MindyMac51
RNY 11/2/2010
Hi all! I joined ObesityHelp and My Fitness Pal June 26, 2014, and I'm very glad to be here. I'm just getting back into a healthy routine and I look forward to using these sites to share my story and my progress, and to learn from others. I posted a similar account of my story in the WLS forum at My Fitness Pal, but think it's important to post it here, too, where it's even more likely to be read by people who are considering or have undergone WLS.
My Story: I'm 62 years old, married 34 years, with 2 grown sons, and a career in education. I had RNY surgery Nov. 2010 at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia. I was 59 yrs old, and weighed 260 at surgery after a 20-lb. loss in pre-surgery prep from my highest weight of 280. My lowest post-surgery weight was 182 in September 2011: 98 lb. from HW; 78 lb. from SW. I still had more to lose, but I never got there. Instead I got complacent. And ignored the signs I was regaining. Gained back 38 lb. between Nov. 2012 and June 2014.
During my period of regaining, I stopped paying attention. When I reached a plateau around 182 I was feeling pretty good. My profile pic was taken around that time in August 2012. I thought I'd maintain easily just because I was eating smaller portions. I exercised less and ate more freely without attention to the protein-carb-fat proportions. I began to consume larger amounts of those dreaded carbs -- saltines, Ritz, breads, chips, Cheez-its, all those foods that have always been a problem for me, though it was only post-surgery that they became "slider foods." I also began to drink with my meals -- not only water but diet drinks and white wine. I often drank wine, not only with dinner, but before dinner, too. Some days I'd drink several glasses. During this extended period I also stopped weighing myself regularly and rarely exercised. I was evading the signs, I was in big time denial! So it's no surprise that from Nov. 2012 to June 2014, I gained back 38 lbs., from 182 up to 220. Not all the way to 280, thank goodness, but enough to WAKE ME UP. And commit myself to change and get back on track!
I've discovered from reading these boards that what happened to me is not such an unusual pattern. Why didn't I know that so I could guard against it? In part because I was isolated from others; even more because I was in denial. It took a shopping trip to buy new pants to discover how seriously the regain had gotten out of hand.
Since that shopping trip the last week of June, I've been reading the boards here and at MFP and I learned about the "5 day pouch test." On June 26 I started the "5 day pouch test." I like to call it "5 day Restarter Plan" because it really helped me to restart and get back to basics. It helped me to overcome the carb cravings, to feel the tightness of my pouch, and to get motivated and back on track with hi protein-low carb eating; drinking lots of water, except for 30 minutes before and after eating; no wine; and 45-60 minutes of walking every day. I’m down 7 lbs. in two and a half weeks and I feel so much better already. I know I've got a long way to go to prove my commitment, but I'm really hopeful I've found the tools I need: these boards, the people on them, and my pouch. Lol.
I'm inspired and motivated and grateful to all who have shared their stories on these boards. I'm back on track and I'm going to stick to this! I want to reach my goal of 170 by November 2015, which will be my 5-year surgiversary. I know now the importance of a high protein diet, recording food and exercise EVERY DAY, and gaining a sense of support, community, and inspiration from others who are on the same path. Please free to friend me, and please be open to my friend requests. Thanks for reading my post!
280 HW 6/1/2010
260 SW 11/1/2010
182 LW 10/1/2011
Plateau 2011-12
REGAIN 38 lb. 2012-14
220 6/25/2014
RESTART, join OH and MFP,
5 Day Pouch Test 6/26-30, 2014
215 7/4/2014
213 7/12/2014
211.8 7/20/2014
First plateau since restart; ok just work through it!
211 8/01/2014
207.5 8/09/2014
Goal: 170
