slojo

Hey all...
 
Well, I am home safe and sound and SLEEVED!!!
I promised all of you a detailed update of how everything went for me in Mexico. From as much as I can tell, everything is going great. I am progressing normally for post surgery and am working through all the crazy feelings and thoughts..lol
 
So to start off I chose to schedule my surgery with Dr Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana Mexico. I got to meet Dr Ortiz before my surgery and he was very nice. He spoke to me allot of what dietary changes I would be making post op and he talked to me about what to eat to have long term success with the surgery. Because as all of us know it is a tool to use to help us achieve our goal. Its not going to do it for us
 
PS. This is going to be kinda long, I have a few friends who wanted to know EVERYTHING that happened.
 
I flew in a day early (on Sunday) because I didn't want to deal with travel and surgery all in one day. When we got to the airport I got a text from my driver Joel (very nice guy). He told me where to wait for him, that he was driving a gold colored van and that my name was in the window. He unfortunately was running a little late because the boarder was backed up (which is understandable) but he would be there soon. After he picked me and my sister up we drove around to pick up another lady. Loren (Ren) my new bestie and her husband Tom were waiting at another airline. We were all driven to the border together and had a great time talking to each other about ourselves and our goals for after surgery.
 
At the border we had to get out of the van and walk through customs. Piece of cake... They didn't even want to see our passports. Just X-ray the bags and we were through (not sure if this is how it is all the time but it was really easy for us) Once we walked out the door on the other side our driver was waiting for us and drove us the rest of the way to our hotel. Apparently they don't care who comes into Mexico, just who leaves...lol We had a nice night just relaxing by the pool, having dinner in the restaurant. Yes... I had soup, but I did splurge and have the last piece of bread I will probably have for quite a while...
 
Monday morning we were up by 5:30am. Showered, dressed and fasting for a 6:40am pick up. We drove to the hospital and were there by 7am. There were a total of 5 people having surgery that day and we all just waited in the waiting room. One by one we were brought back to start our pre op testing. I unfortunately got to go last... yay! Oh well... Pre op testing included; blood work, ekg, dental check up (not kidding... i even got a tooth fixed before surgery! awesome!) and a interview with the nutritionist Dr. Miranda (who is supper nice! ).
 
I went in for surgery at about 3:30pm The different thing about the OCC is that you walk into surgery yourself and lay down on the table. Kinda strange and just a little scary, but I was knocked out pretty quick after that. I woke up in my hospital bed with my sisters there. Between 4pm-6pm all visitors have to leave and go back to the hotel for the night,. The night nurse was really great and got me extra pillows and more pain meds when ever I needed them. I did have a rather unnerving drain hanging from my side when I woke up. I hear that it is quite common. Its dose not hurt at all, its just really disturbing to think about..lol.. I was up and down all night not sleeping very well, but I guess its good to keep walking. It helps move the gas around and out. I didn't have any bad gas pain till day 3.
 
Tuesday morning we were up and discharged by 9am. We got some prescriptions to take with us. I would suggest bringing some extra pain pills like extra strength Tylenol or something stronger if you have it, just for back up. We were driven back to the hotel for the day. I laid out by the pool for just about an hour and got the perfect sun burn. (You know, the kind that looks bad and red but never hurts and turns into a good tan Then at dinner time I had a couple ounces of chicken broth.
The hotel makes if fresh, but it seemed to be really strong (salty) so i diluted it in half with water. I think I might have had about 2 oz and was done. I drank the rest an hour later... The hotel also has something called "green juice" its so great! It is fresh juiced fruit and veggies and tastes great!
 
Wednesday; We were all picked up again at about 9am and taken back to the hospital for a check up. We again waited in the lobby till they were ready for each of us. Loren and I both hopped that they would take out the drain but no luck. That was for tomorrow. When I was called back in for my check up. The nurse weighed me, I had gained 7lbs after surgery because of all the fluids they pump into you during surgery. I think its a good thing too because you really don't drink allot the first couple days. She took me and checked all my incisions changed the bandage around my drain tube, emptied out what had collected in the drain (SO GROSS!) and took my blood pressure.
 
After my appointment I took a short nap and felt good enough to take a walk so my sisters and I went shopping. We took a cab over to Revolution Ave and got some cool things to take home. After that I was exhausted and went back to the hotel.
 
Later that night a friend of mine Kasey (from the forum) had just gotten back from her surgery and was ready for a visit, so we spent the evening chatting in her room till we were both to tired to keep talking... Love you Kasey
 
Thursday morning I was back to the hospital again about 9am for my last check up. They took out the drain (which didn't hurt, it just felt like something moving inside me for a moment, totally nasty) Changed my bandage again and took my vitals. After that I was on my way.
 
We (Me my sisters, Loren and her husband) were picked up and drove to the border where we had to get out again to walk across. The only difference is on this side of the border, there are like 1000-2000 people in line waiting to get into the states. It takes hours! So our very smart driver pulled out a wheal chair and said... One of you in the chair and look very sick. The rest of you go with and help push and carry the bags. You can go all the way to the front of the line and get through stay together!. Well apparently this worked EVERY time, except for us. We somehow got Mr Ass Hat patrol guard who who was on some power testosterone trip and made us split up and only Me (i was in the chair) and one person pushing me was allowed to go through... He was a major jerk! Well, once we were on the other side we were able to find a higher ranking guard and he was very kind and helped us get everyone else across.
 
From there it was smooth sailing to the airport and home!
I really hope this helps some of you. I know that another lady laid out all the details for me before I left and it helped me so much!!! Thank you Shelley And I wanted to pass it on for those of you who were going after me. You are welcome to ask me any questions. I would be happy to share anything else that I may have left out.
 
Also, I am proud to say that 5 days out I have lost all the water weight from surgery and am down 1lb from pre surgery weight! Oh ya... I am on my way
 
Love you guys! Best of luck to you all on your journey. Remember! You deserve it!

I found this information and I thought it was good to post it's something that some of  the long term sleevers have concerns about even some of the newbies have concerns about what if:
 
 
Weight regain after bariatric surgery can be an uncomfortable subject and one that both surgeons and patients want to avoid talking about, but can’t. To be sure, weight regain happens – the real question revolves around the cause. We understand that the choice to have weight loss surgery was a big one and the return of weight (in any amount) is disappointing. But understanding the way our bodies work and what may be behind the weight regain can help us address the issue more effectively.
 
First and foremost, don’t get down on yourself. In all likelihood, your surgery did work and you are doing the right things, but our bodies change. As our bodies change, so too do our needs.
 
Natural Regain: Some weight regain after bariatric surgery and especially gastric bypass is normal. If you regain 5-10% of your excess body weight after a few years of losing consistently, don’t fret. Speak to your surgeon, but it is likely no problem at all.
 
  Diet modification: Many of us tend to overdo it in our diets. It is tempting to over-diet, but the results can be counterproductive. Crash diets can even cause us to retain more fat than a diet of moderation. Be sure that you follow your diet plan closely and work with your dietician to ensure the very best results.
 
    Exercise habits: As with diets above, there is a fine line between good and bad exercise. Understanding the exercises to which your body responds and working with an exercise physiologist can help ensure that your exercises are doing good and not harm.
 
Pouch or stoma enlargement: The stomach pouch and/or stoma (the opening into the stomach) can in fact stretch over time. This can cause mild or significant weight regain and can be corrected with one of several simple outpatient procedures.
 
 
 
Revision Surgery can be effective, but ONLY as a last resort. Simple outpatient procedures and even major surgery can be used to revise an unsuccessful primary procedure. While revisions are generally effective, they do carry a higher risk of complications and all other solutions to the weight regain should be implemented before considering a revision procedure.

Well, it's here. Day 13 of my pre-op diet. I can't believe I didn't die. I really felt like I was going to a couple of times. That is that hardest thing I've ever had to do. And I cheated! I actually dreamed about tacos last Friday night. I woke up and realized that I was obsessing! So, I had a taco from my favorite Mexican restaurant. Oh well. At least it was off my mind then.
 
I'm so weak that I almost crawled up the stairs to my classroom this morning. I get no protein today. Only clear liquids. I've had a sore throat since last Wednesday thanks to the dry desert that I live in, so the cough drops are what is saving me today.
 
I'm very, very (did I say very?) emotional. I feel like I could cry at any moment. I think it's because I'm just so tired. I'm also a little pissed at my husband this week. This is a very stressful process. So, when I get home today I'm going to go to my room and cry. Just get it all out. I know I will feel so much better!
 
I have prepared everything at work for my two day absence. Thank goodness Monday is a holiday. I also have an intern coming in next week to help me out or just to be present. Luckily, my job is not physically demanding and my kids know what I'm going through. They have been very supportive.
 
I haven't packed a thing for the hospital. I figure I won't be able to sleep tonight, so I will leave it for then. I bought pretty new jammies and a robe. I'll take slippers because the biggest fear I have is gas pain! So I'm going to walk as soon as the pain meds clear from my brain.
 
Speaking of pain meds...this is my biggest fear. I hate being drugged. Pain or no pain, I just don't like it. I took Motrin with both of my kids and it was fine. I really hope I don't have to have much tomorrow. I don't want to be a martyr, but I don't want to be spacy and loopy either.
 
A less serious fear is the discerning comments that my husband has made. Twice he has mentioned something about getting skinny and finding someone else. Makes me think he is a little insecure. I'm a little happy that he would worry. Maybe he should pay a little more attention.
 
Anyway, here we go. A brand new journey. I feel like I'm at the airport and they're going to call my flight number any minute. I love to fly!

I found one of my trigger foods. It's spaghetti or more specifically pasta. My mom made some homemade spaghetti on Sunday (homemade as in, homemade from a jar, you know, the same line of thought as Olive Garden treats you like family). Really, Olive Garden treats you like family, I don't recall my mom ever presenting a bill at the end of a meal. But I digress.
 
Any way, I took the leftovers home with me. For supper, I ate my normal portion, and a few minutes later wanted another portion - even though my stomach was telling me I was stuffed to the top. I wanted it so bad that I would have cage wrestled a bear for another bowl.
 
It wasn't easy, but I stopped myself. The hardest part - and I can't believe it was so difficult to do - was to throw out the spaghetti. I kept telling myself that I could space out the spaghetti into several meals during the week. But, I knew if I left it in the house, I'd find some way to convince myself to eat more that eventing. There is a dog that trots through my yard daily, so he may be going into insulin shock today!
 
Only 1 other time have I wanted to eat something so bad - it was a banana laying in the fruit bowl. So adios spaghetti noodles, I'll eat you at mom's house, but you won't be coming home with me anymore.

Lets see where do I began...... This journey is a long time coming for me. I didn't just wake up one day, tired of being fat. Honestly I've been tired a long time. I guess now I'm just brave enough to really do something about it. That's why I'm writing this blog. I want to remember every step of this journey. One day I want to look back and see how far I've really come. In order to do that I have to start from the begining.
I've struggled with my weight my whole life. I can remember my sister finding a note from the school nurse when I was in the fifth grade. The note was letting my mom know that I was 10 yrs old and 150lbs. The nurse wanted her to monitor my eating over the summer. How embarrasing is that ? By middle and high school my height kind of evened everything out. I still wasn't headlining any swimsuit issues, but at 5'9" I stood pretty tall and curvy. I was okay with that. fast forward 8yrs. I met the love of my life and I had just gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. I quit my job to become a stay at home mom, and everything went down hill from there. Don't get me wrong, My babies were the best thing that happened to me.
I started my pregnancy at 280lbs, but I was so sick during the first 8 months with morning sickness, that when I gave birth I weighed 245lbs. Staying at home with no job and not doing any exercise. My weight skyrocketed to 375lbs . I wasn't happy and neither was my husband . I tried every diet and workout video known to man. After many months of hard work I got down to 330lbs. This is where I am stuck. I have gotten as far down as 316lbs. But every time I hit a stall I get discouraged and balloon back up to 330lbs. I'm been riding this weight loss/gain rollercoaster for 10 yrs and now I'm ready to get off.........
I contacted a doctors office in my area (Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ) Dr. Rohit Patel is my surgeon. I went to my first appointment on October 2, 2012. I got the information and decided to wait until after the holidays to schedule my pre-op appts. Not so I could pig out on food, but this was the first Thanksgiving and Christmas I would be able to spend with my kids in 3 yrs since I left my job in September for eye surgery. I'm not good with pain and didn't want to be a party pooper for the holidays.
Now its the beginning of February. I contacted my Surgeons office in January and they got right on scheduling all the appointments I need. I have to do 3 months supervised diet with a nutritionist for my insurance. I have went to one visit and I have already been to my Psyche evaluation. All of my appts are spread out in 3 months. I complete my last nut appt March 27th. If everything goes according to plan I could be getting a surgery date as soon a s April. I'm super excited for what this surgery will mean for me and my kids and my marriage :wub: . My husband has been my bestfriend and my rock through all of my ups and downs. He has truly been supportive in all my decisions and helping me do whats best for me and my health.
I looked into this surgery eight years ago when everything first got out of hand. But at the time the main option was gastric bypass. My babies were about 2yrs old, My husband was so concerned for my safety that he begged me not to do it so I backed out. Now with the kids being ten and safer options available, I now feel like I can do something for me. And my husband is comfortable with my choice so I am excited and ready to embark on this life changing adventure. As I write this blog and move forward, I hope to encourage someone who is looking to change their lives for the better. I will document every aspect of my journey, until I cross the fininsh line of my goal weight. I am looking forward to meeting new peolple and making many friends and life-long encouraging relationships. If we hold each other accountable we will no doubt succeed!!! So feel free to read and comment.....To Be Continued...God Bless.

Hi All,
 
I am new on here so first want to say thanks for stopping by taking the time to read this. I been on this weight loss surgery for years with little permanent success. After making other life changes I decided to leave family friends exs etc and move to NYC where i didnt know anyone and how to get around with just what could fit in my car.
 
I think ... change that I know that was the best decision ever made. I now have a job stress free making good money for a great company. A home where i feel comfortable and free with no stress and a new man in my life that is definitely heaven sent.
 
When i moved to NYC i decided to live my life for me instead for everyone else and lived through others expectations. That way of living only kept me in therapy broke and alone. Now im 360 woohoo!! for me
 
Living and doing for me I fixed my credit etc etc etc LOL and now I need to shed these pounds so my outside match how i feel in the inside now.
 
Regardless of the pain I may experience immediately after surgery I am ready for what comes my way because in the long run I will be healthier where things I want to get around better etc etc etc
 
I envy everyone that has lost the weight but soon I will be on your side of the bridge woo hoo!!! lol
 
I look forward to weight loss journey

I reached my ultimate goal of 125lbs. My starting weight was 186lbs. My bmi is 22.1 now. I'm 5 months out, today!. I'm starting to appreciate just being able to coast and maintain weight. I'm curious to see how that goes. I'm wearing all of my old clothes from my previous skinny days! It has been fun gradually melting into them again. I haven't had to buy alot of clothes through my journey. Bought some just to encourage/reward myself along the way. Don't have alot to write right now. Will write more as I enjoy being at goal. can't wait until summer' I got a brand new Harley last september and plan to hit the road with my new bod this summer. Gotta get a tan yet and I'll be ready. Call it a mid-life crisis whatever, I can't wait to start my fun new life!!!

I reached my ultimate goal of 125lbs. My starting weight was 186lbs. My bmi is 22.1 now. I'm 5 months out, today!. I'm starting to appreciate just being able to coast and maintain weight. I'm curious to see how that goes. I'm wearing all of my old clothes from my previous skinny days! It has been fun gradually melting into them again. I haven't had to buy alot of clothes through my journey. Bought some just to encourage/reward myself along the way. Don't have alot to write right now. Will write more as I enjoy being at goal. can't wait until summer' I got a brand new Harley last september and plan to hit the road with my new bod this summer. Gotta get a tan yet and I'll be ready. Call it a mid-life crisis whatever, I can't wait to start my fun new life!!!

I reached my ultimate goal of 125lbs. My starting weight was 186lbs. My bmi is 22.1 now. I'm 5 months out, today!. I'm starting to appreciate just being able to coast and maintain weight. I'm curious to see how that goes. I'm wearing all of my old clothes from my previous skinny days! It has been fun gradually melting into them again. I haven't had to buy alot of clothes through my journey. Bought some just to encourage/reward myself along the way. Don't have alot to write right now. Will write more as I enjoy being at goal. can't wait until summer' I got a brand new Harley last september and plan to hit the road with my new bod this summer. Gotta get a tan yet and I'll be ready. Call it a mid-life crisis whatever, I can't wait to start my fun new life!!!

I found a poem a few years ago after coming back from a mission trip to Africa.... I came acrossed it again today and it helped calmed my nerves for my appointment tomorrow.
 

BE THANKFUL


 

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,



If you did, what would there be to look forward to?


 

Be thankful when you don't know something



For it gives you the opportunity to learn.


 

Be thankful for the difficult times.



During those time you grow.


 

Be thankful for your limitations



Because they give you opportunities for improvement.


 

Be thankful for each new challenge



Because it will build your strength and character.


 

Be thankful for your mistakes



They will teach you valuable lessons.


 

Be thankful when you're tired and weary



Because it means you've made a difference.


 

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.



A life of rich fulfillment comes to hose who are



also thankful for the setbacks.


 

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.



Find a way to be thankful for your troubles



and they can become your blessings.



~Author Unknown~


 
When I am going through my highs and lows throughout this process I am going to try and remember this.

It's been interesting looking back over my entries on this blog along with the journal that I keep intermittently on my computer. I think that it's chronicled not only the weight loss side of my journey, but a portion on my journey through my mental illness in relationship to my weight.
 
I started seeing a therapist last week. I probably should have sooner, and for anyone who has any kind of mental health disorder and is thinking about/having/had the surgery and even some of those who don't have a mental health disorder, it is something I would definitely recommend.
 
I have struggled with my mental health since I was a teenager and it has huge ties to my weight, so it's definitely relevant for me to have new issues as well as old issues cropping up as I continue to lose weight. It's funny because before surgery I reminded myself a number of times that weight loss was not a catch all for solving many of the problems that I have. Weight loss is just that - a loss of weight to increase my health.
 
I am now at 233 (lowest I have seen is 232) and still losing steadily, although much slower than before. Some days I feel like my entire life has changed, others I feel like I'm still left standing in the same place. Half of the time I cannot see the weight loss in the mirror. I can see it in the pictures, I hear it from the people around me, but there's this mental disconnect between that and the person I see in the mirror. I fit into smaller pants and my measurements shrink, but my waist still looks the same size (though one side of my stomach is bigger than the other, apparently I have some scar tissue or something holding my left side at a little bit larger around the stomach). I think this is one of my biggest struggles in regards to motivation.
 
So now that I'm approximately five months out, I'd like to take a minute for myself to outline what I think are the good and the bad that I've experienced from this surgery and from my journey over the past five months.
 
Good:
- Moving down from size 28 tight pants to size 22 slightly tight pants
- Hearing my coworker tell me today that I look like half of the person I used to be and that I now have a baby face
- Being told by my boyfriend that from the back waist up I look like I was never heavy to begin with, supposedly I now have a thin frame
- Having my mom notice that you can see my cheek bones
- Not being out of breath when trying to keep up with my classmates
- Having my smaller scrubs be too big and baggy
- Having my boyfriend be able to wrap his arms almost all the way around me (like almost back to himself)
- Having a boyfriend who is amazing (Yes, I attribute meeting him to the confidence I gained after surgery)
- Being able to walk up flights of stairs without being winded
- Being able to shave my legs without feeling like I'm doing some weird acrobatics
- Every time I realize something new fits
- Being able to sit next to someone on a bus and not feel like they are crossing their fingers I don't sit next to them
- Having a ton of extra length on my seatbelt
- Realizing I have collar bones and bones in my shoulders
- Being able to see the bones/tendons in my hands
- Having my rings fit every finger
- Feeling like people look at me instead of through me
- Not feeling like the largest person in every room
- Hitting the high end of projected weight loss by my doctor and still continuing to lose
- Not seeing a 3 on the beginning number of the scale
- Having lost something like 20% body fat according to my scale
- Not having to clear my plate out of anxiety at social settings
- Being cold at night instead of sweating my butt off (I prefer blankets to fans)
- Not feeling like the first thing people see is my weight
- Feeling comfortable enough in my body to have sex with the lights on and no covers
- Being able to reach my toes without doing weird bending manuvers
- Being able to paint my toenails
- The relief of not being at imminent risk of diabetes at 25
- Being able to fit in the bathroom stall and not always having to seek out the handicapped one
- The periods of increased confidence
- Feeling like I am moving on in my life
 
Bad:
- Hormonal imbalances - increases in mood swings, neediness, clingyness, irritability
- Saggy skin
- Lack of motivation to: Work out, take vitamins, get in protein - I struggle daily to fight my noncompliance
- Fatigue (Probably related in part to intermittent compliance with vitamins and protein)
- Anxiety related to the possibility of ever gaining the weight back
- Alcoholism could easily become a problem - I have to stay away from it completely
- Dealing with feelings rather than being able to turn to food for comfort
 
 
So the goods obviously outweigh the bads by far. And many of the downsides are either related to mental health issues that were already present and have started to reoccur or lack of compliance with my plan. I have tried to start schedules for myself and that's one of the things I will be working on with my therapist. I have always had issues with compliance - and the biggest thing I need to do is make sure that I get all of my medicines and vitamins in, because I feel 110% better when I do.
 
 
 
So my New Years resolutions will include:
 
- Setting a day out every month to increase my compliance through scheduling, setting short term goals, and recognizing where my weaknesses have been
- Increasing my exercise
- Tracking my protein
- Not allowing myself to justify that bad foods are ok because I can only have 2 bites anyway (2 bites four times a week still adds up)
 
That was kind of long and rambley. Anyway, I hope that it helps others who might be looking into this and have some of the same mental health issues to maybe understand what it's like on the other side so that maybe they can prepare a little better and be able to manage some of the barriers to health better than I have.

I was sleeved Aug. 28th 2012 and am down 49 lbs! Losing went slow ti.ll I reached the 3 month mark. I'm 7 lbs from my primary goal. My first goal is 125 lbs. I would be happy if I didn't lose any more. I feel great. I am so thankful I was able to be sleeved. I'm wearing younger, cute, clothes now. My husband is tickled to death about how I look, but kinda nervous about other men looking at me! But that'll keep him on his toes LOL! That's all for now. Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

I was sleeved Aug. 28th 2012 and am down 49 lbs! Losing went slow ti.ll I reached the 3 month mark. I'm 7 lbs from my primary goal. My first goal is 125 lbs. I would be happy if I didn't lose any more. I feel great. I am so thankful I was able to be sleeved. I'm wearing younger, cute, clothes now. My husband is tickled to death about how I look, but kinda nervous about other men looking at me! But that'll keep him on his toes LOL! That's all for now. Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

I was sleeved Aug. 28th 2012 and am down 49 lbs! Losing went slow ti.ll I reached the 3 month mark. I'm 7 lbs from my primary goal. My first goal is 125 lbs. I would be happy if I didn't lose any more. I feel great. I am so thankful I was able to be sleeved. I'm wearing younger, cute, clothes now. My husband is tickled to death about how I look, but kinda nervous about other men looking at me! But that'll keep him on his toes LOL! That's all for now. Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

3 months out, haven't blogged in a while been very busy working. I've been riding the motorcycle some, doing good with that. Rode into a small town sat. by myself for a sheriff's inspection so I can license it. Didn't have any trouble but was pretty scared. I just have 12 lbs to go to goal so feeling awesome about that. The hairloss has slowed down some (thank God). Feel tired alot lately...Not much else to write, thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

I was sleeved Aug 28th and have lost 37lbs. Lost pretty slow this past month but now have lost 4 lbs this week! I am very proud of myself and feel great. I'm gradually getting into my old clothes and I am 19 lbs. away from my goal wt. I had originally set my goal for 120 but changed it to 130 I feel that this is a more realistic goal. I'm very small framed so if i get to 120-125 lbs that's great, but i feel 130 is a good stopping point for me. I'll be able to wear ALL of the clothes in my closet at 130lbs. I take my MSF motorcycle riding course this next weekend and get my permit today! I'm so excited. I have a brand new Harley Sportster sitting in the garage that I have never ridden. That is my reward for losing this wt. my husband and I rewarded me this way. I want to be thin , dark, and on the road by this next summer. It will be a dream come true. It could be called a Mid-life Crisis by some i guess. Whatever it is I can't wait to make it come true. I have the boots, the jacket,the helmet (of course, won't ride without it),all I need is to learn to ride it!LOL! Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

Today wasn't my best day food wise I was okay no over eating. I just have a lot of emotions and financial worries so I feel depressed. But I am trying to list in my head all my blessings. I really have only one complaint and thousands of blessings so it puts things in proper perspective. I am so used to numbing out or distracting myself with food and now that it is not an option. I feel grateful for that, it is nice to have a clear head even if it can be painful, but pain forces me to choose a path and not be stuck in the same old place. I am going forward slowly but surely. So I choose to be grateful today, for my family, for dirty jokes, for computers, my dog, my love of books, my wonderful friends, and the list goes on.
Well, week 5 begins tomorrow I can officially eat soft fruits and veggies so yay to that. I am looking forward to going swimming tomorrow. Monday was my first day back at work so grateful that no one was too evil to me on the phone. Tomorrow I go back praying for a quick 8 hours. I really want to find a different line of work sitting down 8 hours a day sucks and I am about done with it. I am staying for the remainder of the year for insurance reasons but after that I have to move on for my own health mental and physical. I don't have any weight lost to report since I don't own a scale. I don't want to be focused on the scale or my weight, I refuse to be upset by a number. I have no more pain and can walk 2 miles without dying and no more high blood pressure. My life is better after this surgery especially my health and that is awesome.
 
God Bless everyone everywhere,
All my love, Linsey :wub:

I am still very swollen so I was hesitant to get on the scale, but I couldn't resist the temptation and I have lost 10lbs since Tuesday. I couldn't stop smiling. That is just so amazing to me. I can't wait until I'm able to start working out and building muscle and working on toning as I go. This is just such a blessing!

18 days post op and I seriously feel like I'm going to explode. Before surgery, I felt like I was never going to lose weight and now I feel like I'm going to lose it, but I will shrivel and die before it happens. I am so excited to get down the road I can hardly stand it. I have never had much patience and can't usually wait for anything so this is making me climb the walls. I'm off work for 6 weeks (4 weeks remaining) so things are going quite slow for me bc all I can do right now is sit at home and wait. My weight loss, however, is going amazing. I am down 17 lbs which is essentially 1lb a day. So, I'm not so much complaining as I am saying how nice it would be to fast forward 2-3 months down the road so I can actually see a difference and be back into a normal routine.
 
I can't wait to go shopping for new clothes. It is my 2nd addiction and I haven't been able to enjoy it in such a long time. I am fighting every urge possible to keep from ordering an entire smaller wardrobe online as it is. I have no idea where I will end up so I know how crazy that sounds, but when you sit home all day alone for almost 3 weeks straight you tend to go a little crazy. haha

I'm 3 weeks out and have lost only 18lbs. Havent' lost any last week. I hear this is pretty common. I know i am eating/drinking right. Taking 70g protein/day, and around 400-500 cal./day. I feel normal finally (since about day 12)... I had surgery in Tj. Mexico and had a very good experience with dr. Almanza and his staff. My follow up dr is Dr. Swain in Murray Ky. Everything is going normal... No nausea good restriction, and walking 1-2 miles/day. Just been walking 2 months or so. Plan to start running more and more as the weight comes off and i get in better shape. I walk very quickly and am progressing well with that. People are starting to notice the weight coming off. While i'm in a stall i still can tell my clothes are becoming more loose everyday. Haven't weighed in 4 days,, PLan to only weigh once a week instead of daily like before. It was discouraging to me to be in a stall and weigh everyday... Thanks for reading my jumbled thoughts...

Last Wednesday, I had a 7 week check up. At that time, I was down nearly 60 pounds. Since last Wednesday, I have lost another 6 pounds. I am 8 weeks out and have lost about 75% of what I wanted to lose. For those who are wondering, I did not start out an ultra heavyweight. I started out with two goals: a weight goal and a sculpting goal. I am certain that the sculpting goal will take more time.
 
My restriction hasn't really changed but there are times that I can eat more than I would expect I could. Sometimes, my stomach is fickle.
 
My new obsession is the chicken tortilla soup I wrote about last time. I must have been in Whole Food's three times this week just to get that soup and those parmesan crisps. I'm addicted. I found the nutrition info online and it's not too bad at all.
 
In a more technical vein, I have heard people on these various boards talk about how much protein one can absorb in a single setting. It usually comes up when people are drinking a protein shake that has 40+ grams of protein per serving.
 
I think the magic number at which your body supposedly stops using ingested protein is 30g. This doesn't make any sense to me and here's why:
 
First, our intestines are nearly 30 feet long. The process of digestion takes hours. While it's feasible to assume that we only digest so much per hour, it makes no sense to think that after our bodies have digested a certain amount of what we've eaten, no matter how much of it we've eaten, it just stops and won't process any more.
 
Secondly, let's say one eats all of the 0.8g/kg of body weight that the RDA recommends for protein intake in 1 meal and another person ate the same amount of protein as the first person but spread theirs out so that they didn't go over the magical 30g. This means that when it's all said and done, the first person, who is eating the exact same amount of protein every day as the second person, would end up being protein deficient while the second person would be perfectly okay (from a protein perspective). The only difference I can see here is that the first person's body will take longer to digest and process the nutrients and the second person will have shorter digestion sessions.
 
I'm sure that body weight, genetics and all of that other good stuff has a lot to do with it as well; not to mention goals (ie. muscle building vs. fat loss).
 
It seems to me that the "limit" that a body can process and use in a single meal would be pretty much equivalent to what it can use in a whole day (more than 30g, I'm sure). There's an empirical study that actually appears to state that the older the individual, the better it is to do a large serving of protein for muscle retention than several small servings. There's also another that says that there was no difference in eating the bulk of the day's protein in one meal or spreading them out.
 
The studies I'm referring to are both by Arnal et. al. :
 
Journal of Nutrition- 2000- Vol.130(7) "Protein feeding pattern does not affect protein retention in young women."
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition-1999-Vol 69(6) "Protein pulse feeding improves protein retention in elderly women."
 
They're good studies and they are short reads.
 
Do your own research but whatever happens, always stay vigilant.

I can't get this silly song out of my head... You made me love youuuuu, I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to do it. It's now 10:35 and I've promised myself bed at 1030... so why posting? IDK. Today was a good day. I haven't had many of them and I've been in so much pain lately that I wouldn't recognize it if I saw it, or so's I thought. But IDK, today I just have been telling myself I know God is healing me. I sound corny or crazy, not sure to which is more apt to describe me; however, I feel like it's right. I am not the most church going person (long list of reasons why, but mostly summed up in as: experience with major hypocrisy, i don't have time to spell check that so forgive me, dang microsoft/now i'm dependent on freak'n spell check).... anywho, the pain was tolerable today (thank God) and I had planned out everything. Limited schedule of time and running, busy today. I like those days. Like I "have a life"... which I say I don't. Living in this large area, there are many times I find myself lonely. Everyone is so spread out, then you add in kids and extracurricular activities and limited time from work to do everything so it's crammed in on the weekends, well... to me, it gets lonely sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I personally have no qualms about "me" time or being alone, that's why I am a gym addict. Once I got over that thing that most of us women suffer from (you know, the 'I have to have a buddy or I feel self conscious'), I was all good and set to fly. Most of my life seems to operate that way and most of the time, it's copasethic. But sometimes, my most social side says "hey over here!" C'est la vie....
 
Anywho, I am rambling again. It's late and I'm honestly tired, but my 3rd wind wants to kick in. I'm about to brush my teefies and get into the most comfy tempurpedic mattress (worth every single stinking penny, twice over) with loads of pillows so I can go to the gym in the morning. Even if it's only for 30 mins (dammit, I want 60) but I just wanted to say, it's been a good day today. I seem to only post whenever there are issues and I'm at my breaking point. Today I feel the light of God surrounding me and I hope His light shines through me to others. Oh pitash if you don't believe in all of that ....... you should be around me, then you'd see it. I hope that I emulate what I feel from Him, to show my faith. Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect (for certainnnn) .... and I still pray 15 gizillion times a day for Him to heal this leak, that I continue to hear gurgling, but in time I know He will. I am trying to think instead of this issue as an opportunity.... maybe this is happening to me so I can truly understand "mindful eating" and that is one major obstacle for me, that could be my undoing. I am a food addict, to the core.... ashamedly I admit, but I never am one to sugar coat (except with hershey's, hehe i wish, dang still on a liquid diet... digressing...). IDK, but I'm trying to view the lesson in this experience (whatever that is) and learn from it, instead of concentrating on something pathetic like poor me, why's this gotta happen (which I'd love to say, but pitash... pffff... s*it happens and it ain't gonna undo what's done or fix it). In every experience I have learned one thing.... there are reasons for these things to occur, which is revealed eventually. So today, thank you God for a good day (but pls pls pls heal this leak inside of me... I did my part, 132 g of protein, that was work too!). Please give me the strength to not be pathetic (as I would like to crumble into the fetal position and cry on occassion), give me the courage to identify my irrational behaviors and the wisdom to learn from my mistakes and move on, being the best me that I can be. Yeah so I ripped off the serenity prayer, but I'm an addict, unfortunately. My drug of choice? Food. And I cannot escape it. So give me strength, courage and wisdom to learn successfully how to deal with it and any of these issues that cross my path. Amen.
 
Ok this was another rambling post, but it is what it is... oh and make sure you go to bed singing "you made me loveeeee youuuuuu, I didn't wannaaaa do it..." *smiles* hugs... xxx Stephanie

Well, I know I have lost weight because I can put on my jeans today. I do not own a scale and I have issues with using more like abusing them so I refuse to purchase one. Tomorrow I am finally allowed to go back to water aerobics which I am really looking forward to that. I have been exercising on my recumbant bike and walking the dog. I have been having trouble adjusting to the change of life style. I remember saying to my mom the other day how I missed dieting for just half the day. I miss the freedom of eating what I want when I want it; spoken like a true addict! Yet I am also grateful I don't have that option. The one thing I thought I would get out of this surgery was to never feel hungry again, what an idiotic thing to have thought but nonetheless I thought it. I feel hungry now more often than I ever have before. One because I can only eat a few bites and two before I was eating all the time therefore I never got the opportunity to feel hungry often. I remember pre-surgery getting hungry my response was to panic and then stuff my face because the feeling was so uncomfortable, foreign and anxiety inducing that was the only thing I could do in the moment. This surgery has caused me to face getting hungry a few times a day and it is getting easier. The thing is to slow down. I ate too fast and was in tremendous amount of pain the other day. I am physically all better, completely healed but mentally it's a jungle in there. I am greatful I took a full three weeks off from work because the stress of all the change can be a bit much at times. The first few days I was regretting my decision but now I know this was the path I had to walk. I had tried everything and given up, I'm a quitter, this pathway has no exit options. I can't get my stomach back, though it would have been nice to have had a funeral for it. It allowed me to eat and comfort myself when I needed comfort as a child. It was a good friend I just wasn't a good friend to it. I like that I don't count calories and if I chose to for some insane reason, I wouldn't get very high. The goal is 600-800 and sometimes that is a stretch goal. The only thing I count now is protein and I am going to saying it here because I say it every where else I hate protein shakes. I am tired of them. It's a good thing I love chicken and greek yogurt since it is my diet now. The foods I miss most are fruits and vegetables. I would love to have a salad and I can't have one, makes me laugh then cry. I also miss pizza, cake and right now chocolate, but I would love to have a chicken pecan salad even if only a couple bites and popcorn (went to the movies with a protein shake healthy but missed the popcorn). But what is really great is that my high blood pressure is gone, it left like a thief in the night after my surgery and is still gone. Also another plus is that it doesn't hurt to move and riding my recumbant bike is actually pleasurable. I kinda like all the change even though is it is scary, at least it's new before life was the same old thing and now not so much.

Week 24 – 6 months post op
 
Last week’s weight – 200.8
This week’s weight – 197.2
Total weight lost this week – 3.6
 
Beginning weight – 246 lbs
Total weight loss since surgery – 48.8 lbs
 
 
Recovered from my gain last week with a nice loss. I was hoping to be down 50 lbs by my 6 month mark but…oh well…that’s the way it goes.
 
Attached is a side by side picture of my weight loss from highest to current.

hi, I have just found out that my op will bee in 4-5weeks time and I am really happy that I know the approx date. my first appointment was in March 2011, I attended the seminar in June, then I had all the test, physiology etc and then a sleep apnea test, I had sleep apnea and got my cemap machine, which I hate wearing. I had to wait 3months to see if the treatment was working, it was ans the specialist would send this info off to the bariatric surgery team, only, he didn't. finally after no contact from anyone I asked my dietician if she could find out what the delay was. 3 weeks later was told they were waiting for results from apnea clinic. I felt abandoned and depressed that it was one delay after the other. finally in May got an appointment for signing the consent form, it was horrendous I had put about 5 lb back on and was told that i could not sign the consent and would go to the back of the list, devastaed is how I felt. I got an appointment for another consent signing In 6 weeks, and at this one had lost 12 lbs, so was able to sign consent. I had to have an endoscopy and they remove 2 small polyps from my stomach, at which point me and hubby decided I would go for the sleeve rather than the bypass.At the meeting tonight we
 
e sat next to a man who had the sleeve last Oct and he was 22stone on the day of his op and is now 13stone and was very encouraging, I asked him dozens of questions as did hubby, lol, and we came away happy that we have chosen the right op for me.I cannot exercise due to fibromyalgia and other health issues at this weight, but will be going swimming as soon as I can. to get fitter. It has been such a long wait and at times felt like I had to jump through their hoops, but now only concerned with getting as much weight of as i can before the op.that is it for now . x