A year in the Bush

Aug 01, 2010

So it's been a year since we moved out to the Alaskan Bush.  Other than getting seriously underweight this winter between the extreme cold and tummy issues keeping me from eating enough, I've done pretty well and have kept my weight range.  The most difficult thing is that I'm doing a lot of hard physical labor now and it's tough to get in enough calories to support that kind of exertion sometimes. I'm probably going to dip down again this winter, but hopefully not as low now that I have my meds sorted and shouldn't have to do as much labor out in the cold this year... 119 was just too darned skinny!  But, I guess my body thought that was the deep dip and 130's is my bounce back LOL!

At almost 3 years post-op, I still have problems with a few foods. Meat, especially poultry, is randomly not acceptable to pouchy. I've learned to peel everything that has a thin skin so I don't get the foamies, which sucks because that's where most of the good vits and mins are! Pasta and rice can only be tiny side dishes (maybe a Tbsp) if I don't want them revisiting me all night. Leafy greens can be a major issue, especially cooked, so I have to eat them raw as fresh and crispy as possible... but I think my days of big green salads are lost. I have to be careful with the amount of onions and garlic in things, especially raw; but that might be more down to my ulcer history than directly related to the surgery, the tiny tummy just makes it more noticeable.  High sulfur foods like cabbage, broc, cauliflower, egg yolks, etc can cause serious GI distress, again I think this was happening before just that it's more noticeable with tiny tummy.

But, all-in-all, I'm doing good and staying on track. I eat the majority of my calories and protein, only drinking shakes if I pouchy is grouchy or I have to cram in more to make my daily quota. I do rely on some slider foods to get in enough calories, but if I were less active and didn't need the extra calories I wouldn't need the "cheat". I'll be going in to the city for my blood work next month, so we'll see how that works out and if my regime is adequate (not always the most diligent with my vits because they tend to make me nauseated). I don't relish having to break in a new, undoubtedly overworked, doctor at that community clinic who probably has no experience with WLS patients... but I need the right blood tests, so I'll fight for them. 

And the strangest thing of all is that I'm a women's size 2 or misses size 3... that is totally bizarre. I went from kids sizes to misses 7/9 at puberty, so I've never been this size as an adult. It's actually a pain trying to find appropriate work clothes in this size... I don't think Carhartt is used to women's sizes, much less tiny women, and there are no men's sizes this small. I've resorted to getting some of their "farm" clothes in boy's sizes; but they don't quite fit the hips and waist properly... oh well, SIGH.

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About Me
Kenmore, WA
Location
21.8
BMI
RNY
Surgery
10/01/2007
Surgery Date
Jun 07, 2007
Member Since

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