Tales of the Morbidly Obese

Peachtree Road Race 3rd Year in a Row

Well, I did it again.  It took me 85 minutes to go 6.2 with 55,000 other folks, but I did it and felt the best I have felt after a race.  Guess who did it too?  http://gettingswitched.blogspot.com/ Tia!    Go check her out.  She road to and from the race with us.  I am so proud of her.  She never gives up which is a pretty rare trait these days.  I want to get back into running more.  I am trying to sort my life out so I can exercise more and spend more time with the family.

My good friend I told you about this week got out of the hospital from his DS surgery today.  He has done amazingly well. The surgery took a little longer than they had thought, but he has gone gangbusters since.  He is happy.  These next few days will be the hardest for him as he deals with the disappointment and depression of those first days.  I can only keep telling him that each day gets better, and his whole life is about to change! 

My life is changing too.  I have several check-ups this month plus big doings at work.  Well, I have to get back to painting the little one's room.  Just say no to inky dark blue.  We have already done 3 coats with the primer!

Up and Excited

I couldn't sleep tonight.  Here I am at 5:30am- wide awake.  I am sure I cannot sustain this until evening.  Lots of things are happening.  I have a very good friend who is about to have duodenal switch surgery on Thursday iwth Dr. Smith at www.advancedobesitysurgery.com.  It is an exciting time for him.  I am thrilled for him.  He had to fight long and hard with the insurance company for approval.

3 years ago this month, I had duodenal switch surgery.  It changed my lifestyle significantly.  Yesterday, I had my bi-annual labs drawn in prep for my 3 year check-up.  It is a hassle, but is it worth it?  YES.  Life is different as a normal sized person.  I would not change the fact that I had surgery.  What would I change?  I might would have gotten counseling along the way.  Unfortunately, the psych that did my surgery clearance was not a fan of the DS.  It was not fun going through her process.  The emotional aspects of such profound changes are challenging for even the most rock solid person.  We have suffered many indignities in our obese lives.  Those experiences do not evaporate because I am thin now.  Sometimes I am sad for the times and opportunities I missed while obese. 

We each have a choice to make a change in our lives.  We often take the easiest path. This path to WLS is not easy.  It comes with many challenges, but it opens many vistas that were blocked. 

So to my good friend, Godspeed to a new healthy life.

Simple Assault case this week

Had a bizarre trial this week.  It was a road rage deal where this night manager for a local DIY store riding with his wife decided to engage a fairly large guy with his kids in the car.  Needless to say, the night manager did not win the fight that night nor the case.  It was an odd trial, but justice is blind and I am proud that I won the case. 

Misdemeanors are starting to bore me to tears a touch ya'll.  I may need to stretch my wings a little. My details to follow on that.

Lets talk sweet tea.  I am having a terrible time ridding myself of this addiction.  I like to order it for lunch and sometimes make it at home.  A lot of extra calories.  I am holding pretty steady at about 143 or so, but I need to be a touch smaller.  I guess I could exercise more.  Last Sunday, we went on an impromptu 5 mile hike over a couple of small mountains here.  It was fun, but my hips were aching by the end.

The tennis team I started is doing very well this year, but I have not gotten to play very much.  Maybe they will win and I will still get a bag tag.

My oldest is going to middle school in the fall.  He is so excited.  It makes me feel old. Did you know I turn the big 4-0 this year?  How can that be?  I seem to have missed several years of youth as a morbidly obese woman?  Can somebody give those back?  I think I look older now as a thin person. Anyone had any of those skin fillers?  I would like to know if they really work and how long. 

Well, as you can see kind of boring here.  Life moves on a break neck speed.  Do I really want that?

Dog Sick

Missed most of the week of work last week.  I was very sick.  I played tennis Saturday at 5pm and by 3pm on Easter I was running a fever and in bed.  I spent the week hacking, sneezing, freezing and worthless.  I finally got some antibiotics, an inhaler and some cough medicine.  I am much, much better.  I tell you the post plastic abs of steel really worked themselves this week with the coughing.  I haven't been down sick like this is 10 years or so.  I am still hacking, but I am human again.

Back to work tomorrow.  How many emails and voice mails will be overflowing you think?  I don't even want to know yet.  Blissful ignorance.

Entered the Peachtree Road Race again this year.  The ING marathon and half was today.  I felt sorry for those poor bastards.  It was only in the 40s this morning.  Spring is not here yet.

Spring break is coming and I am looking forward to some tennis, running and fun.  How about you?  Any great spring break plans?

Running (barely) again

We ran yesterday.  Only 2 miles at a run walk.  My pants kept falling down.  I had these visions of my bare white behind hanging out while we ran down our local road.  It is no fun to get going again, but you do feel better after.

Had my 2.5 year labs done.  My new iron seems to be working.  I am dodging another infusion for now!  I am low on Vitamin D, K and A.  My potassium could use a slight boost as well.  PTH is slightly high.

On a good note, my hair is back(mostly) and growing long again.  My face is a mess- I think the lack of Vitamin A has some bearing on the problem. 

My weight is fairly stable at 140.  Sometimes more, sometimes less. 

Our Total Money Makeover is still going well.   My plastics from Dec. '06 which was the price of cheap new car will be paid off next month I think!

So, I am in trial this week.  More drunks and few potheads.  Need more time with the kids.

Anyone else have baby lust this time of year?  So many new babies around.  I love to hold them, smell them and feel their soft skin.  I would love to have another, but I won't. 

Happy St. Patty's people.  Rock some corned beef and green beer for me.

Historic Vote Today

Today is Super Tuesday.  22 states have the opportunity to weigh in on the Presidential candidates.  I made a historic vote today.  I voted for a woman running for president who actually has a very good chance to win.  This has been a remarkable year.  Both Hillary and Obama are historic candidates.

Did I mention I got to see Bill Clinton speak on Friday?  He was riveting.  He is a terrific speaker.  He spoke for over an hour with a hoarse voice.  He didn't stumble.  He worked in all the local references.  He did not even take a sip of the water on the podium.  He connects with his audience.  Very impressive.

Where I live voting for a Democrat is akin to announcing that your have a communicable disease.  It isn't done often and never without consequences.  I have been ashamed of my Hillary thus far.  However, I am now out and proud.  She is a viable candidate for President.  I agree with many of her policies.  I also agree with some of John McCain's.  Senator Obama has very little in the way of concrete plans for our future.  His experience is weak.  Unfortunately, if he wins I feel we will have another W on our hands.  He will be very insulated by his advisors and making decisions from a limited base of knowledge.   I think he would make an outstanding VP, so he can learn the ropes from 2 very experienced folks.  We have an opportunity to give our country 16 years of democratic rule.  I don't think he can win on his own this time around.

So why do so many folks hate Hillary?  It is an interesting debate for me.  Many fault her for staying with her cheating husband.  Most folks attribute that to her unending quest for power.  My guess is it is much more complicated than that.  She has a child, and as I said Bill is riveting.  I have seen women far weaker than her stay with men for much less.  Does she have a perfect marriage?  No, does anyone?  We seem to lay more faults at her feet simply because she is a woman.  If she was a man, we would not fault her for staying with a less than perfect spouse. 

Many folks say she is a power hungry "witch" with a b.  Women again get castigated for having a strong personality.  She also is considered weak because she is a woman.  We cannot win either way we try it.  Been there and fight it every day.  We have to be better just to show we are good enough.   

You may not like her policies.  This reason is the most valid for voting against her.  I like most of them even though they may cost me personally more money.  I want a steward for our country.  I see her wanting to bring about change and not just cement a legacy.  Women have been fixing men's messes for centuries.  Why not give this one a shot?  She running to get a very difficult job with the country is pretty bad shape. 

So, give Hillary a shot.  Let America know that a woman can lead our country.  I voted for Hillary Clinton today.  I urge to do the same. 

Go Hillary!

New Year and trying to lose some weight

Well, it is a new year.  In 2007, I actually had to work on gaining weight since I was a the nadir of my weightloss.  After my plastics in December 2006, I reached an all time low of 124 pounds and felt and looked way too small.  While I momentarily flirted in my mind with a how low can I go idea, I came quickly to realization that if I wanted to heal from the ps I needed to get some calories in.  So, last January I was really eating.  I also took a med from my ob-gyn that put 12 pound on me in about 10 days.  I have spent most of 2007 in the mid 130s.  It is only in the last quarter of 2007, that I got up to and stayed in and over 140 pounds.  How I was scared and slightly ashamed to admit the regain.   

2008 has started with me going back to my protein roots.  I mostly trying to slice the crazy amount of useless carbs out of my diet.  They crowd out protein and they give a whole lot of extra calories.  Also, how many times have I preached about water.  Lately, I have been slack. Since summer, I picked up a nice little habit of a sweet tea.  I have sworn it off to rid myself of a few pounds.  I started 2008 at a bloated 146, I am back on a straighter and narrower nutritional path until I am back in the 133-135 range.  Not 140+ pounds to lose this time.

I am encouraged by my efforts this week as this morning the scale said 142.  I think if I can fit in some more movement and water, I am likely to be at 140 on Tuesday (weigh in day).  I am going to work on getting my 2.5 year labs this week.  I think my iron might be looking good because of a new supplement.  If it works, I will be sure to share. 

For those who are new, yes the weight loss will eventually stop but you do not gain like before but you must be every vigilant to keep the pounds away.

So This is Christmas

  Hey Ya'll-

Long time no blog.  I am not sure I want to leave the blog up, but I am going to keep a touch longer.  This has been pretty hectic, but I think it is great to have a year where I did not really have to think about my weight.

I am a year out from my reconstructive plastics.  My scar in the back is itchy today.  Things are good.  I am touch heavier than I would like to be due to my 6 month sweet tea kick.  Down here they call it the nectar of the gods.  It is good stuff.

I was the director of a local 5k here.  I was so busy I did not get to run.  Here I am right before the race started in front of the field of runners.   

My plan for the new year is to run more, play tennis more and try to separate myself from work more. I actually want to lose a few pounds.  I want to try more cases.  I convicted another drunk driver this month.  He crashed into a family in their pt cruiser as they left Sprawl mart.  He refused to do anything on the scene and went to sleep in the back of the patrol car. 

I am torn about my work often.  I long for more challenging cases, but I lament how much I am away from my family because of work.  I am not a good balancer.

For those of you searching for a new life.  You can get it whether you lose weight or not.  If there is something bigger than you that you want- go get it.  I don't mean buy it because material things are never the answer.  Don't let anything hold you back- weight, health, money, fear.  Nothing. Go do it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Trial Weeks

Hey Ya'll

I am in my 2nd set of trial weeks since I was last here.  Remember the case I had last November that I had to re-try because the Judge ordered a new trial and took away some of my evidence?  Well, I tried he again and the jury found him guilty AGAIN.  He went to jail.  I think he was shocked.  It was a 2nd in 5 DUI and he loses his license for a year.  My police officer witness did a great job on it.

Tomorrow, I have another DUI case going to court.  Should be interesting.  My other case on Tuesday pled out already.  I will have more over the next 2.5 weeks.  It is always crazy during trial weeks.  I have moved to a new courtroom.  I think I will like it.

My weight is up a bit.  I am usually at 141 and some change.  I think I need to lose about 5 pounds.  I am starting to slack off on the sweets.  Also, I have had the jones for sweet tea.  If you are from the South, you know what I am talking about.  None of this in the bottle or from the soda squirter- real, brewed ice tea with sugar put in while it is hot and then iced down.  I am sure this is adding countless calories to my intake.

Things are bopping along in our new financial plan.  We have been going to Financial Peace University on Wednesday nights and love it.  Also, we had a garage sale 2 weeks ago and made a bundle.  I really like living this new way on a budget.  I do miss shopping a bit though.  I just have to make my shopping for necessities last.  Do you know I have only bought 2 pairs of shoes and 1 bra for myself since April?  No new clothes or anything since then.  I bought the shoes amd bra with a birthday giftcard so it was in the budget.  I try to make it a game. 

Sorry, I do not have scintillating stories.  Maybe after trial week. 

Running again

We are back running.  The pain from the plastics when I run has started to subside.  We did the US 10k Classic on Labor Day.  6.2 grueling miles.  It is a very hilly course.  We followed that with immediately going to the water park for 4-5 hours of stairs, flumes and waiting in line.  I could not hardly walk the next day.  It took a day or too to work out the soreness.

Work has been wild and crazy.  I am moving to another courtroom with a new judge.  I retried my case from November that ended with a mistrial.  It was his 2nd in 5 DUI.  The jury found him guilty of the per se DUI over a .08.  He is going into custody on Monday for 20 days. 

Let's talk turkey about weight issues which is why most folks read this blog.  When last we discussed this, I had upped my carbohydrates to help stop the weight loss and recover from my ps surgery.  I had reached a scary low of 124 pounds back in January.  So, I increased my calories including carbs to the 3000+ range.  I am nine months out from the plastics and have healed very well.  I also added some medication in February that plopped 12 pounds on me in 10 days.  That was alarming.  However, my weight seemed to settle out in th 135-139 range.  Since in August, I noticed a few more pounds creeping on.  Imagine my alarm when I saw over 140 consistently.  So, what is the plan for that you say.

I had to cut my carbs some again.  It is very difficult to go back to less carbs.  I was so strict for so long that going back to less carbs should not be a hardship.  It was.  Those bastards are addicting.  I have made my nutty trail mix again for snacking at work.  The scale has slid back down to under 140 in about a week or so of reduced carbs.   

I want to start running more to increase my caloric out go and see how well I can do with it.  I do not plan to get lower than 135 because I start looking a bit thin and haggard.  Certainly, it is not going to be a how low can you go kind of thing for me.  The weight loss has stopped for sure.  I am now in maintenance. I guess 2 years is the window.