hope4change_val wrote: »

Hi. I’m grateful that I haven’t destroyed my metabolism...if I don’t eat everything in site, i loose weight. The hernia pain really got my attention. Plus having gained back everything i lost. I need to drop weight for the hernia repair surgery (not scheduled but needed). I know, I need to drop weight for my health and happiness and function! I made an appointment with the gastrointestinal surgeon on 1/31. I hope to schedule the surgery during spring break. We’ll see.

ssflbelle2012 wrote: »

Hi Roger and Val
I am not sure if you both remember me or not as I have not been around for a long time. I am back as I want to get off these last 40 pounds. I thought MFP, biking and going to Curves would help. I finally lost over 270 pounds and had so much excess skin that over the last 1 1/2 I have had 3 surgeries to remove the skin and a hernia repair. I still have at least 2 more surgeries to go but am still recovering from this last one which took 10 pounds of skin off my tummy. I wanted to share with you both the before weight loss and this latest Christmas after tummy surgery and my first bike ride after 4 weeks of recovery pictures.

Buttons61 wrote: »

Good morning!!

It stopped raining and part way through the day turned colder. But I saw sunshine for a few hours and a blue sky with cool looking gray and white clouds here and there...It was like a miracle!!

Jenny and I went out for Indian food so I conscientiously had a non keto day. I was over my calories by about 450 calories and had about 70 gram carbs instead of my 20 grams. It was so good!! We will see how this sets me back however in time and cravings. I do use the ketone strips. Accurate enough...And checking them in the A.M. Useful info to see what my body does for a few days, but hoping I will not regret it for a few days...and lbs...

Saw Mary Poppins Returns. Bloody good!!! Fabulous score and choreography!! Respectfully done IMO.

Sounds like Em had a wonderful birthday!!

Chilly sounding in Jersey!! Stay warm!!! ...Jan

ssflbelle2012 wrote: »

Snipped

Hi, Jan So sorry I did not include you in my earlier post. I did not realize you were still posting here. Yes, I do remember you and the horses and thank you for the compliments. The only surgery that was rough was the Brachioplasty in March 2018. I was sent home 1 hour after waking up. Was home 10 minutes and had to be rushed back by ambulance as I had blood pouring out of my left arm. I had developed a hematoma. I believe the Dr forgot to close off a blood vessel. Had to have a second surgery but had to wait over 8 hours as there was no operating room available at the time. My blood count got down to 8 and they told me at a 7 I would have needed a transfusion. I was very lucky as it never got down to 7. I was in the hospital for 4 days and went home with a drain in my arm. Spent 8 weeks recovering and trying to get my strength back so I could go back to work. However, that did not stop me from having this most recent hernia repair and Panni on Dec 5th 2018. Only spent 1 day in the hospital and was sitting up and walking with a walker within 12 hours of the finished surgeries. I had 2 drains this time for 12 days. Once those drains were gone it was a much easier recovery and I feel ready to go back to work now. However, the Dr wants me to gain some strength back over the next 2 weeks. He suggested I go back on 18th or 22nd as I only work on Fridays and Tuesdays.
We took our tree, and all the inside and outside decorations down on Thursday and Friday. We started to put them up the weekend after Thanksgiving as they had to be up before the surgery. I have lots of readings to become up to date with what the three of you are doing. Is there anyone else posting in this group or is it small? Sometimes the smaller the more personal it can be. I hope to become more involved in this group and post more often if that is ok with you all.

ssflbelle2012 wrote: »

Snipped to keep more readable, That's my goal anyway.

Yes, I have been around since 2012 thus the date on my name. Started on NS and came here when everyone else did. Was in Gary's group for a long time. Will have to check and see if anyone still posts over there. I think it was NS lose 5 a month or something like that.
I do not know how severe your loose skin issue is but I could not live with all the excess skin pulling on me down and causing such pain on my back and other parts of my body. Perhaps taking a tour of the hospitals and taking with the staff will help with the fear you have. I had 2 surgeries at one hospital about an hour from home. The other 2 were at a hospital 5 minutes from home. I like the one further from home better than the other one closer to home. The equipment and staff are better. The hospital I like has an A rating. The one closer to home has a C rating. My copay was more at the A rating but I am willing to pay more for the better staff and service. I had 6 pounds removed from my breasts, 10 pounds from my tummy and they forgot to weigh the arms skin but my arms are 7 inches smaller. I think I may have 2 more to go and am going to try to get them at the hospital I like further from home. I will also need revisions as 270 pounds is a lot of weight to lose and not have severe loose skin issues. They only wanted me under for about 4 hours at a time, due to my age and disability so some loose skin is still in various places. However, with compression garments, no one sees the bulges when in my clothing.

As for the bike yes it is the same. My redbird is older, rustier but she still gives me a great workout. I managed to do a 6 mile Loop the Lake for Literacy fundraiser in Jan 2017. However, with these past surgeries, I have had a lot of downtime and only managed to get to 7 miles just before this last surgery in Dec. I started biking again on Thursday and went 2.75 miles. I am sure I will build that back up again. Plus I plan to go to Curves as I mentioned earlier sometime after my Birthday which is the 24th of this month. I do hope to post more often. Thanks!

Buttons61 wrote: »

Good morning all,

I was a little MIA! Friday, Jen and I did lunch and the movie. It would have been better on 2 days, but that did not work out. I stopped at the church Sat.and killed my back moving tables and chairs. I was there a while, and then still shopped for Sunday. I could barely walk Sat. and Sunday. You know I was tired to go to bed around 1200, for me. By the time church was over, and small group, I came home and played ball in the sunshine with May, and took about an hour and a half nap. I was flat exhausted. I still dozed trying to watch TV off and on from about 5 pm till about 8 pm. Finally woke up and can actually move again.

It was a pretty day here too. Chilly in the shade, but in the upper 60's..(so people can get sick some more.) Chilly at nite in the 40.s..Not Jersey cold though!!

Amanda, your surgeries are a remarkable story. I am wondering how I will do as I have to lose about 135 lbs. This keto diet may be the closest thing to getting me there, and I am trying to prepare for the long haul!! Your story is beyond encouraging!! Hope you continue to post!

Roger, believe it or not, I did not notice the wire in the Mary Poppins scenes..I looked!! I either missed it or perhaps in the promos it was not as cleaned up!! You know me!! I could have missed it even looking!!

Glad about Trixie, Val! Trudy reminds me of the RCA dog with that eye, or the dog in the Little Rascals! She is a cutie either way!!

Take care all! Enjoy the week!! ...Jan