Lauri D.

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Hi.  I'm about six months out from my gastro by-pass.  I am totally pleased with my operation.  I have lost 76 pounds now and am within a couple of pounds of hitting my second goal I made for myself.  I've went from a size 26W top to a 16 misses, and in slacks, size 14 or a medium.  I think I wore a 20 before.  I've had to buy new clothing continuously... I'm buying items more snuggle now... I've learned they get too baggy soon.  I am still losing weight but it has slowed down considerably.  I think I've lost 6 pounds in the last month... but it sure was coming off fast in the beginning.  

I feel good.  I am able to eat just about anything I want to... that is not bread (I can eat toast though), noodles, raw veggies or fruit.  I eat a pretty routine diet with a few treats in there... everything is sugar free or pretty darn close to it.  

I walk every day... 45 minutes.  So far the weather has been cooperating with me but I do have a treadmill for when the winter blizzards hit Michigan.  All I can say right now is... I feel great!  Thank you Dr. English.

I am now 64 days out from surgery.  I am walking 40-60 minutes per day for exercise.  I have a regular routine and am very comfortable in my routine.  Every few days I add a new food to my diet if I feel like something new.  I no longer live to eat, I eat to live. 
The usual breakfast is Dannon Greek Yogurt - 12 protein points. 
Lunch varies... today I had 1 1/2 egg salad (light mayonnaise) and a piece of toast.
Supper - 3 oz of sirloin steak on the grill with 1/4 cup potato salad.
Evening snacks - Fat free chocolate pudding snack pack, 1/2 cup watermelon, and one sugar free/fat free fudgecile.

I don't usually have that many snacks in an evening, but I was at Bingo and had the pudding at half time.  I ate the melon and fudgcile later at home.  I have 50-50 caffine/decaf coffee in the morning at work.  5 oz. of water in the morning with my vitamins.  I drink 11.5 oz of muscle milk per day with Upcal D.  And I drink water throughout the day.

I've recently cleaned out my closet and found that 80% of the clothes no longer fit me... this is a good feeling.  I went shopping for some summer clothes.

I am happy with my choice to have this operation and my new lifestyle.  Would I do it again... in a minute!  To date I have lost 42 pounds!!!

I'm down 28.5 pounds..... I'm eating pretty regular food now, except still no noodles, rice, bread, raw vegetables and raw fruit, with the exception of bananas and melons.  I start my morning with about 3 ounces of cyrstal light.  Go to work and have 4 or 5 ounces of decaf coffee with skim milk. At about 10 a.m. I eat a light breakfast such as 2 egg whites and a string cheese, or activia yogurt and 1/2 banana.  Around 11 a.m. I'll have 5 ounces of muscle milk with my upcal D.  I go for a walk at noon, 30 minutes.  Around 1 pm, I drink 6 ounces of water.  2 pm I have a light lunch such as 1/4 cup tuna mix with lt. mayo and 1/4 cup applesauce, or 1 piece of ham lunch meat and 1/4 cup cottage cheese, then around 3 I'll have some more cyrstal light,  4pm I have 4 or 5 more ounces of muscle milk with UPcal D again.  Around 6 pm I'll eat a tasty supper.  Tonight I tried for the first time, Italian susage with imported cheese which I ate with about 1/4 cup boiled potatoes with fat free gravy.  I ate about 3/4 of the susage and peeled the skin off.  I was spicy but it went down good, no effects.  Other meals I've had is 1/2 bocca burger with mustard and 1/2 serving (11 fries) sweet potato fries (baked).  I've eaten chili with no beans about 1/2 cup serving, another tasty favorite is 1/4 cup roast beef and 1/4 cup potatoes and carrots (made in my slow cooker... yummy.  Then later in the evening I'll drink crystal light some more 10 or so ounces and then I'll have a snack such as watermelon or a yogurt or maybe sugar free snack pack pudding.  I am happy with what I can eat.  I feel satisfied also.  One evening I was out of town and ate at KF Chicken.  I had mashed potatoes with gravy and about 1/3 grilled chicken breast.  I stomached this meal well also.  So I do know I can eat out if I have to now.  In a couple of weeks I plan on trying pizza... I'll get sausage and cheese and just eat the topping.  I don't think I can eat the crust yet. 

My routine is getting pretty regular to me... even on the weekends when I'm not working I find myself ready for that walk around noon. 

My pants were getting too baggy.  I went to fashion bug and bought three pair of size 14-16 with elastic waists... I use to wear 22-24.  Two sizes smaller.  I also bought new undies size 9 (2 sizes smaller too). 

I feel really good.

Well I had the surgery on March 22, 2010 - RNY.  Believe me I was nervous right up to the surgical room when they were prepping me.... they put in the iv and I don't think they even announced they were knocking me out.  :)  I woke up being returned to the surgical unit.... I don't even remember the recovery room.  Most terrible four days in that hospital.  I think half the problem was the bed though.  Laying in a hospital bed when you are heavy is most uncomfortable and almost unbearable thing to do.  People would come to visit and I'd fall asleep... must have been on some good morphine.  I even had trouble staying awake on the hour and a half ride home from the hospital with my hubby.  First couple of days at home were still kind of miserable.  By Saturday, March 27th - Seventh day I was doing fairly well.  Began walking 20 minutes a day. 

Today, Thursday, April 1, 2010 I had my first follow up appointment with my doctor.  My insulin levels have dropped from taking 48 units of Novolog and 30 units of Lantus.... to 9 units of Lantus.  My doctor was sure excited about this... and I was too!!!!  I lost 8 pounds in 10 days... it is my beginning.  I got my staples out... ouchie... kind of hurted but mild to everything else.  Doctor and dietitian moved me to phase III now.  I am feeling very upbeat on my choice to have this surgery... it can only get better. 

Three more days and I'm off to the hospital.... it's been a long wait for this surgery date.  It took 17 months to get everything done and get extra clearance because I ended up in the hospital the end of January.  Surgery date is March 22, 2010.  Yikes that's coming soon.

Four days after the multi-team meeting....

I had purchased the protein mix and other recommended supplies right after the multi-team meeting, and I've starting the pre-surgery lower calorie diet, more or less to start getting use to it.  I'm thinking my surgery date is going to be in seven or eight weeks... I haven't been notified of it yet.  I've started on my daily walking routine.... actually I doing more than 30 minutes daily.  I even cleaned the boxes off the treadmill and used it for 30 minutes (three 10 minute sessions) on the day it was pouring outside.  I feel motivation!!!  I've started these routines so many times before and simply lost interest in them or motivation in them cause the results were so slim... not me being slim by any means.  But with the pending surgery.... I'm feeling motivated.  I can do this.  Also I have a work friend who is three weeks out now... and I had a conversation with her today and I'm feeling more relaxed with the whole event.  But deep down.... I'm still scared to death! 

They told me I won't be able to continue on celebrex once I have the operation... I think even two weeks prior to the operation.  I'll have to call and check on that.  So.... I'm tapering off them.... taking one every other day presently.  So far I'm not feeling any difference in my knee problem or any of the numerous aches and pains that I live with daily.... more than likely because of the weight. 

08/28/2009
Had my multidisciplinary Day yesterday and pyschological eval today.... waiting for loose ends to come together and learn of my surgery date.  Do I have the guts to go through with this big change of life event?  I'm scared.