I'm half the (wo)man I used to be! 9 months update and pic!
Hi OH friends,
My nine month surgiversary is tomorrow, but as of today I have literally lost half of me! Although I am still 10 lbs from a “normal” BMI, I feel incredible – fit, strong, energetic, and motivated! So I figured I would post today and share my story. I remember being pre-op not that long ago, and scouring this site for information. So if I can help even one person move forward with RNY, then I will feel like today was a successful day :)
I’m gonna break it down for y’all in buckets – based on the topics I see most often here on the site. This could be a long one, so feel free to hit the back button. I’m a terrible editor lol.
The pre-op diet:
I had a ton of food funerals which was a terrible mistake. My highest weight was actually December 1st, 2013, the day I started my all-liquid pre-op diet. Did it suck to drink protein shakes and eat sugar-free pudding for two weeks? Yes. Did I do it without cheating in order to shrink my liver and detox from carbs and get my mind right? Yes. As an added bonus I lost 18 lbs in those two weeks.
The surgery:
Though I went into surgery at 351 lbs, I had no comorbidities. I was awake a few hours after and felt good. I got up, went to the bathroom, texted friends, chatted with my mom. I was discharged the following day. On day 3 I walked to the grocery store, on day 5 I was out with friends and on day 7 I was back in the office. I was fortunate to have an easy recovery. Was I scared to go under anesthesia? Sure, but I chose my doctor because I believed in him and I knew that I was going to die if I continued living at my weight.
The first month:
Phew, this was a tough time. Hormone dumping is REAL, people! I think I realized how crazy I was when I was standing waiting for the bus and I saw a man driving by slowly and texting and I was SUPER enraged that he was holding up traffic. I mean, I wasn’t even driving and I was road-raging lol. The first few weeks are tough but you get through it, I promise. Every day is a little more normal and once you get to soft foods, some tuna fish never tasted so good!
My diet:
I was a super strict RNYer for the first six months. No carbs and I mean I was at 20 g per day for about 4 months and then increased to 50 g. I didn’t have a bite of dessert and zero white carbs. In the last 3 months I have had a few bites of dessert (maybe 4 total). I have no idea if I dump because I haven’t tested the sugar. I generally have a shake for breakfast (Syntrax Matrix mint cookie or Chike, my one true love), a protein-forward lunch and dinner, and although my plan calls for zero snacks I just can’t do it. I do have snacks. I am up to about 1,100 or 1,200 calories per day at 9 months out My carbs are around 70 or 80 g per day. I credit my kitchen scale for keeping me on track. I also log EVERY bite that goes in my mouth into MyFitnessPal. I wish I were one of those people who just never felt hungry and can’t remember to eat, but nope, I still get hungry and I still like eating, so I make sure to track and stay within my calorie goal and get at least 80 g of protein a day. I have not had alcohol since November of last year. When I reach goal I am having a glass of champagne :)
My Exercise:
I have become one of those annoying people who loves exercise. I had this “thing” about not joining a gym until I was below 300 lbs – I thought I wouldn’t look like I belonged there. Once I was in the 290s I joined a gym and realized no one cared if I were there or not. In fact, though I was likely the biggest person there, people seemed to be inspired seeing me sweat it out on the treadmill. I hired a personal trainer and I really credit him with part of my transformation. He pushes me to be better and stronger. When I think I am going to die while planking, he says “You’re welcome. 30 more seconds” lol. I know it’s an expensive proposition, but if you can swing it, get a trainer. Find one that is right for you, your goals, and your personality.
My progress:
I am 5’4” and here is my loss by month. NOT for comparison purposes – people lose at different rates and I had a LOT to lose. I just know that when I started this “journey” (I know that’s a cheesy word but it really is a journey) I arbitrarily set 170 lbs as a goal, thinking it was unattainable. Now I have revised down to 160 lbs and who knows, maybe I will go below that!
Pre-op diet: 18 lbs
M1: 28 lbs
M2: 21.6
M3: 20.4
M4: 20
M5: 13.2
M6: 20.6
M7: 16.4
M8: 15.6
M9: 13
Deprivation vs. Substitution:
I think the reason I had so many food funerals is that I was thinking “I can never have Mexican food again!” or “I will never be able to have pizza again!”. Honestly, I travel a lot for work and am a social person, so I end up eating at restaurants far more than I want to or should. I have found ways to enjoy the flavors and just eat the protein. I order shrimp fajitas and don’t have rice or beans or tortillas. I make little pizzas using half of a Flat Out Light flatbread with a tbsp of pesto or tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and turkey pepperoni. I eat Kay’s Naturals protein chips from amazon for some crunch instead of chips. Don’t think of life after RNY as “I can never X”. Think of it as “I will give my body what it needs to get me around and that means limiting my food intake and making better choices”. Sure, sometimes I wish I could stuff my face with pizza, and I feel sorry for myself that I can’t. And then I realize I had enough pizza for any ten people. And I realize that this morning I walked to the gym and worked out for an hour, and eating a pizza was not doing me any good.
My hair and skin:
My hair, I’m not gonna lie, it’s about half gone. I started with a lot thankfully. Even if I were bald, I would not regret this surgery AT ALL. My skin is saggy as all get out. Wrinkled thighs, bat wings, and a saggy tummy. And, I don’t give a ****! I would rather have a lean, fit, strong, energetic body with sagging skin than a super morbidly obese body with aching joints and all of the health problems that were inevitably coming.
My scale:
People vary as to how often they weigh. I weigh almost everyday. For me, I think being successful in maintenance will be me continuing to track my food intake and getting on the scale. I really look up to a lot of vets on this site who are diligent about not letting the gain go past a few pounds – once they have strayed too far, they go back to basics. I plan to do the same.
My advice to you:
This surgery can change your life. As many people will tell you, it’s a tool. If you have failed at losing weight previously, this will be what you need. But here is a warning: I can easily eat around my smaller stomach – chips and popcorn slide right through, and I could snack all day and take in a ton of calories. Your stomach will be smaller, but your head may continue to tell you that you want to eat. Be prepared to have to make difficult decisions and not partake in cake at events, pizza parties, family bbqs where everyone is piling their plates high. You have to make the right choices. It won’t do the work for you, but if you are willing to put work in, you can feel amazing.
I live in mild fear of maintenance every single day. I know it’s going to be tough. I don’t feel comfortable saying “I will never be in the 200s again” because regain is real. I will do my damnedest to get to goal and maintain, but trust me, I can eat more at nine months out than before and make a few more liberal choices every now and again (like having a couple of sweet potato fries).
Thanks to all of you for your advice and support. I really look forward to the daily RNY “What are you eating today?” post – I get great meal ideas and it helps me to be accountable. I am going to pre-thank you for your inevitable posts congratulating me and saying “way to go” - work is pretty busy and I spent enough time drafting this so I probably won’t be able to comment on each of your posts. But I am grateful to all of you. Here is a before and after pic – left side is day of surgery and right side is last week. From size 26/28 to a 14 bottom and sometimes medium top! I am also sharing my progress from MyFitnessPal. Have a great day, all!
[edited to add spaces]
You look amazing! So tiny! Thanks for all of your help and support over the last several months. Not only have you been changing your life, but you've also been incredibly generous with your encouragement and advice. From someone who's benefited from both, I can't thank you enough! Here's to the next phase and getting to goal #2!
Thanks, Shannon! You and I are at the same stage here and I love getting inspired by your insane calorie burns at Spinning! Thanks to you for your encouragement and advice too. It's always good to have friends on here to be the voice of reason and you definitely always seem to keep a cool, calm, collected head about you which I so appreciate!
Thanks, Karen! I can't imagine being 120 lbs like you, but I guess I have no idea where my body will settle. Maybe 150? It's a bit of an adventure, isn't it? LOL! My doctor said that according to the farmer's almanac, which is an outdated way of determining a goal weight, I should be 131. Jeez, I can't imagine my loose skin if I made it there!
Hey I am in that 2wk liquids after surgery stage and yes it is ok but any new ideas for this time frame will be acceptable. Im 5days out and Wednesday I will be a week. So any suggestions menus etc. I will invite. You can send recipes to [email protected]. thx
