Correction on my surgery date: it is September 6th, not 4th. I'm currently doing the 4-week pre-op diet, limited to less than 800 calories with greater than 90g protein. I've got this!

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well today! I had a nice little NSV. My jeans went from a size 48 relaxed fit to a size 44. Just remember that inches matter as much as the scale, if not more. :-)

Stalled. I'm OK with it.

Hit a jean size 9!