2 Sisters with Gastric Bypasses, and 1 Half Marathon

So, I've taken some time off from watching what I eat and exercising like I used to. Yes, I had a baby, and I did great during the actual pregnancy and only gained 20 pounds, but afterwards I found out that while I was breast feeding I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight. I picked up some really bad habits, and in doing so I've put an unwanted 25 pounds back on. But have no fear, I'm back!!! I've been training all winter long with my sister, and I just finished my 3rd half marathon. It felt great, and I'm already down 6 pounds (this week). I always love blogging about my running, so here are some of the highlights.

On Saturday, January 17th, 2015 me and my sister, Brandi, ran the St. George Half Marathon together. It was awesome!!! I loved everything about it - the training, the conversations, the bonding - I wouldn't trade a single bit of it (I'm not so sure Brandi feels the same way yet... but she will after the pain goes away completely). This was my third half marathon and Brandi's first. I was so proud of her. She did so much better than I did on my first marathon, and this course was the toughest too. The first seven miles were up hill, and we were literally the only ones we could see that actually ran the hills and didn't walk them (it must have been those hill sprints we did and loved so much!!!)

Running a half marathon is a huge accomplishment for anybody, but especially for me and Brandi who both topped the scales at close to 300 pounds only 2 and 4 years ago. I had my gastric bypass in May 2011 and Brandi in June 2013. Now what we have to careful of is not forgetting or belittling our achievements. I remember those days when my goal was just to finish and 5K - that was all I wanted. But now that I run at least a 5K (3.2 miles) 3 or 4 times a week, I find myself saying, "We're only running 3 miles" - like that is not an accomplishment in itself! There is nothing "only" about getting in shape and taking care of yourself emotionally and physically through running!!!

Well, it feels good to have one more half marathon under my belt. Although this will probably be my first and last winter marathon. Training is hard enough, but when you add running in the cold and dark, fighting colds and flu's, navigating around ice and snow, it's even more complicated. Plus, I could really use some sun on my legs! Although it was good for me to realize that I can run in the cold and be just fine. I typically hang up my running shoes around Halloween, but from now I think I'll keep running through the winter here and there, just not with the intensity and frequency you have to when training for a marathon. I'm super proud of you, Brandi! You're da bomb!!! Let's keep the momentum going!!!

This was me and Brandi at my very first 5K in October 2011. I had dropped close to 100 pounds at this point, and getting a gastric bypass wasn't even on Brandi's radar yet.

And this is us today!!! Together we're almost 300 pounds lighter and we're both officially marathoners!!! 

I Survived Pregnancy After Gastric Bypass!!!

Same maternity shirt... but it fits very, very differently!!!

Today I’m 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant and scheduled to be induced tomorrow, so I figured I should probably give a quick synopsis on being pregnant after having gastric bypass. My overall assessment is that it has been an awesome experience! It has been so much fun to actually look pregnant and have people rub my belly and not feel all weird about it. Both my husband and I have been able to actually feel the baby move more and have been able to actually distinguish body parts because they weren’t hidden by layers of fat! I haven’t had to worry about getting stretch marks—because I already have them—so I really have been able to just enjoy being pregnant (at least as much as you can when pregnant) J

I’m very proud to report that I’ve been able to keep my weight within reason. I’ve gained a total of 20 pounds this pregnancy which is still actually under average, so I’m happy with that. I was able to work out daily until around 35 weeks when exercising started contractions so I had to slow things down a bit, but I’ve always tried to do something active everyday even if it was just taking a walk during my lunch break at work. I hate to admit that this past week I haven’t exactly eaten well as I’ve been doing crazy amounts of stress eating trying to plan my husband’s 30^th birthday surprise party while worrying that I’d go into labor at any minute. But it has made me feel so yucky that I’m actually looking forward to getting back into diet mode again and getting the baby weight off.

That’s definitely going to be the hardest part about this entire pregnancy though… getting back into pre-pregnancy shape. I know I can do it though because I’ve already done it!!! Well, I’ll try to keep this blog updated about how my post-pregnancy weight loss goes, and hopefully it will be good news. J

Happily and Healthily Gaining Weight

Sorry it's been over 12 weeks since my last post, but it's safe to say that no news is usually good news - and luckily that happens to be the case. My pregnancy is progressing fabulously. It's everything I'd hope it would be - weight gain and all! I'm currently up 15 pounds, which I couldn't be happier about. It's a healthy gain and even though I'll be probably still go up more, I'm alright with it and taking it in stride. Even though my exercise routine isn't what it used to be, I still try to be "active" everyday - whether it's going on a walk, lifting light weights or doing the elliptical machine for an hour while I watch my guilty pleasure "The Bachelorette" - it's all good. :)

Me at 28 weeks pregnant. I've definitely put on an inch or two around my waist!

Some other happy, exciting news is that my sister was able to get the gastric bypass just two weeks ago - almost two years to the day that I had mine! She too had Dr. Sherman Smith as her surgeon, and everything went great. I can't express how thrilled I am for her. She's doing phenomenal, and I couldn't be more proud. She has far surpassed my expectations of where she'd be right now, and believe it or not, I can't wait for her to loose even more weight than me and kick my trash! And who knows, with my weight going up and hers dropping like crazy, it just might happen sooner than later. Kudos to my sis, and may she cherish every new freedom this opportunity will give her!!!  

16 Weeks and Still Smiling...

Another month has come and gone since my last post, and I’m now a happy and healthy 16 weeks pregnant. This month has had its ups and downs. Good news is that my sickness is all but gone and I felt my little baby move for the first time a couple of days ago, which is by far the coolest part about being pregnant! Bad news is that I spent several hours the other day going through clothes and storing almost half of them away because I can no longer zip them up. I knew that day would come – I just honestly didn’t expect it to come so soon.

Even though I haven’t gained any weight in pounds yet, in fact I’m actually still down from my beginning weight, my stomach has gained inches – seemingly every day! I knew I would get bigger faster than usual because 1) it’s my second baby, and 2) I have absolutely zero elasticity left in my skin. It’s almost like my stomach is saying, “Yeehaw! I get to stretch out again!”

It’s hard looking farther along than I am, and I have to admit when complete strangers ask me how far along I am, I tend to lie and give myself an extra month or two! As the second trimester continues, and the weight will start coming on, I have to try to stay positive and know that the weight is not only healthy for the baby, but it will only be temporary. I will be able to get back into those clothes again, right? (and hopefully without the help of Dr. 90210!!!) So far so good – no emotional weight gain breakdowns yet. Let’s just hope I can keep it up!

Let Me Hear Ya Say "YAY" and "YIKES"

Me and my hubby at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

Time for an update! The holidays have come and gone and fortunately all the weight I gained over the holidays is gone too. Once I buckled down I easily got off the 10 pounds I had just as easily gained. My "Good News" moment is that I just got back from a cruise with my husband a few weeks ago, and came back 2 pounds lighter than when I left. I've never LOST weight on a cruise before (case in point - my dear husband gained 15 pounds!!!)

Unfortunately, I can't take all the credit even though I actually was very disciplined in my eating and worked out several times. The main reason I lost weight is because I was soooo sick thanks to being 6 weeks pregnant! I think that calls for a "Yay" and a "Yikes"! This will be my second child and I couldn't be happier. Although having to gain weight is causing me all kinds of anxieties. This is going to be a very tricky balance. I'll have to modify my eating and exercise habits now, and face the fact that I'm going to get BIG again.

I am hoping that this pregnancy will be much easier than my first since I'm 150 pounds lighter this time around, but it also means I'm in uncharted territory. Although I can't deny the fact that I am really excited to actually look like I'm pregnant. With my first pregnancy I was 8 months along before you could really tell I wasn't "just" fat. I have a feeling I'm going to be using this blog as an outlet to express my fears as the weight and inches start coming on. I'll try to get some pictures up as well. Wish me luck in this new adventure!!!

Thankful for the Past 18 Months

Wow! I can't believe that 18 months has come and gone! It's funny how a year ago I was looking at Thanksgiving with dread and horror knowing the only thing I could eat was a little turkey and a few vegetables, and here I am now knowing that Thanksgiving is coming up in a few days and not really caring. I haven't been dreaming and obsessing about stuffing and pies, and granted, I'll be having some for sure, but only after I have a nice, long run!

I can't believe how much my life has changed in the last year and a half. I'm happier and healthier than I've been in over a decade. Never would I have thought of myself as a marathon runner, but I am! How awesome is that?!?!?! With the coming of winter my workouts have changed a little. It's too dark and cold to really run during the weekdays, so I've gone back to my 5 AM workouts at the gym. Luckily I really enjoy them, and I still get some runs in on the weekends!

I have put on about 10 pounds - which I expected and planned for - so I'm still at a healthy weight and under where my surgeon wanted me at. I am gearing up for the holiday season though and being extra special careful! The 18 month mark is also a big milestone for me because I can now "physically" safely get pregnant. No, I'm not pregnant yet, and the thought of gaining weight terrifies me. But, it's nice to know that once I'm mentally ready, that my body will be ready too.

I should have taken some pictures or something, but I wanted to post something before I forgot. This Thanksgiving season I'm thankful for a life that is healthy, active, disciplined and successful!!!

Halloween Half Marathon - 2012



Me, happy and smiling at the end of my marathon.

I didn't keep it a secret that my first half marathon, although rewarding, was anything but fun! It was grueling and torture. So, like an idiot I signed up to run the Provo Halloween Half Marathon on October 27th knowing I didn't have enough time to properly train, knowing that I was a few pounds heavier, and knowing that it was going to be brutally cold!!! And, I'm totally glad that I did!!!

I got to run with this guy... ooooh, creepy!



I can honestly say that I had a really fun time running 13.1 miles. Yes, it was cold. Yes, my feet and knees hurt. Yes, three days later my muscles are still sore. But, I kicked butt! I actually ran it a minute slower than my first marathon (although my pace was actually 15 seconds faster....) but I finished strong and had enough energy to sprint to the finish line. I was passing people right and left and even finished in the wave ahead of the one I started in. I couldn't be happier and it was great way to end the running season because I'm already looking forward to the next one.



The race began at Sundance and ended at this park. It was mostly downhill with a few bumps to keep it challenging. Perfect!



I'm going to try to still run a few days a week during the winter, but since it's pitch black in the morning and in the evening, and I work during the day, it's really not safe to be running. So, I'm going back to my 5 AM workouts at the gym. At least the gym is heated! :) I'm really not sure what my running goals will be next season, but I figure I have the whole winter to think about it!

  

Just a Little Scare...

A few weeks ago I started having what I call "attacks". Basically it was a horribly-intense, burning pain/pressure around my sternum area (where my pouch is). The pain would wrap all the way around to my back, and it hurt to even breathe sometimes. I tried to tough it out because I figured it was just bad heartburn, but it finally concerned me enough to call my surgeon. He scheduled me for a gall-bladder ultra sound at the Riverton Hospital the very next day. My husband could tell I was a little nervous, so he and my little girl came with me.

In the meantime, my surgeon had me start taking some probiotic used for ulcers. It took almost five days to the get the results back, but I stopped having the "attacks" as soon as I started taking the medication. So, I wasn't surprised when the results came back negative. More than likely it's just an ulcer. We're kind of playing it by ear, and I have an appointment with my surgeon in October if I'm still having problems. So far so good. I was not liking the idea of having to have another surgery to get my gall-bladder out, so I am very happy with the way things turned out!!!

Running a Half-Marathon - Check!!!

I did it!!! I finished my very first half-marathon. And, Wow! What an experience it was! Honestly, it was miserable. Absolutely miserable. The race was described as being "a fun and fast course" and I totally call BS on that one! It was uphill almost the entire time. It wasn't really steep, it was just a constant upgrade. It was tough. Really tough. In fact when I ran across the finish line everything was pretty much a blur. I remember seeing my family there, but all I could think about was that I couldn't stop walking. I honestly felt if I stopped I would have dropped right there and wouldn't have been able to get back up. I was nauseated and exhausted beyond all description. So much so I didn't even get any pictures which makes me sad now, but at the time I didn't care. I was just thankful to be alive!

Even though the course was tough, I still finished with a 10.24 minute mile, and I ran the entire thing!!! The last three miles were brutal, and a lot of runners just gave up (I've never seen DFNs in any of my races before), but I kept on running and every runner I passed gave me a little boost of energy. Can I say it was fun??? Mmmm.... not really, but I can say now that I'm glad I did it. It really was worth all the months of training, the 5 AM runs, the injuries, the ice baths, the limping, the shear PAIN!!! Do I want to run another one? Absolutely! And here are my reasons why...

Why Run a Half-Marathon???

1. You get to become part of something larger than yourself. You become a member of the "Marathon" family.
2. You get to be a part of something that is inspiring and challenging. You push your body beyond its physical and mental limits and finish in spite of that fact.
3. You get to blow past people on the course who didn't train as hard or as long as you.
3. You get a cool medal and tech shirt to show off to friends and family proving that you did it.
4. It forces you to get off your butt and get outside and run!
5. You get to know your neighborhood really, really, really well.
6. You set a good example for your children (and husband) about the importance of being active and healthy.
7. It's a goal you can set for yourself and actually accomplish. It makes me proud of me!!!
8. You get toned, sexy legs!
9. You get to see a lot of sunrises.
10. I want to do it because I CAN do it! I spent years and years abusing and taking my body for granted, and it feels fantastic to be able use my body in a way that it was designed to be used!

A Pain in the Skin

Loosing over 150 pounds has been incredible, but it has it down sides too - namely, extra skin, and lots of it!!! Ninety percent of the time I throw on some cute clothes, smile at my new self in the mirror and head out of the door not thinking twice about it. But, there are times when I stare in the mirror with disgust at my shriveled-up, raisin-looking skin hanging grotesquely all over my body. This problem has come to head since I’ve been trying to find a swim suit.

I thought buying a swim suit at 150 pounds instead of 300 pounds would be a lot more fun, but if anything, it’s the complete opposite.  I was so excited to buy a new swim suit that didn’t look like an old lady that I was completely caught off guard by what happened. I selected a super cute tankini (in a size 8 and not a size 26) and headed to the dressing room only to realize that the skin around my belly hung over the bottoms completely covering them! It was horrifying and I just sat there and cried and cried.

Even when I was heavy I never let that stop me from going to the beach or water parks, but for the first time in my life I actually turned down a water park trip because I didn’t have a swimsuit. It was really devastating, and even more so because I knew that plastic surgery just wasn’t in the cards for several reasons: 1) I’m not done having kids yet. 2) I don’t have $30,000 lying around, and even if I did I couldn’t in good conscience use it for plastic surgery when I could use it for a family vacation or something – it seems selfish to me. 3) I don’t like pain. Everyone who I know who has had it done says it’s the most painful thing they’ve ever done. 4) I still tend to think that people who have plastic surgery are fake, vain and shallow. and 5) There is a big part of me that feels like I don’t deserve it. I mean – I did this to myself, so I should have to live with the consequences, right?

Anyway, there is a happy ending to this sad, sad story. I found some swim suits!!! My husband was out of town on a guy trip, so I decided to try just a few more stores. No pressure. If I found something, great. If not, I’d accept it. I went to JC Penny and gave up the whole size 8 and medium mentality, and just started trying on random suits that I liked. Some were larges or extra large or sizes 10 and 12, but I started to realize that the larger the suit, the more coverage! I guess I’m a slow one! Anyway, I finally ended up buying 3 pretty cute swim suits that made me feel a lot better about myself. I even went to the swimming pool the other day! Whew! Another dilemma diverted – well, at least for the time being! J  

Pretty in Purple! I ordered some spanx swim briefs to go under this which will hold everything in nice and tight! :)

My little girl saw me getting into my swim suit and getting my picture taken, so she had to get on her Minnie Mouse swim suit and pose with me. She's such a Cutie!



I wasn't a big fan of this one on the rack, but it's one of my favorites on!



My little girl's idea -- not mine! :)