Lois K.
2/26/06: It has been 8 months since the surgery. Time sure flies! I now weigh 150 lbs fully dressed. My body has so changed! It is great. I still go to the gym every day. Some days, twice a day. I am now wearing a size 8-10. Lots of inches have been lost. I feel WONDERFUL! Nothing tastes as good as thin feels! My back hardly ever hurts any more. I take only 1/2 as much blood pressure medicine. I have to take it for arithmia (sp?). I am glad now that I had the surgery. Sort of like being pregnant and having complications....then the sweet little baby comes along and things change over the months. Keep up your spirits. Keep working out. Keep eating MUCH less.
If I can do this, anyone can!
01/06/06: It has been almost 6 months since the surgery. Time for an update. I weigh 161 fully dressed. Wow. I work out A LOT! I go to the gym Monday through Friday at 5:30 a.m., Saturday 7:00 a.m. and Sunday 1:00. I live there. But it shows! I am toning up so nicely. I wear size 10-12. 10's are a little snug, but 12's are a little big. I went into Fashion Bug and went straight to the plus size. Whoops! My mind plays a lot of tricks on me. I shop mainly at Goodwill because I want to blow right through 10-12 and be at a size 8. I want to lose at least 30 more pounds. Dr. Inman said that would be okay. So did my family physician. Right now my BMI is 27.6. So close to normal. I don't remember when my weight was this low. I caught a glimpse of myself in a glass door and I didn't realize it was me!
The surgery was so horrible; but now I am feeling so much better and I look so much better, I'm still not sure I would do it again. But since I have had it done, I am BETTER! I will try to post another picture soon.
10/24/05 It has been 15 weeks since the surgery. I am down to 179 with clothes on! I have lost 61 lbs. I still have trouble seeing myself as THINNER. It is a mental thing I am sure. I go back to the dr. on Nov 28th. I look forward to it. I want to sit down with the dietician. I work out EVERY day at the gym. I think that is why I am not loosing weight. Even though I haven't lost weight, I sure have redistributed the weight I have. Muscle is replacing fat. I wear a size 14 loosely. Some 12's fit. Seems strange. I feel really good. My mind craves food at times. I don't give in very easily. Every now and then (very rarely actually) I eat something I shouldn't have. Sweet things are horrible. I don't like the taste. So it's not hard to turn it down. I still can't eat red meat. EVERY time I eat it, I throw it up. Every time!
People are really noticing the difference. That feels good. I've changed my hairstyle and people tell me I look 10 years younger! Just seems like it helps every thing in my life. I feel better about myself and that translates into good things in my life. God is so good to me!
I still haven't got to the spot where I think I did right having the surgery. It is great to be thinner, but what HELL I went through in the beginning......just don't know. Maybe in a couple months I'll feel different. I still have trouble recommending the surgery! A week ago, I saw a friend who has lost weight by counting calories. She's lost at least 50 lbs and looks great. She said "I did mine the 'hard' way." I told her she didn't know what she was talking about. I about died. I think that qualifies as "the hard way". Don't you?
I've lost in my shoe size! My size 8 Wide falls off my feet. Kind of tired of too loose clothing. Been trying to get clothes that fit. That's hard also because you don't want to spend a lot of money on clothes that won't fit for good. Oh well, what's money?
If you are reading this considering surgery, ask the hard questions about the weeks after surgery. Visit with someone who had no problems and visit with someone who had/has lots of problems. It isn't all roses!
Blessings for now............................
9/30/05 Monday has been 12 weeks since the surgery. Wow, how things have changed. I will have to post another picture. I have now lost 60 lbs. Went from size 22/24 to size 16 petite. Some 16's are big!!!! I can wear size Medium!!! I even have the little black spandex shorts (under work out shorts). I never thought I would wear them! My back has improved so much. I exercise. I joined the gym. I walk a lot every day whenever, wherever I can. It makes all the difference.
My energy level has increased 1000 times! I can eat protein without throwing up. I can drink water/cold drinks now. That was a real problem. I am hardly ever naucous. I know when I am full to stop. SLOWLY EAT! I try to always eat at the table.
I go to the gym or walk every day. The trainer has given me weights info so that I can strengthen my back. The work-outs has taken me to a new level.
I try very hard to follow the instructions to the letter. St. Vincent's Bariatric class gave out binders with information. I have it out all the time reviewing. THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT. I will not ever go through this mental/physical challenge again. It is so wonderful to feel so good.
Blessings to all...........Lois
8/19/05 Time has passed. Hard to believe that on Monday, it will have been 6 WEEKS!! It has been a very hard time. I think I am dehydrated most of the time. I started 3 ounces on Monday. Can't get it all in, but I am trying to abide by the book. I have started using Atkins Protein shakes. Not bad. I can drink it at least. It must be very very cold. I also use the protein bars now. I seem to be in a rut eating though. I will see the dietician on Monday as well as Dr. Inman. Anyone who reads this and is in the beginning stages of the after-surgery, if you have problems with food.....contact the dietician. That is what they are there for. They have been a lifesaver to me.
Dehydration....Smart water. Kroger sells it in the health food section. It has electrolytes and other essentials. No taste, very good. I am just now able to drink cold water. I could only drink room temperature water for so long! I miss drinking with my meal. Another thing that I do is to use the Pedialyte freezer pops. It's what you give kids that have a fever. They taste good and they have those electrolytes and other essentials. I eat one before bed (helps me make it through the night) and one when I get up. I also have 1 or 2 during the day. IT REALLY HELPS ME BE HYDRATED. I try to walk a lot. I am still weak from surgery, but I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER. I still wouldn't have the surgery again if I knew then what I know now......
When I started I weighed 240 lbs by the physician's scales. I broke 200 this morning! YEE HAW! I have 80 lbs to go. I took pictures because I know I have lost weight, but it just seems that I can't see it. I have been overweight for so long. But wow! I am so ashamed that I let myself get out of control to that point. I have to post my pictures. They really tell the tell.
I have eaten out very little. Wendy's has baked potatoes and I can have one with a little butter and sour cream. Pretty good. Funny, they just can't understand that I don't want a drink! Ha ha!
I can eat at Bob Evans also because I can eat egg and once again, that baked potato! I am really working on eating more slowly. It actually hurts if you eat too fast!
My scars are nicely healed. But they will be scars. Now I have had 2 UTI's. Weird. I don't think I've ever had one before the surgery. And today I think I have a yeast infection. Must be something to do with weight loss I guess.
All for now. As Mary Engelbreit's calendar says: "Let Go....Go On".
Big words to live by. God bless you!
7/29/05 It has been a long week. Tuesday, I finally broke down and called the dr's office. I was so weak I couldn't walk 10 feet without feeling like I was going to pass out. I went back to St Vincent Carmel ER and they gave me a bag of IV fluids. Come to find out that I have a UTI infection also. Wednesday, I started the medication for the UTI and I started a protein drink: 5 or 6 ice cubes, 5 or 6 frozen whole strawberries, 2 packets of Splenda, and 2 cups of 1% milk. The dietician okayed this. It tastes VERY good-like a Steak-N-Shake shake. Much easier to get the protein in when it tastes good. I am still wearing the binder. I try to take it off for a while, but it hurts when I do. So I wear it. I eat northern beans squashed, potatoes (the usual), lowfat cheddar or colby cheese and I drink sugar-free Kool-Aid lemonade. Everything tastes so horrible. When I find something that tastes good, it goes into my menu. I guess I never realized what a picky eater I am. The last 2 days I have been getting clothes out of my closet that I haven't worn in YEARS! Guess what....THEY FIT!!!! I have lost 28 lbs by my scales with the high at 240. I can't wait to hit the 100's. I'm sure every one feels like that!
Blessings to all who read this...........
7/25/05 It has been very rough. I do not tolerate the protein shakes AT ALL. Makes me throw up each time. I have lost 27 lbs. from my highest weight. I am weak. I contacted the dr's office over the weekend because I got so weak on Saturday that I couldn't even walk the 50 steps to go around the circle inside of my house. I was totally out of it. To top it off, it was my 46th birthday. My husband made me beans for protein and forced me to each 2 ounces of them. Several times. I ate them and yesterday I woke up feeling SO MUCH BETTER. Protein can make you or break you. I am always very thirsty. I keep my sippy cup around. It just doesn't satisfy my thirst. We found an apple juice, Old Orchard, that has very little sugars and it is SO GOOD! You have a tendency to look for anything that is good. I have been eating beans so I have a lot of gas. I use GasX. It works along with the walking. Another thing is ice chips. I wouldn't survive without them. I love to take a shower and wash my hair. It takes it all out of me, but makes me feel so much better. This may sound terrible, but at this point, I would NOT RECOMMEND THIS surgery to anyone that in ANY WAY could lose weight NATURALLY. I keep thinking that I should have tried another way. I get mad at myself for doing this surgery. It has torn up my body for what?.......hurting myself and my family. I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS SURGERY!
7/20/05 Wow again! The surgery is very painful. However, not as painful as a hysterecomy. I sure hope I can understand everything. Since I am Factor V Leiden, I have to have Lovenox for a longer period of time. I had my surgery at St. Vincent Carmel. The nurses are GREAT and WONDERFUL. They were extremely nice. Several of them have had the surgery!!! St. Vincent Carmel comes highly recommended. I am home again and I am tired. Will check back much later.
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7/17/05 Wow! Tomorrow is the surgery. It came up so fast. It has been such an eventful week. My father passed away on 7/10 around midnight. It was unexpected. Family from out of state came. Family I haven't seen in a long time. It was so sad. But I do know that Dad is in Heaven with my Mom who passed away 12/26/02. He truly missed her.
I am on full liquids today (after breakfast). I had a little yogurt and had thinned oatmeal. The oatmeal was good! Later I will have jello and hot chicken broth. Sad that I have to plan so thoroughly just so I don't feel hungry. Maybe I should be feeling hungry!
I am so ready to get this surgery over with! I was supposed to have it on 7/13 then 7/15 then 7/18 @ 2:00. But now I am having it on 7/18 at noon. Whew! My husband says I need to look at the reschedules as God's way of telling me not to have it. I feel certain that I am to have this surgery and that I WILL recover quickly and lose the weight I need to lose. I have so many health problems. I really look forward to my back getting better.
I have a gene called the "Factor V Leiden". This gene makes me more prone to blood clots. They are taking this into consideration. I will get up and walk with more gusto than some. I have had 2 PE's after foot surgery (at the same time). I do not want to die but I want to be beautiful for my husband. I know he loves me just the way I am; but maybe I don't love myself like that. I want to know that I am doing everything possible to lose weight and be healthy. I want to see grandchildren!
I am getting ready....packing, cleaning, etc. I pray for the others having surgery on the same day I am. God bless all who read this!
About Me
Before & After
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