Saturday, April 24, 2010

365 days, and 97 pounds later....




Happy Saturday morning friends :) I know that I did my "one year post-op" blog a few weeks ago when I had my doctors appt, but I wanted to do one closer to my actual one year mark. Also, I'm feeling a bit sentimental this morning, so these are good times for me to post because the words pour out more freely during these times. Last Thursday, April 22Nd marked one year since I had the Lap-Band surgery. I made a very hasty decision to get the band when I look back on it. I did not do alot of research. I wanted to, but I didn't even know where to start! My mom started researching and she kept telling me, I keep coming across Dr. Douglas Krahn, and he is very reputable in this area. I went to my GP, and the referral they gave me was to Dr. Krahn, so that was exciting because we had been reading such great things about him. I went to his seminar in February of last year, and I left feeling such an excitement about the possibility of being able to get this surgery and have it help me get the weight off. I met with Dr. Krahn and his staff and I was immediately convinced that he was the right one for me. I felt completely comfortable with him, and safe under his care.If you are considering WLS, or someone you know is, I encourage you to visit his site.http://www.westernbariatric.com/ Everything pre-op flowed freely and before I knew it, it was the night before surgery. I had lost 13 pounds in the 2 week pre-op diet, and I wasn't even hungry by this point because I was just too anxious and excited!!! I was up before my alarm the next morning. I took a shower and scrubbed my tummy with the antibacterial solution they gave me. I even curled my hair! Do NOT ask me why LOL. I wanted to make sure I looked cute.... I even really thought about what I should wear to the hospital. Looking back, pajamas would have been a much better option, but oh well :). The nurses were incredible and I didn't even get scared until they wheeled me in the OR. I was so cold and nervous that my body was trembling so bad... and of course the tears were flowing. Before I knew it I was waking up in recovering to my brother hoovering over with my his hands in my mouth. I was thinking, what are you doing?? He was checking to see if my teeth were chipped from when they intabated me, because apparently its common, and he was NOT going to let them get away with chipping his sisters teeth! lol. brothers! My mom reminds me of this day all the time because apparently when they wheeled me out, I was quite a sight to behold. As soon as I was able to keep my eyes open, and tinkle on my own, they got me dressed and parked me in a wheelchair to wait for my mom to come get me. I couldn't have any thing in my hair for surgery, so you can imagine what my hair looked like. The Lord has given me very big, fluffy, full hair... and I need to have some kind of something to hold it back or its pretty "liony" She said when they wheeled me out, she was planning on taking my picture, but when she saw me she said, oh my... she will kill me if i take a picture of her. I wasn't looking my cutest, to say the least. The next few days were challenging, but I had the best nurse in the world, my mama!! I went back to work a week later... and the rest is history. Its been a fun ride... Ive cried alot of tears... happy ones... frustrated ones... but its been so worth it!! Here in the LA area the "1-800-GET-THIN billboards are everywhere. So many people say, when I see those billboards I always think of you, or the guys at work here the commercials, and they say, Hey, you should advertise for them!!! Well for my one year lap band anniversary, my friend Marie created a lil photo. It looks pretty real, and EVERYONE has been asking me where this billboard is located LOL. I would gladly be their model for the right price, wink wink. I also found some of my largest size of skirts and I thought I would try them on. WOW, what a reality check!!! I know I have lost alot of weight, but I consumed with reaching certain goals, like 100 pounds lost, and being under 200. But when I put that skirt on I was like, shoot... who cares if I have only lost 97. I think it was funny that I actually unbuttoned and unzipped it to put it on. Like I really needed to do that lol. My mom got in the skirt with me, and we both fit. I have lost a whole person! I have attached these pics for your viewing pleasure. Just because the first year is done doesn't mean its over... its just beginning :) I'm healthier than ever, and by next year, I will be posting a blog to let you all know that I am at my goal... by faith ;)

Thursday, April 8, 2010

One whole year!




Well... First of all I want to start out by saying that I am sorry that I haven't updated my blog recently. I am a disgrace to all the faithful bloggers :) I am a Face Book junkie, but these blogs are such an inspiration to look back on for me, so I am doing this for two reasons. First of all, I want to update my friends and family on my progress in the weight loss department, and inspire others, and secondly, I'm doing this so that down the road I can look back on this post and see how far I have come. Today I had my one year post-op visit with Dr. Krahn. I always look forward to the appointments with him, because I leave feeling so inspired. One year ago today I posted a blog about how I was started the pre-op diet. I weighed 308 pounds. I was a happy person, but very insecure and unhappy with my appearance. This morning I was driving to work, thinking about where I am today, one year later. I just started crying, and I have been emotional all day long. I am come so far. So what if I haven't hit the 100 pound mark. So what if I have some jiggle under my arms. Who cares if I have saddle bags and stretch marks. Who cares if I have 5 little scars on my tummy from the surgery. I have transformed in this year. I have went from a size 26/28 to a size 14/16. Today I weigh 214 pounds. I still have a ways to go, but I am soooo much further down the road today than I was one year ago. I remember one day before the surgery I had went shopping at Lane Byrant. I had tried on their largest size skirt, and it was tight. I left the store and I thought, what am I going to do? I will Never get this weight off, and its hopeless. I can tell you today that it is not hopeless... It can be done.. I am doing it.. and it works. Has it been easy? NO WAY JOSE. It has been a complete change of life. But has it been worth it? YES WAY JOSE! Although I am the same person I was one year ago, I have also changed so much. I am not intimidated because of my size.I am me... I'm far from perfect, but so are you and if you don't like it, I'm very sorry :) I have sooo much compassion and love for people who are struggling with being overweight. I have met such incredible people who are on this same journey as I am. I have been able to help them through, and they have done the same for me. I wish i had never been overweight, but this journey has changed my life. For the good. I am thankful that I have gone through this. I hope that in the future I can continue to help others along the way, because its the right thing to do :) Thank you all for your love and support over the last year. Your compliments, and comments have helped me through some rough days. I am still tootling down the road, and Ill be getting thinner as I go!! I have posted a few photos of my hero, Dr Krahn and myself from today. Thank you everyone!

My Friends