Cleosan52

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!

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!

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.

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!