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Happy to set month 3 behind me!!  Onward and downward :-)

Happy to set month 3 behind me!!  Onward and downward :-)

Thank you @Frustr8, @Creekimp13, and @FluffyChix for all the concern and well-wishes. Here is the update. I have a stomach ulcer infected with H. Pylori. This isn't good news because it needs to get treated with a pretty serious course of antibiotics. The upshot is we know what's going on. The downside is that I am looking at 6-8 weeks of antibiotics to fight this little b*stard off. I will also need another endoscopy in a month to make certain that the course of antibiotics is working. H. Pylori is a nasty little phucker ... it has been known to cause stomach cancer according to the Mayo Clinic. It's going to take a bazooka to kill me though. LOL!

Two months behind me now, and my energy is finally picking up.  So for folks just getting surgery, if you don't immediately get the energy surge that people talk about, be patient!

Two months behind me now, and my energy is finally picking up.  So for folks just getting surgery, if you don't immediately get the energy surge that people talk about, be patient!

Week 8:  Lost 4.2#s this week, 38.8 pounds overall (including what I lost 2 weeks pre-op).  I am feeling optimistic that surgery is working for me!

It was like a scene from The Exorcist tonight.  Pizza was involved.  And hanger, lol.  I stayed strong (somehow) and made my planned Curried Lentil Coconut Soup (soooooo good) and let my guys eat their #@$%& pizza without me.

It was like a scene from The Exorcist tonight.  Pizza was involved.  And hanger, lol.  I stayed strong (somehow) and made my planned Curried Lentil Coconut Soup (soooooo good) and let my guys eat their #@$%& pizza without me.

It was like a scene from The Exorcist tonight.  Pizza was involved.  And hanger, lol.  I stayed strong (somehow) and made my planned Curried Lentil Coconut Soup (soooooo good) and let my guys eat their #@$%& pizza without me.

PSA:  Don't try to eat flank steak at Week #5, no matter how thinly it is sliced, how small the pieces are, or how much you chew them.  Just don't do it.

Stall Day #7...sigh

Onderland!!  Where's the emoticon for cartwheels?

Just changed my HW to reflect my weight when I started pre-op diet, which was 3 pounds higher than when I first met my surgeon.  6 more days!!!

This wonderful, amazing woman has guided me, encouraged me, prevented me from giving up and from looking stupid at the gym (ex. decline sit-ups)🤣. The saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Well it takes a village to achieve the hardest goals ever. I am so blessed to have so many people like her in my life. 

OMG -- just got insurance clearance -- pre-op diet starts in a week, surgery on March 14th.  EXCITED !!!

New pic is my labradoodle, Murphy.  Sweetest dog ever!  

Just had my 7th and final nutrition appointment this morning -- 5 weeks to go!!  Paperwork goes in for approval next week.  Pre-op diet starts on Feb 27th.  Excited!!!  

Just had my 7th and final nutrition appointment this morning -- 5 weeks to go!!  Paperwork goes in for approval next week.  Pre-op diet starts on Feb 27th.  Excited!!!  

I was cleaning out one of my tubs and I found a book that I used at the beginning of my journey  (2016) to track. On the first page, I found a note that I had left myself.
I remember being that girl. I remember being so lonely and unhappy. I am so proud that I was able to check off every one of the stars. It is now time to set new goals!!!
 

Was running late to my sons school this morning and for the first time in many, many, MANY years my son said "mommy lets run" and.....I....RAN!!! Long gone are the days of "go baby and mommy will catch up".

Meeting #6 with dietitian tonight -- woot!   Surgery is creepy closer, I'm tired of waiting!!! 

At my WI this past Friday, I surpassed 60 lb total loss! That's 20% of my body weight from my highest weight this summer  I lost 20ish lbs before surgery, and another 40ish lbs since surgery. Happy to keep moving onward and DOWNward! 

2 month post-op check in
Highest weight: 300 (this summer)
Surgery weight: 279.4
Current weight: 244.4
Lost since surgery: 35 lbs
Total lost overall: 55.6 lbs
Those numbers are so hard to believe...that's an average of -17.5 a month, or -4.375 a week. Overall I'm doing AWESOME with the losses after surgery. My biggest hurdle right now is that there are some foods I can eat again without issue (i.e. taco dip and tostito chips). And I think my loss this week shows that (only -2.2, which is the least I've lost in a week so far). So I will need to be vigilant about what I'm eating and really do my best to track what I'm having. It's also possible that I may be edging into my first stall, so I'll just have to stick to the plan and wait it out. I've also started up my birth control pills yesterday, so that may affect my weight loss a little bit while my body adjusts to the hormones again. So eating right is DOUBLY important this upcoming month!
I've been drinking the premier protein shakes more lately, just because it's fast and easy for breakfast. But I think it's a good thing, because it has half of my suggested minimum daily protein in that one shake. I'm finally making a dent in the two boxes I bought at Costco before surgery, so I think once I'm low I'll go pick up another box or 2. Chocolate again for sure, then maybe try something other than bananas & cream.
Last weekend, my sister Nikki and I went to some thrift stores and I got some new clothes I mostly got cardigans, since those will be easy to wear for a long time as I keep losing. But I also got a few other random things, including this super cute spring green jacket that will be awesome to wear in early spring for work! Nikki was more than happy to help look for stuff for me, since she knows that they'll all be handed down to her once they're too big for me and she starts losing weight after her surgery lol. She actually got her PPO card in the mail yesterday, so she finished her info packet and is mailing it to Kane Center today. Looking back, the one thing I didn't try on and buy were smaller pants....bit of an oversight, as I keep having to pull my pants up lol but I got a little caught up in being able to fit into smaller sizes in the tops, and I never made it to the pants section haha. I'll have to go again after Christmas to pick up some pants. 
Excited to take more progress pics tonight when I get home from work! I've decided to take them every month out from surgery so I can watch the progression  

Knocked out Nutrition Class #5 of 6.  We covered the pre- and post-op diet, and I am THRILLED to report that I get to eat real food pre-op!  Four meals a day with 4-6 ounces lean protein, veges and salad (and 2T dressing), plus 3 fruits or yogurts a day.  Now that December is almost over, I am getting excited again.  

Got confirmation my VSG date is 1/8/2018. Travelling for work this week but getting ready for the liquid pre-diet for two weeks this week by subbing in protein shakes for breakfast for normal breakfast foods (what's normal right). On vacation next week and then Christmas but time flies and I know the days to surgery are going to fly by. Probably not helping that I am thinking about this all day pretty much but life changing, so hard not to be anxious for the transformation to start. Best of luck to all of you this week in making good choices!