9-year post-op mile marker

Sep 04, 2010

Guess I've been a member of this site for so long that in order to post an update I had to copy and paste my old journal blog to this new profile setting.  I hope you're able to find my posts from before and after my surgery. 
  
It's hard to believe that it's been nine years.  I have ever-so-slowly gained back 35 of the 130 pounds that I lost.  That being said, I wouldn't trade where I am right now for the world.  I'm still a much happier and healthier person than I ever was before.  If you are considering having bariatric surgery of any type, I must say that there is one thing that I would've done differently ... added strength training to my exercise regimen, both before and after surgery.  I was told to exercise, which I did plenty of cardio.  But I know that I lost a LOT of muscle weight in those 130 pounds, which then slowed my metabolism to the point that it made it very easy for me to regain.  Those fat cells don't just go away.  They empty themselves and are just waiting to be refilled with "goodies".  Especially when you have a genetic setup to gain and carry extra weight.

So, after joining multiple unsuccessful diet programs, clean eating, hiring a personal trainer, and obsessing over the food I'm eating (counting calories, fat grams, carb content, etc.) none of which worked, I have hired a diet coach who has customized a diet, cardio and training program just for me.  He knows of my surgery and I'm very happy with his expertise.  I'm down 10 pounds and 8 total inches in 9 weeks.  I'm stronger and more fit, both cardiovascularly and muscularly, than I've been in a very long time (maybe ever).  Experts have said that 70-80% of what you look like is directly related to what you put in your mouth.  I totally believe that.  My diet coach is the one sure-fire "tool" I have that is going to help me get to where I want to go.  He's got 25 years' experience in the field and his program works!  You can't argue with results.     

This thing about measuring your health by the BMI chart is simply one of the most unfair methods I know of!  Muscle weighs more than fat, we all know that.  So tell me how you can take a muscular guy at 5'7" and 210 pounds and say that he's obese?!  His body fat is probably 8% and he's the picture of health!  That's why I like to go by pounds lost PLUS lost inches.  The BMI is just a starting point, but don't park there.  There are numerous ways to measure your success as you lose weight.  Consider them ALL.  Post-op I was skinny fat.  Floppy tissue with little shape or contours.  That's changing now.  At age 52 my musculature is shrinking and if I don't choose to do something about that, it's only going to continue to go downhill from here.  I have absolutely no interest in looking like a man nor can I imagine competing with body builders.  But women don't have the testosterone to build muscle like men, so there's no fear of bulking up.  I work very hard when I train but I'll never see the results if I don't get some of the fat off the top of the muscle!  I'm excited about not only being a healthy weight again but being in the best SHAPE of my life!  I'm celebrating the process not just setting the goal and living for the day I reach it.  I'm tired of waiting ... waiting to be happy till I'm skinny ... waiting to be happy till I can wear a certain size or type of clothing ... waiting to be happy and fulfilled with my life.  I choose it NOW.  I will choose to be happy in the process.  I will FIND things about myself that make me happy NOW.  I can be content right now.  It's simply a choice away.  Yes, I'm reaching for the goal.  I have plenty of goals set for myself.  I'm just not going to have my "now"-vision blurred by them.  This concept is one of the things my coach has taught me.  And I'm so grateful for the lesson!  Thank you, Tad!

Be happy and healthy everyone.  Seize the day and make it a winner!  
              

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