Weight Loss Update

I cannot believe it has been a month since I have last given an update on “Becoming A Healthier Me”. 

Have you ever had one of those months where you seem to be going in different directions and just cannot get your mind to concentrate on one thing for longer than 10 minutes?  Well that seems to be me on a regular basis!  That’s what happens when you have adult ADD….

The weight loss for 2 months since the gastric bypass surgery is 40 lbs.  Total weight loss since January 2013 is 90 lbs.  I am now on my permanent daily diet where I can eat not just protein but also some veggies, fruit and some starch/grains.  It’s still difficult trying to get my entire daily food intake, but I’m okay.  I take my children’s Flintstone’s Multi Vitamins with Iron 2 x a day, and Calcium Citrate, and Vitamin D every day.  Every two months I get a B-12 shot as well.  

I was hoping to begin Water Aerobics this week at our local High School’s indoor pool, but the instructor quit and now the school district has to find another instructor.  So pray they find one quick so I can get into the water and exercise.  I love the water! It is so forgiving on the joints. 

With the weight loss I am walking/standing more around the house.  But a catch 22 – since my knee is damaged (from 3 years ago) and needs surgery (when weight is off) I am in more pain because I am not supposed to bear weight on my knee.  So this is a bit discouraging because I know that walking is one of the best exercises I could do but I cannot due to my damaged knee.  I have been cleared to do abdominal exercises so hopefully I can firm up all this loose skin – With so much weight to loose and my age I suppose I will one day be a “skinny” saggy skin old lady!  HAHA!  

Unfortunately, fibromyalgia and arthritis is no respecter of persons so they continue to cause me difficulty as well.  But my stamina is better with the weight loss so that is good too.  

The average weight loss with gastric bypass is 20 lbs a month, so I am right on target – not bad for someone who cannot walk for exercise, but I know it will slow down if I do not increase my activity so please pray the school district will hire a new instructor for water aerobics.  The have a good group of people who participate twice a week so there is a need (each person pays $3.00 each class, so it would pay for the instructor).  

Of course I could not succeed without your continued prayers.  They are truly heartfelt and I appreciate each of my prayer warriors.  God Bless You All!  

Click chart below to view full photo chart

So many blessings – I’m doing the “happy dance”!

 

First, an update on my weight loss journey:

On Friday, March 29^th I had a 5 ½ hour medical evaluation at the Geisinger Medical Center Bariatric Program.  Together with the medical evaluation, Jim and I are also participating in a research study on how bariatric surgery affects family members.   I am also participating in a research program regarding genetics and liver/metabolic diseases.  So many tests, procedures, surveys etc….   Jim and I had to fast for 12 hours then we had to drink “special” water then continue not to eat or drink for 5 more hours!  Yes people – that is 17 hours!!  Needless to say we were extremely tired and a bit weak.  But we did it! 

Now here is a prayer request:  If I lose another 10 lbs by April 19^th I should be right on schedule to have surgery in June! 

I had been on a stand still for about 6 weeks in regards to my weight loss so the dietitian suggested I substitute a protein drink for 2 meals.  Oh, thank you!  The scale is finally moving once again!  So breakfast and lunch are protein drinks and then a healthy meal for dinner (mostly a protein and salad). 

Now for some awesome and exciting answer to prayers! 

Jehovah-Jireh - God has provided:

1)      Prayer Request: I had mentioned on facebook that our living room floors have needed to be replaced ever since we moved into our mobile home.  The company we purchased the mobile home said they would fix the floors when spring came around; well two years later and the floor is still not fixed and worse than before.  I mean floors caving in and having to cover the floors with thick plywood so we don’t fall through!  The company will not do the work – partly our fault we did not have it put in writing before we purchased the home.

Answer:  A group of men from our church will fix and replace our floor!  They will also fix and secure our ramp coming into our home and hopefully connect an outside faucet so we can water our outdoor plants.  For 2 years we have had to fill up jugs from the bathtub and go in and out of the house to water our plants. 

2)      Prayer Request:  Our 1995 car gave up the ghost. 

Answer:  Through generous donations the Lord has provided Jim and I a 2002 Mercury Villager Minivan (under 73,000 miles).  

So praise the Lord for his gracious blessings!

JEHOVAH RAPHA - The Lord our Healer

1) Jim - Surgery hopefully 3rd or 4th week of April: pray it WILL help him and not get worse.  Surgeon said that if Jim does not have the surgery that he will be in a wheelchair in 3 to 4 years - if he has the surgery he has a 50 % chance of being worse.  So it's either 100% of getting worse or 50 % - So Jim will have the surgery.   He will wear a back brace for quite a while after surgery and have physical therapy too.  Will NEVER be able to take stairs again.  A few steps but no more stairs.   Life for Jim has changed completely since last year.  Pray for Jim as he continues to learn to ask for assistance as well as learn to live with his various challenges. 

2) Me -  My psychiatric evaluation for surgery is today, Wed, April 3rd.  Then on April 19th I meet again with nutritionist. I am to be 10 lbs down by then to get the green light for surgery.  Then in May I meet with the surgeon (which they-Geisinger Hospital will give me the most experienced surgeon). Surgery hopefully scheduled for June.  May 3rd I have 3 more appts too.   All appointments are and tests are for the surgery.

Our God is good... all the time.  We are humbled and blessed by His marvelous grace, mercy and love each day.  Thank you for your continued prayers.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”   Psalm 28:7

What Character Trait Do You Need to Develop?

Each week in the study, Winning the Battle of the Bulge,It’s Not Just About the Weight, the author, Mary Englund Murphy, suggests we pray and ask the Lord to reveal a character trait that we need to develop.  Well, I’m in the fourth week in the study and each week the Lord reveals the same character quality! It’s sad but funny – One of my character traits that I need to develop is to be CONSISTENT. Well Lord at least I’m CONSISTENT with something!  Alright, I guess being consistent in NOT developing this character does not qualify.

I looked up the definition of CONSISTENT –Possessing firmness or coherence; Marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity: free from variation or contradiction; marked by agreement; showing steady conformity to character.  Constantly adhering to the same principles, course, and form.  

Wow, that just hit the nail on the head?  I tend to find it difficult to stay on course –steady as she goes.  I seem to be more like the hare in a race when I start something.  I’m all gun-ho- full speed ahead until I lose fuel or desire to forge ahead no matter the cost – then I quit! Instead of the hare, I need to be more like the tortoise, keeping myself on a pace that I can continue for the long run.  This battle is a lifelong battle – one that needs consistency – looking ahead and not behind.  There may be others who will reach their goals ahead of me – but I must not lose hope.  If I just keep my focus on my Lord, and the final finish line, I WILL obtain my goals.

At the beginning of any diet, the first 20 lbs. come off extremely fast for me.  It’s my body adjusting to the change in eating habits, but after the first 20 lbs. the rest comes off so slowly that I become overwhelmed when I consider how much weight I still have to lose.   I need to stop focusing on how many pounds I have to lose and just focus on one day at a time – one pound at a time.  Becoming a Healthier ME! 

It’s a daily struggle.  I have a form of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).  My mind wonders in every direction with so many thoughts and ideas.  I had a counselor several years back that would tell me (in his strong India accent), “Michele, you need to focus”.   I would reply, “That’s easier said than done!” It’s so hard to stay focus, especially if what I am doing is slow, tedious and “seemingly” non- productive.    I need to remember that not everything comes along quickly.  This weight did not come on overnight – and it will not come off overnight either!  I must commit every part of my life to the Lord; resist the devil and his tactics that would tempt me to run off course. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Lord, I know that this battle of the bulge is more than just weight.  Reveal to me every weight that is slowing me down to become a Healthier Me; especially the sin that easily trips me up and entice me to run off course or even quit.  Lord, this battle is a lifelong battle – May I be consistent and run with endurance to the finish line!

What character trait do you need to develop and why do you need to develop this quality? 

Weigh-In-Wednesday – I’m Singing the Blues

 

I have been a little “down”; “blah”, “blue”….  I don’t know if it is because the sun has not come out in days, or that I have been stuck in the house for over 10 days straight; either way I have been “singing the blues” this week.  I continue to study God’s Word and pray each day; I take my medications and my vitamins; I’ve maintained the amount of calories I am to eat each day (minus Monday when I went over by 200 calories). Yet I’m still singing the “blues”.  Have you had any days or weeks like that too? 

I can hear the Lord right now, “Michele, you are making progress – be patient, stay strong, don’t lose heart – I am with you always – We are in this together – one step at time – steady on – you are winning the battle of the bulge one day at a time – one pound at a time.”   Again, the Lord reminds me of this week’s memory verse:  “Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart.”  Psalm 10:17.  Yes, Lord, you are preparing my heart for this lifelong battle. 

Once again I hear the Lord as He reminds me of today’s Scripture Study:  “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1,2. 

The Lord has been preparing my heart; I am in His boot camp right now as He gives me the tools I need for the life-long battle that is before me.  There is more than physical weight that has been holding me back in the race; day by day my Lord is helping me to lay aside every weight – every sin that so easily besets me.  He is also instructing me with a word He has been teaching me for years – patience!  I am to run this race – fight this battle with patience .  One day at a time – one pound at a time – all the while looking to my precious Lord and Savior – the author and finisher of my faith; the author and finisher of my battle of the bulge. 

Dear gracious Heavenly Father, I thank you for your Word –Sometimes it cuts me like a two edged sword, but I know that you are just trying to teach me – prepare me for this lifelong battle.  I know that as I continue to lose every weight and every sin that besets me, I am closer to the finish line.  I thank you heavenly Father for the 20 lbs I have lost so far.  I know I have to work hard and be patient as I continue my battle.  It won’t be long before I can walk again without great pain and without a wheelchair.  In the meantime, may I remember that You are preparing my heart - my mind – my body for what is ahead of me.  In Jesus precious name, Amen.