What complications have you encountered since our last issue?
I let the fact that I could eat a few bites of dessert with no problems lull me into thinking I could eat a whole piece of turtle cheesecake at a friend’s house. I ate the cheesecake and experienced my first instance of ‘dumping.’ I started sweating and got really tired really fast. I slept about 12 hours when I got home. I found out the hard way that sugar is not my friend!

Also I got laid off of work and that got my routine all messed up. You would think I would have all the time in the world to spend at the gym, but I haven’t been out to World’s Gym very much at all since the layoff …  trying to conserve gas and money by staying home. I thought I was going to have to cancel my membership to the gym, but I discussed it with my mom and she’s going to pick up the monthly dues for me until I can find a job. She said she didn’t want me to mess up all my hard work.

For about 6 weeks I hit a weight loss plateau. It was really discouraging. I knew part of the problem was not getting in the exercise, but I still should have lost a little bit. Then I realized that I had introduced sugar back into my diet through drinking sweet ice tea and eating the occasional sweet. So now I’m eliminating the sugar and it seems to have done the trick for restarting my weight loss.

What positives have you enjoyed?
I received a letter from my primary care physician Dr. A.D. Bicak (The Clinic at Commerce Centre in Bentonville), who is working with my surgeon Dr. Clifton Thomas, stating that my diabetes has resolved. Whoo hoo!!!!!

I’m now wearing size 22W pants (they are getting lose) and 18/20W tops. I can’t remember the last time I wore these sizes. I’m having to go shopping. Helping Hands is wonderful for buying clothes as inexpensively as possible during my weight loss. Especially since they will get them back when I get down to the next size.
I’m feeling really good. I was invited to go camping over July 4th holiday at Lake Leatherwood. I never would have gone before because I didn’t enjoy hiking or putting a bathing suit on to swim at the lake. I did both and had a great time even though I did get eaten up by bugs!

Have you set any goals for yourself? If so, what are they?
My immediate goal is to get the pounds burning again by cutting the sugar and getting back to the gym. One thing that helps motivate me in the gym is music. I’m asking folks for suggestions for a new playlist of exercise music for my iPod. If you have any suggestions, feel free to e-mail me at mattiewatson@hotmail.com.

I am also considering entering the U of A’s dietetics program. Now that I’m eating regular food, I find the world of nutrition and the new food pyramid a little confusing. And I’ve found that there aren’t very many dieticians who specialize in bariatrics in this area. I think becoming a dietician will keep me on track and I look forward to helping others like me.

WEIGHT LOSS LOG
Height: 5’ 7”
Weight at start: at heaviest 354 pounds; day before surgery 328 pounds
Weight at April magazine: 267 pounds
Weight now: 244 pounds
Waist at start: 52.75 inches
Waist now: 45.5 inches