New Chapters

Along with all the physical transformations that come with the sleeve, what I have enjoyed the most has been the personal and emotional changes I have also experienced. I started a new job, began a relationship with a somebody who completes me and got to know myself so much better. I have a very defined sense of who I am, what my flaws are, what my strengths are, what I need and want in life and who and what my priorities are.

Last month while eating at a local park in town my boyfriend and I talked about life and the future. Next thing I knew he admitted that he had thought long and hard about us and he proposed. I am now getting married next month on May 16th to the love of my life! I couldn't be more excited, it feels like a dream come true! We didn't want a fancy big wedding and we truly just want to be with one another so our engagement is only 2 months! Marriage license already been issued, wedding bands bought, engagement ring on my finger, parents happy, dress bought, save the dates sent and invitations printed in less than two months.

Life gets so much better after the sleeve, you learn so much about yourself, know your worth and you have a phenomonal sense of what makes you happy and fulfilled.

Can't wait to be a married woman!

24

I just turned 24 two days ago on February 17th and I truly feel like I get better with age! My sleeve has helped me start enjoying life and savoring things and experiences I didn't before.

I have maintained a slow but steady weight loss of about 5 pounds per month. I know that most people expect bariatric patients to lose like crazy but it's just not that way when you are a year out. I have learned that I will always be a curvy girl but I will be healthy! I can run on a treadmill now and do stairmaster and lift weights and feel strong!

I also eat what I want in moderation. I still indulge in things like good bread, chocolate, croissants (Gasp!), steak, full fat dairy and cheese but I am mindful of keeping my intake of the following foods high: lean protein, water, fruits, veggies and other sources of protein and fiber such as oatmeal, eggs, cheese, and whole grain sandwich thins! One of the things I have learned on my dieting/surgery journey is that it's important to still eat whole foods that you love and make you feel satisfied and not nasty. For that reason I stay away from processed foods, fast food (although I am a sucker for Taco Bell, always will be) and soda.

My birthday celebration was wonderful. I am so lucky to have the amazing people in my life that I do. I have an incredibly supportive family that is there for me at all times. I have a strong (emotionally as well as physically) boyfriend that loves me the way I am even when I am being a complete weirdo and saying random things as well as being a little overly enthusiastic and easily amused. I love him because he is so different than me and really balances me out yet at the same time is so much like me and shares my same values and ideals. I also have an incredible set of friends who I know I will be friends with for years and years to come.

The Sunday before my birthday I had a nice little celebration with friends and family at my house... I didn't get as many pics as I wanted of that but here am I with the boyfriend (Can you tell I was having a good time, it was fun!)

Then the actual Monday of my birthday we went to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. WOW! That place is so amazing! Here are some pics of that...

 

 

 

I've, also taken up juicing... Did you know Beets are such an all around beneficial super food?!

I have been trying to work out at least 4 times a week and do high intensity cardio and running. Here I am post-bike workout at the gym.

Now if I could just get stay away from my Kryptonite food I could finish losing those last 30!

Until next time,

Mely

Yosemite

I have no further weight loss to report. I would be lying if I said I don't know why I haven't lost more weight. I stopped drinking my protein shakes and kept up my carb intake which is not good. I am not eating enough protein and I don't exercise enough. I find I lack motivation to keep going and my body really liked this weight because this is the LONGEST I have stalled for. I plan on attending the bariatric support groups again and touching base with my surgeon's office to get back on track. It's all about back to the basics! I have 30 more pounds I want to lose before I am "done" I think I can make it happen slowly. I focus on the positive things and I have to remind myself why I had this surgery in the first place.

In other news, life is so awesome. I recently went to Yosemite and it was the most amazing place ever. I will share some pics below ;) My new job is treating me good and I have the most awesome man in my life that makes me happy every single day. Somebody I have known for all my life because his mom is really good friends with my mom. I saw him in July after not seeing him for about 15 years or so (since we were kids!) and it all made sense and clicked. It's so nice being with somebody that loves you for exactly who you are and doesn't ever try to change you. He balances me out and makes me feel at ease and safe.

We went to Yosemite late August. We were only there for 3 days and 2 nights (not long enough!) The second day we were there we made this brutal up mountain hike to the top of Vernal Falls. Sadly, Yosemite falls was dried out! Bummer! Even though the hike was brutal, I know that I probably wouldn't have made it had I been at my heaviest weight.
 

Here is a pic of the hike up... How beautiful is this? That's a rainbow!

 

 

Here is a picture of me at the top of Vernal Falls.

 

 Here is another one of our way up!

 

I saved the best for last, here is my boyfriend and I in front of "El Capitan"! We make a good looking couple don't we? This is my favorite picture and memory of Yosemite.

 

Until next time,

Melissa

Stuck at 80

I haven't weighed myself in over two weeks. I guess this post is about life and how something as major as your sleeve can be put on the back burner because of several other things. 

I haven't weighed myself because I am scared to see what I am afraid of. I worked really hard to get down to 80 pounds lost and I am scared to see that I am at the same weight and haven't lost anymore. I know I am at the same weight because my clothes fit the same. I also have not been very strict on myself as far as what I eat.. I know I need to stay away from simple carbs but I somehow always find myself indulging in bread! This needs to stop.

I have been sorting out through some things and I also just got a new job. Life changes and uncertainty always add stress and give me major anxiety. I am the type of person that likes to feel like everything in my life is perfectly planned out and executed according to said plan. I have all these goals for myself, my one year goal, my five year goal and my ten year goal. Sometimes I need to take a step back and realize that I am still 23 years old and I am allowed to deviate from plan and make a few mistakes here and there. 

There's also that nervousness that comes with a new job and that's a good thing. I am incredibly grateful that I was given an opportunity to advance my career elsewhere and do what it is I love and went to school for. I just always put so much pressure on myself to be perfect and be the best (at least professionally I am). A couple weeks ago I got a call about an accounting position that had opened at a nonprofit organization that I had already been involved with when I was going to school to get my degree in accounting. The Vice President of Finance wanted to meet me and discuss the position. I went in resume and portfolio in tow to meet with her and discuss the position on a Friday, 2 days later on Monday I was offered the position. Of course I said yes and I found myself rearranging things to reflect my new life change. It's still surreal and I can hardly believe it's happening. Yesterday was my last day at the financial institution where I was working at, it was so bittersweet. Even though I only worked there for a year and 3 months I changed so much both personally and professionally working there and I learned a lot about myself. I cried as I gave my manager a hug before I left. I also cried like an idiot looking at my cubicle there all empty. It is strange how much a job can have such a huge influence on your life.

On another note, I have to admit I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I like the size I am now. Sure I need to lose at least another 30 pounds. It's ingrained in our minds as women that only being a size 6 or smaller is beautiful but I like being a size 14 and I like being imperfect. I look healthy and I feel good. Sure I don't have a flat stomach or perfectly toned arms and legs but I am me and I know that I have many qualities that some size 2 women don't. This is who I am, smart, funny, driven, nice, sometimes feisty, very impatient and stubborn. But the people in my life know this and accept me like this. 

Anyways, I hope I can get back on a normal schedule and exercise more so next time I can report more weight loss.

~Mely

It's been a while..

Hola blog readers!

I know it's been a while since I posted. Life has been crazy and I have to keep reminding myself of my ultimate goal and finding ways to stay motivated. I am down 72 pounds total. (3 pounds away from 75 and soo soo close but I am stalled right now :(

I have been losing weight at the speed of molasses lately. I am not sure if this is normal or if I need to be way more strict on myself because I have become more lax lately.  

Firstly, I don't work out consistently. There really shouldn't be excuses for that but it is what it is. I should be going to the gym at least 3 times a week and some weeks I do go 3 or 4 times but other weeks I slack and only go once or twice! 

Then there is also the fact that I haven't been drinking my protein shakes on a regular basis. Gosh this is so hard for me! I get it, I am horrible. I have gotten caught up in the sheer bliss of being in full on normal life mode that I forget that I still have important needs and those needs are 1. enough protein intake, 2. enough water, 3. exercise. Although I am happy to report I have taken up walks on my breaks and lunches with my good pal Crystal. It helps to be held accountable and I am happy she is around. I have a size down of pants I am just itching to get into and I am so close.

Something else to report... I have been avoiding the scale. Why? Because I became obsessed with the number on the scale instead of focusing on how I feel and how good I look. It gets draining when you allow a scale to control your emotions. e.g you aren't losing enough, you only lost 2 pounds in 2 weeks, you haven't lost at all. It's all way too much to handle! I am happy with the body I have now and how I look and that is what is important. I have 50 more to lose and as expected those last 50 are going to be the HARDEST! I have only managed to lose about 10 pounds a month for the last month and a half and I feel like it really will take me a feel year to lose everything I need to lose.

One more thing for any of you that may be reading this and find you are absolutely miserable with heartburn ALL the time. Get that Prilosec!! My quality of life has dramatically increased ever since I take Prilosec everyday. I can't go without it. I can still eat the foods I love like tomatoes, onions and coffee and I have zero heartburn. I love my Prilosec and I don't understand why I wan't put on it sooner! 

I have noticed I can eat more food now and I think this is normal. I can eat about a cup of food at a time. Some foods I can eat a lot more of and I guess that scares me. When it comes to leafy greens, I can eat way more than say chicken or fish. I guess that is okay. If you are reading this and are also a sleever can you comment and let me know if you have noticed that you can eat a little bit more a couple months out of the surgery?

Anyways, below is a more recent before and after comparison. On the left is me 4 days before my surgery and the right is me this past week. Not too shabby huh? I love being curvy and healthy as opposed to just being big. This is the first time I have been this small since middle school.. it feels amazeballs (yes amazeballs ;)

Some updated pics!

Here are a couple of full body pics that I recently took... I have shared them on Facebook and though I would share here too!!

Life... an update.

Hi lovely blog readers!

Well as of a couple weeks ago I am out 3 months from my surgery. I have lost a total of 63 pounds... This means I am down a total of 43 pounds since surgery. 

My stomach has pretty much healed up and there really is nothing I can't eat anymore. My main focus continues to be lean protein and lots of water. I finally feel like I have settled into to normal life with the sleeve. I find I am happy but it is also a challenge, everyday is. I never imagined that losing weight would be harder AFTER the surgery yet somehow it is. 

I try my very best to watch what I eat but unlike Gastric Bypass patients, I can have everything and nothing really makes me sick, I have even been able to eat Greek yogurt again (thank you God). My guilty pleasure is and will always be.. CARBS! I love bread, pastries, cookies.. anything with flour. I am really working on eating carbs very rarely. Strangely enough after surgery my taste buds have changed in the sense that I always have a sweet tooth!! So to combat that I have been keeping sticks of sugar fee gum everywhere.. my desk, my car, my bedroom. I find that having something to chew on and keep my mouth busy on helps a great deal.

As much as I haven't wanted to (it's expensive!) I have been buying some clothes. The best feeling in the world is to be able to shop in the normal section of the store... It feels amazing. I am only half way there and I already feel so normal. I feel like I am just a normal 23 year old girl that loves to do what everybody else does. My quality of life has improved greatly.. I feel so full of energy now, this is a far cry from my post surgery struggle when I didn't feel satisfied or happy. I feel like I can smile more now, like I don't have to hide. Although I will admit it has been super hard for me to get used to being noticed now. As friendly and outgoing as I am, I am simply not used to attention based on my looks, I am used to attention based on my smarts and my personality. I was telling my friend Crystal that  it's weird how it all works, I am comfortable posting pictures on Facebook showcasing my weight loss because when I do get compliments I am not getting them face to face and I have time to come up with a nice response like "thanks ladies!!" but in person I kinda become introverted because I don't expect it to happen and then I get a little embarrassed even if I don't show it. It's going to take some getting used to especially since I can wear even cuter clothes now.

Heartburn: The nurse at my bariatric clinic prescribed me Prilosec, I got the generic brand from the pharmacy and let me tell you it has been absolutely the BEST $10 I have ever spent. I take one every morning and I have zero, I mean zero heartburn. Life is so much better now.

 

I hope to fill you all in soon with my 75 pounds lost update!!!

Until next time,

Melissa