Had my surgery and now I'm back at work!
I'm awful at checking in. So sorry if anyone was waiting to hear back from me. I had my Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass on 9/21, after a 2 day hospital stay I went home. The surgery went very smoothly, no complications, healed up nicely. I took a 6 week medical leave from work which was wonderful. I'm the type of person that works myself to the extreme and it was nice to finally take some time for me. Depending on what starting weight I use I've lost about 35 lbs so far! Two co-workers commented that I looked good, thinner in the face! Sounds silly but I'm psyched to be only obese now, no longer morbidly obese...can't wait till I'm just overweight...and the ultimate result to be healthy/normal! *lol*
I'm feeling better too! Have not had any acid reflux which is the most wonderful thing in the world. I am struggling with a few things though; getting my fluid requirements has been a huge hurdle. I'm so set in my routine of drinking when I eat that drinking while not eating is like a foreign experience. Sipping throughout the day is hard to remember, I carry bottles and cups all around but it doesn't help if I don't actually drink. Any tips or tricks you all have picked up? I've been using ice pops a lot to help get some fluids in me. Prevents me from gulping and I still get some fluid. Its small but at least its something.
Getting my protein has also been rough, I have very little desire to eat, I'll make things but I won't finish them. I'm getting bored with the foods I'm making...I've tried adding spice and more flavor but it’s hard. I noticed my hair is falling out quite a bit so I'm frantically trying to get as much protein as possible! Initially I noticed my hair wasn't really falling out after the surgery but as the weeks go by I've been taking our huge clumps in the shower *sob*. Is protein the sole key to keeping my hair in my head or is there anything else I can try? I’m already taking my chewable MVI but maybe it’s missing something. Any advice would be lovely, if you can help me save my lovely blonde hair I will forever be in your debt. *LOL*
Another awesome experience was feeling full after eating! I know for most people that is nothing huge but I swear my body's satiety switch was turned off and now I FINALLY know what it means to feel full and satisfied...to leave food on my plate. To stop...to not always feel empty!
I have learned the hard way that I really need to practice chewing my food better and eating slower...I use to inhale my food and now if I attempt that same pattern I pay the consequences. I've thrown up twice so far for not chewing enough, along with the pain in my chest feeling, cold sweats, etc. No fun...I’m not planning on trying those foods again...or at least not without chewing all the way. I'm sticking with a lot of already soft/liquid foods like soups, puddings, yogurt, chili, etc....don't fully trust myself with grown up food. *LOL*
Exercise has been hit and miss...I joined Curves so I wouldn't be so intimidated by the whole gym atmosphere...its nice...lots of older ladies...I don't feel nearly as self-conscious as when I've gone to gyms surrounded by anorexic barbie dolls and beefcake men. I have a problem with social anxiety and leaving the house to go is my issue though, not just for the gym, I panic if I have to leave for most any reason. I started out walking my dogs daily - first just up and down the street, then around the block, then around the neighborhood. The yorkie loves it but the havanese is probably more obese than me and I don't think she enjoys her walks...but I'm determined to get her and me into shape...now if only I could get my dad to stop feeding her treats and carrying her up the stairs because she's too lazy! I need to be more accountable for my exercise... I have all that muscle mass from when I was carrying around this heavier body and I don’t want to lose that....getting skinny won't be as enjoyable if I’m weak and tired all the time. How do you all stay motivated and accountable for making sure you exercise? Before when I lost a lot of weight I really enjoyed exercise, better than my antidepressants but I'm not at that point yet where its fun for me... everything is still harder for me, pathetically panting after climbing a flight of stairs makes it hard to get psyched about getting physical . Now that I'm at work and can hit up this site during my breaks maybe I can get more involved, find some buddies, learn from you all, get inspired, motivated, etc.
So far no dumping syndrome, I'm staying away from sugar like its the plague! Reading the labels is a pain... my brain was programmed to read for calories and fat and high fiber and now I need to look at sugar and protein - its like I need to do everything opposite of how I’ve dieted in the past. Before I would look for foods to fill me up quick, now I need the biggest bang for my buck...small amounts of food that give me a lot of what I need. I need to forget calories untrain myself from drinking when I eat so I get full faster.
I should really take pictures of my journey...I've always been camera shy especially at my higher weights but I think I need to suck it up and just get a record of where I came from and where I'm going and all the steps along the way. Any recommendations on how often I should weigh or re-measure/ photograph myself?
I still can't believe I'm leaving food on my plate! I'm not even taking large portions; even small portions can seem overwhelming. Just sharing my short journey so far has got me motivated to go home and exercise, just hope that feeling remains when 5pm rolls around and I'm not too exhausted after work. I want to dance again, started ballet when I was overweight/obese and I loved it even though I looked nothing like a ballerina. Being fat but flexible was an advantage!
I'll be updating my profile pic when I get a chance. I missed the last post op support group meeting…but hopefully can hit up the next one. I’m not going to bother lying and making up an excuse...I was lazy and afraid to leave the house. I fear my meds may not be absorbing enough to get a benefit from them. I wish I could be one of those people that say I'm off all my meds after the surgery but I need to stay on the psych meds. My therapist has been really supportive; he’s going to help keep me accountable for the exercise part.
Journaling my food intake also not a strength of mine... I get so annoyed with it that I find myself not eating so I don't have to bother writing it down. I've been searching for the perfect website to track my food and exercise... some have awesome graphs and very user friendly but their food databases suck and some have awesome food databases but are hard to use and don't offer any extras. I've been using the Realize my Success site after the nutritionist at Barix recommended it. I’m impressed with many of its features but its food database sucks...I find myself having to add custom foods for nearly everything I eat... ugg. But its nice that the site is geared towards bariatric patients...it lets you check off your vitamins, fluids, goals to eat slower and get your protein. Nicely designed and I like the little avatar of me...future me at my goal weight that is!
If anyone is looking for a buddy I'd like to give that a try. I think being at work again will give me the structure I need to get into a routine with my meals and exercise...staying at home on disability created the tendency for be to be a lazy bum. Alright, I think I've typed way too much already so I'm going to shut up now. Thanks to everybody that made it all the way through my rantings. I'd love feedback. I really want to be a success with this...my therapist has a couple patients who have also had the surgery and lost the weight but ended up gaining it back. I do not want that to be me. I want to change my lifestyle. Healthier, happier, etc. I never thought of this as a quick fix and have no intention of undermining my success...this will be a lifestyle change...I want to learn how to eat to live, not live to eat! I do not intend on attempting to introduce sugar back into my diet or finding shortcuts or ways around to sabotage my tool. This was a gift and I want to get the most from it!
-Corrinne
When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila & salt and give me a call!
Your determination sounds GREAT. Personally, if I would you, I would print out this post and keep it with you. Highlighting the really important parts - about where you imagine yourself to be, what you want to get back to (dancing), how you DON'T want to be like your therapists other patients...and keep it with you.
As far as logging food goes - I was never a fan of any of the websites. I wrote everything down as best I could. Especially in the beginning, I was eating the same basic stuff so after a couple of days, I remembered what they were (IE: Small container greek yogurt has 15-17gm depending on the brand in 6 ounces) I wrote down the "basics" IE: the food, the amount, the protein, the fat. I didn't pay much attention to carbs and calories.
Are you measuring your food? I know you said you are "taking small portions" but you didn't mention if those small portions were measured or not. If not - ensure you are measuring and eating according to weight and time (IE: every 2 - 3 hours) not just when you are hungry (or not hungry) for that matter. Your nerves in your stomach and intestines were cut and therefore "true" hunger is probably not an issue at the moment. it will be easy at this point to forget about eating or ignore it - but remember that you need to stay healthy, not just drop the weight.
Protein will help with the whole hair falling out thing - some people say biotin helps. I personally had absolutely NOOOO luck with biotin what so ever. My hair fell out in large amounts from about 9 weeks out to about 4 mos out. I took biotin most of that time and it did very little for me. When it started slowing down, I got my hair cut and restyled and that seemed to really help.
Exercise...I have little room to talk because I've been slacking big time on that and need to get my butt back in gear.
Try to keep us updated!
Pam
