Checking in and Progress Pix

When I decided to get stronger in January, I did not plan to lose weight. I just wanted to feel better. Years of battling anemia and other nutritional deficiencies left me feeling frail and I had enough. After six months of focused exercise, plant-based eating, daily green smoothies and fresh juices, I feel better than I have in years.

Along the way, I've dropped a little over 20 pounds and have reshaped my body in ways I didn't think were possible for me without cosmetic surgery. I feel blessed. Few people can say they feel their best ever eight years after WLS. Many gain back the weight they've lost before their fifth post-op year. I'm thrilled to be at a point where my concerns are related to performance and body shape.

Here are my stats compared to where I was in April of this year, when I started tracking my measurements:

Weight: April -- 174.6; Today -- 164.6
BMI: April -- 30.9 (obese); 29.2 (overweight)
Bust: April -- 38.5; Today -- 37
Waist at belly button: 37; Today -- 34.5
Waist above belly button: 36; Today -- 35
Hips: April -- 44; Today -- 41.5
Thigh: April -- 25.5; Today -- 23.5
Upper Arm: April -- 14; Today -- 13.5
Total Inches Lost: 10

The last time I documented myself at this weight was when I celebrated my first WLS anniversary back in 2006. I'm a little lighter now that I was then and all of my measurements are smaller, except for my waist and hips, which both 1 inch bigger right now. I assume I can credit my pregnancy three years ago to that extra inch in the waist and hips.

I've spent a lot of time over the last month thinking about the importance of my body mass index (BMI). I'd have to lose 25 pounds more before I'd get out of the "overweight" category. And though I know I should care about such things, I really don't. I am much more concerned about the function of my body than a label based on an arbitrary formula.

My goal for the next three months is to continue gaining strength by lifting heavier weights more often. I don't worry about the archaic myth of "bulky up." What I do worry about is my bone density and posture, both of which are improved by regular bouts of weight-bearing exercises. And as much as I dislike cardio, I'd like to increase my stamina. Though that's hard to measure, I think running a mile without stopping would be a good gauge of progress for me.

As far as eating goes, I'm content with my progress in that area. I'm doing a small amount of protein supplementation by adding vegan protein powder to my green smoothies. But in general, my focus is on eating whole, plant-based foods. I avoid processed foods, dairy, animal protein, coffee, sugar and alcohol. My meals are filled with an array of fresh vegetables, some fruits, lots of beans/legumes and a smattering of nuts, seeds and fruits for variety.

I can't wait to see the changes that become evident over the next three months. Part of the fun of this journey is the element of surprise -- whether it's finding out I'm capable of physical feats I previously thought were impossible or just observing the evolution of my body shape. It's a fun ride.

Happy New Year!

2010 is officially in full swing, and I am in awe of what's ahead of me this year. I know 2009 was a downer for many. The economy affected many I know through the loss of jobs, loss of homes, loss of credit and loss of loved ones.

A good friend of mine who had a pretty rotten 2009 admitted that she had a rough time when writing out her Christmas cards last year, because the only thing that went well for her family that year was in the area of finances.

"Given what's happened to everyone else in 2009, that's just not the sort of thing you can brag about," she said. So her Christmas cards were general and basic with hopes for 2010 to be better all around.

Brian and I were discussing 2009 over the weekend. We know it was a tough year for the nation in general. But even though we faced our own challenges over the year, it's hard for us to deny the incredible blessings we experienced throughout the year:

• We were married in a fairytale ceremony in the company of our dearest friends and relatives.
• I had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of coordinating media when First Lady Michelle Obama visited UC Merced.
• We discovered I was pregnant, despite being told such a feat was impossible without medical intervention.
• Brian was cast as Cogsworth in Playhouse Merced's production of "Beauty and the Beast," one of the best shows he's been in.

The year was far from perfect, but we really can't complain. We survived it relatively unscathed. And now we're looking ahead to 2010. This is going to be an equally big year for us, with a baby coming, increased involvement in our church and our first wedding anniversary all in the next few months.

I'm not doing resolutions this year but I do have goals. My primary goal is to enjoy life and my family. I love leading a busy life, but priorities are the key to harmony. When everything is urgent, nothing is important. I want to make sure I spend this year putting first things first. Everything else will fall into place after that.

Time Flies

Hard to believe it's been so long since I've posted. I was thinking about it the other day. I'm always thinking of posting on here or reminding myself to remember to post something I think is profound or would be worthwhile to others with interest in obesity or weight loss. But then I get side-tracked and it slips my mind.

I think that's what happens to most of us.

I remember a couple of years ago -- shortly after my first post-op anniversary -- that a similar subject came up with a WLS friend of mine. I had recently returned from a conference and was relaying to her how many surgeons and bariatric coordinators complained that attendance at support groups and bariatric events drastically dwindled after the first post-op year. Docs were looking for answers as to how to retain their patients' interests.

The consensus at the time was that as pre-ops, patients will jump through any hoop necessary to get doctor and insurance approval. But once they go under the knife, they become less compliant. After all, it's not like anyone can take your surgery away after the fact, right?

My friend, however, posed another explanation. She had missed her support group's last three monthly meetings at the time. Her reason? "I'm too busy living life," she said.

Hmmm...

She went on to explain: "I worked too hard in having surgery and losing weight to live my entire life according to support group schedules. I am making the most out of my new life, and if that means I can't sit through two hours at a support meeting because I'm in Shasta or Disneyland or on a cruise with my husband, then so be it. I refuse to apologize for that."

Interesting...

At the time, I thought, "good for her." She was out living life. I didn't feel like I was sitting on the sidelines, but I did make a concerted effort to organize my playtime around support group meetings and events whenever possible. Then again, I was leading a WLS support group, writing on the subject of WLS regularly in print and online and dipping my toes into the waters of private consulting. I was eating, sleeping and breathing the world of surgical weight loss.

Then another year passed and I got knocked on my backside with a bowel obstruction. The months between my second and third WLS anniversaries trickled by at an unbearably slow pace as I struggled to regain my health and vitality. It wasn't until March of this year that I started to feel some resemblance to the upbeat ball of energy I had been in my first post-op year.

Since then, life has been too good to stand. And like my friend, I'm so busy living it that there doesn't seem to be much time left over to sit down and document it. All I can say is that it's an amazing adventure -- and given the choice, I'd do it all over again.

The gains that come from losing

A message board I visit frequently had a thread this morning from a woman who, as a pre-op, compiled a list of 50 things she wanted to accomplish that required weight loss. Six months after having bariatric surgery, she's crossed 27 things off her list. She asked everyone to post similar lists of their gains related to their weight loss.

Here is mine:

* Cross my legs
* Have a child sit on my lap
* Play tag with my niece and nephew
* Play on the floor with my niece and nephew
* Go hiking
* Fit in turnstiles
* Fit on amusement park rides
* Sit comfortably in a chair that has arms
* Fit comfortably in the seats at Cinemark Movies 14
* Walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded
* Wear stylish high heels
* Paint my own toenails
* Weigh less than 200 pounds
* Fit in an airplane seat
* Fit comfortably in a car seat with a seat belt on
* Walk a block without breaking a sweat
* Walk into an elevator without paying attention to the posted weight limit
* Shop in "normal" stores and buy off the rack
* Respect food as a source of energy, not a source of comfort