It's Been A Long Time Comin'

I know it has been a while since I have posted. To update you all, I have hit my 30 pound lost mark!! I couldn't be more excited and I am on a straight and narrow path towards a life of being skinny. Things have been crazy around here. I am gearing up for my first vacation since surgery. I believe it will be like the 'temptation challenges' from the Biggest Loser. We are going to South Carolina to be with the in-laws for a week. With family comes big sit down dinners, going out to celebrate, and drinking. I have had a glass of wine or two here and there within the last week so I know I am good there. I really hope I can control myself when posed with the situation of going out to eat. My biggest fear is getting sick in public. I never quite know how to handle the situation. It always ends up in me looking like an emergency is occuring and then of course everyone has to ask what went wrong. I will do my best to keep positive thoughts in my head and remember the rules.

On to other news, I got a JOB!!! I was just hired as the newest vet technician at a clinic here in Arkansas. I am super excited as I have not worked for 3 years. It will give my daughter the opportunity to gain social skills and give me the chance to have some grown up time. I am also excited about this because I believe it will get me into a routine. Work then gym. I am one of those people that need to have the same schedule everyday to be successful. Being an at home mom/wife kind of just let me do what I want when I wanted it. This job will allow me to just hit the gym on the way home from work and keep a steady schedule. I think only good things can come from this. It will also not allow me to snack all day. I will be posting new pictures of my progress soon. I keep getting compliments that my weight loss is noticed and going well. I love hearing these things as they give me that push and reassurance that I sometimes need. All in all I STILL think this is the best thing I ever did for myself, and I wouldn't change a thing :)

MEASUREMENTS!!!!

As of today- May 9th, 2011- 27 days post op here are my measurements:

Neck 16.25
Arm 16
Boobs 46.5
Waist 44
Booty 44.75
Thigh 24.50

Thats OVER 21 inches lost since my first measurement!!! I am loving my new body so far. I have bought 2 pairs of SHORTS. I haven't worn shorts in over a decade! I have my first post-op appointment tomorrow and I am hoping that the doctor likes the results- I know I do!!

May 8th

Today would have been considered my 2 year bandaversary. Two years ago, I thought I had made what would be the best decision of my life. It wasn't the WORST decision of my life, it was just the wrong one for me. I see weight loss surgery as playing a game of poker. Sometimes you have the right hand and can take the table, other times you have a bust. I wish I was one of those people who could call a bluff when they see it, but I am blind to the obvious. I can say now that I have gotten better at the game, learned the rules a little bit more, and can play my cards right. I haven't done measurements latley, but I should. I can feel my clothes getting much looser and my over all self-confidence is through the roof. I am wearing nicer things, putting make-up on, being more social. All of the things I hid from or didn't give a shit about when I was ginormous. I see a huge change in myself. I catch myself checking me out in the mirror. I like how this looks on me. If I ever had a doubt before ( which I never did ) I know this is the right decision for me. I am glad I didn't listen to the horror stories and all of the bullshit that people wanted to throw my way to block me from success. I love the new me and I love the friends and family who have supported me no matter what.

People Come and Go but I Will Forever Be Ali

It was brought to my attention last night that I have changed. Over the night I really thought long and hard if that statement is true. I came to conclusion that it is very true. I am now happy, positive, encouraging and confident. Most people knew me as a sarcastic, miserable, self-hating, debbie downer type of person. I have changed because I know that I can do better than I was, I have changed because I FINALLY care about my life and myself. I refuse to apologize for being happy and finally in the place that I have been supporting everyone else for already being in. I have spent countless hours being happy for everyone else. Numerous conversations of motivation given and encouragement supplied. Now, selfish or not, it is my turn and I will let NO ONE take that from me. If you can't be happy for me being happy then you have no place in my life. For once in my life, I need the cheerleader, I need the motivation, and the pat on the back. I am still sarcastic and I still have my sense of humor but I now I am the Captain of my team and the player as well. I am deciding my future and making things happen. I will not apologize for being me.

Here are my current measurements; eactly 14 days post op:
Neck 16.25
Arm- 16
Boobs-46.50
Waist- 48
Butt- 48
Thigh- 27.75

11 Inches gone!

Strange Things Our Bodies Do

As of today I am 18 days post op. I am on the semi solid diet, being able to eat tuna and pasta. I am looking forward to the day when I can have MEAT! I am a carnivore and I need chicken or beef or SOMETHING! I believe I can start having those foods towards the end of May. It will come soon enough, I am doing everything I can to stick to the plan and follow the rules.

With that being said, I have stopped losing for the past three days. I had gotten worried that my body was trying to say ' Ok, you take it from here'. I have lost 20 lbs so far, and yes, that is amazing. I just want the best results possible. So, after wondering why the hell I hadn't lost for 3 days, I decided to measure myself. Call me Sherlock Holmes because I solved the mystery! Not only have I lost 20 lbs, I have lost 11 inches all over my entire body- mainly in the boob area, but a significant amount in my waist and my neck as well. So just because I wasn't seeing the pounds on the scale, my body was still working hard while partnering with my efforts. It was a definite non-scale victory!!

Not only have I been sticking to the menu plans and taking my vitamins, I went out and purchased a bicycle and a child trailer! Now I have no excuse of not wanting to get up and go to the gym, or not having child care. I can handle business all right here in my neighboorhood with the child in tow. I am looking forward to the bicycle rides and spending quality time with my daughter as well. Only good things can come from this purchase!

The only things I am having troubles with is getting my protein in, consuming all 64 oz of water and not knowing where to go for conversation about the bypass. I am a member of lapbandtalk.com and I am a regular there( ok, I live there) and obviously, everyone has the lapband. When I talk about the side effects of the bypass or what I am dealing with, no one can relate or help me out. I know that there is obesityhelp.com but I have had some pretty negative experiences over there and I am reluctant to go back. I guess I will just have to save my questions for the doc.

I am hoping to keep the success up and stay on the right path. I know it can be hard, there are many times that I just want to snatch the pizza slice out of my husbands hands and trust me, it takes everything in my power not to. I have a new kind of will power this go round. Maybe its because I have faith that this surgery will actually work. Whatever it is, its working, and I am riding on the feel good train.

One week post op :)

I am happy to report that I am officially 15 lbs down from the day I had surgery!!! 15 POUNDS IN 7 DAYS!! I am loving it!!

Day 4 Post Op

First off, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone and their well wishes, prayers, and concerns during my hospitalization. Things are going well and the surgery was successful. I am at home with my family now and trying to get around as best as possible. I will go over the hospital process just to tell you a little bit about what happened.

I arrived at the hospital at 5:30 am and was almost immediately brought back into a room with a bed and was instructed to get undressed, put a gown on and get on the bed. An IV was inserted into my arm and the nurse took my vitals. I had to pee in a cup for a false pregnancy confirmation before surgery. At that point I remained on the bed as the anesthesiologist came in and discussed what he would be doing. Shortly after, what I call the magic medicine, was inserted into my IV and I became very care free and drowsy. The last thing I remember before waking up after surgery, was kissing my husband and my daughter goodbye as they were literally wheeling me down to the OR.

I woke up in a haze hearing the nurse booking my room in the hospital-for some reason I wanted to make sure I remembered the room number-627. I kept repeating it over and over again in my head "627,627, Room 627". Of course, it never presented the need to come up ever again but I knew what my room number was! When I fully woke up out of the haze, I instantly wanted to know where my husband and my daughter were. I wanted to see my only family that I have within a 500 mile radius.

Now, I won't discuss EVERY SINGLE detail of my stay in the hospital, but I will say that for whatever reason, I had complications due to an IV infiltration, I was given a shot of toradol and ativan and was told I was going to have a pic line inserted. I beleive it was due to the fact that I was neglected by the nursing staff ( after contacting them several times) for an hour, due to having no fluid in my IV bag. Other than that, things went according to plan.

The first day after getting out of surgery, I was not allowed anything by mouth, no water or ice--NOTHING. The second day I was eased into ice chips-2 tbsp per every half an hour. The third and final day I was put on a clear sugar free liquid diet-2 tbsp every meal time, and then each hour after that. needless say, it is next to nothing. I do not feel hungry in the least though so I am not stressing out about it yet. I am a little sore on my incision sites but other than that I am up and moving around. I am ready for my workouts to begin and the weight to start coming off. I have never been more relieved to say that I am no longer a bandster, I am a gastric bypasser!!!