• Name: Jody H.
  • Username: jholmes621
  • Location: IA, USA
  • Member Since: 4/21/2008
  • BMI: 31.6
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: RNY (08/26/08)
  • Surgeon: Mark Smolik
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Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by Hope101 on 8/26/08 7:07 pm
    Wishing you a safe surgery and a speedy recovery today!!!
Click here for the surgery support page

Hi!   My name is Jody and I live in Iowa.   Wife, mother to 3 young adults, and working woman.   I had laproscopic RNY on 8/26/08.         I'm glad I did and think it was a smart choice for me.     Not yet ready to run out and tell friends they should do this, because it  IS hard and there ARE risks.      Yet I am so grateful the option exists, and so pleased with my results.     Blessings to you on your journey!

Jody

jholmes621's Blog
jholmes621's Blog


The work doesn't end ...
on September 24, 2010 7:55 am
Once the surgery is done and the weight comes off,  the work doesn't end.

At my two year follow up the surgeon noted that I had crept up 10 pounds from my low - putting my net loss at 120 pounds.   He'd like to see me lose somewhere between 30-40 more pounds.   Since I know that I'm still struggling with some behavioral challenges he suggested I work with the psychologist.

There are a lot of good resources that offer up strategies for changing a life time of habits and emotional attachments around food.      Before seeing the psychologist - I had been working through those tools and I've changed a lot of my habits and put good things in place over the two years.    The one thing that was pretty clear to me was that there are times when I was deliberately choosing to self-medicate with food in moments of stress when the other stress relieving options weren't available or didn't work.     Counseling sessions have been affirming.      I can see that I am near or past the tipping point in making postiive behavior changes - but I also had to realize that  there are other chemical alternatives to medicating with food.  And while part of me feels weak for needing help dealing with life,  the part of me that wants to staty strong and healthy is willing to put pride aside and get the assistance I need.

Bottom line - use the tools that are available to get and stay helathy.
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Watermelon, cookies and chips...
on June 13, 2010 5:53 pm
So,  how many months or years does it take to change a life time of bad habits and poor coping choices?   I don't know yet - I'll tell you when I get there.

Two Sundays in a row now I have lost control of my eating - two Sundays in a row I've experienced my pouch rejecting my choices and throwing them back at me.     I'm 48 and not stupid - you'd  think making the connection would prevent future bad behavior --- but there is that siren's call of years of comforting myself with food, calming myself with food, sending messages to myself that I DESERVE to binge , I've earned the right to be indulgent in that area... blah blah blah.

My stomach is angry that I'm not learning more quickly.    I'm 21 months out.    I don't do rice, rarely eat potatoes or bread.   But sweets - a little creeps up to a lot sometimes.    21 months out and I think my body has resorted to dumping now.   Last week it hit me in the middle of the night ... I thought it might have been a gall bladder attack - and perhaps it was - but after the pouch completely emptied - everything calmed.   Today  - definitely from eathing junk.

I would complain - but this - this is why I had the RNY instead of the band.     My pouch is reinforcing the messages my head is slow to learn - and who knows - in another 21 months the sugar tooth will hopefully go the way of the girl who liked fries, rice and bread and I'll be naturally making smart choices.

Jody
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Being vigilant - finding support
on January 24, 2010 3:06 pm
You'd think 17 months after surgery I'd have all of this mastered.   Not so.     It is so easy to slip back into old habits... to eat what I don't mean to eat,  to skip vitamins or exercise, etc. and think it doesn't matter.    It does matter. 

I need the support of the message boards.  I need to keep focusing on my habits.   I need to be aware and on guard.     I need to remember that I had YEARS of developing and cementing bad habits and choices.   It will likely take years to transition to the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.    

Through it all - I so appreciate the tool that has allowed me to lose the weight and regain a life of movement and freedom.

Jody

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A year and change...
on September 17, 2009 7:41 pm
I've passed the one year anniversary of my surgery.  The surgeon is pleased,  I'm pleased.  

I think it really has taken most of the year for me to not feel 'fragile' or 'vulnerable' because of having had WLS.   I finally feel confident that I understand the limits and strengths of the new me and my new normal.     That includes vitamins, water, exercise and protein first.    Still struggling with the "no snacking" rule - especially in times of stress... but life is good.  I'm pleased I had the surgery - and I'd encourage anyone to research it out and see if it makes sense for them.

Down 130 pounds.   Couldn't have done it without the tools.   OH is one of the best tools.

Jody
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Hmmm.. I think I might be starting to crave exercise!
on July 15, 2009 9:07 am

I am really enjoying Jazzercise class and evening walks around the lake.   The walks are calming - with my hubby and dog accompanying me as we traipse through the weeds on the path and listen to the birds while we catch up on the day.    The jazzercise classes though - the payoff is so visible with muscle toning and definition - I am just amazed.      I know the scale isn't moving and the inches are - so I have to give credit where credit is due.   Thank you Kate for bringing Jazzercise to my community.

I am still struggling with carb cravings.   I haven't quite gotten to the root of all of it --- some days I'm strong, some days I cave.    Hopefully as time passes I'll have more of the "I'm strong" days.      I am seeing that some of it comes from the desire to eat "easy" foods.   Fruits, vegetables and some proteins are just a lot of work to chew up --- so I instinctively shy away from those choices.   Gotta battle those instincts.    I'll get there.

It's also interesting how my body image keeps changing.    My eyes tell me I am thin/fat,  lovely/wrinkly,  small/large, lean/lumpy.       The truth  I'm sure lies somewhere in the middle.  

I've found some helpfful resources in the last couple of months -   One is a book "It ain't over til the thin lady sings" .    Working through it has turned on more than a few light bulbs of insight.     Another resource was the OH Conference in Chicago... I focused mostly on the sessions dealing with emotions  - but also learned new insights on cooking and a few surprising things about plastic surgery.     I've attended my local support groups - again - learned new things about acupuncture and massage therapy. 

Anyway - I think I know why my image of me keeps changing -  I keep changing - moving towards a healthier me.    It's  a good thing.

Jody

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My Story

Everyone has a story - and mine isn't all that different from any one elses.       I have so appreciated being able to read about the journeys of others on this site.   They've offered me a look into the challenges and successes that lay ahead, and have helped me to make a more informed decision about the choices available to me. 

I limited the circle of people I told regarding my plans.... and only shared more openly once I was more confidently on my way.

Surgery was a breeze - the hospital stay routine, and no real complications.   I took all physician instructions seriously - and followed them to the best of my ability.   Liquids only for up to 10 days post up.    Recovery was slower than I expected.. pain lasted a little longer, and I was just more exhausted than I expected to be.        Eventually though - you get comfortable with the new you, and your new routine - and the first few weeks fade away like a distant memory.     

Joyfully yours.. 

Jody