One Year Later...

Dec 07, 2008

It's hard to believe that a whole year has come and gone! It seems so short, but what amazing things have happened in this past year! Weight-wise, I have now lost just about 130 pounds. I've gone from a size 32 to a size 16-18 (still smaller on top). I weigh about 230 pounds now, which is still about 90 pounds from my sort-of goal. It's so nice to have the amount left to lose in just double digits! I still have a lot of work to do. It is much, much harder now! It takes real effort to lose now--plenty of exercise and careful eating, but that's what it's always been about, so I am fine with that. It is also slower now, of course. I typically lose 1-2 pounds a week, maybe 3 sometimes. That's really not any more than a "normal" person. The key difference is that it's consistent. Plus, I haven't regained anything, which is what typically happened for me.

With so much to be thankful for, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving was exactly one year after I came home from the hospital. Last year, I "ate" turkey broth for Thanksgiving dinner. Woohoo. Exciting. This year I had tiny portions of all my favorite things--some ham, stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes (with gravy, even), sweet potatoes, and, yes, some pie (half a piece of pumpkin and half a piece of chocolate cream). The pie was about two hours after dinner, because I simply couldn't have eaten it earlier. Plus, it was nice to simply enjoy a yummy dinner and then have some dessert after visiting, walking, playing some Scrabble, etc.

One year later, it feels like I never had anything done. I eat pretty much like a typical "light" eater. Pre-surgery, I worried that I would forever have to eat ridiculously small portions that would either make me look "weird" or make enjoying food-related social occasions (are there any other kind?) awkward. I'm so glad to say that isn't an issue at all. Neither are food intolerances, other than fats. I still can't handle high-fat foods. In fact, last week I got one of my favorite indulgences--a Starbucks Green Tea Latte (nonfat, with peppermint instead of melon, extra matcha, no ice)--and somehow the "nonfat" part of it got lost in all the other changes I make (yes, I'm one of those people that other people roll their eyes at when they hear my order), and I ended up with a full-fat version. I had only drank about a third of it before I started feeling sick. Unfortunately, I was on my way home from work and headed to my class for finals! I had to stop at Bekki's house to use the restroom and throw some water on my face to try and pull it together. I went on to class, and felt fine in about 30 minutes. But, ugh! I feel SO yucky when I eat (or drink, apparently) fatty things.

I love that I have moved out of the phase where it was all so new, and it was such a dominant part of my life. Now, I hardly even think about it. The only time I think about it now is when my clothes don't fit anymore and I have to go shopping. Again. But at least I enjoy shopping now! And, thankfully, I finally have a job (I'm teaching 7th grade science and math--fun!), so it's not such a stress. I still look forward to the day when I'll finally look good in my clothes. I still feel fat (well, because I still am!). Of course, when I look at old pictures, I see the progress (and want to throw up at the sight of myself!). So, I am encouraged that I'm not there anymore. In fact, I am mortified at the thought of where I used to be. How is it possible that I ever let myself get that way?! And how is it possible I still had any self-confidence? I was clearly oblivious to the awful reality. It's kind of weird to be so disgusted with myself after the fact.Oh well, at least it's over now. I hear about people who regain their weight, but I can't imagine EVER going back! I still have a long way to go, but I feel so much better. I teach all day long, usually with no pain; my energy level is awesome; my diabetes is virtually non-existant. For the most part, the only time I have really bad back pain now is with rainy/stormy weather.

Well, here's the lastest pic. Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!


100 pounds gone!

Jul 28, 2008

Actually, I hit 100 lbs lost about three weeks ago. And then guess what happened? That's right! Nothing! I've been in a stall for three weeks, and it's just now starting to budge a little. I kind of figured this might happen (see my earlier post about milestones) because this is a weight my body is (was) very comfortable with and accustomed to. 

For those of you trying to do the math, I'm now at 258. That's still pretty darn big, especially for someone 5' 3 1/2". But--as they say--everything's relative, and I feel awesome. I'm down to an 18/20 in tops and 22/24 in pants. My most recent labwork came back indicating that I'm a little low in B12; otherwise, everything else looks just peachy. Some of you have asked for pictures, so here you go:      



 The emotional connections I'm making are HUGE. First, I've discovered that I get uncomfortable when people at church say something every single week, especially since I know that I've been in a stall for the last three weeks! No, I haven't lost any more weight this week (there's one lady who always asks!) I'm feeling like--hey, can we talk about something else, please? The irony is that I'm sure my family wishes that I'd shut up already! It's an interesting balance to try to achieve. On the one hand, losing weight, exercising, etc. is a huge element of my life right now. On the other hand, there's more to me than weight loss. Ya know what I mean? Okay, I'm rambling. 

Another connection. I have a hang-up about and/or fear of being pretty. Oh sure, everyone wants to look good. Me too. But a weird thought popped in my head the other day as I was putting on my make-up and getting ready to go out somewhere. I thought, "Well, at least I'm old now and have wrinkles, so I won't be too attractive." What the heck?! (Isn't it strange how some of our own thoughts have the power to surprise us--I mean, I'm the one who thought it, so why should I be surprised?) The thing is, I thought I was looking forward to finally looking semi-cute in a pair of jeans. (Exasperated sigh) Man, I totally swear that weight loss is SO much more than just physical. Well, technically it might be about calories in v. calories burned, but the REASONS we eat can be pretty complex.  

On to less weighty (pun intended) topics. Food. Oh, yes, I still love food. I still love cooking, and I still love getting creative in the kitchen. Just because I don't eat as much doesn't mean I can't appreciate exquisite tastes, textures, etc. I've been on an Indian/Thai kick that has lasted a many years now. The flavors never bore me. However, I've also been experimenting with taking old (or new) recipes and revamping them to make them healthier, i.e. less fat, less sugar, etc. I'm going to start posting these, just to share. You can do what you want with them, but they might be worth trying! So, for my inaugural entry, here's a SUPER easy and yummy way to use up all the fresh veggies bursting out of your summer garden (or grocery store).  

Summer Squash Casserole:  

2 small yellow crookneck squash
2 small zucchini
4 Roma tomatoes
1 small sweet onion (Vidalia, Walla Walla, etc.)
1 c. Italian cheese blend
Garlic powder
Mrs. Dash
Herbamare 

Slice the squashes and tomatoes into 1/4" rounds. Slice the onion very thin. Layer 1/2 of the squashes, tomatoes, and onion. Sprinkle with garlic, Mrs. Dash, and Herbamare (seasoned sea salt). Top with 1/2 of the cheese. Continue with remaining veggies and cheese. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. Delish!  

I'm deflating...

Mar 20, 2008

Yesterday was four months since my RNY surgery, and I'm at 290 lbs., which means I've lost a grand total of 70 lbs now (including the 10 I lost just before surgery). I'm coming up on my second milestone, which is 260 lbs. That weight is significant for a couple of reasons: 1) it's 100 lbs down from my highest weight, and 2) it's the weight where I "hung out at" for many years after in between having my two babies. It's also where I was at during college years, before I lost a big chunk of weight when I was 21-23.  In short, it's a very familiar place (although one I haven't seen in a long time!)

In my mind, I have been envisioning the "places" (weight-wise) that serve as mile-markers for me along this journey. Some of these markers are places that I identify with, others are just goals. The first mile-marker was around 320ish, which was where I was at for several years when my youngest was young. I've passed that!

Next up is the 260 mark, which is quickly approaching. I wouldn't be surprised to see a stall at that point because that's a place my body is very familiar with. I suppose my mind is a little comfortable there, too. It's a rather pivotal point. I think that's the point where I'm going to have to probably kick it up another level, i.e. exercise, etc.

My next marker is about 200, which is what I weighed when I got married. Actually, I can't truly say that I identify with this place because I wasn't really there for very long. I had just lost a whole bunch of weight (from 260 to 180) and then I was married and pregnant with my first child right away (and subsequently right back up to 260 after she was born). Still, it's the only time I felt good about my weight; not that it's a healthy weight, but it was so much less than what I had been that it felt pretty darn good.

My last marker is 140. Why 140? Well, it's the point where my BMI officially breaks into the "normal" range! I really don't know what to expect once I get into that territory. The last time I was 140 was when I was a freshman in high school! I can't even think that far ahead to consider whether or not that will be where I'm comfortable. To be honest, I can't really, truly see myself there. In my mind, I am an overweight person--morbidly obese, obese, overweight; it's all just a matter of degrees. I can't imagine being normal. Normal is what other people are. I think that I may always be overweight in my head, even if my body were 100 lbs. Maybe that will change with time and experience.

I don't have any four-month pictures to put up. My camera died in Africa, unfortunately. I'll have to borrow my daughter's camera and get some pictures up. It's finally starting to show (after 70 lbs!). The only lament I have is that I look fairly "deflated" in some areas, especially my arms and even my neck. It's like a balloon that had been blown up for awhile and then all the air was let out. Oh well. I've heard that it gets better with time. The skin needs a chance to rebound a little. For that reason, I guess I should be glad that I haven't been losing super fast--then my skin issues would be even worse! Maybe I should start a savings account for plastic surgery. :-)


Three months later...

Mar 03, 2008

I forget to come here and update because there really isn't anything earth-shattering going on.  This surgery has been almost too easy.  No dumping, no vomiting, no foaming, no strictures, etc.  I do still feel very yucky (even nauseated) if I eat fried or fatty foods, but that's the only "side effect" of the surgery I am experiencing.  And it's not a bad side effect to have!  Drinking has finally become easy for me.  I still can't guzzle like I used to love to do, but I can easily drink down 4-6 ounces at a time.  I guess that's fine, since from a health/hydration standpoint, it's better (for everyone) to drink steadily rather than large amounts infrequently.  

As far as portion sizes, I can eat about 3/4 to 1 cup now, depending on the type of food.  When I sit down to dinner, my plate generally looks like a child's portion, but I don't always finish it.  A typical meal is 2-3 oz lean protein (I prefer fish or poultry), 1/4 c. veggies, and 1/4 c. whole grains.  I'm very focused on eating a balanced diet.  I am NOT carbophobic!  I'm also not fat-phobic.  Healthy fats and whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet!  At this point, my calories in a typical day are about 800-900, and I'm pretty comfortable there.  I keep track of everything on fitday.com to ensure that I'm staying balanced in terms of calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates.  Honestly, if you want to refine your eating or weight loss, just track your eating for a few weeks.  You're bound to find a few surprises! 

I've been losing steadily, although not as fast as some of the stories I read about (maybe because I'm not a carb-hater), but that's okay with me.  This isn't a race or a competition.  It's a pretty consistent 3-4 lbs a week for me.  The key is that it's consistent.  I've certainly lost weight before, as many of you can certainly relate to, but I was a notorious bouncer.  Down a little, up a little. Down a little more, up a little more.  It's a very frustrating game to play!  I'm glad that's over and this time I'm playing for keeps.

I had my three month follow-up a couple days ago.  I was down exactly 50 pounds since the morning of surgery, from 350.2 to 300.2.  My 26/28 clothes are starting to be too big and I'm fitting into some size 22/24 tops.  My lower half hasn't lost as quickly--I'm still a 28 there.  Too bad we can't pick and choose where to lose the fat!  I would really, really like to get the weight off my lower abdomen because I struggle so much with chronic back pain, which is surely exacerbated by the excess weight on my abdomen.  It'll happen (I keep reminding myself).  In the meantime, I'm working on exercises to strengthen my core muscles.  Hopefully that will help as well.  I have given up on the medical profession to help me with my back problems: spondylosis (spinal arthritis) and degenerative disc disease.  I am turning instead to diet, exercise (including physical therapy), herbs, and maybe accupuncture when I can afford it (or if I still need it). 

Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I have to say how glad I am that I did this.  My initial reasons for resisting--giving up, taking the "easy way out", worries about complications--have turned out to be completely unfounded.  If anything, I am even more consciencious about what I eat, I still have to exercise, and I still have to find other means to manage stress (and other emotional eating) besides food.  The surgery simply gives me that "extra something" that makes portion control a non-issue.  It also makes healthy eating an absolute necessity, since when you eat so little, you must focus on quality over quantity.

I love, love, love getting smaller every week.  It's a thrill that never gets old, at least not so far.  For the first time in my life, I'm beginning to imagine what it "will be" like to be thin, as opposed to what it "would be" like.  Know what I mean?  That's a distinction that is entirely new to me!

I am so excited that so many of my family are working hard on losing/toning right now as well.  My husband has lost over 20 lbs, my daugher is toning up, and my sisters are losing/toning as well.  I love the sense of comraderie that comes with working on losing weight (or toning) together!  It doesn't matter to me that I have had the surgery; it was the help that I needed.  Ultimately, we are all focused on the same thing--healthy eating, regular exercise, and healthier stress/emotion outlets.

HURRAY FOR ALL OF US!

Two Months Later...

Jan 20, 2008

  The night before surgery...

  and two months later.

To be honest, I don't see much difference.  But I feel it.  Even though I'm wearing the same outfit, I'm actually starting to fit into 26/28 clothes (started at a snug 30/32).  I've lost 30 pounds since surgery, 40 overall.

I'm definitely on the slow-and-steady track, but that's okay.  At least it's happening!

A New Approach to Christmastime...

Dec 26, 2007

Everyone knows that Christmastime is fraught with caloric dangers: treats from the neighbors, goodies at family get-togethers, etc., etc. I've taken different approaches from year to year, ranging from, "I'm going to just enjoy myself and not worry about it," to "I'm not going to eat any sugar at all." Neither of those approaches worked very well. If I told myself I wasn't going to eat any treats, then I felt deprived, like I was missing out. If I threw caution to the wind, well then, the consequences of that are pretty obvious. The problem is that "Christmas" is not a one day event. There are temptations spread out over several weeks, starting with Thanksgiving and ending sometime after all the New Year's goodies are either eaten or thrown out.

As you can see, I was never very good at moderation. I tend(ed?) to be an all-or-nothing person. That's why this year was amazingly, and refreshingly, different. If the neighbors brought treats, I had a couple of bites and I was done. Christmas Eve family dinner? A couple bites of cheesecake and a miniscule nibble of fudge. Done. I simply didn't want any more. I didn't feel deprived, and I didn't overdo it. Do you have any idea how amazing this is to me?

For the first time in memory, I lost weight during the Christmas season. My stall has broken and I am down a couple more pounds, making a total of 31 lbs. lost to date.

I have had a couple of "firsts" in the past week or so. I had my first "emotional" wrestle with food post-surgery. It's a bit strange, but I'll share anyway. We were serving up dinner, which happened to be one of my favorites, and as I dished up the plates and put this little tiny serving on my plate I felt cheated, almost like it wasn't "fair." I know it sounds crazy, but this really upset me. I had a hard time putting words on my feelings, until I was talking about it with my sister and sister-in-law. My SIL was the one who identified the "fairness" issue. It's kind of like serving up a piece of cake to your two children, and you give one child a big piece and the other child a little tiny sliver. Naturally, child number two is going to say, "Hey! Wait a minute! That's not fair!" That is what I felt like, even though I know--logically--that I simply can't eat a normal-sized portion. I think that my "fairness" issue shows up in many areas of my life--for better or worse. Like most traits, it can have both positive and negative implications. However, by being aware of it, we can mitigate the negative.

My other "first" was being very sick on something I ate. Other than the fried foods, which I mentioned in an earlier post (made me feel generally "yucky" and uncomfortable), I've been able to tolerate everything I tried. Until Christmas dinner last night. I made a pork roast with cranberry chutney, garlic mashed potatoes, and creamed green beans. I'm not really sure what was the culprit, but I suspect the pork roast. I am supposed to be on mushy foods still, but I didn't want to eat only potatoes, so I thought I would just chew the roast really well. I only had a few bites before I started feeling really awful. I excused myself from the table and went into my room to lie down for a bit. The pain in my stomach was just horrible! Finally, I threw up my "dinner" (I had no idea such a tiny stomach could heave so powerfully). It still took a couple hours to feel semi-normal again. Lesson learned--no more non-pureed meat until I'm ready for that! I'm not sure when "ready" will be, since I'm now too nervous to even try for quite awhile! Sorry to share such an unpleasant event, but I never promised a glossy view of what's going on. This blog is about the whole journey, not just the feel-good moments.

Moving on to happier outcomes. The other "first" I experienced this last week was my first "eating in public where nearly everyone knows I had surgery". I've been out to eat since surgery, but that was no big deal. However, the church Christmas party had me very nervous. I almost didn't go because I was so worried about what people might be thinking. "Why is she eating so little?" "Should she be eating that?" "Did you hear about Cassi?" Blah, blah, blah. In the end, of course, it was nothing to worry about. I had some ham and scalloped potatoes, and I put a roll on my plate even though I had no intention of eating it. I just felt silly with two little tiny portions of ham and potatoes on my plate! Unfortunately, there were no cooked vegetables, just salad (which I cannot eat yet). We sat down by our neighbors and I ate s-l-o-w-l-y and I don't think anyone even noticed! Oh, and I had one bite of hubby's brownie. It wasn't all that great. Sometimes it amazes me how we worry about what people are thinking, and in the end it turns out to be nothing at all. Silly, silly!  I enjoyed the party, and I was glad that I went.

Oddly, someone that I don't know very well came up to me and said, "I heard you had that stomach cutting thing; how's that going for you?" That was weird. Turns out, though, that his wife has been wanting to do it, so he just wanted to talk about it. I'm not sure how he found out. I only told a few people in our church, but that's about all it takes for it to become public knowledge!  Anyway, I told him I was soooooo glad I had done it, that the risks need to be considered along with the benefits, along with alternatives (such as Weight Watchers, regular exercise, etc.). But that, for me, it was definitely the right decision.

People do need to realize that WLS is not instead of diet and exercise. It is a tool to work along with diet and exercise. It will not push you out the door to go exercise. It will not stop you from filling up on empty carbs/calories. If anything, you have to be particularly conscientious about the nutritional quality of what you eat. It is not, I repeat NOT, the easy way out. What it is, is a very successful route from point A to point B. The 5-year success rate for gastric bypass is about 80-85%. The 5-year success rate for traditional dieting is about 3-5%. That doesn't mean that WLS is guaranteed to be successful, nor does it mean that traditional dieting won't be successful. I think it means that success hinges on making lasting, permanent changes. If you can do that without surgery, awesome! I couldn't. Or at least I hadn't yet been able to. Maybe I could have eventually. But in the meantime, the sands of my life were quickly slipping through the hourglass, and I was not going to lose anymore time wishing, wanting, waiting. I decided to let the odds work in my favor, and chose the surgery. And so far, I've been very glad that I did (and very chagrined that it took me so long to make the decision!)

Four week follow up...

Dec 17, 2007

Well, it happened. I hit a stall last week. On the surface, I was prepared for this. I was told that it often hits at 3-6 weeks as the body goes into a "starvation" mode and starts hanging on to fat as tenaciously as a bulldog. However, I still don't like it. In fact, I've been bummed about not losing this week (actually, I gained 1/2 a pound).

That having been said (and, yes, it felt better to whine for half a second), I know that it's in my hands to move out of this stage and start losing again. So, here are the things I need to do:

1) eat more protein (I haven't been getting in the requisite 70 grams since I stopped drinking the protein shakes--which I quit drinking because I got bored of them. Bored, schmored! I need to get over it and do what I'm supposed to! Nobody said it was all fun and games!)

2) drink more water (I never have been good about getting in the 64 oz. of fluids everyday. I need to sip, sip, sip all day long! This one is a real struggle for me! I knew beforehand that it would be one of my biggest post-op challenges--and it has been.)

3) up my exercise (I've been good about the "daily" part, now I need to bump up the intensity)

4) stop weighing daily, switch to weekly (I don't know if I can do this one, to be honest)

Okay, so three out of four is pretty good, yes? I will check back in next week to report--not necessarily on my weight loss, but on how well I kept those three commitments.

BTW, total weight loss to date is exactly 27 lbs. Not too shabby! I'm going to do what it takes to move out of this stall and keep on moving towards my goal!

Foodwise, I am definitely liking this new "mushy" stage and can now it just about anything that is soft (or crispy, like a cracker). I still can't have raw fruits and vegetables, though. Many people develop food intolerances post-surgery, but I've done fairy well. The only thing I cannot tolerate is fried foods. I tried popcorn chicken and chicken strips, thinking I could chew the chicken really well. Uh, no. Both times I felt sick to my stomach--not nausea, just really icky. It felt like I'd just eaten 20 lb bricks of lead. Both times were when I was out and about and I didn't have anything to eat with me. Lesson learned--always have something stashed in my purse!

I decided not to post one month pictures, because you really can't see much difference yet. I can certainly feel it, though! My clothes are getting loser, my feet are MUCH less puffy and swollen, and my energy level gets better all the time. Last week I went to my daughter's choir concert and slipped easily into the auditorium seat, which used to be a tight fit! That was a nice "wow" moment! The changes I'm noticing are much more subtle, but still very meaningful. What's exciting to me is that this is just the beginning!


Two Weeks Post-op

Dec 10, 2007

Okay, it's really been three weeks now, but I forgot to post this on my OH profile.  Sometimes I'm better about keeping up my other blog.  So here's what I meant to post last week:

Welp, it's been two weeks since surgery. (Actually, it's been two weeks and two days, but I forgot to post on Monday.) I have had an incredibly smooth recovery! My energy level is great (as long as I don't overdo it--see below), and my incisions are all completely closed and nearly 100% healed. I haven't missed a single day of exercise since the surgery--a commitment I intend to keep for the rest of my life. Some days have been "lighter" than others, but I'm determined to do something every single day. I've started doing "band" work for my upper body. But now the surgeon has cleared me for moderate exercise, so I think I'm going to start using the exercise ball as well.

From what I hear, most people have a hard time getting in enough protein at this stage because they can't stand the protein powders, but I found a brand that I liked, so I haven't had a hard time with that. I started searching for protein powders several weeks before surgery because I'm quite particular about not using artificial sweeteners. I finally found a whey protein at Whole Foods that is sweetened with stevia (an herb that is naturally sweet and very good for you). It comes in vanilla and chocolate, and I add various flavoring oils (eggnog, butterscotch, strawberry, peppermint, etc.) to get variety.

At my two week visit I was given the go-ahead to move to the next stage of pureed foods. Yeah! You have no idea how boring liquids can get! Towards the end I was getting pretty desperate and putting about two tablespoons of whatever we had for dinner into the blender with 8 oz. of chicken broth,which I then put through the strainer. That gave me a whole new world of options! I will admit that a cheated a couple of times and had some (well-chewed) crackers. I tolerated those very well, which was why I went ahead asked the doctor if I could move on the pureed/mushies. So far I've added cottage cheese (mmmm!) and saltine crackers with pumpkin spice cream cheese. I've even had stir-fry veggies, which I steamed a little longer in the microwave to get them to the soft stage. After two weeks of liquids, that felt like gourmet cuisine! It's so nice to feel like I can eat almost-normal foods. This new stage will last a few more weeks, then regular foods can be added in carefully. Some people develop food intolerances post-surgery, especially to dairy, eggs, and certain meats (different ones for different people). So far I've been fine with dairy. I've only tried eggs, chicken, and ham one time each; they were each fine so far.

One thing that is new is my sense of fullness. Obviously, I get full on much less food, that's a given. What is new is the physical feeling when I'm full. It's very different from before. It's quite impossible to describe, but it happens quickly, and usually AFTER I've finished eating. If I eat until I am full, then it is TOO LATE. About 5-10 minutes later I begin to feel over-full, and it is NOT a comfortable feeling! It has only happened three times, but it's definitely something I would rather avoid! So, I've learned to be very careful about measuring my food and eating only that. On that note, here's a word of advice for everyone who wants better control over their eating: measure portions and use smaller plates/dishes. I now use a salad plate as a dinner plate, and I bought several glass ramekins (custard cups) to use as bowls. I usually eat with a baby spoon and fork as well. It's amazing how quickly these have become habit. At first such tiny bites felt so silly, but now it feels very normal.

Also at my two week follow-up, I was cleared for driving. Yeah! Freedom! I celebrated by spending the rest of the day shopping. That was not so smart. DH even warned me, "Don't overdo it and spend hours shopping around!" I told him not to worry, I was just looking for a few decorations for the tree and some cool weather clothes for Josh. Well, you probably know how that ended up. I felt like I'd been through the wringer by the end of the day! And then I came home, made dinner, started decorating the tree with the family. I've never been so exhausted! I dropped into bed and slept like a log! Oh, that was my first night back in my bed. I've been sleeping in a recliner (thanks, Mom) since I came home from the hospital because it hurt to stretch flat and/or turn around in bed. Ahhh..it felt SO good to be back in my nice comfy bed!

The only struggle I've been having in getting in enough fluids. The goal is 64 oz or more (that's for everyone, not just bariatric patients). And getting enough water/fluids is absolutely critical for weight loss. I typically have been getting about 40-50 oz. The last couple of days I have gotten 64+ oz, so hopefully I'm on the right track. For me, the trick is to remember to sip ALL the time. I can't guzzle water anymore (weep!) so I have to remind myself constantly to get in those little sips. Again, it's just a matter of learning a new habit. Very do-able.

I'll post pictures on my one month update. Oh, I've lost 15 lbs. in the two weeks since surgery, and 25 lbs. since my highest pre-op weight.

Later!

Cassi


I'm home and doing great!

Nov 27, 2007

I came home five days ago, and I'm doing very well. I had a long wait for surgery. It was originally scheduled for 2:30, one of the surgeries before me went long, so my new time was 3:00. Then the doc came in and told me that he had an important meeting over at another hospital at 4:00 and that he would do me at 4:30. That didn't sound realistic, and sure enough it wasn't. I was wheeled in for surgery at 5:00. But at least they didn't postpone it to another day! I'll tell you, I was one thirsty girl, since I had been NPO since midnight. They had a hard time finding a vein for the IV, of course, but other than that, it was smooth sailing.

Recovery has been just fine. Pain is nearly gone.  Getting in and out of bed was always the hardest part, but even that is nearly normal now.  I still take my time and move slowly for anything that involves the core/tummy muscles. 

It still amazes me how little I can eat! I had a hard time just finishing what the hospital brought which looked hilarious on a plate, and yet I sometimes couldn't eat it all.  Even now at home, I still eat such tiny portions.  I'm also relearning how to drink water! I used to love to guzzle aglass of water. Now I have to remind myself to take small sips, and to do it CONSTANTLY! No wonder I hear about people struggling to get all their water in! 

I am walking, walking, walking! I was told that this would be an important factor in a quick recovery and decreasing gas pains, and I am taking that very seriously. In the hospital, I started walking immediately after surgery, although that was very painful because the pain medication administration machine was NOT working (dead battery!). I got up and walked almost every two hours, except when I was sleeping. Initially it was just to the end of the hall and back, but each time I went a little further so that by the end I was walking the full floor five times around. I'm still continuing the walking at home, and I intend to make this a daily habit. I think the commitment do exercise every single day is almost as important as the exercise itself. 

My diet for the first three weeks is full liquids (which can include yogurt and cream of wheat thinned out a bit). The next five weeks is pureed/mashed foods, baby-food consistency. This gives your insides a full two months of "easy" foods so that the stomach/intestines can heal completely. We had Thanksgiving over at my sister's today. I was feeling quite good, although towards the end I was getting pretty tired and sore. It was kind of silly eating my 1/4 c. of turkey broth while everyone else was eating Thanksgiving, but again, I couldn't have eaten a drop more. I was tempted to have a teeny tiny bite of mashed potatoes--they are soft and smooth, after all, but I was a good girl and stuck to my doctor's orders. I didn't go through all of this to"cheat" here and there. No way! I can't wait to watch the progress unfold!

$43.11 of Mortification

Nov 16, 2007

I bought a new pair of shoes today. That hardly seems like blog-worthy news, but it is. They were athletic shoes. Now, to most of you, that seems even less blog-worthy. Maybe some Bandalinos or Guccis, sure, but tennies? The truth is, I haven't bought tennis shoes in years. It is simply too much of an ordeal. My feet are not exactly normal-sized. The tennis shoes I bought today were a size 9.5 wide. I almost died! Not that there's anything wrong with being a size 9.5. The problem is that I'm NOT a 9.5! Standing on the foot measuring thingy, I'm a size 6. I haven't worn a size 6 in decades! Seriously! But does my foot actually FIT in a size 6? Uh, no. Maybe my big toe would, but it's a little hard to walk that way. :-)

Even more embarrassing than the size was the fact that it was so awkward to put on my socks and shoes. Tying them was quite a feat of body contortion. Eventually the sales girl (tiny, of course) said, "Here, let me get that for you." And she tied my shoe for me. Could I please just crawl under a rock?

Here's something I've noticed. Since deciding to do this surgery, my weight/size issues have come to a painful awareness. I used to think that I didn't worry much about what other people may or may not be thinking. Now I realize that that was just a sham, a survival mechanism. I had to adopt a shell of "I don't care what people are thinking" just so I could get on with doing what I needed to do. For example, when I went back to school nine years ago, I did not fit in. And I mean that quite literally. I did not fit in the desks. Yet, I was determined to go back to school and get my degree. So, I started "scouting out" the rooms ahead of time. I made sure there was a chair in the room that was not attached to a desk. Then when I went to class, I got there early so that I could "set up" by sitting in the regular chair and turning one of the desks around backwards to use as a writing surface. I did this for four years. Dang, I can sure be determined sometimes! However, I think that creating a facade of "I don't care" has its downsides.

So, back to my tennis shoes. Or, more accurately, my walking shoes (tennis will come later). I survived the ordeal and I am now the proud owner of a pair of New Balance shoes. Post surgery, lots of walking is important--even from the very first day they get you up and walking the halls. Initially, this is because they expand the abdomen with CO2 gas in order to do the surgery laproscopically, which can result in nasty gas pains. The best way to work the gas out is walk, walk, walk. After that, though, walking continues to be important for getting in non-strenuous exercise in the first six weeks post-op. As you know, walking is hard for me; I get severe pain in my back after about 10 minutes. So, I will do what I can and push it a little, but not so much that I can't continue the next day.

After my shoe purchase, I went to our gym and met with a personal trainer. I want to do this right, and I am very committed to the exercise portion of losing weight. Surgery doesn't "fix" that part of the equation! We did an overall assessment to get my "starting point", which is not too impressive. But it sure will be exciting to see it improve! So, here are my stats:

Chronological Age: 42 (Body age=52)
Weight: 352 lbs (initial goal=299)
Max VO2: 14.7, very poor (initial goal: 30.0, fair=29.45-32.30)
Bicep Strength: 52 lbs, average (initial goal: 60 lbs, good=56-72 lbs)
Flexibility: 10", poor (initial goal: 12.0", fair=11.1-12.8")
Body Fat: 43.1%, obese (initial goal: 35%, overweight=30.1-35.0%)

I will keep these updated as I go along through my metamorphosis. I think these numbers are much more telling than the numbers on the scale!

Three more days!


About Me
AZ
Location
RNY
Surgery
11/19/2007
Surgery Date
Oct 29, 2007
Member Since

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$43.11 of Mortification

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