7 Years Ago

Seven years ago today I had the surgery that changed my life.
I noticed that I haven't written on this blog in a year!
So sorry!
I looked at my weight stats for 2012 and I was 153 lbs.
Today...a year later...I'm 152 lbs.
Not bad!

These picturse are from my brother's wedding this past November.
I was a bridesmaid and Tristyn was the flower girl.
Wearing this dress and having my hair and makeup done was amazing.
The dress was a size 12.
I only had to have it hemmed and the straps taken in a bit.
Other than that...it fit perfectly.
When has the EVER happened to me?...Never.

My own god mother didn't even recognize me when I came down the aisle.
She literally said to herself, "I didn't know Kevin had another brown haired bridesmaid."
And then she realized it was me.

I felt so pretty that day.
I walked down that aisle with confidence that I had never felt before.
For the first time...I truly felt beautiful.

6 Years Ago!

I cannot believe that it has been 6 years since my surgery.
That sounds so long ago!
Today I am feeling great.
I forgot to weigh myself this morning so I borrowed the nurse's scale.
I weighed in at 153 lbs.
Holding steady and loving it.

I was so excited to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses last week.
I will be in my brother, Kevin's, wedding in November.
In 2006 I had to guess what size I would be for my sister's wedding that September.
By Sept. 30, 2006 I had lost 80 lbs and wore a size 18 dress to the wedding.
This year I will be wearing a size 12 dress. Yay!
It was so weird to actually have fun trying on dresses.

I know I don't post here much anymore
But I want people to know that it is possible to lose the weight
And keep it off.
Even after having a baby.

Now...where's my annual steak?
If I could only unscrew the gas tank to my grill!!! Grrr.

Have you lost more weight?

School is back in session.
Over the summer I got rid of all the big clothes I had.
Everything that looked boyish and big.
My friends helped me to realize that I don't wear size 14.
I'm actually a size 10.
It has taken some time to actually accept this fact.
But now when I put something on that is a little big
I don't want to wear it.
I'm actually ok with form fitting clothes now.

At school people keep stopping me in the hall
And saying, "Did you lose more weight?"
I'm not kidding...since Aug. 17 I think about 12 people have stopped me.
Yes.
Over the summer I had no appetite!
I just didn't eat very much
Which I know is not healthy.
I wasn'ttrying to lose more weight on purpose.
One day over the summer someone commented on my weight
And I thought...hmm...have I lost weight?
So I stepped on the scale, which I hadn't done since March.
I lost about 20 lbs. over the summer.

I am now at my lowest weight post-surgery.
148 lbs.
My doctor said I would be able to get to 150.
I passed that.
If I lose 5 more pounds
I will be half the person I was on March 20, 2006.

5 Years Already?

I can't believe I totally forgot about my surgery anniversary! 5 years. Wow. I usually eat a steak on March 20th, but I forgot! I have to say that having the gastric bypass surgery Was the best decision ever. I can't imagine running around with Tristyn At almost 300 lbs. I have so much energy to play now. I can fit in small places. Tristyn and I can fit into the bathtub together. I'm excited to buy a bathing suit this year So that we can play outside in the sun! One thing I still haven't done since my surgery Is replace my complete wardrobe. I just haven't had enough money. I still have some big clothes here and there that I really need to dump. My friends Sarah and Myra dragged me into Banan Rupublic to try on dresses. They got mad at me because I would pick out size 14 clothes. They kept yelling at me to go smaller. It turns out that I actually wear a size 10. Yikes! So, my goal for this year is to go shopping. Get some new clothes. Actually look my size. And to keep my weight around 160.

4 Years

It's really hard to believe that I had the surgery
Four years ago tomorrow.
My weight has been pretty consistant.
In the 150s during stressful times.
In the 160s during normal times.
Never above 170.
I feel good about myself.
I lost the one who fell in love with me pre-surgery.
But I have found a new.
I have been raising a toddler
Who runs and jumps and is full of energy.
I can't imagine chasing her at 286.7.

3 Year Anniversary

I can't believe that it's been 3 years since I had the surgery.
Tammy thought it was 2.
I said, "Umm...no, it's 3. Last year I had a baby...remember?"

I haven't weighed myself in a long time.
I'm not as obsessive like that anymore.
I'm 170 today.
Not bad.
I'm ok with 170.
It's not really about the number though.
It's how you feel about yourself.
I decided that I do want to lose about 10 pounds.
I'm a little squishy on the sides
And need to stop eating some certain things.

I'm glad that I have been able to keep the weight off.
And I can't believe I had a baby and still kept the weight off.
I could not imagine being 286.7 and running around with an infant.
I would be sooo tired!
And while we're on the subject of baby...
Tristyn is only 15 pounds 12 oz. at 9 months.
I just figured that because I was a chubby kid,
Tristyn would be a chubby kid.
Nope.
She's still a little nugget.
I'm not complaining.
I could be lugging around a sack of potatoes.

So...happy fat be gone anniversary to me!

Now I still have to deal with my hernia and some skin removal.
I'll keep you posted on when I tackle all of that.

Holy Crap I Had A Baby!

37 Weeks...Right before delivery.

This is during a contraction because she is pushing her butt up.

Me and Tristyn.

So beautiful. My little nugget.

Exploring the world.

Yes...I did it!
I had a baby girl!

Tristyn Grace was born on June 10, 2008 at 10:08 p.m.
She was 6 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 inches long.
She is AWESOME.
I love her sooooo much!

Now...relating this entire experience to gastric bypass.
I have to say that I don't think I could have ever done this at 286.7 lbs.
Never.
I am so glad that I lost the weight first and then accomplished this amazing adventure.
Keeping a close eye on my diet and vitamins was easy.
Eating was up and down throughout the pregnancy, but I worked it out.
Vitamins...piece of cake.
And...I think those vitamins helped me stay healthy in the winter.

My weight.
During the first two months of pregnancy I lost 10 lbs. right off the bat.
So, I started at 170 at conception and then dropped to 160.
I didn't get to weigh myself on the day I had her.
I know...duh!!!
But I did go to the doctor the day before and I was 188.
Not too bad eh?
Yesterday I weighed myself after having Tristyn.
I am 167.4.
Today in the shower...I could see my toes again.
I know...I am a totally lucky woman
And I'm sure I will get tons of comments on this weight thing.

Pushing.
I have to say Tristyn came very fast.
I checked into the hospital at 7:30 and she was out at 10:08 p.m.
I went from 5cm to 9cm in like a half hour.
There wasn't time to get an epidural.
All I wanted to do wash push.
When the doctor said go ahead...I gave it a whirl.
Wow...was I doing it WRONG that first try.
I could feel my little hernia on the left side and I stopped immediatly.
Then my friend Sarah's advice rang through my head...
"Just push like you're taking the biggest crap of your life!"
So that's what I did!
Three contractions later and she was in my arms!

All in all my pregnancy seemed very short.
For the most part it was very smooth.
No complications at all.
Exercise and never stopping helped me in the end.
I would love to have another...we'll see.
That's another chapter waiting to be written.

9 Months Pregnant

Well...the little Nugget is almost here!
Only 20 something more days...give or take a few.
I have to take some more pictures again.
Sorry about the slacking.
It's been a busy couple of months.

I have finally gained some weight.
I am now 183.0.
The doctor says this is a good thing and I'm doing ok.
The baby is head down and is average to a little under weight.
Not a problem.

I am eating like a good girl.
I still get full fast, but I can tell that I'm eating more than normal.
I am taking TONS of vitamins too.
Calcium, Super B Complex, Prenatal junk, Red raspberry tea leaves and some other oil vitamin.

I can't see my feet again.
It's ok though...I know they'll come back.
It's weird to be puffy again, but it's different.
I'm only puffy in the stomach and not anywhere else really.
And..it's not like my stomach skin is all stretched to the max
Like some pregnant women.
Everything has just re-inflated.
My scar looks fine and my belly button is still in tact.

My new cravings are slushies from Speedway, Oreos and North Star Ice Cream cones.
If you click on my flickr photos on the right
You can see photos of her room and the baby shower!

29 Weeks Pregnant

I finally have a stomach again!
Weighed in this morning at 170.6!

I finally gained .6 pounds.

Go me!

Next Dr. appointment is tomorrow.

New craving...red grapes from Pay-Low.

OMG they are sooo good!

I am eating all the time.

Trying to be healthy.

Hopefully she is getting everything she needs.

26 Weeks Pregnant

Ok so these aren't the same shorts.
I couldn't find them.
Don't you love my three rolls?
Ugh.
Top roll: boobs.
Middle roll: guts.
Bottom roll: baby.
Weight this Sunday: 168.2.
This morning I played a poking game with her.
I poked various parts of my belly
And she poked me back wherever I poked.
It was kinda cute!
Next appointment: April 1.

2 Year Anniversary

I can't believe it's been two years since my surgery.
Time flies when you're having fun!
Today I weighed 168.6.
Not too bad for 6 months pregnant.

I couldn't imagine going through pregnancy at 286.7.
I'm so glad that I lost the weight
And have the opportunity to bear a child.
I feel so lucky.

Body wise...I'm a little pudgier around the edges.
I still have my equator and I'm waiting for it to fill in.
My boobs are great!
Today my lower back is KILLING me.
I think she is sitting on my nerve down there.
My right leg has been hurting today too.
And I've found one varicos vein. Blah.
Other than that I'm feeling good.

It's A Girl!

By the way!...
It's a girl!

Sometimes I forget what I post on which blog!

Response to Myri

Thanks for the congrats!
And congrats on your success too!
Keep it up!

As of right now I'm not experiencing any complications.
The doctor says the baby is doing just fine.
The weight is normal and size is good.
I think I should be growing a little bit faster
But again...the doctor says I'm fine.
Today I weighed in at 167.4!

I am eating like a COW lately!
Sarah is making me eat something every class period.
I eat a regular lunch, but it takes me forever.
So...I feel like I'm eating all day long.

I am taking a lot of vitamins
And I think that is the reason I'm so healthy this winter.
I take calcium, B Complex and a prenatal vitamin.
I take them all before I go to bed
Because when I took them in the morning...they made me sick.

I go back to the doctor next Monday so I will keep everyone posted.

19 weeks

19 weeks...can you believe it?

Almost half way through and I don't even look pregnant.

I'm still wearing regular clothes for pete's sake!

Today I weighed 164.8.

Before I got pregnant I was 170.

Eating is still hard and I try to eat little bits all day long.

Vitamins are good.

They have kept me well all winter.

Knock on wood.

Daring New Shirt

Here's my daring top for New Years Eve.

I actually felt comfortable wearing this in public!

I even felt comfortable about my arms.

And it hides my stomach nicely.

Yesterday I was 160.2...today I was 161.0.

Must have been all that drinking I did last night!

Ha!...Just kidding...pregnant...I know!

12 weeks

I am 12 weeks pregnant today.
This morning I weighed 163.0.
I thought I would take these photos against the green.
Instead of the white.
Something different.

I don't feel like I'm showing yet.
By the looks of the pictures...I think that's just my extra skin.
Not the kid yet.

It's still really hard to eat.
I'm still tired...a lot.
I need to take more naps.
Except my life doesn't allow for naps!

Ho Ho Craving

I was at the grocery store this afternoon
And I was getting a little hungry.
I really wanted something sweet.
I decided on a Ho Ho.
I haven't had one in a long time.
The chocolate and white filling was totally calling me.

Now this story can be longer
Because I accidently STOLE the Ho Ho.
I feel totally bad about it.
It was hidden under my shopping list
And I didn't notice it until I was bagging my stuff.

I got to the truck and ripped it open.
Why are there 3 Ho Hos in a package?
Who really needs 3 Ho Hos at once?
One was gone before I even left the parking lot.
Tammy ate half a one when I got home.
I ate the other half.
And the last one is still on the counter.

See...now before surgery...all 3 would have been gone
Before I left the parking lot.
Now...I couldn't even look at the other two.

At least my craving was satisfied.

Weight

At my lowest weight yet...163.8.
Aren't you supposed to get fatter when you're pregnant?

Top 2 Hates

Here are my top two hates about gastric bypass...

#1...Maybe it's because I'm pregnant, but right now
I HATE EATING!
HATE IT!

#2...I miss my fluff.
I am always COLD!!!!
I wear layers to work
And I still have to wear my winter coat in class.
I'm going to start wearing my long underwear next week.
I can't stand it anymore.

7 Weeks Pregnant

Here's the first picture of the little nugget!

I had my second doctor's appointment today.

This time with a BETTER doctor.

I am definitly 7 weeks pregnant.

Due date is July 1.

The doctor says I should only gain 15-20 lbs.

We'll see how that goes.

I am meeting with a dietician to talk about Protein.

I need to make sure I get the right nutrients to the kiddo.

I am having a little trouble with moring sickness.

I have thrown up a couple of times.

My stomach is a tad queezy in the mornings.

Food is not looking good to me right now.

I'm not sure if that is the pregnancy

Or if I have a little flu bug.

That's all I know for now!