Life by the lake.

Well I have made it too onederland as they call it.., only 10 pounds to go and I will be at my goal for weight loss. I am so out of clothes and winter is coming. I need to go rummaging here soon to find something feasible for me to wear. I have plenty jeans. Sweatshirts are a must. Not much for regular clothes though.

We are looking at houses and think we might have found a keeper. It is a ranch with a finished basement (a room for me to have my mess where DH does not have to see it. The neighborhood is wonderful for me to get out and walk in. I think that will be enjoyable for both Pablo and I. Two apple trees in the backyard, and room to plant more, lots more. Jeff wants a haralson tree and I would like some blueberry bushes and maybe a cherry tree. The lot is huge almost a whole acre with woods as our backyard neighbor. We will have deer and probably some bear in the yard, but you know that is okay. I think it would be cool looking out and seeing a deer wandering around.

Jeff's work is going good. He is getting busier all fo the time. All in all we love it up here. I will be kayaking by next year. I plan on taking some classes and learn how to do this then I am going to Lake Superior to the Apostle Islands, my dream kayaking trip.

We are even talking about getting snow shoes. That would be fun for both of us with all of the snow. I don't see us on a snowmobile, but I do see us happy here. Missing the kids will always be, but they have their lives too.

Anyhow life is good in the northwoods. Come see us!

100+ pounds we go!

Wow, starting my 6th month post surgery and I am down 100+ pounds. What a mind blowing experience. I am also losing my hair like crazy. That is really upsetting to me as I had always been in control of my hair, the one thing I could really control. I do think it has stopped falling out as I have upped my protein intake again.

I ahve been very fortunate in the fact some wonderful friends have been giving me clothes. Just when I think I have to go buy some, sacks appear. It is like going to the store and coming home loaded. One friend just deposited 2 adorable sacks with some of the cutest outfits for spring and they fit WOOHOO. One size to go and I will be back in the teens for sizing. I can hardly believe it. Starting at 5x and now down to a 2x is really a woohoo moment for me.

Still having problems with some foods. Sometimes really good, the next time not.

This too shall pass.

17 year together

Jeff and I celebrated our 17th anniversary. I am thinner now than when we started dating. Amazing. I love my new job except for 2 weeks it has messed up my swimming. Starting next week I will be back to swimming Mondays and Fridays. I just don't know what I will do in the middle for exercise. I thought about Curves but right now that is not going to be an option as we need to be back to watching our monies for awhile. Sitting on pins and needles for Jeff's job, I just racked up a huge hospital bill because of kidney stones.

Kidney stones are a side effect from bariatric surgery, partially because we don't produce something in our bodies that makes the little crystals go away and secondly because I will admit I just have a hard time drinking all of the water. I also am struggling to get my protein in. Kidney stones hurt something horrible. Absolutely horrible. But morphine and phenegran are wonderful to help with the pain and vomiting. I am now trying to drink with a timer. A cup of water every 20 minutes. Hopefully that will help.

I stepped on the scale and now weigh 258. 91 pounds down and approximately 90 to 100 more they say. Actually this may sound silly but if I did not lose another pound I am thrilled. Jeff calls me skinny. People don't recognize me, some say I look 10 years younger, and I feel good.

I walked the Mankato Mall, Cubs Foods, and the outlet mall with Jeff with no leg problems. I actually walked the whole mall.

I am so looking forward to heading to the MOA to see how much of it I can walk before I crash. I bet I will be amazed. The last few times I have been there with my friend Michelle, I go to Archivers and then to lunch and out. No walking to speak of, just through Bloomingdales to the store and restaurant.

It will be fun to see Michelle again. I am anxious to see her reaction as she has not seen me at all since I started my weight loss. She saw me before my surgery.

Starting month Five. Wow!!!

So close......

I got up, pulled my buddy off of the shelf, placed it on the floor, and on it I went. 261, can you believe it............... After yesterday I deserved a little good news. That means 88 pounds since the beginning of this long ride.

Yesterday was a bad day. I started actual work on my new job and I got the dry heaves. sorry for those with delicate tummies. I was terrified that I would get dehydrated so I kept drinking and heaving, drinking and heaving. Finally around noon the pouch figured it had won. I was tired, drawn out, and just miserable. Don't know what I did wrong, whether Mr. Pouch decided that taking all of my vitamins and supplements in the morning was not to his liking or if I had accidentally ate something sweetened with sugar the night before or if I had the flu. By the time the kid called for me to get the grandson I was much better. I drank a bottle of water and a cup of tea.

Today I seem to be better. I have not had my protein yet. I found a new one. Cookies and cream and it is yummy. Very, very Yummy!!!!. Mix it with very, very cold milk and it is like having a milkshake.

The doctor is thinking around 165 will be my stopping spot so I have another 100 to go then. YIKES!

Stay warm and stay healthy.

A New Year and a Thinner Me.

Hard to believe I lived through the holidays and did not gain weight. That has to be a first in forever. Alright, it was not easy. I missed the goodies, the hot chocolate, hot apple cider, the eating snacky food, and the fun of making it all. Eating the holiday meal was the pits, although I felt wonderful afterwards.

I stepped on the scale today and I am at 265 pounds. I am melting before my own eyes. I have had some rough go of it. I was really ready to eat raw veggies and salad and it did not like me at all. Lots of cramping, felt crappy, and just miserable. Cut back on my eating and feeling much better. I think I have an incisional hernia, but they won't do anything with that until the weight is off and they do reconstructive surgery. (Not sure I want that, but I do have wings under the arms)

Support group has been great. I have had a chance to talk to others who have gone down the path or are going down the path that I am on right now. At first I did not think I wanted to go to that but now I am looking forward to it. I think you need people who can truly relate to the change you are going through.

I have been blessed with good friends and some family that are very supportive of me. I have learned from a friend whose sister had the surgery to be careful what you say to others. I guess the sister has forgotten what it is like to battle the food addiction and has been not thinking when she makes remarks. I can see where you might get carried away with saying some things about having to get new clothes and nothing fitting, I have done that. I think partially that is because it is so exciting to be down to a size that you have not worn in years. I don't want to hurt people's feelings so I will try to be very conscious of what I am saying to others.

Somebody asked me the other day if I would recommend the surgery to somebody else. I truly believe that is something that everyone has to decide on their own. It is not an easy journey. It is emotional. Some days you feel crabby. Some days you are on cloud 9 because you can walk for miles (a truly new feat for me). Every one has to make their own decision regarding the surgery, the life style change, the hard work, and the danger that also comes with it.

My first set of labs came back all good. Whew that is a relief for me. I have tried to be very faithful taking the daily doses that I am required.

Any way happy New Year to all and thanks for walking my journey with me.

The first holiday is under my belt!

Well I made it through Thanksgiving, for that I am thankful. The holiday gathering itself was awful! Family troubles and strife that were ridiculous. I had a little turkey, mashed spuds, and gravy. Everything else had sugar or lots of fat. I had no dessert because I forgot to make myself some. Oh well.

Jeff and I escaped for a long weekend. First we canceled due to poor economy, family troubles and strife, and Jeff just getting over being sick. Then Thursday we said to heck with it and hopped in the car and went up north. I am finding eating is somewhat difficult at this stage just because of what is in some foods. I can't do any sugars (except for natural sugar which is in foods), I can't do deep fried, no white bread, and very small portions. Eating breakfast at our hotel was wonderful. The staff gave me my 1 piece of toast and cream cheese, scrambled egg with cheese. I drank milk later in the day to get my protein in. Lunch was not even too bad. We ate at Potbelly's, my favorite place. They have great hot subs and they make a skinny version so I was able to have a tuna sub with cheese in a skinny. I ate a little of the whole wheat bread and then used a fork to scoop up the remainder of the goodies. Unfortunately supper did not fair as well. My fault I did not think about what I ordered. Teriakyi chicken breast. Teriakyi sauce has sugar. Cindy was sick!!!! We were shopping in Macy's and I could feel that I was going to lose it. Luckily our hotel was right there and we could run up to the room quickly and sick was I. I dumped. Boy that is horrible. Luckily for me though I felt okay after dumping. We were able to go to the parade and enjoy the rest of the evening. I have learned the hard way, carefully choose your meal! Carefully!

Anyway I am down to 285. WOW. Like I mean I have lost a lot of me. I have not been below 300 in years and then to be this far below already. I am feeling stronger. Loving walking much longer. (Yup I walked like a banshee all weekend!)

Life is good. Dain gave me a big hug and told me how proud he was of me. Means a lot to this mom especially from a child you think never notices anything at all in life but himself.

Turkey day is just around the corner.

I am feeling a little blue about things I cannot eat for the holiday, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberries, and mom's sweet potatoes. I will miss my glass of wine.

I know I will feel better this year than I have in years past. I will not be stuffed and miserable. I will be comfortable and be able to enjoy myself. I will be wide awake while others are sleepy.

I am running out of clothes. Isn't that just bizzare! I got on the scale this morning and it read 290. I am the shrinking woman. I fit in booths. I fit comfortably in the chair at the salon to get my hair colored. I do get hungry for foods. I tried tacos. Yum, as long as the shell was fried crispy I could eat it, but I think today I will just do the meat, cheese, tomatoe, and sour cream.

Aquasizing is great fun. I am so impressed at the encouragement I recieve from the girls in the class. All except the instructor are old enough to be my mother.

Anyhow things are going good. I have to remember to eat slowly, don't drink with meals, chew my food very well, and don't let myself get too hungry. I also have to exercise and work at staying fit and getting fit.

This year I am thankful for my supportive friends, family, and a healthier me. Kayaking is just a few months away......