Frisco- 4 Year Post !

 

I woke up this morning realizing today marks 4 years post VSG.   Total WL from recorded high 204lbs.(352 highest recorded weight) Total WL post VSG 190lbs. (338-148) in 13 months Maintaining 148-152 for 1 month shy of 3 years     After just coming off a rigorous 3 week job that was long and odd hours that included physical and mental stamina. I wore out some young fit guys and had to hire people in shifts cause they couldn’t keep up with me for 16-20 hour days. This would not have happened at 350lbs.   As I reflect on the last 4 years and the changes that have occurred kinda blows my mind.   The very thing that got me in trouble and almost dead is now a big part of my life..... in just a different way...... Food, an abusive relationship with food got me near dead. WLS and the education from my surgeon and his program got me on a road to a more positive relationship with food, eating and lifestyle.   Some random post-op accomplishments:

• I took an interest in cooking for post-op survival
• I now have a food blog (what!) I chose to do my food blog with my surgeon rather than going for a more commercial for profit approach. By doing so I have one of the only bariatric food blogs that is approved by a top bariatric surgeon and has nutritional evaluations by a registered dietitian.
• I have given several talks to doctors and nurses about obesity and WLS
• I have helped a fair amount of people now in meeting their WL goals, both WLS folks and some normies.

  Some suggestions:

• Under eat your sleeve/capacity. Do not eat till full. Eat fixed/measured amounts that is under your capacity. This preserves your restriction for long term when you really need it and the only real way to plan and chart your food intake.
• Commitment and compliance. People who don’t do well at WL tend to run out of this.
• Learn and understand the function of the pyloric valve
• Lose the weight first, than find your tolerances in maintenance
• Be weary of advise from people that have not lost the weight, there are many, many steps, phases and obstacles that can come up at every stage. 
• Keep it simple, don’t over think it, get on a known successful plan and there is very little thinking that needs to happen. WL is a time for study and learning for the long haul.
• Get medical advise from a doctor, not a free open online forum

  Clearing up some misnomers that a few have construed:

• I don’t really care how you lose the weight. If you can get to goal on lasagna and KFC, that’s your deal. Just know that most can’t.
• I only give “plan” advise as something to try when people state that they are struggling. Just know that many plans now are based on 50-60% EWL. 
• The “Honeymoon Period” is just that...... it’s a time when WL is easiest, take advantage of it. No, your not doomed after 6 months, WL for most is just slower. The single most common PM I get is that WL has slowed to a crawl or stopped at or around 6 months out and they are on a 1000-1200cal program.
• Don’t be confused when some tell you that they are doing a more “balanced” approach by eating more carbs. By eating a few more carbs puts nothing into balance. There is nothing balanced about Extreme WL. Anything under 200grams of carbs per day is considered “low carb”. If you can eat a few more carbs and still lose the weight and not have it not stimulate hunger.... Awesome !
• The word/term “moderation” is the most dangerous word in weight control/management (my opinion) how long is a piece of string?

  Now that all said, I’d rather eat ice cream than broccoli:

• I still have my issues with food and always will and must always keep coming up with methods to keep me connected to the process. I am no where near done or fixed, still a work in progress. Cookies, cake, candy and ice cream will always taste good to me and in maintenance I can eat those things on occasion, but it would be soooo easy to return to old habits.

  My hope is that everybody who takes on any WLS get what they want out of it.   I got my life back and it’s better than I thought !!!!   frisco

 

 

Last week staging 350 desserts

 

In Tokyo

 

With Morimoto at LA Food & Wine

 

Shooting Team Oracle

 

In Barcelona with my Godson and his girl....

 

At Mugello Race track in Italy

awesome !!!

Hi Frisco,

Congratulations!!! You are often provocative and always an inspiration. I am always glad to see your avatar when I browse recent posts. Thank you.

all the best, Katy

Your godson's girl has got some legs!!!! You not so bad yourself! Congrats and thank you.

Thanks Frisco- you are right about the weight loss- this is extreme and directed to be so.  I am happy to say I learn from you and the other vets and coast along on your good advice.  I am trying to undereat my sleeve and that seems to work best.  I don't worry about the protein and use Isopure for 50 gms. Always, I am in your debt for good advice and encouragement.

 

Nancy

I had never seen your "before" pic. Wow! Reading that you lost an entire person is inspiring but seeing it is AWESOME! Know that your words "under eat your sleeve" ring in my head all the time.

Congrats on all your success and thank you for remaining on this forum to guide and inspire us newbies

Wow, those boots sure look great! 

Oh yeah, congratulations on an amazing four years and thank you for being a rock when I need to bounce ideas off of you, a teddy bear when I need a hug, and a great friend through this journey.  I count on you in more ways than I let on.  Cheers.

Why did I know you would like those boots !!!

I think you would like that store !

frisco

Impressed totally!

So very well done and maintaining.  Isn't life a grand thing?  I thank you for your " commitment and compliance" - yes, it's a brain tat, and has a prominent place when it comes to  first things first  in my WLJourney.  Bonnie.