spegues107

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Wow...Two years already! I still feel VSG was one of the best decisions I've made for physical health and overall well-being. I have to be honest with you all, I did gain weight this year (9 lbs to be exact), and although I'm not okay with that... I'm accepting of the fact and I know what contributed to the weight gain. Let me share what this year has been for me.

Late last year, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and that has been an ongoing challenge for me to manage. During my rapid cycling, there are days when I don't have the energy to get up and move, and I don't have the motivation to make good food choices. However when trying my best to manage my disorder, I know that putting my physical and well being needs first is a MUST. This year I've had victories (non-weight related) as well as some challenges (weight-related) LOL! I am 30 lbs away from my desired goal weight and some days I feel I won't get there. However, I realize it's not a race for how quickly I can reach my ultimate weight goal but rather a journey. A journey where I'm able to evaluate and really analyze my starting point (276 lbs) and where I'd ultimately like to reach (165 lbs). My journey this year has allowed me to observe my progress, my successes and what factors in my environment influence any of my challenges. This has been my year of "Reflection." I've been able to learn from the mistakes I've made and implement various solutions to exercise good habits.

Here are some highlights:

1. I know where I started and I'm determined to not go back

2. Still eating Pescatarian Lifestyle (since July 30,2017)

3. Still take the stairs instead of elevators. I also park as far away from destination to get extra steps in.

4. Wasn't really consistent exercising this year, however I've been determined to get back on track. For the past two months, I've exercised a minimum of 4 days/week

5. Successfully Completed 10 Day Master Cleanse (didn't do this for weight loss, but for the opportunity to say I completed the challenge)

6. Still able to fit all of my clothes comfortably from my weight loss and overall feeling good about my body. I appreciate how strong my body is and able to push myself through some of the toughest workouts.

7. Never give up. Take personal accountability. Love and appreciate myself for all the hard work and effort I've dedicated. Continue to challenge myself

Wow!!!!! I can't believe its been one year already. VSG was one of the best decisions I've ever made for myself. I feel that I have accomplished a lot, but I still have some additional positive habits to learn, in addition to weight loss and fitness goals to achieve. My highest weight was 276, my surgery weight was 258 and today I am 185. I lost a total of 73 lbs over the course of a year. My goal weight is 160, and although I feel that I could've reached this goal within this past year - it is still a journey and somewhat of a challenge to ensure that I am making good decisions regarding my food choices, being mindful of mindless eating, and making sure that I make daily fitness a ritual. I accomplished goals that I didn't even know I wanted to achieve. I bought a fitbit, I average 11k steps a day, I park far away from my destinations, I take the stairs at work and climb an average of 34 stairs a day, I am able to jog without stopping for at least 20 minutes straight (lol), I am able to run 7.0 mph on the treadmill without losing my breath (even if it is only for a short period of time, another lol), my joints do not ache when I work out and overall I just feel good about myself. I was not confident as a larger individual, I was wearing a size 20 in pants and an XL/XXL in tops. Today, I wear a size 12 in pants (loosely :-) ) and a Medium in Shirts. I feel confident about my body, the way I look, the way If feel, and how my body works. I used to be very tired and lethargic, now I have energy most days and exercise at minimum 5 days a week for an average of 90 minutes a day. In addition to this, I also cut out most meats and only eat seafood - living a pescaterian lifestyle (4 months solid). Although I have all of these accomplishments, my biggest fear is that I will fall off of the wagon and gain weight again. However, I am not going to allow that fear to control me and my future habits.   For the next year, I would like to continue to focus on my eating choices - make sure I am cutting out/ significantly reducing processed foods, maintain a strict daily calorie limit, and tell myself that I can do anything. I will continue to keep my progress posted, and I am going to work towards reaching my goal weight of 160 by April of next year if possible (my wedding anniversary - vacation in Jamaica woohooo...want to look stunning for my husband :-) ). Even if I do not reach this goal weight, I am confident that this surgery has taught me some positive habits and behaviors that would possibly not have been achieved if I did not have the surgery. Progress is a Process....and I'm here for it!!!!

Hi Guys,

let me initially thank you for your time reading this post and any helpful suggestions provided. I am currently 19 weeks post op VSG and I am able to eat a lot more which concerns me. 

I am still making healthy choices. For instance I don't drink soda or juice, I don't eat candy or desserts, I don't eat fried foods, I don't eat bread and I try to limit pasta, rice and potatoes as frequently as possible. However, the little amount that used to make me full no longer satisfies me and I would like to know if this is normal and if not what can I do to help me reduce my portion sizes but still feel full? 

 

An example of what I ate today including estimated calories are listed below: 

 

3 strips bacon, 1 scrambled egg, fruit 250 cal
Dried fruit 100 cal
Small caramel machiatto 190 cal
Bojangles Roasted bites with BBQ sauce and  green beans 400 cal
Protein bar 200 cal
1140 total cal

I'm only 7 days post op and I am feeling physically weak. Just recently, I have been able to get in at least 70g of Protein and I am doing well with my water intake. However, I just don't like this feeling of weakness and uneasiness. I can't stand or walk for long periods of time, because I feel like I am going to faint. I hope that this faint feeling does not last for long as I continue to heal. Any suggestions or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. 

I am happy that I had weight loss surgery. As difficult as it is to admit, I had an addition to food. I am aware of that now more than ever. Being almost 1 week post op, I have realized just how strong my relationship to food was. During my recovery I have spent a lot of time thinking about the foods and restaurants I am going to miss,which further confirms  just how big of a role food played in my daily life. I've already lost 15 pounds since surgery and I am ecstatic to see how far I will go in this weight loss journey. One bite at a time, one meal at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time.