As you may know, I am a big non-believe in the liquid diet before surgery.  I think Optifast is unnecessary as you can easily shrink your liver without it and it is quite difficult to do and not to mention costly.  Although I'm not a big believer in it, I do think though that in some ways it is good to be strict with yourself before surgery happens.  Let me explain:

I think a big part of this surgery is wrapping your head around your new way of eating.  Information, information, information has always been my mantra and I prepared and read like crazy before this surgery.  I was absolutely steadfast and determined that I was not going to whine, bitch, cheat, or complain throughout my post op eating no matter what. This is again what I mean by wrapping your head around this surgery - building up your positive attitude, being determined that you are going to eat properly and in stages so as not to upset your pouch and knowing full well that life is going to be different as a post op. 

I see way too many people who have the surgery and afterwards are already headed down the path within a week or two.  It scares me quite honestly. I know that there may be some that suffer a post op kind of depression (post gastric depression?! ) but I think a lot of people don't do their research and set themselves up mentally for the eating afterwards. 

I think one way to get yourself prepared before surgery is to start eating healthfully as possible avoiding that "last supper syndrome".  I have seen people that were a few weeks away from surgery and eating junkfood to the hilt because they think it will be their last time eating things. The reality is that most things you will be eventually able to eat again down the road. It's now time to start committing yourself to healthy habits to prepare and make your liver shrink.

I do still think that it can be done without going as extreme as optifast...but I can see why probably so many surgeons demand it now as some people seem to have a really slow learning curve. I saw someone a few weeks out eating steak!  Goodness, it makes me want to just slap someone!  Be good to yourself, be kind.  Start adjusting to your new way of eating before surgery. Count the protein, work on sipping and eating slowly, try the shakes -- don't go too crazy but at least start the small steps so that when you are a brand new post op, you won't be completely overwhelmed!!

Please always do your research!

Dawn

Well it is official.

Today is my celebration of my 2 years post op.  It's been quite the trip let me tell you.  Would I do it again? In a heart beat. I feel good, I look pretty good and I'm definitely healthy.  Mobility is not an issue at all like it used to be. I no longer am winded going up and down stairs, I no longer worry about fitting in the back seat of someones car, or having to squeeze down  aisles in a store or on bleachers to fit anywhere. I am far more active than I used to be.  In fact, I logged 25,000 steps on my pedometer the other day.  I get bored and I just go and walk halfway across the city now! 

All you newbies that are starting out - you have such wonderful "wow"s ahead of you. Write them down.  Keep the awful before pictures - you'll be proud of them once you are an "after".  Write everything down when you do it for the first time, keep track of your measurements and don't forget to ask others for help and support when you needed.   That's why many of us long timers stay around. 

If you don't have a support group in your area, start one. Seriously. I started a group with just one person named Teresa.  Then Faye joined us and now we range anywhere from 25-50 people at our meetings.  The more support you have the better. Support is one of the main predictors of success when it comes to any kind of weight loss.  When you shut yourself off from others, the journey can be harder. Reach out to those around you - that's why we are all here.  

Am I happy with my results?Totally.  I have lost 140+ lbs and am in the best shape since I was in high school.  I am a normal person now and its great to be normal.  I started off bigger than many others in this surgery at a high of 288 lbs on my 5 foot 3 frame - a bmi of 51. I'm playing with a few pounds here and there trying to figure out this maintenance thing.... but it's great to be normal and not stand out in a crowd any longer.

I think everyone will have a struggle - either with approval, eating or as a post op.  My surgery recovery was the easy part, now I struggle with most things in my head. I struggle with seeing myself as a normal person, with some moments of binging (old habits do die hard) and with confidence at times. While I am more confident, the same issues are there whether I am fat or thin so I still battle in my own way at times.  I still try to fight eating out of boredom especially in the summer when I'm off of work -- I swear I need to find a second job to keep me busy. 

The surgery has done me well - but I have also done well for this surgery. I have been pretty good with exercising although the last year I definitely have not been as good with my exercising as I was my first year. The motivation now waxes and wanes.  I always say that Dr. Poplawski rearranged my organs but did not remove my lazy bone! LOL!   But I'm definitely overall more active than I used to be. It's nothing for me to just pick up and walk 6 miles to a store.  I walk to and home from work most days. I have energy for my students.  I would not trade that for the world.

There is no magic potion with weight loss surgery - it seems people have different results with each and every surgery.  We all have the things we go through and some of us will have more complications than others. You have to just accept that you will take whatever comes your way.  I have been lucky - no complications and no major problems. A few bumps in the road but no major bumps that have thrown off my alignment. =)

My biggest regret?  Well I firmly believe that exercising does a lot for us whether it is joining a gym, walking or just being more physically active. My biggest regret is not doing strength training religiously my first year out.  For every pound of muscle you gain, it raises your metabolism and you'll always burn more calories even at rest. 

 Dawn

I recently had a few emails with people asking what advice I'd give out to pre-ops so I thought I would take a few minutes and write down my thoughts on what I've learned and what I would tell others to make the most of their surgery.

1) Make exercise a part of your life.  I cannot overemphasize how important it is to make the most of your year long window.  The first year you will lose the most amount of weight that you ever will and it is important to use that time to your advantage as it will get harder over time to lose.  I would tell anyone who is having any form of weight loss surgery to start exercising the minute they get home. It begins by a walk down the block and then by the time you are a few months out, you should be doing at least 30-60 minutes most days of the week. Again, this goes for any surgery, as being physically active prevents so many medical problems as well.  *Make exercise a part of your daily life*

2) Eat clean.  Focus on eating healthfully early out. You've become fat probably because you admit, you ate many of the wrong things.  After surgery you will not be focused on eating, eating will be a chore and it will not be a pleasant experience. It is easy very early out to say NO to  your temptations. Whatever your triggers are, don't eat a bite of them for a long, long time. Once you get back your taste for your triggers, it will be A LOT harder to say no to them.  Focus on the foods that you'll find at the perimeter of the grocery store:  dairy, fruits and veggies, protein and whole grains. Don't worry about the stuff in the middle aisles - all the processed garbage will just hinder your weight loss. Think about eating things only that have a nutritional benefit. Pass on those candies, cookies, bars, chips... those things you ate BEFORE surgery will do nothing nutritionally for you and will again, only hinder your weight loss. Snacks should be things like string cheese, yogurt, fruit, veggies and nuts. Avoid the processed garbage with soybean oil and enriched flours.

3) Invest in a good water bottle. I love the SIGG water bottles. They are awesome. I bought mine online at reusablebags.  It keeps the water cool and I no longer waste my money on cases of water.  I no longer harm the environment.

4) Buy yourself a mini photo album.  This will be your book about you.  Begin by taking a picture of yourself the week before surgery. On the page next to it, record your measurements and weight.  Keep the same outfit and once a month take a new photo in those clothes and record your weight and measurements.  This mini photo album serves many purposes - first, it will be something that you can look at when the scale stops moving. EXPECT PLATEAUS.  This will help motivate you when you see the inches you've lost in lieu of the scale.  Number two, it will help you psychologically keep abreast of the changes in your body.  Number three, you can see how far you've come over the long haul. 

5) Strength training is essential.  Buy yourself some weights girl.  Buy some 2-3 lb weights, a pair of 5 lbs and 10 too. Buy a book or video that has a program you can follow.  Strength training has been my one regret - I wish I started it earlier.  Strength training will help to basically "compact"  your body so that things look tighter.  You will fit into smaller clothes than without doing it. You should be doing strength training at least 3 times a week. As well, doing it regularly raises up your metabolism so that your body will burn more calories doing nothing!  If you are into your 30s or older, your metabolism is naturally slowing down. This is the only way to combat that.

6) Be religious on supplementation.   I cannot emphasize how important it is to take care of your body. I highly suggest supplementing calcium even if your surgeon has not recommended it.  Naturally as we get older our bodies begin to lose bone. 

7) Buy a nice journal.   Use this journal to write down everything you eat on a given day including your protein totals, exercise totals and water intake. You can record your weight if you feel the need to record it every day. Writing things down is the number one habit of successful weight loss people. It will help keep you accountable for what you put in your mouth. You will see possible patterns of perhaps why you are up/down on the scale. You can also go back to a successful week and repeat all the great things you did that week in order to move the scale.

8) Realize that plateaus are normal.  Yes they are and every day I see someone on obesityhelp post a big post crying about the scale not moving. I'm not trying to be mean here but if you researched this surgery you should have read many times over that plateaus are normal and to expect them. Yes, they totally suck..but your body needs time to adjust to everything.  Don't drive yourself crazy over it. Just whip out that photo album and take your new measurements at the time that your scale doesn't move so that you can evaluate things another way.

Dawn

Doing well lately.  We started a Biggest Loser contest at work and it has really helped to keep me motivated and on track with my eating. I've struggled too much with binging lately.  Again, the surgery cures the body but it doesn't cure the head.  I won't be the Biggest Loser by far as there are people with many more pounds to lose than myself but it's fun anyway to make a little competition and all - especially before spring when we'll be taking off the bulky sweaters that hide us in the Winter. Speaking of sweaters, I'm always sooo cold that I constantly wear big bulky sweaters. That must not make me look very svelte I imagine! LOL!

During the holidays I struggled with the binging and put on a few pounds and I'm just a few pounds of being back at goal. I feel so much better when I'm doing the things I should be doing - eating mindfully, eating healthfully and exercising.  Exercising really helps boost my spirits and moods - the whole endorphin thing, you know?  I'm glad that I chose to make exercise a part of my life!  I'm glad that this surgery helps keep me in check - it helps me correct my bad habits when I gain a pound or two!   I must not to back to my old habits of constantly grazing and stuffing myself to the point of feeling sick.  That's the old me and I can't go back there! 

When I talk about regrets, the only one I have is that I didn't start strength training sooner.  I wish I was more disciplined with that.  My goal is to continue to work on this and to do more crunches to help tighten my abdominals. I'm just not happy with my stomach. I suppose that most of that is because of the skin however. It just irritates me more than anything else!

So I went to nutrition house at the mall looking for protein samples today and some bars. Not a ton of protein sample so I do ask that any of you who have found some new proteins to tell me about them.  Lots of protein bars of course, but also lots of $.  I spent about $50 on samples and bars! It certainly adds up.

I bought the ISS Oh Yeah bar - Chocolate and Caramel protein bar.  It is amazing! It takes almost identical to an OH Henry chocolate bar.

As with many of these bigger bars, it certainly packs some calories so I would use it more as a meal replacement or perhaps half of a bar for a snack. It's a huge bar.

Calories: 380 grams
Fat: 19 grams
Protein: 26 grams
Sugars: 8 grams
Sugar Alcohol:  15 grams

Dawn