Measure Up

I had to finally throw out the old bra.

Waist - 42, originally 52

Hips - 50.5, originally 60

Bust - 47, originally 50.5

Thigh - 23, originally 26.5

Bicep - 13, originally 15

Total Inches Lost: 28.5

Swimsuit Season

Today I went swimming with my kids. It has become apparent lately that I need a new suit. This is difficult for me because I just spent about $40 on a new suit in October, but that suit no longer stays tight around my legs (meaning the form fitted part underneath the loose shorts) and the shirt is so loose that I have to tuck it in or it just flies up. Today my shorts kept falling down, so I decided it needed to become a priority, regardless of the expense.

Fortunately, I went into Old Navy and they were having a major Spring Break sale, so I was able to get this really cute suit for under $30. I love it!

I bought a large, figuring it would be too small but that I would continue losing and it would fit soon. I was shocked when I got home and discovered that it actually fits!

Unless you have been where I have been, you can't imagine what it is like to walk into a store like Old Navy and be able to find clothes that fit. It's liberating. (Unfortunately, it also makes me want to buy everything in sight!)

P.S. Something must be done about my hair!

Latest Before and After

Today, due to warmer weather, I was able to wear a dress that I haven't worn in several months. I decided to take a picture and just see if it looks any different than last time. I was surprised at the differences.

Curly

One strange side effect of this surgery is that my hair has become really curly. I had curly hair as a little girl, but it straightened quite a bit after puberty. It's kind of freaky to have it be so curly again!

Also, as of today I HAVE LOST 90 POUNDS!! That's amazing! Six more pounds to be under 200!

Wardrobe Malfunction

I still have a lot of clothes I bought in the 80's. Sad, but true. This shirt isn't quite that old, but it's about 10 years old. I used to wear it open on top of other things because I couldn't button it up. Now I can button it.

Another thing I've noticed is that I can reach things off higher shelves now that I can stand closer to the counter when reaching for them. I hadn't thought about that happening.

I'm thinking about coloring my hair again because I look sooooo OLD!

8 Months - Photo

I decided I needed to take a picture to document the 8-month mark. I'm still a little under the weather so it's not the greatest, but it will do. The amazing thing about this shirt is that I used to have to wear it unbuttoned because I couldn't fasten it. I wore it over the top of other things.

Eight Months

Normally I would include a before and after picture with this post, but I am suffering from a head cold and barely functioning. I'm actually typing this post with my eyes closed!

Heaviest weight: 296.5

Surgery weight: 274.5

Today's weight: 208.8
Total pounds lost: 86.7 lbs.

Starting BMI: 49

Today's BMI: 34.7

I am now in the last category of obesity. A few more pounds and I will just be classified as overweight. Wahoo! I am also within 10 pounds of being under 200, which is truly miraculous for me.

Latest Follow-up Visit

Last Wednesday I had my latest doctor's appointment. It had been scheduled for earlier, but the office had a power outage, so it was rescheduled. There wasn't a lot to report.

Questions and Answers
Q: I'm only losing about five pounds a month now, is that an acceptable weight loss?
A: Yes. It's normal to start slowing down and five pounds a month is a good number.

Q: Is it okay to eat acidic fruit like grapefruit?
A: Yes. It shouldn't be a problem.

Q: Will I be able to go off blood pressure medication?
A: Unsure. After I lose 20 more pounds, we'll take me off it and see how I do.

Stats (previous labs found HERE)

• Weight: 211 (last visit 225.6)
• BMI: 35.1 (last visit 38)
• Blood Pressure: 130/80 (last visit 134/83)
• Pulse: 56 (apparently this is lower than it's supposed to be, so we'll have to see what they say about that)
• Potassium Level: 4.1 (normal)
• Chloride Level: 105 (normal - last time it was high)
• Oxygen: 30 (normal)
• AGAP: 6 (normal, but barely, probably low protein)
• Glucose: 86 (normal, last time 88)
• BUN (liver): 13 (normal)
• Creatinine: .6 (barely normal, but last time it was low, so I guess that's an improvement, probably also a sign that I need more protein)
• Bilirubin: 0.7 (normal)
• Alkaline Phosphatase: 86 (normal)
• AST (liver): 26 (normal, last time 35)
• ALT (liver): 41 (normal, last labs 35)
• eGFR (kidneys): 108 (normal, last labs 172)
• Protein: 7.0 (normal)
• Calcium: 9.5 (normal)
• Iron: 103 (normal)
• Albumin: 4.0 (normal)
• Prealbumin: 20.2 (normal, just barely)
• White Blood Cells: 4.4 (normal)
• Red Blood Cells: 5.12 (high)
• Sodium Level: 141 (normal)
• HGB: 14.2 (normal)
• HCT: 41% (normal)
• MCV: 80.1 (normal)
• MCH: 27.7 (normal)
• MCHC: 34.6 (normal)
• RDW CV: 13.4% (normal)
• RDW SD: 13.4% (normal)
• Platelet: 243 (normal)
• MPV: 11.2 (normal)
• Vitamin B1: 139 (normal)
• Vitamin B12: 700 (normal)
• Vitamin D: 38.6 (normal, but low end of normal, last labs 41.5)
• Magnesium: 1.9 (normal)
• Folate: 24 (normal)
• Ferritin: 75 (normal)

I don't know what most of these mean. I'm just glad to see that for the most part they are normal. I'm not sure if I should be concerned about the high red blood count. I also didn't see a thyroid lab, so I'm not sure about those numbers.

I don't need to go back for fourth months, which will be my one year visit.