Namaste Yoga

I've fallen in love! FitTV has become my new favorite channel to watch, I finished a 2nd helping of Shimmy last night and set up our DVR to record all epidodes of Namaste so I can do them on my own time especially since AF Year End is coming up and getting to the gym is going to be harder than usual.

If you haven't checked out, do so! www.fittv.discovery.com

Check Out Those Collar Bones!

Today we went to the Arbor Day Farm It was sooo nice outside and I got a ton of pics of the kids but one really struck me when I saw it ~ I have collar bones again, check it out!!!!

Channeling My Inner Belly Dancer

Today I came across "Shimmy" on FitTV. WOW, I love this program, it is so fun and sensual.

Yeah, baby this is what it's all about ~ feeling great while exercising, loving what comes next and having the babies jumping all over because they feel good too.

I love life!

Amy

Friday!

Yay for Fridays!!! I am feeling better, still haven't exercised but I am regaining my strength ~ we have a 4 day weekend ahead of us so I am going to need it.

I am back down to 217 today, so the water weight from the IV's is coming off. I am back to drinking Celestial Seasonings Tea again, the coffee was just too much for me (as much as I love it) so I'm hoping that the tea will provide a lighter fare.

I made some delish muffins last night using the Heartsmart Bisquick and Blueberries, sooooo yummy!

1 1/2 Cups of HS Bisquick
1/2 cup of Skim Milk (plus 2 tablespoons for easier mixing)
3/4 of Blueberries (I used small ones)
3/4 of Splenda (I like my muffins sweet so you can decrease this amount)

Fold blueberries in last and then scoop into lined muffin tins. Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes, let cool for 20 minutes and enjoy!

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! The kids snagged these up so fast that they are all gone except for the few that I hid away, LOL!

Amy

Headache From Hell....

OMG! It's so bad today, I can't seem to shake it and I hope it finds a new home soon b/c I am serving an eviction notice.

Feeling miserable today, wish I felt better!

I'm Home From Hospital....

Ugggg, it was a rough 24 hours! I can't believe how sick I was and my pulse rate is still really low (in the 40's and low 50's) so they want me to monitor it from home.

Still feeling very weak and tired. They gave me 4 bags of fluids so naturally I am up bloated as all get out and weighed myself (220, how depressing).

So, lessons learned. No more hot stuff, not exactly sure that is what caused the episode but sure as hell don't want to repeat it. Learned from Dr. Sudan that if I do truly vomit again that I am to stop all food and liquids until vomitting subsides and stay on liquids for 24 hours.

Just when I think I am doing good something like this has to slap me in the face back to reality.

My new friend Michelle came to visit me in the hospital today, she is a REAL sweetheart and I am keeping my fingers crossed for her that she receives her approval letter ASAP.

Thanks to everyone that lifted me up in thoughts/prayers ~ they worked!!! I'm tired so that's all for now.

Amy

Busy Days!

Going back to my PCM today to check on my knee which feels great and I also need to get a referral to my GYN for a 1 year checkup ~ I can't wait to see Dr. Rice, she doesn't know that I've had RNY and the last time I saw her was in February.

Water aerobics last night was TOUGH!!! We used the underwater weights and my arms have never felt so fatigued, but that is a good thing.

Woke up to 215 again today, guess my little ride is over for now but that's okay....as long as the scale MOVES I'm okay with it.

Had 1/4 cup of cereal and a mini string cheese and couldn't finish it all, wow! I remember the days when I could eat 3 eggs, 2 pieces of toast with butter/jelly and some bacon or sausage ~ I am so glad that I am able to make better choices, eat less and learn how to help myself.

60 Pounds!!!

Freaking awesome! I could just crawl out of my skin with excitement! The weight this week has been flying off, the last 2 days I've woken up 2 pounds lighter each day. That's a 8 pound loss in 8 days, woot!

Tonight is water aerobics, I can't wait to see my friends again. Afterwards I have to take Edward to get his first haircut. Wahhhh!!! :(

Lots of love to everyone today!

New XL Sundress

First time in 10+ years I've been able to wear a size XL dress, wow!!!

August 2007 - August 2008 Comparsion Pics

August 2007, I didn't feel this big!


August 2008, Feeling great and losing weight!

Nothing Fits Me!!!

For the first time in my life, all the clothes in my closet do not fit me...they are TOO BIG!!!!

I am in utter disbelief and shock that this mass amount of clothes, many that I haven't been able to wear for years need a new home. The clothes vary from sizes 18-24.

When we PCS this fall I am ONLY taking clothes that fit me and those I will buy in anticipation that will fit along with my weight loss. Thank you GOD for giving me this opportunity, thank you for my health and happiness back!

Today I am going to buy a new outfit for tonight's banquet we are attending for Hubby's Scouting achievements, I can't to show off how good I FEEL!

10 Years!!!

August 22nd, 1998 I became a blushing bride, wow! I was overweight then, in fact I weigh less now than when Bill and I married ~ amazing!

10 years have gone by slowly at time and zoomed by at others, filled with great moments and others that I would like to forget but we made it!

Tonight we are going to celebrate at Jack Binion's Steak House at the Horseshoe Casino and I'm not sure what I will be able to eat, but whatever it may be I hope it's good. Also we are going to see the Dark Knight on IMAX, yay!

Well, the day is beckoning, must answer its call.

OH YEAH, I've lost 55 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 275 - 220, RIP 55 Pounds!!!

6 Weeks Post-Op Comparsion Pics

Few Days After Surgery


6 Weeks Post-Op

10 Miles!!!

OMG! Never before have I rode a bike for 10 miles! Water Aerobics was cancelled tonight, wish I would have received a phone call b/c I was in my regular day clothes with swimming suit in hand, so I turned around and went home and got my gym clothes on.

Did a few warm up laps around the gym and then hopped onto the bike, the last 2 miles were killer but I have faith that my body is going to show for it tomorrow!

I LOVE EXERCISE!

Friends...

I love making new friends and tonight I had a great time after water aerobics talking to Tiresa, Kate and Tasia. We all take the W.A. class together with Bettina, she rocks our world and we diligently work hard to push ourself further each night.

Yeah, I'm feeling it tonight....hoping the scale moves in the RIGHT direction tomorrow, yee-haw!

Potential

I have it, I want it! I am ready to kick things up a notch and burn baby burn! I am cleared this week to start back at my weights, yay! I feel like I melted a lot of weight off before surgery while working with weights so I'm hoping the same is true after surgery.

Last night Bill and I went to see Tropical Thunder, which was a GREAT movie by the way and I would love to get some of the tracks to add onto my MP3 player to workout to, nothing beats pumping away to great music.

Today I have a ton of running to do, once the kiddos are up and ready we need to return the wheelchair that I rented for my Dad, buy some new underwear for myself and find something for Hubby since we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary this Friday, wow! Then later this evening is water aerobics which reminds me that I need to wash my swimsuit, yikes!

Better go do that now!

Sick

Ugggg, why am I sick....I HATE being sick! Raw sore throat, fever and all the misery that comes with it, that's me right now.

I haven't exercised since Wednesday and I'm also suffering from constipation so it's all around yuckiness ~ where is my ray of sunshine I need?

I havne't exercised since Wednesday although I have been running around busy as usual but today is the Air Show here at Offutt so I know that I wlll get at least 1-2 miles or more of walking in, plus we rented a wheelchair for my Dad (he had a major stroke last year and doesn't walk well) so that will be provide some strenghening for me, yee-haw!

My family (parents included) went out to dinner last night at LaMesa (local mex joint that we like) and I had the chicken quesdillas off the appetizer menu, wow amazing how BIG that portion was for just an appetizer! I was able to eat 1 of the 4 quesadilla's and was overly stuffed but it was good!

My parents were amazed at how different I looked in the 2 weeks since we left St. Louis, felt good and even better I went to the base to pick up Della's shot record yesterday and the technician was freaking out at how much weight I've lost, so I had a gaggle of women asking me about the surgery, how I felt and how life is after roux-en-y. That felt GREAT!

Well, need to cook breakfast for my family so we can get going to the Air Show, it's going to be so much fun!

Swimming....

Water Aerobics last night, we used water noodles the whole time and I LOVED IT! It was fun and challenging, especially when we had to fold up our noodles like a pretzel and sit on them ~ then pretend we were riding on a bike.

Coordination is a key with this kind of activity and I surprised myself, I did really well. One of the hardest things we did was to stand on our noodle while in the water and walk back and forth on it, harder than it sounds.

Bettina (our instructor) also had us doing knee crunches while standing at the side of the pool, also with the noodles beneath us, that was the hardest exercise of the night but it was fun to watch everyone keep up because the noodles kept slipping out from under us and rocketing out of the water, LOL!

After class I started swimming laps (hence being extremely sore today) and to my surprise 18 laps (across and back again) is only 1/4 of a mile, I felt like I had gone 10 miles and was disappointed to learn that it wasn't very far.

Oh well, the longer I keep at this...the easier it will be and before I know it I will be swimming 1/2 a mile and then a mile but all in good time!

224 again today, I wish the scale would move more but I do know that I am losing despite what the scale says, I am officially in a size 16 and XL top so that's reassurance that things are going GREAT!

Toodle-loo!

A New Day!

Wow, I'm amazed at myself! I did 6 miles last night the gym, incredible! Of course non of this was possible without my RNY.

I started the Cool Runnings from Couch to Running program last night, I truly intend on being in the Omaha 10K next month so I've started my training to get myself ready. I may not be able to run all of it but by God I am going to complete it!

I am down another pound today, so that puts me at 224, another 25 pounds until I hit what is commonly referred to as "Onederland" I can't wait!

These next few days will be full of running to Doctor appointments for the kids and getting Edward's feet/legs fitted for braces, my poor little guy but after sleeping on the fact that he needs them I feel better. Now it's just a fact of dealing with nosey people out in public, when Della was in her pelvic harness I got all kinds of questions/comments that just seemed weird and uncalled for. Sheesh!

Ready for water aerobics tonight, I'm still sore from last night but I think it will only help build in my endurance. Water here I come!

Sooooo Happy!!!!

I did 3 miles today, awesome!!!!

I am thinking about doing my first marathon! Sunday, September 28th 10K

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 MORE POUND!!!!!

1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!!

1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!!

1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!! 1 MORE POUND!!!!!

Until I hit 50 POUNDS LOST!!!!!!!!!!

May 2008 I was 275, Today I am 226, come on ~ let's drop this baby like it's hot!

4 Weeks Post-Op Comparsion Pics

Day Before Surgery Front View

4 Weeks Post-Op Front View



Day Before Surgery Side View



4 Weeks Post-Op Side View

4 Weeks!

I couldn't feel better! I'm running short on time so I will just have to add a pic for now but I will update later on today.

4 Pounds Away From.....

50 Pounds Lost!!!!!!!! Wow, I can't believe it! We traveled home last night and when I weighed myself this morning I am down to 229, yay!!!!! I am really going to do a happy dance when I hit 225, I plan to take the kids out and do something special with them to celebrate.

I am glad I am home so I can focus on exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!!!