Well, after going to an orientation and meeting with 2 surgeons. It appears that to get my sleeve after my lap band I have to start over....
Long story short, I had a lap band placed in 2008 and lost 50 lbs. I kept it off until December 2010 when the band slipped and had to be removed. Fast forward 15 months to now, and I have regained every pound I lost and am basically miserable with my health. (NOT my life because alot of great things have happened in the past 15 months...new house, new husband!!) There are alot of reasons for the weight regain but what it comes down to is that I overate to a scary extent (according to the surgeon I had to eat an additional 180,000 calories!!!). So as of right now I am not a good risk for a band (past band failure, as well as weight regain).
In order to prove that I am a good risk, and serious about this I have to lose 25 lbs....Yikes!!! That's like 1/2 of what I lost WITH the help of the lap band. I do understand the reasoning behind it, from the surgeons perspective. However, let's be honest, THIS SUCKS!!! Looks like I'll be white-knuckling it for awhile!!
I'm trying to see the up side of this...better recovery, more success and let's face it weight loss. So...ready or not, let's do this thing!!!
I am still trying to lose the 25# required for the surgeon to schedule my surgery. I have basically been sitting in the same spot for a month....Down 12# and holding!! I'm eating like I should, I FEEL better, my husband says he can tell I'm losing weight, and I'm riding my bike a few times a week but for some reason the number on the scale isn't cooperating. The sad thing is that if I wasn't trying lose a specific number of pounds I would be fine! I honestly have gotten over my addiction to the number on the scale, I have been doing this my whole life and there are so many more important things than the number on the scale.
BUT the surgeon wants numbers....I guess I'll have to do something drastic. 1000 calories anyone?? (I know AFTER the sleeve that will sound great...but I still have all of my stomach!)
Looked back over my blogs and I realized I blogged about the day we went to the Third Day Concert (almost a year ago) and the shirt I wanted to wear didn't fit. Fast forward to today and I am wearing that shirt..the one that didn't fit!!!
Hopefully the picture will attach. The pic on the left was last year and it's a picture of the Concert picture...but you get the idea. The one on the right is today. Not a before and after, but definitely a before and during!!
I'm channeling my inner Dori and singing to myself...Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...in more ways than one. Today is 8 weeks and I lost a whole pound this week. So my 9# loss in Month 2 is a lot less than my 19# loss in my first month. BUT things are definitely changing...so I've just gotta keep going!
I joined a gym last week. After a little fiasco with the first gym I tried (a very uncomfortable experience) I ended up joining a gym that the whole family can go to. They have 3 pools and a great kids program and I think it's going to be a great place for my whole family. I have gone everyday since I joined and am doing a lot of swimming. I'm not a very fast swimming but I can definitely tell I'm working parts of my body that haven't been worked in awhile. My step daughter is a water polo player and she has taken it upon herself to be my personal trainer and is having me do her water workouts....well my version of them anyway She is either going to whip me into shape or kill me...LOL
My kids are swimming with me, and it's been interesting to hear their comments about Mom getting in and swimming and not just sitting on the side soaking my feet. Apparently, I have been missing out on a lot since I got heavier .
So I am walking, and biking, and swimming...trying to get in 5-6 days a week of some sort of activity. So even if the scale isn't moving very much, I KNOW I am in a very different place than I was last year at this time. I'm not the heaviest person at the pool, and I'm not the skinniest...but I am starting to feel comfortable in my own skin!!!
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
4/24/13: 233 (-2)
5/2/13: 229 (-4)
SECOND MONTH -9#
Thank you Scale-Gods!!! It finally moved! After 2 full weeks of my scale being stuck at 238 this morning it finally says 237!! Whoo-hoo! So in 5 weeks I have lost 20#....I can handle that! :D
Right now my challenge is calories. Not getting them in, I haven't had any problem tolerating anything. I'm having problems figuring out where my body will lose best. My surgeon recommends staying at 600 calories for the entire losing process. However, I have a couple problems with that. #1 - I feel like crap keeping my calories that low (like low energy, foggy brain etc) and #2 it just seems like in the long run that would work against my metabolism. So here's what I am currently doing. I am trying to listen to my body, if I'm hungry (not just bored, sad etc) I am eating a little something. It's about every 2-3 hours that I'm eating something. I am tracking everything I eat and right I'm averaging about 800 calories. My RMR is about 1700 calories so I would think that everything should be fine. I've seen quite a few people on the forums )and picked their brains) who didn't sticl to the super low calorie intake and have still been incredibly successful. BUT, there is still that little voice in the back of my head telling me that I will fail....especially if I'm not doing exactly what the surgeon says.
So I'm glad the scale finally moved, just reinforces how I feel. I know I feel better, I actually have so much energy. I feel like I'm going a little stir crazy cause I work at a desk job all day so when I get home I'm ready to go and do something...all the time!!! My poor little lap dog has to just follow me around and hope I sit down soon
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
7 weeks Post Op and the Honeymoon is OVER for me. The first 3 weeks the weight melted off, then I had the dreaded stall. The stall broke and now I am losing 1-2 pounds a week. Which is great! BUT, it is definitely work! I am having to make very conscience decisions about what I eat and to exercise. Sound familiar?? Sounds like the standard eat less, move more mantra that every doctor/nutritionist has told me my whole life. DUH!!
See, I am one of those "lucky" ones that can tolerate anything. Nothing makes me sick, I guess I have a sleeve of steel to quote someone else. Now, I am limited to how much I can eat which is definitely a good thing. Because I CAN eat anything doesn't mean I SHOULD. This weekend was my eye opener. We had people over and I discovered that I can drink...DANG! I had a couple drinks, and I munched ALOT. I can eat a little something, then a little bit later I can eat a little more. I felt like I was eating all night. I did keep track of everything on Myfitnesspal on my phone so I have a really good idea of what it really looked like. When you add in the drinks (which were vodka and diet cranberry, which is a decent choice) I ended up close to 1200 calories for the day. Pre-Surgery that would have been a GREAT day. However post surgery that was very eye opening for me. I could see very clearly that my choices and decisions are going to make a huge difference in my outcome...regardless of the surgery! The surgery helps, for sure, but I am still going to have to do the work or I'll be right back to where I started!!
So like any normal person, the next day, I picked myself up...took the lessons to heart...and started over. Made good food choices and kept exercising. I say "like any normal person" because previously this would not be the way I handled it. I would have said "oh well, I blew it so I might as well quit" and my one day of bad eating would have turned into 2, then 3 then a week.
I am alternating between walking and riding my bike (the picture is of me the other day with my uber-cool cruiser bike!) and I just found out that 24 hour fitness has a great deal going on so I think tomorrow (pay day) I'll be joining the gym too! I think that's a good reward for losing almost 50 lbs!!
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
4/24/13: 233 (-2)
9 weeks post op and I didn't lose any weight this week. But it's all good! I have been hitting the gym pretty hard so I'm good with no loss. My pants are loser and I definitely feel better!
I'm trying to get to the gym at least 5 days a week. I'm doing 3 days of swimming laps and 2 days of cardio (as in eliptical or treadmill) and weights. Then in addition to the planned days I'm also taking the kids over to the gym on the weekends to swim so I'm getting additional activity that way. AND my stepdaughter is doing the P90X ab workout, so she's got me doing what I can on that. (It's pretty ugly, but I'm trying)
My husband decided he needed to keep up with me. So he started going to the gym with me a couple days a week and cut out his sugary treats...and in one week HE lost 7#!!! Isn't that the way it always works?? I'm working my butt off and he just cuts back and loses! LOL...
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
4/24/13: 233 (-2)
5/2/13: 229 (-4)
SECOND MONTH -9#
5/8/13: 229 (-0)
Here I am buzzing along like everything is good. Went back to work yesterday and made it all day, and today...BANG!!! I hit the wall, I feel like I could sleep for about a week!!
I don't know if it's from lack of calories, electolytes or just over doing it but DANG!!!!
Think I'll go home early and take a nap.
10 week update...
Ok, so I guess I am becoming a Gym Rat...That's a good thing...right???
Since I joined the gym I have gone 5-6 times a week. I am swimming laps, doing cardio and weights, hanging out with my kids while they swim (which isn't laps but is activity). Yesterday I did 1/2 hour on the eliptical on the Weight loss setting which changes the resistance every 5 minutes. THEN I did 3 sets each of tricep press, row, shoulder press, and 2 different leg presses. I was sweating for over an hour!! And I love it!!
And my muscles are responding. I used to work out all the time and had pretty good muscle tone, now all those muscles are coming back. They are currently layered under some fat still but I can see them trying to poke back up!
I took Mother's Day off and I was so out of sorts. My husband just wanted me to relax and chill and I had the hardest time sitting still. I just have too much energy!!
My daughter took me to Old Navy for Mother's Day to get me a couple shirts that fit...I guess she was tired of seeing me in my too big frumpy clothes. So I picked out a few things in my normal XXL size that I wear at Old Navy and head for the dressing room! And EVERYTHING was too Big!!! I had my daughter running back and forth getting me smaller sizes. It was soooo fun!!! Usually I'm the one running to get sizes for her and shes having the fun of trying everything on...Can't wait to get even smaller!!
Today I have lost 30# since surgery. I think it's going slower than some, but I feel really good about it. I am eating about 1000-1200 calories per day and I feel good, with good energy and I'm able to work out. I'm trying to look long term, I could bring my calories back down and maybe lose a little faster but in the long run I think I'll be better off keeping the calories up a bit. I have my 3 month appointment with my surgeon on June 6th, and I'm curious to see what he has to say. He wanted me on 650 calories for my entire losing period...that did NOT work for me. And he wanted me to lose 12# a month. So we will see what he thinks. Regardless, I am doing what works for me!! :D
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
4/24/13: 233 (-2)
5/2/13: 229 (-4)
SECOND MONTH -9#
5/8/13: 229 (-0)
5/15/13: 227 (-2)
I think this is as good a place as any to start writing down the NSV as I notice them. I am only 3 weeks out and I have already noticed a few.
1. I flew to my sisters wedding in CO and I was perfectly comfortable in the plane seat. I have never really needed a seat belt extender but I have definitely been very uncomfortable in the seat with the seatbelt tight around me. This time I had some play in the seat belt and could comfortably sit for the whole trip not feeling like I was packed into the seat.
2. At my sisters wedding I danced! My uncle told me it was the first time he had seen me letting go and having fun in the 20 years he's known me. Now whether that's from the weight loss or my new hubby of 2 years, who knows? Doesn't really matter...what matters is I danced!!
3. Apparently I have totally stopped snoring! I meantioned to my husband that I will probably stop snoring and he said, "Oh you haven't snored the past few nights." I guess he didn't realize he was supposed to alert me to this stuff...LOL
4. On Thursday I went to my doctor appt and while we were sitting there waiting I looked down and realized I had sat down and crossed my legs....Like REALLY crossed my legs like a lady!! And I didn't even realize it!
That's all I've noticed so far, but I'm really trying to pay attention since I think some of the NSV just slip past unnoticed. But I know when I hit those stall weeks that I will need to be able to look back and see all the things that have nothing to do with the scale.
One of the major problems with losing weight and then regaining it is that all the cute smaller clothes hang in my closet taunting me!!
I have been having "one of those" weeks. I've done very well losing the required 25# for the surgeon to schedule my surgery. However, this week I hit a snag! Now in my head, I know I have eating correctly and I even added in riding my bike, but when the scale pops up it just does something to you. Well that's what happened...stupid scale was up 4#...4#!!!! I KNOW it's water, I KNOW it's that time of the month, I KNOW alot of stuff but apparently my scale doesn't care.
So take that, add in being bloated and irritable, and hot and sweaty! Now add in a special concert that hubby and I are going to (Third Day!!! Whoot Whoot) ...and enter the closet...it went something like this...
I have to figure out what I'm going to wear so I go check out my closet. Well I have 2 pairs of jeans that fit but dang it, it's 90 outside and I'm already sweating. So summery loose dress?? Ugh...I look pregnant! Take it off! So I try some capris....ok, these fit but the shirt I want to wear is too short, and my belly hangs out (YUCK)! I take it off and try another shirt...nope to tight around the bra region (hate the back fat bulge!!). Try another shirt....ick! Back to looking pregnant! Get mad, and put on one of my baggy tshirts! Flounce back out of the closet to try to put on makeup...but I'm sweating....UGH!!! Go stand in front of the fan!
Now, meanwhile hubby is showering and trying to be supportive. "Honey, you look good" "No that shirt looks fine" "It doesn't matter what you wear, I love you" You know, saying all the right stuff...but all I know is how I feel...and I feel like crap!!
So I get to the point, where I'm not going!! But hubby, bless his heart goes and finds an old Third Day thirt....which actually fits, hangs low enough to cover the belly, and doesn't make me look pregnant! Love that man! OK, fine...I'll go! And off to the concert we go.
And at the concert, after my little tantrum God showed me where I am making some progress....We actually got to do a meet and greet with Third Day and it was informal so we were sitting on the floor. Well I could get down on the floor, AND get back up under my own power. And then during the concert I fit in the seat, and didn't feel like I was pushing over on my neighbor. Little things, but I am making progress...slow progess...but progress in the right direction to get me my sleeve!!!! Now if only the scale would agree...unfortunately the doc doesn't take NSV...only numbers!!
Well I made it through both weeks of liquids and got to move on to soft foods. But the added wrinkle to my week is that I am traveling from CA to CO for my sisters wedding. So I am not in my home environment. My sister was very helpful and had my protein drinks, yogurt and cottage cheese at her house when I got here so that has helped.
So far I am doing fine with soft foods. However, I have discovered that I am sensitive to sugars. I have had two bouts of diahrrea, both of which came after I had a bit too much sugar. (One I had blended some peanut butter into a shake, and the second one was just eating a normal yogurt) So neither time was I over doing it, but I have decided that I am really watching the sugar content in anything I eat. It has been a challenge to be with my whole family, and not be eating. I haven't really had an issue with it, I'm not hungry and I just eat what I can. But I think other people get nervous if I don't eat. But so far, I've been doing good. My other challenge is to drink my water. We spent the past 2 days running around, setting up for the wedding, the wedding itself, and then running around cleaning up. I have been really really tired and I noticed that the creases in my skin are staying much longer than they should (like creases on my shin from tucking my jeans into my boots stayed there for over 8 hours)...so I'm a little dehydrated. But I'm going better today and just hauling my water bottle around with me.
My weigh day was Wednesday and I did weigh just before I got on the plane. I did win the bet with my husband ...he thought I would lose close to 20# between surgery and our trip (2 weeks) I didn't think I'd lose that quick. I was right, but I still feel good about what I have lost.
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
I will be flying home on Wednesday so I'll have to weigh on Thursday after I'm back at home with my own scale!!
Today is my first day back at work. I think I am doing phenomenal!! I did however think it was a good idea to wear my jeans to work...ummmm....NOT! The jeans don't rub any of the incision sites but when I sit they push up under the lowest one, not very comfy. It's a good thing I have on a big sweatshirt so I could have my pants unzipped under my desk Hubby to the rescue he brought me my yoga pants! So I'm looking pretty slumpy but I'm here and I feel good!!
My first official weigh in will be on Wednesday (on the once a week plan) but I'd be lying if I said I haven't jumped on the scale every morning. So far it's about a pound a day. I'm sure it will slow down soon but it sure is fun to see the scale moving that fast!
Hopefully the fact that the scale moved 2 weeks in a row means that the stall is over! It didn't move much, at least not compared to the first month but it's going down. So whatever speed it chooses to move is fine with me!
I have been trying very hard to listen to my body and eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. Right now that's about 800-900 calories a day and I'm feeling really good. I have good energy and feel healthy! And my libido is in full swing (Hubby is loving the current hormones...LOL)
I am trying to bump up my intentional exercise. I have plantar facietis so when I walk too much I am in alot of pain, so I'm trying to rotate between walking and riding my bike. (Just to give you a visual, I have a super fun green cruiser bike with big flowers and and a basket!!). Monday I rode 6 miles AND took my dog on a short walk (she's a sausage dog with short legs so she doesn't walk far Gonna shoot for the same thing today. I'm trying to figure out the whole gym thing. I want to join one mainly so I can swim but haven't decided if I can justify the money. Then I could alternate between walking, swimming and biking...Hey wait, that's almost like a triathalon...right??? Whoo-hoo Go Me!!!
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
Today was my 3 week post op appointment. I am doing incredibily well, all incisions are healing nicely, no side effects, no problems. I can drink all the liquid I need to, and am getting all my protein. I have been cleared to slowly and carefully start adding in other foods. And best of all I have lost 19 lbs since surgery and 43 total since I started the pre-op diet. 43!!! That is only 7 lbs less than I lost the entire 2 years I had the lap band.
For anyone who is trying to decide between the lap band and the sleeve, or anyone considering converting from the lap band to the sleeve. I cannot say strongly enough...Go For The Sleeve!!! The difference is night and day. With the band I could eat very little, but I was always hungry (still had my whole stomach) with the sleeve, I can eat very little and I can honestly say I am full. For example at lunch today I had 4 oz of cottage cheese and 2 oz of imitation crab, and I couldn't finish it. Not only oould I physically not finish it, but I was honestly full! Whoot Whoot!!! Before the sleeve, I told my husband I never felt full until I was stuffed (which might explain my obesity
I am so glad I did this!!! My husband says I'm melting before his eyes!
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
It has been 3 months since surgery and I feel better than I have in YEARS. And according to my husband I look pretty damn good too!! :wub: Love him!!
I went 3 weeks without weighing this month which was a good thing. I did it as a show of solidarity to some gals who were having a hard time stepping away from the scale. And I'm really glad I did. I have been working out 5-6 days a week and it slowed my weigh loss down quite a bit and to be honest it was rather annoying. But by stepping away from the scale I was able to focus on doing what I know I needed to do. I am still alternating swimming laps and cardio/machines. BUT I have added laps and am up to 40-50 laps and i have also upped my cardio to 1/2 hour and added more machines. I am working out a solid hour! And on weekends I'm still going back to the gym to swim with the kids so I am getting extra activity.
My 3 month appointment with my surgeon was yesterday and she was very happy with my progress. I am down 36# since surgery, for a total of 60# since I started my preop diet!! She said I'm doing great. She was pleasantly surprised at my workout schedule and wasn't concerned at all that I am eating 1200 calories a day since I'm obviously working out enough to balance that out.
I totally forgot to take measurements and take my 3 month pictures so at this point I think I'm just going to skip it and do it at the beginning of July. I know I've lost inches since my size 16's are starting to get a little baggy. I only have a couple of 14's so I may actually be getting to the point where I have to shop at a store instead of my closet!
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
4/10/13: 237 (-1)
4/17/13: 235 (-2)
4/24/13: 233 (-2)
5/2/13: 229 (-4)
SECOND MONTH -9#
5/8/13: 229 (-0)
5/15/13: 227 (-2)
5/22/13: Didn't Weigh
5/29/13: Didn't Weigh
6/5/13: 223 (-4)
THIRD MONTH -6#
6/12/13: 221 (-2)
Ok, I'm going to give this a try. I keep saying I like to journal but the reality is that I end up with all kinds of journals that are started but I never finish them. So maybe it's not that I like journaling...maybe I just like new journals! LOL
So on Wednesday March 6th, I was sleeved!!! I previously had a lapband in 2008 and had to have it removed in 2012 due to a profound slip. Since then I have seen 3 different surgeons and switched insurance companies but I finally ended up with my wonderful surgeon. I had to to down to San Francisco to have surgery (from Sacramento) but I'm totally glad I did. I was in great hands. I can't say enough good things about the nurses and staff and California Pacific Medical Center. This was by far my best surgery. at 6 a.m. they started my IV (painless I might add) and at 7:30 I was in the OR. My husband got to stay with me right up until I went into the OR. I got up on the table (burrrr) and started having a conversation with my PA about beating her weight loss goal before surgery, the anethesia guy says I'm going to give you something to relax you, just think about being on a beach. And that's it!! Next think I know a nurse is saying "Vicki? can you wake up a bit?" I can honestly say that I never had pain above a 5 on their little scale. Now whether that's due to my surgeons great skill, my insane pain tolerance or really good drugs I couldn't tell you. But it was relatively painless.
I spend the first day pretty groggy and in and out of it. Within a couple of hours I was out walking the halls. I did have a rough night the one night I spent in the hospital and I was very nauseous and had an episode of dry heaves. But the nurses were there with the good drugs and it passed pretty quickly.
The following morning, I was ready to go home. I was walking, peeing, farting, all the stuff the nurses like to hear. So they gave me my gourmet breakfast of chicken broth and hot tea. The PA came in and released me and I was headed home.
I have spent the last couple of days sipping everything. I have discovered that warmer liquids go down much easier, however sugar free popcicles are the bomb-diggity!! Yesterday I managed about 60 oz of liquids including one protein drink and today I'm shooting for 2 protein drinks. I have been able to go to the store with my husband and go for a walk to the park. A little bit more everyday!! The only complaints I have right now are a nasty reaction to the dermabond, and a seriously sore throat from having a tube down there.
The pictures were taken 3 days before surgery. My Heaviest weight was 281(which was about Christmas), These pics were 260. My official weight before surgery was 257 and as of this morning I'm at 254.
So today is officially my 1 week. Have to say at least for me the first week went relatively smoothly. I don't have any pain at all most of the time. If I twist wrong or bend wrong I do have a spot right under my biggest incision that pulls, but it's just a quick pain that subsides almost immediately. The PA warned me that is might happened because there are some deep internal stitches under there.
I do have a pretty knarly rash on my tummy due to an allergic reaction to the dermabond. Yesterday, I lost it and just peeled off all the dermabond. The incisions themselves look good, but all the way around each incision is a red blistered ring, and I have little dots between the incisions. Just taking the dermabond off made a difference, yesterday morning they were all bright red and itched so bad I wanted to pull my stomach apart. Today, the red is still there but not nearly as angry and it itching has subsided some. Still itches, but I'm hoping thats from healing. I have been alternating between Hydrocortisone cream for the rash and neosporin. I'm sorta a gooey mess right now, but that's ok. (My hubby says I'm a hot mess, but I'm his hot mess) :wub:
I am still on liquids and will be for another week I'm not really hungry, well at least not like I used to be. I definitely get an empty feeling every couple of hours but it's a much different feeling that before. Drinking alot of hot tea, and water. Soups, Sugar free jello and sugar fee popcicles! Oh and protein drinks. I am using Premier Protein that I got at Costco with 30 grams of protein so I try to get 2 a day, so at least I know I've got my protein covered.
I have decided to "officially" weigh on every Wednesday, and I will take updated pictures once a month. So here are my current stats
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
So 6 lbs in the first week! I'm ok with that.
Now, if I can just get through another week of liquids....
So today marks one month since surgery! My recovery from surgery itself has been remarkably easy and this month has been all about re-learning how to eat. So far I made it though my 2 weeks of liquids, and 2 weeks of soft foods. And I've got to add back in foods as tolerated. Well good news is so far I have been able to tolerate almost everything just fine. My portions are very small (obviously) but I haven't had a problem eating anything or having anything upset my stomach. Well except for too much sugar...that makes me trot to the bathroom super fast! But that's ok too...I'm not supposed to eat sugar anyway!
The other thing this month has been about is all in my head. I put 3 oz of imitation crab on my plate and can finish 2…but my head says “it’s 2 bites you can finish it”. So far I have been able to NOT overfill my sleeve. I am a little afraid of vomiting. So far, I haven’t had a problem with this but after 2 years with the band and vomiting almost everyday it’s not something that I care to revisit.
I am also in the middle of my first official stall. I only let myself weigh once a week or I can get a little obsessed with the number. But I have weighed the same since my 3 week weigh in….so that’s about 10 days. I know (in that logical part of my head) that I am re-adjusting after losing so much so fast. But, in that not so logical part of my head I really would like the scale to start moving.
On the plus side, I am down a total of 43 since I started my pre-op diet, 19 since surgery, and a total of 10-3/4”…not too shabby!! Other people can see it more than me, my co-workers all tell me how “skinny” I look, and my husband says I’m melting. I know I’m wearing smaller jeans and I feel much better but even when I look at pictures I don’t see much yet.
Heaviest Weight: 281
3/6/13 Surgery: 257 (-24)
3/13/13: 251 (-6)
3/20/13: 245 (-6)
3/28/13: 238 (-7)
4/3/13: 238 (-0)
FIRST MONTH -19#
