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Goals

To be 50 lbs lighter by my next birthday.

2 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this
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Surgeon Testimonial

Bradley J. Needleman, M.D.
Dr. Needleman is great! He is the best surgeon in Columbus for VSG/RNY and he knows it! I don't mind a Dr. that is sure of himself - I wanted no one but the best if I was going under the knife. My mom didn't like him at first - she didn't think he was personable and very cocky. But then we went for the follow up visit and she said he was much better and she changed her mind. Plus hearing from other people that he was the best surgeon made her feel better about me having surgery.

First impression was from a photo - he looks nice and like he cares about his patients. The office staff at OSU is great - they are understanding of bigger peoples needs and are just as excited as I am when we see the scale move!

OSU bariatric has a great before/aftercare program - they really help you step my step to know what to expect after surgery. I didn't have many questions during my pre-op, thanks to OH I had a lot of answers already. However the few questions I did have - he was already telling me the answers- which was great. Dr. Needleman and his team have great bedside manner and he is more than surgically competent. I had NO complications after surgery (knock on wood) - so far things are going great 1 month out! He was honest with me about meds and when I can and can't take certain pills. OSU has a support group once a month - I will go to the September meeting.

Overall I have had a really good experience and wouldn't have changed anything. I was very fortunate to live close to OSU to be able to experience this great program. I am very happy with my decision to chose OSU!
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Cristina S. on 7/12/11 5:13 am
    Congratulations on your upcoming surgery!
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Jennysing1's Blog
Jennysing1's Blog


McDonald's will never be the same!
on August 30, 2011 10:21 am
So my sister asked me to get her McDonald's for breakfast one day.  I said sure no problem.  While in line I had a moment of weakness and ordered a hash brown. In the old days a typical MD B-fast for me was 1 b-fast burrito, 1- BAC Bagel, 1-2 hash browns and a diet coke.  I look back and think Holy $hit- I could pack in the fast food.  To top it off I would eat that at least 3 times a week!  So anyway back to my weakness moment.  I am driving home and I pull the hash brown out of the bag and take a small nibble.  OMG it was so gross - it was super salty and all I could taste was the grease.  I couldn't believe it - my tastes really have changed!  Back in the day I ate fast food a lot.  It was easy to just swing through on my way to or from work - then I didn't have to worry about cooking and having to wait too long to eat. 

Here is another eye opener for me - typical only eat when I am by myself meal at fast/food joints
McDonald's - Lunch or dinner
1 fish sand
1 large fry
1 large diet coke
1- 10 piece chicken nugget
1- double cheeseburger

Wendy's -during my retail days
double cheeseburger
large fry
5 piece chicken nugget
large diet coke

more recent Wendy's
crispy chicken bacon ranch sand
large fry
5 piece chicken nugget
sometimes a Jr bacon cheeseburger
large diet coke.

WOW - i really can't believe I used to eat like that - I am so grateful that I don't miss it too much!  I know that I can eat fast food and can make it work - thanks to myfitnesspal.  Yes it has more carbs/fat then if I were to make it at home - but sometimes convenience is necessary.  For example the only fast food I have tried is... chili from Wendy's - ate 1/3, frosty from Wendy's - ate 3 bites, b-fast burrito from mcd's - ate 1/2.   I am learning how to eat out at restaurants and not have tons of leftovers - by ordering smart.  IF I know where we are going ahead of time - I try to look up the menu/nut. stats in advance so I know what I am ordering.  I feel like I waste a lot of food - and spend a lot on food - I know the more comfortable/smarter I get with grocery shopping - the lower the bill will be!  Anyway - this my eyeopener on food.  My eyes/head and still trying to get in sync with my stomach.  It's hard - but everyday it get's a little easier.  Even at parties when I watch others pack in the food and all I have is a tiny bit of food - I just think - WOW that used to be me.  I am really starting to like the new me.  I just need to learn to not put down the other people around me who are like the old me.  I catch myself critiquing peoples food choices - again I just need to worry about myself and no one else!  LOL 
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Finally the stall is broken!!!
on August 30, 2011 7:25 am
So excited that my stall has finally broken!  The scale has finally moved.  It went from 257.2 down to 252.4 - YEY almost under 250 !!!!   Next week is my 2 month surgiversary so I am hoping to lose those few pounds to get under 250 by then.  Also my birthday is coming up on the 21st and I am going to work hard to make it under or close to 240 by then - that is the lowest I have been in a long time and that was when I was 21 - almost 9 years ago!  
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My fitness pal & the dreaded stall!
on August 17, 2011 4:24 pm
I love myfitnesspal.com.  yes there is an app for that and it is great!  You can program in recipes and choose food - it knows most name brands.  It is great - for awhile I was just tracking protein but this lets me track calories/carbs....  it is nice! 

Also I am in the dreaded stall -actually it is worse than that I actually gained 1.5 lbs!  I know it will pass and my body is just freaking out.  I just have to be patient - yeah not one of my strong suits LOL.  Tried my first red meat tonight - I can eat about an ounce with a little mayo.  It was delish.  So far the only thing my tummy doesn't love is pulled pork - I may try it again in a few weeks though because pre-surgery me - very much enjoyed pulled pork.   Still focusing on protein - getting in my 50 grams and all my fluids.  I have given up on Isopure - I just can't stand it now.  Now I drink the special k20 water it only has 5 grams of protein but I'll take it.  I am also drinking milk.  I am hoping when I get to full foods that I won't have to try so hard to get protein in because I will be able to eat more than 1 ounce of meat at a time.  Oh well we will see - I am still under eating my sleeve. Still have not had that "FULL" feeling.  I haven't thrown up from eating either.  That is a good thing!  

Girly Info:  My first period after surgery has been awefull!  It has been on and off really heavy/clotty for the past 2 weeks!  I called my surgeon and he said not to worry that it is common post-surgery.  He told me to see my GYN about birth control and that would help lighten things up.  He told me if I was worried about the bleeding that I should start taking my iron pills again - since I am anemic.  I started that today - hopefully things will level out soon!  I can't wait to be out of month # 2 LOL
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One Month Surgiversary!
on August 9, 2011 8:09 am
Holy cow it has been a month already!  Weight loss is slowing down a little - lost 3 lbs this week.  Went from 260.5- 257.2.  I will take my measurements tonight.  So this puts my weight loss at 22 lbs since surgery and 28 lbs since my last Dr. visit a week before surgery.  I am hoping for a bigger loss next week, since this week I am on my period.  Hoping to not hit the dreaded stall for a few more weeks - would like to hit 50 lbs lost before my Birthday at the end of September.  Today I feel kind of blah.  I started back to work at the office yesterday - between that and all the stuff I needed to do at home I was running around until 9pm - and then I crashed.  Today I am tired.  I am starting slow by walking the dogs 4 x a week.  Dr. says no vigorous exercise for a few more weeks.  I started phase 3 diet - were I can incorporate more soft foods and not have to blend everything.  So far so good.  It is hard to try to get everything in - 4 meats, 4 milks, 2-3 starches, 1-2 fruits/veg's each, 2 fats.  I just eat protein first and if I can get to the rest great - if not that is OK too.  Definitely going to take a nap when I get off work tonight - well after I run a few errands LOL.   I have my next Dr. appointment in 2 weeks so we will see how I progress!  I am trying to be more active - walked around farmers market - dad/sis went to dinner and mom and I went shopping at a store at the opposite end of the strip center - so I said we would walk down instead of them dropping us off.  So little by little I am getting better!  I feel normal - minimal/no pain - unless I over do it with bending over or walking too much.  More good things to come!

Jennifer
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3 weeks post-op
on August 4, 2011 8:00 am
Yey finally had my first follow up visit with my surgeon.  He says I am doing great and that I am down 25 lbs since the last time I was at his office (2 weeks before surgery).  It took me 3 months to lose 20 lbs and here I did it plus more in 3 weeks.  That is crazy!  It has been pretty smooth sailing and I hope it stays that way!  Doc says my incisions look good and that I shouldn't have to take the PPI for much longer that the acid gurgles in my stomach should go away in a few weeks.  I have been off pain meds for about a week and a 1/2.  He says next week I can start phasing in soft foods - so basically no more blending and using lots of mayo in my "salads" - plus I can eat a cheese stick (so excited) even scrambled eggs (w/bacon maybe) and I could try crackers with my "salads" - feels more like real food - I can't wait :)  

So far I don't feel hungry - but i do confuse hunger for just acid gurgles.  I have thrown up twice (due to med issues) but it didn't hurt and wasn't a big deal.  BM's vary - it took me a week to go the first time - now it is really soft or the big D.  I stopped taking the liquid colace - it is gross (med that made me sick). 

Last night I was able to sleep in my bed and attempted to sleep on my side/stomach with the help of a body pillow - i tossed and turned to find the right spot -but once I did I was out!  Thank goodness I was tired of sleeping on the couch.

Still just walking for exercise - go shopping a lot and just walk up and down all the aisles - especially at target!  Doc says no go for heavy exercise for at least 2 weeks and even then to take it slow.

Technically I am in the pureed stage - but have been kinda straying toward mushie.
So far no food issues..I have tried
Applesauce
Egg salad
tuna salad
chicken salad
re-fried beans w/cheese
milk
mashed potatoes w/gravy
fudgecicle
pudding with peanut butter
tomato basil soup
chicken/beef broths
cream chicken soup (gross)
eggface - no noodle lasagna bake with ground up meatballs - delish!
1-meatball - soft and took 5 small bites - weird - before I could have eaten it in 1 bite LOL

I have eaten out 4 times so far
Mexican - taco salad ( re-fried beans, ground beef, lettuce, cheese, sour cream) - mix it all together it becomes like a runny dip.  I used the salsa cup for my measuring tool - only ate 1/2 of what I put in and had tons of left overs! Next time I will just eat off someones plate.

Hometown diner - tomato basil soup - picked off the croutons, and avoided big chunks of tomatoes - ate in between 1/4-1/2 cup of it.

Wendy's - kids size vanilla frosty - added 1 tbl of Justin's pnut butter from the mini pack - I only ate like 4 bites and it was still more than 3/4 full.  thank goodness it was only $.79! 

McDonald's - small mango pineapple smoothie - had like 3 sips - put it in the fridge for later - once it was more liquid I could drink 1/2 cup - counted it as a milk. 

This makes me happy because it feels do-able - like I can still go out with friends and not screw up.  Hopefully it will stay easy to find foods at restaurants - trying hard not to make them a habit though.

Next doc visit will be end of the month 8/23 for 6 week visit.  I will re-post then :)
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