dejongdd60
Encouraged - most of the time.
Mar 22, 2012
I'm now 6 weeks post op and am encouraged by the results that I am seeing. I've lost 30 pounds and feel better than I've felt in a long time. I'm seeing the benefits by fitting into clothes that were once too tight, and I'm hearing comments like "Wow! Look at you!" or "Here comes the incredible shrinking woman!". I've even had my husband tell me that my butt is a whole lot smaller. (I didn't think I'd EVER hear those words come out of his mouth!) Now I find myself smiling more when I'm around people (and sometimes when it's just me) and that my attitude has become much more positive. The inner me - the pretty "me" I've hidden for all these years - is finally beginning to emerge!
Now that I'm able to eat solid foods, I'm finding that my protein intake is improving. I still try to drink at least one protein shake a day, but because I'm not a huge fan of them, I try to make sure that everything that goes in my mouth is a good source of protein. That said, I have to admit that some of my old addictions - junk foods like chips & dips - are starting to become cravings again. That truly scares me! But I made a promise to "not go back there" and I vow to stick by that promise. I've come too far and worked too hard to ever let myself "go back."
I have learned that stepping on the scale every day is not necessarily a good idea. If that needle doesn't drop every time I step on the scale, I get really discouraged and frustrated. How can a person eat so little and not lose a pound (or worse, yet, gain 2 pounds)? After a couple of really discouraging days, I'm learning that once or twice a week is enough.
In recent days I've experienced some worrisome stomach discomfort. For about four days, it felt like everything I ate was on the verge of coming up again. It wasn't like I was over-eating, but more like what I was eating wasn't sitting well with me. I didn't really change WHAT I ate, so that couldn't have been the problem. My doctor had me on an acid-blocker, so I found it hard to believe that reflux was the culprit. After about four days of misery, I went home from work so sick to my stomach that I actually dug in the cupboard and found a liquid antacid and took that. Within a few hours, I felt a whole lot better. I don't know what was happening or if I'll experience the same thing off and on again, or if I had contracted a "bug" of some sort, but I do know I am grateful to be feeling back to "normal" again.
This change in lifestyle has a slight learning curve to it, and I'm learning how to cope each and every day, but I have zero regrets. I like not being obsessed with food. I like knowing that I'm doing something to bring myself back to health. I like feeling good about myself for a change. I am a new "ME"! And I kind of like her!
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Now that I'm able to eat solid foods, I'm finding that my protein intake is improving. I still try to drink at least one protein shake a day, but because I'm not a huge fan of them, I try to make sure that everything that goes in my mouth is a good source of protein. That said, I have to admit that some of my old addictions - junk foods like chips & dips - are starting to become cravings again. That truly scares me! But I made a promise to "not go back there" and I vow to stick by that promise. I've come too far and worked too hard to ever let myself "go back."
I have learned that stepping on the scale every day is not necessarily a good idea. If that needle doesn't drop every time I step on the scale, I get really discouraged and frustrated. How can a person eat so little and not lose a pound (or worse, yet, gain 2 pounds)? After a couple of really discouraging days, I'm learning that once or twice a week is enough.
In recent days I've experienced some worrisome stomach discomfort. For about four days, it felt like everything I ate was on the verge of coming up again. It wasn't like I was over-eating, but more like what I was eating wasn't sitting well with me. I didn't really change WHAT I ate, so that couldn't have been the problem. My doctor had me on an acid-blocker, so I found it hard to believe that reflux was the culprit. After about four days of misery, I went home from work so sick to my stomach that I actually dug in the cupboard and found a liquid antacid and took that. Within a few hours, I felt a whole lot better. I don't know what was happening or if I'll experience the same thing off and on again, or if I had contracted a "bug" of some sort, but I do know I am grateful to be feeling back to "normal" again.
This change in lifestyle has a slight learning curve to it, and I'm learning how to cope each and every day, but I have zero regrets. I like not being obsessed with food. I like knowing that I'm doing something to bring myself back to health. I like feeling good about myself for a change. I am a new "ME"! And I kind of like her!
Doing really well!
Feb 18, 2012
I'm now a week and a half out from surgery and am feeling fantastic. The first week was difficult - incision pain, soreness, and a sensitive stomach - but I'm finally feeling back to normal. And the good new is, I lost 11 pounds my first week! Score! It is reassuring to know that everything I've done and gone through is starting to pay off. I've got some head-games to win now. Food commercials are starting to look appetizing - oh how I'd love to sink my teeth into a hot, juicy steak - but I know that I can get past that as well. Once these first three weeks are past, I can start to eat a more "normal". My new "normal" looks a whole lot different than it once did though. I'm looking forward to experimenting with different meats and vegetables. My husband is really supportive and is even starting to eat healthier, too! If he can benefit from my journey, it will be doubly worth it.
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Four days out and feeling it
Feb 11, 2012
I had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012, and I'm still feeling the pain and discomfort. On surgery day, I remember joking to my husband by saying, "Whose idea was this anyway?" But a few days of pain will be worth it if I can find success. I'm determined to make this work. After all, I have too much to lose (no pun intended) to allow myself to fail now. One year from now I not only hope to feel better, but I anticipate looking better as well. I've a long road ahead of me, but I WILL do this. Go me!
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