.: Rana :.
5 years later.....
May 08, 2012
Hard to believe that 5 yrs ago today I was in the hospital, worried about what I had just done to my body. I remember it being VERY difficult at first-- I had MAJOR buyer's remorse. But guess what? It's not like you can undo having the majority of your stomach removed, so I learned to accept it. And it didn't take long until I was very glad that I had made the decision to have VSG.So here's the stats:
STARTING WEIGHT: 231
HEIGHT: 5'3"
STARTING BMI: 39.6
LOWEST WEIGHT: 117;
HEIGHT: 5'4"
BMI: 20.0.
CURRENT WEIGHT: 148
HEIGHT: 5'3" (yes, I've lost about 1/2 inch again)
CURRENT BMI: 26.2
I was one of the folks who had a rather easy time losing weight. I was VERY compliant with Dr. Cirangle's diet. I didn't adhere to it perfectly, but I tried very hard to come as close as possible and IT WORKED. I made my goal of 140 lbs in 9 months and hit my low weight after a little over a year. In fact, I had a hard time stopping the loss. It took a bit of trial and error to figure out what worked best to stabilize my weight.
My weight was stable for quite a while. But then after about 2 yrs, I started gaining more than I would have liked to and it keeps creeping upward. This is due to too much sugar in my diet and not enough exercise. In fact, I had stopped exercising for a couple of years until recently when my back started acting up again. I've found that Pilates classes are cheaper than the co-pay for Physical Therapy.
I still eat MUCH healthier than I did pre-op. This whole experience has taught me that I NEVER could have lost this much weight without surgery, and I certainly never would have kept this much of the weight off for this long.
I can eat much more than I could that first year, of course, but my tiny tummy still keeps me from overeating as much as I normally would have. BTW, overeating was/is my problem and the reason I was obese in the first place.
So here's my advise after years of dealing with VSG (keep in mind that I spent many months researching WLS prior to VSG and that I was VERY active on these boards for the first few years)....
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FIRST 6 - 12 MONTHS!!!! It is easiest to loose weight right after surgery while the stomach is still swollen and so tiny. Use that to your advantage!
Don't think of this as a diet, think of it as food choices and lifestyle changes. I am not on a diet, but I do need to make wise food choices. I still try to limit my carbs to some extent and try to make sure that I get enough protein each day, along with trying to focus on fruits and veggies.
DRINK AT LEAST 48 - 64 OZ OF WATER EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!! There is data to prove that water/hydration aids in weight loss. I still track my water intake. I still have days that I don't' feel like drinking that much, but I have discovered that if I don't get at least 48 oz, I get this horrible, horrible stomach ache. And I don't drink any soda or alcohol-- it just isn't worth it. Don't get me started on the whole soda thing-- I don't care about the carbonation, it still has NO redeeming qualities regardless of whether it is diet soda or not. And High Fructose Corn Syrup is a hot button of mine. I am of the mindset that it should be banned altogether.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP! There are studies out there that support that lack of sleep can cause weight gain, and that getting plenty of sleep can aid weight loss. I have noticed this in my own life as well. When I don't get enough sleep I crave carbs/sugar the next day. This happens because the body needs the energy. But there is more to it than that-- you can research this for yourself if you'd like.
EXERCISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many of us got to the weight we are due to lack of exercise, along with poor food choices. Remember that exercise is not just about losing weight or keeping the weight off. That is just a side benefit. Exercise is about staying healthy and that is really what WLS is all about-- getting healthy. Make a point of doing whatever you can to be active, but also make a point of actually exercising your body. Trust me, I've seen the effects of exercise vs. non-exercise on my in-laws and parents. My in-laws are about 10 yrs older than my parents but have stayed very active (even when my MIL went through 2 bouts with serious cancer). My parents have never been the type to do much physical activity. My in-laws are still much healthier at 80 than my parents are at 70-- they are much, much more mobile and have far fewer health concerns.
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About Me
Near Grass Valley, CA
Location
22.0
BMI
Surgery
05/08/2007
Surgery Date
Dec 12, 2006
Member Since
Before & After
rollover to see after photo
