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Introduction Text Since 2009, when my sister-in-law died suddenly at the age of 41, I had made several attempts to lose weight through diet and exercise. SparkPeople was a HUGE help to me during those journeys, providing me with the tools I needed to track food and exercise, as well as a loving and supportive community. Unfortunately, like the vast majority of people who struggle with the disease of obesity, I eventually regained the weight I had lost. In the spring of 2014, I was on vacation with my husband and parents in Gatlinburg, TN. We went to an amusement park, Dollywood, and I was faced with a humiliating reality check. My husband wanted to go on the roller coasters. At each ride, they have a dummy seat set up in front of the entrance so you can test the seat before getting in line. At ride after ride, I tried the seat and couldn't fit. I encouraged my husband to just ride the coasters without me, but he didn't want to go alone, so we BOTH missed out. I felt ashamed at how huge I had once again become. I felt guilty for depriving my husband of fun. It was an all-around awful experience. Fast forward a little to 4th of July of that year. I was back up to 260 pounds. Only 10 pounds below my all time highest weight. I decided that once I got home from a trip to my parents' for the Holiday, I would really buckle down and work on losing weight again. However, there was this looming shadow of feeling like even if I did lose the weight all over again, I would only gain it back eventually like I had every other time. So I decided to look into weight loss surgery. Not as a means of weight loss, but as a means of weight maintenance. I originally looked into lap-band, because I felt that gastric bypass was "too extreme" for me. My research into lap-band led me to a newer procedure I knew nothing about called Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). This option REALLY appealed to me. I felt like it was superior to lap-band because it didn't require a foreign object inside your body forever. There was no risk of erosion and slippage like with lap-band. There was no need for constant fills and un-fills. And it was a permanent solution. On September 1, 2015 I had my gastric sleeve surgery performed with Dr. Ariel Ortiz at Obesity Control Center, a world renowned surgeon in Tijuana, Mexico. I am now over a year post-op. I reached my goal weight of 165 pounds just before my one year surgiversary and I have been maintaining that weight for over four months. I've decided to return to SparkPeople as I continue to work to maintain my weight so that I can be accountable, track my exercise, and share my experience with this great community! Below are the old home pages from my past two Spark Journeys. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Take Three! Well, here we go again. It's been over a year since I made my second attempt at losing weight on SparkPeople and that time I didn't make it very far. Looking back on my posts, it looks like I managed to lose a little over 25 pounds in 4 months. Not bad! Unfortunately I gained all of that back and then some. As of this morning, I'm back up to 241 pounds. That means I've regained 61 of the 90 pounds I lost on my first Spark Journey and that is simply unacceptable. I can't go on like I've been going and regain ALL the weight, so I'm starting over again and hoping once again that I can finally reach my goal weight of 155 pounds. Start - April 30, 2013 Weight: 241.0 Week 1 - May 7, 2013 - 236.6 pounds (-4.4) Week 2 - May 14, 2013 - 235.0 pounds (-1.6) Week 3 - May 21, 2013 - 233.2 pounds (-1.8) Week 4 - May 28, 2013 - 230.4 pounds (-2.8) Month 1 - May 30, 2013 Weight: 230.4 (-10.6) Week 5 - June 4, 2013 - 229.0 pounds (-1.4) Week 6 - June 11, 2013 - 226.8 pounds (-2.2) Week 7 - June 18, 2013 - 224.4 pounds (-2.4) Week 8 - June 25, 2013 - 222.4 pounds (-2.0) Month 2 - June 30, 2013 Weight: 220.6 (-9.8 this month, -20.4 total) Week 9 - July 2, 2013 - 220.0 pounds (-2.4) Week 10 - July 9, 2013 - 218.6 pounds (-1.4) Week 11 - July 16, 2013 - 217.6 pounds (-1.0) Week 12 - July 23, 2013 - 215.2 pounds (-2.4) Week 13 - July 30, 2013 - 212.0 pounds (-3.2) Month 3 - July 30, 2013 Weight: 212.0 (-8.6 this month, - 29.0 total) Week 14 - August 6, 2013 - 210.4 pounds (-1.6) Week 15 - August 13, 2013 - 210.0 pounds (-0.4) Week 16 - August 20, 2013 - 215.0 pounds (+5.0) Week 17 - August 27, 2013 - 208.8 pounds (-6.2) Month 4 - August 30, 2013 Weight: 207.4 (-4.6 this month, -33.6 total) Week 18 - September 3, 2013 - 207.0 pounds (-1.8) Week 19 - September 10, 2013 - 205.4 pounds (-1.6) Week 20 - September 17, 2013 - 202.6 pounds (-2.8) Week 21 - September 24, 2013 - 200.6 pounds (-2.0) Month 5 - September 30, 2013 Weight: 198.6 (-8.8 this month, -42.2 total) Week 22 - October 1, 2013 - 198.6 pounds (-2.0) Week 23 - October 8, 2013 - 200.4 pounds (+1.8)* Week 24 - October 15, 2013 - ???? Week 25 - October 22, 2013 - 202.2 pounds (+1.8) *broke my elbow, lots of emotional eating! ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Second Attempt: Alright, some of you may remember me! During the period of November 23, 2009 to August 2, 2011 I lost 90 pounds with SparkPeople. You can see all my old info further down the page. I began at 270 pounds and ended up at 180. On August 2, 2011, I had extensive cosmetic surgery that resulted in lower back issues that persisted for about 6 months. During that time, I could not exercise and I became very lax about my eating. This resulted in a fairly huge weight gain, of which I am not proud. However, with my back problems behind me, I am finally ready to start working hard to lose back the weight I gained and make it down to my goal weight of 155 pounds! I did this once and I know I can do it again with determination and the help of SparkPeople and my old and new SparkFriends! Start - April 16, 2012 Weight: 231.8 Week 1 - April 23, 2012 - 227.2 pounds (-4.6) Week 2 - April 30, 2012 - 224.6 pounds (-2.6) Week 3 - May 7, 2012 - 222.8 pounds (-1.8) Week 4 - May 14, 2012 - 221.6 pounds (-1.2) Month 1 - May 16, 2012 Weight: 221.6 (-10.2) Week 5 - May 21, 2012 - 220.4 pounds (-1.2) Week 6 - May 28, 2012 - 219.6 pounds (-0.8) Week 7 - June 4, 2012 - 217.0 pounds (-2.6) Week 8 - June 11, 2012 - 216.0 pounds (-1.0) Month 2 - June 16, 2012 Weight: 214.8 (-6.8 this month, -17.0 total) Week 9 - June 18, 2012 - 213.0 pounds (-3.0) Week 10 - June 25, 2012 - 212.8 pounds (-0.2) Week 11 - July 2, 2012 - 211.0 pounds (-1.8) Week 12 - July 9, 2012 - 209.4 pounds (-1.6) Week 13 - July 16, 2012 - 208.4 pounds (-1.0) Month 3 - July 16, 2012 Weight: 208.4 (-6.4 this month, -23.4 total) Week 14 - July 23, 2012 - 210.6 pounds (+2.2) Week 15 - July 30, 2012 - 207.8 pounds (-2.8) Week 16 - August 6, 2012 - 206.6 pounds (-1.2) Week 17 - August 13, 2012 - 205.4 pounds (-1.2) Month 4 - August 16, 2012 Weight: 205.4 (-3.0 this month, -26.4 total) Week 18 - August 20, 2012 - 207.6 pounds (+2.2) ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Old SparkPage Info: On November 7, 2009 my sister-in-law died suddenly at the age of 41. She and my brother had been married over 20 years and she had been a part of my life as long as I could remember. They got married when I was in the fifth grade and she had lived with us before that. We still don't know what caused her respiratory failure, but she had been overweight/obese most of her life. It's hard not to assume that her weight contributed to her death. Becky's death was a wake-up call for me on many levels. First is the obvious, that we should not take our health for granted. Second was that she and my brother had never had any children. My fiance, Dan, and I had decided a couple years ago that we didn't want any children either. But when Becky died, my brother immediately regretted not having kids with her. That caused Dan and I to reconsider our decision as well. However, I am in no condition to have children now, being morbidly obese. So before we can seriously consider having kids of our own, if that's what we ultimately decide to do, I need to get healthy. I'm getting healthy for myself, for Dan, for our potential future children, and for Becky. But most importantly, I am getting healthy so that my family doesn't have to experience the horrible pain of losing a daughter/sister all over again. Start - November 23, 2009 Weight: 270 Inches: 157.5 total Week 1 - November 30, 2009 - 265.5 pounds (-4.5) Week 2 - December 7, 2009 - 262.4 pounds (-3.1)* Week 3 - December 14, 2009 - 260.8 pounds (-1.4) Week 4 - December 21, 2009 - 259.2 pounds (-1.6) Month 1 - December 23, 2009 Weight: 259.2 (-10.8) Inches: 151.5 total (-6) Week 5 - December 28, 2009 - 256.8 (-2.4) Week 6 - January 4, 2010 - 254.8 (-2.0) Week 7 - January 11, 2010 - 253.6 (-1.2) Week 8 - January 18, 2010 - 252.6 (-1.0) Month 2 - January 23, 2010 Weight: 252.2 (-7.0 this month, -17.8 total) Inches: 148.5 total (-3 this month, -9 total) Week 9 - January 25, 2010 - 251.6 (-1.0) Week 10 - February 1, 2010 - 250.0 (-1.6) Week 11 - February 8, 2010 - 248.0 (-2.0) Week 12 - February 15, 2010 - 244.8 (-3.2) Week 13 - February 22, 2010 - 244.2 (-0.6) Month 3 - February 23, 2010 Weight: 244.2 (-8.0 this month, -25.8 total) Inches: 143.25 total (-5.25 this month, -14.25 total) Week 14 - March 1, 2010 - 244.0 (-0.2) Week 15 - March 8, 2010 - 236.6 (-7.4)** Week 16 - March 15, 2010 - 236.2 (-0.4) Week 17 - March 22, 2010 - 233.8 (-2.4) Month 4 - March 23, 2010 Weight: 233.2 (-11.0 this month, -36.8 total) Inches: 136.5 (-6.75 this month, -21 total) Week 18 - March 29, 2010 - 232.4 (-1.4) Week 19 - April 5, 2010 - 228.8 (-3.6) Week 20 - April 12, 2010 - 226.8 (-2.0) Week 21 - April 19, 2010 - 227.8 (+1.0) Month 5 - April 23, 2010 Weight: 227.2 (-5.0 this month, -42.8 total) Inches: 135.25 (-1.25 this month, -22.25 total) Week 22 - April 26, 2010 - 226.4 (-1.4) Week 23 - May 3, 2010 - 224.6 (-1.8) Week 24 - May 10, 2010 - 222.8 (-1.8) Week 25 - May 17, 2010 - 222.2 (-0.6) Month 6 - May 23, 2010 Weight: 220.6 (-6.6 this month, -49.4 total) Inches: 133.75 (-1.5 this month, -23.75 total) Week 26 - May 24, 2010 - 220.4 (-1.8) Week 27 - May 31, 2010 - 219.0 (-1.4) Week 28 - June 7, 2010 - 218.0 (-1.0) Week 29 - June 14, 2010 - 216.6 (-1.4) Week 30 - June 21, 2010 - 214.8 (-1.8) Month 7 - June 23, 2010 Weight: 214.8 (-5.8 this month, -55.2 total) Inches: 133.25 (-0.5 this month, -24.25 total) Week 31 - June 28, 2010 - 214.4 (-0.4) Week 32 - July 5, 2010 - 211.6 (-2.8) Week 33 - July 12, 2010 - 210.4 (-1.2) Week 34 - July 19, 2010 - 208.4 (-2.0) Month 8 - July 23, 2010 Weight: 208.4 (-6.4 this month, -61.6 total) Inches: 130.5 (-2.75 this month, -27 total) Week 35 - July 26, 2010 - 207.6 (-0.8) Week 36 - August 2, 2010 - 204.8 (-2.8) Week 37 - August 9, 2010 - 202.8 (-2.0) Week 38 - August 16, 2010 - 201.2 (-1.6) Week 39 - August 23, 2010 - 199.6 (-1.6) Month 9 - August 23, 2010 Weight: 199.6 (-8.8 this month, -70.4 total) Inches: 127.25 (-3.25 this month, -30.25 total) Week 40 - August 30, 2010 - 198.0 (-1.6) Week 41 - September 6, 2010 - 197.2 (-0.8) Week 42 - September 13, 2010 - 197.0 (-0.2) Week 43 - September 20, 2010 - 195.2 (-1.8) Month 10 - September 23, 2010 Weight: 195.2 (-4.4 this month, -74.8 total) Inches: 126.0 (-1.25 this month, -31.5 total) Week 44 - September 27, 2010 - 192.2 (-3.0) Week 45 - October 4, 2010 - 190.0 (-2.2) Week 46 - October 11, 2010 - 187.2 (-2.8) Week 47 - October18, 2010 - 186.6 (-0.6) Month 11 - October 23, 2010 Weight: 186.6 (-8.6 this month, -83.4 total) Inches: 122.5 (-3.5 this month, -35.0 total) Week 48 - October 25, 2010 - 186.0 (-0.6) Week 49 - November 1, 2010 - 184.2 (-1.8) Week 50 - November 8, 2010 - 183.8 (-0.4) Week 51 - November 15, 2010 - 182.2 (-1.6) Week 52 - November 22, 2010 - 179.4 (-2.8) Month 12 - November 23, 2010 Weight: 179.4 (-7.2 this month, -90.6 total) Inches: 121.25 (-1.25 this month, -36.25 total) Week 53 - November 29, 2010 - 178.6 (-0.8) Week 54 - December 6, 2010 - 178.2 (-0.4) Week 55 - December 13, 2010 - 180.6 (+2.4) Week 56 - December 20, 2010 - 177.0 (-3.6) Month 13 - December 23, 2010 Weight: 177.0 (-2.4 this month, -93 total) Week 57 - December 27, 2010 - 177.4 (+0.4) Week 58 - January 3, 2011 - 177.4 (0.0) Week 59 - January 10, 2011 - 175.6 (-1.8) Week 60 - January 17, 2011 - 177.6 (+2.0) Month 14 - January 23, 2011 Weight: 181.4 (+4.4 this month, -88.6 total) Week 61 - January 24, 2011 - 181.4 (+3.8) Week 62 - January 31, 2011 - 181.6 (+0.2) Week 63 - February 7, 2011 - 182.4 (+0.8) Week 64 - February 14, 2011 - 182.8 (+0.4) Week 65 - February 21, 2011 - 177.4 (-5.4) Month 15 - February 23, 2011 Weight: 177.4 (-4.0 this month, -92.6 total) Inches: 119.75 (-37.75 total) Week 66 - February 28, 2011 - 177.4 (0.0) Week 67 - March 7, 2011 - 177.4 (0.0) Week 68 - March 14, 2011 - 177.2 (-0.2) Week 69 - March 21, 2011 - 182.6 (+5.4) Month 16 - March 23, 2011 Weight: 182.6 (+5.2 this month, -87.4 total) Week 70 - March 28, 2011 - 185.8 (+3.2) Week 71 - April 4, 2011 - 185.4 (-0.4) Week 72 - April 11, 2011 - 185.6 (+0.2) Week 73 - April 18, 2011 - 181.6 (-4.0) Month 17 - April 23, 2011 Weight: 181.2 (-1.4 this month, -88.8 total) Inches: 120.00 (-38.00 total) Week 74 - April 25, 2011 - 182.2 (+0.6) Week 75 - May 2, 2011 - 179.8 (-2.4) Week 76 - May 9, 2011 - 176.8 (-3.0) Week 77 - May 16, 2011 - 178.0 (+1.2) Week 78 - May 23, 2011 - 187.8 (+9.8) Month 18 - May 23, 2011 Weight: 187.8 (+6.6 this month, -82.2 total) Week 79 - May 30, 2011 - 185.0 (-2.8) Week 80 - June 6, 2011 - 185.6 (+0.6) Week 81 - June 13, 2011 - 182.8 (-2.8) Week 82 - June 20, 2011 - 181.8 (-1.0) Month 19 - June 23, 2011 Weight: 181.8 (-6.0 this month, -88.2 total) Week 83 - June 27, 2011 - 181.8 (0.0) Week 84 - July 4, 2011 - 180.6 (-1.2) Week 85 - July 11, 2011 - 176.8 (-3.8) Week 86 - July 18, 2011 - 176.2 (-0.6) Month 20 - July 23, 2011 Weight: 180.4 (-1.4 this month, -89.6 total) Week 87 - July 25, 2011 - 180.4 (+4.2) *The week of December 7 I used a new scale for my official weigh-in. The old scale only showed a loss of 1.5-2 pounds. **The first week of March I was sick with a very nasty head cold.

Maintain my goal weight of 165 pounds.

Hope to get back to working out regularly, starting with a return to C25k. I want to run races again starting in the Spring.



Challenges: Dec. 31, 2009 - EA Active 30-Day Challenge **Completed Jan. 29, 2010** January 30, 2010 - Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred **Completed Feb. 28, 2010** April 20, 2012 - Couch to 5k **Competed June 30, 2012** Races: Meghan's Run - 5k April 30, 2011 Finish - 35:21 Lilak 5k May 22, 2011 Finish - 35:35 Corporate Challenge - 3.5 mile May 24, 2011 Finish - 44:57 Fast & The Furriest - 5k June 11, 2011 Finish - 35:21 Airport 5k June 18, 2011 Finish - 35:00 10 Ugly Men - 5k July 23, 2011 Finish - 38:28 Brighton 5k July 4, 2012 Finish - 42:20 "The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!"

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