Ginger Snaps

If I don't get it done in the morning, it doesn't get done. Cardio at 5 am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and weights Tuesday, Thursday at the gym (around 6 am).

Weekends try to get in at least one fun active thing -- dancing to my favorite band, long brisk walks in a park somewhere, riding bikes or maybe a 5k.

Fitting into a size 4 jeans and being able to breathe! And going to DIck's Sporting goods for some new yoga pants and hoodies and such because my old ones fall off my butt now and ending up in size SMALL!!! Unbelievable because I think the sizes at Dick's actually run small because I couldn't even fit into their XL last winter.

I was just discussing this with a friend yesterday. Obviously if I look in the mirror I can see my stomach has shrunk and I can almost reach my fingers completely around my thighs and I've gone from a size 16/18 jean to a size 4... but I still don't feel thin or "skinny" or even small. I went to get the size 4 jeans today because the 6's I bought about 4-5 weeks ago are sagging off my butt. As I'm pulling them off the rack I'm looking at how small they are on the hanger and thinking "there's no way I can wear these" but I can and I can still breathe in them. But my brain just doesn't think of me as being that small.

I think part of it is the number on the scale... I don't think of someone (me) weighing 145 pounds as being tiny... I think of someone in the 120's maybe as being "skinny" but not someone in their 140's. And I've started getting the "don't lose too much" comments and I think to myself my BMI just hit the high point of normal so I could lose more and still be in a healthy weight range.

I guess eventually with enough people telling me how great I look and when I have to keep buying all these small or medium clothes or size 4 (or smaller) jeans, my brain will connect with my eyes and the mirror.

@Jonathan Blue What a great story! I know people say the surgeon only operates on your stomach and not your brain (when referring to emotional eating) but I SWEAR my surgeon flipped some switch in my brain, too! I feel so much happier and in control of my life. Like you I started doing some heavy duty exercising and I've 2 5k's now in a little less than 5 months after surgery. Running on the treadmill in the mornings, lifting weights and in general just being MUCH more active. It's like I got a blank slate to start rewriting my life into an active healthy lifestyle! No more sleep apnea or GERD...

Life is SO good! Keep up the great work you've been doing so far!

For me it was an easy decision. I didn't want the band with the adjustments needed (complete fear of needles) and didn't like the idea of some foreign thing in my body (especially the port up under the skin). My doctor also told me he doesn't prefer bands as he sees better results with VSG or bypass.

VSG was out of the question for me because I already had severe reflux and it can make it worse.

So, with his suggestions and my own phobias and ideas in mind, I went with bypass.

It is a very personal decision based on your goals, your concerns, your ideas about having surgery and your medical history. Nobody but you can make that decision, with your doctor's suggestions of course. My advice is this: Don't make your decision based on fear. All of the surgeries have risks of complications. They all modify your body (even the band can erode and change the shape of the stomach long term). Again, personally for me, I don't understand the concern over "re-routing" the intestines... VSG removes part of the somach. Bypass leaves it all there but reroutes the intestines.

So, like most have said -- it's a personal decision. Work with your doctor, research and figure out what's best for you.

Woot Woot!!!! The no sugar thing must be really hard but you're DOING IT!!! And anytime a doctor says "you don't need to see me anymore"... how great is that!

Woot Woot again!

Ginger

I thought you were going to say something about warm clothes to wear. My closet is practically empty and I had to go this weekend and buy a coat and sports winter jacket... Don't have anything remotely fitting from last winter!

My doctor didn't take my gall bladder and didn't give me the meds. We never even discussed the meds (although I did ask him to take the gall bladder out).

Time will tell if it was the right decision.

My insurance didn't require a referral, so I just went to an information session at my local hospital and made an appointment directly with the surgeon. You can shop around information sessions if there are several in your area and find a doctor you like. Then check out his reviews online (google his/her name and reviews). I don't know if my personal doctor would have agreed with my decision but he's very happy with the progress I've made.

You might also want to look and see if any hospital in your area is a bariatric center of excellence. Or what hospital is in network for your insurance.

I'm on an antidepressant and mood stabilizer and I've lost at an incredible weight. If the anxiety drugs are doing it, maybe you could try switching. But, you should also consider working with a NUT, looking at exactly what you are eating and when and try to get back to the basics if you have areas where you're not following the plan so good.

You're going to have to get used to a new way of eating after surgery, so maybe tackling it head on through the holidays is the right thing for you. I've made it through parties, buffets and "eatin' meetins'" at church just fine. I'll be going with friends to a Thanksgiving buffet and I know I'll just eat tiny portions and be fine with it. And because I eat so slowly, I'll finish my little portions about the same time they are kicking back, unbuckling belts and complaining about how full they feel!

Regarding the relationship, listen to your heart. If you feel like it's worth fighting for, try to get into some counseling. If not, get out soon. There's no good in dragging out a relationship you know is not worth it in the long run. Cut your losses quickly. Our "spidey-senses" tingle for a reason -- listen to them!

Opposite problem. When I was heavy, I couldn't wear petites... guess having a big belly and butt sticking out takes up some length. But I had to roll sleeves up.

Now, instead of shopping in the plus section, I'm having to shop in the little tiny part of the store for petites. Still better than plus, but a pain!

Have you read the book Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients? http://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/proddetail.php?prod=2.SHBook

It's full of basic steps to follow to help keep you on track. Like not drinking with your meal. Focusing on Protein. Exercise... maybe it's time for you to read up like you did pre-surgery and get back to basics. And, even though your doctor retired, you might try contacting your insurance to see if nutritional counseling would be covered. They would probably be more helpful than a surgeon if you aren't having complications.

You'll find lots of support on this site but you need to educate yourself for what you should be eating and doing and then, the hard part, do it!

Best wishes

Is it hard to keep food down? Does it hurt when you eat? Or is it just you don't really want to eat because you don't feel hungry? I'm almost 5 months out and I still don't feel real hunger unless I haven't eaten in 6-7 hours. I know it's not healthy but yesterday I was doing a lot of running around and I had a yogurt in the morning and didn't eat again until about 7 that night. Never felt hunger or weak.

When I'm on my regular schedule, I try to just eat when it's time to eat. Small Breakfast, small snack around 10:30, lunch at 12, afternoon snack around 3:30, dinner around 5:30 and then a night snack about 8:30.

I've got two new ones...

When your closet has more space than it has clothes. Did a major purge today -- I have a huge walk-in closet and I ended up with 6 trash bags of clothes off of two of the racks. Just gave up because I was tired... still have so much to go through.

When cold weather hits (like it did in NJ this weekend) and you have to go shopping immediately because the size 16 coat you bought last year hangs off you like a sack. Went to Kohls and bought a pretty new wool coat and one of the Columbia "interchange" jackets where you can wear the fleece liner, the shell or both together. Both jackets? SIZE SMALL!!!!!! From a tight extra large last winter to SMALLS???? OMG!

Life is good!

@@Wallflower7522 Woot Woot! I did my first (since college > 25 years ago) and walked the middle and did it in 46 minutes. A week ago today, I did my second and actually ran the entire thing -- 42 minutes. Are you like me, did you ever DREAM you'd be running???

Great Job!

@A_NEW_START2014 Congrats and best wishes on your journey! I had a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as my bypass and I don't feel like it changed the experience very much from what I hear about others who only have bypass. I know that the hernia symptoms I had (pain in chest when straining, reflux) it's all gone.

You have a TON of resources here on the site where you can get all kinds of information and support. You have found the right spot!!!

@Ethomas15 I think there are some online sites that let you put in your measurements and such and then will "shrink" you but I don't know where they are. Maybe someone else can help with that.

I'm 4-1/2 months out and 8 pounds from my goal. I was this weight when I was about 23 (48 now) but I still didn't feel like I would know what I would look like after surgery because it's 25 years and 3 children later.

I still don't feel as small as I apparently am. Other people comment on how sexy and great I look and I look in the mirror and don't see it. I can definitely see it in pictures but it just doesn't happen when I look in the mirror. So, there is a little disconnect that takes some time to adjust to.

As far as how I FEEL goes -- huge, tremendous change! I feel bones in places I haven't (like hip bones in front). And my butt gets sore sitting on a hard chair too long -- not as much padding there as before. I can put my fingers. My FOREARMS feel so bony now -- the used to have a huge cushion of fat. Of all things to notice -- forearms and wrists! My wrists are much smaller as evidences by bracelets that used to be too short/tight.

It's probably different for everyone, but even if you can't imagine yourself at the smaller size, you'll LOVE it when you get there!

I went on vacation at 8 weeks -- fortunately, it was in Belize on the beach and fresh seafood was available all the time. Baked or blackened or grilled fish -- perfect for you and I'd bet you're able to find it in most restaurants in Vegas. Check to see if there are add-ons that you could get from your husband's meal. For example, Red Robin will let you add another patty on your burger for $2, so when I was very early out, I would just add on to my son's burger and have them bring the extra patty on a little plate for me. Most restaurants will add on a grilled chicken breast or a skewer of shrimp (one of my favorite proteins!).

Also look at the appetizer menu. chicken wings are usually fried and probably aren't the best choice. I get nachos sometimes -- On the Border has some with pieces of fajita meat, refried Beans and cheese on them. I scrape off the Beans, meat and cheese and eat that -- leave the chips on the plate. 4-5 of those and I'm full. A lunch portion of fajitas is probably a good choice... eat the meat and then a little of the veggies. Leave the tortillas on the plate. Take home the leftovers for the next meal.

Take Protein powders that can be mixed with Water (Syntrax nectar has some great flavors). Almonds are also great to have on hand... I eat them all the time for Snacks. Protein Bars are good to have just in case you can't find a good meal choice.

You can do this -- just look at menus differently than you did before surgery.

Ginger

I would think after a significant healing time, you should be able to do whatever the heck you want. I had bypass and my doctor didn't give me any restrictions from any activity that would be "for life". I was able to start lifting weights again after 4 weeks and didn't have any physical restrictions at that time. For something that could be traumatic to the body like wrestling, you might need a longer time to ensure everything is completely healed but I can't think of why you'd have a lifetime restriction from wrestling.

BTW - I don't admit it to a lot of friends but I love wrestling!

@TashaB88 Just wanted to see how you are doing? Sounds like they found so many things that might be contributing... I hope you are on the upswing and things have really turned around for you.

And congrats on the weight loss... hope the health is getting better, too.

I personally don't get flu shots for personal reasons. They protect against certain types of respiratory flu but not stomach viruses.

I had a touch of a stomach virus and it was pretty miserable but like you guessed in your post, it's not terrible terrible because there's just so much less volume to deal with. Even the dry heaving stuff wasn't as bad... maybe because the stomach is just so much smaller it doesn't have the muscle mass to cramp up the entire belly or something.

Original V8 according to their website (http://www.v8juice.com/Products.aspx) has 10 carbs, 6 sugars and 2 grams of Protein in an 8 oz serving. I would probably dump if I drank these with that many carbs. And I don't like to drink my calories except Protein shakes.

I'm not a big fan of veggies either. After I eat the 4 oz or so of a Protein (or a 20 gram shake) at a meal, I don't have room for more than 2-3 baby carrots or a couple of bites of squash or maybe a couple of bites of broccoli. I wouldn't eat those things before surgery but now, with such a small portion, it doesn't bother me to eat a bite or two. And even with just that small amount of veggies, my labs all came back good at 3 months.

So, maybe give those veggies another try -- just a bite or two really.

I'm sorry you're struggling through such a tough period. I can tell you're from the NY/NJ/PA area because you mentioned Wawa. Wawa actually has some great choices that will help you stay on track. They always have fresh fruit in the stores. You can get a sub sandwich but ask them to leave the bun off and put it in one of the little bowls instead. They also sometimes have hot roast beef or hot turkey bowls that are in a nice rich sauce that definitely qualifies as comfort food. You can usually find Vitamin Water Zero there for a nice change of pace from just bottled Water. And you can always pick up almonds in the little single serving (or for me, two serving) packs.

When I'm driving long distances like that, I try to stop at a rest stop at least half way through and find a bench and do a lot of all-over body stretches... I do a modified downward-dog putting my hands on the picnic table and bending over (hard to describe). Do arm stretches and leg stretches... really helps you loosen up from the tension of driving.

As far as non-food treats go -- check to see if there is a massage therapy school in your area... they have really low-cost massages sometimes. Or beauty schools and get some new hairdo or coloring. A friend goes to a local school like that and her hair always looks fabulous and it's very inexpensive. You might also see if there are some family caregiver support groups at your local hospitals. It might help you to hear that you aren't alone in the struggle.

Best wishes!

Tiny Tummy