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7/7/11

On July 9th I will be at my 10 month post-op mark.  I have finally hit where I should be hitting which is around 111-113 pounds at 5'2' inches.  I am getting in 1000-1100 calories a day.  My stomach still holds only a small amount of food and I'm ok with that. I just eat more frequently.  My new stomach holds about 2-2.5 oz of food.  I still don't tolerate steak very well but can eat almost any other protein available.  My stomach still 'sings' when it is working which makes everyone around me giggle.  I do occassionally get heart burn but have learned that it means it's time to put something in my stomach.  That usually does the trick.  

For anyone contemplating having the VSG surgery - I can only say from my own experience DO IT!  I feel great!  Type II Diabetes CURED!  Hypertension CURED!   And the added bonus is that it's really fun shopping for skinny clothes. :)

I am saving up for skin surgery. My daughter said I need a whole body lift.  Excess skin everywhere, arms, stomach, legs, behind and of course... the twins just hang.  Hopefully in a year I'll have the funds to consider tightening everything back to where it needs to be.

Enjoy your summer!

TW: 112.0

My 7 month anniversary of my surgery came and went without any acknowledgement.  Work has been extremely busy and I am finding it hard to find balance in my life. I know this is short lived - so just trying to do as Nemo suggested "Just keep swimming".

Anyway, back to entry...  I'm hovering between 118 and 120 lbs and so thrilled to be at my goal.  My skin is sagging everywhere from top to bottom. Something I'll address at some point once I have funds.  I'm averaging about 75-80g protein and still supplementing with protein bullets.  I can eat 1/4c-1/2c of food or basically 2-4 oz of food depending on what it is. Soup is still my food of choice. It goes down easy and stays down.  I still on occassion have episodes of nausea and vomiting.  I can eat something one day, and the next it may not agree.  Crazy eh?

Still thrilled with the new me! 

4.12.11

GMA this morning had a segment on WLS and Diabetes II.  The woman was cured of diabetes with WLS.  YES!  I'm living proof  that this surgery is a life saver.  Not only does it give you your life back by the massive weight loss, but it gives you your health back.   I was a Type II Diabetic with Hypertension.  I was off all medication as of my surgery date.

If someone asks me how I lost the weight, I share my testimony. The first thing I tell them is my health history and the reason I decided to move forward with the Verticle Sleeve Gastrectomy. 

We're all on different journey's yet we're all traveling the same roads to better health and fitness. If you have time watch the GMA segment today (3.29.11).

Make it a great day! :)

TW: 122.6

123.4 this morning. Feeling good. Yesterday I felt a bit weak and dizzy so I have increased my water intake.  Perhaps I was a bit dehydrated. Feeling better today.

Update on my eating pattern - 6 months post-op:

Soups - I can tolerate soup. I can consume up to 1/2 a cup now.  Love all soups so this is a great thing.
Meats - Can only consume about 1-2 oz at a meal
Seafood - Can consume up to 2 oz at a meal. Love salmon, talapia, shrimp, crab etc.

Still taking vitamins 2x/day and as I mentioned, increasing my water/fluid intake

I eat about 800-1000 calories a day (thank you calorie-counter app!) and 60-90g protein (usually 80g/day).  I'm also still supplementing with the new whey protein bullets (42g protein)

Good morning world.  Today's weight 123.4 Wahoo!  I'm slowly inching to my goal weight (120).  I was away on business all last week and again my friend in LA came through with some bullets and protein shakes for me.  Eating while on the road and living in a hotel can be challenging.  The hotel staff was awesome though and let me order off the appetizer or kids menu so each night I was able to eat my protein.  During the day though, I had a shake for breakfast, protein bullet for lunch and a protein bar for mid-afternoon snack.  Not ideal and not something I recommend but it worked for the week and got me through meeting my protein needs (60-90g protein) while working 12 hour work days.

Hope everyone who is reading this today is doing well.  GO YOU!  You're amazing.  :)

Hello world, today I had a follow up appointment with my surgeon.  This morning I weighted 128.4 lbs and was very excited to see everyone at the surgical weight loss office.  I put on a cute outfit and away I went.  Walking into the office with my head held high, shoulders back and a bounce in my step.  From the receptionist, to the nurse and dietition... one by one they came out to say hello and see the 'new' me.  The office was filling with WLS patience, some there for the first time.  I could feel their eyes on me and their ears listening to my conversations with the staff.  It's just so amazing to me still at this point how life transforming this surgery was.   I re-lived how I wanted this surgery for my Health - to help me with Type II Diabetes, High Cholesterol and Hypertension.  All three are gone!  My blood pressure was taken, and the nurse just smiled shaking her head at how healthy I looked.  

Finally, Dr. Heider walked in. I jumped up and gave him a huge bear hug.  He will forever be in my thoughts and prayers as my surgical angel.  We talked and talked and the time passed. I'm sure his patients who were waiting were not happy with the length of time we were in there, but he wanted to hear from me.  How I felt, what worked, what didn't, suggestions, recommendations.  We talked about hair loss, skin surgery and more. 

Before I left, I was asked to come back and speak next week at the WLS seminar for the new patients.  I am honored to be asked and accepted their invitation.

They are even going to feature me for the Patient Spotlight this month.  Cindy one of the office managers snapped this picture below.  This is me, and I am proud of myself.  GO ME!    Thank you Dr. Heider and all your office angels.

Hi, interestingly... several people have said to me that I shouldn't lose any more weight.  But then I have my Primary Care Doctor and WLS Surgeon telling me that for my height and weight I should be 120 lbs (9 more to go).  I don't know if my friends are saying that because they aren't used to seeing me at this size? or if they are just being kind and sweet.  This surgery for me personally wasn't all about losing weight, it was about getting 'healthy', beating Diabetes & Hypertension.  The weight loss was an added bonus for me. I remember being in the 120's in high school. No one ever told me back then I was too skinny.   Wonder why I'm getting defensive on this.  I'll have to mull this over...

This morning my husband said, "what happens if you keep losing past 120 lbs?"   It made me pause.  At this point I'm not really trying to lose weight.  I eat what I can, still focusing on the protein.  I still have a tough time getting it all in and am still supplementing with protein bullets once a day.  This past weekend I still was experiencing nausea/vomiting and I am still trying to add new foods to my daily intake and seeing what I can tolerate, and what I can't.  I do work out but only to keep or build my muscle back up (daily push ups, sit ups, squats/lunges etc) because I've lost so much body mass those first two months.  I didn't really give him an answer except to say that I assume my body will balance itself out and if it doesn't, I would continue to try to get more calories in.

I guess both of these conversations are "Food for thought" I suppose.

The good news today is that I am nearing my goal. I am 129.8 lbs this morning woot woot!  Couldn't be more pleased.

This weekend I was reminded that I am only 5 months out and even though I'm almost at my goal, I'm no where near where I need to be.  We went out Friday night for cocktails, dinner and a game.  Thinking I was eating slow enough, the dinner hit me like a rock. I had some AHI Tuna (pure protein and oh so good).  I thought I had small enough bites, and I thought I had chewed it well.  But my stomach thought otherwise.  After eating about an ounce BAM.  The Nausea gods bestowed on me.  I fought a good hard battle, sat there as long as I could before I knew that Nausea gods sister was fastly approaching.  So I walked briskley to the ladies room and again, bam.  This hasn't happened in a few weeks so I was surprised. Lessen learned, I have to really be aware when I am eating even at this stage to slow down and chew chew chew.  

We spent the day yesterday with friends who were in town. None had seen me for a few years and boy the reactions were priceless.  I told them how I've received mixed reactions, some people are so excited and happy for me, while others think this is the 'easy way out' or whatever preconceived ideas they have on WLS.  Either way, we had such a great day with them, and I managed to get my protein in (thanks to the protein bullets).  We went to dinner in the evening at one of the local restaurants (mexican).  I had just a taste of the appetizers (the inside of the chorizo/potato balls, 2 tsp guacamole) and then I had a shrimp and some beans off my husbands plate.  We no longer order two meals, he orders and I take enough off his plate.  It seems to work for us.  I remembered to slow down (lightbulb from Fridays mess), so dinner was an enjoyable event.

Today we're going to stay close to home. I may go out and shop for some new slacks because the current ones are starting to get too baggy. It's a good problem to have.  I'm a happy woman! :)

If you're reading my blog today, I hope you have a fabulous day and remember, you are amazing!

Good morning, I'm simply amazed at all the wonderful responses received from my posting yesterday.  Figuring since I had slowed down on my blog entries, and thinking maybe it was time to back off a bit in writing, I was reminded that this is more than just about me.  The connections that we have to each other both virtually and because of this surgery, how we rely on each others experiences and learnings make us all related and family.  So even though I am giving my experiences for others to learn and grow, yesterday I received something more.  This is more than just a blog about surgery and words of my experience, this is life. This is family. A WLS family.  This is bigger than just little old me.  Thank you all for your encouragements, your sharings and your blog journeys.  I am grateful to YOU!

Today is 2.8.11 and yes folks, 130.8 lbs.  Tomorrow is my 5 month anniversary for my new sleeve (VSG).  I was lucky and blessed by this surgery and every morning and every evening I thank the good Lord for my surgeon, the insurance company staff that approved my surgery and for my dear friend who went through her own WLS surgery 2 years before I did.  For without them, I would not be where I am today.

Today, my BMI is 23.9.   Today, am am not a Type II Diabetic.  Today, I am no longer hypertensive.  Today, I am no longer on any medications.  Today, I feel great.

For those struggling with the idea of having WLS Surgery - it is a personal decision.  Don't let anyone tell you one way or another.  Look deep into your self, and make your decision.  Talk with people,  read their blogs, research.  

WLS is not the 'easy way out'.  There is no 'easy' in this as you know from reading my blog.  But I can tell you from my own personal experiences, it does get 'easier' as time marches on.  It does fall into place as it should. 

Tomorrow, 5 months.... and I feel fine!    Have a great day all ya'all.  :)

Good morning world.  Today I was 131.4 lbs and feeling pretty good.  Yesterday was the Superbowl and we weren't invited anywhere so my love and I stayed up to watch the game at home.  We made some chicken quesedillas, and had some store bought macaroni salad and cole slaw.  I don't eat those foods any more, but I did have a couple of bites of the chicken quesedilla.  Two bites was enough since it hit my sleeve hard.  Interestingly, I haven't been able to sip wine since the surgery, it feels like it gets stuck in the back of my throat. But last night he opened a Merlot and I probably sipped 2 oz over 2 hours.  It was more about the experience and being able to do it, than trying to catch a 'buzz'.

Funny how food isn't my main priority now around events.  In the past, "Food was Love" in my house.  I cooked and cooked and everyone came over and ate.  Now my love does most of the cooking because he's hungry and I'm not.  Watching him eat isn't a big deal. Sometimes I just want to taste what he's got on his plate, nothing more.

I'm almost at my goal of 120.  Some of my friends have said that is too skinny.  My Dr. and Surgeon both said that was an ideal weight for me at my height (5'2").  I'm going to be happy in the 120's whether I get specifically to 120 or somewhere near.   

I wrestle each morning with the thoughts, do I want to blog today or not. I started blogging to document my journey.  I wanted to remember what I went through and maybe help others who are contemplating this surgery.  I hope my thoughts, struggles and writings have helped.  I know it's helped me to see how far along I've come and it will be a reminder to never get back to where I was.

I'm nearing 5 months post-op.  It seems like just yesterday.  I have been blessed by this surgery. I hope the same for you.

Make it a great day! :)