Lori Black
3 years out from my DS
Aug 29, 2010
So, yeah, I'm really late with my 3 year update on my life after the DS. I have to admit that it's been a busy summer and I fell into the depths of busy and haven't been around much since May. I think about everyone ALL of the time, and keep up with many of you by pone or on Facebook which is hooked up to my phone and easier to navigate than the OH website when I'm on the go. I'm making an effort to get myself over here more often, I feel so disconnected when I'm away from you all.
Maintaining....
So, let's see...life is really pretty good as far as maintaining weight goes. I had a small stint of time over winter where I had gained weight back up to 152 pounds and I had a little freak of sorts, got my shit together, and went back to LOW carbing and now easily maintain at 138-140 pounds. I'm in a solid juniors size 7 or 9, and a women's size 6 in pants and dresses. In addition to low carbing, I have started working out. I have made a solid commitment since May to do pushups five days a week. When I started I could barely do 3 at a time on my knees. Started with 30 per day ,and I'm now doing 20-30 at a time, regular pushup style, and do 150-200 push ups a day. With my short hair-do and ability to do push ups like this, I'm feelin' kinda G.I. Jane bad-ass like! Lol! I also try to walk or do the
My diet at three year out.....
Earlier in the year, can't remember exactly when, I came to the realization that glutens just were NOT working for my guts. I had gone completely 100% whole wheat with everything in my diet, but I was still getting gas and even diarrhea from having gluten products. I bit the bullet and kicked gluten out of my life. No more pizza, pasta, cookies, cake, bread, donuts, baked goods, rice, pretzels...NONE OF IT!! It's been truly the most difficult phase of my journey eliminating these foods from my diet. First I lost dairy from lactose intolerance, but then SO many other foods to my gluten intolerance. I try not to dwell on it, but it does chap my ass from time to time. I frickin' LOVE bakery foods, and cannot even eat a frickin' sandwich anymore. BUT! I have found many, many foods that I eat and love. My diet is processed food-free, with the exception of my beloved Hershey's Hugs. I eat...
Beef, chicken, seafood (I eat A LOT of seafood), pork (Mostly in the form of BACON!)
Eggs
Cheese
Nuts
Salads (no broccoli or cauliflower due to gas)
Fruit of all kinds
Asparagus is my only cooked veggie that I eat
Sweet potatoes with butter
Potatoes and potato chips that are gluten free
Chocolate (Usually only Hershey's Hugs...things that have caramel, peanut butter, pretzels, and so on in the center give me gas).
Protein shakes are still the basis of my diet. I start the day and end my day with protein shakes, and have no less than 2 in between those. I feel with the work I'm doing on toning that my body needs the extra protein...not to mention that I have BEEN in protein malnutrition and will NOT go back there ever again. EVER. (Well, not if I can help it). I have gotten creative with my shakes and still covet my Champion Nutrition Pure Whey Stack in chocolate flavor. I make an iced coffee protein shake that rivals an iced frap from Starbucks.
Vitamins and Labwork....
I take my vitamins, all day, everyday. Sometimes I get off schedule by a couple of hours, but I try not to miss a dose ever. I just had my second yearly iron infusion a month ago and i'm feeling great again! My iron levels stay around 100, but my ferritin drops into the 20's right around the year mark and I begin to feel like my batteries are dead. A quick 8 hour INFED infusion and I'm right back up and ticking.
Most of my labs are in range, some of them on the low end and in need of tweaking. I'd paste them here but the format screws up all of my posts, so I will just say that I've upped my A, D, and Boron and have added Proferrin Forte to see if we can get my iron levels to stick a bit better after each infusion.
General health at three years post op...
I am doing well healthwise, though I do still have a couple of issues as a post op that I believe are a direct result of my having had WLS. I am still on Nexium once per day for severe reflux. I also have to sleep at about a 45 degree angle to avoid horrid acid coming up my esophogus as I sleep. I also have had something I've called "mystery pains" since the beginning of my journey. The pains came every 4-6 weeks in the beginning and have spread out more over time. They don't seem to be the direct cause of anything I've eaten, and though we've TRIED 15 some times to catch the pains on CT scans, we're always too late to see what is going on. The pains are very seldom, but I do still get them and have had them twice in the past two weeks. I have to take a sublingual pill (Levsin or hycosamine) prescribed by my doctor that is meant to ease stomach cramps and to smooth the intestinal walls. I also try to drink a huge glass of water to hydrate and get things moving. I get a tad nauseated so drinking the water isn't always easy. Once I've had the pill and drank the water, I try to get comfortable and sleep off the pain. I sometime have to wake up and take a second Levsin, but have yet to have the pains last beyond 6 hours. I have spoken to the PA at Dr. Inman's office and we agreed that the 8 hour mark should be when i admit myself to the ER. What *I* believe is happening is that my bowels are slightly kinking, just enough to stop the flow of my bm's, and then it causes these intestinal cramps that are contraction-like. The pains usually last from 2-6 hours and then disappear. I'm left to believe that my body is working the kinks out. So far I have avoided hospitalization for a bowel obstruction and hope that it never gets worse than it is now.
Living amongst the normies....
I worked for the first time this summer since my oldest son was born nearly 13 years ago. I was serving tables at an Italian restaurant on the Marina. It's been the first real time that I didn't make my WLS part of my identity. I did tell a couple of fellow servers who I'd gotten close with, but it was never made to be a big deal. I felt NORMAL, really, really normal for the first time since...well, maybe ever! I had to be diligent to eat every two hours up until I worked in the evenings because eating during the shift wasn't a possibility. I did take my protein shakes and I'd shake one up, chug and go a couple of times each evening while swallowing a handful of vites, but it was hard to keep myself on task and remember my vites and protein all of the time. I got pretty good at it, but I still forgot time to time. It was so amazing to have tables compliment me on being a mother to three kids and being so "toned." The restaurant also had an outside bar that was a real hot spot here in town so EVERYONE came there, and I got to meet a lot of people. Guys and even girls would compliment me and tell me I was pretty, or fit, or whatever...and each compliment kinda just made me giggle and I wanted to blurt out, "Hahaha, you're kidding, right?" I know that I don't see myself yet as others see me, as I still believe people are just patronizing me to be nice. I dunno, I guess this is a journey that never ends. Being treated as if I'm "normal" is simply wonderful.
Here is a picture that was taken this summer at my work when the DSers were in town for the DS BBQ at my house.
Renee, Lori, Marci, & Des
Renee stayed from Friday until Tuesday the weekend of the party and we simply had a blast!!
Relationships...
I feel like people take me at face value now. I feel as if people CARE about what I have to say. It's nice not being so invisible, yanno? It's helped some friendships reach a level that may not have been achieved had I not lost the weight. Losing the layers definitely makes me feel more exposed, but I'm getting used to this new me. I really love being social and I go out with friends as often as my schedule allows.
As far as my marriage of 13 years, WLS has taken it's toll on us. I love my husband, he's an amazing man. However, my weight loss has put somewhat of a wedge between us. When I lost my weight, he kept his. At first he was hoping that just being with me that he'd naturally drop some of his own weight just by not snacking like we used to together. But bad habits crept back in as they have for all of us on the quest to lose weight on our own, and as I've gotten smaller, I feel like it has really changed the very being of who the two of us are as a couple. I don't really know how to word this properly, but as I have started taking better care of myself, it seems that he is letting himself go more. I cannot make another person change how they feel about or treat their body, but if I thought I could, I surely would. I realize that each persons journey is their own, and the only thing I can do for him is just to be here for him when he needs me. I do think we'll get through this, but it has put a strain on us that I cannot really fully explain.
My relationship with my kids might be my favorite one post DS. I am setting a good example to my children on how to live a healthy life. They see me eating a good diet and exercising, and I'm working hard to teach them how to make good food choices, how to read nutritional info on packages, and how one serving size is enough. They love to do pushups, dips, planks and curls with me, as well as go on family walks and bike rides. My daughter seems to be the one that really sponges it all up, so I'm happy to teach her anything that I know health-wise. Having them look up to me for the healthy choices I'm making is more rewarding than I can ever explain.
Overall....
I'm very pleased with my choice to have the DS and the success I've had losing and maintaining my weight. Somedays I am reminded about my fucked up guts when I make a bad food choice, but after three years of trial and error, I'm getting pretty good at making sure I eat all the right foods.
Lori
Gluten free, low carb buns
May 01, 2010
3 large eggs
pinch of cream of tartar (1/8 tsp)
3 ounces cream cheese (Do not soften)
Preheat oven to
Separate the eggs and add cream cheese to the
Bake about 30 minutes (You want them slightly softer, not crumbly). Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes, and then remove to a rack and allow them to cool. Store in a loosely open sack and allow to rest on the counter before use (otherwise they might be too moist). Can be frozen.
Notes: If you are making these to be savory (for burgers) you can add dry mustard and dill or other seasonings to the yolk mixture. If you want a more sweet roll, add a very small amount of stevia natural sweetener to the yolk mixture.
Makes 6 Induction Friendly, Gluten-Free rolls. Nutritional information per roll: Calories:85 , Carbohydrates: .6 g, Fiber: 0g, Net Carbohydrates: .6g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7.5
I've adjusted to the "new me" even if the world never will
Apr 23, 2010
Yesterday, on stupid Facebook, a "friend" who knew me when I was obese posted an obscene so-called-joke basically saying that she wishes death to Obama. It's a popular status on Facebook for those who hate our president. I don't know when our world got so messed up that we wish death on anyone, but it's the sad truth. I am so sick and tired of staying quiet about bullshit like this, so I confronted her on it. I said..."C'mon Jenn, wishing death on our president is ridiculous. I don't care if you hate him, I thought you were better than THIS. I hated Geoge W. but I never wished death on the moron." Her response...."Be serious! Stop trying to be so righteous and start worrying about losing the weight you've regained from your gorgeous surgery. You know the one you'd never have to worry about regaining weight from. You come on."
Sigh....what the fuck did that have to do with me confronting her on her nasty status? Will the world ever see me as the person I've become??? Furthermore, this girl has NO idea how I feel about the size I am now. I've never told her I was trying to lose weight or anything about my "regain." I'm HAPPY to be at the 145-150 range. This looks SO much better on me than 116 pounds did. My regain has been a POSITIVE thing!!! What do I have to do to make friends who knew me then realize that I LIKE the way I am now?
Oh, and the reason she was so nasty about calling the DS my GORGEOUS surgery is because she had the crap band, er...I mean lap band placed a few months before my surgery. I've been very careful with my words about the
I think I just needed to air this out. I don't have to worry about this friend b/c she and I have now severed ties over this petty argument. Easy to see how little I meant to her in the first place, so no loss. But I guess my frustration is...when does the rest of the world catch up with my loss and just accept that this is who I am now? When do my friends who knew me then stop bringing the subject up EVERY time we're together? It just gets OLD. Will I always have the fat girl in my shadow? I don't even know if it's a bad thing. Just disheartening at times. Maybe I'm just being too sensitive b/c I'm on my period. I just don't get it.
Thanks for listening.
Lori
My life and "diet" at almost 3 years out...
Apr 17, 2010
I have done a lot of pinpointing problem foods over the past three years to optimize my weight loss success, and along the way have found the foods that just DO NOT work for my fucked up guts. It was obvious from very early on that milk and milk products were not going to work for me. I would get obnoxious gas and even diarrhea.
I also learned very early out that white flour products not only filled me up too much, but that they also gave me horrid gas and diarrhea. So, out with the white flour products. That meant...no cookies, no cake, no white pasta, no pizza. This made me feel like the end of the world had surely come. SURE I could EAT my bakery delights, but only with extreeeeme repercussions. Too extreme. I spent the next 2 years (stubborn ass) eating only 100%
That brings me to whole wheat, barley, rye, basically anything with a large amount of gluten. I stayed in denial for a lllllong time about how much gluten products made me bloat like I was pregnant, fart like a man (a man with a sewer plant attached to his ass, lol!), and made me go #2 far too much. I didn't WANT to admit that my bread products were killing me. I didn't want to give them up. Damn it, they're healthy after all!!! It's been about 5 months since going gluten free and lemme tell you, best decision I've made! No bloating, no gas, no diarrhea. I go to the bathroom 2-3 times every
So, 2.5 years into this journey, and my weight is creeping up, up, and up. It was a good thing at first as I'd gotten down to 116 pounds in the spring of 2009. As my weight went up, I began to feel better and better. First 120, then 130, stayed at 140 for awhile...hit the 2.5 year mark and went to 150. 150 looks just fine, but it is by far the top of my comfort zone at 5'7. So...on April 7, 2010, I made the decision to go sugar free for life. Okay, so it's only been TWELVE days, but hey...even forever had a first day, right? On the 7th I stepped on the scale and weighed 152.8 pounds....today less than two weeks later, I was 145. The ONLY thing I've changed is that I've eliminated sugar...and I'm back to my goal weight, like magic!
So....lactose free, gluten free, and sugar free....what do I eat? I have sooo many favorites! I eat chicken, shrimp, crab legs, fish, steak, nuts galore, cheeses, edamame (my addiction), salads with ranch or oil and vinegar, fruit (especially lots of strawberries and kiwi), sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas, spinach, and of course I still drink 3 protein shakes everyday. (That will never change, I will be drinking protein shakes for life!)
I no longer have bloating that makes me look 6 months pregnant, the gas is near non-existent, my weight is in check and no longer climbing north, and I have more energy than ever before. I'm officially the happiest I've EVER been since getting my DS. It's far easier eliminating the foods that make me miserable, than paying the price later on after indulging. I'm human, and for sure will mess up from time to time, but getting real about my food intake has been the best present I've ever given myself.
Sugar free for life???
Apr 05, 2010
I have known from Michelle (Vitalady) and others for quite some time that one of the most effective ways to keep our
I guess my reason for posting this is for accountability. You guys have been here for me in the past, and I could really use some strength to get through this. I'm not asking anyone to jump on the bandwagon, just needed to put my plan out there in the open so I'll follow through with it. My husband is off work today and starting new things is never a good idea when he is off work. So my goal is to end my relationship with sugar tomorrow. (Wednesday)
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can......
Lori
What life after the DS has been like for me
Mar 21, 2010
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I'm nearly 3 years out and overall I'm very pleased with my DS post-op life. It has not come without it's share of issues for ME. In a nutshell, I had my DS performed open on 7-11-07. I had to have a hernia repaired at five months out, and a second hernia repaired at 10 months out. With the second hernia repair I had a tummy tuck which was amazing. I spent the first 18 months with an on and off "mystery" pain that baffled my doctors. My surgeon tried to go in at 18 months with the endoscope to see what was happening after multiple CT scans that came back with nothing, and we still had nothing. I suspect that my bowels were kinking (obstructing), and then unkinking on their own without surgical intervention. Over time, they just stopped. I still get those "twinges" from time to time, but no issues now for over a year. At 2 years out, despite strict compliance to protein intake, I went into protein malnutrition and lost lots of weight, down to 116 pounds which was underweight on the BMI scale. Before the protein malnutrition was discovered, I had to go to many specialists who were trying to figure out what the hell was going on with me. It was in my 2 year labs that my low protein was discovered, finally, and I drank 6 protein shakes a day to get my protein and health back in line. Before trying the multiple protein shakes daily, my surgeon had decided it was time to revise my common channel....thankfully that didn't have to happen!!!! I've been to the ER countless times with many medical bills, can't tell you how grateful I am for amazing insurance. (Thank you Cheesecake Factory!!!) So I guess my first bit of advice is to expect ANYTHING can happen, and not to go into this thinking it cannot happen to you.
Next, I think it's important to understand our procedure COMPLETELY so we can be an advocate for our own health when working with our doctors. You will run into many health professionals who are just NOT going to get it no matter what, so you MUST arm yourself with total knowledge and let your medical team know you want to be a part of the decision making in your healthcare. It can be very frustrating at times, but you adapt.
Now as far as day to day living. In the beginning, you're going to feel like a baby. Learing to eat, sip, and walk is a task that will almost consume your days. You're going to be confused about when to take vitamins and which ones can be taken together, and it's going to feel like a task the size of a mountain. But as you adapt over those early weeks, you learn to jive with your new life, doing a little more each day.
I'll give you an idea of a "normal" day for me now. I wake up and the minute my feet hit the floor, I have to poop. Three to five minutes is about all I can take sitting there before my morning is off and running with the three kids. I come downstairs and brew a pot of coffee. Once that has brewed, I make a double protein scoop of protein powder and make an iced protein coffee. I grab my vitamin box and dump my morning vites down my throat, and run around getting the kids ready for school buses. It takes me about 30 minutes to have my iced protein coffee, at which time, I always need to poop one more time to get good and cleaned out. (My system is in perfect time with the school busses leaving now, yeah)! I typically have a cup of coffee while showering and getting my preschooler ready, then make a second iced protein coffee on our way out the door. I always take a second dose of calcium with my second protein shake. Several times a week I meet my Mom for lunch, where I pull out my handful of vits when the server brings my water. I typically eat 8 grilled shrimp, a sweet baked potato, and about half of my salad. Around 2ish, I make another protein shake and have some more calcium with that. I eat a normalish dinner, usually fish or chicken with a veg. I have a handful of vitamins with dinner too. Homework, baths, cleaning, and then the kids are off to bed. I take calcium when they go to bed. At this point I typically have another protein shake. Sometimes I have some cheese and gluten free crackers or sausage ane cheese, and occassionally popcorn. Then it's time for my night handful of vitamins. Of course there are differences each and every day, but this is about the way it goes. Vitamins are a part of my day all day long. I have my alarm set on my cell phone to remind me. Works like a charm.
Finding your new norm takes time, but it happens!
Here's about a hundred hours worth of relevant reading for you! =) You'll like these links, take a look and bookmark them for the future!
Should EVERYONE have the DS?
Insurance says DS investigational: a how-to manual
A MUST READ- More about Small Bowel Obstruction! I
Hey new-ops and soon to be new-ops, some info to h
Wanna know if your $hit's gonna stink after the DS
Bathroom Issues - Dina McB
DS is not an "eat anything you want" surgery
SITES TO BOOKMARK THREADS FOR NEWBIES
For The Vets: What's Your Thing? Tell What You Kno
Some of you newbies and DS wannabes PISS me off. L
Okay, I'm ready. Let's get our list of tips on how
Struggling with my "fat" brain
Feb 13, 2010
I have been making a half assed attempt to get back into working out. Starting slow with walking, and I plan to add in more soon. How do I convince myself to get back on track? I know I don't want to gain more. I'm fine(ish) with where I am now, just wish some of my clothes weren't getting so tight. I'm not scared of going back to low carb, just struggling.
So yeah, poor me. I'm the 150 pound chick whining about being fat, I always hated people like that. But it's not right now that I'm worried about, it's the future if I don't figure out how to get a hold on my habits.
I guess I'm just venting, not even sure I really need advice. I do know that I didn't do all of this to go back to where I came from. Looking to get back on PERMANENT track very soon. Starting right this minute!!!
Lori
Life with the DS after 2 years, things are changing
Sep 11, 2009
Most of you know of my struggles to keep my weight up through the winter. I had gotten down to a VERY low 116 pounds, officially 2 pounds underweight on the BMI scale. My wow is that I have gained plenty of weight back and I'm feeling like a new woman again! People are complimenting me all of the time how nice I look, and that's cool and all. I've actually thought all along that I really wanted to get back up to 145 pounds. However....my weight gain is now becoming my un-wow, I'm up THIRTY pounds. I'm not saying that I'm fat, but my weight could very easily get out of control. My scale this morning is telling me 146 pounds. Umm.....maybe I have some water weight since my period is just ending. And maybe I haven't pooped enough today....but I'm now officially going to have to get a handle on this before I gain to much to look back. I *really* don't want to see 150 on my scale again. For the record, there is NOTHING wrong with 150 pounds....nothing at all! I'm just worried that if I allow myself to get back to 150, that I'll then slip back up to 160, and then 170...well you know what I mean. For my height, the BMI scale says I should be between 119-155. Since I'm getting very near the top end of that range, the time has come.
So really the point of my post is for accountability. I knew this day would come. Back to the (
Yesterday I went to the community center and walked 3 miles. On the last mile I alternated laps, one lap running, one lap walking. I only ran 1/2 of a mile, I'm sure no Tom...but it was a great start. I can't get back to the track until Monday, so I think today I'll hit the
Lori
Bathing suit before and afters
Sep 04, 2009
I'm 2 years out, and I've had plastics. (Tummy tuck, gawd do I ever wish I would've bought the bewbies too!!!!)
And I had to have Mom get a shot with my fave pair of jeans too. I've been dying to wear these again, they're size 8's!!!! (I spent the winter with them falling off of my butt, so i'm happy to have "stuff" to fill these up again!!!!)
ETA: Forgot to include my pre-op bathing suit pic!!!
Lori SW 270 CW 138
Nicolle stopped by to see us today!
Aug 30, 2009
My girl, Nicolle (Beatles avatar) came to see us on her way home from Disney. I got to meet her hubby and kids, and we all scarfed on Papa John's pizza and got to hang out for a couple of hours! I'm SOOOO glad they had time to stop and see us for a little while! I feel so lucky that they went out of their way to come visit with us for awhile!
Love you Nicolle! Your family is wonderful!!!
Lori