I am stronger today than yesterday and I'll be stronger tomorrow than today!

Hello all of you beautiful, amazing, awesome people!!!!

I haven't posted in a little bit so I thought I'd do a quick catch up post. Sorry if this looks kind of jacked up! I'm on my IPhone right now and I'm not sure how this is gonna look. Anyway, I first want to say THANK YOU so much for reading my blog, leaving encouraging messages and for your support! It really means the world to me!

And thank you to the lovely ladies who introduced themselves on my previous post! I will reply to each of you, I promise! You gals are awesome and have some really cool stories! I appreciate you sharing them with me! :)

Well, I have some exciting news to share! I am almost at my 100lbs mark! I HAVE ALMOST LOST 100LBS!!!! Holy Moly that's insane!!! I feel alot better. I was going through some health issues which is why I haven't posted in awhile. I have been on my period for almost 3 months straight! No joke! It has been the most annoying, painful, exhausting thing yet! I am still on my period but I am taking a medication called Provera that is suppose to stop it. I don't know of it's working or not because it will stop for a few days and then start back. Ugh! So annoying! But if it doesn't work then I'll have to do a DandC, which I really don't want to do. And then I'll take birth control to regulate it.

My legs are doing tons better! They still hurt but not nearly as bad as before! I am slowly adding my exercise to my day so that I don't over do it.

Oh, my hair has been falling out a lot because of my protein level dropping. So I'm taking prenatal vitamins. But does anyone have any tips for keeping your hair healthy? Any shampoos, home remedies, anything?

Also, what are your fav makeup/beauty tips, items or routines? I try to put coacoa butter lotion on after every bath to moisturize my skin, my fav make up item is mascara because I have REALLY long eye lashes and when I have mascara on I feel awesome! :)

I'm excited to hear all of your beauty tips! Love ya guys!

Live Life. Love Life. Love Yourself.
-Emily

Getting to know you......

Ok. I noticed that alot of my followers are people that I dont know. 

So, i want to get to know you!

Here are some questions that you can answer about yourself! 

Im so excited to get to know everyone and I hope tons of people will respond to this! =)

Here goes...

Name?

Where are you from?

Where do you currently live?

Are you married?

Do you have children?

Do you have any hobbies?

What are some recent changes you have made in your life or want to make?

If you could vacation anywhere, where would you go?

What is your favorite color?

What is your favorite food?

What is one thing can you NOT live without?

Do you have any goals that you are currently working towards?

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Live Life. Love Life. Love Yourself.

-Emily

Update!

  Hi Everyone! 

So, i've been kind of lame sauce about blogging. So, i'm doing a little catch up post. 

Well, my legs are MUCH better. 

The numbness is going away slowly but surely. 

But with that comes the ability to feel the pain more. 

My doctor said that the pain, as annoying as it is, is actually a good sign. 

It means that the nerves in my legs are repairing themselves and in time i should be back to normal. 

I have noticed alot of change in my legs over the past week or so. 

I am stronger and I have more control of them while walking. 

So, I do believe I am on the mend! 

Im excited......

I am excited to be able to go for a run or whatever. 

I am excited to be able to wear single digit sized pants. 

I am excited to be on a routine work out schedule and it be like second nature. 

I am excited to start a nursing program. 
I am excited to run in marathons. 

I am excited to have children and plan their meals and teach them about healthy eating. 

Im really just excited about life...

all of the opportunities, choices, challenges, blessings, etc.

So,ive been thinking about several things lately...

I really want to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (keep in mind I am only 18 and have 3 years before I am eligible to serve). 

I would honestly go anywhere that Heavenly Father needs me but I would love to go to Europe. 

Oh Boy! 
As I type this I have 2 year old twin boys sitting in the same seat with me.

One is kissing me over and over and over and over again...

And the other is fighting for some attention. 

Well, im sorry if this was a boring post. 

And I apologize for the lack of pics...

I always like it when people include pics in their posts.

So, im sorry my friends! 

I will post again when I dont have a child's butt in my face and add pics. =)

Until then...

Live Life. Love Life. Love Yourself.

-Emily

Finding out what "works".

If you are anything like me, you have a different schedule everyday. Each day there is something new that I have to do or something alwayx just "pops" up. This can make it quite difficult to get your daily workouts in and proper nutrition. So, I want to share some tips that seem to work for me.

1.) Plan Ahead.

I try to prepare and pack my lunch the night before. That way, I know I have something ready for me and I know it is healthy, Instead, of running through a fast food place and eating something that my thighs WONT thank me for later. =) It is best to be prepared.  Also, when you buy veggies, fruit, or whatever, you can go ahead and divide up single portions and put them in sandwhich bags and keep them in the fridge. That way when you are packing your lunch or just looking for a healthy snack, you already have something available and ready to go.

2.)Switch Up Your Workouts And Get Creative.

I am so horrible about getting bored with my workout. So, I try to switch things up alittle. I work for my mother at her medical practice and there is a walking track just down the street and I take advantage of that as much as possible but there are several other places for me to walk like the park or at the walking track behind the local hospital, etc. So, i try to switch it up every now and then. Just to give me a new atmosphere, ya know? Something different to look at. Something different to listen to. But you could try just switching up the times that you work out. Like, maybe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you workout in the morning and then Tuesday and Thursday you workout in the evenings. You can rest on Sunday. =) It's totally up to you . Do not compare yourself to some one else.

Oh and like I said GET CREATIVE! I work in an office where I could sit ALL day long BUT that is not good. So, when I am on the phone, looking something up on the computer, or whatever  ill stand up  instead of sitting down. Or instead of paging someone, i walk down the hall and tell them what I need to tell them. Also, I babysit alot and sometimes I ll use the baby as a weight. Lift them up and down above your face. They love it! Just make sure they havent recently eaten ....that could be messy. haha

Anyway, thanks for reading and for the love and support.

Live Life, Love Life, Love Yourself.

-Emily

I am tieing a kot on my rope.......

I love quotes! When I find ones that really speak to me, I love to share them. Sometimes, I even make little crafts with the quote and hang it some where in my house so that I feel the motivation it gives me over and over again. 

One of my friends from high school posted this one as her Facebook status and I loved it immediately!

               "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." -Franklin D. Roosevelt"

It just reminds me that even if I am struggling and fighting just to hold on, I can still survive by tying a knot on my "rope" and hanging on for dear life. I will get stronger in time and my fight wont be as hard. I will be able to hold on easily. 

Since, I lost my weight so rapidly my body is having a hard time "catching up". I am a student at Brigham Young University in Rexburg,Idaho and I was attending class this semester but had to switch to online classes and come home. I have this issue about being "indestructible". I never admit when I need help or am not able to do something. So, when my mother asked me if I was gonna be able to go to school and be ok, of course, I said absolutely!  

Well, I never realized how hard it would be to watch my roommates eat delicious food while I sat back with my Activia or how much the stress of school would make me physically sick. After about a month, I gave up and came home defeated. I should have known I couldnt go back to school so soon. It was only like 2 months post-op. 

The day I left I remember telling my best friend, Aly that my leg felt kind of numb. I didnt think much about it because it was just a certain section on my leg, not my entire leg. Anway, I get home and as the days pass I realize the numbness is spreading. Eventually, both legs were numb. From my belly button all the way to my toes. I was so scared because Multiple Sclerosis runs in my family and I just knew my dreams of being a healthy mother and nurse were over. I knew this was serious. I couldnt even control my legs well enough to walk. I couldnt get myself up off of the couch. Nothing.

I went to a doctor, who also goes to church with me, and she advised me to council with a Neurologist. We did the next day and he wanted to do some testing. Has any one ever done any nerve testing before? It is the craziest thing. They stick little sticker things on you and then shock you and watch the reflexes and how your nerves react to it. 

This is kind of how I imagined it would be. Poor kid. In all honesty, it wasnt that bad. (Side Note: I dont know who this kid is. I found this pic on google. hahahaha :)

On a pain scale of 1-10, id say it was a 7 or 8 but it was manageable. I just laughed the whole time. I just kept thinking about how crazy I must have looked jumping uncontrollably every time the nurse shocked me. Or, how I must have looked insane holding my mouth as hard as I could so I didnt scream. It was quite the site! =)

Anyway, it turns out that I do have some nerve damage in my legs. Mainly around the ankles and down through my feet. But the Neurologist said that in time, it should go away and I will be fine. This is not a normal side effect of the surgery. This is my own fault. I was not monitoring my protein intake the way I should have and I allowed my protein levels to drop. After, they dropped all of the damage began. 

But I am working now to reverse this and be able to do whatever exercises I want. Or just simply be able to get off the couch with out a fight. Its the little things in life, ya know? =) 

I am actually about to go for a walk with some friends! Why not invite some one to join in on the fun?! The more the merrier! So, I hope you all are having a fantastic day! HAPPY WEDNESDAY! 

Live Life, Love Life, Love Yourself.

-Emily

I lived to tell the tale.

Hey Everyone! So, today I have thought alot about my life and all ofthe decisions I have made that have gotten me to where I am now and I cant help but be so thankful for the opportunity I have to be healthier and be better. I admit when I had the gastric bypass surgery, I did not do it for myself. Well, not entrirely. I did it for my family. I did it for my children who I will one day have the amazing priviledge of teaching, molding, and hopefully inspiring them to be healthy. I want to prepare myself now so that when I am a mother I can and will make the healthiest choices for my children.  I did this for my future husband. So, that he would have a wife who is as healthy as she possibly can be and who maintains a healthy household. I did this for my sister because she begged me to change so that I would be around for a long time and not die at a young age.

It is not easy to get up earlier in the morning to exercise and drink a protein shake. It is definetely not easy giving up something that you have loved your entire life but the things in life that are worth the fight and struggle are NOT easy! But, you will be better for over coming these challenges. You will see one day that you now have a choice.

Before, the surgery I ate sweets like they were going out of style! I am the cook/baker in the family and I would make birthday cakes, special occasion cakes,etc. I formed an addiction with food and gave up my agency to choose. If I saw a piece of cake I had to eat it. If  someone gave me candy I ate every single piece. It would never even cross my mind to save some for later.

It is incredible for me now to think back on the mindset that I was in before surgery. I am able to walk into a bakery and not even want anything. Or watch some one eat something that I used to LOVE and not even care. Alot of that has to do with the fact that my body cannot digest sugars the same way anymore and if I do eat sweets I get REALLY sick. But, i have also realized that the world will continue on if I dont have a cookie, piece of cake, candy, or whatever else it may be.

So, anyway...I talk alot about making small changes. A few small changes I have made since surgery are:

1. Eat all of the protein off of my plate.

Unless I fix my own plate, I can never eat everything. So, I have to start with the protein first and get as much of that in as possible before I fill up.

2. NO CANDY! When I first had the surgery, i figured out that I could suck on hard candy (root beer barrells) and not get sick. Well, I quickly realized that this theory isnt accurate with all candy. I just avoid candy of all kinds! I seriously dont even like eating peppermints.

3.Increase water intake. My body doesnt absorb nutrients the way it used to. So, i could easy drink soda s and whatever and not absord as many calories as someone else would but it is still not the healthier option. Although, there are some healthy beverages available, water is always gonna be the healthiest option.

4.I take 3 vitamins daily.

and

 

 

and

 I have really began to love vitamins. After surgery I couldnt swallow pills, so I HAD to take chewable vitamins and even though I can swallow pills now I still choose to stick with the same ones.

Anyway, so here is my first "Before and After" pictures.

BEFORE

AFTER

3 months post-op. 90lbs down.
Sorry, its crooked. I dont know why it did that.

I have a long way to go until I feel like I am at a healthy weight and can maintain that weight. But, life is a journey and this is too. If it werent for our struggles and challenges in life, we would be really bored. So, I hope anyone who is reading this will follow me along my journey and maybe if I am really lucky, I will motivate you to join me!

Live Life, Love Life, Love Yourself.

-Emily

My Sister's Story

Here are a few pictures from when my sister had her surgery. I didnt take any pictures during my stay but she took plenty. So, here we go!

This is my beautiful mother, Dr. Alberto Aceves, and my sister, Ashley.

   

Ashley and Sergio. He was my nurse as well. He was the kindest person ever and I knew that he had my best interest at heart. He is also the one that is in charge of making sure you are doing your breathing exercises and trust me you better do them! He is relentless! =) 

Dr. Campos and Ashley. He actually had the Gastric Sleeve done and has lost alot of weight himself. He looks very different now. He is in charge of educating the patients on nutrition and making sure you understand how different your eating habits are gonna be and how important it is to begin a healthy diet from the start. He also is such a nice, caring, compassionate person.

This picture comforted me every time I began to think "What am I doing? I cant do this. I am not strong enough." I was reminded that I was strong enough and everything would be ok because God would guide  my surgeons hands and clear his mind. He would allow him the peace that he needed to focus on me. Dr. Aceves actually mentioned that God deserved the credit for the success of his surgeries. His faith in God, comforted me and relieved me of all my worries.

Ok. Now I will show you what my beautiful sister looks like now! She is currently on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has taken her second chance at life to share the gospel with others and share of message with them of Christ's love fore them. If you are interested and want to learn more about our faith, you can visit lds.org.  She is so happy now. She is living life, loving life, and loving herself!

My sister has always loved outdoor activities but could never enjoy them because of her weight but her companion, Sister Elaina McCombs challenged her to go hiking with her on the "P" day. Ashley said that it was quite the challenge but she is glad that she did it because when she got to the end of the hike and was able to look back on what she had just accomplished, it reminded of her of when she was over weight and she knew that if she hadnt had the gastric bypass surgery she would have never been able to do it. 

To date, she has lost about 170lbs. She is such an inspiration to me and a great example of strength and courage. She is still working to improve her health. I think that is the key to being healthy and reaching your full potential; you have to work on it constantly. Always think of healthier options. For example, if you have some free time and the weather permits it, go for a walk. It doesnt have to be anything major. Also, when you go to the store dont circle the parking lot a hundred times looking for the closest parking space. Park far away from the entrance. The exercise is worth it. You can also choose to take the stairs instead of the elevator or maybe you can choose to drink water with your meal instead on soda or you got grilled chicken instead of fried. All of these choices are beneficial and will add up. Small changes are the key to healthy living. 

So, I challenge you to think about something that you are doing that you could change in order to be healthier. Maybe you could go to the gym during your lunch break, give up soda for a week, drink more water, start taking vitamins, etc. Please participate in this challenge and then report back to me. I want to hear your stories and I want to know how these changes are effecting your life.

Live life, Love life, Love yourself.

-Emily

On March 25, 2011, I will officially be 4 months post-op from having the gastric bypass surgery. I created this blog so that I could tell my story and help others who are going through the same thing.

I have suffered with obesity my entire life. It consumed my every thought, controlled my every action and owned my every emotion. I was not living life but barely surviving it. My entire family battled the same thing and because of my genetics I assumed that I was just doomed. I was wrong. My mother had the gastric bypass surgery when I was younger (around 8 years old) and I honestly had no idea what the operation was or what it meant but I knew that it was serious. My mother struggled after her operation and actually ended up being hospitalized for longer than usual due to pneumonia. But, she fought and fought and never gave up. She lost about 200lbs over the span of about a year and a half or so.

My older sister, who fought the same battle, also wanted to undergo the gastric bypass surgery but at that time our finances were so unstable that it was just out of the question. We had no insurance and my mother was working on her masters and wasn't employed. She felt lost and scared and just knew that she would never have the same chance as our mother. She tried for years to loose the weight by dieting and exercise and never saw any improvement.

A friend of ours mentioned that she knew someone who had gone to Mexico and had the same operation but only paid around $12,000 for it. In the states, it can be anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 easily. At first, we were very unsure about this but we did our research and decided it was the right choice for her. My sister finally received the gastric bypass surgery on May 21, 2009 at The Mexicali Bariatric Center in Mexicali, Mexico. The operation was performed by Dr. Alberto Aceves who was assisted by Dr. Edgar Campos.

After seeing my sister recover, I swore to myself that I would do everything in my power to avoid this surgery. I was gonna loose the weight on my own but after months and months of struggling and pushing myself to the very edge, I decided to council with a doctor. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, and was told that I had to do something quick. I was on the verge of serious, permanent health problems.

On November 24, 2010, I travelled from Oxford,MS to San Diego, CA where I was greeted at the airport by a man named Earnesto. He was standing at baggage claims and was holding a sign with my name on it. We loaded up in the patient van and headed to Mexico. At this time, I was ready for what I was about to go through. I had already cried all that I needed to on the plane and was ready. We drive for about 2 hours or so and finally reached the infamous border. The hospital was only about 5 minutes away from the border and once we arrived, we were sent straight into the lab to have all of our pre-op tests done. We also did an EKG and met with the staff that would be caring for me. The patient coordinator, Yolanda was there and collected our payment. She was so nice and compassionate with me. Her patience and love really calmed my nerves. Then, we were taken to a local hotel where we would stay the night. It was such a nice place and our stay there was free. There was a restaurant in the lobby and I was advised to eat anything and everything I wanted because it would be my last chance. I ate a steak, French fries, shrimp, chips and salsa, chocolate cake and had about 3 diet cokes. I am now completely disgusted with how much I ate that night.

After dinner, we went back to our room and settled in for the might. I was given a medicine to take at night that would relax me and prepare me for the anesthesia the next morning. It was just one little pill. Earnesto picked us up from the hotel at about 7:30 am and took us back to the hospital. I finished signing paperwork and took some more relaxing medications. An internal medicine doctor came in and examined me and gave me the green light to go ahead with the surgery. When, it was my turn in the operating room the nurses came to my room and got me all ready. I remember being wheeled out of my room and telling my mom goodbye. At that time, I knew I was going to be okay. I knew that I was doing the right thing. I knew that God would be with my surgeon and me and wouldnt allow anything bad to happen. I had never been hospitalized before for anything and so I was very nervous but the staff were all so gracious and caring. The hospital was cleaned spotless. Honestly, i have never seen floors shine like that before in my life! Anyway, continuing on......

Once in the operating room, everyone got right to work but they were very caring and made sure to tell me exactly what they were doing. The anesthesiologists were related. The older one was the uncle and the younger one the nephew. They wanted me to be informed and be calm. It helped me so much to be aware of what was going on around me! The next thing I remember is being woken up in the recovery room. My nurse, Sergio, was there with me. He called me Emilita, meaning "Little Emily". They took such good care of me but after two hours in the recovery room I was ready to go back to my room and see my mom. They helped me into my bed and I was told to start walking as soon as possible. I had to make a few laps around the hospital every day. Dr. Aceves and Dr. Campos were there for me everyday. They encouraged me, made me laugh, etc. On the last day that I would be staying at the hospital, a nurse came in to give me some more pain medicine and my vein blew. Which, meant they had to remove my I.V. and honestly, i dont know why i cried like a baby because I was so relieved to have that thing out of my hand but I did. I sat on my hospital bed and cried and cried and cried. Dr. Campos sat down with me and took a tissue and wiped my tears away and consoled me and promised me that everything would be okay. It meant so much to me that he would take time to just be there for me. Doctors here in the states would never do that. They wouldnt check on you 3-4 times a day. You would never be assigned like 4 nurses to care for your every need. My experience was incredible. I was cared for like royalty and the work ethic of the Mexican people was just astounding. They are amazing, loving people. I will forever be grateful  for them.

November 25, 2010 is a day that I will celebrate forever. Not just because it was Thanksgiving,but because that was the first day of the rest of my life.On that day, i was given a second chance at life. I was allowed to start over. I know alot of people think of this surgery as "the easy way out" but I can promise you there is nothing easy about having to learn how to eat all over again. The beginning is a struggle. It is hard. But, it is not impossible and it is worth it. So, therefore, all of the hard work is worth it and will pay off. I will be able to enjoy life and love myself for who I am . I will no longer hold myself back and keeping myself from living life. I will live my life.

I am so glad that I chose to start this blog and I am excited to hear others opinions, questions, fears, anything! Please, feel free to comment. ALSO,  thank you  so much for actually taking the time to read my story!

Live life. Love life. Love yourself.

-Emily