8 months out (and all is well)
Hi! Today is my 8 month surgiversary!
My recovery and journey has been pretty smooth so far... Here is my not so short summary of where I'm at...
Cons
- I still have my hunger. Have had it since day 2 postop. I took a PPI, that didn't help. It's real hunger. However, it is manageable
- Junk food is a slider for me, so I am having to be very careful/mindful during this season of cookies and treats. The surgery might have made my tummy smaller, but it didn't take away cravings. I have to practice willpower on a daily basis.
- I can't eat avocados. They give me a dumping-like reaction. They are the only food I've found that does that to me.
- I lost quite a bit of hair, but the loss is slowing down.
- My nails are very brittle, so I'm taking Biotin. I think it's helping.
- I have had to replace almost my entire wardrobe. The only think left from the old days is a coat and 2 pairs of jeans that I bought years ago, and which never fit me
- Since month 6 my weightloss has slowed down. I went from losing an average of 3 lbs a week, to losing an average of between 1.5-2 lbs a week.
Pros
- I feel great!
- I get full on only 2 oz of protein. Sometimes I have room for up to 1/4 cup fruit or veggies, sometimes I don't.
- If I follow my plan, I'm never starving. My plan is: always eat protein first. Only eat at meal and snack times. If I'm not hungry, I skip my snack.
- I have went from a size 26W pant to a size 16 (not W)pant. I have went from tight Womens 3X, to a regular XL (sometimes L) shirt.
- I weigh less than I did in high school.
- Classes at the gym are SO much easier! Yoga, weightlifting, kickboxing, etc.
- I don't get as sore when I run! My feet and knees always used to get sore during and after my run
- I get compliments daily about how great I look.
Other random info
- Right after surgery I was in a LOT of pain... even though I took my pain meds. I had surgery on a Friday morning, and was in a lot of pain even when I went home on Sunday. On Monday, I started feeling better.
- I am open about my surgery to anyone who asks. The really cool thing is that my story has inspired at least 3 people to look into the VSG
- I am not really a stairstep loser. I have only had one week without losing anything. However, in the past 6 months, I haven't had one of those weeks where you lose 8 pounds or something. Instead of getting these big losses like some people, I get fairly consistent small losses.
- I work out. My goal is to hit the gym 6 days a week. In that week, I do yoga at least once, weightlifting at least twice, and running at least once.
- I really try hard to stick to my plan... 600-800 calories on days I don't work out. Under 1000 on days I do. 70+ grams of protein a day. 8 glasses or more of water a day. Take my vitamins.
- My 6 month labs were pretty good! Due to the results, I had to drop my B12 to once a week, and my iron to twice a week. I also had to up my protein from 60 grams.
My recovery and journey has been pretty smooth so far... Here is my not so short summary of where I'm at...
Cons
- I still have my hunger. Have had it since day 2 postop. I took a PPI, that didn't help. It's real hunger. However, it is manageable
- Junk food is a slider for me, so I am having to be very careful/mindful during this season of cookies and treats. The surgery might have made my tummy smaller, but it didn't take away cravings. I have to practice willpower on a daily basis.
- I can't eat avocados. They give me a dumping-like reaction. They are the only food I've found that does that to me.
- I lost quite a bit of hair, but the loss is slowing down.
- My nails are very brittle, so I'm taking Biotin. I think it's helping.
- I have had to replace almost my entire wardrobe. The only think left from the old days is a coat and 2 pairs of jeans that I bought years ago, and which never fit me
- Since month 6 my weightloss has slowed down. I went from losing an average of 3 lbs a week, to losing an average of between 1.5-2 lbs a week.
Pros
- I feel great!
- I get full on only 2 oz of protein. Sometimes I have room for up to 1/4 cup fruit or veggies, sometimes I don't.
- If I follow my plan, I'm never starving. My plan is: always eat protein first. Only eat at meal and snack times. If I'm not hungry, I skip my snack.
- I have went from a size 26W pant to a size 16 (not W)pant. I have went from tight Womens 3X, to a regular XL (sometimes L) shirt.
- I weigh less than I did in high school.
- Classes at the gym are SO much easier! Yoga, weightlifting, kickboxing, etc.
- I don't get as sore when I run! My feet and knees always used to get sore during and after my run
- I get compliments daily about how great I look.
Other random info
- Right after surgery I was in a LOT of pain... even though I took my pain meds. I had surgery on a Friday morning, and was in a lot of pain even when I went home on Sunday. On Monday, I started feeling better.
- I am open about my surgery to anyone who asks. The really cool thing is that my story has inspired at least 3 people to look into the VSG
- I am not really a stairstep loser. I have only had one week without losing anything. However, in the past 6 months, I haven't had one of those weeks where you lose 8 pounds or something. Instead of getting these big losses like some people, I get fairly consistent small losses.
- I work out. My goal is to hit the gym 6 days a week. In that week, I do yoga at least once, weightlifting at least twice, and running at least once.
- I really try hard to stick to my plan... 600-800 calories on days I don't work out. Under 1000 on days I do. 70+ grams of protein a day. 8 glasses or more of water a day. Take my vitamins.
- My 6 month labs were pretty good! Due to the results, I had to drop my B12 to once a week, and my iron to twice a week. I also had to up my protein from 60 grams.
CW: 130ish HW: 264 SW:254 Hgt: 5'2
Goals-Dr:159-MET Mine:140-MET!!! Final Goal: 135-MET!!!!!
W4:-22 W8:-11 W12:-10.5 W16:-12 W20:-11.5 W24:-9.5 W28:-8 W32:-7.5 W36:-8 W40:-7.5 W44:-5 W48: -4.5 1Yr/W52: -7