Lara B.
Getting there!
Nov 21, 2011
I'm currently at 21 weeks post op, and I'm feeling great. I've lost 56 lbs in about 5 months. I was told my the PA at the surgeon's office that it was a little fast, considering I was one of the "smaller" patients. I'm working out a lot.....Zumba, seated elliptical trainer, treadmill, walking our dogs and have started weight training. I'm a little worried about getting bulky, because I have a tendency to go from lean to football player pretty quick. I always hate weigh-in's during PMS week.....oh the water that I retain! The best feeling was getting rid of all the clothes that were WAY to big now.......about 5 garbage bags worth of clothes......but at the same time, I look in the mirror and notice that some parts are getting smaller, but the part that I hate most, my belly, is still there....smaller, yes.....but still there. It's soft and wiggly, and reminds me of what Santa's belly might look like....a bowl full of Jello!! I wonder if I'll always look in the mirror and see "that fat girl" that I was.
I am learning my limits and triggers......I LOVE tater tots....they DO NOT love me.....I can eat 3 before things go horribly gastronomic. I know that I get late dumping.....as in 1-4 hrs after the "bad" food was consumed....I know when my bllod sugar is taking a dive.......I've learned what pasta is ok to eat and what is not. I think one of the most rewarding parts of this journey is that my son is understanding more and more about nutrition, and my husband has been on board since day one. We're trying to make a convert out of our daughter still. It's not about denying yourself what you love, but knowing what your limits are.....like instead of a huge piece of cake, you take a few bites.
My goal was to weigh 170 lbs by Christmas.....and here were are the week of Thanksgiving and I'm weighing in at 172.8 lbs.....I'm thinking I may need to shoot for 160-165 at Christmas!!
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I am learning my limits and triggers......I LOVE tater tots....they DO NOT love me.....I can eat 3 before things go horribly gastronomic. I know that I get late dumping.....as in 1-4 hrs after the "bad" food was consumed....I know when my bllod sugar is taking a dive.......I've learned what pasta is ok to eat and what is not. I think one of the most rewarding parts of this journey is that my son is understanding more and more about nutrition, and my husband has been on board since day one. We're trying to make a convert out of our daughter still. It's not about denying yourself what you love, but knowing what your limits are.....like instead of a huge piece of cake, you take a few bites.
My goal was to weigh 170 lbs by Christmas.....and here were are the week of Thanksgiving and I'm weighing in at 172.8 lbs.....I'm thinking I may need to shoot for 160-165 at Christmas!!
Wow.....what a can of.....comments
Jul 26, 2011
About 2 weeks after I had surgery, I let people know that I had gone ahead and had the gastric bypass. My family and a few friends knew, and I had planned on keeping it that way for awhile. A lot of people knew I was looking into the procedure, but I didn't really let too many people know my plan.
Well, social sites may just be the devil's tool....lol! I posted a status on Facebook about attending a weight loss surgery support group that the hospital runs. I mentioned that it was interesting and had some handy tips. My husband commented that it also makes you accountable to someone other than just family. Well, it started a battle of sorts. I have a friend that I've known since I was about 16......we've been friends for a little over 20 years......she was a large girl all through high school and recently (like over the past 5 years) she's lost over 200 lbs, with no surgery......but not in the most healthy way either. I'm proud of her for making that kind of commitment to herself, and that she's happy with herself, but it's turned her into one of THOSE people......she knows everything about losing weight and what the best way is, and she's the expert on MY body. She happened to comment on this status, 2 weeks after I posted it, basically saying she did her weight loss unaided.....is any weight loss truly unaided? Whether it's diet, exercise, surgery, it's all in using aids.....or tools. She started a storm of comments, most people thought she was being a self-righteous jerk. For some reason she's been totally against me even thinking about surgery from the beginning.....to the point that she said that she'd heard I'd had an unsuccessful lap-band procedure.
Now all that drama being told, I thought long and hard about the choice I made, including which surgery I had. It's not like you go to the dr's and 3 days later you're in.....there are a lot of hoops to jump through. It's something that you live with for the rest of your life, you can't go back and change it. I honestly didn't think that surgery was an option for me at all.....I didn't think I was overweight enough to qualify for it (If you had military insurance, you understand), and I'd had a total hip replacement 3 months prior to that. But, I made a choice that I needed a healthier life......yes, I've had those days where I still think "What the hell did I do?", it usually pops into my head after I ate to fast and end up sick, or start craving bread. My choice has actually changed the way my whole family lives and eat. We all eat much healthier meals, more veggies, more fruit, we're looking at labels, and most of all, we're all exercising. So I guess in the end, support me or not, but I made the right choice for ME.
0 comments
Well, social sites may just be the devil's tool....lol! I posted a status on Facebook about attending a weight loss surgery support group that the hospital runs. I mentioned that it was interesting and had some handy tips. My husband commented that it also makes you accountable to someone other than just family. Well, it started a battle of sorts. I have a friend that I've known since I was about 16......we've been friends for a little over 20 years......she was a large girl all through high school and recently (like over the past 5 years) she's lost over 200 lbs, with no surgery......but not in the most healthy way either. I'm proud of her for making that kind of commitment to herself, and that she's happy with herself, but it's turned her into one of THOSE people......she knows everything about losing weight and what the best way is, and she's the expert on MY body. She happened to comment on this status, 2 weeks after I posted it, basically saying she did her weight loss unaided.....is any weight loss truly unaided? Whether it's diet, exercise, surgery, it's all in using aids.....or tools. She started a storm of comments, most people thought she was being a self-righteous jerk. For some reason she's been totally against me even thinking about surgery from the beginning.....to the point that she said that she'd heard I'd had an unsuccessful lap-band procedure.
Now all that drama being told, I thought long and hard about the choice I made, including which surgery I had. It's not like you go to the dr's and 3 days later you're in.....there are a lot of hoops to jump through. It's something that you live with for the rest of your life, you can't go back and change it. I honestly didn't think that surgery was an option for me at all.....I didn't think I was overweight enough to qualify for it (If you had military insurance, you understand), and I'd had a total hip replacement 3 months prior to that. But, I made a choice that I needed a healthier life......yes, I've had those days where I still think "What the hell did I do?", it usually pops into my head after I ate to fast and end up sick, or start craving bread. My choice has actually changed the way my whole family lives and eat. We all eat much healthier meals, more veggies, more fruit, we're looking at labels, and most of all, we're all exercising. So I guess in the end, support me or not, but I made the right choice for ME.
3 weeks post-op
Jul 16, 2011
I've made it through just about 3 weeks. Things I've learned.....take it slow when you're allowed to go back to solids. I tried brown rice......it was BAD! Not sure if it expanded or got stuck, but it came back up and I hurt for 2 days following that. I've noticed that richer foods don't sit as well. I'm a self confessed picky eater and vegetarian. As such, it's hard to get the protein that I need. I drink alot of protein shakes, eat a lot of yogurt and cottage cheese. I can't tell you how happy I was to start eating fruits and veggies! I tried to eat almonds.....another bad idea. My husband threatened to put me back on liquids to keep me from rushing things.....or as he put it "to save you from yourself". I do find that I get tired a little quicker.
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3 days post-op
Jun 30, 2011
After 9 months of thinking, researching, asking questions, I had my surgery. I was scared I was going to be turned down for it. Dr. Vierra is a stickler about diet and VERY passionate about his job. I had the Roux-N-Y procedure. Being a military family, I thought this option might be more sensible because we do move a lot, and my sister had the same procedure, so any questions I might have would be easily answered. I thought that recovery would be a snap, since I'd flown right through hip replacement. Yeah.....not what happened.....that darn gas being pumped into your belly. I was looking forward to going home the next day, but ended up staying an extra night because I was dry heaving and nauseaus. It was a good thing though.....better to stay and be ok, rather than have to rush to the ER in the middle of the night, plus the drugs aren't too bad...LOL. But as I sat there, hurting from the gas and dry heaving, I started crying and wondering if I had made the biggest mistake of my life. Did I just have my "guts rearranged" and regret it? No.....I think I made the best decision I could have for myself and my family. I'm VERY glad to be home and sleeping in my own bed. And excited to start my "new" life!
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