27 Weeks Post Op (Quick Update and My Period)

Hi there! Well, not much has happened since this last Sunday. I've been doing too much relaxing, since this is our last week before school starts again...and basketball....and Awanas....and well, just life. lol So, yes, lots of "L~A~Z~Y" happening here folks. Oh well! It feels good not to have to rush here and there...and not having to really plan out schedules and such. I suppose you could say that I'm definitely enjoying this moment in time. 

Okay, so for the update. I've lost another pound since Sunday. This puts me at 192 lbs. My size 18 jeans are starting not to be too tight. They're almost just right. It's a good thing because not being able to breath when all buttoned and zipped up is not good. lol 

On another note, for some reason my hormones and my monthly periods....yes, periodSSSSS....are so stinking out of whack. I don't understand it. Normally, I would have a 25-26 day cycle. By the way, I have an app on my phone that helps me keep track of all this. So, I'm very in tune with my body. Anyways, not including this last cycle I went through but I'm talking about the 2 previous ones, I actually had 28 day cycles for both of them. Then the last cycle, I bled 2 weeks after my previous period for like 2 or 3 days (so, mid-cycle). I had very tender breast...okay, they hurt really bad! And oh my goodness, my mood swings were of the devil. It was a really bad month for me. I couldn't understand it and actually thought I might be pregnant. Well, that sure wasn't it. Two weeks after the break through bleeding, I had my period which fell at 25 days. Then instead of having the normal 3-5 day period, I had a 7-8 day period. What???? So here it is again, mid-cycle, and I'm having break through bleeding. This has never happened before with exception to the last cycle period. But this time, so far, no mood swings....no tender boobies. What is going on with me? Does anyone have any idea? It's been a little over 6 months since my surgery. I know all the changes make your body a little wacky but honestly, I thought I would have seen something like this months ago while my body was in total shock. How I eat, drink, and take vitamins and supplements has been pretty much the same now for a while. I can't think of anything that has changed drastically. I do have my annual with my ob/gyn in a week or so and I will bring this up to him then. Anyways, have any of you gone through something similar? Do you have any idea of why this is happening? It's bad enough that I have one period a month...but TWO! Come on! Help!....and help my poor family. They will go nuts right along with me. I'm hoping this is not a new normal. Ugh!

26 Weeks Post Op (Update, Christmas, and Pictures)

Merry Christmas!!!! Wow, I can't believe it finally came and now it's practically gone. It always seems like it takes forever to get here and then in the few short weeks before Christmas, time starts to fly....THEN it's here...just like that. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We sure did! And yes, I've been eating all the things that I shouldn't. Oh well! I haven't weighed since about 3 days ago. I just couldn't. I don't feel like I've gained anything but just in case I did, I didn't want to see it. It would depress me too much. 

On that note, I will update you on my last weigh in. I'm now down to 193 lbs. Whoopee!!!! I love it! I finally got into my size 18 pants. They fit perfectly except when I sit down. Oh yeah baby, they're too tight in the waist when I do any type of bend. So the button has to give. Yes, I've been sitting down and when no one is looking I undo my button and sometimes unzip about a half inch and breath again. lol I've pretty much stopped wearing my size 20w pants because they are just falling off of me. I was frustrated because there should be an in-between size. I'm sure this will not be the first and last time this happens and I'm okay with that. It's a problem I'm glad to have. :)

So here are some very recent pictures ... all taken this last week. OH...OH...I forgot to tell you that I got my hair permed about 2 weeks ago. Let me tell you, it felt like an eternity waiting for the process to get done. My hair goes all the way down to my booty. It took around 120 rollers, 3 perms, and 5 hours to complete. Yes, you heard me right....5 hours! It's just now starting to relax a bit. I think I like it. My husband isn't a big fan of perms but he says it's pretty. And I've been receiving compliments from others so I don't think I look like a mop head....that's what I thought when I first got it. Naturally my hair is very straight and because I've lost quite a bit over the last couple of months, it thinned way down. It had no bounce or umph to it at all, I had to do something. Now, it has lots of body and it doesn't feel super thin to me anymore. Maybe I'll get my husband to take a picture of the back of it so you can see it a little better.

Okay, pictures! Oh and I also added some of the crafty things I've made in the last couple of weeks. I love to craft. I just wish I had more time to do it.

 

Our Christmas tree right after we decorated it.

I made this for my Granny to hang on her door. This was super easy and a lot of fun to make. Wood letter, pearl white acrylic paint, red and green yarn, red ribbon, green bells, and a hot glue gun! Simple!

This is a picture of my son when he was about 2 and a half. One of my favorites! Not quite as simple but not terribly hard. Very time consuming though. Wood, sander, tissue paper, Modge Podge, laser printer, and paint. I was going to give this as a gift to a family member but when it was all said and done, I was in love with it and couldn't let go of it. So I gifted myself! Thanks self!

 Here's the finished project. Sorry, these were taken with my phone.

I made this for my Dad. This is him and my son when my son was about 2 and a half. I used all the same materials and techniques as in the above picture. My dad loved it and asked me if a local artist had done it. I was shocked! My husband jumped in and said that I had created it. My dad told me I should take this up. He actually walked around to everyone and was showing them and bragging on me. I couldn't believe it! Oh, can you see the wood through the picture...I love this about it. If anyone wants to know how to make these, let me know...I would love to share!

23 Weeks Post-Op (Quick Update and Me Talking to Talk)

Hi all! This week has been the coldest week so far this fall...or soon to be winter. I'm so excited that Christmas will be here soon even though we are no where ready for it. I hope you all are doing wonderfully!

Okay, a super quick update on my weight. I've lost another 2 lbs. since my last update about a week ago. This brings me to 196 lbs. I'm very happy about this. Hopefully it will keep falling off.

I have to say that even though this journey hasn't been the easiest...you know, with the surgery and recovery...and the getting used to all the life changes.............I feel like the weight comes off with so little effort. As ashamed as I am, I haven't exercised much and I still get to eat some junky foods that if I'd even looked at before, I would have gained 10 lbs. just for the simple look. I do still get all my protein in and I try to get all my liquid in...which most days, I do. And I don't eat junky food every single day either but when I do, I feel as if I have this high metabolism that a naturally thin person has. I'm pretty sure I don't and maybe it's just the fact that I can't stuff myself silly even after I'm stuffed (you know, going back for seconds or thirds or for that matter, eating whatever it is all day long). And possibly because my appetite is almost nonexistent .... and when I do want something that's high carb, high calorie, high fat, and no protein, I'm satisfied with only a very small portion....especially compared to what I used to eat or drink. I don't have to tell myself that I need to stop...I just really and truly have no desire to eat another bite. I love this about the sleeve! I don't really know why I'm going on and on about this except to say that the sleeve is so wonderful and unlike any kind of diet I've ever done in my life. Oh wait a minute, this isn't a diet and doesn't feel like it either. Maybe that's why I love my sleeve so much! If I ever needed or if I could ever have it done again, knowing what I know now, I'd do the surgery again in a heart beat. I wouldn't think twice and I wouldn't worry like I did the first time. I would be begging the doctor to do it right away. And I don't think I'd have the buyer's remorse the second time around like I did the in the first month after surgery this time around. I'll stop with all that....REALLY, like I'll ever need it done again! Ha! lol I heart my sleeve!!!

And just to mention it, I don't have any left over problems that some surgeries have. I have no malabsorption problems, I have no food restrictions (except maybe raw celery...I think that's one that I can pass on...and maybe raw coconut...not something I eat much of anyways), no twinges or pains....really nothing. I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!!