MSinger

Happy Monday all! Well, I hit my step PR today during my walk - 4k steps. It's not much, but it's progress so I'll take it. And I wasn't dizzy after I got home. I wish I could have stayed out longer since it's so beautiful out, but I started feeling a bit woozy so it was time to pack it up. 
I also increased my calories from 800-950cals, so I'm wondering if that's what is helping with the dizziness. In the grand scheme, I know it's a low amount of calories for anyone, but it's like I almost feel guilty for eating "so much". I'm only 5 weeks out as of tomorrow, and I've seen people posting 600-800cal/day at 5weeks. I'm 6'0 and I'm wondering if that may have anything to do with it. I don't want to undereat if that could be what is making me so tired and dizzy, but I also have this fear that it's a slippery slope and before I know it I'll be back to overeating. Of course, I'm doing all that I can to prevent that, but this is something I feel I'm gonna worry about until I learn to trust my sleeve more.

Happy Monday all! Well, I hit my step PR today during my walk - 4k steps. It's not much, but it's progress so I'll take it. And I wasn't dizzy after I got home. I wish I could have stayed out longer since it's so beautiful out, but I started feeling a bit woozy so it was time to pack it up. 
I also increased my calories from 800-950cals, so I'm wondering if that's what is helping with the dizziness. In the grand scheme, I know it's a low amount of calories for anyone, but it's like I almost feel guilty for eating "so much". I'm only 5 weeks out as of tomorrow, and I've seen people posting 600-800cal/day at 5weeks. I'm 6'0 and I'm wondering if that may have anything to do with it. I don't want to undereat if that could be what is making me so tired and dizzy, but I also have this fear that it's a slippery slope and before I know it I'll be back to overeating. Of course, I'm doing all that I can to prevent that, but this is something I feel I'm gonna worry about until I learn to trust my sleeve more.

Month 1 is in the books!! 17lbs lost since surgery, 32lbs down in total. I am so happy with my progress. I have a long way to go, but I am so psyched to see a loss this big on the scale. It's been years since I've seen any real loss at all. Goal for this month is to work on increasing my activity. Let's do this!!!

Happy Thursday! Nothing much to update on, I'm just writing to keep up the habit. I've been plugging away at food/protein/water goals. Going grocery shopping tomorrow, so next week I'll be (slowly) introducing new foods to my sleeve. I still feel a good amount of fatigue which currently is my biggest frustration. There are people who reported feeling their energy come back by now, and while I have had a steady increase, I still get fatigued pretty quickly. Fingers crossed that I'll turn a corner soon!

So today while I was watching this female Asian longhorned beetle oviposite her egg I was thinking about the science behind WLS. How many experiments aka..clinical trials have been done, are still being done, and will be done in the future to help doctors figure out the complex mysteries of this disease we call obesity. It blows my mind to even try to think of all the variables involved in the design of these trials.
My research focuses on this beetle, a much simpler organism, and yet it can take days of thought and reading current published research to determine the variables that need to be considered and controlled during a planned experiment. Sometimes we even design pre-experiments just to figure out whether something is going to effect something else before we run the main experiment. All of this thinking has made me realize how little we really know. Why has my diabetes gone into remission after surgery? This surgery has done what following a low carb diet alone could not do, normalize my blood sugars minus any medications. I haven't had time to read all of the published literature on this subject, but I would like to.
My mind is trained to looked for patterns in data so of course this is the way I am approaching my journey after this surgery. I am logging everything I eat, drink, and my exercise. I will export the data to excel and graph it to see if I can figure out how my body works now in relation to theses things and weight loss.  I know for some people, maybe most, this is not something they would want to do. It may seem excessive and time consuming, but I hope to learn something that will be useful to me during the maintenance phase. 
I am increasingly more convinced that low carb is going to be the best diet for me to follow long term. I just don't see any reason to test the waters when I am doing so well right now. I have zero cravings for sugar, bread, rice, pasta... my energy levels are good, my bs are excellent, and I am losing weight.  These are my musings for today, 5 weeks post-op.

26 more days until my revision to RNY!

Day 15 (pre op diet)
I was thinking I might be able to get down the road a bit with my work pants.....I haven't weight myself since that last time but my pants are def getting baggier. Today I feel really achy- in my leg muscles. Almost like burning. Not sure why but not feeling it. This Friday I am going to a shrimp boil and I am dreading it, mostly because I don't want to have to explain over and over why I am not eating. I also have to make a dish which stinks because I am making Jalapeno cheese cornbread and I cannot test it! Officially one week today until my surgery. The hospital called me and I have to be there at 6am on Wednesday! For awhile it seemed time was moving slow, but now with my being excited and anxious I feel like whoa it is around the corner! I told my husband this morning on the way to work I feel empty....but in a good way. My tummy is less bloated and I feel better. My sister is having her baby any day now! I hope before my surgery! <3 

Tentative surgery date of August 28, 2017!!!

Month 1 is in the books!! 17lbs lost since surgery, 32lbs down in total. I am so happy with my progress. I have a long way to go, but I am so psyched to see a loss this big on the scale. It's been years since I've seen any real loss at all. Goal for this month is to work on increasing my activity. Let's do this!!!

Month 1 is in the books!! 17lbs lost since surgery, 32lbs down in total. I am so happy with my progress. I have a long way to go, but I am so psyched to see a loss this big on the scale. It's been years since I've seen any real loss at all. Goal for this month is to work on increasing my activity. Let's do this!!!

Month 1 is in the books!! 17lbs lost since surgery, 32lbs down in total. I am so happy with my progress. I have a long way to go, but I am so psyched to see a loss this big on the scale. It's been years since I've seen any real loss at all. Goal for this month is to work on increasing my activity. Let's do this!!!

Increasing my meals from 4-5x/day went very well. The portions are smaller, so I don't feel as run down after eating, and I had more time to drink my fluids instead of rushing in the evening to get the rest down. Hooray for successful experiments  

Today marks 3 weeks post op  I already can't believe all the changes that have occurred. I still have my ups and downs energy wise, sometimes I get a little attitude from my sleeve when I take too big of a spoonful at once, but I'm happy that I'm tolerating foods well and I'm continuing to slowly progress my diet. 
I was thinking today about how just a few days before my surgery I was contemplating whether or not I should even go through with it. At that point, I was thinking maybe I could do all this on my own (even though I have been trying to lose weight for the last several years and have done nothing but gain weight). Well, it's been 3 weeks now and I have followed my diet to a T. Although I've had some junk food "fantasies", I have never been tempted to actually break my diet. Preop, the longest I could last was a few days, 4 days max, and I'd break and order grubhub. Yes, the sleeve is a tool, but right now it has been instrumental in my ability to stay on point. I would never have been able to do this pre-op. Trust me, I've tried!

I'm considering changing up my eating schedule. I currently eat 4 times a day, but may decrease my portions and increase my frequency to 5x/day. I feel like my meals are too large and experience quite a bit of pressure after my meals. We'll see how it goes...

So 31 years ago today I married my best friend and we are still as in love today as we were back then. We have had our ups and downs as all couples do, but I wouldn't trade my dh for anything or anyone. We are opposites in so many ways, but we bring out the best in each other. I am missing him tonight since he is away, and Saturday can't come soon enough. 

Officially 1 week post-op....everyday is a climb towards success...yes the first week was rough, painful, and making myself doubt the decision I had made regarding this WLS journey...one week later, pain has subsided, days are now easier, and that dark cloud of doubt has turned into a beautiful rainbow of positive feelings, get up and go's and wishing I had done this before that stupid lap band I had implanted 4 years ago...so ask me again, do I regret and doubt what I have done to live a longer, healthier, positive lifestyle? Hell to the No! Food is now SECOND in my life, not first...It's about ME now, and I'm finally in first place and plan on staying there forever! Join me and make food your "sloppy seconds".  
For those of you who are pre and post op...here is some hints to help with protein intake & vitamin intake your first 2 weeks and beyond to avoid doubts and discouragement on your new digestive system...
Fairlife Milk - www.fairlife.com I drink the skim milk one & every 8 oz has 13 grams of protein which helps a lot if you're like me and cant drink the majority of protein powders out there since they are made with artificial sweeteners ProMod -  https://www.amazon.com/Abbott-Nutrition-Promod-Liquid-Protein/dp/B005XTYDH4 If you're like me and was given the little cup of "mystery syrup"  in the hospital that looks like honey, you can order that from Amazon...1 oz gives you 10 grams of protein, and I mix it in my chamomile tea and it's great...its slightly sweet but contains no sugars...keeps you motivated to go on and if the hospital recommends it, you know its good for you Smart Water - https://www.drinksmartwater.com/ Again, if you're like me and are allergic to artificial sweeteners, Smart water has electrolytes and will keep you hydrated like Powerade Zero and others...2 33.8 oz bottles a day keep me well hydrated Chicken stock tends to be made more from bony parts, whereas chicken broth is made more out of meat. Chicken stock tends to have a fuller mouth feel and richer flavor, due to the gelatin released by long-simmering bones. Stock also has 6 grams of protein for 8 oz vs chicken broth, which only has 1 gram of protein.  Vitamin Patches - For me, the first week was hard enough to get fluids down, much less thinking about incorporating vitamins to an already nauseous new digestive system. I purchased the Gastric Bypass Vitamin Patch Pack (30-Day Supply) by PatchMD, which is offered in the Bariatric Pal Store - https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/patchmd/products/gastric-bypass-vitamin-patch-pack-30-day-supply I started using them today, and within an hour, I felt better and more energized...I thought it was just me so I had my daughter try them as well & she had the same results...now I cant swear by them but I will wait and see what my labs show in a few weeks of being on them...the reviews say they work so we shall see... Hope this helps...best wishes and a speedy recovery to all...don't give up, if life wasn't a struggle, we would be spoiled...

Today marks 3 weeks post op  I already can't believe all the changes that have occurred. I still have my ups and downs energy wise, sometimes I get a little attitude from my sleeve when I take too big of a spoonful at once, but I'm happy that I'm tolerating foods well and I'm continuing to slowly progress my diet. 
I was thinking today about how just a few days before my surgery I was contemplating whether or not I should even go through with it. At that point, I was thinking maybe I could do all this on my own (even though I have been trying to lose weight for the last several years and have done nothing but gain weight). Well, it's been 3 weeks now and I have followed my diet to a T. Although I've had some junk food "fantasies", I have never been tempted to actually break my diet. Preop, the longest I could last was a few days, 4 days max, and I'd break and order grubhub. Yes, the sleeve is a tool, but right now it has been instrumental in my ability to stay on point. I would never have been able to do this pre-op. Trust me, I've tried!

Lesson for the day: Get. Your. Water. In. 
I only drank about half the water I should have yesterday. I usually make my water goal, if not exceed it a bit, I just was not in the mood and let it slide. This morning I went out for my walk and all of the sudden felt dehydrated adn overheated. Of course, it being almost 80degrees at 10am didn't help, but it makes it all the more essential to make sure you are well-hydrated. I came back home a dizzy, parched mess, and barely made it through my shower. Today is gonna be fluids, fluids, fluids!

Had my sleeve on 5/15. I was probably a size smaller a week ago but didn't bother to check. I bought one size smaller in workout pants and decided to put them on. Happy to say, they slid on well. 😊 

4 days post-op....feeling like I was ran over by a truck...trying to get my protein shakes in and water without being nauseous...only getting 1 shake in a day, and doing ok with keeping hydrated...bought smart water to keep electrolytes up and in check...speedy recovery to all post-op family members and best wishes to those pre-op...you can do it!
 

Is any scared they won't have as much success as others? Or are you scared of failing? Do we all have that feeling? Also, I know two people who body had complications after surgery but it wasn't the surgery just their bodies had been overweight so long it caused complications. I was afraid of that happening but thank God it didn't.

Well, I'm going to the one place I've missed all these last four months due to an injury and my wls. My wonderful GYM!!!!! I'm so ready...but I was advise to take it easy. Hmph...and so I will. 

I'm loving my VSG!  One of the best decisions I've ever made.
HW: 293
SW: 278
CW: 185

Second status update for today... look at me  Doing better with mushy foods, tried 2oz ricotta cheese, had some hiccups but otherwise did well. I also killed it on my walk - 2k steps! It was tough, I was a little tired, but the dizziness was minimal and I had enough energy for my shower afterward. Hooray for small victories!

I'm a week post op today and I've been walking as much as I can tolerate. I thought I was doing well until I looked at my step count and saw I'm getting 2-3k steps per day. I tried to go out to the park for a walk today and really enjoyed it since the weather is beautiful, and this was the first time I've been outside walking since surgery. Well.. I stayed out too long and didn't have enough steam to get me back home. My large incision was extremely painful and I almost passed going up my stairs   
So I guess my lesson for today is to listen to your body. Right now, I feel challenged at 2k steps per day and I suppose I need to lay off the pressure to do more until I'm better healed. I feel like my activity tolerance should be higher, but I'm not going to push it.