MSinger

Had my 3rd diet visit today (which is a restart in the process since I missed 2 appts) and it went very well. I lost 10.58 pounds (4.8 kg) since my last visit of April 28, about 10 weeks ago. They were very proud and encouraging. I talked a long time with the NP (bless her patience!) about some of my fears and anxieties about getting surgery and besides giving me lots of good info she reminded me that since I still have five visits to go before we can submit for approval, I have plenty of time to make decisions.

I am enjoying the new protein-focused diet which I find easy to stick to at the moment, and I am swimming every day which is also helping! Between the nutrition changes, therapy, and sleeping a bit better I am feeling pretty positive about my chances for success.

It looks like December is totally out for surgery since my final visit with the surgeon is 12/15 and the NP said it's 3-4 weeks for approval usually. So looking at the middle or end of January at the earliest. That will change some of my plans for school, but thankfully I planned ahead and I already have all the classes I need to transfer in the fall, so I can just take online or half-semester courses to allow for some downtime in Jan & Feb. I do need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits to keep some of my merit-related things in place, but I think I'll find something that works.

So once I get approved, they schedule a pre-op visit with anesthesia to get cleared for surgery and I will attend a class that gives all the nitty gritty about post-op care and diet. That will also be the start of the 2-week liquid diet which will continue for 2 weeks after surgery (or 3 weeks if I change to the VSG). I'm really looking forward to getting to this stage! I'm at 362.75 pounds at the moment and between the liquid diet and my pre-op diet changes, I would love to hit the operating table at 299. Can I do it in six months??????

Sorry for the rambling update! Hope everyone has a great weekend, and stay cool out there!!!!

Had my 3rd diet visit today (which is a restart in the process since I missed 2 appts) and it went very well. I lost 10.58 pounds (4.8 kg) since my last visit of April 28, about 10 weeks ago. They were very proud and encouraging. I talked a long time with the NP (bless her patience!) about some of my fears and anxieties about getting surgery and besides giving me lots of good info she reminded me that since I still have five visits to go before we can submit for approval, I have plenty of time to make decisions.

I am enjoying the new protein-focused diet which I find easy to stick to at the moment, and I am swimming every day which is also helping! Between the nutrition changes, therapy, and sleeping a bit better I am feeling pretty positive about my chances for success.

It looks like December is totally out for surgery since my final visit with the surgeon is 12/15 and the NP said it's 3-4 weeks for approval usually. So looking at the middle or end of January at the earliest. That will change some of my plans for school, but thankfully I planned ahead and I already have all the classes I need to transfer in the fall, so I can just take online or half-semester courses to allow for some downtime in Jan & Feb. I do need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits to keep some of my merit-related things in place, but I think I'll find something that works.

So once I get approved, they schedule a pre-op visit with anesthesia to get cleared for surgery and I will attend a class that gives all the nitty gritty about post-op care and diet. That will also be the start of the 2-week liquid diet which will continue for 2 weeks after surgery (or 3 weeks if I change to the VSG). I'm really looking forward to getting to this stage! I'm at 362.75 pounds at the moment and between the liquid diet and my pre-op diet changes, I would love to hit the operating table at 299. Can I do it in six months??????

Sorry for the rambling update! Hope everyone has a great weekend, and stay cool out there!!!!

So far surgery is a success.  I'm on liquids 'clear' and 'full' until day 17, then I start blending all my food...haha, yay? I've tried very small pieces of a few soft solid foods. It takes about 2 minutes for everything to register that it is being rejected.. Then I throw it up about 15 times, rather unpleasant. So suffice to say, it has been easy to stick to liquids like I'm supposed to   Thick cream soups kind of have the safe effect. Protein shakes however, are going down, slowly, but going down none the less. Down 12lbs since surgery 8 days ago. Even received compliments, the "your face looks skinnier" compliment. It's odd but I'll take it   

Well, all the status posts on AM workouts had me in the mood to try my hand at it again. I believe this was the first time I've taken a morning walk as a post op. It went.. ok. I really loved it for the same reasons I liked it preop, but I didn't drink enough water before I headed out the door and came back home very dizzy. So I'm gonna try again tomorrow, but this time I'll make sure I'm better hydrated before going out.

Well i am officially out of the 300 club, and I couldn't be happier!

Just got back from a whirlwind STL to DC road trip and I am exhausted!  Back at the gym and back at work today!  No weight gained, but no loss either.  Stuck at 200 lbs.  Come on Onderland!!!

Has anyone got denied  for the sleeve because the psych evaluation letter didn't say "clear" on it? Also my surgeons team appeal it because the of course the insurance company dined me .and now I'm waiting to hear from them to see if I got approve or denied again, also when I called the insurance (CIGNA) they  said it shouldn't be an issue once they receive the letter from the therapist saying "clear" for surgery on it .. ugh so frustrating because I first been started this whole process starting February 9 2017, and it was supposed to be  only a 4 month check in w the surgeon and all the other things I have to follow up on that the insurance company requires ,which iv done . Question does anyone know if it took long for the appeal to come back from the insurance company(CIGNA)  and if so how long?

Had quite an interesting day yesterday. Besides my shoes rebelling and deciding to be too big, a lot of other things are now too big. I was aware that my underwear was getting a bit big for me, but just forgot to pick up new pairs. This finally bit me.

So yesterday, my underwear fell while i was at work. And not, slide down my butt slightly, but like full on dived for the floor falling. They wanted to be free and only my thunder thighs stopped their descent. Thankfully it was end of day and i was walking to my car at the time, so all I had to do was keep my thighs close to stop them from falling into view of the bottom of my dress until i got into my car. Which was interesting since it was not only storming ( so i was wrestling with an umbrella) but i was juggling a bunch of bulky bags too. And seeing as I park not only in full view of the building, but my boss's office as well, I couldn't reach and pull them up. -_-. 

Tomorrow I can eat scrambled eggs! I am really excited about this! I am also going to try to make a ricotta bake......even if I just get a bite of each down I would be a happy camper. I am also really proud--- today being Day 13 Post op--- I FINALLY got down two protein shakes! (60 grames protein) It is really hard - plus trying to get my water intake in as well. I have a very full feeling that has not gone away. Today was a good day, and  my 2nd day at work since surgery....feeling optimistic. My tummy is not hurting as much, I just wish I was back to sleeping normal. I am super tired and no caffeine until the end of the month...sheesh!

So I decided last night I was going to go to the gym this morning and do an upper body workout with the weight machines. My husband looks at me like I am crazy..lol.. he knows how much I hate the gym. He said, you do realize even though you are going before work it will still be packed in there. I said I know, I am trying to get over my dislike of working out in a crowed gym.

Well I tried. I did not like it. I don't know why I thought it would be different. I felt so awkward using the machines and I was never able to really focus or get in a good grove. I am just going to stick to doing my own workouts at home on days I am not running. I can do push ups, squats, sit ups, ect.. Maybe it would feel better if I had a friend to go with me, but I don't, so I am not going back.

I'm usually not a cardio gal (even though I do cardio) but I'm digging in getting my cardio in with JUST DANCE. I haven't had a session yet without my girls in it.  They love to dance/workout too.  Even if I do a YouTube workout video, they're in it.  I want them to always remember the days that they worked out with me.  I did the same with my dad back in the 80's when he had an exercise class he taught.  That's where my love to exercise came from....I just pray and hope they don't let go when they get older as I did.  

So I've been playing around with my eating schedule and decided yesterday that I was going to increase my meals from 5x a day to 6x a day with smaller portions. I went from 4x a day to 5x a day a few weeks ago, and it went well, but I was wondering if it might be better for me to constantly be eating, even if it is smaller amounts.

Today's the first day I'm trying it out, and I'm noticing something very strange. Even though I'm eating smaller meals, today I'm feeling MORE restriction from my sleeve. I don't know what it is... Is there a "sweet spot" where if you eat past it your stomach goes numb? I know it usually takes me a long time to feel my restriction after I've eaten, about 45minutes or so.  Anyway, I've been eating every 2hrs and for the entire day today I've been feeling full.

It's weird. I'm coming up on 7weeks out and I'm still learning how my sleeve works.

So I decided last night I was going to go to the gym this morning and do an upper body workout with the weight machines. My husband looks at me like I am crazy..lol.. he knows how much I hate the gym. He said, you do realize even though you are going before work it will still be packed in there. I said I know, I am trying to get over my dislike of working out in a crowed gym.

Well I tried. I did not like it. I don't know why I thought it would be different. I felt so awkward using the machines and I was never able to really focus or get in a good grove. I am just going to stick to doing my own workouts at home on days I am not running. I can do push ups, squats, sit ups, ect.. Maybe it would feel better if I had a friend to go with me, but I don't, so I am not going back.

So I've been playing around with my eating schedule and decided yesterday that I was going to increase my meals from 5x a day to 6x a day with smaller portions. I went from 4x a day to 5x a day a few weeks ago, and it went well, but I was wondering if it might be better for me to constantly be eating, even if it is smaller amounts.

Today's the first day I'm trying it out, and I'm noticing something very strange. Even though I'm eating smaller meals, today I'm feeling MORE restriction from my sleeve. I don't know what it is... Is there a "sweet spot" where if you eat past it your stomach goes numb? I know it usually takes me a long time to feel my restriction after I've eaten, about 45minutes or so.  Anyway, I've been eating every 2hrs and for the entire day today I've been feeling full.

It's weird. I'm coming up on 7weeks out and I'm still learning how my sleeve works.

16 weeks post op yesterday. 18 weeks since pre op diet. 70 lbs down. Unbelievable really

I am down 30 lbs now. Feeling lighter. I went ahead and went shopping since my pants look disgusting with how droopy they are now.    Quite exciting for me. The only problem is that now, all my shoes are too big.  I love heels, but now my feet are flopping out of them.  A little scared to think I will need to replace my entire collection. 

So I decided last night I was going to go to the gym this morning and do an upper body workout with the weight machines. My husband looks at me like I am crazy..lol.. he knows how much I hate the gym. He said, you do realize even though you are going before work it will still be packed in there. I said I know, I am trying to get over my dislike of working out in a crowed gym.

Well I tried. I did not like it. I don't know why I thought it would be different. I felt so awkward using the machines and I was never able to really focus or get in a good grove. I am just going to stick to doing my own workouts at home on days I am not running. I can do push ups, squats, sit ups, ect.. Maybe it would feel better if I had a friend to go with me, but I don't, so I am not going back.

Hey, I think I found where people are putting their status updates!  Lol.. (Only took about 6 months...)  

Ok, so I'm 16 weeks post op today, and am 50% of the way to my conservative goal (42% of the way to my stretch goal).  I don't know if it's good, bad, or ugly.. but I feel great!

So I've been trying to wake up early and get my workouts in, only did it twice.  I can't seem to shake off my tiredness in the mornings!  I know if I kept it up, I'd make it into a habit and it'll get easier, but I don't know if I want to do that.  When I workout in the evenings, take my shower, I'm so ready to lay down and sleep.  I think I'll stick to my evenings. 

Now, if I decided to stop working, then I'll do mornings...around 9 or 10.  LOL 

So I've been trying to wake up early and get my workouts in, only did it twice.  I can't seem to shake off my tiredness in the mornings!  I know if I kept it up, I'd make it into a habit and it'll get easier, but I don't know if I want to do that.  When I workout in the evenings, take my shower, I'm so ready to lay down and sleep.  I think I'll stick to my evenings. 

Now, if I decided to stop working, then I'll do mornings...around 9 or 10.  LOL 

This post is an attempt at, as the kiddies say, keepin it 100...

I've decided I need to re-vamp my diet. Starting today I'm transitioning to low carb eating. I have always been extremely carb sensitive. I've always loved sweets and would spiral into terrible binges the more carbs I introduced into my diet. I've been doing ok post op since I'm focusing on getting my protein first, but over the last few weeks, I've been able to eat larger volumes of food and started introducing more carbs into my diet thinking I'd be able to control myself better. Unfortunately, I noticed I'm starting to slip.

I thought since I had my surgery that it would be ok for me to eat carbs and I wouldn't have the same food cravings since I would have restriction, but that line of thinking isn't quite working out. Carbs are easy to digest, even if it's paired with protein. The only thing my sleeve keeps me from doing is eating an ungodly amount of food all at once. I can easily eat a smaller amount several times to total an ungodly amount of food. 

This choice is tough for me, because I always wished I could be that person who eats one serving of chips and is satisfied, or has only one serving of ice cream, or one slice of bread. The "control" I think I have only lasts a few days, and then descends into me repeatedly going to the refrigerator for more food. This never happens when I'm on a low-carb diet. 

I know I have restriction because although I have been eating more food this week, it is nowhere near the amount I was eating preop. But this is not the only thing I need in order to successfully lose weight. I have to meet my sleeve halfway and focus on foods that do not stimulate my appetite the way simple carbs do. I'd love to have chips, ice cream, crackers, but those are the foods that led to where I was preop. No more. I am thankful for the help my sleeve is giving me, but it's not a complete solution. I have to do my part and choose the right foods that will help me be as successful as I can. 

This post is an attempt at, as the kiddies say, keepin it 100...

I've decided I need to re-vamp my diet. Starting today I'm transitioning to low carb eating. I have always been extremely carb sensitive. I've always loved sweets and would spiral into terrible binges the more carbs I introduced into my diet. I've been doing ok post op since I'm focusing on getting my protein first, but over the last few weeks, I've been able to eat larger volumes of food and started introducing more carbs into my diet thinking I'd be able to control myself better. Unfortunately, I noticed I'm starting to slip.

I thought since I had my surgery that it would be ok for me to eat carbs and I wouldn't have the same food cravings since I would have restriction, but that line of thinking isn't quite working out. Carbs are easy to digest, even if it's paired with protein. The only thing my sleeve keeps me from doing is eating an ungodly amount of food all at once. I can easily eat a smaller amount several times to total an ungodly amount of food. 

This choice is tough for me, because I always wished I could be that person who eats one serving of chips and is satisfied, or has only one serving of ice cream, or one slice of bread. The "control" I think I have only lasts a few days, and then descends into me repeatedly going to the refrigerator for more food. This never happens when I'm on a low-carb diet. 

I know I have restriction because although I have been eating more food this week, it is nowhere near the amount I was eating preop. But this is not the only thing I need in order to successfully lose weight. I have to meet my sleeve halfway and focus on foods that do not stimulate my appetite the way simple carbs do. I'd love to have chips, ice cream, crackers, but those are the foods that led to where I was preop. No more. I am thankful for the help my sleeve is giving me, but it's not a complete solution. I have to do my part and choose the right foods that will help me be as successful as I can. 

This post is an attempt at, as the kiddies say, keepin it 100...

I've decided I need to re-vamp my diet. Starting today I'm transitioning to low carb eating. I have always been extremely carb sensitive. I've always loved sweets and would spiral into terrible binges the more carbs I introduced into my diet. I've been doing ok post op since I'm focusing on getting my protein first, but over the last few weeks, I've been able to eat larger volumes of food and started introducing more carbs into my diet thinking I'd be able to control myself better. Unfortunately, I noticed I'm starting to slip.

I thought since I had my surgery that it would be ok for me to eat carbs and I wouldn't have the same food cravings since I would have restriction, but that line of thinking isn't quite working out. Carbs are easy to digest, even if it's paired with protein. The only thing my sleeve keeps me from doing is eating an ungodly amount of food all at once. I can easily eat a smaller amount several times to total an ungodly amount of food. 

This choice is tough for me, because I always wished I could be that person who eats one serving of chips and is satisfied, or has only one serving of ice cream, or one slice of bread. The "control" I think I have only lasts a few days, and then descends into me repeatedly going to the refrigerator for more food. This never happens when I'm on a low-carb diet. 

I know I have restriction because although I have been eating more food this week, it is nowhere near the amount I was eating preop. But this is not the only thing I need in order to successfully lose weight. I have to meet my sleeve halfway and focus on foods that do not stimulate my appetite the way simple carbs do. I'd love to have chips, ice cream, crackers, but those are the foods that led to where I was preop. No more. I am thankful for the help my sleeve is giving me, but it's not a complete solution. I have to do my part and choose the right foods that will help me be as successful as I can. 

I think I'll go to the bookstore and find the book PROTEINAHOLIC by Dr Garth Davis.  I just read some accounts of his patients being on a plant based diet and being very successful.  I even read that his points are very valid about the amount of protein we have all been lead to believe we need.  I'm super excited, because I've been trying to do plant based for a while now and I've got the support of my husband who wants to go plant based as well.  Now, I have to get very creative for my kiddos.  The easy part with them is that they tend to not eat meat anyway.  I've got to sneak veggies and legumes in...LOL  LIke black bean brownies.  They'll for sure eat those!  I HOPE!!!!

Well...I just got my first lesson on how this surgery is a tool, not a miracle. Went grocery shopping hungry, bought some "extras", came home and made some poor choices for the rest of the day. It is scary how quickly the calories added up, and how quickly my sleeve feels empty after eating. I ate a lot of food 

I feel bad, but I'm gonna use this as a lesson. First off, it's not the end of the world. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow, and this is the first time I've fallen off the wagon. That level of adherence to my diet was unheard of preop - I always broke within a week or two. Also, I went back and re-read my NUT materials. It's a good time for a refresher. I'm gonna learn what I can and just move on. Yesterday's poor decisions have no control over my choices today.