Latest pics and my bad blogging

Ok, so here ya go.  I suck at blogging.  I don't really lead a very exciting life - unless you count all the shows I tape on the DVR as excitement. 

However, I have realized that even now 6 ... yes SIX months after surgery, I am still and will always be a food addict.  Best part now though is I am in love w/ good food.  Like Spaghetti Squash!!! Wow...who knew how amazing that little wonder was gonna turn out to be in my life!  Even Mr. Eye Candy is ahhing over it! ha ha

Ok, but on to the pictures.  I try to do side by sides but I am technologically impaired so you have to look at them one at a time.

Here is the beginning shot.  The WHALE of it all...or the all of me BEFORE surgery in July 2010. Then me at 3 months...and the last two of me NOW at 6 months post op.

You've come a long way, Baby.  Over 60 lbs lost forever!!!!!!  Wearing a size 10 jeans and med/large top.   I haven't been shopping in awhile so I only have 3 pairs of jeans now that fit. Two are size 10, and one is size 12. 

I am still losing my hair at a drastic rate.  This is to be expected from this sort of surgery though. I knew it was going to happen.  I've recently had a nightmare where I was completely bald in some spots all over my head. Freaky.  The hair WILL grow back though.  I'm expecting it to stop falling out soon.  Most patients say around the 7 month mark they start noticing less fall out and by 1 yr it is growing back. 

I'm just so happy to be in real clothes again.  Happy to have energy and happy to have life.  I am actually looking forward (for once) to working along side Mr. Eye Candy in the Lawn Care Business this year!  Just need to find me a nanny for 2 days a week!  I have a couple peeps in mind. :)

I am blessed.  A friend reminded me the other day when I was complaining of my 20 min drive back and forth to the school (every day...twice a day).  She reminded me of WHERE I live.  We were just voted the "MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN AMERICA". Sleeping Bear Dunes.  Yup. That is where I LIVE!  I'm so blessed.  I have a scenic route every day with my drive.  I am reminded to be thankful.  Thankful I have a home that we can afford.  Thankful for friends that remind me to take another LOOK at not just me...but where I live.  Life is good.  I have to admit it!

Before and Now

So, it comes down to this.  The before picture (which I thought I'd NEVER show anyone and yet I have!)

and that unhappy woman! Oh my. So very very unhappy.  I admit...I was FAT.  Only no one could tell me why!  Why!!! When I did everything right!  I was exercising (good too), eating all the right things, and OFF sugar!  I was soooooo good!  No one mentioned, however, that the stomach I owned was the size of a MILK JUG!!! Or a FOOTBALL!!! wow. AND, no one mentioned that the SHUT OFF valve was at the TOP!  Ok, so even though I was eating all the right foods, chicken, salad, no sugar (less than 30 grams a day for a year!), and lean meats, protein etc....I still had to FILL the football/milk jug.  Wow.  Talk about "no wonder I was so hungry".  It seemed I could never feel full.

I will never regret having my RNY surgery.  I'm grateful every day for it.  Yes, I have to take vitamins every day for the rest of my life, but I am FINALLY full.  My stomach is now the size of a cup, or 1/2 cup on some days!  The top is easy to find when I eat.  I don't NEED to eat a plateful of food (even good food) to feel satisfied.  I am content. Finally.  I have lost over 64 lbs since March of 2011.  I am back to the size I wore when I met my Mr. Eye Candy and fell in love.

I am happy.  I am full. HA HA HA FULL!!!!  I have not felt full in years! 

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I will never go back to that BEFORE picture. NEVER.  I continue to lose, and I'm good with that.  If I stopped losing today, I'd be OK.  I am happy with where I am with my weight today....158.3.   If I continue to lose that is good...then I'll have a 'buffer' zone.  I'm so happy I did this for  ME and for my family.  I've not been supported all the way by some friends, but that is ok too.  I have an amazing support group on facebook and my Mr. Eye Candy calls me his Skinny Minny these days.  He's loved me through all of it...fat...skinny.  He's the man. :)  Life is good.  I'm really looking forward to the new year.  It's only going to get better!

Update short and sweet

OK...so here is the short update.  FINALLY I've started losing again. Stood on the scales and it showed 158.3 today!!! SO HAPPY.  I was in such a stall! whew!  Good to know I'm still losing. Thought for a minute there that I was gonna be in the 160's forever. NOT that I'm complaining! I mean, HELLO!!!! I feel so great!!

Ok, so as far as great goes... I have to admit there is one complication.  I have had some dizzy spells. Not sure why.  When I stand up...WHEW! Faint...!  I feel like I'm going to faint.  I've contacted my surgeons office (they are sort of worthless).  I have a follow up appt on the 3rd. (next week).  I am trying to get all my vitamins in every day. Making SURE of that.  I mean wow...I don't want to be the one to be dropping the ball here.  Let them be the guilty party not me.

It feels like a blood pressure thing to me.  Not a vitamin lack of.  I'll keep you guys updated.

Christmas was great...just Mr. Eye Candy and the munchkins. I cooked LOTS of food (which I couldn't eat) and it's basically gone now. ha ha  Everyone had a great day.  Kids were spoiled rotten by us and Santa.  I swear...I need to DO LESS next year. I say that every year. God help me.  There are no Grandparents to spoil the kids, so we tend to do a bit much.  I can't help it.

Hope you all have a fantastic New Year!  More pics to follow! Took my 5 mo. shots and want to do a side by side from July to Dec.  Next issue! lol