New Years Eve 2010

It is exciting to think of the things that will happen in the new year. For once I am pretty confident I will actual meet some of my weight loss goals. My main goal for this year is to work out more and get ready for a 1/2 marathon in September.

My weight loss has really slowed down the last few weeks which has been frustrating. I have only lost about 3 pounds since mid-December but I am trying to stay positive and just watch what I eat and be active. I know I am not getting enough protein or water but it is hard because I get full so fast. I guess it is a learning process and it will just take time.

Happy New Year to everyone and may we all have a healthy and happy 2011!!!!

Current Weight 227.1
BMI 40.23 (almost out of the morbidly obese category!!!!!)

12/24/2010 Merry Christmas Eve

Well it is Christmas Eve and just like every other year my thoughts have turned to all my favorite Christmas goodies. Difference is this year I can only have about a bite. My weight loss has really slowed down the last few weeks but I have heard that is normal so I am trying to be patient. I have not been eating exactly how I am supposed to with pot lucks and goodies all around. I think after I get through the holidays I will try to go on liquids for a few days to get my body back on track.

I am still glad I had the surgery and look forward to the next few months when the weight loss should really start to be noticeable.

Highest Weight 264
Pre Surgery 260
Current 228.4

12/17/2010

Well, between work and getting ready for Christmas I have not had much time to blog my thoughts lately but wanted to post an update. On 12/14/2010 which was exactly one month from surgery I weighed in at 230.8. That means from 11/13 to 12/14 I lost 27.1 pounds. That is pretty awesome. Trying not to weigh in as often now as I was starting to obsess about it. Hopefully tomorrows weigh in will be in the 220's. That is my goal at least.

I am eating regular foods not but I get full really, really fast and need to eat slower. I have found that if I eat too much I get the hiccups and that is not comfortable. Have been doing 30 minutes on the treadmill and 10 on the elliptical as many days a week as I can. I have also started taking a liquid multivitamin and a fiber supplement.

All in all I feel good and my clothes are starting to get too big. Yay!!!!!!!

12/09/2010 Weigh In

This mornings weigh in was good. Down another 4 pounds. Feeling good most of the time. Need to get better about taking my vitamins and still not getting enough protein but now that I can have yogurt and cottage cheese it is easier. Can't believe I have actually lost 31 pounds from my heaviest weight. Two months ago I would have never thought it possible.

Highest Weight 264
Starting Weight before surgery 260.5
Current Weight 233.7

12/05/2010 Busy Busy

Wow returned to work on Tuesday and seems like I haven't had time to do anything like update my blog. Felt good to be back at work but still feeling pretty tired by the end of the day. Need to get better taking my vitamins and drinking more water. Yesterday Jay and I painted the bathroom, kitchen, and dining room so the landlord will put in new floors after we had a leaky hot water heater a couple of months ago. Everything looks very clean now except the rest of the house where we stacked up everything from the rooms we were painting. Guess I will be putting the house back together today, and still have one bathroom to paint.

Went and saw the new Harry Potter movie last night and it was great, but sucked to watch everyone else eat popcorn but me. It sure smelled good though. I did have beans and cheese from Taco Bell for dinner and that was kinda nice to have something dinner.

Weigh in today was good. Back in the 230's for the first time in a long time. Sure feels good. Didn't get to the gym as much as I wanted this week but I will try again this week.

Starting Weight 264
Todays Weight 237.4

11/28/2010 Weigh In

Well the loss has slowed down a little this week but I guess that should be expected. My body is probably in shock from lack of food and holding on to everything it can. I get to start eating soft food like yogurt and cottage cheese this week so maybe that will get things back into gear. I have not had any problems with nausea or upset stomach while eating so that is great. I added full liquids like thicker soups and milk this week with no problem so hopefully the next step will be just as easy.

Current weight 244.1
BMI 43.24
Waist 44.5

Happy Thanksgiving, 11/25/2010

Good Morning and Happy Thanksgiving. Will be a weird one since I can not eat but we are all going out to dinner today so I don't have to cook. I have been cooking for my family every night and it is going okay except I realize how easy it is to put food in your mouth when you are cooking. Just figured I deserved a year off. Start the full liquid diet yesterday which only really adds skim milk and thicker soups. Having a hard time find thicker soups I like. Tried a low fat broccoli cheese last night and it was nasty. May just stick with broth. Also have been drinking my protein shakes and bought some unflavored protein to mix in other things.

Down 2.2 pounds since last weigh in and waist is already down 2 inches. Feels very surreal still that something is actually working. I just can't wait until my clothes are actually too big. I think my face actually looks thinner already and that is cool.

Will everyone have a Happy Turkey day.

Starting Weight 264
Today (10 days post surgery) 244.9 (some lost on presurgery diet)
Goal Weight 140

11/22/2010 First Work Out

One week post surgery and feeling great. Stitches itch and I am still craving food but sticking to the all liquid diet. First workout today, only 15 minutes on the bike but the doctor said I have to take it easy so I am. I am so excited about the weight loss that I really would like to workout harder. I guess I will just take it one step at a time.

Enjoying my second week off of work and slowing trying to get the house clean.

Freezing cold and snowing outside. I really hate living in Idaho.

11/21/2010 6 Days Post Surgery

So far everything is going well. I am still battling with my brain, who thinks it is hungry all the time, but my body is doing fine on a liquid diet. I know I can do it though. It is only a few more weeks and I can start eating solid food again and the results have been so good that I can't really complain about anything. Still have one week of work off to recover, which is good because I get pretty tired and sore if I do too much and it has been nice to be home relaxing.

It hasn't quit been a week but I couldn't wait to weigh in and Sunday's are easier for me than Monday.
BMI down to 44.10 which is -1.55 since surgery.


Tia
Weight 264/248.9/140

11/19/2010

Home today and resting. It is sure nice to be home. Weighed in today and am down 6.2 pounds in 6 days. Feeling pretty good today but still a little tired. It was beautiful in Mexico. Not happy to see the snow on the ground here this morning in Idaho.

Highest Weight 264
Todays Weight 251.5
Goal Weight 140

Done 11/15/2010

Surgery went great. Tired and sore but ok. So excited for the next part of this journey. No sure that typing while on pain meds is such a great idea so that is all for now :)

11/13/2010 Weigh In

So weighed in today after 6 days on the High Protein, Low Carb diet. Did okay on the diet until yesterday when we had chinese food for Mariah's (my step-daughters) 19th birthday.

257.9 Pounds, down 2.6 pounds
45.66 BMI, down .47

Also did my measurements today for before surgery comparison

Chest  48"
Rib Cage  42"
Waist  47.5"
Hips  55"
Thigh  30"
Calf  20"
Ankle  10"
Neck  15 1/2"
Upper Arm 17"

Heading to Spokane tonight for early flight in the morning. So excited for this journey to start.

Diets Suck 11/10/2010

Ok, so I think the people I work with are trying to kill me. First there was donuts and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting at our staffing this morning and now they are cooking Papa Murphy's pizzas for a meeting. This high protein low carb thing sucks! It will all be worth it in the end I suppose.

Still no passport, but trying not to panic. Leave in 4 days, surgery in 5.

11/06/2010 Before Pics and Weight

So Monday I start my high protein, low carb before surgery diet. I may lose some weight while on the diet so I wanted to do my before weight in and pictures now. I haven't done my measurements yet but those should follow this week. My daughter, sister, and I were getting ready to go to yoga so I figured it was a good time for a before picture. I have to admit I was shocked to see them. I had no idea how big my a** had gotten. If I wasn't sure about the surgery before seeing these pictures I was sure was after :)

Yoga was fun but I realized how much the actual bulk of my body impedes my movement. I am very flexible and used to be pretty good at yoga but this time I could barely move around. Surgery here I come :)

Weight 260.5
BMI 46.13

10 days to go.

Ten days to surgery and I am getting very excited. We still haven't gotten our passports and I am a little nervous about that but so far everything else has fallen into place so I just have to keep thinking positive. Monday I start a pre-surgery high protein, low carbohydrate diet so this weekend I am going to take before pictures, weight, and measurements and I will be posting those for all the world to see (how scary is that). 


It is still very surreal to me to think I will actually be losing weight this time. I have a cute pair of brown boots I bought a couple of years ago that never fit because they won't fit over my giant leg. I looked at them the other day and realized I may actually get to wear them someday. Maybe I will take a before and after picture of them too. 


I really want to thank everyone for their positive thoughts and messages. It is great to know I have so many people pulling for me.


Love you all,


Tia

Health Club

Family and I joined the health club last night thanks to a great special they are running. I will only be able to walk and swim for awhile after the surgery so I thought the club would be my best bet. Kids are looking forward to swimming and Jay loves the steam room. Hopefully this is the start of a more active and fit family. I am just excited that for once I know I will see results from working out.

Need to get some before pictures taken and posted. Only 18 days to go.

10/27/2010 Update

Today Tiffany and I applied for our passports and I sent off the deposit to the doctor. Starting to really seem real. Countdown to surgery 19 days.

Update 10/26/2010

So things are really starting to come together. Tif and I have our plane tickets and she is going to be my caretaker for the four days we are in Mexicali. Tomorrow we go get our passports. I am so happy that my great family is being so supportive. I don't know if I can wait three more weeks without driving those around me crazy because the surgery is all I want to talk about. I bought some size 10 goal pants this week and will post a pic of them soon. I can't even fathom ever really wearing them but I am sure going to try to get there.
 
The center I am going to is the Mexicali Bariatric Center. Their website is www.mexicalibariatriccenter.com and they have a ton of information on their website for anyone interested in bariatric surgery. I am going with the sleeve gastrectomy.

Big Announcement

So after much soul searching and thought I have decided to go under the knife, literally, and have weight loss surgery. I have started this blog so I can provide updates and pictures to my friends and family who are interested in following my process.

I will be traveling along with my sister on 11/14/2010 to Mexicali, Mexico to have the surgery done. Yes it is a safe hospital with a great doctor and I personally know three people who have gone there and had great success.

I feel like I have always been in control of most aspects of my life and I am proud of my accomplishments. The only thing I feel is holding me back is my weight, which continues to climb since the death of my mother in May, 2009 and my quiting smoking in September, 2009.

Now that I have completed my bachelor's degree and am working on my Master's and looking for work as a Crime Scene Investigator I think it is time to take this leap. I feel it will help me in my business and personal relationships and make me more available for my kids and grand kids.

So if you are interested in my story feel free to follow. I will be posting photos with weights starting soon and then keep posting all the way to size 8 :)