Keeks911
2 month follow ups
Aug 09, 2015
I had my 3 month follow ups a little early and had them at 2 months post op, vacations are to blame. I still haven't gotten over my "3 week stall" plateau. It is very frustrating for me. I moved to night shift and haven't been able to figure out my schedule. I can either exercise before I go to bed and sleep during the day, or I can get up early before the husband gets home and exercise then. The temperature's here have been horrendous and nearly impossible to exercise in. I don't do well in the heat anyway, so 100+ degrees is OUT of the question for me. Call it an excuse, I don't cares, but no way no how. So, earlier in the morning is my only bed. I get off work at 8am, if I run home and change, grab the dog and get to the dog park where I walk, I can be home by 10am. That means, I need to be asleep by 10 to get a good amount of sleep. For me, 7-8 hours is very important and exercising before bed cuts into that. But I just don't know when else to do it. I don't have the luxury of leaving my desk as I am there alone at night, for 10 hours.
Night shift doesn't only mess up my activity schedule, but also my meals. I am still on at least two protein shakes a day to get my protein in. I am still at 110g of protein a day and it's impossible to reach that goal without the shakes. I don't mind them, as they are handy and I really don't have the time to fix and eat a meal. On that note, I am at the point where it's all about the protein and there really isn't any room for extra or empty calories. I don't do a lot of sides and I have a hard time getting my veggies. I have incorporated salads a few times in the last week. It's been nice to eat them again, but then again, not a lot of protein and therefore not a lot of room for the actual protein of dinner. One one hand the banana size stomach is nice because it automatically limits my intake and I don't really have to worry about overeating. However, it also doesn't allow for much of an intake and I have to be careful about what I DO eat. If I choose to eat something that sounds good and looks good but doesn't contribute to my protein goal, then I run the risk of not meeting that goal. So much to learn! it really is a lifestyle change. So many ways of thinking that need to be rethought. It's hard to break a 40 year habit!
In my follow up appointments, I spoke with a psychologist. I have only done it once, early on in my 6 month supervised weight loss that was required by insurance. He was nice, but his job was to determine that I was ready for surgery, which I was, completely. But I never saw the need to see him again, and I didn't. It was nice to talk to a psychologist this time. As frustrated as I am for my early plateau, it was nice to be able to explain my frustration out loud and to change my thinking, or my view towards it almost immediately. I lost 45lbs, in 7 months, before surgery and have lost 25lbs since. It's been 2 months, and most of that 25lbs was in the first 3 weeks. But if I look at the big picture, that's WAY more that I lost on my own before surgery. I was reminded that it's not a numbers game, it's a heath game.
My focus now, is to keep doing what I am doing, keep working on eating right and keep exercising whenever I can. I can't go back, this surgery is for life, and it really is JUST a tool for weight loss. I am reminded, daily, of the things I had difficulty 70lbs ago that aren't as hard now. I could stop using the seat belt extender in my car, AND have room to move. I do have a pair of jeans that is 2 sizes smaller than what I was wearing 70lbs ago, and they fit. They aren't as comfortable when I sit for 10 hours at work, but they fit really well when I am standing... lol. I'll take it. They will get looser and then I will be able to move to the next size. I need to remember that this is a lifetime change and it wont happen overnight. The reality of taking time and not being an overnight success is sinking in. Even though I didn't go into surgery expecting it to be an overnight success, I did figure it would be quicker.. But I just need to slow down and take it one pound at a time. And not even that, just one decision or choice at a time. I wonder now, where will I be in 6 months, or a year from now? It's exciting!
