Mexico or Bust!

[pnw218 14]

5 month update!

The scale has moved slowly however the clothes continue to get looser!

I did adjust my numbers to reflect the entire wieght loss from my high around January 1st.

Current Stats:

- current weight 147.0

- have lost a total of 52 pounds, 73% of my goal of 71 pounds

- now wearing a loose size 6 levi's, size small to medium shirts

Went to a Water park after volleyball camp last week - and wore a two piece swimsuit! It felt wonderful! Even the 120lb+/- teen vb players didn't bother me! LOL

We are mostly packed to leave for a Caribbean cruise later this week. I will be taking a 2 piece tankini and a 2 piece bikini. And NO 1 piece suits!!

It was such fun trying on dresses to wear this time - everything fits so much better, including those I bought ages ago 'knowing" that I would lose weight, and never did. Until now! There are a few things that are actually too big - so will be passing those on.

Physically and mentally I am doing so well. I am sleeping better, being more productive during the day, haven't had any major back issues.

Went to a 50th bday party for a friend last night and wasn't the least bit embarrassed to be there with former high school classmates. We are planning another get together in late August and I am excited to see everyone.

My current goals:

- would like to lose 10-20 more pounds; however just firming up the hips, butt and thighs would be fine also.

- would like to phase out the cpap machine and the stress/depression meds eventually, if possible

It is such fun to be able to hang out and keep up with the kids again. We have a great itinerary planned during vacation; the girls and I plan to use the gym on the ship .... and since we are booked in spa suites, it is right outside our door! There shouldn't be any excuses!! LOL

Hoping not to gain any weight on this cruise and maybe even lose a couple; however, I do have rule that dessert is required with every meal ! We will definitely be taking the stairs more than the elevator!

My youngest daughter commented the other day about my weight loss. Said she was looking back at photos from Cmas and now really notices the weight I have lost. It is sweet how those closest to us don't always see us as overweight or as heavy as we see ourselves.

[lmmore 0]

Have fun on the cruise Janet. Are you leaving your husband behind, since he went through rehab? I was just thinking that cruising was a problem for you two in the past....... with his drinking. You deserve to have a good time without him. Good luck. Les

[pnw218 14]

Have fun on the cruise Janet. Are you leaving your husband behind, since he went through rehab? I was just thinking that cruising was a problem for you two in the past....... with his drinking. You deserve to have a good time without him. Good luck. Les

Do you ever make positive comments?? If not, please don't respond to me. I ignored you the last time you were rude - was kinda hoping you would just go away.

If this was your best effort at nice and not intentionally sarcastic ... he is actually doing very well and I am sure this trip will go just fine.

Have you tried adjusting your meds to improve your disposition? Sheesh.

[FabBy50 0]

Hi sweet friend!!

You are doing FABULOUS!!! I just love reading your updates!! I'm super jealous of you going on a cruise, I have been on one and it was the best. I loved all the food, I think I could go on one now and not have food be the most important thing! I did not use the gym, but I swam and did Water aerobics everyday. Great memories!

Have a great time, and I know you will!!!

[pnw218 14]

Thank Fab!

And I am excited to get away! We hadn't been in the Caribbean for a long time, until last January, and then the weather was just so-so. This time should be nicer. And we are going to 3 ports that the rest of family hasn't been to before - so that is always nice.

I am a little concerned about the food thing, mainly dinner : ( I figure I will have an appetizer and main dish - and then chocolate melting cake with a side of vanilla ice cream! Maybe one of the girls will share with me. LOL

I love to cruise. This will be my 20th. Kind of a milestone.

We will be going to the beach, ziplining, cave tubing and hiking so I should get a decent amount of exercise : )

[FabBy50 0]

You will get plenty of excersize so don't worry about having dessert you will be fine! Have a wonderful time and take lots of pictures!

[cwalker 12]

Congrats Pnw218, You are doing wonderful and inspiring us all. Have a great time on your cruise, wish I could stowaway.lol Keep rocking that sleeve sister!!

[VV2010 1]

Great update and nice work:) Have a fantastic time on your cruise!

[pnw218 14]

Congrats Pnw218, You are doing wonderful and inspiring us all. Have a great time on your cruise, wish I could stowaway.lol Keep rocking that sleeve sister!!

There's always room for one more! : )

And thank you! It is so exciting to finally be successful :thumbup: I am sure you are feeling the same! You don't have much further to go either!

[pnw218 14]

Great update and nice work:) Have a fantastic time on your cruise!

Thank you! I was just looking at your photos! Amazing how people change! You are looking great too!

[pnw218 14]

Back in town!

And it was about as I expected .... wearing a bikini was awesome! the spa on the Carnival Dream was wonderful! the visits to the beautiful beaches were too short! :wink1:

dinner???? Was horrid!!! ok. the food was great but I got full too quickly! I did fine at Breakfast and lunch. We always did the buffet and I only took what I could eat. And I could nibble while the family stuffed themselves. LOL However, at dinner, they bring one course at a time. And I could only order 2 - an appetizer, Soup or salad and a main dish. So, I sat there drooling over the bread, and the multiple courses they all ate! I did sneak bites here and there from them ... but also could barely make a dent in the main course or I wouldn't have room for dessert! And dessert is very important! :biggrin2: I had to take dessert back to the cabin for a midnight snack a couple of times. Overall, being slender was much more fun than eating 5 courses at dinner.

Not gonna lie tho. It was hard. When we got back to Florida for 5 days, I pretty much quit ordering and just shared. My stomach was upset quite a bit - I figure I was eating very different food than normal tho. And - I didn't make time to find a costco or somewhere I could buy my normal Protein drinks. Next trip - that is mandatory.

I eat every 2-3 hours and it was hard to do that while spending days in ports or at theme parks. I didn't want to eat Protein Bars all day everyday, and Protein drinks actually would have been heavy to carry around and hard to keep cold. I know, I am whining! :blushing:

I have no intention of giving up traveling, so will just need to adapt. The other issue I had was motion sickness. I have never had problems flying or driving, and rarely cruising unless the waters were very choppy. I had to take bonine (Meclizine) regularly. Even when we got back on land, I had to continue with the med, especially when we were going on rides at Universal. it was highly annoying.

Would be curious if anyone else has had motion sickness after surgery. I am hoping it was a fluke and doesn't happen again. It also took me longer to get over the time change. I am hoping to have a more normal day tomorrow!

The girls and I did work out regularly on the ship and took the stairs instead of the elevator most of the time. I came back only one pound up. Not bad after 2 weeks on vacation! Hoping the scale will be back to normal tomorrow!

[FabBy50 0]

Janet

So happy to hear that you had a wonderful time on your vacation!!! I can just imagine you sitting through all of the food they serve on the cruise! I have been on only one cruise but they do not skimp on food!

Okay now I want to see bikini shots!! Did you let anyone take any of you? I hope so, you need to show off that new bod!!

Very happy that you had a great time!! I just started the 5 day pouch test today, wish me luck!

PS just looked at your pictures!! Love the bikini!!

Edited August 9, 2010 by FabBy50

[pnw218 14]

6 month update! it is hard to believe that surgery was six months ago already!

Biggest Change: My BMI is now officially "healthy"!!

Current Stats:

- current weight 144.2, only 3 lbs in the past month but I was also on vacation for 2 weeks : )

- have lost just under 55 pounds, 77.5% of my goal of 71 pounds;

- really need new jeans, they will be size 4's!

It is great not to worry about running into old friends ... and it is actually fun to get dressed in the morning!

I still have a love/hate relationship with food. I love food and hate that I can't eat more of it! Meals are more of a hassle than an event. I do Protein shakes most of the time out of convenience. Going out to eat is not lots of fun unless there are more people and more chatting going on - to distract me from the food! lol

I would still do it again and am very happy with my results!

[pnw218 14]

Monday, August 30th

Weighed in at 141lbs! Bought size 4 Levi's this weekend!

New photo in album.

Went on a hike with the high school volleyball team on Saturday. Definitely brought up the end but no after pains with my back! I guess removing nearly 60 pounds has helped!

Have lost 1/3 of my beginning weight. Amazing!

After seeing high school friends this past weekend (31 yrs since graduation), it reinforced my thoughts that I may not push losing anymore. It seems the skinner gals get, the more wrinkles they have! I would rather have 10 lbs than 10 wrinkles! : ) I have more than accomplished my first goal - single digit jeans.

I was also able to get into a pair of my daughter's skinny jeans this weekend altho I couldn't zip them all the way. LOL She just glared at me .....

Will return to working out next Tuesday (9/7) .... nice to have a few weeks off and sleep in!

[pnw218 14]

7 month update ....

I just keep sounding like a broken record! For those young kids in the crowd, a record is what we old folks listened to music on, and if it got scratched or broken, it would stick and we would hear the same thing over and over again :lol0: lol

Life is so good! I have lost a few more pounds, down to 138.6. I am back to Curves on a regular basis. It is a low impact toning workout and serves my purpose well.

I bought all new workout clothes this past week and it was so exciting to buy everything in size small. I doubt that I will go below a size 4 - or rather I have no intentions of going smaller :thumbup1:. Just trying to tone everything up at this point.

I have lost almost another 10 inches overall.

Still having one or two Protein shakes a day, and food the rest of the time. I am not counting calories at all. If I want something, I eat it. Ok - 2-4 whole bites that is. LOL I am still limited in quantity, never over 4 ounces. I do drink just a little with my meals.

It is fun to see people I haven't seen in six months. There are many double takes. Very good on the ego! It is wonderful to hear: wow! you look great! I didn't even recognize you!

The hair is still falling out. Hoping that will slow down and stop soon. I have had a few bouts of nausea; a very odd type of nausea that I never had before. Nothing seems to resolve it. Had it hit today; took phenergan and slept most of the day. This started on the cruise in late July and has been hitting about once a week or every 10 days. I see my GP on Monday so will discuss it with her.

The mental aspect is getting much easier as time goes on. I don't even think about it much anymore. I take a few bites and move on.

It is so very true: food doesn't taste as good as skinny feels!