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Surgeon TestimonialJeffrey Friedman M.D. I originally started my journey towards weight loss surgery with a different local surgeon. I didn't get to meet the surgeon, but for my insurance I met monthly with the nutritionist / dietician. The first visit with him had me leaving embarassed and angry... with only a few paper handouts to show for the visit. His assumptions and comments were what I expected from the general public, not a weight loss professional. I decided it was a "standard 1st visit speech" so I went back again the 2nd month. I received another fistful of handouts and instructions to cut out "all those deep fried foods" - even though he never reviewed the carefully documented food log I had in hand (which did not list any fried foods). Again, the 5-10 minutes he spent with me left me feeling humiliated and unsure.
I decided I would rather go through life struggling with my weight on my own than to deal with the frustration and embarassment.
And then a friend suggested I visit Dr. Friedman. WOW. What a difference.
The instant I walked in the office door I was greeted with a pleasant waiting room and an even more pleasant lady at the desk, Betty. Dr. Friedman came to the waiting room to get me and I had a consultation with him before even meeting the nutritionist. He was very friendly and down to earth. I wasn't even sure I wanted to go through with surgery, so Dr. Friedman reviewed all of the potential complications, risks and benefits. He sketched out the surgery on a piece of paper and wrote down the various medications and vitamins he would be requiring of me. When I left HIS office, I felt confident in my new decision to have RNY Gastric Bypass, and confident in my decision to have Dr. Friedman as my surgeon.
Throughout the remaining months of my insurance required visits, every visit was pleasant and reassuring. There was no rushing through and no "handout only" consultations. Every time I met with the nutritionist she explained her expectations, why she had them and how I could meet them. The nurse was WONDERFUL about making sure my anxiety and claustrophobia was addressed and made known to the entire team who would be involved in my surgery.
The morning of my surgery I expected to be frantic... but I was very calm and confident that I was placing my life in the hands of a great surgeon who had genuine concern for me as an individual, a friendly and thorough OR team who would see to my needs (especially the anxiety and claustrophobia, if the need arose) and I had advocates in both my surgeon and his nurse.
I woke up from surgery with mild pain, but mostly wanted something to moisten my mouth. I had very little pain throughout my stay (Tuesday morning - Thursday afternoon) and it was always addressed with reasonable quickness by the nurses on the floor. The nurses and techs were caring and attentive. Even the housekeeping staff seemed like my own personal cheer squad as I took my walks in the middle of the night.
Dr. Friedman visited me each day and checked on how I was feeling. He never made me feel like my questions were dumb or insignifcant.
I am only a week post-op and I feel great! I had my first post op visit and everyone in the office was happy and proud for me. It was like celebrating with friends instead of the usual feeling you get in a doctor's office. There is a 5yr aftercare program, so I feel good knowing I have resources available to me for the "long haul."
I adore Dr. Friedman and his staff.... and I feel like they are sincerely interested in playing a part in my success so that I can really LIVE life Member Interests
- Animal Rescue - I foster horses that are seized by the county
- Cats - 4 of them inside - Diva , Leroy, Boots and Lil
- Dogs - I have a 110lb yellow Lab named Rio. He means more than this line lets me write.
- Horses - 2 horses - 29yr old Skye and 2yr old Buddy
- Gardening - LOVE my garden! Even at my highest weight I was out there in the Florida sun
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Measurements on February 20, 2012 10:56 pm
I just realized I haven't posted my newest measurements (2/15/12)
Body Fat %
November - 47.7
January - 41.7
Feb 15 - 38.9%
Forearm
July- 13.5
November - 12.25
January - 11.75
Feb - 12.0
Arm
July- 21.0
November- 18.25
January - 17.5
Feb - 16.75
Chest
July - 52.5
November- 44.75
January - 42.0
Feb - 41.75
Waist
July- 47.75
November- 41.5
January - 38.0
Feb - 37.0
Abdomen
July- 47
November- 44.5
January - 42.0
Feb - 38.75
Hips
July - 60 (or more)
November - 53.5
January - 50.0
Feb - 48.5
Thigh
July- 35.0
November- 33.25
January - 31.5
feb - 29.25
Calf
July- 22.5
November- 20.25
January - 20.0
Feb- 19.5
Since July I have lost over 55 inches!!! Since my last weigh in with the trainer 1/20 I lost 7lbs and 2.8% body fat.
Awesomeness!!!!
Weird Blah on January 25, 2012 5:54 pm
The last several days eating has made me feel pretty gross. Not mentally "you horrible pig for eating" ... but literally "I think I am going to hurl". I am 5 months out, why the nausea now? About the only thing that doesn't have that effect is my old faithful standby - steamed tilapia. I'm not eating sweets or high fat /carb. (ooh, I did eat that instant fruit oatmeal yesterday morning... I felt like a super Hoover vacuum had been connected to my "go"... had to nap before the gym!!) I guess I'll stick it out a little bit and see if I am catching the plague that is going around at work, or if it ends by itself. I have my 6 month follow up in 3 weeks.
I worked out with the fitness trainer yesterday morning. Wow! I did 4 stations of decreasing reps (10,9,8-1) - box step ups, pushups, sumo squat weighted bar(24lb) lift, dips w/ 45lb bar. She asked if I was ready to move up to the next box so I said sure - thinking instead of 12" it would be like 14" .... I will have to double check with her but I think it was 18"~~ last night my hips were so sore it felt like I'd been on the receiving end of a baseball bat beat down!
While I was at the gym I signed up for a new class my PT will be leading. It is basically a group PT session - just like my workouts but for an hour instead of just 30 minutes. It will also be twice a week. I feel pretty sure she is going to make me cry hahahaha
The class runs for 1 hour, 2x a week, 4 weeks. That will help me save some $ on personal training sessions for a little while!
Looking at my pending pay deposit and the bills to pay out of it, I am having a hard time justifying spending anything else. But I really really want to join the aquatic center up the road from my house. I can walk there to swim (or ride my bike if I can ever afford one). Joining isn't too expensive, but I don't have a swimsuit or goggles (or bike shorts to hold in my monstrous thighs). That's the best thing about my parent's pool.... I can swim in shorts and a T, no goggles needed because the chlorine isn't so strong it will scald your eyeballs.
Anyway... I guess I will wait and see what the weekend brings.
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New Measurements on January 20, 2012 4:08 pm
Met with the trainer today for my monthly weigh-in and measurements as well as an awesome workout!
Weight 226.5
Body Fat %
November - 47.7
December - 44.7
January - 41.7
Forearm
July- 13.5
November - 12.25
December- 12.25
January - 11.75
Arm
July- 21.0
November- 18.25
December - 18.25
January - 17.5
Chest
July - 52.5
November- 44.75
December- 44
January - 42.0
Waist
July- 47.75
November- 41.5
December- 39.0
January - 38.0
Abdomen
July- 47
November- 44.5
December - 42
January - 42.0
Hips
July - 60 (or more)
November - 53.5
December- 51.25
January - 50.0
Thigh
July- 35.0
November- 33.25
December- 32.0
January - 31.5
Calf
July- 22.5
November- 20.25
December - 20.25
January - 20.0
Since the last weigh-in 12/16 I have lost 13.5 lbs, 3% body fat, and about 6 inches. I've also completed a 5k with a 5minute reduction in time and jut over 9 minutes of jogging, I workout with the trainer 2x a week (well, last week, this week, next week - then just back to 1x a week). I have bought a horse and I can ride him without his knees buckling, I fit in the saddle and (if he would stand still!) I can get on without help. I am in a size 20 stretch jeans, down from "If I can't wear a 32 I'm not wearing jeans". My confidence has soared, but I still struggle.
How do you measure THAT?
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A YES Day! on January 11, 2012 5:24 pm
YES! Good day! Score!
This morning after getting my mom in her wheelchair and off to the store / lab with my dad, I got to do my own thing. I ran a few errands and then came home to work in my garden , finally! I tilled a pretty good bit of my garden, pulled up a couple of fences, fed the horses, tended my rabbits and chickens. My parents came home while I was tillling, so I wrapped it up and went in to help. Put my mom to bed, unloaded and put away groceries and fixed veggies for lunch (steamed squash, green beans). After lunch I watched a couple of episodes of "The Walking Dead" on Netflix before heading to the bank to get cash for my adventure tomorrow! WOOOO HOOOO
After I got home I worked with my little Buddy horse and he did great, I was so proud of him. While he was tied out I went in and helped my mom into a recliner, then I went and worked in the garden some more - planted some peas. I still have a lot to go in the next few days, but I am glad I have at least started. By the time I got to my folk's house my mom was ready to get back in bed. I had tilapia, green beans and squash for dinner, gave the horses some hay, and now I am just waiting until time to leave for the gym.... meeting a friend there at 830. I had planned to do the 30minute walk with her and then workout on my own, but my back between my shoulder blades is screaming!!! I guess tilling woke it up from the trainer yesterday! I may still do a little workout though, just to feel better about how I am doing with weight loss efforts.
Tomorrow the horse trainer is meeting me and we are going to 2 different states to look at horses! Of course, there is a benefit to living in NW Florida... the longest drive will be about an hour and half lol. I hope the big horse I originally liked works out, but we found a 2nd one of interest in case he doesn't.
I can't believe it. If all goes well, tomorrow night I could be posting that I own a horse.... that I RODE a horse for the first time in nearly 8 years! Wow.
Oh please, God, let me keep losing weight. I love having a life worth living.
Yes! (and thanks, Nik!) on January 4, 2012 4:07 pm
Another good day almost in the books! I didn't jog last night because of working out with the trainer today - I was nervous since I haven't been to the gym in almost 3 weeks. I even went home from work early (I have hours to flex) and tended my animals (hard freeze warning - had to get some straw in houses and cages and hang up a temporary wall). I helped my mom and then after a hot shower went to bed. I slept great and for like 7 hours!!! It was insane!
I helped my mom and started getting stuff together for lunch (Nik's Bacon Cheeseburger skillet). I left at the last minute and by the time I got to the gym at 11am I'd had 32 oz of water (with 1/2 a Special K protein water in each bottle) and then a 10oz protein shake (Chocolate protein w/ PB2 and 1/2 a banana). I weighed with my shoes on and was at 238lbs. I don't know what my shoes weigh, but I just kept the 238 for now.
For the workout she set up 5 different stations. I would visit each station 3 times for 1 minute each. Warm up was just a couple of minutes on a spin cycle!! I never got on one because I was afraid I was still too big for that tiny seat, but it worked (painful, but it worked!). After warm up the first station was lateral box step-ups. Standing on one side of a 12" high wooden box, I'd step up with right foot, join it with left, down with right, down with left, then up left, up right down left down right. For a minute. Then it was dead lift row - a 45lb weighted bar, bend over and with back straight lower the bar to full arm extension, row it to chest, return to full arm extension and stand up. Next was weighted squats - 1 minute squatting 55lbs (first 2 rounds, then 60 for the last). Then incline dumb bell fly with 10lb weights in each hand. Then "bench climbers" - hands on weight bench, legs way out behind, then alternate drawing knees up towards chest.
It was a butt kicker and I LOVED IT!!! Today was a perfect workout - I had to push myself to finish and to complete each station strong, but I didn't have to have modifications and it wasn't so difficult I had to fight my own urge to just quit. Awesome!! Next week I work out with her on Tuesday AND Friday, then have a 5k on Saturday!
Today I was late leaving the gym and still had to go by the grocery store, so I didn't get to cook the skillet I had planned for.... but I plan on having it Friday!
My sister signed up for the 5k with me and we registered as runners. We'll probably only run a little bit, but I want to get started on it... my goal is to run the whole 5k my employer puts on in May.
Tonight I am supposed to meet a work friend at the gym during our lunch and I am going to do the elliptical for a little bit.
Tomorrow I have to get up early and help my mom so she can go to get her hair done. I think that will really help keep her spirits up. She seems to be getting stronger, thank God! When they leave I will make Nik's Mexican Lasagna for lunch and hopefully as soon as my mom gets home I can head to my house. The dog that I have kept for 3 weeks goes home tomorrow night and my house looks like a hoarder's episode threw up! I don't want those folks coming in there and seeing that disaster area! So I will clean before work tomorrow and then hopefully exercise again on my lunch.
Friday morning I have my first counseling appointment in 3 weeks. I look forward to getting back to a place quiet and safe. I think I have some good updates for my counselor as well - boundaries with my parents as far as my availability to help; reining in my temper and stress; not eating my stress., etc.
Saturday I don't have much going on so I hope I can get my garden clean up started and lunch will be either Nik's Crockpot chicken and mushroom or the home favorite Nik's chicken pot pie!! ( do you see a theme in my meals! LOL )
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