Jasmine130

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The more I change,
The more I will be permanently changed.

Last night in my reading I came across the concept of fighting my urges to eat off plan, unhealthy foods as compared to being relaxed and aware of my choices and making the healthy choice.  I only have a glimmer and a very basic insight into what this means. I think it has to do with loving, knowing and forgiving myself.  When I am tempted to eat off plan, instead of just toughing it out or fighting the urge with sheer grit, to instead, be relaxed and aware of my feelings, the reason for the urge (do I really, physically need to eat, or do I really, emotionally, need to eat?), and make the loving choice for myself.

More to learn, more to come.

Thoughts At Five Months Out

 

Well here I am at 5.5, almost 6 months out from my surgery date.  Nearly half a year has gone by so quickly, and I’ve lost almost 125 pounds.  Sometimes I feel I’m dreaming and that I’ll wake up and it will have been a dream, that I’m still trapped in a mountain of fat, choking, drowning, weighed down and miserable.  But I know this is for real.  I’m fitting into clothes and sizes I haven’t been able to wear in……I don’t know how long.  I feel lighter and the changes in my body are tremendous.  The streams of compliments are an almost daily occurrence, and I have been called “svelte” and “skinny”.  Now of course I’m not skinny (yet) – but I realize that in comparison with where I started this journey, a huge transformation has already taken place.  I love the way my husband looks at me (he says I look “amazing”!) and how his arms fit around me.  I love how I can feel my ribcage when I lie down, I haven’t felt those bones in such a long time.  I love how I can see my knuckles and my collarbones, how my face is changing almost on a weekly basis.  This really is a lot of fun!  But it’s also enormously challenging.  I am frequently sobered by how bad, how fat, I really let myself get.  What calls my attention to how bad it was?  The growing amount of excess skin on my body.  It is evidence that really hits home, like nothing else ever did, of how far I went with my obesity.  I blame myself and no one else for gaining up to 354 pounds, my pre-op weight, but there’s also an understanding within me that obesity is a disease, and there have been some incredibly strong addictive forces that, combined with my very poor food choices, resulted in my becoming super morbidly obese. 

 

All this reminds me of how important it is for me to work on the mental and emotional aspects of my journey.  I know I must take great care to do the hard work so that I can successfully overcome my obesity on a long-term basis.   I am so grateful for my RNY and the way it has stopped the madness of my overeating.  For the first time ever I have real hope for my future.

This morning I weighed in at 229.6 -- I can hardly believe how quickly I've gotten into the 220's!  I'm getting close to weighing less than my husband.

I'm getting closer and closer to "Onederland".  That is hard to wrap my mind around -- but before long that's where I'll be.

Love-love-love my RNY.  Thank you Lord!

Here I am at 5.5 months out from surgery and 123+ pounds down from my pre-op weight.  I am so excited and feel so blessed.  I've been working very hard on getting in all my protein, staying within my calorie count and getting in all my supplements.  Those are my strong points!  The areas where I need to improve are:  exercising every day (or 6 days/week anyway) and getting in all my water.

I'm feeling such a difference in my body.  Yesterday evening I went for a walk in the neighborhood and covered a good distance in about 30 minutes.  I had no pain, whereas before I lost this weight I would have suffered in my hips and back, knees and feet too.  I felt energized, loose and relaxed  What a great feeling!

I'm also noticing lots of excess skin already, so am considering what plastic surgery I will want to pursue when I have reached my goal and stabilized.  My belly, arms and breasts are definitely candidates for surgery.  My inner thighs are starting to show loose skin too.  Well -- perhaps a total body lift is in my future!  It's a little scary because my insurance won't cover most of it, and I know it will be a lot more painful and extensive than my RNY.  Ah well, I have a year or more to gear up for all of this.

It's strange going clothes shopping these days.  At my heaviest, I just sought whatever would cover me up best and not be too horrible.  Now, I'm getting pickier about prints, cuts etc. Also - I'm not a good judge of what will fit me.  I choose a top between 20/22/24 and know that my upper body is bigger than my bottom, but sometimes have a hard time getting my mind around the fact that I can wear 16-18 size pants.  I bought a pair of jeans in size 16 and held them up, thinking they're impossibly small but would be good in a month or so.  I tried them on at home, pulled them up and fastened them. Now they're not comfortable and I wouldn't want to spend the whole day in them -- but I will be able to, very soon!  Wow!

Today I weighed in at 230.6 and re-calculated my bmi:  I am now just "obese" as compared to "super morbidly obese" just 5.5 months ago.  In about 6 pounds I will weigh less than my husband, and that will be an exciting day for both of us :).

10 mistakes people make post RNY

1st Mistake:  Not Taking Vitamins, Supplements, or Minerals

 Every WLS patient has specific nutritional needs depending on the type of surgery you have had. Not only is it a good idea to ask your surgeon for guidelines, but also consult with an experienced WLS nutritionist. Understand there is not a standard practice that all surgeons and nutritionists follow in guiding WLS patients. So, it is important to do your own research, get your lab tests done regularly, and learn how to read the results.  Some conditions and symptoms that can occur when you are deficient in vitamins, supplements, or minerals include:

Osteoporosis; pernicious anemia; muscle spasms; high blood pressure; burning tongue; fatigue; loss of appetite; weakness; constipation and diarrhea; numbness and tingling in the hands and feet; being tired, lethargic, or dizzy; forgetfulness, and lowered immune functioning.

Keep in mind, too, that some conditions caused by not taking your vitamins, supplements, or minerals are irreversible.

2nd Mistake:  Assuming You Have Been Cured of Your Obesity

A "pink cloud" or honeymoon experience is common following WLS. When you are feeling better than you have in years, and the weight is coming off easily, it's hard to imagine you will ever struggle again. But unfortunately, it is very common for WLS patients to not lose to their goal weight or to regain some of their weight back.

A small weight regain may be normal, but huge gains usually can be avoided with support, education, effort, and careful attention to living a healthy WLS lifestyle. For most WLSers, if you don't change what you've always done, you're going to keep getting what you've always gotten -- even after weight loss surgery.

3rd Mistake:  Drinking with Meals

Yes, it's hard for some people to avoid drinking with meals, but the tool of not drinking with meals is a critical key to long-term success. If you drink while you eat, your food washes out of your stomach much more quickly, you can eat more, you get hungry sooner, and you are at more risk for snacking. Being too hungry is much more likely to lead to poor food choices and/or overeating.

4th Mistake:  Not Eating Right

Of course everyone should eat right, but in this society eating right is a challenge. You have to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Eat all your meals--don't skip. Don't keep unhealthy food in sight where it will call to you all the time. Try to feed yourself at regular intervals so that you aren't as tempted to make a poor choice.  And consider having a couple of absolutes: for example, avoid fried foods completely, avoid sugary foods, always use low-fat options, or only eat in a restaurant once a week. Choose your "absolutes" based on your trigger foods and your self knowledge about what foods and/or situations are problematic for you.

5th Mistake:  Not Drinking Enough Water

Most WLS patients are at risk for dehydration. Drinking a minimum of 64 oz. of water per day will help you avoid this risk. Adequate water intake will also help you flush out your system as you lose weight and avoid kidney stones. Drinking enough water helps with your weight loss, too.

6th Mistake:  Grazing

Many people who have had WLS regret that they ever started grazing, which is nibbling small amounts here and there over the course of the day. It's one thing to eat the three to five small meals you and your doctor agree you need. It's something else altogether when you start to graze, eating any number of unplanned snacks. Grazing can easily make your weight creep up. Eating enough at meal time, and eating planned snacks when necessary, will help you resist grazing.   Make a plan for what you will do when you crave food, but are not truly hungry. For example, take up a hobby to keep your hands busy or call on someone in your support group for encouragement.

7th Mistake:  Not Exercising Regularly

Exercise is one of the best weapons a WLS patient has to fight weight regain. Not only does exercise boost your spirits, it is a great way to keep your metabolism running strong. When you exercise, you build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn, even at rest!

 8th Mistake:  Eating the Wrong Carbs (or Eating Too Much)

 Let's face it, refined carbohydrates are addictive. If you eat refined carbohydrates they will make you crave more refined carbohydrates. There are plenty of complex carbohydrates to choose from, which have beneficial vitamins. For example, if you can handle pastas, try whole grain Kamut pasta--in moderation, of course. (Kamut pasta doesn't have the flavor some people find unpleasant in the whole wheat pastas.) Try using your complex carbohydrates as "condiments," rather than as the center point of your meal. Try sprinkling a tablespoon of brown rice on your stir-fried meat and veggies.

9th Mistake:  Going Back to Drinking Soda

Drinking soda is controversial in WLS circles. Some people claim soda stretches your stomach or pouch. What we know it does is keep you from getting the hydration your body requires after WLS--because when you're drinking soda, you're not drinking water! In addition, diet soda has been connected to weight gain in the general population. The best thing you can do is find other, healthier drinks to fall in love with. They are out there.

10th Mistake:  Drinking Alcohol

If you drank alcohol before surgery, you are likely to want to resume drinking alcohol following surgery. Most surgeons recommend waiting one year after surgery. And it is in your best interest to understand the consequences of drinking alcohol before you do it.

Alcohol is connected with weight regain, because alcohol has 7 calories per gram, while protein and vegetables have 4 calories per gram. Also, some people develop an addiction to alcohol after WLS, so be very cautious. Depending on your type of WLS, you may get drunker, quicker after surgery, which can cause health problems and put you in dangerous situations.

If you think you have a drinking problem, get help right away. Putting off stopping drinking doesn't make it any easier, and could make you a lot sicker. 

A husband walks into Victoria's Secret to purchase a sheer negligee for
his wife who has lost a lot of weight following her gastric bypass. He is shown several possibilities that range from $250 to $500 in price, the more sheer, the higher the price. Naturally, he opts for the
sheerest item, pays the $500, and takes it home.

He presents it to his wife and asks her to go upstairs, put it on, and
model it for him. Upstairs, the wife thinks, 'I have an idea.
It's so sheer that it might as well be nothing. I won't put it on, but
I'll do the modeling naked, return it tomorrow, and keep the $500 refund for
myself.'

So she appears naked on the balcony and strikes a pose. The husband
says, 'Good Grief! You'd think for $500, they'd at least iron it.

He never heard the shot.

Funeral on Thursday at Noon.

Closed coffin.

I'm so happy!  Today I weighed in at 239.4 and now have a BMI of 39.8 (clinically obese).  I feel great and am so thankful for my RNY.

Today I calculated my BMI and it's presently 40.4;  this means I'm .4 away from being "clinically obese" as compared to "morbidly obese".  I'm really excited about this; before long I can see myself moving into the obese, overweight and dare I think it....normal categories!

Food is definitely taking a back seat in my life.  I'm much less focused on it and it's steadily losing its grip on me.  I understand I will always have to learn to live with a food addiction, but my RNY has quieted down the cravings to the point where they have rarely raised their ugly head since my surgery.  A lot of this is due to the fact that I avoid high-sugar, high-carb foods because of dumping.  This avoidance naturally means that I am not consuming the foods that trigger the out of control, binge eating of my past.  

I have been away from the scale all week, which is probably a good thing.  My body feels like it has lost some more weight, so I am looking forward to seeing my current weight when I get home.  

Today, I am so grateful for my RNY.  I have never regretted it, never had the "buyer's remorse" response.  I am grateful for having no complications, and for the way I have been learning how to eat with my new pouch.