Mmmmmmm steak

Early post-op when I was first learning to re-eat meats... I tried steak.  Sadly, it did not settle well in my pouch and it ended up in the toilet.  It just felt so heavy in my stomach and it physically hurt.  I knew then that I'd probably not be able to tollerate steak again.  Seriously, I was devestated.  I love a really good, medium rare, juice, sirlon steak.  Oh... with lots of garic.  Yes please.  So, I cried at this revelation and moved on. 

About a month ago, my family and I went out for dinner to a steak restaurant and I ordered a steak.  I had been doing well at 7 months out with solid foods... eating slow... and keeping things down and thought I'd give it a whirl.  Worst case scenario: I end up in the bathroom before the night was over. 

I get my steak, cut into the juicy tenderness and take a bite.  I am reminded right away why I love steak so much.   And now, if this can stay down.... it's so high in protein, I would want to eat steak all the time!  

Chew... chew... chew.... chew.... seriously, I spent a minute at least chewing the first bite of steak.  Swallow.  Then wait.  

Wait some more... then, it hits me!  My tummy isn't freaking out.  Let's try another piece!  This went on for a good 45 minutes.  Bite, chew, chew, chew, swallow, wait... until I had eaten about 5oz of steak.  

Not once did my stomach feel upset.  Not once did I feel like I had over ate.  Not once did my stomach feel anything but good!!  Horrray! Had I hopped over this hurdle of not being able to try steak?  I sure hoped so!! Steak is so high in protein and so delicious! 

I decided I needed to test out eating steak again and again.  So far, I've had it three times in the last month or so and each time.... I eat about 5-6 oz over an hour or so and I keep it all down...  no pain! 

I am so darn excited about this!!! Last night my hubby and I went out to The Keg and I really ate almost 1/2 a 12oz steak plus some veggies!!  

Yay for steak!!!!! Yay for my pouch being able to handle it!!! 

Bras and Boobs

Ok men... you might want to stop reading, cause this one is more of a post the ladies can relate with!! haha

Bras and Boobs!

So, back when I was fat (ha! I love saying that!) and weighed 325lbs... I was a 44C... probably even a 46, but I wouldn't let myself buy that big of a bra. I had a really hard time finding bras that weren't expensive, that were cute and that fit.  I really only had one choice of where to get bras.... Lane Bryant.  Torrid had some, but they always ran a little too small for me.  Lane Bryant bras ran about $35-50 each and sometimes had sales... so I'd get two during their buy one get one half off.

Back in September... I decided it was time to buy new bras.  So, I went to the only place I knew... Lane Bryant... and got sized.  40D.  Huh?  D?  Seriously? I just lost 80lbs... how did my boobs get bigger?  I had the lady measure again and yup... my boobs were BIGGER!!  When I stopped to think about it... it kinda made sense, right?  My body got smaller around, making my cup size bigger?? Or maybe more of what it truly was?? Ugh.   I don't know. So, I bought two new bras for A LOT of money in size 40D.  Fine.  I have bigger boobs.  Whatever.

Yesterday,  my friend Desi took me to Ross to shop for bras.  Ross, I thought, really? They don't have anything that will fit me?  Oh... I was wrong.  They had bras.  TONS of them.  And... get this... for only $5.99!!!  What? GET OUT OF TOWN!!!! Hells yes!!!

Ok, so I'm in the fitting room and I get to tryin' on some of these super cute bras.  38D.  Yup.... got even smaller.  I'm in the land of the 30's now! YEEEAHHHOOOOOO!!!  I even tried on some 38C's but really my boobs just don't fit into them.   So.... D cup I am!  And a 38 at that!  Hecks yeah!!

I don't know if I've ever been a 38 as an adult.  Maybe back in high school... I don't really remember what size I wore back then.  But even then, I was a size 18/20 and now I'm a 14... so I couldn't have been a 38.

So, here they are... my new $5.99 bras.  Great price... even better size.

PS.  Tomorrow is my birthday and I'm going back to the same restaurant that I went to last year and that all my "before" pictures are from.  Yeah, that's me at my highest weight up there in the black and white dress... 325lbs.  I bought a new dress and plan to take some new pictures for a big "One Year Later" blog post!!! Can't wait!!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 202lbs
Total weight loss: 123bs
Weight loss since surgery: 112lbs

Inches!

I have begun to slow down in my weight loss... which is completly normal and typical.  I'm just over six month in and have lost the bulk of my weight.  Now... the long hard road to lose the last of my weight begins.  Exercise, eating right and really focusing is what I'll need to get to my goal!

With that said... since the pounds aren't shedding off as much... I thought I'd measure myself to see if the inches were still coming off.  And I'm happy to report that they are!!

I'm at a total of 59.75 inches lost!  Here's my inches chart so we can take a look back at my progression.  Click on it to make it big enough to read.

You can see that I've continued to lose those inches!!!  Most drastically in my midsection... thank goodness!  Cause that's where most of my weight still is.  

I've got a few more pounds until I hit my next goal of 199lbs... so until then, I won't be posting any before & after pictures.  I want that big milestone to be a big surprise! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 208lbs
Total weight loss: 117lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 106lbs

An update of photos...

Well, I don't have much new to say... other than HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!  11 years ago she was born and I'm happy to report I weigh less than I did even before I got pregnant with her!! Yay!

Anyhoo... I do however have some recent photos to share!  As of this morning I'm down 109lbs and am feeling fabulous!  Another 17lbs until I reach my main goal of being under 200lbs! I wonder if I can do that before we move... I think that'd be awesome.  I should probably stop sneaking Christmas cookies though for that to happen.  haha

Oh... tomorrow, I go in for my 6 month check-up with my surgeon.  I get to find out how my vitamin levels are doing, protein levels, etc are.  Also, I'm going to ask him for a referral to a surgeon in Germany AND when I can start thinking about the full body lift to get rid of all this extra skin!! :) Yay!!

On to the pictures!

I'm all dressed up in my new outfit (yes, that's a waist I have!! hehe), make up done at Sephora, hair all cute.... looking fantabulous!! And really... .feeling even better! 

This is me and my best friend Desi of almost 20 years! We met the summer before high school started and now she lives just a few minutes away from me!  This picture was taken last night before we left for a party! Aren't we sexy? 

My handsome husband :)  We look so cute together! 

This is me and Jen on my birthday in Feb. 2010. 

This is me and Jen last night.  WOW! Big difference! 

And cause it's her birthday... an extra picture of me and my babygirl Emme  from last night! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 216lbs
Total weight loss: 109lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 98lbs

100 POUNDS!!!!

I finally made it to 100lbs lost!  Actually, when I stepped on the scale this morning, it was 101lbs!  Even better! :) These last 4 lbs have come off so slow.  I'd been hovering around 97-99lbs lost for about 2 1/2 weeks and then BAM I'm at 101.  Thank goodness!! Finally across that 100lbs mark!

I made two before & after pictures for this big milestone.  The first with the "before" pic I've used for all the others and then another pic I found from the summer of 2008.

I was looking in the mirror tonight and my husband comes in.  I was standing up straight and noticing how flat my tummy was getting and how much thinner my midsection is.  He said, "GOD DAMN!" in that loud, surprised, I wanna do my wife right now kinda voice!! hehe It was the best compliment ever!

Still figuring out how to get in enough calories, enough protein and keep the sugar and fat intake to a minimum. It's SO HARD to do!  But, I'm only 4 1/2 months out and I'm still learning how to do this!

Another 25 lbs and I'll be under 200lbs!  I can't wait for that milestone!  It's my next goal!  And then.... after that, who knows!! I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!

Oh ps... I can't wait until I get to a weight where I can have plastic surgery to get rid of all the extra skin.  I have this massive spare tire around my middle that's comprised of extra skin!  ACK!  I need to get rid of it ASAP!  I hate it!!

Went shopping this week too.  Into a size 16/18 jean.  Seriously.  I haven't been that size since 10th grade.  I went to Target and could actually shop in the normal size section!  AWESOME feeling!!! I love shopping!!

Yay for Weight Loss Surgery!!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 224lbs
Total weight loss: 101lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 90lbs

More inches melting off!

I had Dave help me take my measurements this past week.... I'm up to 45.5 inches lost!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO MAKE IT LARGER

A huge loss in my waist, hips and legs this time! SOOOOO happy about that!  That middle section is where I'm carrying all my weight right now and excess skin too.  

I'm almost to.....  I almost can't say it.... I'm almost to 100lbs lost!! So close! I can't wait to get there! Today, I'm at 91lbs lost.  :) Yay for 91lbs! 

15 October 2010

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 234bs
Total weight loss: 91bs
Weight loss since surgery: 80lbs

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Part 2

Saturday night was my first Mariners game since my surgery.  It was also my last Mariners game before we move to Germany.  It was a night full of mixed emotions... excited, happy, sad, proud, accomplished.

See, I've been going to Mariners games my entire life.  My love for baseball all started when I was little and my big brother, Robert, would take me into the street in front of our house and play catch with me.  He'd quiz me on the Mariners line ups and he'd teach me everything he knew about baseball.  Baseball was the one thing that brought me and Robert together.  Still today, it's the one thing we always have in common.

The last time I was at Safeco Field for a game, I couldn't fit comfortably in the seats.  I was cramped, the people next to me were cramped.  I sweat.  And I was just uncomfortable.  I had gone into the M's Team Shop looking for a new hoodie, but left empty handed when nothing fit me.  I was just too big for any of the cute stuff.

Dave and I arrive at The Safe and we go straight to the Team Shop.  I was down 80+ pounds and I wanted a new hoodie to commemorate my final game and my weight loss.  Walking into that store, knowing I didn't have to buy the biggest size they had, knowing I could try on anything I wanted and it would fit... well, I've never experienced a feeling quite like that before at Safeco.

I picked out this, and it's only an XL.  Not an XXL or XXXL like I used to wear.  Regular ole XL!!

We get to our seats and to my surprise, when I sat down, there was room on either side of me!  I fit!! And what was even more amazing, I could cross my legs!  What? YES!! Cross my legs!!

(On a side note:  Crossing my legs is my new favorite thing.  When I was fatter, there was no way my big ole legs could be crossed.  So now that I can do, I do it all the time!!  There is just something about crossing my legs that makes me feel more like a woman, more feminine.)

So, I got a new jacket and I fit in the seats.  A M A Z I N G feelings both of those things were.

The night ended with me in tears.  Safeco, the Kingdome and the Seattle Mariners have been a  part of my summer my whole life.  As I stood at the top of the stairs, looking down onto the glory that is the Mariners... I cried.  All the memories, joy, laughter that was had in this amazing place will be cherished in my heart forever.   I even got engaged there (on the center field scoreboard!!!).  I'm getting choked up now just thinking about how much I'm going to miss Seattle baseball.

Good news though... I'm still losing weight and victories like these are being had all the time!  Weight loss is amazing and I'm so happy with my progress!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 241bs
Total weight loss: 84bs
Weight loss since surgery: 73bs

75 POUNDS!

So, it's been a minute since I've written on Skinny Betsy... but, I've been a little preoccupied!  Now that things have settled down a bit,  I have more time to get back to writing.

First things first... I hit 75 POUNDS lost today!!  I stepped on the scale this morning and I was like WOO HOOOOO I can't believe it! I kept saying outloud to myself and my husband, "I lost 75lbs! I lost 75lbs! I lost 75lbs!"  It's like I had to say it to myself over and over before I really believed it.  I am becoming a different person, inside and out and sometimes... it's just hard to believe!

Here's a pic from last week... not quite 75lbs yet, but close!

Dave and I are going to start walking together... which I'm really looking forward to! And... we're getting a stationary bike from a family friend.  So I'm really looking forward to riding that too!  I have a goal of taking the hike down to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls before we move to Germany.  I'm hoping to do it soon!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 250lbs
Total weight loss: 75lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 64lbs

My Soldier is Home!!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

So, I've been a baseball fan since... well, as long as I could walk and talk.  As far back as I can remember, my brother has been teaching me everything I ever needed to know about the sport.  As a family... we've gone to hundreds of baseball games together!  In the last 10 years though, my weight had always hindered my ability to really fully be comfortable at the games.  I was always a little too big for the seats, was out of breath walking from the car.... those kinds of things.

Last night... everything was different.  My brother, Dad, Emily and I went to a AAA Tacoma Rainiers baseball game in Tacoma.  Here's what was amazingly different!

1. I had gotten some free jerseys from the Rainiers early in the season, they didn't fit.  But last night, MY JERSEY FIT!  A standard XL!  I was SO EXCITED and I even got compliments on it at the game!!! 
2. The walk from the car to our seats... didn't even break a sweat or huff and puff for air.  Didn't even think twice about it actually because it was so easy.  :) 
3. I almost cried when I realized this one... My ass fit in the stadium seat! With room to spare on each side! OH MY GOD!  I don't know if I can EVER remember that happening! Usually, cause we're all big people, we're smushed in those seats like sardines!  NOT THIS TIME!!! Yay!  
4. No ass sweat.  I know it's gross.  But when you're as over weight as I was... sitting for a long time in one spot, you can get sweaty, especially my ass and back.  None of that this time.  It rocked! 
5. My favorite baseball hoodie... it's almost too big.  I wore it anyways.  hehe
6. Eating peanuts = a good thing at the ball park!  I can munch on these little bad boys, get lots of protein and the good fats and feel like I'm still enjoying the best part of watching a game.  And to go along with this... I ate a couple bites of ONE piece of pizza.  Not pizza, hot dogs, garlic friends, pretzel and everything else I  usually eat.  I was able to control myself... enjoy what I did have and be okay with it! Not saying I'm never going to eat garlic fries again... cause you know, as soon as I get to The Safe...  I'll be eating at least ONE fry! hahah (It's all about moderation, baby!)
7. And overall... the whole experience was just so much more fun! It was easier to move around, I had more energy and I was just happier!  

Here's a pic from the game!  I'm only posting it cause you can't see my new hair and body.  hehe Can't spoil it for my hubby!!! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 256lbs
Total weight loss: 69lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 58lbs

10 Kick Ass Perks of Weight Loss

1. My clothes actually FIT.  
2. Cleaning out my closet means getting rid of clothes that are TOO BIG instead of too small! 
3. In the car, my belly isn't an inch from the steering wheel... it's SIX inches! 
4. The seatbelt actually has more than 2 inches of slack on it!! I can lean over to pick something up without having to take off my seatbelt too! 
5. Towels wrap around my body, completely! 
6. I don't need the detachable shower-head for those hard to reach places anymore.
7. I fit into the booths at restaurants. 
8. I don't have to buy the biggest size in the store anymore! 
9. My boobs stick out further than my belly!!! 
10. Everyday my self esteem comes back a little more! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 262lbs
Total weight loss: 63lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 52lbs

Small Victory!

I went shopping today for a cute summer shirt that actually fit me to wear to a bbq this afternoon.  I hopped over to Fashion Bug, a store where I used to wear 3x and at my highest 4x shirts.  Well today... I tried on some cute 2x shirts thinking they'd fit.  Boy was I WRONG! They were TOO BIG!  I had to goto the smallest size they had in the store... a 1x!  I almost had a moment in the dressing room when I tried it on... HOLY COW!  I went from a 4x to a 1x in 7 weeks!  I couldn't believe my eyes! I turned to the side to look at myself in the mirror and WOAH, my boobs stick out further than my stomach does.  WHAT??!?! HOLY COW!!! I'm actually seeing a dramatic change in my body and it's AWESOME!!!!!!!!

PS... I had another moment in the car after I left the store.  I really wanted to call my Mom and tell her all about it, giggle, laugh, cry and be happy together.  I miss her the most in times like these... when all I want to do is call her.

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 268lbs
Total weight loss: 57lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 46lbs

Before & After - the first 50lbs

BEFORE

February 2010 - At my highest weight 325lbs

AFTER

July 2010 - 275lbs  (50lbs lost!)

Here's a side-by-side look!