I Did It!!!! I have officially lost 103lbs. AMAZING. My goal was 100lbs before my birthday which is Saturday and I did it. I had an appointment with my surgeon and he told me that I have lost 47% of my excess body weight. Needless to say I am thrilled. Very happy.

Approaching 100lb loss

I am approaching my 100lb weight loss mark. I am not going to weigh myself until my birthday on the 17th so I can hopefully be over the 100lb loss.

I want to thank everyone again for there support and commitment to my weight loss. I appreciate everything!!]

Love to all.

Dumping Snydrome

Definition from WebMD: "Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass system which alerts the body of inappropriate eating. Dumping syndrome is described as a shock-like state when small, easily absorbed food particles rapidly dump into the digestive system. This results in a very unpleasant feeling with symptoms such as a cold clammy sweat, nausea, pallor, butterflies in the stomach and a pounding pulse. These symptoms may be followed by cramps and vomitting. This state can last for 30-60 minutes and is quite uncomfortable."

I had my second major cause of dumping syndrome last night, unfortunately I was at my sisters watching the girls and it scared them. My sister stopped at Boston Market and brought home dinner, I have had rotisserie chicken since my surgery but not from there. After a few bites and I am talking few bites I felt horrible. Instant nausea and bad stomach pains. It lasted about 90 minutes with me having to vomit. I got the chills, cold sweats and bad cramps. The only other time I had this was the last time I ate bread. This is my fear about eating new foods in public places. I have no idea what will affect me and how. For the most part I have tolerated foods good but when I don't watch out.

I continue to be on steady pace of losing weight. I don't eat Bread, Rice, Pasta or Sugar. I eat alot of fruit, chicken, turkey and seafood. I have stopped weighing myself and only get weighed in at my weekly nutrition appointment.

Here is an updated photo of me. I am at a serious low of clothes. I don't want to spend alot of money on clothes so I have been shopping at Kohls and Target. I have many clothes that I would like to donate to a store or shelter but don't know where to begin.

Any ideas please let me know. Hope all is well. Love, Dawn

85 and counting

I have one more pound to lose till 85. Things are going well. I feel great! Still dealing with low blood sugar but working through it. I have found a new love of fruit. Watermelon, Banana's, Grapes and Blueberries. I never really ate fruit before and now I have it 4 times a day, mind you that I eat about 20 blueberries, 10 grapes, 1/2 banana at each serving, so it's not alot. I have been introducing new foods into my diet slowly. Amazingly I have been eating alot of seafood (Shrimp, Scallops, Crab and Lobster). They are low in calorie and a ton of protein. I continue to drink milk like water.

Now that spring has officially arrived, I have begun exercising outside. My ipod has begun my best friend while walking, I need to put some high energy songs on it to keep me moving along, any suggestions....email me.

Hope all is well! Love - Dawn

74 Pounds

I have officially lost 74 pounds! truly amazing! I saw my dietcian on Friday and my exact words when I stepped on the scale were "HOLY SHIT". This week has been a little hard, I have LOW blood sugar and have been trying to get the number up with the help of some orange juice (diluted) and higher protein I am slowly raising it. Needless to say my energy level has been very low but improving.


I was at my parents house on Thursday and looked at the photo of me, Stacey and Steve from his wedding in November 2005 and was horrified. I looked awful. My face was huge! I went home that night and put the same dress on that is so large that I had it on backward and was able to turn it around without taking it off. I look back at photos and realize now how unhealthy I truly was. I still have alot of weight to lose and have yet set a target goal weight. (see below for before and after photos)

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog. You inspire me to keep it going.

This was the view outside my window this morning. Lovely!!

Well I officially have no pants that fit. I know that this is a "good" problem to have but it is an officially problem. I am going to the mall today with my sister and the girls and will hopefully find some inexpensive jeans. I hate to spend a lot of money on clothes these days because I am not wearing them for to long. Again a good problem to have. Please don't think I am complaining although it may sound that way I am truly HAPPY to have this problem.

I went to the dietitian this week and have graduated to raw vegtables and salad. She was thrilled with my weight loss and gave me some new tips on what foods to avoid. My 2 problem foods are PASTA and BREAD. I can't digest them at all, they are like cement in my stomach. Since I can't digest them I don't want them nor miss them. Which is a good thing. Everyone who has had the surgery says it will get better but there is a part of me that doesn't want them to get better.

Take care, have a good week! Love to all!