amylynns

Here's a few more of my favorite pictures

Here's a couple pics!

Hey friends! Back from Hawaii! We got back Tuesday actually. Thank goodness only 3 days of work this week! I'm still in vacation mode and we missed a night of sleep the day (night) we flew back, so I seem to be having a hard time catching up on that! I got way off schedule with my meds too, so that probably didn't help! Anyway---we of course had an amazing time! The time we spend with just our 2 oldest sons was great. Love that we are able to do this with our kids. For those that don't know, when our kids graduate, we let them pick a trip they want to go on. When our oldest daughters graduated they picked Hawaii too. My Aunt has a home there she rents out when she's not there, so we are able to stay there pretty cheap. :-) SO!!! I not only hit my original goal of 160 (actually got to 158) on vacation, BUT.....I got engaged!! On the beach, at sunset....it was absolutely perfect. I'll see if I can figure out how to add a picture on here, LOL...I might need to do it from my phone instead.

I'm in Iowa, but I had my surgery back in October. So I'm about 7 months out. Just wanted to wish you luck!!

We leave for Hawaii on Wednesday!! I cannot wait!!! 6 days of sun and fun and lots of relaxation!! (Hopefully! Our boys have a lot of excursions they want to do, LOL) My 21yr old daughter and I went shopping Friday night so I could get more clothes. I fought her all the way into the dressing room with crazy things she was having me try on, LOL! But of course I ended up buying most of what she had me try on!!

Wow--That is such a scary story!! I'm doing a lot better lately with my Vitamins. Beni--Tell me again which multi-vitamin you're taking? The ones I started with, OptiSource, is a 4 times a day Vitamin and I was having a REALLY hard time getting those all in! I got desperate and have been using Flinstones chewables, along with Vit D, and my calcium. I had picked the Flinstones because they have the zinc amount my Dr. was suggesting when I was losing hair. (Which I'm not anymore, thank goodness) My labs were all perfect, but I don't want to be doing something that's going to cause issues and I'm not realizing it.... I need to go update my ticker, but I am ONE POUND away from my main goal of 160! So crazy!! I would ideally like to get lower, but to be at 161 right now is just astonishing to me. I NEVER thought I'd actually get here....SO crazy thankful I've had this surgery. And I can now say the first 6 months of hell were worth it. My hip is finally showing some better improvement. My physical therapist is doing a last ditch effort using this patch thingy that has meds on it, and is then hooked up to electrodes. It stays on and does its thing for about 10 mins. Seems to be doing more than anything else my physical therapist has tried for the last 3 months!

@Bronxmerci--Can you add meats to your salads? I typically add grilled chicken, tuna, black Beans, or turkey to mine. I used to have a problem eating salads, and I was SO sad because I LOVE them. I don't have any issues with them now. But your body needs the Protein to build muscle and repair. If you don't eat meat, or don't like it--then for sure try and get some shakes in. I've slacked on vitamins...I know, bad! BUT...all my levels are good, so I figure I'm alright. I was taking the Opti source bariatric Vitamin. It's a chewable horse pill, and it's FOUR times a day. ICK. I'm doing well with Flinstones now, LOL. And I do take my Vit D and Calcium still. Just not the big honking one, LOL.

I've had some mild dumping. My heart races, I get sweaty and then about 5 minutes later, I'm in the restroom. BUT...I avoid whatever I ate mistakenly so it doesn't happen again. Like ice cream, or frozen yogurt I just cannot do. I've tried sugar free also, but my new stomach just doesn't like it. For me, it's high sugar foods or high fat that can be a problem typically. And like I said, as long as I avoid those foods I'm good! I'm 7 months out and have only had that happen a handful of times. In the beginning I was nauseous a lot, but not dumping.

@Bronxmerci--I'm wondering too how you get your Protein? I am going to counseling for that exact reason! It's really helping a lot! So I definitely recommend it! I needed to figure out how to love myself, as I am, for who I am--and not based on my weight. It is a super hard struggle, as you all know. But I just really try to focus on the things I can be positive about and when I'm feeling negative about something, purposely changing that thought to something positive. It's hard, really hard. But it is by far easier than 7 months ago!

@@PinkPolkadot619 Yes, having babies done make some changes. But there are those lucky ones out there that still look amazing after having them! I just wasn't one of those lucky ones, LOL!

@PinkPolkadot619--I've always considered myself big-boned also. I feel like I still am, LOL... At my thinnest, as a high school senior, I was a size 7/8, and weighed about 125-130. People thought I was anorexic. I wasn't, LOL. I graduated in 1991, got married in 1992, had my first baby in 1993--weighing in at 200 pounds. WOW! And I've been heavy ever since. So I suppose there's potential for me to be smaller, but I figure with having 4 babies, my hips are wide forever.

@PinkPolkadot619---Holy Buckets girl!!! You're only about 1" shorter than me, I can't imagine wearing a size 4 even!! I'm tickled that my measurements said I wear a size 12 swimsuit, LOL! I still don't believe that's going to fit me, guess we'll see when it gets here.

@Bronxmerci---You look great!!! And a size 8!! How wonderful!!! I'm in about an 11/12, which for me, I haven't seen that size since before my 1st baby and she's 21 now. Crazy!! I just ordered a new swimsuit and had to do some measuring to see which size to get. I'm cautiously ordering the 12, but it's so hard to believe I can wear that size, I'm scared to order it! I'm running out of time before our Hawaii trip and I need to find a swimsuit! My issue with finding one in a store is that I really need a DDD cup, and I want a tankini top with a bit of a skirt for the bottom. My thighs are icky and I like to hide the worst part of them. Lands End is the best bet, but SOOOO expensive. But worth it if they fit well! Now I have to decide between black and a dark pink. Hmmm...

I have a video of Hannah shooting, but I don't know if it'll work to share it on here? I have it on Facebook, LOL..

@Shadow427---That sounds wonderful!! A week on Cape Cod!! You got in some great activity!!! @misstvb--It's hard to not pay attention to that number on the scale, but glad you're seeing that your body is changing for the good!! I've been measuring myself about once a month too, so that helps to be able to see those numbers changing. Keep up the good work! @Beni--It truly is amazing how much those pounds brought us down before. Like you said, literally sucked the life out of us. Our UPS guy at work is just beside himself with my transformation, LOL. He's lost a good amount of weight too and said, "Isn't it crazy to think you carried those 80 some pounds around for all that time!?" It truly is...no wonder we were tired!! I also love how my arms look while they're down! LOL--but boy, lift them up and it's scary!! I never thought I'd care about that, but I admit, it really does bother me. I'd like to wear sleeveless dresses, blouses, etc. And who knows--maybe I'll wear them anyway, and just work at keeping my arms down! I was at my 9yr old's talent show yesterday and I kept clapping with my arms tight to my sides, LOL!! She did SO good! Most of the kids did musical stuff, but Hannah shoots archery. (not for kill) All 4 of my kids shoot actually--that's the ONE thing their Dad does with them. So he brought this thing he has rigged up where there's ping pong balls "floating." She hit 3 out of 4 and shot right through 2 of those. We had to get special permission from the principal and school administration ahead of time since her bow is a "weapon." They sent me a letter with the strict rules on her being allowed to bring it, etc. Hannah's Dad had to bring it into the school and had to stay right by her when she shot it, etc. Silly, but I guess now a days, it's something they have to think about, sadly. But the principal was just beside himself with how well she shoots, LOL. Anyway--sorry---Mom brag moment there.

@Beni--I sent a private message to Alex. I had received an (automatic) birthday message from him and just replied to that. He took care of my ticker trouble! :-)

I lost 3 more pounds! Yay!!! 5 pounds from my "main goal!" :D

@Beni---I didn't find any dresses. I just didn't really like how any of them fit me. Brett kept saying they were too big, but seemed like if I went smaller it just drew attention to parts I don't like, LOL! I didn't want short, cuz my legs are icky, but I didn't want the super long ones cuz then I looked frumpy, LOL! I did find 1 white sundress, it was on the longer side, but the top had skinny straps. I wanted to wear a jean jacket with it, but of course they didn't have any. My arms are too jiggly to wear sleeveless, LOL. Let me see if I can find a picture of it. Here it is: http://www.maurices.com/product/index.jsp?expcsl=1173635%7c%7c&productId=56146316 And OF COURSE, they have a jean jacket available on line. I might go ahead and order them, LOL! I liked the fit of it, even though it was pretty long. I think it'd be really nice for our Hawaii trip!

@Luna222--I love the story about you being the hot sidekick!! I understand how it was uncomfortable for you too. We're not used to that kind of attention! I've gotten some looks and comments too and I am with you, totally embarrassed! It is nice to have our hard work acknowledged though! We had my honey's son's graduation party on May 9th. Of course, his ex-wife was there as well. We've pretty much both hated being in the same room with each other, but we can all be very polite for the kids. (now, after being divorced for 5 years) We all just pretty much do our own thing and don't talk to each other unless need be. Well, shockingly, at the party, she says, "Hey, Amy--you look really nice." I was stunned!! If I had time to tell you all the horror stories that have happened with her, you'd understand my shock, LOL! She pretty much hates me (thinks I caused their divorce which is SO far from the truth!)

@layknee--You look great lady!! Love the suit!!!

My other son, Zach and I when he had his surgery at Mayo Clinic