Day 12...Feeling 100%!

Jan 11, 2015

Today i'm 12 days post op and if it weren't for the incisions on my stomach, i'd wonder if I dreamed my surgery! I feel completely fine! Of course when I step on the scale, I see the results of the surgery. 14 1/2 lbs lost in 12 days and 34 since I started the journey last spring. I've still not had a single problem with swallowing, nor had any nausea or vomiting. I'm able to take in all my fluids and protein and started working out at the gym. In 2 more days my restrictions will be lifted and I can finally begin some resistance training again!!! I know that as I rebuild muscle, I may see some differences in how the scale treats me as muscle weighs more than fat but my primary reason for having WLS in the first place was because my weight was starting to impact my health and impairing my ability to retain the muscle strength that I've always valued and rely on for my job. I've been tracking both my weight AND my measurements because years of battling my weight have taught me that HOW the body carries weight can be drastically different depending on my lifestyle and activity and solely relying on the scale to track progress is a quick ticket to frustration and insecurity! For me, the truest measure of my progress will be the tape measure and my increasing strength ability with the resistance machines and weights at the gym. Although I've set a weight goal, i'm more concerned with a size goal of 8-10 in jeans and seeing muscle definition in the mirror. When I can run a mile without stopping or slowing and complete a mud run, I'll know i'm succeeding on my WL journey. If the pant size goes down and the scale doesn't I have NO PROBLEM with tossing that instrument of the devil right out the bathroom window! Or as a second option, I'm only 3 miles from the nearest Catholic church and access to holy water with which I can surely sprinkle the scale and exorcise the evil within! LOL   I've read many blog posts and forum comments by others and know that our journeys all take us down different paths. I know that the rate of weight loss after surgery is very different for each of us and i've read about the stalls, plateau's, and even unexplainable gains. I think most of us have experienced these issues even BEFORE WLS and so the frustration of experiencing them post surgery is heartbreaking but the important things are to remember a few key points. First, WLS is a tool not a cure for obesity. It need to be used properly to work it's best. Secondly, we're all given a plan by our surgeons and WL medical team. They are the experts and following the plan they've set up is our best bet for using the tool to it's fullest potential. If something in the plan doesn't seem to be working, CALL the team, make an appointment and talk to your nurse or dietitian! Thirdly, the human body is a mystery that's always revealing new and marvelous things about itself. Just as each of us has had very different weight GAINING journey's, the one for LOSING will also be different for everyone. Our bodies may look similar in shape and size to others we see on this site, but our chemistry's, dietary needs, metabolic processes, eating routines and food choices are different as are our daily activities that can influence or impair our journey's. We may share our journey with others and compare our experiences, but you can't walk on another persons path. keep your eyes on your own path when you're trying to gauge how far you've come and remember that ultimately, that journey began LONG before we had our surgeries. For some of us, the weight gain hill we climbed was much steeper or longer than others and therefore our bodies may take more time to adjust to the change of pace and navigating the decline on the other side of the hill. But remember even a slower journey will still eventually get you to your destination so stay positive and try and focus on the little accomplishments and milestones on the way. Take in the sites and enjoy the journey because even if it's slower than others here, we're still over the hump and working our way down the same hill, our views are just going to be different. Enjoy your person view on your path. The last bit of advice I can offer is to surround yourself with positive reinforcement and support. Make friends on this site, join in on the forums, blog your journey so you can look back and see your progress. Don't be afraid to talk about your struggles or celebrate your success both here and with supportive friends and family. If they care about you, they'll be there for both! My clinic had a sheet that listed WLS support groups in my area and I'm lucky to have 2 within  miles that meet on different nights. If your clinic doesn't have a list, search the web or call other clinics and hospitals in your area that offer WLS, one of them may have a list. But most importantly, support yourself! We didn't gain this weight overnight and we won't lose it overnight. Be patient and realize it takes time to learn what will work best for you. What foods give you the best dietary needs and energy, what exercise works best with your new lifestyle, ways to tweek your habits or schedule to optimize your success. All are a result of trial and error. If you have a bad day or make a poor choice, forgive yourself and move forward. We're human and we all make mistakes but learning from them is still a form of success! Dig deep, find your inner strength and push on! If you look, you'll see that there's a lot of variation in how long it takes different people to reach Goal on their trackers and tickers. It's hard not to look at those and hope to have the same success as some who've started at the same weight as you and reached goal in a seemingly short amount of time but remember that you're on your own journey and can't possibly take their same path, so if you're journey takes twice as long, don't lose hope or get frustrated and don't give up! The time it takes ultimately isn't important, what matters is staying on the path and getting there period! Follow the plan, listen to your body, make smart choices and believe in yourself and your body will get you there in it's own time! These are the things I tell myself through the day, every day. I'm blogging them to help remind myself and as a way to look back and make sure i'm following my own advice LOL...but if others are reading this, I hope it helps you too. 

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