ObesityHelp

I lost over 100 lbs with Phen-fen 7 years ago with no ill side effects, but I have put the weight back on. I weighed 282 at my first appointment with the surgeon and hope to be down to at least 250 by my November 6th surgery date. I began exercising in January in hopes to speed my post-op recovery. My husband is very supportive, but my weight has never been an issue with him one way or another. I fear getting diabetes and heart disease. I really want to have my weight managable for the rest of my life. I've always been heavy, I weighed about 150 when I was 10 years old.
UPDATE: 9/25/02
My surgery date go moved up and I had my surgery a week ago on the 18th of September. The surgery wasn't bad and the care I received at Fletcher Allen was outstanding. I didn't get down to 250 for surgery, but I did get down to 262. I weigh 250 this morning, 7 days after my surgery. That's 12 lbs. in 7 days. I began exercising in January and I really think it made a huge difference in how well my recovery went. I asked to get out of bed before they asked me and haven't been using any pain medication for the last couple of days. The blenderized diet is the pits though. I have no appetite, but food appeals to me. I'd try to eat a cheeseburger or part of it, if I were allowed to. But the food I am allowed to eat has no appeal to me what so ever. I haven't had "dumping" but I've had quite a bit of diarrhea. I'm still trying to figure out what foods to eat that are appealing and allowed at this stage. Dr. Spaulding told me that 2 patients last month felt well enough to eat solid food before the 30 days were through and had to be hospitalized. I won't cheat, but this is going to the longest 3 weeks of me life. I can't wait until October 16th and my first day of solid food.
UPDATE:12-21-02
So far so good. I've lost 52 lbs and am feeling great. The first 6 weeks were the hardest and I felt extremely tired until they started me on the vitamins. I did exercise throughout the whole time though, and continue to do so at least 4 times a week. Now for the food! I can't eat bread. No matter how small I chew it, it turns into a bread ball that won't go down. Lettuce is another food that's difficult for me to eat. Now that I have to really chew my food, I've found that it's alot like bubblegum. After a short time the flavor is gone and it doesn't taste good. This is especially true of food cooked in deep fat. All I can taste after 4 or 5 chews is the lard. This is a good thing. I never thought I'd see the day when a french fry or onion ring was gross. I find natural foods are the best tasting a most appealing. No matter how many times you chew a cantaloupe, it still tastes like a cantaloupe. Tender meats and fish are fine, but I'm sick of most carbs from having eaten them to death while I was still on blended food. I do not have any problems drinking and eating together. As a matter of fact I need to drink while eating. It just works better for me. I haven't met another surgery patient who this is also true for. Sugar is okay in small doses. I really don't like aspartame and the thought of consuming large amounts of it. So I eat a 4 oz fat free yogurt without artificial sweetners and am fine. I can eat 1 stick of a kit-kat but not 2. These little things make me feel normal, but still in control. I only threw up from weeks 5-8. Once I figured out it was because I was eating too fast, I stopped eating so fast and now I haven't thrown up. I still get a lot of diarrhea. Maybe 4 times a week. I can't figure out what causes it, because as soon as I say it's one thing, that thing doesn't do it anymore. (I thought I was lactose intolerant for a little while there). Butter does seem to be a trigger. If my husband uses to much of it in cooking, it seems to cause me to go to the bathroom (or not feel too good). This has been hard on him because he loves to cook and modifying recipes seems sacrilegious to him. But when he sees that I can't eat something because it's too rich, he's starting to get it. He can eat whatever he wants and not gain weight. Other people are really starting to notice the weight loss and comment. I've been very open and honest about my surgery but I also have been exercising regularly since last January. I lost 22 lbs before my surgery (I weighed 284 at my first appointment with the surgeon). I weigh 210 today. I can't wait until I'm under 200. I did take before photos, but I'm not ready to share them until I have some "after" ones that are at or close to my goal weight of 130 lbs. I've been buying my "new" jeans used at Goodwill and Salvation Army, and on ebay,and passed my larger clothing along to a single mom I know who was my size and could use the wardrobe. I'm not showing any signs yet of having extra loose skin, but I still have 80 lbs to lose.
UPDATE: 5-7-03
Well I'm almost 8 months out and am down to 175 lbs, with 45 still to go. It's not coming off as fast as it did at first but I'm more than satisfied with the pace. Food is getting easier to eat all of the time and just within the last couple of weeks I can tolerate salad and "some" bread. I usually make good food choices and have not had any problems. I never vomit. I exercise more than ever and I really am starting to see the changes in my body. I'm in a size 12 now (from a 24W) and when I hit a size 10 I'll have my hubby update my "after" photo. I spent the winter in Florida and came back to a bunch of people who hadn't seen me in months, so I'm hearing alot about my weight loss from others. Sometimes it gets embarassing with people making such a fuss. I feel terrific and that's what really counts. I am starting to notice more loose skin, and I'm hoping it will "tighten" up. I seem to go through stages, of loose skin, then it gets tighter, then loose again. I won't know until I reach my goal if I'll need plasitic surgery or not, but I suspect that I will. Fatty foods are still disagreeable (Thank God!) but I can tolerate sugar pretty well, although I try to keep my sugary treats down to 1/2 of a recommended portion. This way I don't feel deprived, but I don't over do it either.
UPDATE: 8/10/03
Well, I've offically lost more than 100 lbs and I'm smaller than I've ever been. I can see now that the loose skin is not going to go away on it's own. I think my goal weight is 130 lbs, but having never weighed that little, I really don't know if it'll be enough or even too much (but I doubt that!). I'm going to go for a plastic surgery consult in October when I'm in Florida to get an idea on what I'll need and what it costs. I'm exercising more than ever. I average 1 1/2 hours a day, 5 times a week. When I don't exercise I miss it. The weight is still coming off, slower now but I'm still losing. On the positive side though, when I lose 10 lbs now, it really makes a difference. When I'd lose 10 lbs and weighed 262, no one noticed! I feel great, and can eat more foods all the time. I can tolerate bread and salad now, but not large amounts of bread and not by itself. For example, I can eat 1/2 a sandwhich, but I can't eat 1/2 a bagel. I don't even miss it though. I'll post again when I hit my 1 year anniversary.
UPDATE: 9/18/03
Well today is my anniversary and I'm 107 lbs lighter and so much more healthy. I feel great. I've gone from a size 24W and 3X to size 10 and mediums. I've got a date to consult with a plastic surgeon to see about the removal of the excess skin on December 1st. Would I do this again if I had to do it over again? You better believe I would! I'm still 25 lbs away from goal and have every intention of losing every last one of those pesky pounds.
Food gets easier all the time, so I have to be careful, but I knew when I did this, that it was a tool to help me, not a cure-all. I make good choices and exercise daily. I do it for me, and I know that my heart, bones, and body appreciate it.