been so busy and just have not had the time to post anything recently..

well, i am 3 1/2 months post op.. i have lost 93lbs. so far and feel amazing!  i am in a size 16 now. hard to believe i used to wear a 26/28 just 3 short months ago.. it's alot of hard work, thats for sure.. i am in the gym 3 times a week for no less then 1 and 1/2 - 2 hours.  i am also working out at home on my days off from the gym.  i have 82lbs left to hit my goal weight..

hubby is home from iraq now.. things have been amazing!! so nice to have my PIC back. :)   i am also going in for a blood test in 2 weeks to find out if i am pregnant. it was kind of an oops on our part but, the symptoms i have been feeling for the last couple weeks are just hard to ignore.. i know the surgeon said it was dangerous but my PCM said if i am, i wouldnt be the first it happened to and he'd monitor me very closely to be sure i am getting enough nutrients and proteins. he said it wasn't ideal and i'd most likely have to be very careful of weightloss during but, many women have had healthy, low birthweight babies.. if i am not pregnant, we will be much more cautious until i am told its safe to try.  guess we shall see what comes of it in about 2 weeks..

it is the summer of big brother.. i look forward to this show every summer and get very caught up in it..

thats about all that i have to report for now..  here is a recent picture my hubby took from last week.. there will be more to follow..

update june 25th, 2011

well, hubby will be home in a couple weeks and i have been trying to get the house clean. (he has allergies to pet hair and dust) i am so excited for him to return!!

i am still kicking ass in the gym and down 75 lbs. now. the weight loss is starting to slow down a bit but, still coming off. i think it's because i am now building some muscles. however, my back is hurting a lot less now. (which makes me happy) it might also be a combo of the injections and new pain meds.

i feel great, which is all that matters to me...

till next time.............

a quick update

well i am finally recovered from those painful injections but, a new problem kinda popped up this weekend.

i have had the most horrible acid reflux for the last 2-3 days that just won't freakin go away!  i already take meds for it but, no ammount of those stinkin pills has made it go away yet. (hope its not an ulcer that requires surgery or anything)  my doc gave me some new medicine the other day so i am gonna try it and see if it fixes the problem.  anyone else experienced this before? how did you fix it and feel better?

hubby will be home in a month and i couldn't be happier!

well it's back to the gym tomorrow.. i got cleared by my doctor to resume normal workouts.. yikes!! i am already convinced nick hates me. lol  j/k   i can only imagine the pain he is going to put me thru now.. he still has to be gentle for a couple weeks to give my injections time to start working but, beyond that, ouch!  pray for me.. lol

a bit stressed

today i am going to have my spine injection done.. i have been doing them for years and get alot of relief from them but, it's very painful. each time i have this done, i never sleep the night before, due to stressing out. i am having the left side done today and the right side done next tuesday. i am just looking forward to coming home and going to bed!! 

Happy Monday

Today was a bit rough. Since it's gotten really hot here and we have been having storms, I have been getting really horrid headaches. I woke up with a really bad one today. However, I still went to the gym this morning. It was a rough workout but, my head is starting to feel a little better now.

I have kind of hit a plateau with my weight loss this week. I am now kind of stuck at 257lbs. (53 lbs lost)  I know I am losing inches though because I have been measuring and, I'm amazed that so much of my clothes fit again. I am even able to wear my annivarsary band that hasn't fit in 2 years. I will post a photo later. I am having my trainer change up my workouts a little to see if we can kickstart the weight loss again. I am also doing more workouts at home in my off days from the gym.. They started replaying 3 episodes every weekend of Sons of Anarchy on FX. (back from the very beginning till the finale of season 3) I also read lastnight on twitter that filming on season 4 started this morning. YAY!  I have been watching that and walking on the treadmill for an hour.

I feel amazing and don't for 1 second regret having this life saving surgery.  Will post some new photos soon!

a few more hair cut pictures

i also liked these styles

took a few photos today and one from a week ago

bathroom mirror

dogs got my attention for a second

this picture was from a week or so ago..


Got to talk with my hubby today so that was pretty awesome. Hope you enjoy seeing the pictures. As of today, I am down to 264lbs. (46lbs)  Which means that I am 4 lbs from my first goal set. I am going to enjoy a day or getting my hair colored and cut into a new style I think. I definitely need the color as I have gotten very gray in the last couple years. Just trying to decide if I am ready for some high lites or if I want to stay dark brown. (my natural color) If I decide to go with the brown, I will save myself the money and do it myself. I will go pick up some good color. (guess the 25 years of doing hair will come in handy) LOL  Just wish I could cut it myself too but, I won't attempt that.. I just need to find a good style for me that isn't too high maintenance. I eventually want to go short with something like maybe Jessica Stroup's hair..

yesterday was a crappy day

It started out like any other day.. I had a dr. appt. in the morning and found that I am now 268lbs. (42 lbs) That part was great..

Then I got home and found my very large dog, Otis, had fallen down while I was gone and I thought he had broken his hip or leg. He is 120lbs and I am not allowed to lift more then 10lbs. right now. I was kinda freaked out wondering how the fuck I was going to carry him to the car and get him to the vet without Keith here. I figured it out and got him there. She didn't think he broke anything but said he did sprain his right knee and left hip.. He has to be on anti inflammatory meds for the next 5 days. He is walking a bit today so, I guess he is feeling a bit better. It was very scary though!!

Then I went to a support group meeting last night. Sad thing is, it was for patients that are more then 2 years post op.. I was really lost at the meeting because nothing pertained to me at all! Oh well, a meeting is a meeting I guess.. I just wish they would have one soon for patients that recently had surgery.. I think the next meeting is June 1st.

I also went to the gym today and worked out with Nick. I think he hates me! He punished me in the gym and I am really sore right now. I am going to workout with him again tomorrow morning. I can say that since I have been going to the gym 3 times a week, I really do feel stronger and healthier..

On a sad note, I am craving cigarettes again all of a sudden. I'm not sure why. I haven't smoked since I quit in march and I even stopped craving it. It just started a couple days ago though and I am back to the cravings and dreaming about smoking. I hope it goes away soon!  Since I have been out and about more lately, I wonder if it's because I have crossed paths with people smoking??

tried to take a few pictures today

I tried to take them in the bathroom mirror today. It didn't go very well.  Seems like every one I took was blurry or the lighting was really bad. I am gonna have to see if I can get my neighbor to take some this week. I am gonna try for Wednesday since I will be 4 weeks post-op. It's hard to believe it's already been a month.

I am a bit sore from my last workout but, I can't believe how good I feel physically. I got on the scale yesterday while at the gym and I am down to 270lbs. It's hard to believe that in less then 4 weeks I have already lost 40 lbs. I also had a talk with my trainer about doing some boxing. I had seen it on that show Ruby and it looks like a great workout. He said he'd be happy to do that with me so I think we might try it this week. Yippie!

Here are the scary hospital pictures (from surgery day)

I was at my top weight of 310 here..

hubby said I took the pictures of the hospital room. I honestly don't remember doing it. LOL  Their were awesome drugs in that IV box. LOL 

A good day today

Today was an exciting day for me.. I went to the Omni Gyn today and got myself a membership. I also got myself a personal trainer to work with 3 times a week for a year. It was expensive but I am really excited! I start tomorrow. I hope he will work with me and go slow with me..  Will keep ya posted on my progress. I am also going to make another post to put up some pictures. They were from my hospital stay. I am a bit nervous to post them cuz I hardly remember my hubby Keith taking them and I looked horrid. LOL  I am going to put them up cuz I am doing this blog and it's all about my whole journey. The good, bad and ugly!!

I also need to find someone to take some current photos of me. I am almost 3 weeks post op and as of today, I have officially lost 36 lbs.  You can really see it in my face. I will try to get current pictures up this week.

my first complication

Well I am down almost 25lbs but, i think a lot of it might just be fluid loss. I started seeping fluid about 4 days ago and it isn't showing any sign of slowing down. (if anything its getting worse) That is a bit alarming to me. The surgeon said she wasn't really concerned cuz the fluids were clear but, it's making it a bit hard to stay hydrated when I am literally changing bandages 4-5 times a day. (large, thick bandages) When you press lightly just above the incision line, the fluids start to pour out. I just don't see that as normal, sorry.

I am going to go back up to see her tomorrow. I want the fluids aspirated and a couple stitches put in where the fluids have been coming out. (the incision is open a bit on the edge) I also want her to look at another incision that I think is starting to become infected. She has already looked and said that she wanted me to watch for changes. It's turning red and a bit tender around the edges and its a bit swollen in the middle. (its also hard like something is underneath)

I'm sure this won't be the last of things to come up but, if they are all this minor, I'll be happy!

I am now eating soft food. So far I have an aversion to pureed chicken. I'm not sure if it's chicken or just a texture thing. I don't really like anything pureed! I have been doing okay with oatmeal and with cheesy scrambled eggs. I can also eat crackers and whole wheat English muffins. All I can say is wow, it's frigging hard to take in 80g of protein and 64 oz. of fluids each day. I hate the protein powder and don't like carnation instant breakfast shakes. I have been trying to suck back at least 1 a day though with a scoop of powder added cuz it gives me 34g of protein, plus I can use it as one of my fluids.

I am still having horrible wrist pain. It really seems to be getting worse. I need to have her check that too. I am waking up during the night from pains in my wrist and hand. That's not normal!

Till next time.....

my 1 week post-op appt.

Well the appt. went fine. Blood and urine looked good. I have 1 incision that is a bit red and swollen so she wants me to keep my eye on it to be sure its not an infection about to happen. I actually have another concern. One of the many spots they stuck me trying to get an artery line is getting sorer by the day. (its been 6 days since i got home) You would think the pain would all be going away by now. It's not swollen or red but, the pain gets worse everyday. They obviously hit something in there but it wasn't the artery. I might have to have it checked if the pain continues.

Other then that, I continue to feel really good. I am advanced to stage 3 in the diet and can advance to stage 4 by this weekend as long as my body is handling the foods. I can't wait till I can eat some scrambled egg and peanut butter to get my proteins. The powder is really thick and makes it hard for me to get stuff down. Does anyone have any brand names of thinner powders and where i can get them? The only place I was able to go so far was GNC. If someone can reccomend something better, I'll shop online. Thanks.

5 days post op (monday 4-18)

Just wanted to say how amazing I have been feeling. It's almost hard to believe that I feel like this so soon after such a major operation. Well I am now at day 5 and if my home scale is correct, I have already lost 18lbs. I will find out on thursday though if that number is right. Honestly, I don't care what the number is as long as I continue to feel this great and that it just gets better and better with each passing day. Till thursday.......

P.S. I just want to acknowledge one of my bloggie buddies.. Leslie is having gastric sleeve surgery tomorrow morning. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to hear from you about your own experience..

Just got home from the hospital yesterday. (saturday 4-16)

This post will be a brief one but, my surgery is done and, for the most part, i feel pretty good. I have had my moments though! Best things I have learned so far is to just walk around between sips to move fluids thru a bit faster and it helps to avoid very painful bloating. Also don't drink to fast!! Start off with your 1fl oz. every 15 even if you are feeling really good. If your mouth is dry, chew some sugarless gum or use a mouth sponge.. They saved my butt after 1 very painful night.. Also keep yourself as hydrated as you can to avoid really painful headaches. My hubby took some really pretty post-op pics of a very drugged up wife. I will be uploading those very soon and will add them for some comedy relief.

Well this is it..

I am going to make my final post as an unhealthy girl.

Tomorrow morning is my surgery and, I am scared and excited. This is the day I have been waiting for, for years and it's here now..

Starting tomorrow, my new, healthy life begins.

Pray for me.... Keri

I got a surgery date!

Well, I finally got a surgery date. I am having surgery on April 13th. I have a bunch of things to do to get ready for this. I am really excited but, so nervous. I mean come on, it's major surgery! So much to do, so little time... I am going to get started now on my errands and house work.

I am beginning this new blog today

I just wanted to set up my first post in this blog. A little about myself: I am 39, live in N.C., I am a military wife and have always struggled with my weight. I have contemplated weight loss surgery for many years but, hubby's deployments kept getting in the way. (or I'd just find another excuse to not actually do it) I have had a bad back for about 10 years and I live my life with constant pain that can only be controlled with painful spine injections every 3-4 months and daily narcotics. I have also fallen prey to that nasty disease PCOS. (this is something only you ladies will understand) It has kept my husband and I from starting a family. (which we both desperately want)

I will never forget the day I went to my doctor for my yearly checkup and lab work. I got the usual lecture about my horrible smoking habit and that my blood pressure was a little to high and how losing weight would help with the back pain.. blah blah blah It was 2 days later when that dreaded call came from his nurse telling me to hold for the doctor. His first words were, "are you sitting down?" I thought to myself, oh crap.. I am going to fall victim to my family curse of cancer and i;m going to die! He said no, it's not that. He said he got my labs back and he was horrified. I had a fatty liver, very high cholesterol and very high blood sugars and was now a type 2 diabetic. Now don't get me wrong, this was not as bad as being told I have cancer but, shit, I still was floored. How did I let myself get to this point? He said it wasn't to late to go back to the bariatric clinic and revisit having surgery. I said okay, put in the referral and, I'll go.

I went and was able to meet with the surgeon and the whole team. I got to see first hand some of their successful patients. (one of them being the head nurse in the department) She was actually heavier then I currently am and this woman can't weigh more then 120lbs now. Amazing! And so began my journey to be thin and healthy and possibly revisit having a child after I get there. It is not easy for me to be told to do something and they tell you to do many things to get ready for surgery.

1. quit smoking (which was hard as hell but, i did it)

2. exercise (also hard because of the back pain but, I'm slowly working on it)

3. diet (i miss carbs)

4. tons of labs

5. give up soda and ALL caffeine.. (OMG are you serious??) smoking and now this? shit!

6. meetings and so much more.

On a positive note, The surgeon told me that there is a very high probability of my PCOS going away with the weight loss and, that I might eventually be able to have a child as my hormones will completely change. We were told we have to wait 18 months to even begin trying though. I figure if I can hit my goal weight within a year, it should be safe to try then. My clock is ticking!! I will be getting my surgery date this Wednesday. My husband is leaving in a few weeks to go back to Iraq so, I have a very small window to get this surgery done.(told ya deployments get in the way) I am hoping it'll be next week. I will be posting some before pictures soon and, will be regularly posting with updates on my progress. Please join me on my journey.... Keri