NidiaB

Send Message

Block

Add Friend

Hello...

One more month, ten months post-op now...  As of this morning I weigh 129 lbs, and this has been my weight now for about 2 -3 weeks.  I think this is going to be it for me, and don't anticipate losing (nor do I want to) too much more.  I had an initial goal of 125 lbs, which I may or may not get too, but will take the 129 lbs, no problem!!  I actually don't think I have too much body fat left anyway, alot of skin though... I look pretty good in clothes, but won't be wearing a bathing suit in public anytime soon!

Anyway, that's the scoop for 10 months out.... The weight loss has been amazing, don't know if my body will ever get to my own personal goal of 125, but my doc said that the 134 lbs I weighed at my 9 month appointment was a good weight for me - so I am content. to be where I am, and very glad that I had this surgery.  I feel great!

Well.... time does fly.  I just realized that I hit the 9 month mark two days ago...and have my 9-month follow-up appointment next week.  It feels like my surgery was just a few months back, but wow, it was alot longer ago now than it seems.

So, over the last nine months, I think I have done really well!  I now weigh 135 lbs, down from 245 on the day of surgery  (down 110 lbs) and down from the 274 I weighed on the day of my first surgical consult (for a total loss of 139 lbs.)  I am very close to my personal goal of 125 lbs, but truthfully, if I can't or don't lose another ounce and can stay at this weight, I would be thrilled!!

I can eat almost anything now, still feel a little over-stuffed with certain foods like chicken, and steak...but that's okay.  I usually avoid the carby stuff like white breads, rice, potatoes, figuring that they would probably fill me up and offer me little in the way of nutrition.  I've made a habit of choosing fish, seafood, chili, lean pork, etc. as main sources of protein and still try and eat some yogurt and cottage cheese for breakfast or lunch.  On some days I am able to eat much more than others, but try to always be mindful of what I am eating....and in making good choices.  I think finding a health balance is key - make the right choices almost all the time, and once in while, it's okay to have a spoonful of someone else's dessert or have a handful of wheat crackers, etc.  I do indulge in some sugar-free ice cream once in a while, and like to snack on dry cereal (Cheerios) or almonds when the mood hits - as long as I have eaten enough healthy and protein-filled food throughout the day.

So that's about it....  Will I make it to the goal of 125?  I don't know, but I am not going to change what I have been doing for the last nine months, so if my body wants or allows me to get there, then that would be good.  If it doesn't , then I will take that as a sign that this is a good place to be and focus on continuing to exercise and make the good food choices.

Well, it's been several weeks since the last update, and things are still going well...  I'm still losing weight, but it is starting to slow down now... 

Let's see, I now weigh 146 lbs...so that is down 99 lbs since surgery, and 129 lbs since my first office visit...  I am thrilled!  I'm eating well, not having any problems...still don't get really hungry, and get full pretty fast...  I tend to make the best choices I can with my meals, usually sticking to the protein choices like fish, seafood, chili, and eating salads and other veggies with it...  I still start off the day with some greek yogurt or cottage cheese, and some protein cereal....  I avoid sugars most of the time, have no idea if I would dump on it or not - but don't miss it, so I don't bother going there..

All in all, I am very satisfied with my weight loss, and very happy that I had this surgery.!

I just turned around, and here it is - I'm six months post-op!  In fact, my six month appointment is coming up on Wednesday, but I absolutely cannot believe how fast time has flown!

Granted, my work keeps me very busy, but even I am still amazed that it seems like just yesterday when I was preparing for surgery, and now here I am, getting ready to see the surgeon now that I have been living this new lifestyle for six months.

So where am I now?  Well, unbelievably, I now weigh 158 lbs, so since my first office visit (where I weighed in at 274) I have lost a grand total of 116 lbs.  Since, surgery, I have lost about 87 lbs, since I lost 29 before the big day.  I must say, it has been almost effortless from a psychological perspective for me...  Unlike all the previous weight loss attempts I have not had to white-knuckle my way through cravings, hunger, and a general compulsion to just eat whatever and however much I want..  I have never been hungry, and aside from period where my head tells me that I should be eating, my body actually gets in the weigh and stops me from eating any more than I should.  I must say though, that even that is a rare occurrence.  Seemingly, most of the compulsion to overeat or the cravings to eat ess than healthy things is pretty much gone, and I can only hope that they remain gone forever.

Some days I can eat a bit more than others, I think it depends on the food.. Most of the time I find that seafood, fish, chili, and generally softer things are easier and allow me to eat a bit more.  Salmon, steak, chicken...well, since they are more dense versions of protein, after a few forkfuls or eating a bit too fast (or swallowing bigger pieces than I should) let's just say that you feel a little uncomfortable and promptly bring the fork down to a halt.  Let's just say that with this surgery does come personal responsibility, responsibility for making good choices, and for understanding that you need to modify your behavior and eating habits in order to make it a smooth transtion.

I think I have lost weight quickly!  I do exercise and I do have an active lifestyle...but even with that, I never expected to be at this weight at this point.  I don't really have a goal, but anything between 125 and 135 lbs would be ideal.  I do believe I will get there as I am only 30 lbs or so from the middle of that range, and still only six months out.  I'm on the short side, so I still have a bit to lose...but definitely already thrilled where I am now (considering where I started!)

I am very happy that I had this surgery.  My health has improved and I feel so much better and more energetic.  It has been quite the wild ride over the last six months, but I wouldn't trade it for the world...

Nidia

Okay... Here I am with another update on my progress..  I'm now just over 5 months out from surgery, and doing really well.  I still find that on some days I feel quite full after just a few bites, while on others I seem to eat the portion I've prepared with no issues.  I guess it all just depends on the day.

I still haven't dumped at all, but haven't tested those waters anyway, and pretty much everything I've eaten I've been able to tolerate pretty well.  I usually go for fish, seafood, some chicken or really moist meat because I find I can take more than a few bites without having that full feeling in the middle of my chest.  If I eat something really dense, then I know I can't get much of it in, and have more trouble hitting the protein goals for the day.  I am very happy that drinking water and other beverages is so much easier now...  I can't take a normal size sip without getting that uncomfortable feeling right after I swallow it, and it is so much easier to get my water in now versus as a new post-op.

So...now I am down to 172 lbs!!!  Yes, I have now lost over 100 lbs since my first office visit!  YES!!  I still have a way to go, but at only 5 months out, I do believe that I will actually get to my ideal body weight now.  At first, I found it almost inconceivable that I could actually have that as a goal - but with several more months to go before my appetite and my body starts adjusting to the malabsorbtion and the diet, I think I will be able to do it!  I'm in no hurry, I let the weight come off as it wants to.  I focus mainly on making the good choices with my diet each day, and sticking to the post-op plan...  It does appear that I have been a fast loser though...probably because I have a very active lifestyle, and do get some exercise in almost every day.

Anyway, I'm very happy with my decision to have this surgery.  I am so much healthier now, and I love how I have much more energy.  I feel much happier with myself too, mainly because I know that I am doing something important for me - and for my future.

Well, before I realized it, another 5 weeks or so have flown by...  Right now I am about 4 1/2 months post-op..hard to believe so much time has gone by, it seems like my surgery was just the other day!

Anyway, things are great...  I haven't had any problems eating or drinking, and have found post-op life rather easy to adjust to...  I'm pretty much able to eat everything, but really haven't gone down the path of testing the waters with sugar, or even with fried or greasy foods...  For some reason, when I look at something greasy, I just have a funny feeling that I won't feel very well after eating it, and just make a healthier or better choice.  As for dumping..I have no idea whether I would or wouldn't dump on sugar, I haven't really gone there at all..   Maybe someday I will, but for now, I'm happy not to, and quite frankly, the temptation isn't there.

So what do I east most of the time?  Well, seafood and fish, chili, beans, salads, some chicken (although small bites at a time or it feels a bit heavy), turkey, stews, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggbeaters, cheese (all kinds), etc..  I'm not really into bread, pasta or potatoes right now... they fill me up too much and make it hard to eat the protein and  veggies, so I usually don't even bother with them..  If I want something a little starchy, mashed sweet potato or butternut squash have been a better choice for me...

So, as of this morning, I'm down to 181 lbs...and I think that's pretty darn great!!  Let's see, that makes it a total of about 93 lbs since my first office visit, and over 60 lbs since surgery... and I am happy!

Well, today was my 3-month post-op appointment, and Dr. K thinks I am doing great!  I am down officially 48 lbs since surgery, but 77 lbs overall!  Everything is fine, I feel good, and I really haven't had any problems or issues with eating since surgery.  In fact, losing this weight has been pretty easy overall, much easier than losing weight before - - I think it has to do with the fact that I don't feel any hunger, and don't seem to be craving good like I used to before...

People are really starting to notice the weight loss now, and someone usually says something every day, I think every few pounds lost now is probably alot more noticeable than when I weighed so much more before.  I have had to shop for alot of new clothes, but I don't mind, it feels so good to put on something that fits and looks great - even if I know that it will probably only fit well for a month or so..  lol

Still not eating alot, but definitely a little more than a month ago - I can usually eat about a half cup of food at a time.  I get full very fast with dense foods like meat, chicken..but do better with fish or soft things like chili, yogurt, etc.  I usually have one protein drink a day to up the protein content for the day, but overall, usually stick to lean protein with some veggies for each meal, so I know I am getting in 60g or more a day.

I would do this again in a heartbeat - I feel so much better now that I've gotten some of this weight off..  I still have a ways to go, but can definitely see that getting to where I want to be is not only possible, but likely.  I just need to continue to eat right, exercise and make sure to take all the vitamin supplements.

Till next time...

Well...as of today, I am about 11 weeks out, and at the end of the month - it will be time for my 3 month post-op appointment.  I've been doing well-taking my vitamins, trying to introduce new foods into my diet, exercising regularly, and everything so far has been great!

This morning I weighed 202 lbs - that gives me a 43 lb loss since surgery day, and overall, a loss of  72 lbs!  I am very happy with my progress and with my weight loss.  So far, I haven't had any issues that I couldn't work through, and am feeling good.  I've learned to eat more slowly and to make sure I chew everything very well... sometimes though, I try and wolf something down for lunch (while I'm at work) and figure out a few bites in that I really have eaten too much, too fast.  Live and learn though, after a few times of feeling like there is something "stuck" in the pouch, I've definitely been doing much better!

I'm about to head off on vacation for the first time since surgery..  I hope I continue to be able to get in all the protein and stick to the program as well as I have been!

Well, time for another update.  I stepped on the scale this morning, and saw a number I am very happy with!  I'm down to 215 lbs!  That brings me to an even 30 lb loss since the morning of surgery (7 weeks ago) and a total of 59 lbs loss since my first visit to the surgeon's office.!

I've started on whole foods, and so far, have no had any trouble with any textures..  I've already tried a bit of pot roast, pork loin, chicken, lettuce, salmon, etc., and everything has gone down fine.  I still stick to the 2 oz of food at a time rule, but overall, there hasn't been anything I've tried that has not agreed with me..  Initially, I anticipated that the holiday season would be problematic, but it hasn't been at all!  At parties, I just take a bit of the the protein and a few cooked veggies, eat the protein first, a bit or two of the veggies last, and call it a day! 

So far, I think I am lucky in that I feel absolutely no hunger at all....  I pretty much eat on schedule, and eat the recommended amounts only..  I haven't gone beyond the "rules" for this stage of the process...  If I am busy, or off my normal routine, I feel a bit weak, or a little spacey, and I know I need to sit down and eat something.  Overall, I do okay with getting in my fluids, but I need to confess that I know I don't manage to get in the 64 oz a day.....  I estimate that on most days I do manage to get in between 40 and 50 oz though, and that is only accomplished by having a drink with me at all times!!

I am really good with my vitamins, still having a hard time taking ALL the required calcium a day.  I think that is because the calcium lozenges a bought require about 12 a day, and on a good day, I usually manage to get half into my body.  I am going to experiment with different types of calcium, and just picked up some crystals to mix with crystal light...I'll see how that works for me.

Anyway, that's the status as of today.....

Time for another update...  I have my 6-week post-op appointment at my surgeon's office today, so I think it's a good time to post my progress. 

Overall, I have been doing great!  In fact, I have never felt sick or vomited even once since surgery..  I'm still on the soft foods/pureed or ground meats phase, but by December 20th, I'm going to venture into the world of whole foods....  I never thought of myself as a big salad eater before, but after nearly two months of liquid, purred, and mushy food textures, I am really looking forward to things that crunch!

I weighed myself this morning, and I am down to 221 lbs...!  That is 24 lbs lost since surgery six weeks ago, and 53 lbs down since my first surgical office visit.  I'm pretty happy with that!!

I find the hardest thing about the entire post-op phase to be getting 64 oz of water in, try as I might, I don't think I have ever made it.  I get close most days, but trust me, it feels like a full-time job!  I do better with hitting my protein goal each day (thanks to the Oh Yeah!  RTD shakes (one shake has 32 g protein and I have one each day) and I depend on cottage cheese, greek yogurt, refried beans, chili, tuna and chicken salad for alot of my meals. 

I eat three meals a day, and usually eat between 1/4 c and 1/2 c of food at a time.  I think it is amazing that I never feel hungry or deprived, even when something smells good, or looks good, it's easy to dismiss because I feel satisfied...

I hope once I start on the solids that things continue to go well.  My ultimate goal is to eat small portions of healthy foods, protein first (of course) but still be able to have a spoon or two of things that I really enjoy, especially after I have lost all the excess weight.  I must say though, it's really nice not to be struggling right now, so compared to pre-op dieting, this is alot better!!!