Rhonda S.

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I've had my initial consultation with Dr. Tillquist in Englewood, Colorado. Surgery scheduled for an open RNY on 09-29-03. Anxiously awaiting insurance approval now!

08-27-03 - I decided to call Dr. Tillquist's office to see if they have received my insurance approval. Eileen told me that there were 2 patients ahead of me scheduled for surgery and their paperwork was being done first. I should hear something by next week! Getting kind of nervous! Anxious to hear...


09-07-03 - Still no word from Dr. Tillquist's office on insurance approval. My surgery is scheduled 3 weeks from tomorrow! YIKES!! I'm really starting to get nervous now. I've been devouring all the information people post on-line both here and another on-line group I have joined. It's helped me so much to read how others have handled the surgery both pre and post-op. Two years ago I had 3 major surgeries so I do feel I'm prepared for what I'm going to be going through here shortly. I've got a good support system in my family and friends. I'm just anxious to get on with it!


09-11-03 Sad day - the memories of 2 years ago. I was getting ready to go to my doctor's office to get the staples removed from a surgical procedure I had. I awoke to the horrors of the twin towers shuddering to the ground. God Bless all the souls of those who lost their lives that horrible day....

I called the surgeon's office to reschedule my history and physical appointment from the 23rd to the 22nd due to a business trip I must take. Still no word on the insurance approval -- really starting to wonder. Eileen told me she would check with them tomorrow. I need to call them myself. I have my nutrition class this Sunday from 12:00 to 4:30 pm. Looking forward to that and with what I've learned from reading the message board I feel like I will be well educated!


I'm so excited! I found out my insurance approved my surgery today - no other requirements such as psych eval, 6 months of supervised dieting, etc. WOW!! I am going to be operated on 2 weeks from today - can't even imagine what it will be like to finally get this weight off. I have been researching this for 3 years, I've been waiting since February to get in to see Dr. Tillquist and NOW it's just 2 weeks away!!

I went to my nutrition class yesterday and learned so much. I really feel educated about what I need to do to use this "tool". I will do everything I'm supposed to do - I listened and took notes and read, read, read everything I can get my hands on.

I have my vitamins ordered, need to get my lists started about what to take to the hospital - what to have on hand here at home when I get home, etc.

My surgery buddy Jennifer had her surgery today - thought about her all day. I'm going to go visit her after work tomorrow night. Have never met her - only "talked" via e-mail. We've exchanged voice messages but haven't hooked up yet. I'm anxious to see how she is doing.


Had my pre-admission lab and EKG done today. Have to take a business trip to Phoenix in a few days - at least it will take my mind of the upcoming surgery.



09-21-03 Just read my profile and realized I'm forgetting to put dates when I update. Well - it's one week from tomorrow - my open RNY surgery and I am just full of nerves. Mowed the lawn front and back today to try to keep occupied. I really feel anxious and nervous. I have to fly to Phoenix tomorrow for a short business trip so maybe that will take my mind off things for a few days. I'm starting to get very nervous and I don't know why - I feel I'm in good hands and will be at a good hospital, just normal pre-op nerves I guess! Tomorrow I see my surgeon for the "history and physical" - not really sure what that entails. Boy I sure do have a LOT of butterflies........


09-28-03 The night before surgery - wow - can't believe it's already here! Looking forward to it - saying my prayers tonight and in the morning for sure. See you all on the other side (after my re-birthday!).


10-08-03 Well I did it! Had the surgery and am now at home resting, recuperating, walking, hurting (a little). I am so glad I had this surgery I just can't believe it's already behind me. I had the surgery on Monday (open procedure) and was released on Friday. Thank you Dr. Tillquist for doing such a great job for me - and thanks to CJ for both of you checking on me daily, answering my questions, etc. I can tell already I have lost weight. I'm sitting here at my computer more comfortably than I have in a long time.

So now begins my journey - I'm so dedicated to this you have no idea. I feel like I've been given a new lease on life and I'm going to follow the rules to the T! I can truly admit I have yet to experience hunger. I get my liquids in, broth, milk, tea, water of course, SF popsicles but I just have not been hungry. I know it takes awhile for the swelling of the pouch to go down and things will start feeling differently about 8 weeks out but man, I just can't believe how great this feels! To be totally satisfied and no hunger! YIKES I can't say the last time I have felt that way.

I'm going in tomorrow to get the staples removed - that will be a BIG relief. As things start to heal the staples start to pull and become painful in that area. Looking forward to getting them yanked out!

Thank you to all who sent their wishes and prayers before surgery - you have no idea how much that meant to me. Really helped a lot. I'll keep my profile updated as I go along in my journey!


11/09/03 It will be 6 weeks tomorrow since my surgery. I'm doing great! No problems at all - I've lost 40 pounds so far. The only time I felt a little queasy was when I tried a little peanut butter on some cornbread - closest thing I came to "dumping". I didn't vomit - just felt lousy and had to lay down. I am increasing my exercise efforts. Just finished the 2 mile WATP dvd. I'm scheduling myself for each day this week to do the 2 mile. I sure feel good - my clothes are getting bigger every day - I have SO much more energy already it's amazing. I have absolutely no regrets about having this surgery (also no hunger either). The no hunger thing is very strange. I don't know when that will return, if ever. I just know that I need to eat at least 2 times a day (usually 3). I don't snack at all. The hardest part so far for me is not drinking with meals and waiting for 1 hour after eating to drink. That is a tough one for me. Very tough.. I'm looking forward to all the days ahead and watching the pounds melt off!!! YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!


11/22/03 - I've been doing really well since surgery. Have only had one episode of dumping. I ate some chicken salad - thought it sounded so good but I ate too fast, too much or chewed too little (or all the above) and up it came. I was feeling a bit cocky that I hadn't gotten sick and I overdid it. Boy that is a VERY unpleasant experience I won't soon forget. I hate getting sick and will do most anything to avoid it. So I'm back to watching my portions (2 oz) and chew, chew, chew! I really get the signal when my little pouch has had enough. The key is to pay attention to that signal. Don't put one more bite, not one more morsal in your mouth. Enjoy that feeling of fullness.

I still don't have any hunger and that's kind of wierd at times. I just have no desire to eat like I used to. Sometimes I may think something sounds good but by the time I get it prepared and taste it I can only have a few bites and I'm done. This morning I fixed one egg with a little cheese on it. Just did not taste good to me at all. The taste of things has changed so much for me. It's true that some days food goes down pretty easily and other times it's very difficult to eat anything all day.

I'm doing very well on my vitamin intake though. I am very careful about making sure I get all the vitamins in I'm supposed to. I'm going to try a different Calcium Citrate though. I've been using Bariatric Advantage chocolate flavor and I am so sick of it I can't hardly stand it.

So now the good news - I've lost 47 pounds, have more energy than I have in a long, long time. I require less sleep, wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. I do exercise - 2 mile WATP dvd every night when I come home form work. It's just 30 minutes but it feels so good to finish it. I actually should move up to the 3 miles because I'm really not working up a sweat like I should be doing. But I'll work towards that and in the mean time stick with the 2 mile.

I have no fears about Thanksgiving dinner because I plan on having a little bite of everything. Starting with the turkey of course (protein) and then I will be so full I won't make any foolish choices. I do not feel deprived at all.

My clothes are feeling better. It's funny - I think I was fooling myself that I was wearing a 3X - I probably should have been in a 4X - it's amazing what we do to ourselves. Anyway I now am getting into some of the clothes that I haven't worn for a couple of years and then I'm getting rid of the way too fat clothes. I guess I had better save one outfit just to be my "fat outfit" to show and tell when I've reached my goal. It feels good to get rid of the big clothes though. I've told myself I will make do with what I have until it gets to the point I just don't have anything else to wear and then I may buy something. I want to be able to have a closet full of clothes that are one small size at some point in the future. Not a range of sizes that I used to have.


Sunday 11-30-03 I survived Thanksgiving quite well! I cooked turkey dinner for my family of six - no problems at all. I ate turkey first then a small bite of everything else. I didn't feel deprived at all - I didn't over do and I really enjoyed the holiday. No stress about eating - still no hunger so I don't really care if I eat or not most of the time. The one thing that really tasted good to be was the fresh cranberries made with Splenda! I just loved that and it really went down smoothly. I guess my body has been craving some fruit. So yummy.

I've lost a total of 51 pounds as of this morning! I'm just now (at 225 pounds) starting to really notice the change in the mirror. The clothes are getting looser but I hadn't really noticed the change in my body image that much until just the past few days. Weird.

I have a Dr. appt on Wednesday to see my PCP who hasn't seen me since before the surgery. I'm sure he will be very pleased to see the outcome and how well I'm doing. I'm so proud that I'm off all high blood pressure and diabetes meds! That makes me very happy.

12/20/03 Heading into the holidays here and I'm doing well! Saw my PCP on 12/03/03 --- he was STUNNED to see how much weight I had lost! He was so pleased, but he did ask me if I was eating anything! I laughed and told him yes I was not depriving myself at all. I eat protein first and if there is any room for anything else I have a little bite of something. Try to get some veges in but it's difficult when I'm full from the protein. He was so pleased that I'm now off all medications except for HRT. No more diabetes, high blood pressure meds. My blood sugar is always 80 to 90. I feel great! I'm getting all my vitamins in. I've had several holiday parties to go to here lately and a couple of potlucks and I've done just fine.

I did almost overdo it at one of the potlucks. Someone had fixed a wonderful roast and I thought, "wonderful I can have that!" so I took the smallest piece I could find. It wasn't very small but I took just a little bit of it and chewed and chewed. I had a few other things on my plate and took a tiny bite of that. It looked like I hardly ate anything and I had one lady ask me if I was ok and wasn't I hungry? That's always tough to fend off those questions. Later I took one tiny sip of water because I was so dry and just about lost it!! I really thought I was going to throw up but I didn't. It was a close one though. That's why they say eat protein first and chew like crazy because once you are filled with that you have no room for ANYTHING!!!

I've lost 58 pounds and am really starting to see it and feel it. I am amazed that I have so much energy! I've been going all day today, laundry, cooking a dinner for my parents tonight, getting ready for Christmas and I am not tired at all. Boy 58 pounds ago I couldn't do half the work I did today! I feel sorry for myself sometimes - why have I wasted so much of my life carrying around all this weight. But I try to let that go and just look to the future! It gets better every day,

I really watch my carbs, have not had any sugar, no cookies, cakes, breads, pastas, etc. I don't even want to try any of the sugar free candy that's out there. I know myself and I strongly feel that once I get started on sugar I won't know when to stop. I still don't have hunger anyway so the only thing that would be helping is the "head hunger" (which I don't have much of that either!) I just thank God everyday for this chance to get to lead a more "normal" life. I haven't had much of one for a long long time......

01-16-04 Friday - I need to update this profile more often. As of this morning I have lost 70 pounds! YEA FOR ME! It will be 4 months on the 29th of this month since I had my surgery. I am very, very pleased with my results and the way I feel! I have not had any problems at all. I still don't have any hunger at all. I eat 2 times a day. Sometimes things sound good to me but by the time the food comes to the table in the restaurant or when I've cooked a meal I just am not interested. That's the worst part of where I'm at now. I just hate leftovers and with the tiny amount that I eat - I have lots of leftovers.

I exercise 3 to 5 times a week sometimes more. I do the 2 mile WATP dvd and it's getting to where there is no challenge there so I need to move up to the 3 mile so I can get more of a workout.

I had an interesting thing happen the other night. I went with some friends to have dinner at Ruby Tuesdays to try their new low carb menu items. I could see that we were going to be seated at a booth - my fear of trying to fit in a booth reared it's ugly head and I just thought "Please dear God let me fit in that booth without embarrasing myself." I was so shocked that not only did I FIT in the booth but that I had room to spare! It's still hard to see myself as 70 pounds lighter - I feel so much differently but really don't see myself that way yet. It's a hard thing to explain. I saw a picture that was taken when I had lost 58 pounds and I was SHOCKED to see the weight loss - and that was 12 pounds ago! It takes awhile for our head to catch up to the actual body image.

02-13-04 I've now lost 84 pounds! I joined the rec center the first of this month and am starting out using the treadmill 3 to 5 times a week. I want to start working on the strength training next. I had signed up for an orientation on Monday but my father became ill and was admitted to the hospital so things got a little crazy. He is out of the hospital now - feeling much better so now I can take some time for myself.

I've had no problems - I eat what I'm supposed to but I can see that I become very bored very quickly. I hate leftovers where I didn't used to mind them. I don't ever take anything home from a restaurant meal because I know I won't eat it. I don't go out that often anyway but I sure am unable to tolerate anything the next day.

One thing I've noticed in the past month is the fact that one day I feel like I can eat much more than normal and then the next day I don't feel like eating anything. Very strange feeling.

Still no caffeine, pop, sugar, anything like that. I'm being very careful because I don't want sabotage my weight loss. I enjoy the exercise and see already that it makes such a difference in the weight loss. I try to stay off the scale because it does fluctuate at certain times of the month so it's best to stay away from it. I can always tell when I've lost some weight - it's hard to explain but I just feel it and usually it's 2 or 3 pounds. I'm very happy with my weight loss so far - 84 pounds in 4 1/2 months is a wonderful accomplishment.

I've gotten rid of all my old fat clothes and now have a lovely wardrobe courtesy of Goodwill to carry me through the rest of the winter. I got several really nice sweaters for $2.50 each (they were having a half off sale!!!) and there isn't a thing wrong with them. I refuse to pay full price for clothes that I know I won't be wearing this time next year. It's great to have a selection of things to wear. The only problem I'm having is finding some pants to fit. To fit around my fat tummy the legs are too huge. I have to keep looking for some good pants that fit right.

I hope everyone has as easy of a time as I've had with this because I really feel wonderful and just full of energy - no complaints at all! It's truly been a miracle for me. I am down below 200 pounds for the first time in 8 years!!! Wow it feels good and I'm sure it will only get better!

03-15-04 I'm doing well - I've lost 95 pounds now in 5 1/2 months. Thank you God for this miracle in my life! I'm averaging about 10 pounds a month which is great! I feel terrific and am getting so many compliments on my weight loss now. It's amazing that it takes this much weight to really see a difference.

I'm still having problems "seeing" myself accurately. I was shopping at Goodwill today (my now favorite shopping place!) and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I almost didn't recognize myself! It was such a shock to see that face in the mirror - one that is almost skinny!

No problems with eating - still some days I can eat more than others. Today was a day that I haven't been interested or able to eat much. I ate a little bit of tuna salad and a couple of small wheat crackers for lunch and that was it for today. The tuna just fills me up so fast it is incredible. That's a good thing! I got the message really quickly that my pouch couldn't handle any more. I'm not one of these people who counts every morsel of food I put in my mouth. I know I need protein and then a few veges and a little fruit. I keep it very simple. Still no sugar - I've not even tried any of the "low carb" junk. I just don't want to tempt myself - plus I don't want to get sick. I am not interested in that dumping routine AT ALL.

Sunday 04-04-04 I made it to the 100 pound mark! Yippee!! Wow, in 6 months I have lost 100 pounds. I am amazed. It has been an amazing trip. I did have a dumping session the other night. The first in a long time. I just ate too many strawberries with Splenda and my little pouch wouldn't hold them all. So up they came and then I felt better! But it was a wake up call to pay attention and to not overdo it. They were so good that I just couldn't resist and boy I paid for it. So I was humbled once again and reminded that I can't do that again. It may be some time before I ever look at a strawberrie again though.

Saturday 06-05-04 I've now lost 114 pounds and still feel great! I'm in the process of moving from a big house with a huge yard to a 3 bedroom condo with no yard! YIPPEE! It will keep me busy walking the dog so I'm looking forward to the exercise. Since I've been busy with the move I've noticed I haven't been eating very much and the days that I don't eat much I can really feel the pressure in my pouch area when I eat just a little bit. I still have no hunger to speak of - very strange. I did get a craving for a Taco Bell fiesta salad the other night so I got one and had about 2 bites of it and was full. I just waste money and food when I try to eat out or buy things to take home. My head hunger took over there for a time I guess but it sure didn't take me long to come back to reality! It's just now sinking in I guess that I will never, ever be able to consume the quantity of food that I used to. Thank God!!! I feel so great - I haven't weighed 162 since 1978. I love the fact that I can wear anything I want to. I have a beautiful wardrobe from my shopping sprees at Goodwill. I have a huge walk-in closet full of clothes and they all fit me!!! What a novel idea!!! 114 pounds ago last summer I was so miserable, didn't feel good, didn't look good and was so miserably hot all the time. Now I can cross my legs, and wear shorts with the t-shirt tucked in and I feel fabulous! I see pictures of myself and absolutely do not recognize me. That's too weird.

I haven't been really adverturesome with the eating, still eat my protein first of course. I've been really enjoying the fresh fruit of the season though, cantalope, watermelon, etc. I just crave that all the time. I have been so pleased with my progress - I really only need to lose 12 more pounds to have a normal BMI! I just can't believe I'm almost already there. My personal goal is 145. I think I will be quite comfortable at that weight. I don't want to get much lower than that - I was briefly at 132 years ago when I was quite younger and that was a good weight but at 51 years old I might not look so hot! It's just a number anyway - I don't care. I did this to be healthy - the rest is just an added bonus.

I've been doing a log of walking for my exercise. I know I should be doing some strength training also but have just not tried it too much. I've enjoyed swimming and the walking especially. I exercise every day without fail - it's a must.

August 12, 2005 - A year has gone by and I have not updated my profile so I thought it was about time to do so! So much has happened in the last year I hardly know where to begin!

I just got married on July 2, 2005 so I'll back up to share how I met the love of my life after this wonderful journey of weight loss!

September 29, 2004 marked my one year anniversary of my surgery. I was down to about 162 and I felt like it was time to get out in the world and start socializing and meeting some new friends (men!) now that I felt better about myself. I joined Match.com on the internet and immediately began getting interest in my profile and requests to meet me. Boy talk about an ego boost! I was not used to getting so much attention from the opposite sex! I ventured out, met some very nice men, went on some dates and had a great time! I really had not dated for 10 years or longer!!! I was really having fun.

After dating several men, I received an email from a guy named Jim who had seen my picture and read my profile and felt like we had a lot in common and wanted to know if he could call me. He wanted to kind of bypass all the computer impersonal stuff and get right to the point. I figured, why not, so I gave him my phone number, he called me and we agreed to meet in front of the drugstore in Golden on a Friday night (that was November 5, 2004 to be exact!). The rest is history....we met, fell in love that night, dated, he asked me to marry him on December 12, 2004. He let me pick out my engagement ring (a 1 1/2 carat Hearts on Fire diamond) at Jarad's. HE TOOK ME TO JARAD'S. We moved in together on May 5, 2005 and were married in front of 50 of our closest friends and relatives in a quaint little chapel on Saturday, July 2, 2005. Honeymooned for a week in Maui....WHEW.

Talk about a life change.....I'm so much in love with this man and I thank God and my surgeon, (bariatric and plastic) for the change my outer appearance has made to allow my inner self the confidence and open heart to fall in love with a wonderful, dear, sweet, sexy man. I can't believe all the wonderful changes I have experienced in the last year and I believe a great deal (if not all of it) has come from my outer appearance changing.

I did have to have some plastic surgery. I had 3 VERY large hernias that had to be repaired. On 2/4/05 I had a lower body lift, hernia repair and a breast lift. Jim took 3 weeks off work to be with me every step of the way (including nursing me back to health). He was with me at every Dr. appointment, every exam, every thing I needed he was at my side. Through that nursing me back to health he witnessed everything...we have no secrets when it comes to my body and the changes it has gone through. Talk about a life saver. The lower body lift was quite an extensive surgery and very painful. I came through it allright, Dr. Slenkovich was my Plastic Surgeon and he did a fantastic job. He took off 15 pounds of fat and skin with the breast lift and lower body lift. I now wear a size 6 pants. I have no butt or hips but I'm not complaining!!

I can wear sexy lingerie, 2 piece swimsuits, bikinis (I've never ever worn a bikini in my life) and I love it!!! I was down to about 136 at my lowest, a little too skinny for my tastes and now I stay right around 145. That's my ideal weight. I feel good at that weight at age 52 (soon to be 53). My Maid of Honor gave me a lingerie shower for my wedding and I received all kinds of sexy little numbers, I wear little thongs now instead of grannie panties! I'm having a ball.

So that brings me current on my history. Any of you who read my profile hopefully can see what a life changing event this is. I do struggle to get my exercise in every day. I've just joined Ballys and am getting back into the routine because I know how important exercise is. I still follow the rules, protein first, then fruit and veges and limit the breads, other carbs. I must admit I have had some sugar obstacles to overcome. I handle that by just saying no. I don't crave sugar but if I have a piece of candy or something it leads to more cravings so I just say no. I eat fruit, raisins, etc. I can eat anything I choose (except ice cream) but I choose to eat the right foods. I eat all the time to avoid going into starvation mode. I just can't eat very much and at times it's worse than others. If I don't eat right (not eating much during the day) then at night I can hardly eat anything. I haven't been sick recently but the last time I did get sick and vomit it was because I ate too many lomein noodles. I won't be eating that for a LONG, LONG time. Bad memories.

I don't drink calorie containing beverages, I don't drink soda pop. I do drink an occasional glass of wine. I have to be very careful with the wine because it does affect me, both the sugar and the alcohol. I don't drink milk, I very rarely eat bread and pasta. Anything I eat it is in very small quantities and I do stop when I reach that full feeling. There are times though that I can eat a lot more food than normal. I don't know why but it happens. And then there are times I can hardly eat anything.

It will be two years on September 29 that I had my surgery. I thank God every day for this wonderful tool, thank you to Dr. Tillquist, Dr. Slenkovich and my wonderful husband Jim. These men have allowed me to change my life and I'm having a wonderful, blessed time right now and enjoying every single minute every single second.

The number on the scale is not the important thing in my life right now. I still weigh about once a week or so, I pay attention if I'm up 5 or more pounds but I don't sweat the small stuff. I know how to use the tool, it works for me and I pay attention to my body. I thank God I've been given this second chance in life to really live it to the max!

I'll post pictures soon of my new self!

01-07-2007  Long time since I last posted here.  Thought I would start out the new year with an update.  Back to the basics with eating and exercise for me.  I have about 15 more pounds on me than I want so I will get them off!  I have few foods that bother me, other than ice cream, salmon (drat), and sugar that bother me.  I still get full very easily, especially when I eat ham, chicken, turkey, you know the dense meats.  I can't drink milk and I really do try to follow the "no calorie containing beverage" rule.  I drink red wine and am cutting back on that.  I love to sit out in the hot tub at night before going to bed and drink a glass of good red wine.  So I'm limiting that.

Life is good - married to my wonderful Jim.  I love him so much and am so fortunate to have gained a ready made family.  His 2 grown children and their kids are all now a part of our family.

Sadly we lost our Bogart dog in March.  He was 16 years old and had a good life, passed during the night - we were going to have to put him down the very next day so he went out his way.  We loved him and miss him so.

I love my life, all is good.  The weight loss has been the best thing that has ever happened to me.  It's been a wonderful gift and I will continue to keep my health in top form.

Looking forward to this new year and the good times life has to offer!  I will get these extra few pounds off before Memorial Day so I can be ready for the summer.