9 Weeks Out (Yesterday)

I have lost 54.4 pounds since surgery; 63.2 pounds since two weeks pre-op; and 113.8 pounds since my biggest. I have dropped 9.9 points in my BMI and 17.8 points since my biggest.

Last night, I walked again with my friends at church. I measured the distance in the car later - 3/10ths of a mile.

Tonight I start the yoga class. I'm excited - and a little nervous, too. Not too sure what it will be like - or if I can even do it. But I'm committed to trying...tomorrow's blog will tell you how I liked it...

Have a great Thursday...

It's A Good Day

Finally - I seem to be back on track - I am weigh less now than I have for years and years. I'm just 23 pounds from my next goal - and that seems entirely doable within the next several weeks. I feel like a burden has been lifted.

I wish that I had listened years and years ago - when doctors and friends and family were first so concerned about the weight I was packing on. My first year of marriage, I gained over 100 pounds - there were reasons, and I'm not sure I could have done anything differently - but when I think of the health problems I endured through the years...When I think of the heartache brought on by such low self-esteem...When I think of the worry I caused my family and friends...When I think of the time I wasted NOT taking care of myself, I have serious regrets. I would love to say to every young girl, or every person my age - get control of this now! Don't live the life I lived - don't allow so much damage - don't let it become life or death! I know that if I said that to the friends I care about - they probably wouldn't listen any more than I did way back when.

So instead, I will say this - I'm here. If you are reading this - and you want to talk about it - I'M HERE. I will tell you honestly of my struggles through the years. I will tell you that you are not alone in any of your thoughts. I will open my heart, and let you see the scared, lonely, person I have been through all of this. I will talk about discrimination that overweight people face everyday - at work, at school, at the grocery store, at restaurants. And I will do anything and everything I can to encourage you to make the necessary changes to turn your life around - the sooner, the better!

I Did It!

Last night, my husband and I went for a walk in our neighborhood. We only walked 0.2 of a mile, but it is so much further than I have been able to walk in the past. We live one house from the corner. I have tried walking before - and got to the corner, and had to stop to gasp for breath. This time I made it to the corner - around the cul-de-sac - down to the next street and all the way back - and did not stop ONE TIME to catch my breath. When we got back to the house - I was not even seriously breathing hard. Whoohoo! That makes me so very happy.

I had to start the lasix again. One week off the lasix, and my feet were swelling, and I was having difficulty breathing, and I had gained 10 pounds. But I have now lost ALL of the weight I gained when I was off. I will try again - but I think I will try weaning myself off of it instead of doing it cold turkey. Maybe my body will adjust a little better that way.

So, I am 51 pounds down from surgery, 60 pounds down from the two weeks pre-op, and 110 pounds down from my biggest! And I'm not complaining.

Monday, Monday

I decided that in addition to all of the other changes in my life - I do NOT want to be ghost woman all summer. Yesterday was so pleasant - sunny, with a few clouds, but a nice breeze - I decided to sit out in my yard. I was only out about an hour, but I have some pink in my cheeks and on my shoulders/chest. You can see the marks from my bathing suit. A little bit at a time. The good news: apparently being off so many medications is going to make it a little easier. In the recent past - 15 minutes at midday would make me burn. Yesterday, an hour out - and while I did turn pink, it didn't hurt or burn. Whoohoo! Another thing to celebrate.

I'm back down to just about where I was before I stopped taking the lasix. That is a blessing.

Happy Monday to all my friends!

Finally - UPDATED

Some relief - last night my feet were swelling - not a good sign, so I broke down and took the lasix. My weight is down 4 pounds from yesterday - a sure sign that the fluid was building up.

I guess we will have to see what today brings - besides the fact that I have LOST my phone - so if you are texting / calling me - I'm sorry. I have no idea when / if I will be replacing my phone. THE LOST HAS BEEN FOUND - someone turned it into the "lost and found" in our building - and I have my phone back - a little disconcerting that the only missed call was when I tried to call and locate it, but all's well that ends well. LOL!

It has been a tough, tough week - there are things happening outside my control - and right now, I feel like I'm under attack. But God is on His throne, and He is bigger than anything else in my world - so I choose to trust him.

Seeing Some Progress

Although the weight has continued a slow climb, and I'm really frustrated about that - I am seeing some progress. Last night, after dinner at church, I walked the church parking lot with two friends. We chatted the whole way around. One friend said to me, "You know, it hasn't been that long ago you couldn't even walk 100 feet without becoming out of breath." She's right! To be able to walk any distance at all is my own personal little miracle - and to walk and still have enough breath to talk, is amazing! Granted, I didn't run a marathon - but we walked for a good solid 10 minutes - and it is a lot more than I have been able to do since long before I was officially diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

So, Dave and I are going to start walking in our neighborhood, in the evenings, when it is cooler, I'm sure. Come join us if you'd like. I'm also doing some walking in the mornings while I wait for my van pool. (Don't worry - there are friends on the van pool parked while I walk - so I feel pretty safe.) And who knows, I might do a marathon - one of these days...

Now, if I can just get the weight to start back down...

8 Weeks Out

I can't believe it's been eight weeks! I feel great - the blood pressure appears to have evened out somewhat - at least I'm not doing the drastic up and downs.

I' gained a little bit more this morning. Still trying to be patient as my body adjusts to life without lasix. But on a positive note - I have lost a total of 40 inches! I like that!

Busy, busy day at work - so not much time to blog. More tomorrow!