[SummerBreeze]

Excellent post:
Two types of water pills
insulin..50 units 2 times a day
januvia ( diabetic pill )
metformin has been reduced ,most likely off it next blood work
thyroid pill
my cholesteral wasnt high but now its super low
no acid reflex
swelling in my ankles
Fat
and soon * DRUM ROLLS* 4 closets full of clothes

Things I have gained:
the ability to shop till I drop
healthier skin
able to wear skinny jeans !
always knew how to be a B***H , so didnt need assertiveness

Closer to my hubby
a calmness within myself
and many many nice new friends in R&R

[sue4491]

Just discovered this thread - how cool... the ongoing thread!!! (and the poll)

OK, I've lost (besides the weight):

* several friends
* 7 pant sizes
* GERD
* hypertension
* a lot of my arthritis pain - although I still cannot move like a 20 year old even though I FEEL like one!
* my favorite clothing store - Lane Bryant's
* my padding on my butt

I've gained:

* some wrinkles
* a lot of feeling good about my looks
* finding bones sticking out that I didn't even know I had
* a butt which is several inches smaller than my waist used ta waz

Probably more but this is all that comes to mind right now.

[Tupper_Mom]

Ok...here goes...WARNING...LONG!!

I had really none of the usual co-morbidities that everyone else here talks about. (or should say I didn't think I did) I've had arthritis in my knees, and have gone through 5 operations between the two...but that was when I was like 19 and before I put on a ton of my weight...so I don't count that, but while I was going through surgery for hernia repair I was informed by the recovery room nurse that I indeed suffered sleep apnea, as she had to keep waking me in recovery to keep me breathing. (even with oxygen on) not sure where I am with that one now...need to schedule a sleep test to find out.

I have lost...

83 lbs (maybe 84...I would need to look at my ticker to know for sure...sad huh?! Just never been "that" focused on the numbers between my toes. LOL)

The dread that used to come with the thought of walking ANYWHERE. I kid you not...I would leave one parking spot and drive up maybe three or four parking spots after leaving the hardware store when I was also checking the mail (they are next door to one another).

My neck high clothes...that sounds wierd...but it was a gradual transformation, and one I never even noticed until my husband pointed it out to me. I bought t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Heaven forbid it have ANY shape at all or show any cleavage. I still shop at second hand stores, I still buy t-shirts etc. but I've looked at "will it fit?...Yes it will...awesome, I'll take it." It wasn't till he brought it up, that the shirts that I've been buying, not actually "looking" for shapely or sexy at all, are all shaplier (is that even a word??) my necklines...these actually have them...and some even *gasp* show some cleavage!! LOL...(see below what I've gained because of this fact...LOL)

10+ FREAKIN INCHES ON MY WAIST ALONE!!!!

My fear that I won't be here to see my kids grown up (never mind grandkids...I never imagined I'd make it long enough for THAT!)

I've lost interest in being the "yes-woman" to those who don't deserve it. Sounds harsh, perhaps. I was "that girl" ask me anything, yes I would do it...even if it was impossible...I would do my damndest!!! I did it far too much, for far too many, with far too few appreciating what I was giving, but I did it...because somehow I had equated it with "If they see me as being this helpful, I will somehow be kind of ok in their eyes...even if I am fat and not that pretty." With all the health issues I had in the spring, coupled with the newfound confidence, I work extra hard to make sure that the people I love KNOW how much I appreciate their presence, and give back as fully as they give, and do it gladly. Those who do nothing but whine, complain, cause drama and distress are rapidly finding themselves cut free...life is too short to be dragged down with baggage that is not mine.

My clothes!!! ACK!!! In my closet...I have (exactly) 1 bathrobe, 2 skirts, 1 pair of jeans, in my drawers I have like maybe 6 or 8 t-shirts, some underwear and socks and a pair of shorts...that's it. Won't buy more till I'm close to goal and past PS.

I HAVE GAINED...

Confidence...some...I still embarass super easy, I'm still painfully shy, but it's getting better.

A LAP!!! OMG is it nice having the room to cuddle up my boys in my lap!!

Energy...this goes without saying...(for me to "put back on" the weight I've taken off, I picked up my 6 & 7 year old at the same time (together they weigh about what I've lost) and I still ask myself how the HECK did I carry that around all day, every day.

Bones...and muscles!!! Yes...I'm aware that physiologically I've always had them...without them I'd have truly been a pile of goo on the floor...but now, I can FEEL them!!! I cannot keep my hands off of my hips, ribs, neck/collarbones (well...ok...I CAN keep my hands off of them...cos I got that mental picture too...wierd!!! LOL) but the point is...I CAN FEEL THEM!!! They are there!!

With the deepening necklines (that I was apparently oblivious to before) my Santa/hubby saw fit to grace me with white gold & diamonds this Christmas (ask me how excited I was!!!) My hubby explained that he never saw the point in buying me anything like that before, because it would have been hidden under whatever I was wearing, now not only would it actually be seen, but he loved the idea of buying me something that was pretty and would "help" show me off LOL He's been ridiculously proud of me all the way along.

An appreciation for food (sounds strange...I know...I was supposed to be eating a lot less than I was) I was one of those eaters that I ate a lot...and I never thought about it, and I never really put thought into how it got from where ever onto my plate...it truly was "whatever's easy" which usually was a lot of prepackaged foods, chocolate, chips and pop (in ludicrous amounts...I shudder thinking about it, really) Now I not only REALLY savor the foods I'm eating (gotta enjoy it...there's no longer a conveyor belt dumping it constantly into my tummy!!) Now I find I'm enjoying the making as much (and sometimes more) than the eating...there is nothing that passes my lips now that isn't (or hasn't at some point) been thoroghly scrutinized...if I'm only allowed so much...I only want the good stuff!!

The ability to lay on my back...I was never really a back sleeper, as I got heavier...it got worse, I would lie on my back and feel like I was suffocating (never mind how badly I snored!!) Now, while it's not my all time favorite position, it's comfortable.

Compliments...and it's truly something that I'm not at all used to...never got 'em...I still turn beet red and very uncomfortably thank them for noticing when they do. It's something I've been working on trying to get better with, and it doesn't, and it doesn't matter from who...stranger on the street or my husband or kids...same reaction.

The ability to wrap a bath towel around myself and have it cover me! I was so rediculously excited about this one! I was home alone when I realized it, adn it took every fiber of my being to keep from running to grab the camera and post a pic of it on here...knowing that my RR buddies would "get it"

TONS of wonderful friendships with wonderful people here on RR...most days I really don't know where I'd be without you guys!!

There are tons more...but I'm thinking by now your eyes need a rest from all that reading!!! LOL

Great Post!! Happy New Year 2011 to you all!!

Joanne

[sue4491]

Originally Posted by Tupper_Mom

Ok...here goes...WARNING...LONG!! I have lost... 83 lbs (maybe 84...I would need to look at my ticker to know for sure...sad huh?! Just never been "that" focused on the numbers between my toes. LOL) ...10+ FREAKIN INCHES ON MY WAIST ALONE!!!! ... Great Post!! Happy New Year 2011 to you all!! Joanne

Wow, you have done great!!!! Isn't it awesome to no longer "qualify" for surgery? Congrats!!!!!!

You know I once saw on TV (oh- about 10 or more years ago) this ad-infomercial for Richard Simmons. So many years ago but it stuck with me.

There was this nurse and she'd lost over 100 lbs. She looked into the camera and said with a great deal of passion in her voice, "If you could feel - if you could feel just 10 minutes --- of --- THIS, you would do it!"

I find myself saying the same thing to other folks. Frankly, if I would known how GOOD thin would feel, I think I would have stayed on the program years ago.

I started tearing up as I was explaining this to hubby today. You know I carried around this 112 lbs for almost 42 years but I never got used to the way people treated me even though I was pretty proud and could answer them back. Or going into the doctors and all they could say was "lose weight". Or every time we went out, wondering if I would fit into the chairs. I took a Spanish class one semester and all they had were these desks I couldn't fit into. So I would take a regular chair and sit in the outside row on the side of the desk that I couldn't fit into. I still remember the awful feeling of sticking out like a sore thumb. College just doesn't have facilities for people of size.

Like you I didn't have any co-morbidities because I've been exercising daily since 1994 and before that 3 times a week, (cardio) but I realize it feels so nice to sit down in ANY chair and not worry about not fitting or to walk into a room and be one of the slimmer folks there instead of being the fattest in the room.

I have arthritis in the knees also and taking off 112 lbs has improved my knees so much - I still have light pain but nothing terrible. (not bad for 66 years old).

And now I can climb the stairs easier at the age of 66 than I could at the age of 27! It is amazing how easy it is to go up a flight of stairs!

I really wish I'd known how good this would feel - I think I would have done it years ago. Like they say and it's really true "nothing tastes as good as thin feels!"

[buffarilla]

I have just started investigating surgery and after reading these posts I am very optimistic and looking foward to quickly going thru the pre op process. Great to hear this info from people who have actually gone thru surgery and not just the Doctors who might have a self serving motive even if it is only subconscious.

[AllyGator]

I haven't been back for the tests yet but home monitoring shows my blood pressure is normal again without medication. Can't take any meds at all for the time being which is another issue. However I quit using my cpap machine and I'm sleeping like a baby. I've got so much energy I'm unable to sit still at times. I feel like I did 15 years ago and it's only been 66 days since my surgery. I've been walking so much I think I may have stretched my achilles tendon too much so now I'm forcing myself to rest for a couple of days. Time to find a warm swimming pool somewhere because I MUST burn off this energy. Rawr!

My "other" response is I lost my bad attitude, my sit in my chair all day habit, and my apathy.

[yaris431]

its like we were born again

[AllyGator]

I've lost something else! A shoe size! I do mean just 1 shoe size; only 1 foot is smaller. Go figure! LOL