Jon K.

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When you’ve been faithful to your dieting program, you are eager to get on those bathroom scales to see how much weight you have lost! Your excitement comes to a halt and is replaced with frustration and discouragement when you discover no loss, or even worse, weight gain!

Though faithful to our diets, occasional fluctuation of our weight should be expected. Weight loss plateaus are a common part of the weight loss process. Changing your dieting pattern or drinking an excess of fluids the previous day can easily tip the scales in a frustrating direction. Weighing yourself once a week will allow your body time to catch up and balance itself. An actual plateau can be recognized when our weight stays the same for several weeks.

Research suggests ‘possible links’ to weight loss plateaus. Despite research, solutions and answers to explain why our bodies work the way they do, is a difficult task. Our bodies are a complex mechanism, even more complex is the brain. Sometimes it seems as if the body has a mind of it’s own! In a sense, it does, as it utilizes a portion of our brain that controls our bodily functions. Our bodies work very hard to protect us from the damage that we often inflict upon ourselves.

Owning a car, we rely on our vehicle to do what it is designed to do. While driving, we don’t think about the computer chips or the spark plugs sparking, we simply want to reach our destination. In comparison to the complexity of our bodies, the car is a play school toy. We may never understand why or how everything works, but there are some aspects of our bodies that are important for us to know.

The first few weeks of your weight loss program, you may experience rapid weight loss which is very encouraging and motivating! Energy that the body needs to fuel itself, come from the calories in our food. Reducing these calories, the body replaces the needed energy by releasing its stores of glycogen. Glycogen is a type of carbohydrate found in your muscles and liver. Glycogen is designed to hold onto water, but when it is used to burn energy, it releases the water, resulting in rapid weight loss. We may think we have lost body fat, however, the weight loss experienced is mostly water.

We may become discouraged after this initial boost of rapid weight loss, finding our weight loss has slowed down. The positive and bright side to this slow down process, once the glycogen has used up all of its stored water for that energy, your body starts to burn fat for energy! Fat does not store as much water as glycogen, therefore weight loss results slow down. As the glycogen begins to replenish itself of water, you may find your weight stabilizing and you may temporarily experience no weight loss, or even possible weight gain. But realize this is a natural function that will balance out if you give your body time to adjust.

Yes it is exciting to see a weight loss of five or more pounds in a week! But generally, losing more than a pound or two a week is not recommended. If we begin depriving our bodies of it’s needed calories, the body will then tap into our lean muscle mass for that extra energy. We want our bodies to take it’s energy from our fat, not tear down our muscle tissue! It is natural to lose a small amount of muscle, but it is the muscle that keeps our metabolism moving along at a good pace. Losing the muscle can slower your metabolic rate and actually hinder your weight loss.

If you have been very faithful following your program, however seem to have hit that plateau, you may be tapping into your muscle tissue. Incorporating strength training into your daily activities can help preserve and build muscle and get your metabolism buzzing again!

Medical factors can influence your weight loss. Having thyroid or gland issues, pregnant or breast-feeding, going through menopause, or taking medications, are a few of the many possibilities that can slow down weight loss. Discouraging it is to experience and battle these issues, and often the cause to our throwing in the towel, giving up our weight loss efforts.

If you are following a healthy dieting program, getting your essential vitamins and minerals, putting in the effort to incorporate physical fitness into your life, then you are doing the right thing and your reward will come! Taking care of your body, you may find that some of the medications you are taking will no longer be needed! You may find that as you boost your metabolism, some of those hormone issues are no longer issues! Doing the right thing for yourself shouldn’t be about how many pounds you lost on a bathroom scale, it should always be about becoming a healthier you!

The comfort zones we find ourselves in also play an important role to what we think are plateaus. Perhaps becoming comfortable eyeballing food portions, we don’t realize we are slowly increasing our portions. It may be time once again to measure those portions. You may want to start journalizing your daily food intake to see if you have been indulging in a few high calorie foods that you have not accounted for.

When you began your program, you committed yourself to daily physical exercise. Have you found yourself slacking off of that regime, or you never even started a program? If now on a plateau, perhaps you need to start, or increase your activity level to give your metabolism a kick!

Your body may need a wake up call! If you have maintained a certain calorie intake and followed a particular dieting program for awhile, it is possible that your body has become comfortable and no longer feels the need to work as hard. To ensure that you don’t start tapping into your muscle mass and to ensure that you are receiving your essential nutrients, it not recommended that you consume less that 1200 - 1300 calories per day. However, maybe it is time to alter your diet. If you are consuming 1500 calories a day, you may want to lower your calorie intake to 1300 calories.

It is possible that you are not eating enough! If your body feels threatened, not having enough fuel for energy, it will cling to those calories! Your metabolism will slow down because your body is trying to store what it can to ensure it has it’s needed energy. If you are getting your essential calories per day, try spreading out those calories, eating frequently. Smaller but frequent meals may be what your body needs to feel safe and satisfied.

Is your body saying, “Give me a bit more protein!” Don’t be afraid to make healthy alterations in your diet to determine what your body is asking for. Sometimes I think my body is saying, “Hey, I am hungry, feed me those cookies!” The truth is, my body wants to save me, not harm me. It may actually be telling me it’s thirsty. After a few cookies, still not satisfied so I eat more cookies! My body never wanted cookies, it was asking for something else. To begin a communication process with our bodies, we should learn to listen to those second thoughts. My first thoughts are those impulses of habits, "Feed me cookies!" My second thoughts are rethinking the situation, “No, maybe I don’t really need those cookies or chips, I simply need a piece of fruit or a glass of water.”

Instead of becoming frustrated and discouraged when your body is not cooperating with your weight loss plans, finding yourself on that plateau, perhaps it is time that you begin cooperating with your body. It knows more than you do, it knows what it needs to survive, and it will strive to ensure your health and safety. Regardless of it’s size, shape or weight, your body is not your enemy, it is simply trying to take care of you and save your life!

Our bodies are precious vehicles, we can and should learn how to take better care of them. Our ultimate goal should be learning to optimize our own health, a healthy weight is just a portion of that. One’s motivation should not be determined by a bathroom scale, but by the fact that you care about yourself, and you have chosen to love and take care of your body. It is better to learn to communicate and respond to the needs of your body now, rather than waking up in a hospital bed later!

Oh no, I cant eat 10 pieces of Church's Chicken on the way home anymore. Bummer jumbo. That dude is dead. Not on vacation... dead. I buried his ass the same second the anesthesiologist was laughing at me on my way to La La Land.

I remember that fogginess I had... very fleeting. I feel so GD good I cant even stand it. Starting to get cocky too. Its only been 2-1/2 weeks too.

This surgery was one of the best things Ive ever done (Top 3). I would go in for the surgery once a year if thats what it took. Being in the hospital was just boring. I can live with that. What, relax and stay in bed? OK.

If you are considering this surgery, here's the bad part that I experienced... getting a shot to have that clear hose attached to the top of hand for fluids and anesthesia. I hate needles. The rest was like running down hill. In on Friday, out on Sunday and have worked every day since that Monday. Ive had constipation worse than this. Nothing.

For 4 days after I got home it felt like I entered a sit-ups contest having not done any in years. Sore stomach muscles. Phhhhh!

Nothing. If it made sense when you were considering it, it damn sure still makes sense.

I told myself, even if I were to lose the weight by myself, how long would it be until it all came back? SOLD!

I am off the merry-go-round of fat ass. If you always do, what you always did, you will always get, what you always got. Besides, just because the monkey's off your back, doesn't mean the circus has left town.

Get on with it and live. Life is to be lived... not endured!! Go and get you some!!

My Weight Chart:


                                                                                                                                                                                       
            

2008:
325 on 10-31
324 on 11-14
332 on 12-02
330 on 12-19
2009:
336 on 01-11 at home
319 on 01-19 Dr visit with Pat (RN). Down 12 lbs from first visit of 331.
314 on 01-25 at home nude
310 on 02-04 at Dr's office
298 on 03-11 at Dr's office
282 on 05-27 at Dr's office
279 on 05-29 at home nude
274 on 06-02 buck naked
263 on 06-22 in Drs office (clothed)
=================================
09-10-08:
DRS VISIT. TOOK BLOOD. WEIGHED 329 LBS. GOT LAP BAND REFER AND APNEA.

10-20-08:
Met w Dr Solomon. Going to do RNY. Weighed in at 331 in jeans polo and socks.
Took pix for the before shot. Gave packet and bloodwork paperwork.

10-21-08 PM:
Home weighed 329 nude.

10-31-08:
Had blood work done (drew blood) and urine.
Weighed in at 325.4. Shorts, tee-shirt.

11-03-08:
Attended mtg last nite at TMMC West wing. Met Michael (Daily Breeze) and Dr Klein.

11-6-08:
HAD ULTRASOUND ON BELLY AND CHEST X-RAY TAKEN AT THE TORRANCE VASEK POLAK CENTER … THAT NIGHT SLEPT AT SLEEP CENTER TO CHECK FOR SLEEP APNEA.

11-14-08:
EKG PERFORMED AND ULTRASOUND ON HEART SAME BLDG...
WEIGHED IN AT 324 AT DRS OFFICE

11-17-08:
Attended mtg last nite at TMMC West wing.

12-02-08:
Met with Psychologist. Took 240 questionairre.
… Then went upstairs for Venous ULTRASOUND. Checks for bloodclots in legs.
… Weighed in at 332 lbs.

12-04-08:
Had ABG test. Blood test in the wrist artery to measure oxygen in blood.
Pulmonary testing. Inhale, exhale, puff, blow all from inside a glass cockpit.

12-08-08:
Dr called to say he got my sleep study results and that I do have sleep apnea. Ordering the CPAP machine for me.
I wont use it.

12-17-08:
Spoke w Irma and set up meeting with the Nurse Practitioner Pat for Friday the 19th at 9:45 am

12-18-08:
DEC 18TH @ 745 AM. DIGESTIVE CARE CONSULTANTS WITH DR HAKIM. SHE GAVE ME RESULTS OF A PREVIOUS TEST STATING THAT CYSTS WERE SHOWN ON MY LIVER.
SHE MADE APPT FOR 12-23 AT 10 AM TO HAVE CATSCAN DONE ON ABDOMIN/LIVER.
DEC 18TH @ 745 AM. DIGESTIVE CARE CONSULTANTS.* 855 MANHATTAN BCH BLVD #101 12-05-08:MADE APPT W ANNA AT 310-375-1246

12-18-08:
ATTENDED HEALTH CONFERENCE AT TMMC WITH DIETICIAN CATHERINE SMITHWEISS. BOOOORING!
* NUTRITION CLASS: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 10:30. * 10:30 AM-12 NOON  (310) 373-6864

12-19-08:
Weighed 330.
Met w Nurse Practitioner Pat. Gave all results of all tests. Gave copies of all too. Next thing is lose weight. 22 lb loss gets me to Solomon.

01-15-09:
Went by ABSS and picked up prescription from Pat (RN) for Phentermine. Appetite suppression.

01-19-09:
Saw Pat (RN). Jon weighed in at 319 lbs. Pat made next appt for February 04 with Dr Solomon.
Jon to be 309 or less.

01-23-09:
Jon went to Vasek Polak for MRI on Liver. Hemangioma testing. Big donut barely fit.

02-04-09:
Met with Dr Solomon. Everything looks good. Says after the scheduled colonoscopy on 02-23, will be able to schedule surgery date.

02-23-09:
Had colonoscopy performed. Went under. No problem and super easy.

03-11-09:
Met w solomon to schedule the surgery> WHAT!? Loves my progress and gave me 4 scripts for post surgery. Weighed in at 298.8.
Stephanie the receptionist said await insurance approval… 2-4 weeks, although HealthNet is one of the quicker ones.

04-06-09:
Ann and I attended the mandatory pre-surgery, 3-hour meeting at TMMC WEST TOWER, 2ND FLR, #A. Upon completion of meeting, Jon called Stephanie to find out whats next. Steph said Michelle will call and to sit tight. 2 mins later Michelle called saying insurance approved. Scheduled surgery date for May 15th at 6:00 am. Michelle to send paoperwork to house.

05-04-09:
Made appt at Arosemenas office for Blood, EKG, and Chest Xray. Appt for 05-11 at 945 am.

05-11-09:
Saw Arosemena. Lisa did EKG and drew blood in office. Jon gave urine sample. Then down stairs for chest xray with a guy named Logan.

05-11-09:
Had to have blood drawn 5 days before surgery, not sooner, not later. Also required chest Xray and EKG. All at Dr Arosemenas office in one fell swoop. Hes great my Doc.

05-14-09:
Met w/Kathie (pretty asian) to sign consent paperwork. Pharmacy across hall got soap and isometer. Mom staying the night for 530 am surgery arrival. Soap is a joke at $32 a bottle (4 oz) and Isometer is worthless... never used it. Phhhh!

05-15-09:
Had surgery. In at 6 am with Mom. Out of surgery @ 1pm and into own room. Morphine drip was nice, not neccessary but nice. Nurses are great. Hit me with a blood thinner shot every 4 hours in the belly. Tiny needle, no feel. Passed gas finally. Euphoria. Lots of Broth and Isopure drinks. Ice chips are great too, like eating nachos. So glad to be on this side of this whole thing, started it October 20th.

05-17-09:
Back home.

05-18-09:
Back to work bright and early. No big deal. Sore like situps sore.

05-23-09:
Ran into Dr at car wash. Cornered him. Had tobacco in my mouth when I ran up on him. Not big on tobacco, would not have done surgery had he known, impedes healing. Nicotine restricts vessels.... Anyway, he's cool and I like Solomon. Said my surgery went great. Nice to see the guy outside the office walls. Not supposed to be driving or working either he said with a smirk. Get to know me.

05-27-09:
Had post op appt w/Solomon… doing very good, keep it up. Pureed foods now. Oatmeal consistency. Back on June 22 for next meeting.

05-29-09:
Weighed nude at 279. I have ZERO regrets. This surgery is sweet. Id do it again every two years if it were required. More of a pain in the ass than anything else with all the appts and needles. Hate needles. I feel fantastic and people are commenting now.

06-12-09:
Had post-op blood work done at LabCorp. 10 vials needed for testing. I fainted / passed out after 3. Eyes rolled back, convulsed, snored... out. Gone. Was told for at least 2 minutes. Came to with 3 nurses in my face holding a cup of water under my nose. All other patients in the room backed it up. Scary. Sucha wuss.

06-22-09:
Met w/Doc Solo... very impressed with my progress. Kickin ass. Pointed out that since I first met him down 70 lbs. Said go solid foods now... skys the limit, just do what you know. Chew and water. Mentioned some hard stubborn poops... says more water. Went over blood results from 06-12 and I am so solid. Cholesterol is 133 w/no scripts!! What?? All my numbers down all 4 pages are to the good. Dead in the middle of Fine Street. Protein intake came back 1 point below low. Me with low protein? Phhhh. I can take care of that.
Next appt (6 wks) August 05. Need to do the big blood draw again... wont be watching this time. May even lay down first. Why didnt I do this 10 years ago? Oh yeah, I got it, Ill take care of it.

07-18-09:
Been a few weeks. Gotta slow down on my eating... finishing too quick and getting that full feeling which prompts me to go kneel in front of the porcelan throne and let some go.
Anyway, the past week and a half Ive been stuck on 254-252. Then this morning, BAM... 249. Im under 250. Note to self: Weight comes off fast and furious early on, then slows. If I'm under 245 in 2 weeks that'll be great too.

09-02-09:
Weighed in at 237 lbs. Saw Dr Solomon today for my "6 week" check-up. Great doctor. Says doing great, keep it up. See again on December 02 with full blood results.

09-15-09:
233 lbs at home nude. Thats 101 lbs lost!

12-02-09:
Met w/Dr solomon as scheduled from 09-02 visit. Blood @ 131/79... weight 230 clothed. Doc was chaopped I still hadn't done my blood tests. Just not into the needle. WTF? Made appt for next as May 17, 2010. Hernia... Solomon says lets wait til surgery has been a year and he'll repair. Jon confirmed and he said yes, him. Paid $20 at time of visit for visit.

12-07-09:
Had blood drawn at LabCorp on Torrance blvd. 7am appt. 10 vials. Laid down for blood draw. Perfect.

12-14-09:
Told Dr Solomon about problems with foot (foot drop). Says up the vitamins and will schedule new blood draw to check Vitamin B levels. Scheduling an appt with Neurologist for foot evaluation.

12-18-09:
Went to LabCorb for blood draw on Vitamin B levels... one vial taken.
Then over to Neurology Dr Prakash Desai for neurology work. He tested reflexes, poked both feet with sharp stick and then scheduled me for a nerve MRI and some Physical Therapy. Next appt w Desai Jan 19th.