Kristen's Journey From Pre-Op and Beyond

[shellyd67 198]

HW: 290+

SW: 260.8

GW: 160

My surgery is scheduled for 11/3 in Tijuana with Dr. alejandro lopez.

Today I am starting the pre-op diet. I went to Sam's Club yesterday and stocked up on Premier Protein (chocolate, vanilla and strawberry), lettuce, cherry tomatoes and grilled mesquite chicken breasts.

My pre-op diet will be the following:

Breakfast: Protein shake

Snack: Activia Light yogurt

Lunch: Protein Shake

Dinner: salad with chicken breast

Snack: Additional Protein shake (if needed)

This menu has 825 calories, 21g fat, 40g carbs, 121g protein

I would like to lose 15-20 pounds over the 4 weeks before surgery.

I took my "before" pictures this morning in my bra and underwear. I had mixed feelings. I felt depressed and ashamed of my body but I also felt happy because I knew this is going to be my "before" which means I'm determined to do what I need to in order to reach my goal. If I need any inspiration during the next four weeks I plan on staring at those back rolls until I find the self control and determination I need.

You will do great and the pre op diet goes fast !! It is the very best decision I have ever made !!

HW 324

SW 303

Current weight 263 ????????

Date of surgery 8/17/15

[Dub 9,922]

Aw, thanks, @@Dub! I've seen a lot of your comments on the boards and I can tell you've got what it takes to be successful! Thank you for reading my post. :-)

Thank you so much. I'm obviously in the beginning stages of this thing but take great encouragement from someone like you that has pushed and pushed to successful results. Huge respect for what you have to overcome to get the results.

Inspiring.

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

240ish (not even close to my heaviest) vs 166 (pic from Monday)

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

One more sort of side shot:

Edited October 22, 2015 by KristenVSG2014

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Beautiful and sassy! You look so happy.

I was reading about your exercise limitations. Can you swim or exercise in the Water?

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

Beautiful and sassy! You look so happy.

I was reading about your exercise limitations. Can you swim or exercise in the Water?

Yes! Unfortunately I live in a very small rural town and there aren't any pools available to me. Anytime I go on vacation I always have my bathing suit though because I love to swim.

[Joymarie333 41]

Wow... You look great.????

[Aiyah 3]

this helps. very motivating. thanks for this.

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

I had my follow up with my PCP today. Since I had surgery in Mexico he is the only doctor I deal with.

Takeaways:

1) He wants me to lower my goal weight from 160 to 155 to allow for some inevitable regain. This will leave my bounce range 155-160 rather than 160-165.

2) Despite joint/muscle issues he wants me to buck up and add whole body workouts back to my exercise. That terrifies me but I'm going to try. I think I'll bust out my 30 Day Shred DVD to do first thing in the morning. I'm still not allowed any high intensity exercise like running ????

3) He wants me to do a better job tracking calorie intake. My calories are too low some days so I need to plan my day ahead of time and make sure I'm hitting at least 1,000 but getting closer to 1,200.

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

Wow. I can't believe it has been a year since surgery.

When I started this process I kept thinking, "I wish I could just fast forward a year!!" I'm quite impatient. It's finally here. While expecting a physical change, what I didn't expect is the amount of mental change I went through.

Even without this surgery I had a LOT go on the past year that challenged me and knocked me down. But add the surgery on top of it...Trying to find new ways to cope or deal with stress rather than eating. Learning how to forgive myself if I slip up. Figuring out that I'm stronger than I thought.

I still have many issues I'm dealing with. I don't know what the next year will bring but I'm more confident in myself that I have the ability to handle it and I will become a better person because of it.

I'm learning to love myself for the first time ever. It's interesting. I was disappointed in myself for so long and now that the disappointment is gone and replaced with pride I feel like a different person. Not different personality-wise. Different confidence-wise. For once I have confidence. Oh gosh...I'm going to break out into a Sound of Music song so I better get back to work...

[madferitchick 163]

Congratulations! You are an inspiration! ????????????????

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

I'm rejoining my gym! I had to cancel my membership last year when my husband lost his job. Income is finally more stable, much less, but somewhat stable, so I'm going for it. Now I need to figure out my new routine. My male coworkers go lift on their lunch break so I'm considering doing that since I wouldn't need to change. Then I might do cardio Mon/Wed/Fri or Sat. I used to wake up at 4:45 and go for an hour but I really need to work on meeting my sleep goals. I'm getting 6-7 each night when I really need 8-9. Goals!

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

I wanted to pop in and say hello to everyone. Look at these super cute Ann Taylor pants I found at Goodwill! They scream fall, don't you think? Well, the print, not the cut. November is over halfway done and it is still warm in Florida. I'm not complaining! I still haven't found any knee-high boots I love.

Edited November 21, 2015 by KristenVSG2014

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

Forgot to post pic ????

[KristenVSG2014 1,871]

I went to the gym Monday and did an hour of Zumba and 1.5 miles on the treadmill. I felt pretty good. Then I went again last night and did 2 miles on the treadmill and weights. Treadmill was easy peasy. The weights however...not so much.

I have lost SO much muscle. I did 5 lb hand weights with normal arm workouts (curls, lateral lifts, tricep extension, etc) and struggled. I was sad because I could see my excess arm skin hanging in the mirror. Then I felt like all the fit muscly people around me were looking and judging, especially that girl who obviously works very hard for those rock-hard thighs and perfect butt because those tights left nothing to the imagination. I know they weren't...but I might as well have been 290 again because that's how I felt.

I thought I had gotten past caring what people thought. Looking at my arms in the mirror I thought, "I should get a shirt that says 'I've lost 125 lbs' to explain my loose skin." I did the same thing last week when I got a massage. I felt guilty about feeling like pizza dough and felt the urge to apologize or explain why I look this way. ???? Why??? I should be proud. I am...But I guess I still have work to do on not feeling guilty about not being perfect.

I actually had a mini-meltdown on the way home.