This post missed my two year anniversary by two
days, but I’m going to blame that on an unexpected trip to the emergency room
(I’ll get to that part of the story in my next post). Before I begin to document the current phase
of my transformation, I feel the need to bring you up to date (assuming anyone actually reads this).
And so…a little background:
Year One
Starting Weight: 340
lbs.
I had my lap-band surgery on November 18th,
2010. Insurance did not cover the procedure, so I figured out a way to make it
happen thinking it was worth every penny to just wake up skinny and healthy (I
was more concerned about the skinny than the healthy). I woke up as neither.
The doctor had been very up front with me, but I was still convinced I had
undergone a magic surgery that would make the weight fall off while I just sat
back and watched it happen. NO! In fact,
the surgery itself proved to be nothing more than a kick-start for me (but don’t
get me wrong, kick-start my weight loss it did). The rest, however, was hard work…really
hard work that I had not expected. The band just didn’t get it done (although
I really wanted it to). I had my band filled and tightened monthly for six
months and then I dropped off to every other month. In November of 2011 I had
my last fill (partly because I was close to my goal and partly because the
fills were only covered in the original cost for one year).
During that year, I began to walk regularly. I talked
my mother, my sister, and my friend Susan into going with me to a fitness ranch
in Bandera for a week in July, and I joined local boot camp teams in the months
that followed. I researched clean eating (even looked into Paleo but couldn’t
do it), and completely changed not only the way I consumed food but the way I
thought about it as well. In that year, I made lifestyle changes I would not
have believed possible (knowing me). My sister-in-law told me this week (on
another topic), “I would have lost $1,000 on that bet.” Those are exactly my
sentiments for that first year. I wouldn’t have bet on me. In year one I lost
130 lbs.
Oh, I also finally went shopping in October. I had
gone from a too tight size 24 to a comfy size 12 with a little room to spare.
Year
Two
November 18, 2011 - Weight: 195 lbs.
Here are a few of the high points of this year:
·
January 24, 2012 – I met my personal
weight loss goal (to lose 150 pounds).
o
Shortly after, my sister-in-law took me
shopping in stores I had never dreamed I would enter, much less try on their
clothes...Buckle, Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret, etc. It was a fun, fun, day for many reasons.
·
February 14, 2012 – I met my doctor’s
goal (to lose 160 pounds).
·
February 28, 2012 – Between February 14th
and 26th I lost 15 more pounds and got worried. On the 28th, I learned that my band had slipped, and
I had to have it completely emptied.
The band has been empty ever since. That means that
although it is still in there, it isn’t restrictive. In other words, it isn’t
doing anything. I’ve opted not to have it removed, I suppose because I don’t
completely trust myself and can have it tightened again at any time…cop out…I
know…but I still worry about coming face to face with the old me.
After having the band emptied, I was able to eat
more and my food digested more quickly, which wreaked havoc on the metabolism that had become accustomed to 15
months of an extremely low calorie diet. During that time of metabolic
adjustment, I gained 15 pounds despite my continued dedication to working out and
eating healthy. I panicked and immediately went to my doctor to have the band
refilled. He refused and said my body was just adjusting and that he had
actually expected me to gain more back. He was pleased; I was not!
·
July 9, 2012 – I started the Insanity
workout program with an amazing group of ladies. We turned my living room into
a gym, and we WORKED and WORKED (until my school schedule sidelined us). You can read more
about that in the archived posts below.
·
September 22, 2012 – My first Mud Run...Winnie Wars 5k
o
So much fun! I’m totally hooked and plan
to run many more!
·
September 23, 2012 – My first regular 5k...The Houston Texans’ Running
of the Bulls
o
Finished in an embarrassing 38 minutes,
but I met my goal of not walking. Yay me!
·
October 27, 2012 – Jailbreak Mud Run 5K
in Houston
·
November 12, 2012 – Surgery Number Two
(The EXCITING One)
To read about this phase, you have to move on to
year three. Trust me, I still have a few surprises up my sleeves.
