My Journey

 This is why I can't get anything done, lol. YouTube's algorithm keeps me watching shit like this 😅

 

I've called it. I'm stopping my weight loss portion of my body/health transformation, at least for now. I was only 9 lbs away from 135 lbs, but at another 9 lbs loss, my face and upper body is going to look even worse than it does now. I'm looking a bit...gaunt. Losing more weight isn't going to get rid of my pooch (another area of loose excess skin and some fat). 

Now I'm focusing on maintaining my weight, addressing my skin laxity issues and rebuilding muscle in much needed areas like my buttocks and core. I'm also focusing on liver health since my latest Fibroscan wasn't what I expected (fibrosis score increased). Perhaps I will get back on the Mediterranean Diet.

Even though I didn't get to 135 lbs, I'm still very happy losing a whopping 94 lbs. Going from a few pounds away from severe obesity to healthy makes me proud I stuck with this long and often frustrating journey. I can now partake in the fun part -- since I got rid of 98% of my wardrobe I get to buy all sorts of cute clothes!

As I mentioned previously, my Fibroscan isn't what I was completely hoping for, BUT losing close to 100 lbs also did these positive things:

• Went from severe sleep apnea to no apnea.
• Went from being pre-diabetic with a 5.9 A1c to a normal 5.2 A1c.
• Went from severe fatty liver with a Fibroscan CAP score of 395 dB/m (grade 3) to a CAP score of 168 dB/m (most likely grade 0).
• Went from a XXL to a M/L.
• Went from a US pant size 18/22 to a 10/12.
• Can climb stairs now.
• Can walk super fast now.
• Less knee/ankle pain.
• I don't get winded anymore.
• I get to retake my driver license photo since it doesn't look like me anymore.

All in all it was a major win. I just need time to adjust to the new me.

Car

Service


I brought my car to the dealer for an oil change and was told my rear brake pads needed replacement at 10K miles.

Uh huh.

There was a service call for the rear brake pads for my car (2022 VW Taos). Apparently the rear brake pads prematurely wear out needing replacement. The dealer had to keep the car over night to submit warranty information to Volkswagen. They gave me a loaner car (the ugly Hyundai Elantra pictured above) for two days. 

Driving the Hyundai sedan made me appreciate my SUV so much! With the Hyundai, I felt I was driving a skateboard, it felt that close to the ground. My lease is quickly coming to end and I've decided my next vehicle will be another SUV, I can't go back to a coupe or sedan.

Possible New Cars


My preliminary search has narrowed to these four vehicles. I will only consider the model years referenced for each make. I'm still on the fence with the Toyota RAV4 and the Volvo XC40. Price, availability and Trump's idiotic ongoing tariff saga will be the final determining factors.


Health

Sleep Study
The results of my follow-up sleep study revealed NO MORE sleep apnea!!!! Two years ago I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. At the time, I was advised to use a CPAP machine and lose weight. Well, I never could get the CPAP machine to work for me, but I've managed to lose 88 lbs so far. I guess losing weight really did the trick.

Ovarian Cysts
Today's follow-up pelvic imaging revealed the hemorrhagic cyst is gone! I guess it did rupture? Also, no more free fluid can be seen, so that's good. The other cyst is still there, just chilling--not getting bigger or smaller, it's stable for now. The follow-up with the gyno will reveal next steps, if any.

Blood Tests
My gyno ordered additional tests for various issues including hair loss and possible PCOS induced hormonal imbalance. Surprisingly all my tests came back...normal. Even the testosterone one (PCOS can cause elevated testosterone levels)! The only thing my doctor recommended was for me to either use supplements or through diet to up the following: calcium, ferritin and vitamin d. Even though everything was within normal range she felt I wasn't at optimal ferritin and vitamin d levels. Looks like I'll need a bigger pill box. 

Weight Loss
Thankfully I'm nearing the end of my weight loss journey. At 150 lbs I'm 15 lbs away from my goal weight of 135 lbs. I may not make that goal. Looking at my body and how it's reacting, I may stop at 140-145 lbs. When you get older, places like the face and neck carry less fat. I'm happy that I'm healthier, but the weight loss has come at a cosmetic price. I have mild to moderate loose skin in the following areas: face, upper/underarms, pelvic, butt, stomach, breasts, and inner thighs.

I've been told skin laxity may get better anywhere between 6 to 12 months after the completion of weight loss. Considering my age, I doubt it's going to get any better. I've been looking into non-surgical skin tightening and the cost is somewhat affordable. Time will determine what course of action to take regarding my skin.

 

I have to wear a holter monitor for two days. 

This all come about from an alarming blood pressure reading of 98/38 that I called out when my doctor was trying to prescribe a medication that might also lower blood pressure, otherwise it would've been ignored. I was tasked to keep a journal of my blood pressure, heart rate and water intake. After a week my doctor reviewed my blood pressure journal and noticed my resting bpm was rather slow (44 - 53 bpm). It has been that way for a while. Originally, I assumed it was my medication, now, I'm not so sure.

*SIGH*

Let's see what the test reveals.

 

NO CANCER!!!

My diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound revealed an image artifact, that's it. 

*WHEW*

Now I just need to get through the next few months with my other health issues.

I have three ultrasounds scheduled for:

Pelvic - August 14, 2025
Suspected ovarian cyst(s) since I have PCOS: 

• Very painful periods. Pain radiates to the lower back area.
• Spotting.
• Crazy hormonal food cravings.
• Passing huge clots.
• Urge to pee, but very little comes out.

Breast - September 30, 2025 August 19, 2025
"The 6 mm round asymmetry in the right breast appears indeterminate."
My annual mammogram revealed an abnormality. Diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound have been ordered. Nothing says I have shitty medical insurance (Kaiser) like scheduling important tests that could reveal a cancerous growth almost two months out (working on getting a sooner appointment). I wouldn't be so freaked out if it weren't for the pain in the right breast...

Edited to add: I finally got an earlier appointment in August, I just had to do all the leg work by calling another Kaiser region and have to drive 30 miles out, lol. The diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound should've been scheduled THIS week, but I'll take what I can get. Remember folks "soCiALIZed hEaLThCarE SuCKs," because the wait times...oh wait...

Liver - October 21, 2025
Follow-up Fibroscan
Since I have MASLD, diet and weight loss should help remove the excess fat accumulation in the liver. Since I lost almost 80 lbs we are expecting better numbers. Last September, I was showing grade 3 fat accumulation. There are only three grades, lol. At least I was F0/F1, which means there is no to very little scarring in my liver. F4 is end-stage/cirrhosis.

Trying to keep busy/forget about this shit, it's all driving me crazy.

 

I think my boss knows I'm horny for him. When he comes to talk to me he looks straight in my eyes with a shit eating grin and lightly flirts. At first I resist eye contact, but in the end I fail and give him this come-hither smile. I can absolutely feel it forming too, lol. 

Half of me is mortified the other half just gets hornier.

HAHAHA.

Yeah...

He's not even my type, but the man is sexxxy. He wears those form fitting t-shirts which shows his arm sleeve tattoo...

God help me.

I hope he's MAGA, because that'll help to kill all horniness from now to the end of time.

 I've lost count, lol.

I struggled with getting out of the 180s despite calorie counting and exercise. I think I started to eat more no no foods and I just didn't want to put in the intensity into my workouts. It's ok, because the 170s is proving to be so much better.

I'm excited about entering the 160s, I haven't been that weight since...2008/2009? I'm just so proud of myself for sticking with my diet and exercise. 

 

Five years of avoiding covid is gone. I've been feeling pretty shitty the past few days, but today I felt something was off so I took the covid test. Positive.

*SIGH*

At least I have an excuse to eat breads (toast) and avoid people for a good while.

The past four weeks have been difficult to lose weight due to all the Ozempic side effects, period issues and increased cravings. But I did manage to lose 5 lbs. Hopefully the next four weeks I'll see better weight loss numbers.

I'm 5 lbs away from dropping to 179 lbs! Very excited! I still have 54 lbs/24.5 kg left to go to reach my goal weight of 130 lbs/59 kg :)

I was going to talk about something else, but I can't remember, lol.