I came out of my GYN 's office with a smile as wide as can be. I made him smile. This time last year we were talking about a gastric bypass surgery and getting my A1c down to 5.5. Today when he stepped into the exam room he saw significantly less of me without any surgery and was he pleased. He asked me my numbers since my other doctor had not dent my blood work in yet. He was pleased to know I was doing well. He said I had now increased my life span significantly. No one of course can say by how much, but the statistics are there to prove that all I have done should give me more years of health than the road I was on before. He also commented on something that did take me by surprise but made me feel relieved. Apparently my body's skin was shrinking up better than most woman who have lost the equal amount of weight for my age. I virtually have no flabby skin on my legs, just some wings, and a little on the sides. Theres a pooch which he said is that last 20 pounds. He also mentioned I could expect to get down to 140 and possibly 135, but that would be about it at my age. ( He should know since he works all day with weight lose and woman my age ) Well, that answered a lot of my questions right there. He told me to stay at 1300 calories because that is what my body is used to. Any lower than that and my body will go into starvation mode and hold onto it's fat and actually gain weight instead of losing weight. He expects me to lose about a half pound every week on the calories I am eating and the amount of exercise I am allowed. OK, 1/2 pound a week, I can live with that game plan as long as it comes off. It is as I had always said it would be. I expect my weight would be off by next spring. There you have it folks. A three year plan that really will take three years to get there. Then I will have a two year plan of maintenance and conditioning that will turn into a life time plan. I'm looking ahead now. I'm making this point because so many of us say that they are so distressed that their weight loss is taking so long. Today my doctor told me that because I took my time and lost my weight 1/2 pound - 1 pound a week my skin had a chance to form back into my body correctly. When people lose fast, the skin will sag more and thus you have more problems. I didn't know that by losing slowly I was not only learning better behaviors, I was enabling my skin to bounce back into shape. He also told me it helps the wrinkles from skin loss to lose slowly. I think it also has something to do with why I have less wrinkles to from what he indicated. I'll go for that too. I did find out that I have a hernia from all the weight I had gained. No need to get it fixed until it bothers me. I'll talk more about it at a latter time because to fix it I will have two options, one, just fix it alone; two, have a tummy tuck and tighten the muscles also surrounding it. Those are my options. The latter I would only consider if it would help my back become stronger since I'm not sure if my insurance would pay for it. First thing first, finish the weight loss and get into shape.
Todays PT was fun because it showed me just how badly my muscles need strengthening. Wow, I would love to do Boot Camps, but I'm just in baby exercises compared to most of you all. I'm doing thera bands and 2 pound weights and they are just killing me. I thought I had died and gone to heaven when the therapist put me on that thigh machine and said I was just lifting 20 pounds. She apparently doesn't have a SI Joint that screams with pain every time it moves ! I still had fun doing all this because I consider it a privilege to be able to exercise and walk. It is a gift from God which can be taken from me at any moment. That pain I have is a reminder of how fragile my back is and how fortunate I am to be able to just walk.
Tomorrow I will not be blogging. I will be at the Houston Dog show watching all those doggies. I decided I will go to Sunday's show and not Saturday's show. So, I will see you Sat. Amy, Workingterriers, will be at another show showing her terrier. Good luck Amy. I was hoping the Celian Terrier Charmine would be at the Houston show, but I don't see any of them as listed. Rats ! I'll be taking my lunch and snacks since the food at the show sucks. I probably will have to eat dinner there if I stay for the Best in Show. I'll wait and see how I feel. That would make for a long day. Friday I watch the dogs. Sunday I go to the agility events, flyball, Animal Planet Show, Exhibits, Art show, Best Of Breed shows. Fun weekend that comes once a year for this girl !!!!!!
Talk to you all latter.