Yesterday was four months since my RNY surgery, and I'm at 290 lbs., which means I've lost a grand total of 70 lbs now (including the 10 I lost just before surgery). I'm coming up on my second milestone, which is 260 lbs. That weight is significant for a couple of reasons: 1) it's 100 lbs down from my highest weight, and 2) it's the weight where I "hung out at" for many years after in between having my two babies. It's also where I was at before I lost a big chunk of weight after my mission. In short, it's a very familiar place (although one I haven't seen in a long time!)
In my mind, I have been envisioning the "places" (weight-wise) that serve as mile-markers for me along this journey. Some of these markers are places that I identify with, others are just goals. The first mile-marker was around 320ish, which was where I was at for several years when Josh was young, before moving to Arizona. I've passed that!
Next up is the 260 mark, which is quickly approaching. I wouldn't be surprised to see a stall at that point because that's a place my body is very familiar with. I suppose my mind is a little comfortable there, too. It's a rather pivotal point. I think that's the point where I'm going to have to probably kick it up another level, i.e. exercise, etc.
My next marker is about 200, which is what I weighed when I got married. Actually, I can't truly say that I identify with this place because I wasn't really there for very long. I had just lost a whole bunch of weight (from 260 to 180) and then I was married and pregnant with Jana right away (and subsequently right back up to 260 after she was born). Still, it's the only time I felt good about my weight; not that it's a healthy weight, but it was so much less than what I had been that it felt pretty darn good.
My last marker is 140. Why 140? Well, it's the point where my BMI officially breaks into the "normal" range! I really don't know what to expect once I get into that territory. The last time I was 140 was when I was a freshman in high school! I can't even think that far ahead to consider whether or not that will be where I'm comfortable. To be honest, I can't really, truly see myself there. In my mind, I am an overweight person--morbidly obese, obese, overweight; it's all just a matter of degrees. I can't imagine being normal. Normal is what other people are. I think that I may always be overweight in my head, even if my body were 100 lbs. Maybe that will change with time and experience.
I don't have any four-month pictures to put up. My camera died in Africa, unfortunately. I'll have to borrow Jana's camera and get some pictures up. It's finally starting to show (after 70 lbs!). The only lament I have is that I look fairly "deflated" in some areas, especially my arms and even my neck. It's like a balloon that had been blown up for awhile and then all the air was let out. Oh well. I've heard that it gets better with time. The skin needs a chance to rebound a little. For that reason, I guess I should be glad that I haven't been losing super fast--then my skin issues would be even worse! Maybe I should start a savings account for plastic surgery. :-)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Broke through the barrier...
Yeah! I'm out of the 300s! Permanently. I will never again see a three as the first number on the scale. I can't believe I ever let myself get there, but that's irrelevant now. IT'S GONE!
Now to work my way down the 200s! Before long, that will be history, too!
(Wow, three posts in two days! Lots of milestones in the last little bit!)
Now to work my way down the 200s! Before long, that will be history, too!
(Wow, three posts in two days! Lots of milestones in the last little bit!)
Monday, March 3, 2008
You're not going to believe this...
...but I, Cassi, JOGGED today!!! Holy moly! Actually, it was only for five minutes. And they weren't five minutes all at once (interspersed in my 30-minute walk). But, I JOGGED! I don't think I've done that since high school P.E. class. I also have to admit that I was on the treadmill at the gym, and I was holding onto the bar in front of me for support. But, I JOGGED! (Can you tell this is a little earth-shattering to me?)
One of my goals for this year is to run a 5K Thanksgiving. I'm going to make it!
One of my goals for this year is to run a 5K Thanksgiving. I'm going to make it!
Three months later...(but no pics)
I forget to come here and update because there really isn't anything earth-shattering going on. This surgery has been almost too easy. No dumping, no vomiting, no foaming, no strictures, etc. I do still feel very yucky (even nauseated) if I eat fried or fatty foods, but that's the only "side effect" of the surgery I am experiencing. And it's not a bad side effect to have! Drinking has finally become easy for me. I still can't guzzle like I used to love to do, but I can easily drink down 4-6 ounces at a time. I guess that's fine, since from a health/hydration standpoint, it's better (for everyone) to drink steadily rather than large amounts infrequently.
As far as portion sizes, I can eat about 3/4 to 1 cup now, depending on the type of food. When I sit down to dinner, my plate generally looks like a child's portion, but I don't always finish it. A typical meal is 2-3 oz lean protein (I prefer fish or poultry), 1/4 c. veggies, and 1/4 c. whole grains. I'm very focused on eating a balanced diet. I am NOT carbophobic! I'm also not fat-phobic. Healthy fats and whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet! At this point, my calories in a typical day are about 800-900, and I'm pretty comfortable there. I keep track of everything on fitday.com to ensure that I'm staying balanced in terms of calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Honestly, if you want to refine your eating or weight loss, just track your eating for a few weeks. You're bound to find a few surprises!
I've been losing steadily, although not as fast as some of the stories I read about (maybe because I'm not a carb-hater), but that's okay with me. This isn't a race or a competition. It's a pretty consistent 3-4 lbs a week for me. The key is that it's consistent. I've certainly lost weight before, as many of you can certainly relate to, but I was a notorious bouncer. Down a little, up a little. Down a little more, up a little more. It's a very frustrating game to play! I'm glad that's over and this time I'm playing for keeps.
I had my three month follow-up a couple days ago. I was down exactly 50 pounds since the morning of surgery, from 350.2 to 300.2. My 26/28 clothes are starting to be too big and I'm fitting into some size 22/24 tops. My lower half hasn't lost as quickly--I'm still a 28 there. Too bad we can't pick and choose where to lose the fat! I would really, really like to get the weight off my lower abdomen because I struggle so much with chronic back pain, which is surely exacerbated by the excess weight on my abdomen. It'll happen (I keep reminding myself). In the meantime, I'm working on exercises to strengthen my core muscles. Hopefully that will help as well. I have given up on the medical profession to help me with my back problems: spondylosis (spinal arthritis) and degenerative disc disease. I am turning instead to diet, exercise (including physical therapy), herbs, and maybe accupuncture when I can afford it (or if I still need it).
Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I have to say how glad I am that I did this. My initial reasons for resisting--giving up, taking the "easy way out", worries about complications--have turned out to be completely unfounded. If anything, I am even more consciencious about what I eat, I still have to exercise, and I still have to find other means to manage stress (and other emotional eating) besides food. The surgery simply gives me that "extra something" that makes portion control a non-issue. It also makes healthy eating an absolute necessity, since when you eat so little, you must focus on quality over quantity.
I love, love, love getting smaller every week. It's a thrill that never gets old, at least not so far. For the first time in my life, I'm beginning to imagine what it "will be" like to be thin, as opposed to what it "would be" like. Know what I mean? That's a distinction that is entirely new to me!
I am so excited that so many of my family are working hard on losing/toning right now as well. My husband has lost over 20 lbs, my daugher is toning up, and my sisters are losing/toning as well. I love the sense of comraderie that comes with working on losing weight (or toning) together! It doesn't matter to me that I have had the surgery; it was the help that I needed. Ultimately, we are all focused on the same thing--healthy eating, regular exercise, and healthier stress/emotion outlets.
HURRAY FOR ALL OF US!
As far as portion sizes, I can eat about 3/4 to 1 cup now, depending on the type of food. When I sit down to dinner, my plate generally looks like a child's portion, but I don't always finish it. A typical meal is 2-3 oz lean protein (I prefer fish or poultry), 1/4 c. veggies, and 1/4 c. whole grains. I'm very focused on eating a balanced diet. I am NOT carbophobic! I'm also not fat-phobic. Healthy fats and whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet! At this point, my calories in a typical day are about 800-900, and I'm pretty comfortable there. I keep track of everything on fitday.com to ensure that I'm staying balanced in terms of calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Honestly, if you want to refine your eating or weight loss, just track your eating for a few weeks. You're bound to find a few surprises!
I've been losing steadily, although not as fast as some of the stories I read about (maybe because I'm not a carb-hater), but that's okay with me. This isn't a race or a competition. It's a pretty consistent 3-4 lbs a week for me. The key is that it's consistent. I've certainly lost weight before, as many of you can certainly relate to, but I was a notorious bouncer. Down a little, up a little. Down a little more, up a little more. It's a very frustrating game to play! I'm glad that's over and this time I'm playing for keeps.
I had my three month follow-up a couple days ago. I was down exactly 50 pounds since the morning of surgery, from 350.2 to 300.2. My 26/28 clothes are starting to be too big and I'm fitting into some size 22/24 tops. My lower half hasn't lost as quickly--I'm still a 28 there. Too bad we can't pick and choose where to lose the fat! I would really, really like to get the weight off my lower abdomen because I struggle so much with chronic back pain, which is surely exacerbated by the excess weight on my abdomen. It'll happen (I keep reminding myself). In the meantime, I'm working on exercises to strengthen my core muscles. Hopefully that will help as well. I have given up on the medical profession to help me with my back problems: spondylosis (spinal arthritis) and degenerative disc disease. I am turning instead to diet, exercise (including physical therapy), herbs, and maybe accupuncture when I can afford it (or if I still need it).
Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I have to say how glad I am that I did this. My initial reasons for resisting--giving up, taking the "easy way out", worries about complications--have turned out to be completely unfounded. If anything, I am even more consciencious about what I eat, I still have to exercise, and I still have to find other means to manage stress (and other emotional eating) besides food. The surgery simply gives me that "extra something" that makes portion control a non-issue. It also makes healthy eating an absolute necessity, since when you eat so little, you must focus on quality over quantity.
I love, love, love getting smaller every week. It's a thrill that never gets old, at least not so far. For the first time in my life, I'm beginning to imagine what it "will be" like to be thin, as opposed to what it "would be" like. Know what I mean? That's a distinction that is entirely new to me!
I am so excited that so many of my family are working hard on losing/toning right now as well. My husband has lost over 20 lbs, my daugher is toning up, and my sisters are losing/toning as well. I love the sense of comraderie that comes with working on losing weight (or toning) together! It doesn't matter to me that I have had the surgery; it was the help that I needed. Ultimately, we are all focused on the same thing--healthy eating, regular exercise, and healthier stress/emotion outlets.
HURRAY FOR ALL OF US!
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