Wow, many months later things have changed

Ok, here I am, over a year post op, and now 190# - a total of 148# loss! Wow. Not only that, I've moved to Virginia with the family to take a position at the University of Virginia. Many things sure have changed - really looking forward to what the summer brings. Can't wait to get the family down here once the school year's over for Makenna.

Perhaps I'll post more often now - LOL....

Still Free Falling!

RNY Progress so far

Heaviest (July '06)     = 338#

Liquid Diet (4/13)     = 320#
Surgery 4/27/07     = 305#
12 1/2 wks post op     = 241#

97# overall
64# since surgery!!!!!!

Free falling........

To borrow a phrase from Mr. Tom Petty - "I'm free fallin'....."

Lost another 5# this week to hit 270# since surgery - yea! Worked nearly a full week (Monday off for the holiday) and did pretty well. Was really bushed on Friday again, but worked through lunch to take care of a few walk-up patients for the docs (I can't turn away splints - love to make them). The back's been kinda wierd still, but generally better. My buddy the PT who treats my back, said that it sounds like "stenosis" rather than the disc. Not sure if that's better or worse, but it's at least different.

On the home front, we're trying to simplify a bit around here - selling alot of junk we don't need on ebay - doing quite well with that. Trying to get onto the "Total money makeover" that Dave Ramsey touts - even going to his class this fall. Need to get off that month to month mentality and into a positive direction. Seems to fit with the weight loss thing too. Control in all things is the buzzword now.

That's all for now, more to come next week - who knows, maybe I'll be well into the 260's by then!

I'm melting!!!

Ok, haven't posted in a while - sorry. I've been busy now that I'm more active than before. It's now 4 1/2 weeks since surgery and I'm down 30# since then! Overall I'm down 63#, and boy can I feel it. My feet don't hurt, my knees don't hurt, and I can climb the stairs at work without having to gasp for air at the top! I haven't been this light for over 6 years - and that was only after working out like a maniac and eating like a bird. Now there is minimal to no hunger, I'm walking and working in the yard without trouble, and will be hitting the gym for swimming and weight lifting in the next week's plan.

No real side effects to speak of. Had an experience with chicken strips (tyson grilled strips) the other day that might have been "dumping-lite", but I don't know. I knew I was pushing it to eat the chicken cooked in salsa, but after eating about 1/2 of it I started to feel uncomfortable, dizzy and nauseous. Had to lay down for a half hour and all was good afterwards.

Went to church for the first time since surgery today - only a few people said anything. One guy went out of his way to offer me the "sweets" that are usually at Sunday scool - not sure if he knew about the surgery and was just being a jerk, or if he was oblivious to my situation - no offense taken though. I just said - "no thanks, I'd be on the ground convulsing if I partook".

Well, off to mow the lawn for now. I'll try and be more prompt with my posting in the future!

Thinking skinny

Well, things are going well with the weight loss. I'm down to 288.4# as of today, a drop of around 17# since surgery 12 days ago. Now that I've passed that 12 day milestone, I'll be having that "damn tube" pulled from my side tomorrow. Regarding other medical developments, my blood pressure is getting pretty low on these meds. I just clocked in at 112/60, after feeling a little light headed. I'll bet the Doc takes me off the Beta Blocker at my next visit.

I've been walking about 3 miles per day, in two 25-30 minute walks. Took the dog for the first one this morning and I think she was pretty worn out by the end, with those little Daucshund legs of hers.....

That's all for now - hopefully my dietician lets me start soft foods tomorrow, I'm getting pretty fed up with soups, broths, and pudding.

Later -

297#

WOW - sub 300# just 5 days post op! And feeling much better today!

More or less settled in now - pushing protien and h2o

The last 24 hrs have gone without much to note. Less tender at the drain site - and making friends with it as well. Have to live with it for 9 more days like it or not. The protein is going in better - have stuck with chocolate mint 5 ounce shakes that have 23g of protein each - only have to get three of them in and they don't taste too bad. The h2o is a bigger push - I've been able to get close to 30 oz in today including the shakes, so I'm on my way to 64 oz, but that seems like alot of water even without a 1 oz stomach volume. A work in progress. Not expecting much weight change yet, but I stepped on the scale anyhow - 301#, down 4# since surgery. I'll be in the 200#s for the first time in years soon. 300#'s always been my alarm weight - I'd hit 300#, then diet down to 275# only to gain back up to 320# again in a few months. That's over for good I'm sure, now that this surgery has done the trick.

Ta Ta for now.......