Pop-Pop's down 156 lbs. @ 8 mos. post-op; here's how
(NOTE: I've updated this from a post one month ago; I received many favorable comments about that post and felt it would be worth it to re-send this with a few updates.)
Tomorrow is my 8 mo. surgiversery.
I'm down a whopping 156 lbs. since having my VSG the day before Thanksgiving. It's been an intense, focused, sometimes difficult, but exceedingly rewarding 8 months. (New pix on profile page of me when I made a hole-in-one this week playing golf - Amazing!)
Truth is, I lost 24 pre-op and the rest since. I'm now a zealot about the benefits of WLS (VSG in particular) and the astonishing outcomes that are possible - I've lost diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and all the other aches and pains that went with morbid obesity. Here's a brief re-cap of how I've done it:
SUPPORT: First, thanks to all the OH'ers who have been on this journey with me. Your candor, humor, wisdom and inspiration have helped propel me every step of the way - (hint to the newbies - the more support you can muster for this journey the better off you will be - yes, we're doing this for ourselves, but the reality is that support provides incentives and rewards along the way.)
DETERMINATION: When I/we (wifey and I) made the final decision to have WLS, I also made a "contract with myself." It goes something like this: "I agree to be on a surgically-assisted, medically-supervised program of rapid weight loss and intense exercise for an 18-24 month loss-window and then begin a lifetime program of mindful maintenance." I have followed that contract every day pre and post op.
I eat on an exact schedule - 4 mini-meals per day @ 4 hr. intervals and I rarely snack. (If I'm golfing or traveling, I may have a cheese stick or a few (like 6 or 8) almonds; that's it.) My daily calorie intake is between 1100-1400, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. I followed the necessary pre and post op diets and now eat a reasonably normal menu. Wifey (not a patient) and I eat about 95% the same diet - I just eat a lot less than she does. I read food labels carefully - I avoid high-sugar or high-fat items, and don't eat a lot of processed foods like bread or crackers. But I'll have a min-bagel w/peanut butter once in a while; or 5 saltines w/chili or soup. I eat a lot of chicken, seafood and even some red meats on occasion. I eat a well-balanced diet w/ lots of fruits and veggies. My summer go-to foods include watermelon, cantalope, cherries, and lots of other fresh goodies.
ACCOUNTABILITY: I religiously record EVERY bite I eat - I know exactly how much I've consumed at the end of the day and I know if I've been "good" or not - mostly I'm good. I don't lie to my computer the way I used to lie to myself about how much I eat or drink. I gave up all alcohol for 7 months and now drink a ****tail when I feel like it - but like everything else, alcohol goes into my computer and I can see exactly how many "empty" calories I've enjoyed.
SECRET WEAPONS: My "secret weapons" in the nutrition area have been protein shakes (I prefer Unjury) and almonds. I drank a double-scoop protein shake w/ 8 oz. of 1% milk every single day for breakfast for six months post-op. It provided the major a.m. protein boost (48 g) that I needed and it meant I had no food decisions to make in the morning. I now do single shakes 4/5 days per week for breakfast. (Newbies, disregard anyone who says "the body can't use that much protein at one time" The double protein shake regimen worked for my friend (145 lbs. lost last year) and it's worked for me - my dietitian loves the idea).
Almonds are my go-to "crunch" food - I eat no more than 25 in a day, but I eat them about 5 days a week.
I EXERCISE EVERY DAY - EVERY SINGLE DAY - No fancy machines (I use my treadmill when it rains) or expensive clubs or classes - I just walk my ass off to walk my ass off. I started by walking a half-mile pre-op, then a mile, then another.... I now walk a brisk 4 miles daily in my hilly neighborhood on days when I'm not walking the golf course. If I'm traveling and can't exercise, I double-down the next day to make up for it. I burn a minimum of 500 aerobic calories daily; if I'm not sweating at the end of my walk, I haven't walked hard enough. If I hurt, I take a pill. I EXERCISE EVERY DAY - oh, I said that already - so I must think that's important, huh?
SUPPORT: I'm indebted to all those who love me who have been so supportive of my journey - my family, my neighbors, my golf buds, everyone has been so great; what a wonderful thing to share with all of them.
I believed 100% in the program that I signed up for - the surgery, the nutrition, the exercise. I also believed that 95% of the "program" was in my hands once I left the hospital - so I took charge of my life and made it happen - every single day. I'm thinking as I read this forum and others, look, I'm 65-years-old - if I can do this weight-loss thing, then I'm pretty sure most people who have WLS can also reach their goals. It takes discipline and consistency and support and hard work and sweat; a lot of sweat. It's not easy. It is worth it.
I had my first hole-in-one this week on the golf course - it was the second-best thing that's happened to me this year.
My rate of weight loss is slowing now - some due to the amount I've already lost, some due to my easing up on the nutrition side of the program. We spent 2 weeks at the beach recently, where I exercised every day, but also enjoyed myself food-wise. I didn't gain any weight, but I didn't lose any either - that's okay given the cir****tances. It's less than 20 lbs. to my goal weight, now. I'll get there the same way I got here - by putting one foot in front of the other every single day. Life is good for this ol' geezer (and his geezerette, too).
Pop-Pop (pix on profile)
Tomorrow is my 8 mo. surgiversery.
I'm down a whopping 156 lbs. since having my VSG the day before Thanksgiving. It's been an intense, focused, sometimes difficult, but exceedingly rewarding 8 months. (New pix on profile page of me when I made a hole-in-one this week playing golf - Amazing!)
Truth is, I lost 24 pre-op and the rest since. I'm now a zealot about the benefits of WLS (VSG in particular) and the astonishing outcomes that are possible - I've lost diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and all the other aches and pains that went with morbid obesity. Here's a brief re-cap of how I've done it:
SUPPORT: First, thanks to all the OH'ers who have been on this journey with me. Your candor, humor, wisdom and inspiration have helped propel me every step of the way - (hint to the newbies - the more support you can muster for this journey the better off you will be - yes, we're doing this for ourselves, but the reality is that support provides incentives and rewards along the way.)
DETERMINATION: When I/we (wifey and I) made the final decision to have WLS, I also made a "contract with myself." It goes something like this: "I agree to be on a surgically-assisted, medically-supervised program of rapid weight loss and intense exercise for an 18-24 month loss-window and then begin a lifetime program of mindful maintenance." I have followed that contract every day pre and post op.
I eat on an exact schedule - 4 mini-meals per day @ 4 hr. intervals and I rarely snack. (If I'm golfing or traveling, I may have a cheese stick or a few (like 6 or 8) almonds; that's it.) My daily calorie intake is between 1100-1400, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. I followed the necessary pre and post op diets and now eat a reasonably normal menu. Wifey (not a patient) and I eat about 95% the same diet - I just eat a lot less than she does. I read food labels carefully - I avoid high-sugar or high-fat items, and don't eat a lot of processed foods like bread or crackers. But I'll have a min-bagel w/peanut butter once in a while; or 5 saltines w/chili or soup. I eat a lot of chicken, seafood and even some red meats on occasion. I eat a well-balanced diet w/ lots of fruits and veggies. My summer go-to foods include watermelon, cantalope, cherries, and lots of other fresh goodies.
ACCOUNTABILITY: I religiously record EVERY bite I eat - I know exactly how much I've consumed at the end of the day and I know if I've been "good" or not - mostly I'm good. I don't lie to my computer the way I used to lie to myself about how much I eat or drink. I gave up all alcohol for 7 months and now drink a ****tail when I feel like it - but like everything else, alcohol goes into my computer and I can see exactly how many "empty" calories I've enjoyed.
SECRET WEAPONS: My "secret weapons" in the nutrition area have been protein shakes (I prefer Unjury) and almonds. I drank a double-scoop protein shake w/ 8 oz. of 1% milk every single day for breakfast for six months post-op. It provided the major a.m. protein boost (48 g) that I needed and it meant I had no food decisions to make in the morning. I now do single shakes 4/5 days per week for breakfast. (Newbies, disregard anyone who says "the body can't use that much protein at one time" The double protein shake regimen worked for my friend (145 lbs. lost last year) and it's worked for me - my dietitian loves the idea).
Almonds are my go-to "crunch" food - I eat no more than 25 in a day, but I eat them about 5 days a week.
I EXERCISE EVERY DAY - EVERY SINGLE DAY - No fancy machines (I use my treadmill when it rains) or expensive clubs or classes - I just walk my ass off to walk my ass off. I started by walking a half-mile pre-op, then a mile, then another.... I now walk a brisk 4 miles daily in my hilly neighborhood on days when I'm not walking the golf course. If I'm traveling and can't exercise, I double-down the next day to make up for it. I burn a minimum of 500 aerobic calories daily; if I'm not sweating at the end of my walk, I haven't walked hard enough. If I hurt, I take a pill. I EXERCISE EVERY DAY - oh, I said that already - so I must think that's important, huh?
SUPPORT: I'm indebted to all those who love me who have been so supportive of my journey - my family, my neighbors, my golf buds, everyone has been so great; what a wonderful thing to share with all of them.
I believed 100% in the program that I signed up for - the surgery, the nutrition, the exercise. I also believed that 95% of the "program" was in my hands once I left the hospital - so I took charge of my life and made it happen - every single day. I'm thinking as I read this forum and others, look, I'm 65-years-old - if I can do this weight-loss thing, then I'm pretty sure most people who have WLS can also reach their goals. It takes discipline and consistency and support and hard work and sweat; a lot of sweat. It's not easy. It is worth it.
I had my first hole-in-one this week on the golf course - it was the second-best thing that's happened to me this year.
My rate of weight loss is slowing now - some due to the amount I've already lost, some due to my easing up on the nutrition side of the program. We spent 2 weeks at the beach recently, where I exercised every day, but also enjoyed myself food-wise. I didn't gain any weight, but I didn't lose any either - that's okay given the cir****tances. It's less than 20 lbs. to my goal weight, now. I'll get there the same way I got here - by putting one foot in front of the other every single day. Life is good for this ol' geezer (and his geezerette, too).
Pop-Pop (pix on profile)
Once again, thanks for your generous details. It really is informative and motivating. What your "contract" is a reminder of is that this is a decision and choice that we need to make. No excuses or victimhood. The contract is with ourselves.
And congratulations on the hole in one!
And congratulations on the hole in one!
Pre-liquid diet 392; VSG'd on 6/10/11; 5'9"; SW 368/ GW 195?
Pounds lost: mth1=26.7; mth 2=21.2; mth 3=24.8; mth 4=13.8; mth 5=14.2;
mth 6=11.8; mth 7=9.2; mth 8&9= 17.2
Pounds lost: mth1=26.7; mth 2=21.2; mth 3=24.8; mth 4=13.8; mth 5=14.2;
mth 6=11.8; mth 7=9.2; mth 8&9= 17.2
You are an inspiration to me. I actually printed your post and hung it on my refrigerator where I could see it everyday. I'm only 3.5 weeks post op, but thanks to you I get my protein shakes in and I exercise every day. When I don't want to do them, I read your post again, and it either motivates me to do it or guilts me into it. Either way, it works! Congrats!! and thank you!!
~Pam
~Pam
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