Sunshine Petals

Happy Surgerversary to Me!

Yes, it has been 1 year ago today that I had my Gastric Bypass. It's been a good year. Having the surgery is a big decision and it's one that I am so glad that I made.

A year ago, I wore size 20W pants and 2X tops. This year I wear size 6 pants and small tops.

A year ago, I was on numerous meds. This year I am on vitamins.

A year ago, I was pre diabetic with a A1C of 6.7. This year it is 5.4.

A year ago, I had high cholestrol. This year it is 138.

A year ago, I got out of breath just carrying a laundry basket. This year I don't remember the last time I was out of breath.

A year ago, I used a BiPap to sleep due to sleep apnea. This year I don't need it and don't even snore.

A year ago, I weighed 258, down from my January all time high weight of 272. This year I weight 148.

* I will post current photos tomorrow. Visit my Flickr to see the changes in me over the past year.

Down Another Size!

Hubby and I were shopping and I couldn't find any pants in size 8 short so he said why don't you try the 6's? So I found a pair and OMG, they fit perfect!! My 8's were feeling a bit baggy but I didn't think much about it since my actual weight has been the same. But evidently my body has changed.

If you would have told me a year ago that today I'd be wearing size 6 pants, I would have laughed and said, yeah, right, sure I will. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I would do this well from my gastric bypass. Yes, I knew I would lose weight but I had been a failure at losing weight so many times over the years that I did wonder how successful I would actually be.

I thank God everyday that I had the surgery and have had no problems. It has allowed me to live my life again and be healthy. I once again enjoy working in my yard without getting out of breath so bad that I would actually feel like I was going to pass out. And since I don't keep taking sit down and rest breaks, the work is done so much quicker.

That's it for today. Off to bed I go.

Little Bit of Nothing

I don't know where the last week went but it seemed to fly by and my blog was ignored. Not that I really did anything exciting last week to write about.

Hubby was out of town for a few days and I took advantage of having nothing to do and I did nothing! Except read, crochet and play games on Pogo. I only left the house once to go to the post office.

Mother's Day was nice. We went out to breakfast and my aunt and uncle went with us. Dinner out on Mother's Day around here is so crowded and I just didn't feel like going out. Guess I was still in hibernation mode from last week. lol

This morning I went to the nursery near us and picked up a few plants for the yard. I bought a Sweet Potato Plant just so the wild bunnies who come around can have a special treat. So far I don't think they have found it. But I wasn't here by the window as much this afternoon to notice.

The afternoon has been spent drinking that really nasty stuff in preparation for a colonoscopy tomorrow morning. It's been awful. This is supposed to be low volume but it's still way too much for me to get down. I reminded them that I had a gastric bypass and this is supposed to be what I use but I struggled with it. And the taste is sickening sweet and salty lemon at the same time. Really gross tasting. Since my surgery things taste sweeter and saltier than usual so this is just not good. I will be so relieved to have this done and over with tomorrow. I'm glad it's early in the morning.

That's about it. I do have some photos I took last week of some of the plants in my garden but I'll post them another day here and on my Flickr.

Hope everyone had a more exciting week than me! Take care!

10 Month Anniversary

Ten months ago today I had a Laproscopic RNY Gastric Bypass done. This morning I weighed myself and I weigh 150. Never did I think I would ever see 150 again and it's so good! This has been an amazing 10 months. I am wearing size 8 pants compared to the 20W that I wore to the hospital on June 5. I don't remember the last time I wore a size 8.

But the best thing that came out of the surgery has been getting my health and energy back. I was on a lot of meds, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, acid reflux, asthma, diuretic etc. I was borderline diabetic and that would have been another medication I would have been adding to the list.  My asthma is even under control without meds. Normally a cough and being sick like I was this past week would have set my asthma off but I've been good.

Now I only take meds for rheumatoid arthritis and drops for glaucoma. And of course, my vitamins, biotin, B12 injections and calcium citrate. I will need those for the rest of my life because of having the bypass but they are such a small thing compared to the way I was living before.

I can work in the yard weeding and don't have to stop and take a break every few minutes. I can exercise and walk without thinking my heart is going to pound right out of my chest! I don't get out of breath just carrying a laundry basket of clothes in from the garage.

Life is so much easier since I lost the 122 lbs. Carrying that extra person around with me was hard on my body. Now I need to take my 10 month photo and add to my Flickr photos tomorrow.

Feeling Better

I'm not a 100% yet but I am feeling better. I don't remember ever having a sore throat hurt as much as this one. On Monday I could only drink protein drinks as food hurt too much. Even drinking hurt to swallow. Now that I've had 2 days of meds, I feel better and the temperature has finally left my aching body. My right ear still feels off but compared to Monday, it's okay. I can also talk again.

Because of all of this, I had to reschedule the thyroid biopsy until next Tuesday. So here I am waiting again. I was so ready to get that done.

One good thing that came out of being sick is that my weight stall has ended and I've dropped 2 pounds. 2 more pounds and I will be considered "normal"! My aunt for one doesn't understand that since she says I look fine. But it does mean something to me since I haven't had a normal weight in years! Seriously I'm sure I looked fine to my aunt when I weighed 270 but I don't think I feel like ranting at the moment so we won't go there.

Happy Birthday to me

Today was my birthday and it was a good one. Last year we had to put our cat, Cricket, to sleep on my birthday and I refused to acknowledge that it was my birthday. That is such a hard thing to do and I can't believe it's been a year already. Seems like just yesterday. Cricket was my grandparents cat and when they passed away 5 months from each other, we brought her home to FL with us. We had her for 5 years and I think my grandparents would be happy that we took her in and how spoiled rotten she was. Cricket loved me but she was definitely hubby's "little sweetheart". I couldn't compete if he was around. lol I know my grandparents are happy that you are once again with them but we so miss you Wicked Cricket. Rest in Peace.

Hubby took me to my favorite breakfast restaurant, Acropol. As usual, it was good. And for dinner, we went to Smokey Bones with our son and my aunt and uncle. I love the pulled pork there. I order the pulled pork sandwich without the bun and broccoli off the kids menu. Since I've had my gastric bypass I'm a very cheap date! And I even bring home enough leftovers for another meal. lol

For my gift, hubby got me the Kitchen Aid mixer that I've been wanting for awhile now! It's so beautiful that I had to reorganize the kitchen counter to give it a special place to sit. It's funny but I so enjoy cooking and baking more now that I can't eat the stuff. Before I would over stuff myself and feel so sick and guilty. Now I know I can't eat it and it's easier and I really don't miss it. I'm done and over with all the sugar addiction and cravings. Thank God for Dr. Murr and the surgery.

Now I'm off to bed to read for awhile. I'm almost finished my book but think I'm too sleepy to finish it tonight. Will finish it tomorrow in between loads of laundry.

Good night!

Clothes on ebay

I have finally listed some of my clothes on eBay and of course my camera decided to act up so I'm not completely happy with the photos. Guess I can always try again and change out the photos but some are up for now.

Since I had my gastric bypass surgery nothing fits me anymore and they were just taking up space in my closet. If anyone is interested in some good plus size clothes check out my ebay listings. I've only just begun to list so there are plenty more to list. I haven't gotten to the fancier cruise clothes yet.

Catching up

I didn't realize it had been almost 2 weeks since I've posted here. Guess I've been busier than I thought. Between doing things around the house, I've also been doing some crafting projects. I'm really enjoying making ATC's and am in a couple of swaps on Swap-bot for them. Will try to add my latest ones to my Flickr later today or tomorrow.

We went out for an early breakfast this morning and it was good. I don't enjoy going to restaurants like I used to being my gastric bypass. Usually when we do go, I end up with enough leftovers for a couple more meals for me. About the only things I really like are pork loin, chili, meatballs and cheese enchiladas without the tortilla. Turkey and chicken are on my list of foods that do not agree with me. Too dry I guess and get stuck in my pouch and hurts. Then I get the foamies. I loved salmon and tuna before but now they just seem so fishy the smell turns my stomach. It's amazing how my tastes have changed.

My weight is now down 81 lbs. since my surgery! I'm getting there and it's been great. I feel so much better and healthier. My 4 month post op photos are on my Flickr if you care to see the difference. Last week I bought nice clothes for a dinner and was so delighted to fit into 14 petite pants!! I was wearing 18 and 20 womens pre op. What a difference!Thank God for Dr. Michel Murr and this surgery!

Last weekend, hubby had a state bowling meeting to go to at the Belleview Biltmore Resort in Clearwater so I went along. I'm always ready to stay at a hotel! lol Oh, that hotel is so beautiful. It was built in 1896. On Saturday, there was a dinner and it included a mystery dinner theatre. It was fun but made for a very long evening. I've still got to edit photos from the weekend. Dinner was the most delicious Pork Loin that I think I have even eaten. I just wish we had had a refrigerator in our room so I could have saved the leftovers. Way too much food for my little pouch to eat!

Well, I've rambled on enough. I want to go get some plants for the yard. Here in Florida we plant again in the fall because the summer annuals have had it from the heat. Won't go so long between posts this time! Hope anyone reading this has a relaxing Sunday!

This and That

For the past two days, I've washed a ton of laundry or so it seems like. My son has been doing his own laundry for a few years now but never seems to get it caught up. I was tired of seeing it so I went ahead and washed it. Next I'm going to tear his bedroom apart and give it a good cleaning.

Did some organizing of my craft stuff and have two new drawer units to fill up. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to that. I hate not being able to find what I need to work on a project so hopefully I will become more organized. Hmmm, seems like I've said that before. Oh, well, maybe this time it will work. Then again, probably not. :)

We went out to dinner tonight for my uncle's birthday. I asked if I could order grilled chicken off of the 12 and under menu and the waitress said no. So I said if I have a card from my Dr. stating that I had gastric bypass surgery and cannot eat that much would I be able to? No, sorry but for $2. you can share a plate. So I decided to just eat a bowl of soup for $2.95 and hubby finished that. I really never feel that hungry and get filled up quickly. The soup was rich, greasy, too salty and some pieces of beef in it was tough. Luckily it didn't make me sick. Truthfully, I enjoy Wendy's Chili more! So if you've had bariatric surgery don't go eat at Pasadena Steak House. I should add that everyone else liked their meals.

Well, I'm off to bed with my book to read for awhile.