I've been holding at size 8-10 for few months now. Loving living a healthy lifestyle and would not trade it for the world.  I feel like I finally got it right this time thanks to the Take Shape For Life program and Dr. A's Habits of Health System.  I now have three coaches and about 30 clients.  Have been enjoying paying it forward and it keeps me on track too!  If you have regained and are looking for a structured program that provides free healh coaching and support forever after check out my website here  http://stayce.tsfl.com


  Iron has still been a battle.  Had a couple infusions with severe allergic reactions.  Increased my lean red meat intake to 1-2 times a week and that seems to have helped.  I continue to be monitored with regular lab work.

I have a  hysterectomy (just removal of uterus only) scheduled for 10/22/11.  That should also help with the anemia, heaving bleeding, and a fibroid I have as well.  All the women in my family seem to end up with uterine cancer as well so this will also eliminate that chance.  I had been considering going this route for a while and it took me several months to make my final decision.

Today I  also had a consult for plastics with Dr. Craig Vander Kolk at Mercy Medical Center.  Same hospital I have worked at for the last 10 years. Additionally, I will need a hernia repair. I'm going with the big bang and doing all three at the same time.  It was sort of a last minute consideration to do the other procedures at the same time but I knew I would want to do this eventually and it just makes good sense not to have to do open that area again later. Tonight I'm scared, excited, and nervous!  Just found out my financing went through for the portion I need to cover.  My insurance covers part of the procedures-  hernia repair, pannectomy, hysterectomy = but I had to cover the circumferential body lipecotpmy and the abdominoplasty.   I also qualified for a discount of $5000 since I am an employee.  My out of pocket =  $7232.00.  

Will report back again during my recover or feel free to drop me a message with any questions to stacybenhayon@gmail.com


Love, Health, and Happiness,
Stacy

You know, several years back if you had asked me if I would do the surgery again I would say yes. 
My answer today is a firm NO. 

I discourage others from having the surgery unless they are super obese and with major co-morbitites.  I suggest to them to do the homework. If they still want to move forward after that they should be looking for not only a great surgeon but a surgeon that has a well established comprehensive practice, program, and multidiciplinary team that provides you with follow up and support forever after.  My surgeon was fantastic but I was one of the 1st patients he had done in Maryland and I just didn't stay motivated or in touch with his program. I ended up going to my primary for follow up instead. When I needed to see specialists I saw them at the hospital where I worked instead of the hospital where my surgeon was located due to insurance issues.

3 years post op I had found that I traded WLS for other health related issues that were probably due to my RNY.  Migraines that left me paralized with pain for days at a time,  immunity problems, hormonal issues, iron deficency anemia, and low vitamin D.  At first,  I was an RNY WLS super star but eventually I started to regain and on top of it traded for some of the other health issues I listed. Eventually I regained most of the weight back. I went from 283 to 170 and back up to 240  pre-Take Shape For Life.  I was morbidly obese.. yet again!    

WHY????

I  didn't have ALL the tools I needed to keep the weight off nor did I learn to exchange unehealthy habits for healthy habits for the long term.  I needed to understand a lot more than just "pouch rules."   I also didn't build myself a strong enough support system.  Sure, I attended a few support groups, I used these boards, I even went to WLS conventions. It didn't last for the long term. What I failed to really internalize was that this is a life long journey and it doesn't stop when you reach your weight loss goals or even after you start to maintain that weight loss.  It's forever. You need to create health in your life each and every day with every single choice you make. Matter of fact.. it isn't much about weight loss at all.  It's about visualizing optimal health, being on that path towards optimal health, and eventually living in a state of optimal health.  Weight loss is only just the 1st phase.  I learned this during the Take Shape for Life program.  It worked so well for me that I decided to become a Certified Health Coach to pay it forward and help others.

Please understand the risks associated with your procedure. Interview people five plus years out that had the procedure and ask them if they would do it again. Find people 10 years post op if you can.  Consider doing the Take Shape For Life program first!!!   This program has made all the difference for me.  It uses a  combo of a free health coach, the 5 and 1 program (FDA approved medifast meal replacements during the weight loss phase), and a free bionetwork of support that you get forever after. The system includes free weekly support calls, free access to professionals (nurses, doctors, behavior therapist, RDs), free tracking tools, a a free one on one health coach, forever after even if you are using the supplements or not.   It is just the comprehensive program I needed.    If you are curious you can read more about it  here:  http://stayce.tsfl.com  or drop me an email.

Even if you don't do the TSFL program, consider reading Dr. A's Habits of Health  http://www.drwayneandersen.com   His Habits of Health System has changed my thinking and giving me a true roadmap towards not just weight loss but optimal health.  Even if you have had the surgery or plan to have the surgery. READ THIS BOOK!  You can find it on his site, my site, or amazon. Lot's to learn that will help you support a healthy lifestyle.

Trading off for vitamin deficiencies is probably my greatest frustration especially when I have worked so hard at getting healthy.  Maybe even more so than the weight regain period.  It's one thing that I really don't have much control over and it can't be reversed.  I have had to face the fact that I suffer from severe Iron Deficency Anemia that may require IV Iron Infusions for the rest of my life due to my RNY. SInce I am also allergic to these infusions, even with pre-medication, it looks like I will now have to do them inpatient.  I knew that with RNY malabsorption came risks that required vitamin supplementation forever after. What I never realized was that I might not be able to process and absorb those vitamins. It didn't even cross my mind that I might be faced with life threatening allergic reactions to treatments.  Again, review the options you have out there before you jump into WLS!  Decide if the benefits really outweight the risks.  Visualize what your life might be like after WLS several years out.. both the good and bad.

With the Take Shape For Life program,  I am back on track other then the iron and D issues. I am lower than my lowest post op weight and living a very healthy and active lifestyle. I am helping others get healthy, get off meds, and avoid the risks associated with both obesity and WLS.  I live the Habits of Health and teach them daily.  I'm on a path towards optimal health and my goal is to live in a state of optimal health and beyond. I focus on creating a life on the things that matter most to me.  At the top of that list is living a longer, healthier, quality life, with those I love very much. 

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck in your journey. If there is anything I can ever do to help support you or you have any questions for me feel free to drop me an email.


Lots O Love, Health, & Happiness,

Stacy

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