One yr today :)

[Guest guest]

Well good morning everyone,

As of today it has been one year since I had my DS with Dr.

Warden. What a difference a year can make. I have lost 148 pounds,

(592 sticks of butter) ~ 78% of my excess weight. I have lost a total

of 98 ¼ inches of fat (2.73 yards of fat). I have been on another one

of those plateaus since about the first of the month and I am hoping

I will lose again. I have only lost 4 pounds (16 more sticks of

butter gone !) in the last month, so it has really slowed down. But

even though the weight loss has really slowed I lost 4.25 inches in

the last month….I only measure once a month. So I am still making

more progress than I had initially thought this month. Things that

bother me the most are the batwings. I posted new one year pics,

under the photo link, you can see my fat arms. My thighs also bother

me but not as much as my arms, they are also easier to hide than the

arms. Would not mind a TT either, but not sure I can afford one

either. I need to do some creative financing or something to be able

to do all three. I do not think I can get insurance to pay for them,

but time will tell. Any suggestions are welcome on how to get

insurance to cover the batwings especially.

My PT guy I have been seeing for my injuried knee has been gracious

enough to teach me some specific excercises that might help tone this

ole bod (thighs, tummy and arms) some, so time will tell as I do them

everyday. As my knee is starting to heal and I have been able to

resume my swimming also, so I am hoping this will help with more

weight loss.

I had my labs drawn a little early because my PCP was going on

vacation. What came back was good, but now he is out of town. My iron

levels are finally up in midrange, which took 6 months to raise. My

cholesterol went from 216 pre-op and now is 118. WOW that is

something huh !? I do not have my calcium, total protein, zinc Vit D

and Vit A back yet and probably will not hear until PCP gets back

from vacation, which is another week yet.

Over all I feel very blessed. I can fly, travel, walk and do most

things much more comfortably now. Can even do my toenails with ease !

<VBG> I regularly have people I know walk right passed me and not

recognize me, this is fun. I have been on a bad sugar kick though and

I think that is what has slowed my weight loss. I have to get out of

that habit…such a hard thing to break, now that I can eat decent

amounts again (up to about 6 to 8 ounces a sitting) . I am giving

myself until August first, then no more sweets ! Just have to get it

out of my system, part of this is the stress eating I have done in

the past.. (hey at least I recognize it now) Life has been stressful

with DH's back injury. He has now, not been able to work for a full

month. It has been 6 weeks since he hurt his back. His MRI shows 2

bad discs and he cannot get into the neuro doc until the 23rd. So he

is on muscle relaxants and pain pills and they knock him out. I know

docs need vacations too, but this long waiting is really bad when you

are in pain. I am doing everything at home etc. I had a previous back

injury myself years ago and I know how painful it can be, but it

still does not make it easy waiting on a docs schedule. He has a lead

on a new position, but how do you change jobs when you have a back

injury ?!

My eating habits are good overall, except for this recent sweet

craze. I still keep my carb consumption very low, they do not like me

anyway so that is easy. I still keep my protein top priority.

Earlier this week I was excited. I was out shopping at Target and

they had a rack of Cherokee shorts on sale for $4.00. I thought hmmm,

a lot of my shorts on are on the baggy side….so I took a medium and a

large to the dressing room and a medium fit ! WOOHOOoooo, me in a

medium ? and oh so comfy. Also, I got a couple pair of capri's in a

medium, hey for $8., hard to pass up. Too bad they only had two

colors in mediums, but I grabbed them. I am wearing a pair in my

photo. The girls are a bit deflated, but I do not care, when I wear a

bra they look pretty decent, but for around the house who cares, I

just want comfort then. (sorry guys if that is TMI). I found a

little black dress at the consignment shop for when we cruise for

formal nights, (V-neck with thin shoulder straps and hangs really

nice) that is like new from Old Navy and it is a size 14 and fits

well, (a few more pounds or inches and it will look even better). As

far as gas goes it is not bad most days. I still take a Devrom every

morning and it does seem to help me. I know YMMV, but it has worked

for me. I do get increased gas when we go out to eat and have

different foods, but I enjoy the food and always bring home some for

later.

I feel blessed to have learned about the DS and was able to get my

insurance to pay for it. I continue to get healthier everyday and

feeling good about myself which I have not felt for years. Yes, I am

still waiting for my eyes to catch-up with my body, but it is

happening slowly. Sorry this got so long, but this brings you up to

date.

PW

lap ds 7-15-03

down 148 pounds and 98 ¼ inches

78% EWL

5' 3 "

sw/cw/goal~(healthy)

320/172/???