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Week 42 – 146 lbs – Hilo – August 5, 2012

At least for this next week!

Week 42 and I have been 145 or 146 lbs for 6 weeks! Because of the sleeve, I have lost 77 lbs and for the last 9 months, I have never felt that I have been ‘dieting.’ I basically eat small meals and eat sensibly, always working in some protein, including lots of fish. I don’t eat rice or pasta and only rarely eat bread or potatoes. I do eat cookies, popcorn and ice cream, again small portions and I try to be reasonable about it. And I have worked out daily since we have been back in Hawaii the last 5 months and at least according to the treadmill, I burn 400-500 calories a day in the gym. This plan worked for me on lots of levels and I was one happy camper, but clearly it ‘ain’t workin’ anymore!’

It’s not that I’m obsessed with losing a lot more weight; in fact, I’m not unhappy with my weight today. But I want to reach the point where I’m not overweight according to the people who blessed the official weight charts (how hard can this be; I’m 5 lbs away!). Actually, I’d like to lose 10 more lbs, and then, once I’m there, I want to see how I feel (better? worse? more wrinkly? more flabby? more energetic? sexier? emaciated?). I just don’t know, I just know I want to get there since I’m sooooooooo close. Clearly though, the weight is not going to come off on my old plan if it hasn’t budged in 6 weeks. And come hell or high water, I’m not going to let myself gain the weight back! I know the statistics show that most people lose 70% of what they need to lose, but again, I’m so close to goal, that I need to get there.

So this coming week I am going to replace my cookies with a protein bar (same calories but healthier) and start using more fat free stuff which I haven’t been paying as much attention to lately. I will also track my food precisely this week. Ugh, I feel like I’m on a diet again for the first time in a long time.

So enough about my own personal pity party. There are 3 women I know who have inspired me this week with how they are fighting the war against weight. All three have taken a different approach but I admire all of them for their courage in going to battle and doing what’s right for them.

Colleen had Gastric Bypass just 2 weeks ago and is thrilled!

Meet my friend Colleen, single mother, hard worker, beautiful woman, recent member of the WLS community! When I found out she had decided on surgery to help her become healthier, I decided to come out of the closet with her about my own journey. Since she knew me when I was fighting (and losing) my own battle with fat, I wanted to be a cheerleader for her decision. Only two weeks after surgery and she looks fantastic – and feels great! The one thing that just blows my mind though is that she was in the hospital only 2 days, then a hotel the next 5 with no one checking on her. Makes me so grateful for my 8 day hospital stay! Colleen promised to send another photo of her in a couple of months so we can all track her progress. I really encouraged her to go on to the Vertical Sleeve Talk forum because I know for me, without it I would have been lost. She’s young, beautiful and I can’t wait to follow her journey!

Both of us 80 lbs lighter than a year ago!

Meet my friend Ellen. Ellen and I hadn’t seen each other in about 2 years so we were both delighted to see that we had each lost about 80 lbs and were both feeling so much healthier and better. I chose not to tell Ellen about my surgery and instead told her what I tell most people: I don’t eat rice, pasta, and eat half portions of what I used to eat and I exercise daily. Well, it’s true, right? So I don’t feel like I’m lying but I don’t feel I have to tell the world either. Ellen chose a much different path: The HCG Diet. I only know the little she told me about it, but it’s a very restrictive diet with a supplement (500 calories a day) for 3 weeks at a time, then a less restrictive diet for a month or so. You repeat the process until you reach your goal weight. We all have to find what works for us and this is working for her. I admire her so much; she has no health insurance and is on a very limited income so WLS was not an option for her (although we didn’t discuss it). But she’s lost 80 lbs in the last year and she feels so much better. In fact, many years ago she was a big mucky-muck in an international company that used to send her around the world as a motivational speaker; she was very well-respected and living what we would all consider “the good life.” She confessed to me that right now, with her simple life-style, her ability to give back to her community and her success with her weight loss has given her the most self-happiness she has ever known. Wow, talk about inspiring!

Carol on her 62nd Birthday

Meet my friend Carol. Actually Carol doesn’t even know I’m writing this and doesn’t know I had WLS, but she did something this week that was really cool. She posted a FB status about losing 10 lbs (not even knowing that I would see it as I don’t go on there all the time):

I am officially posting that I joined Weight Watchers a month ago and have lost 10 lbs to date! I also want to say that Ms. S was my inspiration!!! Thanks S for showing us we can all look like we are 35 again!!

So many people have told me I am an inspiration to them and for that I am sincerely grateful. But this week, I am the one inspired by my three friends (two who are over 60!) who have all decided to become healthier and chosen the way that works for them. I’ll think of these three women and all the people on the forum this week as I try to get these last !@##%!!@!##!!%!! 10 lbs off!

My run on Reed’s Island in Hilo – charming!

Someone on the forum suggested I change my workout routine to help me with these last few lbs so I have started walking/running my 3 miles every other day outside instead of the treadmill. Half of it is up a slight incline, the second half is downhill on an extremely picturesque, quiet street just above downtown Hilo. I love running on this street; I especially love running downhill! No traffic, beautiful homes, lots of tropical vegetation: banana, avocado and papaya trees.

Summer and winter, the waterfalls are always flowing in Hilo

Ginger just grows wild everywhere here, along with many other tropical flowers

There is wild Hibiscus, Lehua, Ginger, orchids and Birds of Paradise flowers, not to mention the palm trees and rushing waterfalls. Summer or winter, the water is always flowing here.

 

I’m happy to be outside in the fresh air and need to savor these sights and aromas before we leave in a few weeks.

Have a great week everyone and thanks again for taking the time to read my blog and send me comments; please know that you all inspire me!

A HUI HOU, 

QUEEN OF CROP

4 Responses
  • Karen Allison
    August 5, 2012

    Inspirational women for sure, your self included. I bet tracking your food will produce results! Have a good week.

    Surgery date 8/31/12 – getting closer 🙂

  • Deanna Kaspor
    August 6, 2012

    I love reading your blogs. I look forward to it each week:-)

  • cindy.hellstern@gmail.com
    August 6, 2012

    Thank you for writing. I too have lost 75 lbs since my VGS. I have 25 more to go. Stuck here for over a year, and had my gallbladder out six weeks ago. I too feel like a million dollars, but really, really want to reach my best and most healthy weight! I appreciate the effort you put into sharing and adding the lovely pictures to boot. Aloha from Vermont and Texas, and thank you too! Cindy

    • queenofcrop
      August 6, 2012

      Thanks Cindy! Sorry to hear about your gallbladder. Keep me posted; it’s exciting to be on the home stretch but hard too! Good luck and stay in touch.

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