Great blog Jen! And I love the picture! You always have such a great smile in your pics! Fingers crossed you can get your iron up. My sister had issues with iron and had to have the infusions to get it up. She is doing fine now, 5 years post op. Gah! I don't think I could give up my coffee. I drink my venti nonfat latte every morning. It may take me 2 hours but it is my happy time. LOL. Hope you get it all sorted out so you can feel more like you again. I agree about the running. I love it. I find it very therapeutic. I do a lot of thinking things through when I run. What exactly does a running trainer do with you? I am curious as I have never heard of that. Do you go running together outside or do they do it on a treadmill?

Interesting post!
I'm wondering why your previous doctor was not worried about low iron. It's one of the first thing they should test!
How was your D vitamin level? I'm deficient in both and have a hard time improving my numbers even with huge dosage of supplements. We don't really know why, one issue with absorption could have been the PPI (I stopped it completely two weeks ago) or my IBS issue. Next blood test will tell if it was the PPI...
My doc (in France) was actually against infusion because of my multiple allergies. But he was horrified when he saw my numbers in June. He said it was the lowest he ever saw in his career...and he is not a Spring chicken! My results did improve a little since June but I'm still too low and sometimes feel really exhausted. Also I can feel when my iron goes down because I'm starving and start to have cravings..

Did you have a skin test for the food sensitivity? a few years ago my specialist (allergy specialist) had me tested, they used skin tests, it was positive to everything they tested.
I was told that kind of test is not always reliable so after that they did blood cultures. At that stage may be only 70% remained positive. It was still really high but better than the skin test. For example on skin I was positive to peanut, when I was not in the blood culture.
And I have issues with tomatoes but it didn't show on the skin test...
So may be in your case double checking could help to get a more precised target of what to stop in your diet.
I would be upset about the coffee too, and I don't even drink coffee everyday anymore!

Nice blog post. I love the picture of you on the floating dock; you look fantastic.

Thanks! I never thought I'd swim in the winter, but our YMCA has wonderful indoor pools! My kids love the activity pool so it's a great winter activity! I can swim laps or more often, I go to the whirlpool while they swim.

I like to swim in summertime. Have fun!

Thanks! I cut my hair short after I started losing it after surgery. And I also had more confidence to have a pixie cut.

That's great trying and enjoying new things!! And I love your short haircut! So cute!

That is awesome! Love the hashtag!

I am going zip lining this summer!
#inthweightrangenow!

Originally Posted by Christie13

I love running. (Well I used to and then got fat and stopped but now I get a do over!) I just started doing C25K again to get back into running. I am in week 2 and I am so happy to be back to running. With all the weight I have already lost it feels so much easier and more enjoyable. My goal is to run a half marathon by December. (We have the Rock and Roll marathon here in December so that is what I will be signing up for....the half.)

Yeah for do overs! I ran my first half-marathon last May and it was such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment! Best wishes are your training for your's!

I love running. (Well I used to and then got fat and stopped but now I get a do over!) I just started doing C25K again to get back into running. I am in week 2 and I am so happy to be back to running. With all the weight I have already lost it feels so much easier and more enjoyable. My goal is to run a half marathon by December. (We have the Rock and Roll marathon here in December so that is what I will be signing up for....the half.)

Originally Posted by sraebaer

Today was my first run after freezing temps and snow for at least the past 2 weeks. 56 degrees this morning! I run in the dark before school, so if there is any risk of ice I stay in and hike after school in the woods. I do not want to break any bones.

It felt so good to run again! Not to mention I still have one Christmas pound to lose.

I'm so impressed you run in the dark and in the cold! I missed running outside today, but the indoor track wasn't too bad. Better than a treadmill I think.

Today was my first run after freezing temps and snow for at least the past 2 weeks. 56 degrees this morning! I run in the dark before school, so if there is any risk of ice I stay in and hike after school in the woods. I do not want to break any bones.

It felt so good to run again! Not to mention I still have one Christmas pound to lose.

You have some wonderful and, I think, realistic resolutions! Good for you for making yourself accountable; it's not easy, but well worth it I think! Best wishes!

We had a message at church about new years resolutions and its a known fact that more and more people are giving up the idea because they realize they loose the motivation to stick with it after so many months, myself included. I do like the idea of resolutions but I think they need to be more realistic, so I did make a few resolutions that I can ease into one was to find another way to releive stress instead of eating (wouldn't you know my desire to cook my old fashioned dishes, meals and desserts have haunted me lately lol!). The next resolution is to clean the treadmill off again and make an effort to run again (my daughter uses the treadmill as a storage space so I keep moving her stuff so that guilt is staring me in the face). The other reaolutions is more advancing myself and cultural desires learn piano and study for a big accounting test. I am posting here to hold myself accountable so let's see what the new year brings.

Thank you! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who gave up on resolutions!

Beautiful blog. I know what you mean. I gave up on New Years Resolutions years ago.

That sounds great! I love running races. There's such a great energy to them.

I workout on my own but in January I'm starting the C25K. Once I get good at running again I intend to start doing races. Hoping I'll also find friends who are into doing races as well. Glad you found a workout buddy!

Originally Posted by Fatbgone

I want to go horseback riding. I'm still heavy right now, but come spring I'll be on that horse.

I need to add horseback riding to my list. It sounds like a great spring time activity!

Originally Posted by NrseJessie

-Go skydiving!! I've always wanted to but there's a weight limit. Missed doing this with some good friends for a 30th birthday.
-Go ziplining
-The skyjump off the Statosphere Tower in Las Vegas
-Look as good in pictures as I currently trick the camera into thinking I am (ex: my avatar), lol.
-Fit in an airplane seat without an extender for the seatbelt

Basically to be able to do anything I want to without fear of being too fat or breaking something, or being laughed at by others. People are mean.

Great list! Skydiving is on my list, too.

I want to go horseback riding. I'm still heavy right now, but come spring I'll be on that horse.

-Go skydiving!! I've always wanted to but there's a weight limit. Missed doing this with some good friends for a 30th birthday.
-Go ziplining
-The skyjump off the Statosphere Tower in Las Vegas
-Look as good in pictures as I currently trick the camera into thinking I am (ex: my avatar), lol.
-Fit in an airplane seat without an extender for the seatbelt

Basically to be able to do anything I want to without fear of being too fat or breaking something, or being laughed at by others. People are mean.

Originally Posted by Sandra3

I'm almost 11 months out and I haven't reach my own goal yet, but so far I do have a small list:
-fly economy and feel ok about it, no need for an extension belt anymore! and I can open the tray!
- be on the photo: usually I was the one taking the photo or I was hiding behind my kids or friends, not anymore!
-sit with confidence anywhere without checking first if the sit is going to hold me..or even sit in a booth of any size!
- I'm able to rent a tiny car in Europe and I can actually feel ok inside the car!
-I'm in Asia so the sizes are smaller than anywhere else, I've been able to find a few clothing pieces those past months....was a big surprise!
- cross my legs...a big change!
- not stay in a corner when I take the metro to have more grip, in fear I could fall on someone and injure him/her...now I'm ok everywhere.
- walk more than 8 miles ...before WLS 3 was agony....now I'm just ok!
- feel more like a normal human being and not a whale or a giant...
- have hope I'm not going to die the next decade since my health improved so much.

Such a great list! It's the big and the little things that make losing weight so wonderful! Best wishes!

I'm almost 11 months out and I haven't reach my own goal yet, but so far I do have a small list:
-fly economy and feel ok about it, no need for an extension belt anymore! and I can open the tray!
- be on the photo: usually I was the one taking the photo or I was hiding behind my kids or friends, not anymore!
-sit with confidence anywhere without checking first if the sit is going to hold me..or even sit in a booth of any size!
- I'm able to rent a tiny car in Europe and I can actually feel ok inside the car!
-I'm in Asia so the sizes are smaller than anywhere else, I've been able to find a few clothing pieces those past months....was a big surprise!
- cross my legs...a big change!
- not stay in a corner when I take the metro to have more grip, in fear I could fall on someone and injure him/her...now I'm ok everywhere.
- walk more than 8 miles ...before WLS 3 was agony....now I'm just ok!
- feel more like a normal human being and not a whale or a giant...
- have hope I'm not going to die the next decade since my health improved so much.

Originally Posted by sraebaer

Buy way too many clothes because everything looks cute. Been the same size for over 2 years.

Pack for a trip without trying anything on first to see if it fits.

Run. At a Minute Clinic they took my pulse and the lady said, "Are you a runner?" Well yes, I am.

Still shocked when I see the number 8 in my pants or a S in my shirt.

Love to have my picture taken now. You will find very few fat pictures, because I hid from the camera.

Ski, climb mountains, zip-line, kayak, SUP, wear a bathing suit in public, the list is endless.

I just feel NORMAL. Priceless.

So many fantastic things!! I think feeling normal is truly priceless!!
Thanks for sharing!!

Buy way too many clothes because everything looks cute. Been the same size for over 2 years.

Pack for a trip without trying anything on first to see if it fits.

Run. At a Minute Clinic they took my pulse and the lady said, "Are you a runner?" Well yes, I am.

Still shocked when I see the number 8 in my pants or a S in my shirt.

Love to have my picture taken now. You will find very few fat pictures, because I hid from the camera.

Ski, climb mountains, zip-line, kayak, SUP, wear a bathing suit in public, the list is endless.

I just feel NORMAL. Priceless.

Originally Posted by TarotAces

Things I'm looking forward to once I've gotten rid of enough weight:

Walk through Pike Place Market and leisurely shop, without pain

Go hiking to a nice camping spot in the mountains by a lake where I can fish and EVENTUALLY hike with my kayak on my head so I can kayak/fish the lake.

Sit with my legs crossed

Put on shoes/tie shoes without pain

Not have to worry about a double chin when people take pictures of me



General mobility without pain would be a miracle right now. To be able to DO without wondering if I CAN do ________ (insert ANY activity here)

These are all awesome goals! I wish you the best!!!

Things I'm looking forward to once I've gotten rid of enough weight:

Walk through Pike Place Market and leisurely shop, without pain

Go hiking to a nice camping spot in the mountains by a lake where I can fish and EVENTUALLY hike with my kayak on my head so I can kayak/fish the lake.

Sit with my legs crossed

Put on shoes/tie shoes without pain

Not have to worry about a double chin when people take pictures of me



General mobility without pain would be a miracle right now. To be able to DO without wondering if I CAN do ________ (insert ANY activity here)

Originally Posted by Katrina

I told my husband last week that I wanted to go ice skating this past Saturday. He made arrangements. Then the thought of being around a bunch of kids turned me off. No ice skating for me. We will go parasailing when summer rolls back around.

It is a bit of an obstacle course with kids on the rink! Parasailing sounds great, though!