indybecca

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I'm 2 1/2 years out from RNY and have become disappointed in my lack of commitment to my healthier self.  A friend just had wls and I'm remembering those intial phases that required such discipline.  Where did mine go?  

It's time to get back on track.  21 pounds to go.  I need to let go of the snacks (usually 100 cal snack packs, but I use them far too frequently) and better monitoring of my portions and choices.  I see the pounds creeping back on--very slowly, but it's not the direction I want to go.

Also need to get back to the gym regularly.  After a year full of foot surgery (literally, 3 foot surgery procedures and 2 leg surgeries over the last 18 months), the gym was off limits.  Once out of the habit, it's hard to build it back in.  I've had buy some larger clothes for the winter and am not enjoying that at all.

BACK ON TRACK!  My one and only goal for the year.  Getting this back on track yields positive self-image and carries over into all other aspects of life.  

So I am now 9 months out and down 113 pounds.  It's much slower to come off at this time, but I have to admit I haven't worked out as much.  I've been so swamped with wedding planning....

I got married a couple weeks ago (for the first time) and just got back from an incredible honeymoon in Turks and Caicos.   Everything was just what I hoped for and more!! Life is so good!!

Ready to get back to the strict routine of working out and cutting back the snacks...22 more pounds to go, I know I can do it!  I should be at goal by the time I reach my one year anniversary....then we'll start looking at some corrective plastic surgery.  Yikes!

At 7 months out, I'm down 101 pounds.  I am frustrated with the stalls I have for about 2 weeks a month, but I continue to work at it.  

I had a set back at 5 and a half months--hernia.  It felt like the pain I had when my appendix ruptured long ago.  Pain in the lower ab, couldn't do anything to get comfortable and was quite nauseous.  A trip to the ER took care of the pain and nausea.  I spent the night in the hospital and  had surgery the next morning to close up my "Peterson's space" and remove some scar tissue.  Surgery was 8 am, I was home at 1 pm the same day.   This time I had a harder time rebounding, but after 3 weeks I was feeling pretty normal again.  I made my way back to the gym the next week.

I am tempted by the snacking again, and find that when I'm stressed, I'm reaching for food.  So now begins the serious processing--WHY DO I DO IT?  I have days when I do very well with it, and eat just a snack a day.  Other days I feel like I'm eating all day long.

I still focus on food with no more than 5 grams of fat or 5 grams of sugar, but I need to process the whole need to eat vs. want to eat.  Nothing is worth going back to where I was, and I'm scared to death of that.  So I feel sure I'll figure this out.  It's food--why is this so hard?! 

101 pounds is pretty awesome, so I'm going to keep that as a motivator.  About 40 more to go and I'll be a weight I haven't dreamed of for many, many years!!

Time is passing so quickly!  Currently I am down 73 pounds and feeling great.  Got the hair cut off, and love it--my mother says I look like a totally different person.  She's asked if I feel like a different person and I instantly thought about the many posts I've read where women had a hard time seeing themselves as thin.

I'm not "thin" quite yet, but I can totally relate to those posts.  I'm down 4-5 sizes and don't quite see it yet.  I don't see what I used to see, but I have a hard time seeing the loss.  It's been tough for me to "get my arms around it," and really comprehend how much weight I've lost.  Then there are days I think, "Who cares about a number!  I'm looking better and feeling great!"  It really is amazing!

I've done a good job with my workouts, which I am sure is contributing greatly to my loss.  I barely get in my 64 oz of fluid, but typically do.   Protein and vitamin intake is good.  I'm so surprised that I'm working out at the gym as regularly as I am--somewhere along the way I've decided I don't care about what others think at the gym.  I'm getting healthier.  Besides, I'm not the "most out of shape person" there anymore.  

Life is good all around.  I'm grateful to all those who set up profiles and posted before me--it gave me the courage I needed to do it myself, and it's been a wonderful journey!

I'm now 3 months out and still feeling great.  I'm down 59 pounds and a few (3-4) sizes.

I began working out about a month ago and hired a trainer at the gym to help.  I also see a physical therapist to help with some back issues.  I can tell I'm getting stronger; my body's taking better shape.  It's sad that I was THAT out of shape.  I'm just glad to have some professionals helping restore those muscles!

It's amazing how much your body changes.  Remember the struggles of rummaging through the closet to find something that fit?  I find myself doing that now--the good news is many of the clothes are too big.  That's a good feeling!

I'm so glad I did this surgery.  I'm really trying to make sure I do everything I can to make this work well for me.  It was my last source of hope to get healthy.  It's working!  What a blessing!

I had my 6 week check up with the dietician and surgeon a couple days ago.  My total loss is 34 pounds...which the dietician says is pretty typical.  Normal loss at this point is between 30 and 40 pounds.  I was a little discouraged at first, but given my set back , the dietician felt I was doing great.

The surgeon let me know all is great--blood pressure nearly perfect, I've lost 8 inches in my waist.  He said I'm out of the woods--that typically if something was going to "go wrong" it would have happened by now.  So I felt really encouraged.  I'm released to exercise now.

All the foods I've tried have been good--chicken, lots of fish, beef (though I don't eat that as often), eggs, etc.  It's all going down easily and I've had no troubles.

I can cut back on my protein drink since I'm eating regular foods now.  This is good news because I continued to struggle to get all that in.  New focus: increasing my fluid intake to 64 ounces.  I'm feeling great and looking forward to the rest of my journey.

Everything was going fairly well, with the exception of gas and diarrhea.  I thought it was to be expected, but gradually it was worsening...to the point I had to go to ER Tuesday night.

The antibiotics used after surgery wiped out the good bacteria in my lower GI tract.  That, coupled with the higher doses of coumadin and arikstra, made for a difficult situation.  The infection was upsetting the lining of my colon and causing me to bleed.  The loss of blood caused me to pass out if I stood up.

I was admitted Tuesday night, and they identified the infection quickly.  I started protonics to clear the infection.  I also had to receive plasma and blood to restore what I had lost, but through my 3 night stay I had minimal pain.  Every now and then I would have stomach cramps, but they were bearable.

My biggest concern was that something was wrong with the surgery.  Fortunately my surgeon "scoped" me--and I'm healing wonderfully inside (and outside).  That was the best news of all.

If this is the worst of it, I'll take it!  I got home Friday morning and am trying to resume my schedule of meals and protein.  I had great care at St. V's Carmel and a wonderful nighttime nurse.  I did gain weight while there, but it's quickly coming off again.  I had a lot of fluids pumped into me--in fact, I'm still a little swollen.  It's nice to see the scale going down again.

I've been home almost a week already.  I had surgery Wednesday, 7/11, at 4 pm.  I was in my room by 7 pm, and up walking at 9:20 pm--at my request.  I had a good hospital experience and was stunned by how well I felt.

That night I was up frequently and walked as often as I could.   I'd sleep a couple hours, wake up and walk and go back to bed.   I remembered everyone saying how much it helped so I wanted to get to it as soon as possible.  

Thursday morning I had breakfast--an ounce of jello and grape juice.  I really couldn't feel my stomach so I didn't know if I was full, but I didn't really care to eat all of it.  That day I walked, showered, and went home after I ate dinner there.  I guess I got home around 7:30 pm.

The first couple of nights at home I didn't sleep through the night.  I was able to climb up into my bed without trouble, but moved to my recliner in the middle of the night, where I'd sleep or watch TV.  I didn't have a lot of pain, but I would take pain meds to just take the edge off.

Meals are going ok, but I discovered Sunday that I am definitely lactose intolerant now.  That was my worst night--so much bloating and gas.  I had really tried to catch up on my protein drink (milk, dry milk and chocolate flavor) and it was just so heavy and later, quite uncomfortable.  Another sleepless night.

Monday I tried Isopure protein drink-so much better for me.  I had  new pain, which I thought was caused by the bloating and gas.  When I called the nurse, she let me know it was my drain, which I hadn't suspected at all.  I went to the office, she got me right in and removed the drain--WOW!!  She told me it was a pain that would take my breath away and it did, but I instantly felt better!!  It's so much easier without it now.

I'm feeling great, walking ALOT and working out a schedule to get all the proteins in.  It's not as easy as it sounds, but I'm getting it.  I still thank God everyday for this opportunity and hope it all continues to go as easily as it has to this point.

I did my pre-op testing Friday, the 29th, and was impressed with how thorough they were in ensuring my body is ready for the surgery.  I'm starting to get nervous and a little emotional.  I'm not doubting my decision to have surgery at all, but am ready to get it over with.  I know there's nothing to be afraid of and I should be thrilled to start this life-changing journey.  I'm sure it's just the fear of  getting over the "hump" aka surgery, because I do get excited thinking about all the things I'll be able to do when I'm healthier.  Soon I'll be there!

I'm finally approved and have a surgery date--July 11th at 3:00 pm.  I can hardly believe we're finally here!