Checking in

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone. It's been a little bit since I checked in with you all, but I've been here reading along with everyone's joys and woes. Congrats to all the new post ops (with special prayers going out to ). Welcome to the new members as well. You couldn't have chosen a better group for online support.

The holidays have been somewhat tough for me. I did pretty well over Thanksgiving, but the Christmas season is just too darned long... I can't say I did too badly, but I stumbled a few times. Bottom line is that I gained 6 pounds between 12-15-05 and 1-3-06. As of this morning, I have lost 2 of those.

I sometimes find it hard to stay focused on my journey. To bring you all up to date, my original orientation weight in August '04 was 505 at Richmond. When I met with Dr. Baggs, he told me I had to lose 100 pounds before surgery. I took that as a devastating blow and fell of the wagon for nearly a year. In that time, I gained 24 pounds (probably gained more, but was at 529 in July '05). I was allowed to get back into the program this past July, but I still need to get down to 405 before I can get a date. This morning, I weighed 466. Now... although I have lost 63 pounds so far, I still have 61 to go. I try so hard to stay strong (and reading the posts here DO help immensely), but it's so easy to get discouraged.

In July, I had an "epiphany" of sorts and overnight quit smoking and started my REAL weight-loss program. Funny how easy it was at first. I was quite surprised at how easily I just quit smoking. After 30+ years, I just quit cold turkey. AND... I was successful at losing weight at the same time. When I think of that, I am just in awe of myself... ( I don't mean to sound conceited, really). But, as time has gone by, I find it's getting more and more difficult to keep up the pace on the weight loss.

My sister (who I share an apartment with, and who has had her surgery on 8-31-05) and I have been discussing getting a home gym to work out here at the house. We have the room, but I'm afraid I may spend the money and lose my ambition... but I guess I'll really have to push myself. I know I'm able to do that... after all, look what I've done already. AND, today, I walked to work for the first time ever. Over the past week, I've kinda been working up to it bu walking part way, knowing a ride was coming. Today, I decided to start out without calling for my ride. I just kept trudging along and soon found myself there. For me, that's a major milestone. Although I feel really good about finally making it all the way without a ride, I also feel a little guilty about it. You see, I only live about 1/4 - 1/2 mile from where I work. But weighing as much as I have for as long as I have, walking very far is pretty much out of the question.... until now. I'm going to try keeping up the pace and walk to work daily. For now, walking home is out of the question due to the hour of the night and a lot of uneven pavement and lack of sidewalks. I just don't trust myself that far yet.

So I know this has been a lot, but amazingly enough I feel better and am really glad I wrote all this down. I hope you all don't mind my ranting. It's certainly not as eloquent as any of Francisco's writings, but I think you'll get my points. Thanks for taking the time to read, and I now turn the floor over to someone else.

Ron

pre-op 466 and losing

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone. It's been a little bit since I checked in with you all, but I've been here reading along with everyone's joys and woes. Congrats to all the new post ops (with special prayers going out to ). Welcome to the new members as well. You couldn't have chosen a better group for online support.

The holidays have been somewhat tough for me. I did pretty well over Thanksgiving, but the Christmas season is just too darned long... I can't say I did too badly, but I stumbled a few times. Bottom line is that I gained 6 pounds between 12-15-05 and 1-3-06. As of this morning, I have lost 2 of those.

I sometimes find it hard to stay focused on my journey. To bring you all up to date, my original orientation weight in August '04 was 505 at Richmond. When I met with Dr. Baggs, he told me I had to lose 100 pounds before surgery. I took that as a devastating blow and fell of the wagon for nearly a year. In that time, I gained 24 pounds (probably gained more, but was at 529 in July '05). I was allowed to get back into the program this past July, but I still need to get down to 405 before I can get a date. This morning, I weighed 466. Now... although I have lost 63 pounds so far, I still have 61 to go. I try so hard to stay strong (and reading the posts here DO help immensely), but it's so easy to get discouraged.

In July, I had an "epiphany" of sorts and overnight quit smoking and started my REAL weight-loss program. Funny how easy it was at first. I was quite surprised at how easily I just quit smoking. After 30+ years, I just quit cold turkey. AND... I was successful at losing weight at the same time. When I think of that, I am just in awe of myself... ( I don't mean to sound conceited, really). But, as time has gone by, I find it's getting more and more difficult to keep up the pace on the weight loss.

My sister (who I share an apartment with, and who has had her surgery on 8-31-05) and I have been discussing getting a home gym to work out here at the house. We have the room, but I'm afraid I may spend the money and lose my ambition... but I guess I'll really have to push myself. I know I'm able to do that... after all, look what I've done already. AND, today, I walked to work for the first time ever. Over the past week, I've kinda been working up to it bu walking part way, knowing a ride was coming. Today, I decided to start out without calling for my ride. I just kept trudging along and soon found myself there. For me, that's a major milestone. Although I feel really good about finally making it all the way without a ride, I also feel a little guilty about it. You see, I only live about 1/4 - 1/2 mile from where I work. But weighing as much as I have for as long as I have, walking very far is pretty much out of the question.... until now. I'm going to try keeping up the pace and walk to work daily. For now, walking home is out of the question due to the hour of the night and a lot of uneven pavement and lack of sidewalks. I just don't trust myself that far yet.

So I know this has been a lot, but amazingly enough I feel better and am really glad I wrote all this down. I hope you all don't mind my ranting. It's certainly not as eloquent as any of Francisco's writings, but I think you'll get my points. Thanks for taking the time to read, and I now turn the floor over to someone else.

Ron

pre-op 466 and losing