RNY DC

meat was not allowed until after 7 weeks at one month only flaky fish ! I could only eat half an egg

Hi Everyone!
Over the course of the last two weeks, some of you may know that I have been struggling with the most horrific left side pain known to mankind. The incision area, that my surgeon playfully likes to refer to as the place where "the magic happens", has been troublesome and pulling and nagging and even gave me a friendly little muscle spasm earlier this week. I have been immobile, I have been crying harder than I've ever cried and I have endured all of this pain without pain meds. I'm pretty sure my husband and children are afraid of me. LOL
Because of the pain and lack of mobility, I have been having buyer's remorse. With every day that has passed, I have continually asked myself "What did I get myself into?" "What have I done to myself?" "Was this worth it?"
Today I got all of my questions answered.
Today I went to my two week post-op appointments with my surgeon and nutritionist. I stepped on the scale and closed my eyes and told the MA to tell me when to open. I heard her say "wow!" and I couldn't help but open my eyes. I had lost 20 pounds since surgery! TWENTY POUNDS!!! With the 30 I lost pre-op, I have lost a grand total of 50 pounds!!! I AM ON THE LOSER'S BENCH!
I started to cry. My husband teared up a little too I think, because he knows how hard I've struggled with my weight over the course of my life and our relationship and with the insurance and all of the pain. Two weeks, 20 pounds..what an amazing feeling!
I won't go into details on the appointment itself, because it was normal post-op appointment, but I will share the fact that my blood pressure was the best it has been since I was in my 20s, possibly my teens. When I was in the hospital after surgery, my blood pressure was a major issue, so to see that my numbers were normal was astounding.
The meeting with my nutritionist was just as expected. She told me I wasn't getting enough Protein in, but I knew that already. It is something I'm struggling with and she told me to go ahead and move onto the RTD shakes (Premier Protein, specifically, because of their high Protein content), which I was thrilled about because I hate the Protein powder they have me currently on. She noted that my liquid intake was good, but could be better (I knew that too!) and gave me some food/snack tips for my trip to Disneyland next month, which was incredibly helpful.
After I left this appointment I stopped and cried some more because I was so overwhelmed by the progress I have made thus far. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that only two weeks out, I would've lost 20 pounds, nevertheless 50 pounds in a month. Those brief moments of tears were freeing and exciting and it made me realize that everything I have gone through to get to this point has been worth every agonizing, frustrating, tiring and painful minute.
My questions then became "What took me so long to do this?" "Why did I doubt my choice?"
I knew going into this that it wasn't going to be easy, and it took me a while to get here, but now I know it has most definitely been worth it.
Here's to the next 20 pounds!!!
xoxo,
Niki

i had my surgery 6/9/15. today i met a big goal of mine: 215, aka my smallest adult weight. i looked at my day of surgery pic, and i am amazed at the change that's happened in such a short time. so here's my dos pic and one from today. and also some face pics...for most of my life, i was overweight but i never had a full face until the last 4 years. so very glad it's slimmed back down!

Wow is all I could say last night when I started pulling out old clothes. I started at a tight 58 waist. Last night I found some size 50's and they look like they were tailored to fit me. I'm like WOW this is really happening all before my eyes. I'm so excited and can't wait to see what the future holds for me.

I wake up excited for another day!
I can eat foods I love in small amounts!
I can RUN!
I feeeeeeel beautiful!
People who have known me my entire life have been double-taking looks bc they don't recognize me!
I'm doing my first 10k Saturday!!

I have become very aware and sensitive to people I am close to who still struggle with these issues. My brother and my best friend are both considerably overweight. When I'm out with either one of them I make an effort to ask for a table instead of a booth so they'll be more comfortable. I remember what it was like to not fit in a booth!

I can cross my legs, cross my arms over my boobies, fit in clothes that I haven't worn in over 2 years, dropped a size in undies, walking around without my knees and hips hurting!!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to take a moment and share that I am down 48.6 pounds in 3 months. I'm about a pound less than I usually get down to before I start gaining the weight back. I'm so excited to see the changes that are ahead for me!

Just a follow up. The surgery went great! I'm 1-week post op tomorrow and healed up beautifully, no pain after about day 4 and the whole time quite well managed. I only took pain pills once when I got home after 2 1/2 days in the hospital. The eating adjustment period is long and slow. I'm on liquids - 4 8oz Boost's a day, water/crystal light, cream Soups. I cheated a bit and tried to eat something solid, well chewed, not a good feeling. On the good side, very little hunger. On the bad side, taste/smell is different and it feels like I'll never enjoy eating again. Actually not sure that's such a bad thing, just comes with a lot of soul searching and weird moments. On the good side, my insulin dose is very, very low and the pounds seem to be coming off. My highest weight was 365, today I'm down to 330 and dropping. Thanks for all the kind words.
Justin

WLS Do’s and Don’ts

DO remove the word ONLY from your vocabulary. Ex: I’ve ONLY lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks… Now let’s look at this again without the word ONLY: I’ve lost 10 Lbs in 2 weeks!! See what I mean? Perception is reality folks!!

DON’T assume you’ll never eat all of your favorite foods again. This is just an excuse your brain has designed to allow you to indulge. You WILL eat all your favorites again someday, just much less but find it to me more enjoyable. Which leads directly into the next:

DON’T do the “last meal” syndrome. You will only sabotage your weight loss you might have pre-surgery or set you back further from your ultimate goal post-op. This surgery is very serious and is for the serious minded. Use this time wisely to get the feeling of how life might be like post op.

DO learn all of the rules pre-op that you will endure post-op. Such as, no drinking with meals, using smaller utensils and plates, engaging in some type of workout routine, limiting your sugar and sodium intake, joining as many WLS support groups as you can.

DO Celebrate every single pound lost! Imagine one pound of butter. Yeah… that’s gone from your body forever. It is noteworthy and worth every bit of a pat on the back as any others that may go along with it.

DON’T compare your successes and losses to others. Chances are very high that you will only come out on the short end and only find yourself disappointed. Everyone’s journeys are their own…

DO keep track of your losses in many different ways than just the scale! Examples:

DO keep one set of your largest clothes you’ve ever worn. Make it a point to try them on, especially when you’re having a down moment. You will find this will really pick up your spirits! This is a real rollercoaster of a ride, and anything that will keep you positive is what you should do!

DON'T keep any other fat clothes around. Get rid of them ASAP. You're never going to fit them again, right? So... off to donations they go.

DO take photos of yourself just before your surgery. Keep them close. Again, having a bad day? Look at them and compare them. As a matter of fact, take photos of yourself often. You will also find that the more you lose, the more you will want to take pictures. Nothing wrong with that!!! That goes with celebrating your losses.

DO take measurements of yourself often. Keeping track of all your inches lost will really keep you on the right track when your scale is being stubborn!!

DO reward yourself every time you hit a mini goal. Make some more worthy than others. I like to go shopping when I hit a goal, it is my favorite thing to do now.

DON’T let the scale define you. Great majority of us will endure many fluctuations and stalls in this journey. It is what it is… patience is the key here. Meditate and envision yourself months down the road at your goal. Smile, then move on!!

DO find out about measuring body fat! It’s more than just weight loss, FAT LOSS is the real goal here. Keep in mind that the BMI scale is greatly inaccurate and most Health Studies do prove this. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE) our body fat % ranges should be average: 25-31% for Women and 18-24% for men. Any higher is considered obese. However it does go more in depth, according to ages and more. Everyone has different genetic make ups, frame sizes and fitness levels... even a different ethnicity can post differences.

DO have many goals in sight. Having only one, especially a simple weight goal you will find can be difficult. Have many MINI goals along your journey, and more than just ones that involve the scale. Such as, clothing size goals, body fat% goals, fitness or workout goals, dietary goals, etc…

DO challenge yourself always!! Whether it’s a global challenge with others, or personal challenges... It will keep you motivated and always willing to go further than you ever thought you could!

DO have a mentor! Find someone that you can trust and confide in, and that you know has “been there”. Preferably someone you know in person. You will find many folks in your life who have been there, for obesity is worldwide now and there are so many who have been able to defeat this demon. It’s not easy! It quite literally is the toughest feat I’ve ever had to endure. I can say this too, my job will never be done. This is for life!
DON'T believe the myth that your tool has an expiration date. Yes, it's true you will lose the most weight in the first year and it's also true that the further out you are and the closer you are to goal, the harder it is to lose. However, as long as you keep up with your healthy eating and fitness routines you will continue to lose weight and / or keep it off in the many years post op. It all boils down to calories in vs. calories out.
DON'T believe the myth that having WLS will keep the weight off forever. That is our individual responsibility.

And finally…

DON’T ever beat yourself up! We all make mistakes, and dare I say not one person on this Earth is perfect. I try hard to be, no doubt! I always admit that I’m a perfectionist – but I’m far from perfect. I just try to be… The only thing you can do is pick yourself up, give yourself a pep talk, perhaps contact your mentor for reassurance and move on!!! Again, this is for life. Every day you wake up is a second chance.

DO look for solutions to your problems. Otherwise they will just become excuses.


DON’T EVER GIVE UP! I don’t think any explanation is necessary here.

DON'T expect the scale to post a loss every single day. As a matter of fact, don't expect it to move that much even weekly! Just keep doing all the right things and the scale will move in the right direction when it needs to.

DO expect to see fluctuations on the scale, both down AND up. DON'T lose your head over it either. This isn't a miracle cure and the weight isn't going to magically disappear in a few weeks. You have to keep pushing with healthy eating, some type of workout and getting plenty of Fluid.

DON'T let the scale define your journey when there are so many pieces to that puzzle!!!



Good luck to all of you. This journey is a tough one, but if you are here, then you believed in yourself enough to give yourself the life you’ve always dreamed of. YOU WILL BE successful. Always keep that in mind.

Add-ons by other experienced sleevers:

DO keep a list of NSV (Non scale victories) to reflect on when times are getting hard. Can you walk up 2 extra flights of stairs before getting winded? Cross your legs?" and

"DO NOT be afraid to change things if they aren't working. Stalls happen even gains happen. If you are on a long stall look at your eating and decided if changes need to be made. Utilize your tool!" -- Southern Sleever

DO: Keep a food diary of what you eat and drink. This is a great learning tool as to which foods have what amounts of fat, Protein and carbs that add up to your daily intake goals. There are many ways to diary your food - from old fashioned pen and notebook to many options via smartphone apps. Keeping one is the important thing - however is right for you. I use mine now to look back for meal ideas when I hit a blank as to what to prepare for a day or a week.

DO: Realize this is not a diet to be followed for a while then set aside. This is a permanent lifestyle change. Yes, the amount of food you eat will increase as time passes, but your relationship with food will be forever altered. How you Celebrate your joys, successes and holidays will be different. How you mourn your sorrows will be different. Some people need outside help to get through the sometimes overwhelming mental changes this process brings. If you need help with this part of the deal- reach out and get it. -- SKCUNNINGHAM

DO roll with the punches!! -- fern

Thank you everyone! I made it through with flying colors! Things went a lot better than I could have ever hoped. The worst pain was in my back and left side incision area. At first the pain pump wasn't strong enough but they adjusted it and it really nipped it in the bud. Feel it slightly when I'm breathing deep, but again, not bad. They'll be helping me with my first walk in about an hour.
Very tired, but the experience was a lot easier than I was expecting. I'll answer more in deep in the coming days.
Thanks for all the support! ????

Today is FINALLY my day. July 29, 2015, at high noon, I'm having my surgery!
Wow, what a head rush and surreal experience, all wrapped into one. It took an entire year, but it has definitely been the most life changing journey I've ever embarked upon. I will never forget the struggle that brought me here, the friends I've made, or the health and happiness I hope to achieve.
I chose my screen name, The Candidate, because in all my research the most reoccurring phrase was "You might be a candidate for weight loss surgery if..." Not sure what to identify myself with after surgery. Is "The Post Op" taken? ????
This is "The Candidate" (but not for much longer), signing off, and heading to the hospital.
Thank you all, and I'll be seeing you on the other side. ❤️

I am 9 weeks out and have dropped 50 lbs and 2 pant sizes! I feel the difference and it is wonderful. I can see the difference in my face, but maybe not so much the rest of my body yet (at least in these photos). I picked up my 30 lb niece the other day and could not believe I used to have more than one and a half of her on me all the time. So excited that the numbers just keep going down. I am walking my first ever 5k next week and am so proud of myself so all I have achieved so far! Best decision ever!
​Before WLS (gray) & Today (pink)
 

Hey everyone! So I haven't posted much recently. Mostly because things have been going amazing!! Aug 19th will mark six months since my surgery and I am down 95lbs as of today!! I could not be happier. With that said though I have noticed a few things in the last month that I was not prepared to feel. Sure I was prepared for the loose skin, and sadness over no soda, and no sweets ect. I was even prepared for the what if complications.... What I did not see coming that has started hitting me like a Mach truck is the emotional issues. I know I have lost almost 100lbs, my new clothing I have recently bought no longer fit, but... I don't feel that different. I never did feel that fat or ugly. I quite liked myself truly. Now however when I see photos come up in my time hop or in memories on Facebook they are forever ruined for me! I cringe and want to cry that I was seriously THAT large!! How did I ever let that happen? I felt pretty on some of these occasions, desired even. Now when I see the photos I have to look away. I joke that they bypassed my stomach... But the surgeon can't fix my brain... And I never meant that more than in the last month. I know if this is my only problem I am doing great. Anyone else suffer from deep shame and disgust when dredging up memories from the past?!? It's becoming a thing for me. Truly what astonishes me the most is that I just didn't realize! Anyways just some early morning rantings. I'm going to enclose some before and after pics specifically one from four years ago of my best friend and I... And then again just a couple weeks ago. It's truly shocking to me!   

Love the video!!! U hit on a lot of feelings I have been experiencing ! Definitely not been a easy road I agree , been off diabetic meds since surgery My surgery was 7/28 and I had to stay in the hospital 4 days due to a fever !!! But am glad u went through and the hardest part is over for us! Don't look at things so negative , just think it's much better to eat 3-4 chips than the hold bag or 2! U can have everything u always have had but in moderation ! Listen to ur pouch, if ur getting full stop eating! Thats the key to keeping our weight down after we loose!! This the beginning girl , our lives will change for the better let's embrace it !!!!!! Cheer up!

Love the video!!! U hit on a lot of feelings I have been experiencing ! Definitely not been a easy road I agree , been off diabetic meds since surgery My surgery was 7/28 and I had to stay in the hospital 4 days due to a fever !!! But am glad u went through and the hardest part is over for us! Don't look at things so negative , just think it's much better to eat 3-4 chips than the hold bag or 2! U can have everything u always have had but in moderation ! Listen to ur pouch, if ur getting full stop eating! Thats the key to keeping our weight down after we loose!! This the beginning girl , our lives will change for the better let's embrace it !!!!!! Cheer up!

Love the video!!! U hit on a lot of feelings I have been experiencing ! Definitely not been a easy road I agree , been off diabetic meds since surgery My surgery was 7/28 and I had to stay in the hospital 4 days due to a fever !!! But am glad u went through and the hardest part is over for us! Don't look at things so negative , just think it's much better to eat 3-4 chips than the hold bag or 2! U can have everything u always have had but in moderation ! Listen to ur pouch, if ur getting full stop eating! Thats the key to keeping our weight down after we loose!! This the beginning girl , our lives will change for the better let's embrace it !!!!!! Cheer up!

Well, its 4 days post op and I have to admit I had a pretty good experience with surgery. Not much pain other than gas discomfort and I went kinda crazy the second day in the hospital and couldn't get comfortable but on today I had a sort of emotional break down. Please see the attached link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4wdgZUWbUg

@ daisee I hope I have those good readings post op! But I have faith it's going to get better health wise I'm claiming it!

Good luck to you plz keep us posted !!! My RNY is on Tuesday 7/28 at 7:45 am!!! I am extremely nervous!!!

Surgery in the morning! I have to be at the hospital at 6am. I'm so excited... Mom and sis in town and I got my best friend also supporting me... Trying get my last fluids in before midnight.
Ready for this journey! I know it won't be easy but I absolutely believe it will be one of the best of my life....

@ daisee I hope I have those good readings post op! But I have faith it's going to get better health wise I'm claiming it!

I haven't as I didn't get my surgery date under after approval, but I sure hope they give you word soon. I'd call first thing on Monday if only to ease your mind. Good luck!

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday and I'm waiting on my approval tomorrow !!! Did anyone experience this? I'm scare to death of the surgery and also scared my date will be rescheduled !! Double stressed out right now!!! I want to get this done and start my new life change !!

Woo hooooo! I had my RNY on March 19, 2015. I've lost 62 lbs so far. I am disabled, so I won't lose as fast as many people. I've been wearing my same size 5X tops forever! When I was feeling optimistic a few months ago, I ordered my same style trapeze tank tops from Roamans in a 2X. I set them aside for a long time because they just looked too small. Last night, I realized all of my pajama tops were all in the laundry basket, so I grabbed a 2x tank top for the night, and it fit!!!!!!! I'm not even close to being confident enough to wear something snug around my hips and belly, but now I feel like I really did lose some weight!
I know that many of us wear loose, stretchy clothes, and I probably will for a long time, but at least its a smaller size! Most of my weight is around my middle, so I just wasn't seeing a big change there. I really needed this victory!