6 Months Post Surgery Update

I can't believe it has already been six months since my Gastric Sleeve surgery! So much has happened since I have last written, so this may be a long post.

Lets first discuss how I was able to cross several things off my bucket list! 

#46. Be a 911 dispatcher

I discussed in previous posts how this ended up working out. While this did not end up working out, I still learned a great deal by my experiences with the agency I worked for at the time and also the Kentucky State Police who graciously allowed me to observe with them for almost 6 months. Even if I wasn't good at that job and didn't receive great training, I still use the things I learned at that job and during my observation time with KSP in my current position as Deputy Jailer. 

 #17. Go to Hawaii!
I am so blessed with good family and friends who all helped in making this trip possible. My cousin especially, who paid for most of the trip, and my mother, aunt and uncle for giving me money for my birthday. We did so many amazing things on the trip! Swam with Dolphins at Sea Life park (#24 on the bucket list) and an additional bonus of swimming with wild Sea Turtles! It was so breathtaking, I can't tell you how many times I had a happy cry! So while most people were dreading age 30, I was living it up! I really think my 30's are going to be my best decade.

#47. Be a police Officer

This one is half accomplished. While I am technically a sworn officer as  Deputy Jailer, I do not receive the same training as street officers. Moreover, the scope of my duties mostly lies within the confines of the jail-unless I were to ever qualify for a transport, or be deputized by another agency. If I am completely honest, my dream job would be that of  Kentucky State Trooper. This is something that has helped drive me to do better. I still struggle daily, but I will discuss that momentarily.

#6 Begin a weight training program

I wouldn't say that I have exactly begun a weight training program, but I have begun an exercise program and I feel great! I have been going to the Bowling Green Athletic Club and mostly taking a class called "Barre Basics" taught by Karyn Rafferty. This class works your muscle groups based on ballet techniques and also some Yoga and Pilates. I get better at it every time I go. I have also been following the Facebook of Personal Trainer Tammy York, who gives amazing tips on diet and exercise, as well as positive encouragement every single day.  I also follow the You Tube channel Fight Tips. Fight Tips not only gives you self defense suggestions, but also tips on how to improve your health and push yourself physically. Last, but not least, I have received much needed workout instructions and fitness advice from a new friend Aschon Karbasi, who provided me with this nice Circuit Training starting workout.

It may be only 16 Minutes, but if you do it correctly and push yourself to involve your whole body it will burn up those calories! I sweated more in 16 minutes doing the Circuit Training than any of my other classes or workouts I have tried. I think it is easier for me to put more effort into the 16 minute workout because your brain says, 'Oh it's only 16 minutes." Two days after my first go at the Circuit Training and I was feeling pain in muscles I didn't even know I had.

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Lets take a break from my bucket list, and discuss some of my struggles. My confession today is that I have COMPLETELY blown my diet. I eat what I want without regard to the nutritional value, and it has been ongoing for the last month and a half at least. While I am still losing weight, this has to stop. I can recognize myself getting into the same patterns of behavior that I had before my surgery. I like too many sweets, too many carbs, too much junk food, too much sweet tea. Sweet sweet sweet. After being so sick of sweet stuff on my liquid diet, it seems to be all that I crave right now. I know these cravings are all coming from my food choices; too much fast food and too much sweet tea! Sweet tea is like my crack. My crack used to be Mt. Dew, but as I have promised myself never to drink carbonated drinks again, sweet tea was my natural go to drink. I have drunk very little plain water this month and my body feels the loss of it. 

So what am I going to do about it? 

I'm going to reset and start again. The one thing I am grateful for about all the diet tips and workout advice from the above mentioned people is that they offer encouragement. They don't berate you for falling, they encourage you to get back up. The words "Get up, start again, you can do this, try this instead" these are of great help to me. I also like the fact that all of the above mentioned people are not afraid to show others that they struggle. They teach us through their struggle and I really admire and try to emulate that. "No one is perfect" is a statement often made; while it is one thing to hear that, it is another to understand it. 

The struggle of weight loss will never go away for me or anyone else who is on this journey, but I think it helps to know we aren't alone. When I had this surgery, I never though it was going to be easy. All the time I spent researching the surgery, and all the time I spent reading about others' experiences, I knew I would struggle. Perhaps I am not struggling to lose weight thanks to the surgery, but I am struggling to have a healthy life and to reach my goals and dreams. That will never end, but losing the weight has really helped me to be on the path that I want my life to take!

Drumroll please!

Now it is time for my progress! I am so excited to say that where I started in a size 22, almost a size 24  womens, I am now a size 16 and steadily edging closer to size 14. Where my highest weight right before surgery was 270 lbs, my current weight is.......

199.5 Lbs

On the left is the day I came home from surgery at about 265 lbs. On the right is me on 10/27/14 at 199.5 lbs!

After learning how much weight I lost, I of course bawled and squalled. My doctor, Teresa Stidham, ARNP said that I had lost 22.5 lbs since I had seen her 3 months ago. SO HAPPY!!!!!