- Name: Tammi G.
- Username: sdbonsailvr
- Location: San Diego, CA, USA
- Member Since: 7/15/2009
- BMI: 24.4
- Post Op
- Surgery Type: RNY (12/03/10)
- Surgeon: George G. Zorn M.D.
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Surgeon TestimonialGeorge G. Zorn M.D.Dr. Zorn is GREAT! I liked him from the day I attended the orientation he led at Scripps Mercy Hospital. He's very calm, down-to-earth, and he knows his stuff. He's very skilled and his demeanor puts you immediately at ease. My surgery went great, no complications. Dr. Zorn explained the procedure clearly, at my pre-op consult, including all possible risks. His confidence in the surgery made me confident I had made the right decision. He's strongly emphasizes aftercare & stresses the importance of follow-up appointments. On a scale of 1-10, I would absolutely rate Dr. Zorn a 10! Member Interests
- Business & Career - I'm a self-employed photographer & entrepreneur.
- Dogs - Lost my beloved Wire Fox Terrier in '08, looking for another one.
- Bicycling - I enjoy riding my mountain bike & my cruiser bike.
- Walking - I love walking while listening to tunes on my iPod!
- Collectibles - I collect Dept. 56, Japanese dolls & Skookum dolls
- Photography - I love sports-action, animal & nature photography!
- Gardening & Horticulture - I love my Bonsai!
- Jazz - Pat Metheny, Jesse Cook, Marc Antione, among others.
- Pick-Ups - I'm a Chevy truck girl. Currently have a '06 Colorado, but really miss my '68!
- Mind, Body and Spirit - Meditation helps me de-stress; interested in Tai Chi.
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I have struggled with my weight since childhood, growing up following TV exercise gurus, folloowing every new diet that came along, all to no avail. Once I hit my 40's, I had some serious health issues begin to arise and I realized I needed help. I did my research and decided that WLS was my best option to regain my health. It's not about the pant or dress size, it's about being healthy! I am determined to regain my health!
 
Everything changes on May 17, 2012 5:19 pm
I'm coming up on 1-1/2 years post-op and can honestly say that the honeymoon is over. In order to maintain my weight loss, it's now all on me!
The surgery got the weight off, but now it's my job to stay committed to the lifestyle change, eating healthy, unprocessed foods, getting in plenty of water & protein and making sure I get in my daily exercise. I did see a slight gain over the last 6 months, due in large part to not exercising daily. Sure, I could easily use the excuse that my job was responsible for me not exercising, but that's all it is: an excuse. So, I set my alarm for 4:30am, every day, and go for a quick 30 minute jog. At work, I make sure I spend my break time getting in a little weight training and some core exercises. I've found that, if nothing else, walking for a minimum of 45 minutes a day helps me maintain my weight loss.
I've also discovered that not only has my body changed, but my way of thinking and how I view things has changed, too. I'm no longer afraid to stand up for myself or speak my mind. I don't let people intimidate me; I am mentally & emotionally stronger than I've ever been. It feels good to be confident and not fearful that someone will use my weight against me!
And, the biggest change for me, is how I view food now. It's no longer a source of comfort. Although I do enjoy the foods I eat and have learned to savor every bite, I see food as a source of fuel for my body. I no longer crave burgers, french fries & ice cream. Instead, I get excited thinking about what protein shake I'm going to start my day with and what fish & veggies I'm going to have with dinner!
Life is good!
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1 Year Anniversary on January 11, 2012 11:54 am
As they say, better late than never! Lol! Here I am, 1 year and a month post-op and feeling great! After talking with others in my support group, my surgeon & PCP, I've re-adjusted my goal weight to 120. But, I'm not so much worried about the number on the scale as I am about how I feel and how my clothes are fitting me. I hit a plateau around November & then fluctuated a bit back & forth. I think it has a bit to do with my adjusting to eating more "regular" foods, as opposed to shakes, yogurt & broth and adjusting my workouts. I will freely admit I haven't been working out as intensely as I was a couple of months ago, due to issues at work, so that has a lot to do with it.
Exercise is such a major key in maintaining weight loss after surgery and I see it. Yes, watching what foods I eat is important, but without exercise, the surgery is no better than a fad diet. You have to make that commitment to the complete lifestyle change! I have friends who help me stay on track & keep me motivated, but I've made the commitment to holding myself accountable to me.
I know how horrible I felt before surgery and how I looked. I hated both! I love how I feel now and the fact that I can tie my shoes without getting out of breath. And, I no longer lament not being able to wear cute clothes! I love my life now and refuse to EVER go back to where I was before. LIFE IS GOOD!
Almost 6-months post-op on May 31, 2011 9:19 am
Well, I'm nearly 6-months post-op and am just 18.5 lbs away from my goal weight. I can't believe it! I feel absolutely awesome and my 6-month labs all came back normal. My only complaint? Trying to keep up with changing clothes sizes! Lol! Pre-surgery, I was wearing size 18 pants and 2x & 3x shirts/blouses. Now, size 6 pants are getting baggy and a medium shirt is loose.
For others who might be reading this blog who have just had surgery or will be having surgery soon is, leggings are great for going through the initial rapid weight-loss phase. One size will cover a pretty broad range and they come in a variety of colors & textures. I found some at Walmart for $5 a pair and they've held up real well. If you're a real fashionista, local thrift stores are a great place to find inexpensive, good quality clothing. For me, the local swap meet was agreat place to pick up some nice, brand-new t-shirts on the cheap - 5 for $20! Can't beat that. Now, it's time to work on the body image!
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3-Month Post-op with PCP on March 28, 2011 11:42 pm
Had my 3-month post-op appointment with my PCP on Tuesday. She said I'm doing great - yay! - and that I'm definitely a "success story" because of my determination & commitment to the lifestyle change. I feel really good and have been experimenting a few new foods. I bought a grilled chicken burrito on Saturday, cut a very small piece off of the end and ate the chicken & veggies - left the tortilla on the plate. I kept it down! Sunday, I tried some lean ground beef with steamed veggies for dinner and kept that down! A small victory, yes, but a victory nevertheless!
I hit the gym after work and ran 3.2 miles on the treadmill in 48:30! I was so excited! I am definitely rfeady for the Carlsbad 5000 on Sunday! I may not be the fastest person running on Sunday, but the fact that I'm running & finish the race is what's important to me!
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3-month post-op appointment on March 16, 2011 1:22 am
Had my 3-month post-op appointment with my surgeon today. It was great! The nurse said I looked fantastic. I'm officially down 44 lbs from my pre-surgery weight, my BMI is now down to 28.7 and body fat has dropped from my pre-surgery high of 48% to 35.1%!  My surgeon is very pleased with my progress & said I'm right where I should be. The few food issues I'm having are perfectly normal for this point. I will need to continue with the Actigall for another 3 months & can now add in calcium. I'm feeling great & am so glad I had the surgery. I will admit that there are a few foods that I miss, but that's more in my mind than anything. The further out I get, the less I crave certain foods.
I'm totally enjoying the fact that I no longer snore, don't get migraines anymore, no longer suffer from shin splints when walking and can tie my shoes without being out of breath. I'm amazed at some of the things I'm doing now, because, in my mind, I'm still heavy. When my trainer at the gym showed me a couple of exercises, I thought, "Yeah, right. Easy for you!" Until I did the exercises myself! I'm even jogging on the treadmill now, whereas a year ago at this time, I was struggling to walk at 2mph for just 20 minutes!
I can't speak for everyone, but, for me, having the surgery was the best thing I could have possibly done. I'm enjoying my journey on the road to health!
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My Story
I'm 46-years-old and have struggled with my weight since I was 8. I can still hear the taunts & teasings of classmates & kids in the neighborhood. I was always the "chubby" kid in the group and, although I was the best hitter & fielder out there, I was always chosen last for the softball team, simply because of my weight. My most humiliating moment growing up was when we had to get weighed in our 6th-grade PE class, in front of everyone. I was mortified when the scale stopped at 180 lbs (I was only 4'11" at the time) and I heard the gasps & saw the shocked looks on the faces of the rest of the girls. I was totally humiliated! I went on several "diets" with my mom, but nothing worked. I've tried Slimfast, Weight Watchers, Nutri-system, counting calories, fasting, joined 2 gyms & worked out with a trainer, etc. - you name it, I've tried it. The only thing that worked was the fasting, but as soon as I went back to "regular" food, I gained back all the weight I'd lost & then some. The final straw for me was not just the number on the scale, or the fact that my BMI is rapidly closing in on 38, but when I saw my photo on my ID badge at work. I don't know who that fat woman is on my ID badge, but it's not me!
I've spent the last year researching every weight loss option I hadn't yet tried, even talking with a co-worker who had RYN after her BMI reached 36. She looks great, has tons of energy and says, in spite of the few setbacks she had, she'd do it all over again. So, last Thursday, I nervously contacted my PCP @ Kaiser here in San Diego, telling her everything I had tried to lose weight and that I felt, at this point, WLS was my best option. She said she was "happy" to refer me to the Bariatrics program and that I am to call on Monday 7/20, to schedule an appointment. They say a journey begins with a single step. I've taken that first step...the journey begins.
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