One year later....

I had my one year check up with my surgeon, Dr. Evanson, last week. I'm actually 13 months out, but there were some scheduling conflicts, so I just had my one year check up. He is very pleased with my progress and says I'm actually ahead of schedule. I wanted to be under 200 lbs by my one year surgiversary - I'm at 214 - sigh! Close. I'll get there.

Reflection time:

Weight:
4/2/08: 328
Now: 214


BMI:
4/2/08: 54.58 - Morbidly obese
Now: 35.61 - just regular obese - on my way to being just overweight - woohoo!


Health issues:
4/2/08 - was taking medication for high blood pressure, knees crackled like crazy, winded going up the stairs
Now: Blood pressure is normal - no meds, knees survived the mini-marathon, and I can run around in the yard with the kids without being out of breath.


Clothes:
4/2/08: Size 26/28 or xxxl tops. Squeezing into my size 26 pants
Now: xl or size 14/16 tops. Size 18 pants - and I just bought a pair of size 16 capris!


Pictures:

This picture was taken 4/1/08, the night before surgery:


Me and Dr. E at my one year checkup, 5/7/09



Life is good! Only 64 more pounds to go until I hit my goal of 150. I'll post again at the 199 mark!



"You've got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it. It's called perseverance." ~Lee Iacocca

13.1 Miles!

When I decided to have bariatric surgery, Larry talked me into signing up for Indianapolis' Mini Marathon. The Indy mini is held the first weekend in May every year and is the kickoff to the 500 festival and all of the activities surrounding the Indianapolis 500. It's the largest mini marathon in the country - 35,000 people participate every year. Larry's has done it the past several year and I enthusiastically told him I would sign up. Well, about 2 months ago I was like, "why in the heck did I agree to this?" I have been working out, but hadn't been formally training for the 13.1 mile trek. I was paranoid I wouldn't finish in the 4 hours time frame and would have to get picked up by the slow bus. I definitely would have backed out if it hadn't been for the fact that my Aunt Karon was flying in from California for the mini. How could I drop out when she had bought her plane ticket and was flying all the way here just to do this with us? Well, thank goodness I didn't, because we did it, in 3 hours and 45 minutes, and had a great time! What a sense of accomplishment it was to run across that finish line (we walked the whole thing, but ran the last .25 miles for the photos - ha!). It was me, Larry, Aunt Karon, Erin, and Erin's mom, Donna participating. We met up with Aunt Karon's friend, Paula too. We're doing it again next year and my goal is to run half of it. Me, chubby Sarah, running? Who would have ever thought I would have that goal?



Me and Larry:

I did it!

After picture: Donna, Erin, Larry, Karon, me

Before: me, Larry, Donna, Erin, Karon

"You can do anything you wish to do, have anything you wish to have, be anything you wish to be." ~Robert Collier

Slowly but surely....

Milestone this morning - his 219. Only 20 pounds until I go under the 200 mark. Weight loss has been really slow lately. Mostly due to my own fault of snacking too much. Now that my surgiversary is less than a month away, I'm kicking my hiney back into control.

Even though the scale hasn't moved much, the exercise is paying off in my clothes. At Old Navy last week I was able to buy a size 18 pants (not 18W, but a regular 18!) and an XL sweater. It's been a super long time since I didn't have at least two X's in my size! So, that has been exciting.

I'm at 109 pounds lost right now.....I can't believe how far I've come in 11 months. The time has gone by fast. Progress pictures when I go under 200 which hopefully will be here soon!

Sarah

Prissy: Mammy, here's Miss Scarlet's vittles.
Scarlett: You can take it all back to the kitchen; I won't eat a bite.
Mammy: Yes'm you is, you's gonna eat every mouthful of this.
Scarlett: No... I'm... NOT.

Back on track

Whew! I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. It's been a wild month weight wise. I spent two weeks in Tampa, FL training for my new position at work. Two weeks of eating out for lunch and dinner and not exercising. I gained 4 pounds. :( Got back on track though when I got home and lost those 4 pounds plus 3 more. I've been hitting the gym hard and really focusing on what and how much I'm eating. Plus, I had gotten lax and was allowing myself to have more soda than I should. Granted it's diet, but I have trouble controlling how much I drink. I'm limiting myself to one a day and really chugging the crystal lite.

Two highlights from my trip though. I hadn't flown in a long time and was so relieved that the seatbelt fit easily and I even had to tighten up the belt! Yea! Plus, we did quite a bit of shopping in the evenings and I bought a sweater at Banana Republic! I was so excited - a size XL from a regular store! I've always loved their clothes and it was so fun to be able to wear something from there. I still haven't ventured into Ann Taylor Loft......I'm waiting until I'm confident something will fit - that is my goal store! Plus, tops are one thing - it's the pants that will be the true test!

I'm back on my way down. I'll check back in at the -110 mark!


"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." -Unknown

Goal Reached!

Victoria's Secret is having their semi-annual sale, so Mary and I headed out on an underwear quest! I got three bras - my first VS purchase ever! When I had my surgery I was buying bras that were size 42 or 44 - these are 38's. Woohoo!


"Everyday do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." -Doug Firebaugh

Christmas Reflection

How things change in a year. As I reflect back on this past year, I could describe it in many ways: Exciting. Stressful. Scary. Blessed.

Last Christmas I had just gotten word that our insurance had approved bariatric surgery for me. I remember announcing to my immediate family at our Christmas that I was going to have the surgery. Now here we are 12 months later and I'm 100 pounds lighter and healthier. In addition to that, Kevin has lost around 50 pounds since my surgery too - we've lost a whole person between the two of us! We are healthier people and I feel so great in what we have done for ourselves and for our kids.

This year brought about a lot of stress for us. Kevin losing his job in April sent us into an extremely stressful situation where we didn't know what we were going to do and where money was going to come from. Was I going back to work? Was Kevin going to find a job? Would we both be working? The unknown is scary...especially when you have two children. Fortunately I was able to find a job within a month and on Monday, 12/29, I start in a new position with higher pay. Liberty Mutual has been a great company to work for so far and I have to say that while I miss staying home with David and Katie, I am enjoying being back at work. Kevin has appreciated this time that he has been able to stay home with the kiddos. He has been going to school full time and will graduate in May with his computer science degree which will hopefully lead to a long term career for him. Sometimes we don't know why things happen, but so far we have come thru this tough time with our marriage as strong as ever and our faith even stronger. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

David and Katie: hard to believe they are 3 1/2 and 2. They have had a great year. David started preschool this past fall and loves it! He goes two mornings a week. It's amazing to see him grow and learn new things every day. He is potty trained - almost 100%. We'll get there! Katie is a diva! She has a very strong personality and keeps us on our toes. She is talking and learning new things constantly. They both go to Kindermusik one day a week and that has been a great opportunity for them to use their creativity and interact with other kids. They are great kids and we are so so blessed by them.

Hopefully 2009 will be a little calmer for the Moore clan. We are excited to see what things the coming year holds.

Blessings to all of our family and friends this Christmas!


"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"
Luke 2:8-14

Hip Hip Hooray!

When I had my surgery back in April, my goal was to lose 100 pounds by Christmas. Well, I cut it close, but I hit my 100 pounds today! Whoop whoop! This is the most weight I've ever lost at one time and this is the least I've weighed since high school! Only 78 more pounds to go and I'll be at my ultimate goal of 150 pounds.

Some before and nows:

BMI before: 54.6
BMI now: 37.9

Size before: 26 pants (and they were tight!), size 26/28 or 3x top
Size now: size 18 pants, size 14/16 or 1x top

BP before: High! Was on BP meds
BP now: normal. Was 116/80 at my last Dr.'s visit

A lot of people ask me if I feel better now that I've lost a significant amount of weight. I do feel good, but I never really felt that bad before. That is part of the reason I decided to do the surgery - to prevent having all of the problems associated with being morbidly obese. My knees do crackle less, but my left knee does cause some pain while I'm working out. I'm sure I've done permanent damage to it, but maybe it will be a good reminder for me as to why I need to keep the weight off.

So, now on to the next goal of being under 200 pounds by my one year surgiversary of April 2. Only 29 more pounds to go! I can do it!

Check out my before/now pictures below. What do you think of that fancy new workout wear I got for Christmas from mom and dad? Snazzy huh? Wouldn't have been caught dead in that 100 pounds ago!!

Have a safe and merry Christmas everyone!


Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me."