Has it really been more than a year? WHAT?!?!?!

More than a year? What is wrong with me???? It sure doesn't feel like a year. Seriously, what is wrong with me????

Anyone want to know what's been going on? Oh well, even if you don't, I want to share!

So, it's been about 18 months since I was sleeved. And it's been great. I absolutely love love love my sleeve. It treats me well, and in return, I treat it well. I eat around 1200-1500 calories per day and try to keep it to as many whole foods as possible. But I won't lie, I do still enjoy sweets and the occasional chip or three. Thankfully, though, my sleeve limits how much damage I can do.

For example, my menu today:

B: 16 oz. whole milk latte (made at home)

L: 1/2 homemade breakfast burrito with eggs, hashbrowns, cheese, and sausage, topped with salsa, sour cream, and avocado

S: watermelon and cocoa almonds, 8 oz. latte

D: other half of my lunch burrito

S: probably will have some strawberries, extra sharp cheddar, and crunchmaster crackers

I've also been really into running the past few months. I don't LOVE it, but I do love what it does for my weight loss and body. I finished a 10k a few weeks ago, and I even ran 6 miles yesterday "just for fun." I've also been going to a local aerial yoga studio - it is awesome! Here's a pic of DD and I doing it together:

So, 18 months out, I've lost 115 lbs with the sleeve. Combined with the 50 lbs I kept off from being banded, I'm down 165 lbs. I've gone from a 30W bottoms and 3X top to a 16 misses bottom and L top. I would still like to lose another 10-20 lbs, but at this point, it's not an all-consuming thought. It's just a "wouldn't it be cool to lose a little more?" thought. I turn 40 next January, and it's so nice to think about heading into the next decade of my life at arguably the healthiest I've ever been. 

And when the going gets tough and I don't want to run or want to bury my head in a bag of chocolate, all I have to do is look at my before and 'during' and it reminds me that this is ALL soooooo worth it!

Thanks for stopping by! I intend to stop in again soon! Smooches!

Just checking in...

It's been just over 4 months since my revision to the sleeve, and I've lost 62 lbs (or 41% of my excess weight). I am over the moon happy about it!

My hunger is mostly gone. I can eat anything I want - absolutely nothing causes me issues. I eat around 1000 calories daily, and while I try to go heavy on the protein and eat reasonably for most meals, I don't at all feel like I am on a diet. It's so liberating.

No vomiting. No foaming. No being stuck. No pain. No ordering soup every time I go out to eat. No avoiding water. No problems whatsoever...

A new year, a new me

I was sleeved on November 9th. It was quite the ordeal, a hiatal hernia, and a very severe umbilical hernia that caused so much pain and issues that I was in the hospital for five days.

But I am sleeved. It's not been what I expected. I'm still hungry all the time. Unfortunately, the band caused so much damage that I have esophageal dilation, which my surgeon thinks is causing the hunger. The good news is I can't eat much, and I am working very hard on discipline, so I am down 46 lbs since my surgery (in 7.5 weeks).

In 2013, I hope to lose 100 lbs to hit my stretch goal, become a runner (once again), and blog weekly.

Hope all is well with everyone!

One-month band-free

It's been just over a month since my band came out. And it's just over two months now until my stomach comes out - yep, my sleeve is scheduled for Nov. 9, which is 9 weeks from tomorrow! I cannot wait. Just cannot wait.

Ironically, it's also two weeks shy of what would have been my 3-year bandiversary.

The weight gain continues, although it has thankfully slowed quite significantly. I don't even want to get on a scale - all I know is I have nothing that fits, and that's not much of an exaggeration. I can't gain any more weight, or I will be naked. Ha.

I'm surviving!

So, a quick update. My surgery was at 9:30 am and I was released to go home at 2 pm. Not too shabby! Still haven't had any pain meds, not even immediately after surgery in recovery. I honestly think it's helping me feel better, as pain meds just do a number on how I feel - very groggy, light-headed, tired, nauseated.

Ironically, one of my nurses has been banded for two years. She had a slip fixed about 6 months ago, and really wanted to revise to sleeve, but her insurance wouldn't cover it on a first slip. So now she's hoping for another slip so she can revise! Her daughter had the sleeve done three months ago and lost 80 lbs and is at goal. HOLY MOSES. I hope this will be me!

My band had pulled the fundus of my stomach (left part) through my diaphragm. I also had a fair amount of scar tissue that he removed. We're still looking at close to 4 months for revision, so maybe I can do it on or around what would have been my three-year bandiversary at the end of November.

One last thing - if anyone reading this is looking for a surgeon in the Orlando/Melbourne/Space Coast area, Dr. Domkowski at Riverside Surgical is amazing. The most caring surgeon I've ever met. Hands down. He is just so wonderful.

And the staff at Sebastian Medical Center blew me away. The anesthesiolgist was even nice and caring, which has never been my experience, and I have had five surgeries. Every single person touched my shoulder, assured me I'd be fine, and kept asking what they could get for me. Their care was top notch.

Band-less!

I'm out and doing fine. No pain meds at all! Mainly bc they make me sick. Lol more later...

Tomorrow I become the bandless babbler

Just a quick note that my surgery is on for tomorrow (Fri) at 9 am EDT. I'll let you guys know when I am on the other side and band-free. Please cross your fingers and toes that the damage is minimal!