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Last month I celebrated the 13th anniversary of my RNY but I didn't post. Well today I've had a few moments to myself so I thought I would write up a little something to let newer folks (those of a few months to a few years out, know what life is like post surgery.
The AWESOME: Life is good! Life as a normal sized person is a wonderful thing. I am in a size medium and one size DOES fit all.
I have completed 5 half marathons, coached Special Olympics, and found a new love of kayaking.
Post surgery I realized I had an eating disorder (BED) and used food for so much. I've done therapy and have had to work really hard to work on those bad habits like "all or nothing", and allowing my fat head to criticize me.
Food is and always be a struggle. When you've always been overweight since childhood, "moderation" does not necessarily come innately even with a pouch! When regain happened, it was very daunting and I swung to every fad diet out there which of course, worked short term, but eventually lead to gaining it all back. In January, I was 27 lbs above my goal and that was scary! Regain is and always will be EASY!
I've worked this year really hard to find "balance" in my life which has proved to be a good thing. I have lost 18 lbs of my 27. I've gotten rid of thinking of short term solutions, and instead have focused on the long term haul by setting small goals for weight loss as working on getting back to HABITS. No radical plan other than more whole foods, fruit and veggies, protein first, less processed garbage etc. I still have treats and I still enjoy social events. It takes commitment to portion control and healthy eating overall. A treat isn't a "treat" when it's every day! If I ate what I wanted all the time I would be back to 300 lbs. this takes effort, discipline and portion control in a big way!
My activity involves me getting my 10,000 steps in most days and doing the occasional video and taking lots of walks. I don't want to spend hours in a gym - that's just not for me. So I am not a muscle woman nor a size 6 but I'm okay with that. I don't have to be.
The CHALLENGES: osteopenia (told wrong calcium to take), always iron deficient and I have reactive hypoglycaemia. All are manageable and a welcome trade off for my normal life. I take no medications - just supplements.
The biggest challenge of all is the one I mentioned above. Food will ALWAYS be my challenge! Surgery doesn't change the weight rollercoaster. I can't tell you how many times my weight has fluctuated up and down those same 20 lbs! Just because you kick it to the curb doesn't mean that the weight (or even regain!) is gone forever. I know this will be a commitment FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!
Was the surgery worth it!? A million times yes! Until you live the long term life though you don't see it's greatest challenges. The best advice I can give is to find people to support you, always find new ways to spark your journey, deal with your food issues, ask for help, use your support group and mentors and most of all, stay connected to wls communities such as this one! ?o
17+ years post op RNY. first year blog here or My LongTimer blog. Tummy Tuck Dr. Matic 2014 -Ohip funded panni
Windsor WLS support group.message me anytime!
HW:290 LW:139 RW: 167 CW: 139
It will hit very hard and fast. You might dump if you are a dumper. Just keep that in mind.
17+ years post op RNY. first year blog here or My LongTimer blog. Tummy Tuck Dr. Matic 2014 -Ohip funded panni Windsor WLS support group.message me anytime!
HW:290 LW:139 RW: 167 CW: 139
Yay Friday is here!
Best of luck with the lil nuggets shots.. hopefully it is a very short lived unhappiness for both of your sake's. I'm looking forward to a couple of days off but also need to get some cleaning done around the house... blah!
QOTD: I wouldn't say I am super tech savvy but I know enough to be the one everyone comes to for tech issues at work. It's not something I would want to do on a regular basis so I give your DH props and anyone else who enjoys all that trouble shooting. The paper supply was a very quick thinking trick! That's a great story.
B - greek yogurt
S - pretzel thins, PB
L - chicken skewers, salad
S - protein shake
D - leftover rotisserie chicken, cauliflower
S - turkey pepperettes
Good morning :)
Today is not going to be a fun day. The little nugget is getting all her one year boosters -- we were told these were going to be bad ones (I.e. she wouldn't feel very good after for a while). Poor thing. However, I am happy because she will finally be covered for measles.
QOTD: a random one today. Are you technologically savvy? I used to be. Before I met DH I was the resident computer fixer. My grandpa's favourite story was when his printer randomly started printing a 90 page document that he didn't want. He yelled for me because he didn't know what to do. I just reached over and pulled all the paper supply out so it couldn't print anymore. He thought that was a hilarious solution -- and he never thought to do it. He told everyone lol. DH is in IT so he fixes everything around here and makes it more techy than it needs to be or that I can deal with lol.
Post-op four years and five months.
Breakfast - milk and cereal (but not together lol)
Snack - oatmeal bar
Lunch - maybe a sandwich
Snack - cheese and something
Dinner - maybe leftover beef
Snack - Greek yogurt and pineapple
All water and vits.
For myself... I usually limit myself to a sip of my husband's or a big old sniff of his Guinness! If I have some hootch it does go right to my head and I don't like the feeling. There is also the bubble factor. You can try mocktails with infusions of things like cucumber and basil. If it's a wedding toast, I don't think a sip of two champagne will hurt.
Referred January 7/17, Orientation Humber May 28/17, Meet Dr. August 4/17, TRIO November 3/17, Internist November 21/17, Surgeon again December 21/17, Pre-op assessment January 4/18 and Surgery January 12/18.
I have no brand. I tend to wear bike shorts as they tend to spanx me in without being as suffocating.
Good luck on friday!! Have fun!!!! First dates are always the most nerve wracking yet usually some of the most fun.
Humber - Orientation : Sept 2016 - Meet the Surgeon: Nov 2017 - Nurse/Dietitian/SW - Jan 15 2018 - Internalist - Feb 7 2018 - Final Surgeon Appt: Feb 12 2018 - Optifast - Feb 26 2018 - Pre-Op Feb 27 2018 - Surgery: March 12 2018
Adding in a tornado would definitely be my worst nightmare. I drove through two of them by accident and I never want to have to deal with that again. One almost blew my car off the road -- it happened when I was driving home from college. The rain came down so hard I couldn't see and had to pull over. The second one I just missed but it took down a huge tree in our yard.
Love, Love, LOVE thunderstorms!! I have to admit though, a few weeks back we had a doozy at the trailer park and I panicked a bit. The winds were so bad, I thought it might be a tornado.
2 months post op
B- Milk
S - 1 Samosa (totally not planned but a contractor brought me some still hot - gave the rest away)
L - I brought fish and green beans but probably won't eat it. my belly feels bloated from that damn samosa
S- salami and cheese stick
D - Probably my lunch, fish and green beans
Have a good one!
on 8/21/19 7:22 am
I hear you! Not only do I have that wobbly tummy to have to deal with I have not actually dated in about 7 years and am going for lunch on FRIDAY!!!! I am not considering the surgery at this time but if someone has a brand of nice panties that kind of tuck it all in I would appreciate the brand.
Good luck with the surgery super duper exciting
referred Jan 2016 intake May 2016 left programme returned June 2017 final pre-sx class Oct 2017 surgeon appt Oct 2017
Opti Wt Nov 4/17 226 lbs BMI 45 Sx Wt 212 lbs RNY surgery Nov 23/17 M1 -18 M2-9 M3-10 M4-8 M5-6 M6-7 M7-6 M8-3 M9-1(so far) Down to within one pound of my goal and 99 lbs down from my highest weight. I was not a fast loser but who cares as long as you get there! I know the newbies check the trackers and the signatures so although I kind of lost track of how the rest of the weight came off, you should know that it was not fast and furious but it was slow and steady!
current BMI 24.7 that, my friends, is NORMAL!!! Strong is the new pretty!
on 8/21/19 7:16 am
I am almost two years post surgery and have had no caffeine, no soda and no alcohol since waaaay before surgery. I am thinking of trying some wine, most specifically champagne. I am a little concerned about intoxication and addiction. Any stories or opinions or experiences?
referred Jan 2016 intake May 2016 left programme returned June 2017 final pre-sx class Oct 2017 surgeon appt Oct 2017
Opti Wt Nov 4/17 226 lbs BMI 45 Sx Wt 212 lbs RNY surgery Nov 23/17 M1 -18 M2-9 M3-10 M4-8 M5-6 M6-7 M7-6 M8-3 M9-1(so far) Down to within one pound of my goal and 99 lbs down from my highest weight. I was not a fast loser but who cares as long as you get there! I know the newbies check the trackers and the signatures so although I kind of lost track of how the rest of the weight came off, you should know that it was not fast and furious but it was slow and steady!
current BMI 24.7 that, my friends, is NORMAL!!! Strong is the new pretty!
