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Good evening ladies-
i started my weight loss journey in 2010 but did not have surgery until 2011. My highest weight was 351 my lowest was 232 after one year. At present I am back to 312.
while I've had regain I still have some restriction. I am still off of all blood pressure medications. I took up water fitness and became a certified instructor two years ago. I teach water fitness four nights a week.
My issues with food are psychological. I lack impulse control so I have to avoid certain foods. Like many sleeve patients I do not have any dumping when I eat sugary foods. I do have some discomfort with some foods.
i took up yoga during my first year post surgery. I enjoyed it and found it helped with tightening up some parts. Water fitness gave me the aerobics I needed without impacting my lousy knees.
i enjoy reading the experiences and ideas they have for continued weight loss or maintenance. My advice to newbies is use the surgery as a tool but if you suffer from binge eating disorder make sure your surgeon offers supports groups or psychological counseling for this disease. While the surgery can be effective you need to deal with the emotional side of eating.
Im struggling with the issue of feeling like a failure because of the regain however I also have many non scale victories that I continue to celebrate. The water fitness is one of those victories. Lots of good ideas came out of today posts for me to consider.
Cindi B
I'm sitting in an urgent care with my daughter waiting, waiting, waiting. Quite a hell hole...couldn't get into her regular doctor because he was gone for a week and overwhelmed with appointments. Such a mess, but she is pretty sick so we are doing what we have to do..
My story...
I started looking into RNY in 2006. My top weight was about 365 pounds. I also am tall and have a large frame so I did look fat but people were shocked if they knew the number. Of course almost no one knew the number since I was so full of shame about my weight.
By early 2007 I was doing the preop things. I had a mammogram that led to a diagnosis of breast cancer, two surgeries and radiation. Then back on track for RNY. I had the surgery in San Francisco in December of 2007. My total weight loss the first year was 125 pounds, but I have gained about twenty pounds since then.
I have not been the best of patients...I do not eat exactly what I should and I do some things that I know are off limits such as drinking wine on occasion. I have not yet reached my goal...I am a work in progress. I have not regretted the surgery because I think 100 pounds is nothing to sneeze at and I am so much more mobile and
functional.
Last September I had a complication, but it was a big one. My small intestine blocked completely and after a week of not keeping anything down they put me in the hospital. A few days later I had surgery to remove the scar tissue and put the intestine back together. That was quite an ordeal, but just a memory now.
I am recommitting to losing my last 50 pounds. I do have a lot of loose skin and the only way to get rid of it is plastic surgery. I would consider it but as I get older I am less motivated to go through the expense, risk, and pain.
I have been on OH throughout this nine years of my life. I have not always posted but I have been here. I am one of the oldies. This group has been here through thick and thin...it is mostly supportive though we did just go through an upheaval. It happens once in a while. I like to have a group that is very honest and vulnerable. That is a big order though and I don't always get what I want...
Hey Nancy and everyone else. Ya notice how I said everyone else so maybe you won't notice that I just can't remember everyone who has posted. Smart huh?
It's official....I'm dead.
Today was house cleaning day, then went to East end park and walked nearly 3 miles. Then like an idiot I went to two line dance classes. Just got home. I also worked with my trainer yesterday. Spent 1 hour working my legs with heavy for me weights. WTF
I appreciate the posts today. Sometimes we forget where we have been and what we have gone through to get where we are now. We struggle and tend to focus on the struggle and the slips along the way and don't give ourselves enough credit. As long as we keep in mind that we always have this wonderful tool and realize that it is always there to get us back on track we can do what we need to do.
10 years ago I was nearly 300 pounds. Why that came as a shock to me I can't explain, but it did. I was mortified to say the least. I had other health issues but not what most doctors would expect. My lipid panel was always very good. I was not diabetic. I did not have sleep apnea. I did not have high blood pressure. I did and do have arthritis that made it impossible to exercise without pain. Once my knees prevented me from taking the 5-7 dance classes a week I was used to just to maintain a 250 pound body, the weight quickly rocketed. I still have knee issues and will see a doctor in a couple of weeks to evaluate the state of my joints. I am hoping to put off replacement until January, 2017. My hands, especially the thumbs, are also extremely painful.
My doctor recommended I see a surgeon about WLS. I did. I was not as prepared as most of you. My doc was a general surgeon that did RNY surgery among other general surgeries. He no longer does WLS. I did not know about OH. I had no dietician training and no support group before or after surgery. I found OH through a computer search.
I had no problems with the surgery. My post op diet was pretty typical with liquids followed by soft foods followed my semi dense foods etc. The first year was so easy. I want to echo what Nancy said about the first year and caution you Kathy about the future. I know you can't see yourself going back to old habits, none of us could imagine that but we did. Just be mindful that you are human and if you find yourself in that position it is undoable. I lost right at 100 pounds in the first couple of years. I dipped down below 200 for about 30 seconds. I never did again. My goal was to reach 175. It still is. I have thought about 150 but that may not be realistic for me. The biggest struggle for me was at the 5-6 year point. I started to regain and got up to 240 or so. I got back on track and got down to 215. Thought I would never go back up. Guess what, yeah, your right, I did. Actually got back up to 258 and said whoa!!! That was in January of this year. I am now focused on doing what I know I should do. I have no excuses. I got lazy, I made excuses, I went back to the old comfortable me. YADA YADA YADA. I am now at 238 and think about all the time I wasted.
Today I strive to move....even if it hurts. If I hike I try to make 10,000 steps in a day. If I don't, my target is 6,000. Since January I hike 2-3 times a week. I am slowing down on that because I can't tolerate the heat and this is Texas and the temps are rising. This week is an exception so I am walking. So far today I have walked 13,015 steps. Remember I said I was dead. I don't have the reaction to food that many of you have. Too much is my most bothersome issue. I can and do drink soda. It is sugar free, and caffeine free. I can't not drink it on a daily basis. That is my number one downfall. I can not eat concentrated sugar. Syrups, honey, cake icing, etc. will make me sick. I get hot, feel clamy, and just in general yuky. Cake without icing, cookies, SF ice cream, no problem. Luckily I don't think about sweets much. Alcohol......I get drunk on a few sips. I never was a drinker. I did like some ****tails and I still do, I just can only have a sip or two. I share with my hubby and he gets the lion's share. I do not get cold. Just the opposite. I still have awful issues of feeling hot. I keep my AC set on glacial. My husband is not happy. We compromised on 70 degrees. I want it 68 he want at least 72. 70 is the best I can do and I am still hot, especially at night. I do the covers on covers off shuffle all night long.
I travel a lot so much of the time I am making the "best" choices I can. I do bring things on the road so I can mindfully eat. I don't really have a large appetite. Like Nancy I can easily forget to eat. Funny how that is true when I am on track but if I am eating things I shouldn't I am hungrier than when I'm eating properly. Luckily for me I do not have and addictive personality. I am an emotional eater and I have to be careful if things in my life are very stressful or upsetting but if I take time to de-stress and take care of myself I do fine.
I have to take a moment to thank all those oldies who helped me when I was a newbie. All my knowledge came from this forum. I would have gotten very sick if Jeannie and Susan had not educated me about vitamins. I would have struggled much more if everyone had not shared good websites and good protein drink info and good recipes with me. I am not perfect, I fail from time to time but this journey has been so much more doable with the help I have received here.
Again thank you
I feel like I am rambling so I am going to stop now
Thank you Nancy, for bringing us back onto why we are here in the first place.
I first saw my surgeon on June 1, 2006, thinking I'd get the lap band. He discussed both options, in great detail. I then went to a pre-op support group meeting, and was blown away by the support, and decided to get the RNY. At the support group, I learned about OH, and became active on the Pennsylvania board. Laureen, who used to be active here, and also had surgery where I did, suggested OFF. My top weight was 320, and my surgery was August 28, 2006. I did great with the diet and exercise, staying sugar free till I relapsed with alcohol in December 2007. When I got drunk, on one glass of wine, I picked up sugar. My relapse lasted till January 2010, but that sugar is a ***** pardon my language. Right before my relapse, I was down to 195, but today, I'm at 235. Being sedentary with the foot surgeries, and unable to quit sugar, have been my downfall.
I need to do more relaxation exercises, and I have plenty of resources.
I had a busy day of appointments, and an awesome day with Frankie yesterday.
Kathy, you are so kind in your words about me. I am only doing what my mother-in-law did with my kids. Providing experiences that enhance the kids' lives, and sometimes being silly with them. My kids have fun memories with my mother-in-law, sometimes bizarre stuff. My munchkins never hesitate to tell me, "You're silly, Grandma."
Hugs,
Trish
Albert Schweitzer
Hi Ladies,
IN January 2014, I was at my highest of 368.i was trying to lose on my own. I turned 50 and was thinking I didn't want to die early like my mom did. I thought to myself why don't I try to have wls again. I tried in my30's but ran into problems and couldn't get it done. So May I signed up for the orientation class and I told them I was interested so I got appt in June and on August 11,2014 I had vsg. On surgery day I weighed 320 and today I weigh 173. I'm still trying to lose weight, it is harder now. It's about of the food choices you make.
I really haven't found any food that makes me sick.ive gotten sick if I ate too much or the meat was too dry.
I didn't start having some pop until I was 16 months out. It usually takes me a couple of days to drink a 20 ounce bottle. It's not a every day occurence. Alcohol doesn't bother me either. I feel it's effect quicker than before. I usually only drink when I go to my brother's.
It was the best thing I've done for myself. I'm almost off all my meds and can walked good now.
I will look into skin removal if my insurance will pay for it. I have a history of rashes otherwise I will live with it.
Yvonne
Hi Everyone! Welcome Nancy! I do enjoy reading the stories now and then. They are definitely inspirational and also give us big pictures of who we are. That part is fascinating to me. I don't have time to write my story right now because I have a massage and facial booked at 11. That is part of my self care.
When I get back I hope there are even more stories to read!
Julia
Hi Nancy & Jeannie!
Nancy, I am going to TRY to respond to your post which is why I bumped myself in between you & Jeannie, but my time & memory banks are limited so I may not cover everything I want to!
I am a fairly new pre-op who had surgery this past VSG October. I had lost exactly 75 lbs. the morning I got on the table b/c I had started the dietician process the February before. I had truly hit bottom the Christmas of 2014. I don't think it is so much WHAT you weigh when you hit bottom, but how you feel. I could barely get off the sofa & walk to our kitchen. It was headed in the direction of becoming an invalid & I didn't want to go there at 58. So I started changing how I ate with the help of the dietician & many good tips from these boards. So I think discussing where we came from keeps things fresh & is very helpful to all posters!
I have taken off the weight slow since the surgery. I was 275 on my surgery day...I weighed in yesterday at 235...a total loss of 40 pounds in 6 months. My surgeon is pleased with my progress, but he never set a calorie limit like most doctors...he just said to restrict my carbs. I am actually very pleased where I am at & my goal is pretty high...200. I am 5'9" & big framed...I truly think if I went lower I'd look sickly. But I will re-evaluate when I get there. I have the most hanging skin in my upper arms which surprises me b/c my stomach & ass were HUGE. But my ass looks pretty damn good...even my husband says so, and my stomach doesn't look too bad. I would NOT have skin removal b/c I have a heart condition plus it doesn't bother me so to do it just for appearances is not worth it to me...
I never sweated at my heaviest, but I never drank enough, either! I am sweating now! I, too, am ALWAYS cold...my hands are like ice! I have heard this happens to a lot of us!
I hear that about the 1st year being 'magic' in terms of the weight falling off. Unlike a lot of posters I was never able to maintain a diet for longer than 4 days. I learned last year during the pre-op phase so much about nutrition, exercise, etc. to help me lose that 75. I know probably everyone thinks they will never slide back, but you know when you know something about yourself like you are done with a relationship or job & you won't go back? That's how I am feeling but ever going back to my old ways. I still look back & marvel at how much & how BAD I ate...FF for breakfast, candy throughout the morning, take-out full course meal lunches...cookies in afternoon, another full course meal at dinner & then snacking right up until I was reading in bed every night. SMDH. I have no desire to feel like crap all day/everyday again. Everytime I eat a sweet snack now or have that extra bite of a meal I remember that feeling. So not worth it!
I was thinking just this week I have not drank anything but iced tea w/stevia since last summer! I used to drink sweet tea everyday. My dietician strongly emphasized minimizing getting calories from drinking. Since the tea was my thing beforehand I am not tempted by sodas or juice.
Linda, you are blessed to be at this point in your life. The weight you have lost is amazing, you have a nice family & ability to travel. Key West is one of my favorite spots on the planet! I'll get back one day!
Well, I am running on AND out of time so I shall close.
Jeannie, love ya....will catch up with you & the others next time!
Kathy
Thanks Jeannie & Eileen. I need to go back to Eggfaces recipe site. Those balls sound really good!
Kathy
Nancy,
What a great post, and I, too, love when the board sticks to WLS information with a little of life peppered in. I think it is imperative for the new folks to know what helped and helps us. I remember your journey because it began right before mine; I think. You have done very well and still continue to do well. I am a planner to a fault and don't think I could do well if I didn't plan out all my foods and activities.
When I began, I weighed over 500 pounds, closer to 600 and I lost down to 356 or so--it's hard to say because I had to go to the post office and weigh on their scales that they weighed the bulk mail on...but I got where I couldn't lose anymore so my doctor suggested I do WLS and drop down another 100 pounds or so. He didn't think I would lost over a hundred because I had so many things wrong that would prevent me from walking and exercising and I probably wouldn't have lost as much as I did had I not gotten so sick....but now I am healthier than I have ever been.
I still eat out of a baby plate and use a small spoon. When we go out to eat, I order my food and get the to go box before I eat a bite, so I can get a more reasonable serving for me. I avoid glider foods because we all know how those become our new addiction, if we let them. I'm like you with alcohol...I cannot drink at all because my heart races and I usually throw it all up....I've tried different wines, mixed drinks, shots, and it's all the same. I'm glad because my addictive personality would run with it...I do drink diet cokes but I don't drink fountain ones, ever. I drink bottled ones and I usually let them go completely flat.
I do Yoga, meditation, and am trying to get back to walking and dancing but my knee is so weak right now and I am determined to make it till next December before I get it fixed. We'll see.
Today's goal for me is avoid letting the stress rule me...so I'm taking my coloring to work and I am going to do some creative meditation....
Nancy, and Ladies to follow, have a terrific Tuesday and take a minute to sit and relax and empty your minds...let your brain have a few minutes of total quiet....I'm setting my meditation for 12:30 today...if you want, join me. I'll let you all know how long I get to meditate before life interrupts me again.
