Cleosan52

Hope your having a blessed Sunday. I had an extra bonus. My hubby was off and able to go to church too. It was so nice having extra hands to get the kids ready. I was able to get my make up on too and not in the rear view mirror on the way to church!!! I'm starting to see the fruit of my weight loss now. I wore a size smaller pants and shirt plus..... HIGH HEELS!!! I didn't have pain! That's a biggie for me. If you know me, you know I love my shoes!!! The question I ask my self... "What did I do this for?", plays over and over in my mind. I did this not only to feel good, be healthy, wear high heels, lol... I did this so I could be the woman, wife, mother that God wants me to be. I love this song, LIFESONG by Casting Crowns. There is more than just me that is going to be affect and/or changed by what God has enabled me to do. Empty hands held high Such small sacrifice If not joined with my life I sing in vain tonight May the words I say And the things I do Make my lifesong sing Bring a smile to You Let my lifesong sing to You Let my lifesong sing to You I want to sign Your name to the end of this day Knowing that my heart was true Let my lifesong sing to You Lord I give my life A living sacrifice To reach a world in need To be Your hands and feet So may the words I say And the things I do Make my lifesong sing Bring a smile to You Hallelujah Hallelujah Let my lifesong sing to You

It took me a little while but I finally did it! I have lost 100 lbs to date! I have 54 lbs to go to my goal of 170. I just have to remind myself that is is not a race but a journey, and I'll get there eventually! I started this journey at 324lbs, wearing a size 30/32/4x clothes. Since then I have gone down to 18/20/2x clothes with those starting to get a little big. I wore a size 16 skirt and 1x shirt to church last sunday. I really never thought I would see those sizes again in my lifetime. Clothes really depend on the style. I'm big breasted so I wear 2x shirts and some 18/20 button downs are still tight. We had a clothes drive at chruch last month. I donated 6 lbs of clothes from just me, along with 6 more bags from the rest of the family. Talk about losing a whole wardrobe! I told hubby today I'm running out of clothes, he just smiles. Speaking of my hubby, he is sooo supportive. He tells me everyday how hot I'm looking. He even said I was getting too thin. I just laughed at him then I told him that I was only 16 lbs heavier than him, lol!!!!!! Now he's talking about getting in shape for ME!?!?! Wow! For so long, I felt like it was the other way around. I go to the dr for my 6 month check up. He said he wanted me at 200lbs which I thought was ridiculous. the NUT and RN said I should be at 220. So I have 4 lbs to go in 2 weeks and I'm crossing my fingers!!! My weight loss has slowed down after the first 3 months but I'm okay with that. Its coming off and I do take my measurements so I see results even when the scale doesn't move. And yes, I weight and measure myself every morning. So I'm 2/3 of the way to my goal. So close I can almost taste it!

Well actually, I had two ah-ha moments, one before surgery and one after. My wake up was our vacation in July of this year. We went to a beach and shared a condo with family. My husband and I slept on the pull out sofa for two nights. I just wanted to die! The pain I felt in my back, hip and legs was unbearable. On the last night, he went and bought an air mattress but the damage was done. I was in full- blown pain. Hubby went and got me some pain meds but all he could find (that I wasn't allergic to) was a night time one that made me drowsy and loopy. So here I am, at the beach, under the umbrella, feeling like Shamu, watching my family members play with my kids. I felt so helpless, useless and fat! On that beach, in NJ, was the moment I promised myself that I was gonna get myself under control before I died and let my family without at wife and mommy. When we got home, I called the Bariatric Center at my hospital and the rest was history. Everything just came together. God was directing my steps. From start to finish, my surgery process was 3 months. I started at 324 lbs on that beach and this weekend I reached my holiday goal of 255 lbs. That makes a 71 lb loss, and a gain of energy and best of all NO PAIN!!!! But my second ah-ha moment was over this weekend also. I had a mini break down. My husband taped the kids Christmas program at church ( by the way, they were just the cutest and blessed my heart) but he put it after our 5 yr old's first day of kindergarten. He was real excited when I came home to show me. Something like," you got to see this, see how much weight you lost!!!!", excetra. I was watching me on this tape, and I just wanted to weep. I think I am still shell-shocked. To think that was me on the tv just broke my heart. I was a dead woman walking. Even now, I can't believe how much I was fooling myself. Never in a million years did I see myself so big. I thank God that I had this opportunity to change my life.

Awww Cheri, we've all gone through this period of questioning. Through this process doors opened for me that I would never have dreamed of. I am 5 months out from surgery and 7 months from starting this journey. I have lost 97 lbs and have more energy now then ever before. I can do more things for God, my family and myself. I am happier and more confident now esp at church. I just particpated in a clothes drive at church which before I would have cried in pain to be on my feet for two days. I can keep up with my husband and kids now. I work full time outside the home also and now mommy doesn't come home and fall asleep or sit all night watching tv because she's too tired. I'm actually training for my first 5k!!! Go figure!!! With all this said, I learned I was in bondage before. Bondage to my weigh, my fleshly desires, my emotions, spiritually stagnant, etc And I know satan would love nothing more if I stayed there. I was useless for the kingdom and my family. Now I am free and on fire. Pray, pray, pray and then just do it!

One Month update: I can't believe that today makes one month after surgery. I have so much to be thankful for! First, my God and family, they have been my rock though all of this. Second, for this surgery and how it has changed my life in just this short time. I have had no complications with surgery or even recovery after. It seems very surreal right now, like did I really do this, but I look at the scale and see 24 lbs gone, look at my closet and see all the 30/32 size clothes gone along with most of my 26/28. I eat 3 oz of soft foods and feel full. It has become a neccessity not a way of life or enjoyment. I'm rediscovering how much fun it is to play with the kids or even do yardwork with hubby and not have pain or feel guilty that I can't help him. I could go on and on of how much more I can do now. And do you know this best part? This is just the beginning!!!!! So today, I am a very thankful woman, enjoying the blessing that I have been given. (If you have any doubts on if this is the path for you, please pray, let God direct your steps in this journey, then go to your Dr and tell him " I want the sleeve!!!!") Two Month update: Almost 2 months out for me and I've lost 33 lbs since surgery, which was Oct 25 (figured I would update now because next week will be CRAZY!!!). I weighed in at 258!!! So I'm in the 250s now, very excited! When I first started, I wore a size 30/32, bra size 50H, panties 12 and shoes 10 1/2, sometimes 11. Now I am wearing 22/24 tops, 22 reg or 20W bottoms, bra size 44DDD, panties 10 and shoes 9-9 1/2!!! I can't wait for the next two months!!!I am a bit of a scale junkie, get on daily but only record my losses. I also set mini goals for me. Like the first month, I wanted to lose 20 lbs. Goals work good for me, gives me something to work towards. If I don't met a goal, it gets me back on track, and I can analyze what happened and learn from it. My next goal, well actually I have three First, I want to be 255 by Christmas, only 4lbs away now. Second, I want to be 250 by the end of the year, 9 lbs to go. Third, I want to be 244lb by Jan 28th, that is my 3 month check up at the dr, and I would have lost 33% of my excess wt, which is my dr's goal for me at that time. Three Month update: Having a great time at three months. I went into to the dr office feeling pretty good. I weighed in at 240lbs which is the dr's goal for me. I have to admit, the protein shakes are getting on my nerves. I can't stand the taste of them now, they seem too sweet. I have been losing hair so I chopped it all off but the NUT said that should work itself out at 6 months. And get this!!! The dr wants me at 200lbs next time he sees me which will be at 6 month update! What the heck, I was in high school last time I weighed that much! So after I passed out, the NUT told be 220 was doable, I'm going to shoot for 210

Love my Magic Bullet! If you can get one or one that is like it, I'd say go for it. Blends very nicely and clean up is a snap. Plus it is small and great for the trips to the in laws.

I went to the Dr for my two week follow up which is actually 18 days, but we won't go there. My labs are perfect (very early yet) and I'm getting water, protein and vitamins in no problem. I weighed in too and wanted to do the happy dance. I lost 15.5 lb since surgery on Oct 25th and a grand total of.... 50lbs!!!! Wow! I've lost 50 lbs from August 1st and that doesn't count loosing the extra water weight from surgery. The nurse said they wanted 10% the first two weeks and I was at 11% (which is 274lbs). She also said I can expect to loose an additional 40-50 lbs in 3 months!?!?!?! My mind is having a hard time wrapping around that one! That would put me around 225lb and the last time I saw that number was in college. I'm also on the next stage of my diet. I can eat soft, pureed foods. Protein has to be first, 6 sm meals which are 3-4oz, over 48 oz water and exercise (I love my Wii Fit). We went out to eat tonight, too. That was an experience, a "freeing" one! We went to a favorite Mexican restaurant. The hubby and the kiddos had the salsa and chips, I wasn't even tempted. The kids had their meals which for them is usually half. I will never tell my children they have to clean their plates! Hubby had chimichangas and refried beans. I don't think he realized that was the only meal I ever order (he never did before) but I was okay with that! I took 3 teaspoons of the beans and small bite of shredded chicken and beef each. I took my time, chew well and it was delicious. I swear it was the Mexican I've ever had, lol!!! It took me about 30 min to eat and I was pleasantly full, satisfied, and no pain or nausea. I love this new sleeve!!! What gets me is that the meal I had would have been 1 and 1/2 bites of a meal before surgery. No lie!!! I really appreciated my "meal" tonight!

I was sleeved on the 25th. I hit my stall at 1.5 weeks. I was expecting it though because I lost 33 lb pre-surgery in 2 months and TOM is scheduled any day. I was 292 at the hospital and now I am 277, so that's 15 lbs that flew off in a week and half. Kinda wish I would see the scale move down but I'm not stressing, it will happen. I've lost a dress size though, almost two!

Hope your having a blessed Sunday When I was in the hospital and felt so bad, I had the what did I do moment. ONe minute I felt great and the next I'm hitting the morphine pump every 6 min, lol. I'm two weeks out and other than wanting to be off liquids, I thank God that He brought me through this safely. He gave me a new clean slate and the tool to be the woman He wants. Keep your eyes upwards and don't let fear over take you. We can do this and in the end it will be all worth it!

I've tried them all. I like The daily Burn best. It even has the info for my proteins!!! I don't have to jump through hoops to find foods and I love the pie chart so I know how may carbs and proteins I had for the day. Has some goo info blogs too.

I was told to make sure I stay on top of the vits because when your deficient then it is harder to come back. Things that make you go hmmm? lol

Praying you both feel better soon!!!! My gall bladder surgery was worse than the sleeve. I had no pain from the sleeve so I'm hoping it is the hernia and that will resolve itself ASAP! Hugs and prayers

It is a citrate that you need to take ( according to my NUT) I get the generic from Walmart. They are horse pills but I put two in 3 oz cold water and desolve. Then I add 3 oz of G2 or Crystal lite to hide the taste. Then I tell myself to think of it as medicine and just do it, lol. I also count it as 6oz towards my water intake for that day. I take two in the morning and two in the evening (12 oz total) NUT said if any grainy stuff is at the bottom of the cup, don't drink it, just throw it away.

She goes on the 8th. Please keep her in you prayers

I can't believe its been a week already!!! Time goes by fast when you are having fun, lol. Monday was surgery, I was out of it all day, Woke up in my room and hubby said I was hitting the morphin pump every 6 min, lol. Tuesday, I was still on that morphin pump, It was my hospital BFF, lol. Started to get up and walk and it was very uncomfortable. I like walking at night. It was quiet, no people or other obsticals on the floor and I got some one on one time with nurses and they would walk with me, keep ing my mind off the pain. Wednesday was my downhill hump day. The nurses didn't know much about sleeve patients. I had a nausea patch on the one of the nurses took off of me whn I was sleeping. They then told be to get up and walk but I wasn't feeling good. My mom was helping me and I started dry heaving and trying not to throw up. My husband and mom where yelling for help, nuirsing running, mass confusion. My husband asked where my patch was and the nurse said she took it off. They gave me something through my iv and I slept for 3 hrs. At this point my family wanted me out of the hospital asap! As soon as they removed the catheter, iv and JP drain, I started to feel human again. Thursday , home sweet home, I slept in the recliner and took one pain pill. I slept a lot of thursday and was still on Clear liquids. A lot of gas that day. Sip, sip, sip!!!! Friday, I took one pain pill. Hubby convinced me to go to Target with him for the ride. When we got there, I decided to go in and walked for 30 min. I was tired then and went to sit at the food bar while he finished shopping. Still having a lot of gas, and sipping away. Focusing on walter and protien shakes right now. I like GNC Wheybolic 60 the best ( chocolate). Saturday, feeling 100 times better!!! Went to church for kid's harvest party. I lasted 20 min and then was sooo tired. I sat at the craft table and hlps with the crafts while hubby took care of the three kids running around. Still not getting all my Water in and starting to have that keytosis, Iron, yuck mouth. Still trying though and I have no pain!!!! Sunday, I decided to go to church (took my water bottle with me) and did great! I sat for praise and worship and took a nap when I we got home. No pain, put the pill away! I did a no no though!. I didn't eat before church, had 1 oz mashed potato and nap. When I got up it was go, go , go to get the kids dinner, cleanup for the Holloween guest we have, gt the kids dressed and I started burping alot, got dizzy, lightheaded, hot flashes, nausea. My mom asked what I ate and I just remember... NOTHING, no appetite and I forgot all about food!!!! That was a first!!! When the kids left for trick or treating, I had 1 oz yogurt and 3 oz Protein shake and felt like a new woman!!! Monday, I 'm home 2/3 kids ( ages 3 and 2, my 5 yr old is in school) and doing great, no pain, no nausea and feeling like 75% of my self!!! I went to the dr for blood work this morning and got weighed! My starting weight in Sept was 324lbs. My surgery weight was 292lbs (32 lost). My weight today, one wk after surgery....... 279!!!!!!!!! I lost 13 lbs in one week and a grand total of 45 lbs lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am relieved that I did this, no regrets ( I did have the what the heck feeling but it was over by Friday) I go back on the 14th for my new meal plan, Right now, I am eating yogurt, mashed potato, Protein Shakes, strained cream Soups and sip, sip, sip that water!!!

I have you beat. I was 28! When my apt neighbor asked me for dinner 7 years ago, Something in me said Yes, I didn't even think, I just went with it. I've always been plus size so if he asked me out then he had to like what he saw! I'm 35 years old now, 7 years, 3 kids, home, van, I am married to my BFF!!! Sometimes you have to be spontanious and just say yes!!!!

I can't believe its been a week already!!! Time goes by fast when you are having fun, lol. Monday was surgery, I was out of it all day, Woke up in my room and hubby said I was hitting the morphin pump every 6 min, lol. Tuesday, I was still on that morphin pump, It was my hospital BFF, lol. Started to get up and walk and it was very uncomfortable. I like walking at night. It was quiet, no people or other obsticals on the floor and I got some one on one time with nurses and they would walk with me, keep ing my mind off the pain. Wednesday was my downhill hump day. The nurses didn't know much about sleeve patients. I had a nausea patch on the one of the nurses took off of me whn I was sleeping. They then told be to get up and walk but I wasn't feeling good. My mom was helping me and I started dry heaving and trying not to throw up. My husband and mom where yelling for help, nuirsing running, mass confusion. My husband asked where my patch was and the nurse said she took it off. They gave me something through my iv and I slept for 3 hrs. At this point my family wanted me out of the hospital asap! As soon as they removed the catheter, iv and JP drain, I started to feel human again. Thursday , home sweet home, I slept in the recliner and took one pain pill. I slept a lot of thursday and was still on clear liquids. A lot of gas that day. Sip, sip, sip!!!! Friday, I took one pain pill. Hubby convinced me to go to Target with him for the ride. When we got there, I decided to go in and walked for 30 min. I was tired then and went to sit at the food bar while he finished shopping. Still having a lot of gas, and sipping away. Focusing on walter and protien shakes right now. I like GNC Wheybolic 60 the best ( chocolate). Saturday, feeling 100 times better!!! Went to church for kid's harvest party. I lasted 20 min and then was sooo tired. I sat at the craft table and hlps with the crafts while hubby took care of the three kids running around. Still not getting all my water in and starting to have that keytosis, iron, yuck mouth. Still trying though and I have no pain!!!! Sunday, I decided to go to church (took my water bottle with me) and did great! I sat for praise and worship and took a nap when I we got home. No pain, put the pill away! I did a no no though!. I didn't eat before church, had 1 oz mashed potato and nap. When I got up it was go, go , go to get the kids dinner, cleanup for the Holloween guest we have, gt the kids dressed and I started burping alot, got dizzy, lightheaded, hot flashes, nausea. My mom asked what I ate and I just remember... NOTHING, no appetite and I forgot all about food!!!! That was a first!!! When the kids left for trick or treating, I had 1 oz yogurt and 3 oz protein shake and felt like a new woman!!! Monday, I 'm home 2/3 kids ( ages 3 and 2, my 5 yr old is in school) and doing great, no pain, no nausea and feeling like 75% of my self!!! I went to the dr for blood work this morning and got weighed! My starting weight in Sept was 324lbs. My surgery weight was 292lbs (32 lost). My weight today, one wk after surgery....... 279!!!!!!!!! I lost 13 lbs in one week and a grand total of 45 lbs lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am relieved that I did this, no regrets ( I did have the what the heck feeling but it was over by Friday) I go back on the 14th for my new meal plan, Right now, I am eating yogurt, mashed potato, protein shakes, strained cream soups and sip, sip, sip that water!!!

Sunday Worship and Praise- Our God I hope you had a Blessed Sunday! I wasn't going to church today because I was feeling a nausea and just blah. Hubby took the kiddos and they all went to Sunday School. I was sitting flipping through the channels and just picked up the phone and called my Mom. It was about 20 min before church was to start. She said she would be right over and get my. Needless to say, hubby was very happy and suprised to see me sitting in the sanctuary waiting for him to get out of men's class. I think there was a big reason that God wanted me there and for today it was the praise and worship. During this part of the service, I was standing, dancing, arms raised up and didn't feel sick at all. All my focus was on God and worshipping Him. After that I was done in, lol. One of the songs that was played was Our God by Chris Tomlin. It just touched my heart. Right now it is about a week after my surgery and I'm having these what did I do thoughts ( not quite buyer's remorse). What will people say that I haven't told yet? Will I every get over this blah feeling I'm having right now? This song brought me such peace today. There’s no one like our God. He is greater, higher, stronger, Healer, awesome in power! And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what can stand against? There is NOTHING that I can't accomplish if He is with me!!! He will raise me up from the ashes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlA5IDnpGhc

Peace!!!! All will be well, you'll see. I will be thinking and praying for you! Try to get some rest and relax. Before you know it, you'll be on the loser's bench!!!!! Hugs!

We know life is a journey. Paul even describes it as a race... Heb 12:1 “Run with endurance the race that God has set before you” On a race, there are markers to make the path to show the way to go. On our race, God is our marker, His words are our map. But on a race, what happens if a car is parked blocking the signs, or if you have a leg cramp and can't keep going, or fall and get injured? All of these will slow or even stop our race. Life is the road blocks in our race. I can't tell you how many times I've looked to the right or the left to see who/what I cam keeping up with. I've kept my eye behind me and I've tried to strain my eyes in front of me. But I realized, there comes a time when everything is blurred around me and the only place I can look is up. And that is what I'm doing, keeping my eyes focus on Jesus because I'm afraid to take my eyes off Him. I'm afraid if I do, then I won't make it to the hospital tomorrow or if I do, I won't be able to fulfill this wonderful gift I feel like he is giving me and this will just be another thing I have failed in. "Give me a Revelation" I have prayed this so many times, and my prayers have finally been answered. If I can share just one thing with you it would be, keep seeking Him, asking for the revelation that you need in your life to run this race and con't your journey!

Just getting back to the computer now Thank you Mary! Vicki, I'm praying for you. I know tomorrow is you big day. Praying for peace, strenght and healing! Come back to us soon